WILLIAM MASON HIGH SCHOOL
Getting up close with the Cincinnati Reds In SPORTS page 8 > >
FE AT UR E
Cicadas are about to wake up Story on page 18 > > N EW S
PLUS: A conversation with Powder Puff coach Josh Krusling Volume 5 Issue 8
Signs of probable recession in Mason Story on Page 4 > >
MAY 22, 2008 Hallway runners sprint around obstacles and are always early to class. See Page 24 > >
WHAT’S
inside Parents ignore the signs; get their kids in trouble Story on page 21 > >
DOPED Up E A S Y-T O- G E T OV E R T H E CO U N T E R D R U GS C A N B E D E A D LY
center SPREAD
Find out where the class of `08 is going to college
photo by Shea Davidson
The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason-Montgomery Road Mason, Ohio 45040
Easy access to over the counter drugs have caused students to become immune and addicted while looking for a quick fix. Story on page 2 > >
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The percent of students who think the school does not handle controversies well Story on page 4 > >
In SPORTS: Track teams win GMC championships
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May 22, 2008
If it hurts, just take a pill Over the counter drug use on the rise among high school students By SHEA DAVIDSON Editor and NISHA GIRIDHARAN Staff Writer The growing availability of over the counter and prescription drugs in the 21st century has led to the increasing popularity of "pill-popping" and medication abuse. In a society where doctors prescribe medication for a variety of illnesses, teenagers and adults across the country have become more dependent on these drugs to continue their daily lives. Freshman Lynne Liao said she relies on medication for her severe seasonal allergies. "I take three medications at the moment, one of which I am going to switch because I have built an immunity to it," Liao said. "I'm definitely dependent on [my medications]. I think for me, I am more relieved that I have [the medicine] than that I have to take it." As society has become more medication-centered, the amount of drugs prescribed by doctors has increased. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "in 2000, more than 19 million prescriptions for ADHD drugs were filled, a 72 percent increase since 1995." Mason High School nurse Kathy McVey said that doctors are looking for an easy way to solve peoples' problems. "I think we're just in a society [where] we're looking for that quick fix," McVey said. "We don't have patience. We don't let things work [their] way out. We want everything to be fixed quickly." Liao said that not only doctors are looking for a simple way to cure peoples' illnesses, but patients desire a fast, comfortable way to address their medical problems. "As medicine advances, the easy thing to do, [is to] take a pill and feel better," Liao said. "Why would you go through this long process of therapy when you can just take a pill?" But as more medicine becomes readily available, the abuse of over the counter and prescription drugs increases. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a study of students in Wisconsin and Minnesota showed that 34 percent of children from age 11 to 18 with ADHD have reported being asked to sell their medications, such as Ritalin. Easy access to cough medicine and Tylenol has led to a surge in the number of cases of teenagers overdosing. Vycki Haught, district community resource coordinator, said that students have frequent exposure to these over the counter drugs and that is what can lead to more overdosing. "Most students [overdose] for a reason; they are trying to escape, they're stressed," Haught said. "Kids have access to parents' medications. People
[usually] don't keep medication under lock and key. It is a lot easier to obtain." Dextromethorphan or DXM, an ingredient found in Robitussin DM and DayQuill, can cause hallucinations and out-of-body experiences when people take more than the dosage on the label. Overuse of this commonly found drug caused companies such as Walgreen's and
"I take three medications at the moment, one of which I am going to switch because I have built an immunity to it. I'm definitely dependent on [my medications].” Lynne Liao "I think we're just in a society [where] we're looking for that quick fix. We don't let things work [their] way out." Kathy McVey Rite Aid to prohibit teenagers from buying any product containing DXM. Senior Holly Esler says she agrees with the policies of Walgreen's and Rite Aid to become proactive in the fight against misuse. "[The restrictions] are smart," Esler said. "I think it's a good idea to start limiting how much [medication] people can buy just for the health reasons, overdoses and the risks of getting high." Another trend that continues to increase is the abuse of such medicines as Ibuprofen (Advil) and Naproxen (Aleve). More and more students have found that taking the one or two pill recommendation on drug labels just isn't working for their bodies. Esler said she must take more than the suggested dosage of Advil to relieve muscle aches from gymnastics. "[During gymnastics season] I took an antiinflammatory every morning," Esler said. "I took two Advil before practice, [and] then I would take two when I got home. I find myself taking more [medicine] because one or two Advil doesn't do anything; I have to take three." Esler said she could function without the Advil, but practices would be much more difficult. "I would say I'm dependent on it," Esler said. "I would take it every time before I go to practice and every time I got home. I think [the medicine] messes with your head as well: I
[thought] that if I [didn't] take the Advil then my body [was] automatically going to hurt, so therefore I [didn't] even try to see if it was going to hurt or not; I just [took] it anyway." Sophomore Amber Lee, however, was prescribed by her doctor to take a higher dose of over the counter medication. "[My doctor] said that for my body weight, I
"Most students [overdose] for a reason; they are trying to escape, they're stressed. Kids have access to parents' medications. People [usually] don't keep medication under lock and key." Vycki Haught
“I find myself taking more [medicine] because one or two Advil doesn't do anything; I have to take three.” Holly Esler
can take three pills because [they are] 660 mg," Lee said. "I only took three [pills] for two weeks because I was scared that my body would start rejecting it and my mom said it was unsafe. I only took it when it was necessary." When taken in excess, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be toxic to the body. "Tylenol can destroy your liver if taken too much and too often," McVey said. According to Dr. Anne Larson of the University of Washington Medical Center, taking two times the maximum daily dose of Acetaminophen can be enough to kill a person. If there is no food in a person's stomach, or if there is alcohol in his or her stomach, then even the normal dosage of Tylenol can be toxic to the body because the liver has been overworked. Haught said that students are not aware of the dangers in taking excessive Tylenol because they may not seem to experience immediate damage. "The risks may seem to be low to students," Haught said. "As you increase your dosage, and you are taking Advil or cough medicine, you don't really have any idea how that is going to work on your body. You [can] start
Photo by Shea Davidson
taking medications and you just don't have any idea what the compound effects are." According to Netdoctor.co.uk, taking two Ibuprofens (Advil) a day for one year may cause eventual damage to the lining of the stomach. After about a year's worth of time, the Ibuprofen doesn't help the body get better but allows the person to put their body tissue under more strain. Esler said that you have to be smart about the way you use the medicine. "You don't really know what your body's limit is," Esler said. "So any time you take over the amount of what you are supposed to, it can be nerve wracking to see if your body can even handle it. You don't know what your body can handle and what it can't handle until it happens." The side effects from many of the over the counter and prescription drugs that some students take can be significant, but they are willing to take the risks. "Sometimes [I] get dizzy or even drowsy," Liao said. "When I took Claritin-D, it just knocked me out. I [would] feel constantly tired. I would go home and take two hour naps every night and go to sleep at ten. It's not healthy." For some students, the health risks and side effects have not struck them just yet, but they straddle the line between a short-lived dependency and an addiction. Esler said that if she were to continue to misuse over the counter drugs, it could create a problem. "I don't see there being any health risks yet, but I think if I were to continue taking four Advil a day, then it could be a health risk when eventually I would have to take six to feel the effects," Esler said. As we continue to increase our dependence on over the counter and prescription drugs, and we throw millions of dollars into the pharmaceutical industry, we only increase our chances of resistance and immunity. "If you don't use [the medicine] correctly, then there are consequences for the misuse," Haught said. As American medical technology moves towards supplying prescription and OTC medicines for almost any medical illness that patients come into the office for, addiction and dependency increases. "People depend on the medicine to make their bodies feel better rather than letting their bodies kind of fight it off themselves," Esler said. Some people such as Liao believe that the technology is beneficial to our health and that we should take advantage of the advances. "It's not that you are [necessarily] addicted to it, you just feel so bad [without it]," Liao said. "You just can't live every day without it. [If it is] anything that makes us feel better, we would do it."
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May 22, 2008
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Come Zone to award scholarship to staff members By SAMANTHA STULEN Staff Writer Student employees at the Comet Zone will be receiving scholarships this year that in the next few years may be returned to students of Mason High School. Mason School Board Treasurer Richard Gardener's approval of the scholarships will make the plan, pending since the Comet Zone's opening, possible. "The treasurer approved us for the scholarships," Manager Senior Emily Hager said. "It's always been our plan to do this after five years [of being an official course], and this is the seventh year. We were not ready after the fifth year, but now with how much revenue we
brought in we have enough money to give out scholarships to people in our class." Since this will be the first year that the Comet Zone will be administering these scholarships, they will be restricted to senior employees of the school store. "We wanted to stick with keeping [the scholarship within] the Comet Zone," Hager said. "We haven't specifically decided if we're going to branch out. This year it might just stay within the Comet Zone, but once we got more money we'll extend it to our customers.� Gardener said the Comet Zone does have sufficient funds to distribute money among qualifiers for the general college tuition scholarship. When the store becomes more profitable and the customer base broadens, the Comet Zone
College choice may be connected to family roots By RACHEL SCHOWALTER Staff Writer Nearing the end of the 2008 school year, guidance has compiled a list called the "13-year-club," a group of seniors who have attended Mason from kindergarten through 12th grade. For some of these seniors, staying close to home for college holds a sentimental value created by memories of growing up in Mason. Senior Ali Geiger has lived in Mason for her entire life, and said she is opting to go to the University of Cincinnati's Raymond Walters College because of the close ties she has to Mason. "I feel a sense of attachment to Mason because I was born here," Geiger said. "My immediate family is here and leaving them would be tough. All of my best friends are here, people that I've grown up with. I can't see myself leaving [Mason]." While students like Geiger choose to stay close to home for college, some students who have moved throughout their lives tend to stray from Mason after they graduate. Senior Brenna Dawson will be attending the University of Arizona after moving from Minnesota two years ago. Dawson said that if she had lived in Mason for a longer time, her college decision would have been different. "If I had lived in Mason my whole life, I probably wouldn't have even thought about going to school out of state, like way out in Arizona," Dawson said. According to Dawson, many students in Minnesota tend to branch out and attend colleges across the country. Like Dawson, senior Scott Burnette has chosen to go to the University of Tennessee due to his frequent moves. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and lived in Maryland and Iowa before moving to Mason. "Iowa was where I grew up," Burnette said. "I went from a kid to a teenager [there], so I was attached to Iowa. When I moved here, I wasn't really attached to anything. There [hasn't been] any growth or true life experiences." Burnette said his parents plan to move to Tennessee after he graduates from college in order to be closer to his family in the South. "I meet up with my dad's family multiple times a year, so I'm always around them," Burnette said. "They're all from the South, so I've had a southern lifestyle my whole life, no matter where I've been." Burnette said that going to college farther away will help him learn to become more independent. "If I stayed in state, I'd be really close to my family still," Dawson said. "I would probably stay with the same friends that I have in Mason. I think I'll experience more and get to know more people." Geiger said that staying close to home poses few disadvantages for her. Geiger said that she can visit her friends in college and travel often, but she has no desire to live outside of Mason. According to Geiger, students that move frequently feel less of an attachment to Mason, as it is just another place in which they have lived. "If you've lived here your whole life, you know little places‌that make it special for you," Geiger said. "For them, leaving isn't as big of a deal as it would be for me. For people that have moved her from other states, they're not as deeply rooted as the ones who have lived here their whole lives.
employees would like to see a general application for all seniors. Comet Zone Advisor Debbie Gentene said that this is the first year the Comet Zone is "self-sustaining" and are able to give away the extra money earned, in the form of a scholarship. Currently, the Comet Zone is waiting for the reply from the Mason treasurer's office. "What we're waiting on right now is the finance department to verify that all of our finances are correct," Gentene said. "They would not want to say, 'Yeah, you can give away $500' unless they verify that we have enough money [saved] to cover anything [but,] we still have bills that have to be paid." The only concern of the scholarship is if it will be approved in time to award Comet Zone
employees this year; it was in the original business plan to approve the scholarships when the Comet Zone generated more money, but they may not be ready for this year's seniors. "When the Comet Zone first started six years [into] our original business plan that we wrote we proposed that our profit [would] be returned to our students in the form of a scholarship," Gentene said. In the oncoming weeks the Comet Zone will receive information as to whether the scholarships will be approved. "Our administration was very supportive of that idea, I feel that they just want to verify that the financials are accurate and the [money] is there," Gentene said. "I think that [then we'll] be ready to go."
Skateboarders may face fines if caught boarding in banned areas "Skateboarders are people and, generally speaking, people are pretty much the same in every area of life. Skaters mirror the population at large: the vast majority of skateboarders are respectful and conscientious. I'm sure the responsible skaters don't appreciate being stereotyped as rebellious and destructive because of a few bad eggs." Mr. Victor Kidd, Mason City Council Member By ELLEN DUFFER Staff Writer Skateboarders are facing the consequences of skating in restricted areas such as the newly-renovated downtown Mason. After the postponement of a plan for a skate park, a new ordinance was passed limiting the places around town where people can skateboard. Mayor Tom Grossmann said that the ordinance regulating the location of skating is in place to prevent the recently refurbished downtown area from being damaged. "Mason does not want skateboarders to injure, damage, or deface the new plaza in downtown Mason or other public structures," Grossmann said. "[So, the] new law prohibits skateboarding in certain specified areas like the new downtown plaza, the Veterans Memorial, [and] on or around park playground equipment." Grossmann said he thinks the currently establish parameters are enough for Mason skateboarders. "You can skateboard on sidewalks, bike paths, parking lots in our public parks, and private property," Grossman said. "I feel that is adequate space." In February the skateboards of senior Paul Giovis and his friend Mike Cruse were seized after they were found near scratched and dented benches along the new plaza, where skateboarding is banned. "There was damage done to the new benches there, by other skateboarders," Giovis said. "We just happened to be there at the time, so the Mason police confiscated our boards." The punishment Giovis and Cruse received exceeded the fines generally administered by Mason. In most cases, a $100 fine is given for the first offense, $200 for the second, and $300 for the third. Giovis and Cruse, however, were sent to court with a possibility of paying for $3,000 in damage for each bench and receiving a second degree misdemeanor. "We've been to court three times," Giovis said. "We tried to defend it, because they can't really prove anything." Giovis said that as time has progressed, the boundaries for skateboarders have gotten harsher and he doesn't see the situation improving any time soon. He said that skateboarders are constantly being categorized to match the fines they're being dealt. "They're criminalizing a sport," Giovis said. "It kind of puts me to the point where [I think] it's never going to change; it's just going to get worse. Even a couple of years ago, you could skate around here. But now, it's like, if you're seen with a skateboard, you're stereotyped to being this bad person." Council Member Victor Kidd said that skateboarders represent all others in Mason, and should, therefore, not be discriminated against. "Skateboarders are people and, generally speaking, people are pretty much the same in every area of life," Kidd said. "Skaters mirror the population at large: the vast majority of skateboarders are respectful and conscientious. I'm sure the responsible skaters don't appreciate being stereotyped as rebellious and destructive because of a few bad eggs." Because Mason has built several parks for sports other than skateboarding, Giovis said that he has been working toward getting the city to construct a deserved skate park. "[Mason officials] don't want to spend any money on skate parks; they don't want to give us a place to go, but they'll build these big soccer fields with fake grass and huge sports arenas," Giovis said. "We've been trying to get them to build skate parks for four years now. I went to every council meeting and they kept saying that
photo contributed
Senior Paul Giovis, due to the recently enforced bans on skateboarding in much of Mason, skateboards at Ollie’s, a skate park in Florence, Kentucky. they'd give it to us." Recently, Mason City Council's Park Board made the decision to renegotiate with Deerfield Township to try to ensure that skateboarders will have a legal place to skate. "A majority on council has long been in favor of a skate park at the right price and with cooperation with Deerfield Township," Grossmann said. "I have asked council members involved with the parks to work on this along with the Park Board and to involve Deerfield Township in the planning process." Kidd said that construction on such a park, which would be built between MHS and Corwin Nixon Park according to Grossmann, would last around three months. Until a skate park is built, Giovis said that Mason's skateboarders will continue to live their lives as they had before the institution of fines and altered regulations. "Skateboarders are going to do what they do," Giovis said. "Skateboarders skate on benches and rails and stairs. It's not about going and damaging some place."
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May 22, 2008
Parking situation won’t get any better next year Student drivers will encounter stressful parking situation for one more year By SPENCER WEBB Staff Writer Students who drive to Mason High School can for the most part expect the same parking situation next school year. According to Assistant Principal Tim Keeton the lots will not be completed until fall 2009 after construction is finished. Keeton said next year's parking for students will be the same as it has been since construction started. However, Keeton also said that there might be an addition of a temporary parking lot for staff members constructed next year. "[Parking next year will be] just what it is right now -- at least that's what we're planning
on," Keeton said. Keeton said next year the parking area for students will shift in position depending on where construction is taking place, but the number of parking spots within the lots will not change as the lots are shifted. "I don't think we're going to gain any spots until the end [of construction]," Keeton said According to Keeton, parking rules are going to remain the same next school year: seniors will park in the upper lot, while juniors and sophomores will park either in the pool lot or at the Mason Community Center. "Nobody had a better solution than what we came up with," Keeton said. "We can't snap our fingers and magically have a three story park-
Despite controversy in the district public information officer prefers to focus on the positive By ELLEN DUFFER Staff Writer and ALYSSA HOWARD Staff Writer As the school year has progressed, Mason City Schools has dealt with a few less-thanideal circumstances in the media. According to a recent Chronicle poll of Mason High School, approximately 63 percent of students feel that the school district doesn't handle these controversies well. However, Mason City Schools Public Information Officer Tracey Carson said that she views situations with which the school has dealt in a different light. "On occasion, [a student or staff member] makes a bad choice that becomes news," Carson said. "And that's all right. I believe by and large, most people understand that there are far more outstanding things that are happening in our district, and those things also get media attention." Carson said she views her job as a mediator of communication in the district. "Primarily, I'm here to build relationships," Carson said. "I try to be truthful and honest with people and help manage messages between people." There is some information that Carson said she is obligated to keep from the public, however. "Sometimes, some things, like student names [or] a student's discipline, [are] not public record," Carson said. "In that case, it is my responsibility to not divulge information that is protected by law." In some instances, Carson said she is required to disclose requested information, which can lead to controversy surrounding the misunderstanding over what should legally be kept private. "When [the Kiwanis club] had public records requests for parents' emails, sometimes people couldn't understand why we would release this information," Carson said. "They felt like that should have been protected because it was a conversation between [a student's] parent and their teacher." Despite the disagreement that can arise surrounding what should be released to the public and what should be discussed, Carson said that she thinks citizens of Mason don't regard instances that are covered in the media as hurtful to the community. "Most of the time I think people share my view that…when something attracts attention that may be considered negative or controversial, I don't think they view it as a taint on the whole process," Carson said. Carson said that when MHS was contacted by the American Civil Liberties Union concerning staff members reading text messages on confiscated cell phones, Mason did not act
Carson Bio University of Cincinnati graduate Tracey Carson
Major: Political Science/ Journalism
Experience: Volunteer Coordinator for Smoke Free Ohio campaign Aide, former Cincinnati mayor Roxanne Qualls Key to good PR: “Being honest and trying to anticipate what will happen.” negatively towards the way the situation was handled. "Community members and adults actually were very positive towards the district's reaction [to the case with the ACLU]," Carson said. In order to maintain a good relationship with the media, Carson said that she does not distance herself from reporters. "I do try to be very available," Carson said. "I try to develop relationships with media folks. It's easier to get our good news covered if you're available when things don't feel so great." When a controversial topic does get coverage and Carson has to deal with the attention Mason receives, she said she tries to find out information that the public would want to know. "I start to ask the questions that, as a community person and as a parent, I would want to know," Carson said. "I always want to know [the answers to] those kind of basic 'Who? What? When? Where? Why?' [questions]." Ultimately, Carson said that the district must apologize for controversial events in the community. "One of the biggest things when you make a mistake [is to say] 'I'm sorry,'" Carson said. "[We have to say,] 'We made a mistake, but here's what we're doing now.'"
ing garage appear." Keeton said passes will be sold next year until the parking lots are filled to capacity, as the administration is continuing to do what it can do to accommodate students. "If anything, [parking] pass sales have increased this year," Administrative Assistant Karen Johnson said. According to Johnson, there are not going to be any new numbered parking spaces for MHS because the City of Mason will not allow the school to have additional spaces until construction is finished. With the new challenge of space constraints for parking, Principal Dave Allen said that the administration has been working to increase the
available spots for students. Allen said the original plan was to include an additional 120 parking spaces in front of the natatorium. However, this plan was only a conceptual plan of what is to be built and Mason did not allow the school to build on the green space. "There has to be an understanding between the city and the schools," Allen said. "You have to be careful when you eliminate green space." Allen said it is a difficult task trying to work with the city and accommodating drivers at MHS. "We have to make it through one more year," Allen said.
Signs of recession showing up in Mason businesses The cost of gas isn’t the only thing going up By RACHEL SCHOWALTER Staff Writer The United States may be headed for economic recession after slow financial growth. Economics teacher Steve Prescott said that a recession is declared after two straight quarters of economic downturn, which the United States has already had. "We can't say that [we are in a recession] officially, but it looks like we are," Prescott said. According to Prescott, factors that affect a recession include Gross Domestic Product, the unemployment rate, and inflation. He said the current credit crunch has also been a major aspect of slow economic times. "Credit cards have never been so prevalent as they are now," Prescott said. "Americans are sitting on so much debt. They're paying so many interest rates to their mortgage company, their bank, and their credit card money. It's hard for them to know [how much money] they really have in their head." In order to handle this problem, Prescott said that the Federal Reserve Bank could restrict credit severely so consumers will not be able to buy as much. This will force Americans to only buy things for which they currently have money. A tax rebate has also been issued for independent Americans that make at least 3,000 dollars a year. The Federal Reserve Bank will be giving back money to these individuals in order to stimulate the economy. Prescott said that about a quarter of economists think this tax rebate will be spent on fuel, while others speculate that it will be used to pay off credit. Even though the tax rebate is intended for economic stimulus, Prescott said that it is not the "right medicine" for the economy. "Our budget is already so much in deficit, that taking money from the budget for a quick fix on the economy is not what I would have done," Prescott said. In the coming year, Prescott said that he expects food and fuel prices to continue to increase, although not dramatically. These rising food prices have affected Jet's Pizza on
THAT WAS THEN, THIS
Phyllis Burpo
Mason-Montgomery Road, which is currently dealing with increased cheese and flour prices. According to Jet's Pizza owner John Billotti, flour prices have increased because farmers are growing less wheat and more corn in order to produce alternative fuels. Weather problems are also affecting major wheat-producing countries, which have been restricting the export of wheat in an attempt to artificially increase prices. The cost of fuel necessary to transport the wheat to the production facilities has also increased dramatically. "The cost of cheese has also gone up for similar reasons," Billotti said. "Corn, used to feed the cheese producing cows, has been diverted to the production of alternative fuels leaving less feed for the cows. Less feed means lower diary production. This is why all dairy products have risen so dramatically over the last year." Billotti said that the company's production costs have increased approximately 25 percent in the past 15 months. In order to alleviate these rising costs, Jet's Pizza has managed to raise its prices slightly while still retaining customers. "Jet's Pizza has initiated small price increases twice in the last twelve months to partially mitigate the rising costs,” Billotti said. Senior Brian Bradley said that the recession has some substance to it, but has been blown slightly out of proportion because of the upcoming election. "I've noticed that there's been a lot of publicity [about the recession], a lot because of the election," Bradley said. "I think that the economic downturn wouldn't be such a big deal publicly if it wasn't an election year where the candidates have made it an issue; especially the Democratic candidates, because they believe in entitling people with economic benefits." Bradley said that the recession could affect high school students when they have college loans. According to the Associated Press, the Federal Reserve Bank cut interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point: the biggest reduction in this target rate since 1990. "As far as getting a loan to continue education in college, it's extremely beneficial for interest rates to go down," Bradley said. "In a four year type sense for me, it's a great thing. As far as getting a job after college, [the recession] might not be such a great turn of events.”
IS NOW....
1970
2008
Gas $.36 a gallon Milk $1.15 a gallon Soft Drink $.50 Candy Bar $.05 Cereal $1.69
Gas $3.95 a gallon Milk $2.50 a gallon Soft Drink $1.25 Candy Bar $1.00 Cereal $5.00 Mackenzie Touby
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May 22, 2008 STAFF POLICY
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The Chronicle is the official student newspaper of William Mason High School. The Chronicle is produced by students enrolled in Journalism I, II and III. Editorials reflect the staff’s opinion but do not neccesarily reflect the opinions of the school administration or the Mason City School District. The Chronicle is published monthly. Call 398-5025 ext. 33110 for information regarding advertising in The Chronicle. The Chronicle reserves the right to refuse advertising we deem inappropriate for a high school publication. As an open forum for students, letters to the editor are welcome, but are subject to be edited for length, libel, obscentiy, clarity and poor taste. Letters to the editor may be dropped off in room C110 and must be signed. The Chronicle is a member of The Columbia Scholastic Press Association, The National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists and the Journalism Association for Ohio Schools.
What would you say to the nay-sayers who said we couldn't compete in the GMC?
"Duh, Mason could make it in the GMC I hate to brag but Mason is the best" Alyssa Ross Freshman
"It looks like we proved them wrong -we are number one in the All Sports Trophy" Dan McCormack Junior
"Mason has the best public school athletic program; to say we don't belong is a crime" Tim Huesing Junior
"They are just wrong. I mean, look at where we are now." Jake White Sophomore
"Mason has been winning at almost every single sport in the GMC." Evan Pfirrman Freshman
"I say they are stupid because we are Mason." Mike Kramer Senior
"We totally pwned you." Zach Barnes Freshman
"We did pretty well this year, not great, but we can only get better from here." Kyle Dodson Sophomore
CONTACT INFORMATION The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Mason, Ohio 45040 398-5025
THE CHRONICLE STAFF E DITOR Shea Davidson A SSOCIATE E DITOR Jackie Swoyer S PORTS E DITOR Drew Allen D ISTRIBUTION / C IRCULATION M ANAGER Kirsten McCafferty B USINESS M ANAGER Amanda Miller T ECHNICAL AND G RAPHIC Patrick Lipka S TAFF W RITERS Nina Bressau Rachel Brockhage Mandy Chiara Ellen Duffer Duncan Fischley Nisha Giridharan Alyssa Howard Megan Roehm Rachel Schowalter Samantha Stulen Jeremy Powers Spencer Webb Kristen Yawit A DVISER Mr. Dale Conner
column ‘08 Blending together instead of standing out Three years ago when the class of '06 graduated The Chronicle came out with a story called "The characters of the class of '06" its tagline saying, "each class has its own unique set of characters, the class of '06 is no different." While this statement may have been true By SHEA DAVIDSON for the class of Editor '06 I have trouble believing it applies to the class of '08. When I look back on my four years spent here at Mason High School I have a hard time selecting a handful of students that I would consider a "character" or representative for the class of 2008. Out of about 750 seniors I don't think I could select six individuals to represent us all, nor do I think it would be fair or accurate. This became extremely apparent to me when I finally decided to sit down and complete this years senior superlatives survey, and couldn't. Best hair, best eyes, most likely to travel the world, cutest couple, most likely to be President. While senior superlatives are meant to be fun I didn't find the selection process very enjoyable. How was I supposed to select one person in an entire grade that was the most athletic or that was the biggest teachers pet? I know lots of kids in different sports that are awesome athletes, and almost every student in my AP Brit Lit class last tri could have won biggest teacher's pet. I found myself thinking of certain people that would be perfect for a category only to realize a few seconds later that they were not a senior or that they had already graduated. It is in this way that I believe the class of
'08 has defined itself -- we are the class that has simply blended in, and meshed with the other classes here at the high school. However, by blending in we will not be the class that is forgotten because of all of the people that we will be leaving behind next year. Some of my best friends will not be joining me on stage for graduation in a few days. The class of '08 hasn't exactly followed the stereotypical mold of seniors being friends with seniors and the exclusiveness that occurs with being at the top of the totem pole. Instead of basing who we are friends with off of the people that are in our grade the seniors at Mason have blended in making the difference in grades less visible than in years past. It seems that every year classes are blending more and more and are choosing friends based on interests rather than levels in school. I have made my friends based off of the activities that I have participated in such as the newspaper or speech and debate since these are the people in which I have similar interests. There will always be those people that I think of when asked about the students in my grade. The founders of the Black Hole, the class president, and this year's valedictorian. However, I wouldn't necessarily consider these students "characters." Instead of having an obvious group of characters for the class of '08 I think that this year it is more accurate to say that there are "characters" in everyone's groups of friends. The class of '08 has spread itself throughout the high school forming groups of friends with all grade levels, and thereby blending in. After all the cutest couple I know consists of a junior and a senior. The guy that comes to mind when I think of a class clown is a junior, and the girl who really is the biggest flirt is a sophomore. And to be honest I don't really think the next President of the United States is going to come from Mason High School -- but who knows?
Compiled by Duncan Fischley
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May 22, 2008
MASON CITY SCHOOLS WISHES
CONGRATULATIONS NATIONAL and STATE qualifiers of 2007-2008 ACADEMIC National Achievement Scholarship Program Semi Finalist Tessa Xuan National Merit Semi Finalist Kathy Chu Jon Gazda Jacquita Germain Chris Harrill Ben Jiang Shining Li Xin Liu Michael Michalak Katie Parrott Chris Ragnacci Yibo Shao Jennifer Shen Matthew Wilkins Tom Xu State National Geographic Geography Bee Harsha Ramesh University of Cincinnati Science Fair Sanika Barve Alexander Chernyakhovsky Kaitlin Findley Alex Holzer Aarti Kumar Abby Lebowitz Srikar Mylavarapu Jamie Sobotka Raymond Tan Matthew Tan Kaeleigh Warfield Tong Zhan Math Counts John Deaton Kevin Feng Kevin Huang Jeffery Huang Sarah Sohn Matthew Tan Power of the Pen Rebekah Barnes Ashley Calvani Miranda Carney Diana He Katelyn Kang Naina Singh Sarah Sohn Nick Staresinic Ana Sucaldito Gina Wei Tina Zhang
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle Kashi Goyal Eric Hall John Hovey Joyce Li Kelly Loughead Danielle Minter Suprasanna Mishra Justin Raymundo Drew Reed Anjana Venkatesan Ray Wang Christina Westley Tong Zhan Kevin Zhang Math Team Dennis Tseng Ray Wang Tong Zhan Kevin Zhang MMS National History Day Team Kaushik Chagarlamudi Krishna Cheeti Jeffery Huang Vicky Lin Vivek Nadipalli Vishal Namala Paige Richie Umeirra Savani Hannah Somershoe Amy Yang Songyi Yen MHS National History Day Team Nathan Fisher Alex Muetzel Courtney Wittekind United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) Examination Dennis Tseng Tong Zhan
Science Olympiad Nisha Giridharan Chris Harrill Shining Li Julian Lu Darleen Lukashevich Rebecca Lyon Mike Michalak Brendan Rice Shyamal Ruparel Yibo Shao Prathayini Subarajan Ray Wang Casey Whited Tong Zhan Irene Zhanglin
National Scholastic Press Association National First Place Nina Bressau Rachel Brockhage Mandy Chiara Ellen Duffer Nisha Giridharan Alyssa Howard Patrick Lipka Megan Roehm Rachel Schowalter Samantha Stulen Jackie Swoyer Kristen Yawit Shea Davidson Kirsten McCafferty Amanda Miller Jeremy Powers Spencer Webb Drew Allen
Speech and Debate Melissa Alkiewicz Kovid Bhatnagar Vishal Bhatnagar John Carey Shea Davidson
Columbia Scholastic Press Association National Gold Circle Shea Davidson Patrick Lipka Jeff Stephens
ART 2008 Youth Art Month Exhibition Katie Bean Tina Zhang Governor's Youth Art Exhibit Glorimar Garcia Andrew Tremblay Ohio Art Education Association's Young People's Art Exhibition Christina Dulovich Jeffery Huang Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Laura Adams Caitlyn Crites Sarah Fukatsu Paul Giovis Dale Hupke Omair Hussain Julia Hustedt Liz Kelly Rebecca Kroeger Rina Nagai Robert Rushton Jenny Setters Jenny Shen Andrew Tremblay Taylor Vogel Meredith Waddell Courtney Wittekind Danni Wu Bel Canto Kayla Bittner Caleigh Bourgeois Dorothy Branch Bianca Brewer Leah Bromley Jordan Broughton Julia Christy Priscilla Clark Elyssa Comperchio Laura Cook Kerri Dauzat Laura Davis Lauren Day Nicole Denzel Katherine Dowrey Tess Eger Katelynn Elliott Nicole Flask Davin Fluker Kira Fluker Candice Fulcher Michelle Granitz Elizabeth Grimm Amy Haake Alexandra Harvey Tiffany Hays Lauren Heslop Lindsay Horlacher Rachel Howie Kayla Mackey Mallory Matson Kristin McMillan Hilliary Melnick Lindsay Miller Shelby Money Kathryn Morris
Lillian Mueller Sarah Mulkie Elizabeth Nebraski Caroline Nesbit Amanda Puckett Gabriela Reilly Michelle Reinhart Blayr Richie Lindsay Romaniw Jenna Rubin Nisha Sachar Heidi Schmid Bianca Sidoti Tamra Sims Hope Slater Bonnie Smith Megan Steele Abbey Thomas Kristen Warren Kirsten Worth Honors Concert Choir Michael Ablordeppey Tiwa Akomolede Megan Bracher Jake Burress Christie Carmichael Lauren Caserta Emma Cevasco Moira Cevasco Chris Downer Ian Fitzpatrick Davin Fluker Katie Fulton Jacqui Germain Jenna Hayden Shannon Hebel Lauren King Shelby Knapke Julianna Langmajer Kristin Lonsway Becky Lyon Daniel Marque Ashley McCall Dan McGlothlin Alex Muetzel Emily Noel Brittany Palmer Katie Parrott Tony Patti Austin Rabah Renee Rabenold Kyle Raffel Justin Raymundo Jordan Reeves Lauren Ringel Jessica Sanders Abby Scaggs Drew Sinha Adam Stang Tyler Stargle Jack Stemen Cecilia Suarez Eric Svensson Mackenzie Touby Luke Turner Jill Vincent Lizy Volk Mike Weingand Matt Weldon Kelsey Whited Jamie Williams Hannah Zimmerman
Concert Band Abigail Allen Caitlin Allen Sierra Barrett Alexandria Behne Nathan Buddemeyer Jesse Cherubini Kase Corstanje Alex Court Elizabeth Cychosz Sarah Dubose Jake Dugan Jared Dvorsky Charlotte Eads Rosemary Easterday Alexis Eddy Brian Fitzgerald Ben Frey Danny Griffin Graeme Guinup Kyle Hack Ian Hammeran Stephanie Hassert Casey Heim Julia Heslop Megan Hinson Hannah Hoetger Vincent Hsu Marina Ikemoto Matt Izumi Brennan Jansen Sam Johnson Buthaina Karaman Taylor Konkus Tyler Konkus Katie Lamb Michael Langen Rachel Larson Justin Lightfield Kyle Martin Trevor Mayrose Whitney McCoy Morgan McNary Shinya Michimi Charles Moertle Pushkaran Palani Gabriel Perez Dan Pierson Daniel Pierson Zachary Poller Zach Poller James Powers Alec Prusinski Monika Rudolph Michael Rupert Dan Scurry Paul Shackelford Chad Singleton George Skoufalos Hannah Sliger Scott Spencer Katie Stigers Daniel Stillwell Sarah Stoffolano Maggie Sullivan Andrew Taggart Stephanie Tape Colleen Taylor Patrick Vorbroker Lauren Wilson Linda Yao Drumline Aaron Bartos Aaron Boyle David Brauer Jesse Cherubini Nick Corey Kyle Ebersole Jacob Gibson Alex Gormley Danny Griffin Henry Haskamp Stephanie Hassert Brad Helwagen Kelly Hendrickson Nick Holderbaum
chronicle
May 22, 2008
MASON CITY SCHOOLS WISHES
CONGRATULATIONS NATIONAL and STATE qualifiers of 2007-2008 Drumline continued Michael Holliday Jacob Jensen Justin Lightfield Brad Lonsway Daniel Marchese Ryan McCoy John McIntosh Zach Meneely Josh Miller Tim Miller Ian Molitors Tim Neumann Steven Nichelson Jesse Niehaus Brandon Nolan Jessica Olson Bryan Petrinowitsch Dan Pierson Matt Pierson Alex Poole James Powers Alec Prusinski Stephen Rausch Tyler Siska Wil Troescher Michael Verleye Isaiah Vodenik Katie Weaver Symphony Orchestra Naureen Asif Courtney Barnett Stephen Brown Natalia Carvalho Swetha Chatla Peter Chen Amy Clippinger Courtney Dvorsky Katelyn Dvorsky Dylan Firlie Stephen Hendrickson Ian Hill Anupama Joseph Shelby Knapke Caitlyn Lana Lynne Liao Jenny Liao Ian Liu Flora Massah Claire Molitors Audrey Nguyen Stella Nguyen Esther Oh Whitney Pelfrey Nicole Perry Emily Pham Sophia Raptis Brendan Rice Erin Roark Jasline Sahota Tim Scruta Alyssa Springsteen Taylor Walston Lillian Wang Tong Zhan Charles Zheng Wind Symphony Abby Anderson Samantha Antenucci Rachel Barnes Aaron Bartos Aaron Boyle Connor Bradley Laura Brignole Jeff Brown David Chrzanowski Raia Contractor Laura Cook Nick Corey Kelly Corfman Mary Anne Crone Tim Davison Kate Delaney Emily Delman Chris Downer
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.� Aristotle Kyle Ebersole Jeff Ellis Jonathan Gazda Jacob Gibson Chris Glover Andrew Hare Zach Hinson Isaiah Ianniello Ben Jiang Anthony Jones Olivia Jordan Thomas Keene Maggie King David Lee Michelle Lee Anchin Liaw Steve Lim Lily Liu Cassandra Mahan Daniel Marchese Daniel Marque Ryan McCoy Mallory McKeehan Ian Molitors Tim Neumann Jesse Niehaus Brandon Nolan Adam Paljieg Danny Parrott Ryan Patterson Tyler Pawlak Bryan Petrinowitsch Matt Probel Lindsey Roth Mallory Sanders Doug Schoensiegel Leah Seggerman Danielle Simms Stephen Simpson A. J. Sliger Jay Sliger Adam Soliman Dan Sweeney Michael Verleye Ben Wagner Monica Wagner Matt Walston Kevin Watson Ben Weaver Dylan Weidlich Matt Wilkins Kevin Zhang Kevin Zhang Women's Choir Amanda Allen Amy Allen Courtney Barnett Sarah Beckstedt Olivia Berry Laura Bramble Stephanie Branch Emily Christy Kate Creutzinger Nancy Dao Carlie Demann Stacie Denton Hannah Dipenti Brittany Elam Rachel Fuller Sarah Goforth Renee Grice Samantha Heimann Courtney Heydt Danielle Holste Sophie Johnson
Andrea Knabe Lindsey Lambert Ariana Larson Payton Laws Holly Ledbetter Kristin Leist Emily Mason Amanda Matson Bethany Mulkie Taylor Noe Paige Norden Tiffany Oberst Heidi Palmer Alexi Parsons Courtni Price Elizabeth Redwine Monika Rudolph Gabrielle Schneider Jessica Smith Zainab Sumra Samantha Taks Tara Traxler Mary Vanlandingham Fernanda Victoria-Bojalil Erica Yancey
ATHLETICS 2006-2007 Girls' Track and Field Team Tiwa Akomolede Cari Caprio Stephanie Chaney Molly Culbertson Catherine Earl Rachel Harley Angela Koehler Lindsey Ossim Emily Staresinic Rachel Weber Kiersten Wones 2006-2007 Softball Team Amanda Allen Amy Allen Holly Baas Rachel Burrell Li'Ana Jackson Carly Miller Christin Miller Kellie Morris Katherine Mountsier Colleen Reinoehl Erin Roark Lindsay Roth Meg Roussos Sara Rye Katie Stone Brittni Tibbs Katherine Wills Nate Petrey (Manager) Stephen Rausch (Manager) MHS Boys Cross Country Ed Carlin Eric Hauser Matthew Honaker Matt Kahl Matt Kincaid Matt Larcomb Naman Rakheja Zach Wills
MHS Girls Cross Country Natalia Carvalho Stephanie Chaney Molly Culbertson Brenna Hallum Alyssa Ross Emily Staresinic Danielle Terreri Tricia Wolford MHS Girls Gymnastics Holly Esler Kiersten Wones MHS Girls Tennis Sso-Rha Kang Lindsay Shaefer MHS Girls Varsity Golf Erin Michel Elizabeth Nebraski Alexis Nelson Alli Wehrman Emily Wright Jessica Zhang MHS Wrestling Jeremy Artrip Nick Difabritus Josh Kline John Marley Jake Suess Daniele Tedoldi Ruben Victoria-Bojalil Eoin Walden Dante West Comet Skippers Lauren Adams Katie Adams Carlie Anderson Allison Astles Brittany Astles Arleth Bravo Amy Brignole Tracey Brignole Macie Cousineau Amelia Davis Alese Difabritus Christina Dulovich Michael Dulovich Emily Eckes Olivia Gaus Cassidy Hackney Ally Haidet Lydia Hare Morgan Hyland Lauren Jennings Brendan Kelly Nicholas King Ruth Liang Katie Lipps Lynn Lipps Carrie Lipps Rachel Maloney Sean Newport Alexis Pendleton Jeress Pendleton Symran Robinson Alexandra Simpson Katie Simpson Stephen Simpson Jasmine Staples Isabella Steffen Gus Thieken Teddy Thieken
Lindsay Thomas Patrick Vorbroker Sarah Wells Esther Yim Lauren Zambello MHS Competition Cheerleaders Jasmine Allen Alyssa Ball Erin Barsan Kelly Carns Amber Celesti Madeline Cox Brittany Doria Courtney Dunford Katie Earhart Jessica Ehling Kelsi Harris Julianna Langmajer Shelby Money Kaitlyn Muff Bianka Nguyen Cassandra Nguyen Karin Noguchi Kelly O'Neil Megan O'Neil Autumn Poovey Annie Ruedger Christina Rump Katie Schappacher Chelsea Shepherd Jenna Stauffer Kristy Stephens Maddie Tepe Katie Vanover Shannon Wallace Allie Williams Paige Young MHS Varsity Dance Team Lauren Bridges Caitlin Burke Brenna Dawson Brittany Elam Jessica Fawcett Allie Hauck Maddie Hudson Megan Kelley Alli King Shannon Niehaus Hope Slater Jessica Zitscher MHS JV Dance Team Allyson Barham Evelyn Dawson Sara Ditzel Megan Findley Erin Fox Ashley Lawhorn Stephanie Purvis Allison Sirk Abby White MHS Swim Team Haley Bull Sarah Burrell Cari Caprio Taylor Edwards Brandon Evans Chad Griffiths Spencer Hewes Danielle Jansen Jon Joyce Jared Kolwyck Brad Langford Morgan Parker Zach Rice Stephen Sargent Nick Steege Andy Supronas Kayla Wiemers Mary Wunderle
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No more shagging foul balls at Comet baseball field BY JEREMY POWERS Staff Writer It’s a rite of passage on nearly every high school baseball team. The kids sitting on the bench have to chase the foul balls that are hit during games. In baseball terminlogy it’s called shagging foul balls. However, when the Comets host a home game the kids on the bench have to find something else to do. Why? Chasing foul balls is prohibited. The baseball field on the campus of Mason High School is one of the top baseball facilities in southwestern Ohio. It has a pressbox, concrete stands and all the trimmings of a quality high school ballpark. But there’s one drawback...the location. A relaxing day out to the ball park to enjoy some high school baseball could cost you your life. Fans often witness a car screeching to a halt after a ball cracks a windshield or a bullpen catcher tries to avoid contact with a 1ton Honda speeding past the field. The home of the Comet baseball team sits on busy Mason-Montgomery Road. That simple fact makes almost each game a noisy and possibly dangerous endeavor. Athletic Director Scott Stemple has acknowledged the fact that the baseball field's location is a matter worth discussing. "We understand it as an issue and it is one of the problems we are trying to solve," Stemple said. "We are looking at options like backstops or something of that nature." Because of the danger that it poses the bench warmers don’t have to chase foul balls any more. Even though it can make for some added expenses each game, since the team can throw a dozen baseballs, safety is the most important issue. Athletic Department Assistant Eric Silverman stressed the the importance of safety. "Games run right through rush hour and we prefer to leave a foul ball," Silverman said. “A foul ball is not worth possibly harming an athlete, the athlete comes first." If any object is most important to the completion of a baseball game, baseballs are that object. According to Silverman, there has not been an urgent need of extra baseballs during any point of the season due to foul balls scurrying across the street. “If a ball is hit foul they are retrieved and are put back into play,” Silverman said. “It is not like a Reds game [where balls are not reused], when a ball goes out of play it is not done.” Mason-Montgomery Road has not acted as an inconvience when it comes to the supply of baseballs needed for each game. "I give Coach Bly or Coach Gray a box of balls each game, which consists of 12 balls," Silverman said. "Typically they do not need more than that unless they are playing a double header one day." Assistant Varsity Coach Curt Bly acknowledged that tradition makes this situation a tough issue to grasp a hold of for there is no real answer to the location dilemma. "The field has been there for many years and Mason has grown around it," Bly said. "It has become a problem, but could not have been foreseen." Bly recognized that the position of the field has not led to an inconvenience during game play because of the great job the athletic department does with the circumstances as a whole. "The athletic department does a great job supplying balls," Bly said. "It is also important that they put a rule in effect to not put our student athletes in danger by crossing the street retrieving foul balls." The common speculation of possible improvements to the field by Stemple and Silverman was confirmed by Bly. "We are always looking for easy [ways] to improve our opportunities for our student athletes in regards to moving the site," Bly said. "There are a lot of opinions and solutions being discussed to continue improvement, but we are all looking out for the best for our school district."
May 22, 2008
My day at the ball park by DREW ALLEN Sports Editor
Being Chronicle sports editor has its perks, final assignment was a day to remember t wasn’t just any ordinary day at Great American Ballpark. Sure, there were scalpers, peanut vendors and jersey hawkers outside before the game. But that’s where the similarities ceased. Me, Jeremy Powers and former Chronicle editor Chris DeLotell, who acted as our “adult” chaperone, all had the opportunity to attend the Reds’ high school media day, and the experience was bar none. I had at first figured it would be an awkward day of standing around, nervous glances and short talks. From the moment we entered the park, the once mysterious world of the Reds opened up before us. We walked in the bowels of the stadium, seeing multiple previously offlimits sights. Among those were the exclusive Diamond Club and the media room where the team holds all their press conferences. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a glimpse into the umpire’s quarters. They apparently can be irritable before games and are more off limits than Dick Cheney in his undisclosed secret bunker. However, batting practice was yet another eye opener. One simply can’t realize just how big Adam Dunn or Aaron Harang are until they’re ten feet in front of you. Nor do you realize how the players are just ordinary guys playing a simple game. And none were more everyday than manager Dusty Baker. Among my first observations of him; Dusty Baker is the Mr. Reid of professional baseball. Dusty slapped hands with everyone, Cubs and Reds alike. He seemed to never run out of stories to swap and memories to share. Slowly, players emerged from the dugouts in warmups and donning gloves, chatting aimlessly. They tossed around (and their toss is like my fastball) for what seemed like hours, and that’s when I realized what makes a simple game great; time slows down. It’s a simple sport where one can just unwind and forget about their day.
I
photos by Drew Allen and Jeremy Powers
It was great to see fellow Chronicle sportswriter Jeremy Powers “chillin” with Brandon Phillips. (Inset: Brandon Phillips and I) “A lot of people come to baseball games because you can relax,” the Reds’ Director of Media Relations Rob Butcher said. “Unlike football, hockey or basketball, you can let your guard down while watching.” As I watched Dunn knock ball after ball out of the park, I came to understand this ancient rite of passage. Baseball connects generations and closes the gap between past and present. Ted Kluszewski, with his sleeveless arms, swung in a cage just like the one Dunn stood in and knocked balls out of the park, as did Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and other sluggers from the glory days of baseball. Just then, a slugger from today’s era walked up to us. Brandon Phillips, the Red’s 30-30 hitter from last season, immediately presented himself as the franchise player of the future. Fortunately the Reds locked him up with a four year contract this spring. He stayed with us for about 10-15 minutes snapping pictures and answering our varied questions that ranged from bowling to baseball. He and Jeremy even talked rap for a couple of minutes. Among his favorite artists: Outkast. After batting practice and a quick Q&A in the media room it was up to the press box. I figured it would be the most nap-worthy part of our day. Needless to say, it wasn’t. From the
greatest view in the park, others sat and waited in quiet anticipation of the first pitch. Soon enough, we were introduced to a slew of Reds reporters. We met the Reds broadcast crew of Chris Welsh and Thom Brennaman. Radio and TV broadcaster Jeff Brantely, affectionately known as the “Cowboy,” certainly lived up to his nickname. He walked up to us with leather boots, slick hair and a crushing handshake. But no one was more to character than legendary broadcaster Marty Brennaman. His characteristic, wonderfully indescribable voice cut through everyone else. He seemed more genuinely excited to work than any else, and he is every bit as warm as he is on the radio. After Marty, we went into the control room for the scoreboard, which resembled mission control from NASA. But I was still numb to it after meeting my childhood idol. The Reds’ win that night over the Cubs was just icing on the cake. Sure, Francisco Cordero nearly gave me another heart attack with five wild pitches. But the Reds played hard, and deserved to win. Like life, in baseball you get what you earn. ”Just like life, [baseball] is fair and it’s unfair,” Phillips said. “Just by watching the game, you get involved.”
chronicle 9
May 22, 2008
Softball team advances with blow out win over McAuley BY DUNCAN FISCHLEY Staff Writer The Comet softball team ended the regular season last year with a losing record and wound up in the state final four. This year the Comets rolled into the post season with a an impressive 19-8 record and head coach Brian Castner thinks that a repeat trip to the final four isn’t out of the question. "I'm feeling really good; the girls are playing well right now,” Castner said. “We offer a lot at the tournament and our defense is sound.” After competing against some of the top competition in the area in the Greater Miami con-
ference, the Comets opened post season play with an 11-0 trouncing of McAuley. Castner was pleased with the win and especially the way they won after a grueling season in games and on the practice field. “The girls have answered every single punch I threw at them this year,” Castner said. “They have done a great job of playing this year. This time last year we were 11-14, [and] now going into the tournament, we are 19-8.” Even with the winning record, a solid finish in the GMC, and an opening round blow-out win, Castner doesn’t want the team to press in their desire to return to state. "Knowing that the end is soon, some of the
girls might have a gas problem,” Castner said. “They may run out of energy to make that final push.” After moving from the FAVC the Comets didn’t miss a beat knocking off solid GMC foes like Fairfield, Lakota West and former city number one Colerain. Castner is pleased with the team’s record, but more importantly, he has enjoyed watching the players improve and gel together as a team. "We have competed against the best -Colerain [and] Lakota East,” Castner said. “But the best part has been seeing the team grow together.” As the season winds down and a loss in the
tournament means the end of the season, Casnter and the Comets must face the inevitability that they’ll have to replace some valuable seniors. These senior girls have been a huge asset to the team. Senior Katie Wills is hitting .300 with 12 RBIs’ and Katie Mountsier has an average of .254 with 13 RBIs’. Sara Rye also has 15 hits on the season. "As the season ends I am thinking about the seniors, [and] how much they have put into this year,” Castner said. “They are going to be missed.” Editor’s Note: As of press time the Comets were scheduled to play in the sectional finals on Monday, May 19.
Comet track teams sweep GMC championships; Wills and Ossim earn athlete of year honors BY DREW ALLEN Sports Editor
Photo by Gary Stelzer/Pulse Journal
Junior Rachel Harley and Sophomore Erin Milner run in the 300 meter hurdle at the GMC meet. They both finished in the top three in the 100 and 300 hurdles.
The Mason track teams are continuing their season-long dominance. After a season in which both the men and women teams were ranked either first or second in the Cincinnati area, they both followed up with Greater Miami Conference Championships. It was the men's first championship since their back to back conference titles in 04-05, while the women claimed their sixth straight and 11th overall. In winning another title, the women's team was led by a myriad of runners to victory. Senior Rachel Weber claimed a title in the 400 meter dash, while juniors Molly Culbertson and Emily Staresinic finished first and second in the 800 meter run, respectively. They also had strong performances from hurdlers Erin Milner, who won the 100 meter hurdles and Rachel Harley, who won the 300 hurdles. Their relay teams also had a strong showing. “There were four or five performances that were key to us winning,” women’s head coach Tony Affatato said. “Lindsay Ossim’s performance in the field was huge; she won GMC field athlete of the year. Emily Staresinic and Molly Culbertson really helped us in distance, and Erin Milner and Rachel Harley especially helped in the hurdles. They finished one and two in the 100 and three and one in the 300 [respectively].” It was also a record breaking weekend for one member of the team. “Kiersten Wones had a huge weekend,” Affatato said. “She tied the school record in the pole vault a couple of weeks ago, and then to break it at GMC’s was a big deal.”
The men's team was led by their distance and middle distance runners. Freshman Zach Wills won titles in both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs, while junior Ed Carlin finished sixth in the 1600 and sophomore Matt Larcomb finished third in the 3200. Senior Brendan Caprio finished as a runner-up in the 800 meter race. Wills’ performance at the meet and for the year earned him runner of the year. “[Distance] was a vital part of the team points,” Wills said. “Our 4x800 relay really helped. At the beginning of the season we made a goal to score 50 points at the GMC meet, and we scored 52. Our sprinters and field also did really well, scoring [71] points.” Wills also was suprised by his award, having started running on April 25th due to injury. “I wasn’t expecting to win [runner of the year],” Wills said. “I think I was the first freshman to win it, and I was expecting some sprinter to win it.” As the GMC season is over, the focus now turns to the postseason and their ultimate goals. “We now turn our focus to districts,” Affatato said. “We want to get as many people out as we can to regionals. It’s tough running down here; it’s do or die now. If you don’t run well, you’re done for the year.” The men's team is also looking forward to achieving lofty accomplishments. "I’m taking it one race at a time now,” Wills said. “Freshman year you’re just getting your feet in the water, and I just want to get on the state podium.”
Women’s Lacrosse finishes successful season ranked in state top ten
Tennis sends three players to district tournament, hope to advance to state
BY DUNCAN FISCHLEY Staff Writer
BY DREW ALLEN Sports Editor
The year has come to a close on the girls’ lacrosse team, ending their season on a high note. After a long year of practices and tough opponents they can finally relax a little until next year rolls around. Coach Paul Limpert said the girls had a great year and finished it strong. "We had a great season, ended seventh seed in the state tournament and number ten in the state power rankings,” Limpert said. “We went up against top teams from different states. We were able to measure ourselves against some good teams from different regions." They faced many challenges this year going up against the number one and two teams in Ohio and Kentucky and facing off the number one team in Illinois. The team was 8-4-1 against top-ranked competition. No matter what the difficulty, the girls were always able to be competitive and play hard against tough opponents. "I put together a schedule for them that was easily the toughest schedule in the Region and they didn't complain or back down to anyone" Limpert said. "But these kids worked together great and helped each other develop to be the best they could be." Even with the season over, the lacrosse team is still working on their skill for next year. Limpert say that he even looks at the youth
program over the summer to see what new talent is budding through the ranks. "Every summer we meet on Sundays to keep in touch with each other and our lacrosse skills,” Limpert said. “As with any sport, if you aren't working on it at least weekly, the skills that have been developed over time tend to diminish and it takes longer to get back to the previous level of play.” But like all high school teams, some players have to leave and go on to the next level. The girls’ lacrosse team is no exception. Out of the seventeen varsity players they have, seven seniors are leaving the program next year. Even with this loss Limpert feels confident about his underclassmen. "We always miss our seniors -- they mean a lot to us in a lot of different ways, but life goes on,” Limpert said. “We have a great JV team, [and the] youth program [is] feeding us new players each year who are ready and willing to put out the effort necessary to make our team a success.” A strong season behind them and next year a little while away, the girls can now relax a little before routine off-season training begins. They will be able to look back on the season they had. "I will remember what a well rounded and high character group of girls we had,” Limpert said. “I am proud of our efforts in every one of those games we played.”
In their first Greater Miami Conference season, the men's tennis team is proving they belong. After claiming a conference title last season, they posted an 8-1 record in their inaugural GMC campaign and finished second in the overall standings. Their only defeat came from Sycamore, which is undefeated in the GMC and 17-2 overall. However, their second place finish in the standings and third at the conference tournament was only the beginning. Senior Chris Hall continued his quest for his first state tournament berth by finishing fourth in the 42-man sectional tournament at Princeton High School. The doubles team of seniors Bobby Eberhard and Sameam Shahrestani finished second out of 28 teams to secure a berth in the district tournament. Also, senior Brian Caprio and junior Naeem Shahrestani finished fourth in doubles to narrowly miss advancing to district competition. “Hopefully we can make it out to state,” Sameam Shahrestani said. “Hopefully we can make it to the next level because we made it to districts last year.” However, a tough draw may make it difficult. “We hope to qualify for state,” Eberhard said. “However, we face the eventual state champions in the qualifying round.”
Their draw consists of the doubles team from Greenville, who finished third at the Troy sectional and are favored to claim a state title. At the GMC tournament, Eberhard finished fourth in second singles, while Hall finished third in first singles. Hall was 9-4 on the season. Several other players finished in the top five, including the doubles of Shahrestani and Caprio, who finished fourth in first doubles. They also had a school best showing at the Coaches Classic tournament. “We’re ranked seventh in the state right now with two more polls debuting,” Shahrestani said. “Hopefully we can crack the top five some week. This is the second season ever the Mason team has been ranked, so we can’t complain. We finished second at Coaches, the best ever in school history.” That finish was ahead of Sycamore, who were ranked second in the state at the time of the tournament. Sycamore was both regular season GMC champs and GMC tournament champs. “We beat Sycamore there, yet we still couldn’t beat them in our individual match,” Sharestani said. That said, it was an overall successful season for the team. “Its been a pretty solid season, one of our best ever,” Eberhard said. “It would have been nice to win the GMC, but it was a pretty nice season.”
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May 22, 2008
Getting to Know...
DJ Engelman After starting as a freshman on the team that made the deepest run into Mason softball history, sophomore catcher DJ Engelman has had quite a follow up act. She’s hitting .419 on the season with two home runs and 24 RBIS, in addition to to being fourth in the Greater Miami Conference in hits with 31. That aside, she is one of 60 players representing the US in the World Indoor Cup in Europe this summer. This month, The Chronicle talked to her about her hitting, her future appearance on Team USA and more.
What type of hitter do you consider yourself?
C C hronicle
onversation
Josh Krusling
Powderpuff Coach
I just want to get on base and help my team out. I think I’m a team player and do what’s best for the team. Does a small field in softball make it harder or easier to play and get on base? It makes it harder because in baseball the runners have more time to get down the line and softball is a lot quicker. How did you get selected for Team USA?
How does it feel to be coaching a women’s football team? It’s a little a rough at first because you have to get the girl’s attention, but once you get past that obstacle it is not that bad. What do you think of the junior girl’s team overall? Weak. Mentally weak. The junor girls cannot handle the pressure and are not physical enough. Most of their coaching has no passion as well. What will you do if you win or lose the game? If we win we will be taking a trip to Disney World any we are going to be taking part in some celebration. If we lose...we still will be going to Disney World to celebrate. Have there been any struggles to get your team prepared and focused? Weather has not been permitting during practice, but the [field] was a little wet and slick so we were well prepared compared to the juniors. Our girls have also gotten over the crying stage, which is good.
You go to a showcase tournament and get selected from there. A showcase tournament is where you go to be scouted by colleges and you get paired up with girls from all over the countryat the tournament to play. Are you nervous about having to go overseas? A little, because the farthest I’ve ever been is Jamaica and that was when I was little and I can’t really remember it. This is the first time I’ll be able to remember the experience. What is the most difficult thing about softball? Running the bases because everything happens so fast and if you make a slight mistake you’ll get out. What was more thrilling, the last years postseason or being selected for Team USA? Last year was the greatest because it doesn’t usually happen to a freshman, and the sendoff at the high school and middle school was cool. Do you hope to duplicate that this year? It’s going to be tough, but I hope we can go for it. But there’s a lot of competition.
-As told to Drew Allen
Do you think the game will help the school year come to an end more easily? It brings a bigger event and everyone seems to enjoy it and looks forward to its arrival. Instead of just looking forward to the last day of school, we get to enjoy some more last minute memories.
What’s up with that? What’s upup with theThe Red’s offense? They getofshutout 3-0 against Cubs, yet and come away with a 9-0 victory the apart next day. What’s with Reds? They start the season with athe hot streak dazzling pitching, then fall a To top later that, they 7 homeruns that, thethis mostisinnothing a gamenew, sinceas 1999. year hit 9with in one the most in week with hit a 2-6 skid. However, theyThat made it they a habit oldgame, managers Jerry Nationaland League Narron Davehistory. Miley.
The COMET CULTURE Grid
What would you say your coaching style resembles? I cannot say I can relate my coaching style to anyone in particular. I am more laid back than your average coach and I let my assistant coaches set the tone. Does coaching Powder Puff make you interested in a coaching position down the road? I have given it some thought. It would be nice to come back to the sport because it is hard to let go. Overall it has given me some thought. What in your mind is the key to being a good coach? I think being easy to understand is key. If my players can understand me well then they can execute and do what they need in order to win. -Compiled by Jeremy Powers
HOW DO THE COMETS FIT IN? NAEEM SHAHRESTANI JR., TENNIS
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Lindley, Logan Long, Darleen Lukashevich, Rebecca Lyon, Brandon Mason, Justin Million, Kaitlyn Muff, Andrea O'Conner, Christina Otero, Adam Paljieg, Justin Paulson, Amanda Price, Colleen Reinoehl, Steven Ross, Sara Rye, Aditya Sahai, Jessica Sanders, Ashely Schappacher, Stephen Schoch, Steven Spangenberg, Adam Stang, Scott Thatcher, Matthew Walston, Zhenning Wang, Sara Weber, Jamie Williams, Kyle Wilson, Tessa Xuan, Kevin Young The University of Akron - Ellen Byrant, Abigail Laymon University of Cincinnati - Kofi Ablordeppey, Nathan Andersen, Kovid Bhatnagar, Gautham Bhoomreddy, Ashely Burford, Ryan Carl, Aaron Carson, Stephen Clevenger, Mary DeLotell, Mark Dritt, Iten Elyassaki, Alexander Enslen, Nicholas Farrell, Davin Fluker, Sarah Fukatsu, Adam Garland, Marlo Giambra, Yewineshet Geberegeorgis, Allison Geiger, Maria Githuku, Jonathan Hare, Douglas Hennig, Lauren Heslop, Rachel Hicks, Julia Hustedt, Micah Ianniello, Okhee In, Kristen Ingram, Chad Jackson, Matthew Keller, Jared Keyser, Benjamin King, Stven Kranjc, Ryan Lammi, Bradley Langford, Julianna Langmajer, Michelle Le, Nicholas Le, Catherine Lothrop, Ashlee Martin, Mallory Matson, Andrew Mckee, Benjamin Meyer, Ben Miller, Sarah Mizener, Kiersten Moertle, Randee Morris, Jordan Mullins, April Murzynowski, April Naylor, Matthew Niehaus, Tim Oliver, Ivan Otero, Kevin Patel, Ryan Patterson, Stephen Peele, Justin Perkins, Amanda Petrey, Zachary Pfeifer, Amanda Piron, Matt Puma, Hassan Qureshi, Naman Rakheja, Jeffrey Reed, Megan Roehm, Hilary Rufft, Tim Sambor, Douglas Schoensiegel, Anthony Sliger, Jay Sliger, Michael Smith, Adam Soliman, Sara Soliman, Aditya Sondhi, Allison Spaulding, Jonathan Stemen, Jeff Stephens, Leah Storie, David Terilli, Danielle Terrari, Kerri Theis, Rachel Thomas, Andrea Tobler, Amanda Vogel, Dacota Waits, Kristen
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May 22, 2008
What you’ll find on page... en
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Carmine Surico gets his point across with his hands By MANDY CHIARA Staff Writer
Carmine gets his point across eighte
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18 Cicadas about to wake up from their nap
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Teachers leaving with the Class of ‘08 t ytwen
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Has your parent ever gotten you in trouble?
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Students stand up for their beliefs
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Hallway runners: They’ve never been late to class
When the bell rings at the end of class, Mason High School students flood the hallway, entering the stampede of students listening to iPods and laughing with friends. Junior Carmine Surico has never heard these common sound bytes of student life. For Carmine, besides vibrations, the halls are silent. There are currently over 105 schools for the deaf in the United States, Saint Rita's School for the Deaf in Cincinnati being one of them. Carmine attended Saint Rita's School for the Deaf until he transferred to MHS his freshman year. "Mason and St. Rita's are different," Carmine said. "Mason is better than St. Rita's and has a better art program." Carmine, who is taking Drawing III this year, became interested in art around the time he came to Mason. "I like the shadowing; it's really cool," Carmine said. In addition to taking advantage of the programs that Mason has to offer, Carmine said that he enjoys watching television and being outside. "I like to watch movies, go fishing, swimming, and work at my job," Carmine said. "I also like to cut the grass because my dad pays me." Carmine also said he benefits from MHS's American Sign Language classes, as they serve as a reprieve for him where he is able to communicate with peers. He is taking ASL II along with any other open ASL classes this year and plans to continue with the class next year. Carmine said that he wants to work on learning more vocabulary, understandably so, since there are 119 deaf sign languages. International Sign (IS) provides a common link between these languages and is used at the World Federation for the Deaf, Deaflympics games, and when traveling. Different forms of "Jeff", signed modes of spoken language, are the most frequently used forms of communication in the deaf community. Carmine's brother, freshman Vinny Surico, uses a home sign language that the family has created to converse. "What [Carmine] learns, he teaches me," Vinny said. "I picked up [sign language] at a young age." While Carmine's family assists him at home, educational interpreter Laura Roosa, who was born to deaf parents and grew up using sign language at home, helps him out at school. Roosa has been his primary source for comprehension in his classes for two years. Her days are filled with challenges that seem like ordinary events to MHS students. "On days when they play MBC, there are no closed captions," Roosa said. "When the teacher slides in a DVD, there is an assembly or speaker, I have to be flexible because I am not aware of the subject matter ahead of time." These videos or demonstrations are especially difficult for Carmine who has to constantly glance from Roosa and back to the screen. Roosa said she feels rewarded when she reaches a mutual understanding with Carmine. "I love when the student realizes what the concept is, [and] the student understands and learns," Roosa said.
photo by Mandy Chiara
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May 22, 2008
THEY’ RE BACK After a 17 year nap the Cincinnati cicadas are about ready to wake up
By RACHEL B ROCKHAGE Staff Writer After a seventeen year nap, Brood XIV is about to awake. Periodical cicadas, making up the family Cicadidae, suborder Homoptera, emerge in distinct groups, and are synchronized to come out of the ground in thirteen or seventeen year cycles. This next group goes by the name Brood XIV; they are classified as the cousins of Brood X, the brood which infested Mason in 2004. Experts predict the highest concentrations of XIV this year will be near Milford, Terrace Park, Montgomery, Madeira, Kenwood, Loveland, Mariemont, Indian Hill, Madisonville and Sycamore Township. The chirps in these areas could exceed eighty decibels, which easily equates with the sound of a jackhammer or motorcycle, according to a recent report from the Baltimore Sun. Entomologist Gene Kritsky, a world-renowned expert on the biology of the periodical cicada, was the first to predict the cicadas would emerge early in the decade. Kritsky, also a biology professor at Mount St. Joseph, has studied the periodical cicada for over 34 years. Kritsky says it is only a matter of days before cicadas emerge in Mason. "Mason is on the boundary between the two broods, thus it will see some cicadas this year," Kritsky said. "In fact, I have already received reports of nymphs being found in the Mason area." Cicadas, not unlike some of the more temperaturesensitive of us, emerge when the soil temperature is exactly 64 to 65 degrees. When they actually come out of the ground depends on the weather. "Today, some places [like Mason] are very close," Kritsky said. "It is possible we will have some emerge during the increasing temperatures of the next few days." Their actual emergence is a scientific phenomenon, what
biologists call the "predator satiation" strategy, which basically means nymphs, immature cicadas, overwhelm predators by emerging at the same time. This is somewhat of evolutionary mystery, according to Kritsky. "How cicadas count and remember the years is not known," Kritsky said. "We do know that they can detect fluid flow in trees. Once they have reached the final year, it is a temperature signal that triggers the mass emergence." Here's exactly how it works: the nymphs first hatch from the tree and then burrow in the root system of the tree, from which they came. Then, they emerge. Some species can grow up to almost four centimeters long; but all are classified as harmless. In fact, cicada-lovers tout them as beneficial: they aerate the soil, feed birds and squirrels, and become a good source of compost when they die. Students at MHS are excited about this new emergence, especially after misconceptions about not getting to see the cicada for another seventeen years after the infestation in 2004. Senior Mike Michalak has anticipated Brood XIV's return ever since his Science Olympiad project during his sophomore and junior year. "Throughout my research I studied different types of insects, everything down to specific kinds of cicadas," Michalak said. "I recall, while some types come out in 17 years, others are annual. The periodic, like this upcoming brood, typically get all the fame." Michalak observed interesting facets like growth, development, and classification of a various number of insect species, and found that the cicada's traits were uncommon. "What's cool is how cicadas are harmless to humans," Michalak said. "But they can be detrimental to young plant life, considering their sheer numbers. Obviously, their incubation period underground is unique; it partly parallels early human growth. Both developments are different, but there are interesting parallels to draw from observation." Michalak believes it will be hard to miss Brood XIV when it arrives. "Visually, these insects are easy to differentiate," Michalak said. "Their sheer numbers and uncommon traits have left such a strong image in my mind."
May 22, 2008
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May 22, 2008
GOING DOGS to the
Retiring guidance counselor Bob Furia will now have extra time to train his dogs By MEGAN ROEHM Staff Writer
with his dog. "My students' favorite day in this class is always when Mr. Furia brings his dog for demonstrations," King said. As the school year comes to a close, and many students are heading to King said the students are always most impressed with how well the new stages in their lives, Mason High School counselor, Bob Furia, is dog follows commands, in responding to noise and hand motions. He moving forward as well. said Furia hunts in an educated way, which is why it is helpful for him Furia, who has been involved in education for 37 years, will be retirto come in for demonstrations. ing at the end of this school year. A graduate of the University of Along with dog training, Furia said he takes his hobby of carving Dayton, Furia has coached football and track, and taught English, wooden hunting decoys very seriously. before becoming a counselor for students at MHS. Furia said he always "Over time, I have moved on to sculpting more detailed and realistic knew that he wanted to go into education, and after many years of carvings of birds," Furia said. "These decoy carvings have won awards work, he still loves his job. in major shows over the years." "Being Furia has writinvolved in eduten published artication is great cles about carving, because you get and given carving to meet some and painting awesome people demonstrations. who are all He has also been unique, creative, invited to display and talented," his artwork and Furia said. speak at numerous Furia said he conservation plans to continue organizations. As his favorite hobmuch as Furia said bies after retirehe enjoys hunting, ment including he believes everydog training, thing that goes hunting, and into hunting, such wood carving. as making the Furia said he decoys, training loves nature and retrievers, develbeing in the outoping skills, and doors, which is a spending time main factor in with family memhow these activibers, is much ties have become more important such important than the end hobbies in his result. life. As Furia preFuria's dog pares for retiretraining hobby ment, he said he is started years ago starting to realize through his how his life after friend, Lewis MHS will be Craig, a professtructured. sional gun-dog "Retirement puts trainer and breeda whole new spin er. Furia said on what is imporCraig taught him tant in life," Furia everything he said. "I am startneeded to know ing to realize I am when it came to going to have training dogs, and more freedom to introduced him to set my own schedthe customs of ule." upland-bird and Furia said he is waterfowl huntlooking forward to ing. the time he will Ten years ago, have for his own photo contributed Furia began bringprerogatives. Furia originally began demonstrating for the Words from the Wild class with this Hunting ing his dog, 12 "I am ready to Retriever Champion black labrador Skip. year old Hunting have more time to Retriever just be available Champion, Skip, to Words from the Wild during the hunting unit to to go out and do more worthwhile things," Furia said. show the students how a hunting retriever is handled and trained. Every Furia said he plans to continue his hobbies after retirement with year, Furia's black Labrador, Sadie, has kept up the tradition by going to involvement in his church, Springdale Vineyard, by using his carvings the Pine Hill lake with the students, where she can get in the water, and and artwork to help benefit the Nigerian Water Project, which helps to help Furia demonstrate what goes into handling hunting dogs. purify water and ease the poverty in Nigeria. Words from the Wild teacher Tim King said that the unit provides a While retiring may allow more free time for Furia, he said that he great opportunity for the students to connect with nature and the outside shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. world. "I enjoy helping out when I can," Furia said. "I am looking forward "The more people get interested and comfortable in nature, the easier to having more time to do so." it will be for them to care for it," King said. King said his students are always impressed with what Furia can do
Hubley, Thuman will retire at year’s end By NINA BRESSAU Staff Writer Although Bob Furia is the only counselor leaving this year, a few teachers are approaching the end of their careers at Mason High School as well. Melody Hubley and Jim Thumann are both retiring after finishing this last year teaching in Mason. Science teacher Hubley has taught at Hubley MHS for ten years, after teaching at Colerain High School for 26 years. "I've taught since I was 21," Hubley said. "The only other jobs I [have] had were [being] a lifeguard, a waitress and a lab assistant in college." Hubley said that she has made many friends at this school and still has a lot of contact with past students. "Teaching has been a very good career and I still have connections with a lot of students," Hubley said. "I still hear from past students and I love that." Although Hubley said that she is going to miss numerous students, staff members and teachers, she is also looking forward to the future and spending more time with the family. Hubley already has plans to travel with her husband to Montana, Thumann Wyoming, and the Pacific Northwest in the near future. "[My goals are] being with family and to travel," Hubley said. Spanish teacher Jim Thumann said that he is retiring for family reasons. "[I want] to become a full-time grandpa," Thumann said. "I love my grandchildren so much and I'm looking forward to picking them up from school." Thumann has been a teacher for 42 years, the past eight of those spent at Mason, and said that this still might not be his last year teaching. "If Mason will let me, I'll probably come back and sub," Thumann said. According to Thumann, his plans for the future are to "be healthy, be kind, [and] be wise." Thumann said that his favorite part about his job is the people, and that he loves all the students, their parents and the staff. "[I will miss] the people," Thumann said. "Just the people." Thumann said that he can't help to be emotional, as his eyes filled with tears. "I will miss the family feeling," Thumann said. Hubley said that she had a good time at Mason and bonded with many students and staff members. Because of the positive experience of teaching at Mason, Hubley said that she doesn't feel like she is retiring. "I'm graduating with the class of '08," Hubley said.
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May 22, 2008
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Stop getting me in trouble! They make us follow rules at home, but sometimes our parents are the ones breaking the rules at school By NINA BRESSAU Staff Writer Sometimes students at Mason High School face the consequences for rules their parents break during school hours. Whether it is calling their kids in the middle of class, ignoring the "no student dropoff" area in the morning, or sending their children to school with cough medicine and Aspirin, parents can unconsciously be the cause of their kids' discipline. Senior Chris Izurieta got his cell phone taken away for several school bells when his mom sent him a message during school hours. "I was in [Mr. Conner's] class first bell and my mom texted me about a doctor's appointment I had to go to," Izurieta said. Izurieta said that this has occured several times and will continue in the future as well. "My mom always gets me in trouble," Izurieta said. "She still texts me every day." Izurieta said that he was very upset with this mother when she caused him to get punished. "I was mad at my mom and I yelled at her [after I got my phone taken away],"
photos by Jackie Swoyer
Despite signs that have been put up clearly marking that students should not be dropped off in the staff lot, parents continue to disregard school rules.
Izurieta said. Substitute teacher Ruthie Zagrabski has gotten her son into difficulties at school before for the same reason. "I texted him to make sure to take the bus,
instead of me picking him up," Zagrabski said. "[His cell phone] wasn't on vibrate, [so] it made a beeping noise." Zagrabski said that her son got his phone taken away after his phone went off, and
therefore he wasn't able to read the message until the end of the day. Besides calling and texting during school hours, there are other causes for parents complicating their childrens' days. Junior Dan Forero has gotten in trouble at soccer practice due to his mom’s tardiness. "[Before] the third practice of the season, I told my mom [that] I had to be there on time," Forero said. "[However] I was ten minutes late." Forero said that his mom kept putting the time off until they had to leave in a hurry. The consequence was that the entire team got punished because of him being late. "For every minute I was late we had to run up and down the field once," Forero said. "It was a lot of running." Forero said that his mom had embarrassed him in front of the team. "I was pretty mad [at my mom]," Forero said. "I didn't talk to her for a while." Since his days of being late for practice, Forero has gotten his license and said that he can finally rely on himself. "Now that I drive, I'm not late anymore," Forero said.
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features
chronicle
May 22, 2008
Standing
Tall Even though it may not always be popular students stand up for what they believe By ALYSSA HOWARD Staff Writer and DUNCAN FISCHLEY Staff Writer Mason High School contains several service and awareness-oriented organizations for its students, including Amnesty International, Helpers of People Everywhere, and Comets in Action. These groups generally exist to improve the immediate community of Mason as well as areas around the globe. In the organizations, a few students regularly exceed the expectations of membership and take action to advance the causes about which they are most passionate. One such student is president of the Mason chapter of Amnesty International senior Ashley Bruehl who has been involved with the group since her sophomore year. Bruehl said that she was first introduced to global issues through her mother, as a child, but has been further educated through the Mason chapter of Amnesty. Bruehl said that attending various events promoting human rights has increased her knowledge on the current situation in Darfur. "With Amnesty and without Amnesty, we go to 'Voices from Darfur' and different colleges that hear refugees from Darfur," Bruehl said. "We've gone to [screenings of] documentaries at the Holocaust Center. [Going to these events has] really enriched my senior year." In the arena of human rights, Bruehl said that she sees awareness as a top priority in furthering a cause. "My whole philosophy [is that] education is the most important thing when it comes to any problem in the world," Bruehl said. "I educate myself…[by] looking things up, reading in the newspaper, reading books…and then [I educate] others through Amnesty. That's the biggest way I take action [is by] educating people around me." Bruehl, who said that she currently devotes the most energy into the Darfur genocide cause, was critically impacted by the opportunity to meet a couple of refugees from the area. "It really brought me to reality because you read about it and you hear about it and you watch videos and the people [in Darfur] seem so far away," Bruehl said. "But actually meeting someone [who has went through it]…put it into perspective of how much these people are like us and how much we need to help them." After completing Amnesty International projects that can fall short of group goals, Bruehl said that she can get saddened with the general mood of global apathy amongst some teenagers. However, she said she sees today's generation at MHS as part of an upswing in political involvement of the world's youth. "I have a lot of hope for our generation," Bruehl said. "Especially with technology the way it is right now, we have such a window of opportunity to learn about the world….We have the tools; we just need to do it." Another Amnesty International member, senior Jenna Garchar, said she is also concerned about the global state of human rights. "I used to be passionate about animal rights, and I still am, but my focus has shifted to human rights," Garchar said. "That's what I want to pursue in life." Garchar, who said that she mainly focuses her Ashley Bruehl
research on the genocide occurring in East Burma, has been fundamentally impacted by her engagement in global crises. She gets involved by donating money and educating herself on global issues, occasionally incorporating these situations into school essays. "I appreciate a lot more and take the time to enjoy life more," Garchar said. "I enjoy being a teenager…and the little moments." Outside of MHS, junior Courtney Wittekind said that she felt called to action by a recent trip to Swaziland during which she stayed with a host family. "Going on a mission trip for a week is different than what I did: living in someone's house with no running water or electricity," Wittekind said. Wittekind said that as a result of this experience, she gets involved to ease local poverty and also to help the people of Swaziland, a country in political tumult with a government that fails to sufficiently aid its people. "I go down to City Gospel and help…the poor [in Cincinnati], have conversations with them, [and] help give out food," Wittekind said. "I have contacts in Swaziland and I donate money." With Wittekind's community work, she said that her perspectives have shifted. "[The situation in Africa] is something I am just so passionate about," Wittekind said. "It is a part of who I am." Wittekind said that her view of religion has also altered through her pursuit of bettering community surroundings. "I grew up in church and have gone to a couple different churches," Wittekind said. "I just never thought about Christianity outside of my little world. When you see the impact it has when it is desperately needed, it is a whole different thing. Their faith is so pure." As a result of this impact, Wittekind said that her goals in life have also changed to include her newfound passions. "Before I didn't know what I wanted to do, but while we were [in Swaziland] I saw a five year old living on her own, trying to take care of herself," Wittekind said. "So, now I want to go into therapy and help kids internationally." Sophomore Jeff Stegbauer is another student that gets involved outside of MHS to better his surroundings. Stegbauer said that he does most volunteer work through Living In Faith Experiences, his youth group, and is educated about global issues through the Peace and Justice Committee, another organization at his church. "We go around doing service projects and learning about injustices in the world," Stegbauer said. "We have a couple of retreats, the 25-hour fast, and Shantytown, which are devoted to helping the homeless and poverty-stricken." Stegbauer said that a connection with his religion compels him to take action. "I can't live like these problems are a million miles away from me," Stegbauer said. "I have to live like it is right outside, like it is right next to me." In addition, Stegbauer said that his comfortable vantage point from Mason requires him to get involved to improve situations in the community and internationally. "I [take action] because I can," Stegbauer said. "I feel a responsibility [in] having more money or a better house. I can't sit around all day doing nothing." Bruehl said that taking action outside of extracurricular activity requirements has improved the quality of her last year at MHS. "We've met a lot of people from the Greater Cincinnati area that are really involved in human rights and we see them all the time at different events," Bruehl said. "It's something that's really enriched my senior year."
chronicle 23
May 22, 2008
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features
chronicle
May 22, 2008
T H E H A L LW AY RU N N E R S These students will do anything to avoid being tardy to class By JACKIE SWOYER Associate Editor When the bell rings at the end of class each day, freshman Austin Wang wastes no time before getting out the door and into the halls. In fact, by the time he gets to the crowded halls of students, he is literally running to get to his next class. "[I run] so that I will never be late," Wang said. "And in my opinion, running is more efficient than walking. It's faster, so I [have time to] get ready for my classes, and I have time to get a drink or go the bathroom [before class starts]." With almost 3,000 students crowding the halls of MHS in between classes, it is becoming more frequent to see students run to get around the masses. Wang is just one of the students who takes part in this running trend. Sophomore Rohit Rao, another runner, said he runs to get to his classes on time. "It's just something I do," Rao said. "It's not like after a lot of thought I came to the decision of running in the halls. Sometimes I just want to get to class early and sometimes I'm running late." While Rao says that running is easier for him, he says he also recognizes the risks that come from running in between large crowds of people in the hallways. "You do run the risk of running into people," Rao said. "I try to avoid bumping into them, but it's really annoying if you're trying to get somewhere fast and you have to navigate around these groups of people who are just doing nothing." Wang said he agrees that it is difficult to run with the overwhelming crowds of students, but he tries not to interfere with other people. "It's not good to make people get out of the way," Wang said. "You just try to avoid them." Junior twin sisters Stella and Audrey Nguyen say they run in
between classes because of teachers' expectations of students to be on time and the difficulties of getting around in a crowded hallway. "I freak out about being late," Stella Nguyen said. "I started [running] in high school because everything was always slow in the halls." Audrey Nguyen also said she runs because it can help keep her in shape. "Sometimes [I run because] I just feel like getting exercise, because I'm a pretty lazy person," Audrey Nguyen said. After almost three years of practice in hallway running, Stella Nguyen said she has developed appropriate skills to most efficiently get around the school. "I can run up the stairs two steps at a time," Stella Nguyen said. Unlike her sister, Audrey Nguyen said she usually won't run on the stairs. "I only run on the stairs if I have good shoes on," Audrey Nguyen said. "If it's a heels day, you just have to hold onto the rails." Even though these two girls are sisters, Audrey Nguyen said that the two rarely talk about their running habits at home. "We kind of just know that the other does it," Audrey Nguyen said. "It's not that big of a deal in our family." Stella Nguyen, however, said her sister will give her grief about the violin case that she carries for a portion of the day. "My sister says I should probably stop bumping people with my violin case," Stella Nguyen said. Along with her violin, Stella Nguyen said she typically carries two textbooks and a binder with her in between classes, but she also makes locker stops. Rao, however, whose locker is too far from his classes for him to stop at it very often, said he carries a lot with him in the halls. He said that when it comes to running and being efficient, the heavy loads students carry can make a
big difference. "What you carry is more limiting on how fast you can go," Rao said. "If you have five textbooks, it's more likely that they will slip. I used to carry everything with me, but now I try to carry less." By running in between classes, Rao said he usually gets a few laughs from other students in the halls. "I usually get allusions to Forrest Gump," Rao said. "People will say, 'Run, Rohit, Run!' - but it's all in good fun." Stella Nguyen said her friends will laugh when she goes running past them in the halls. "They'll scream like I'm about to run them over," Stella Nguyen said. Sophomore Dennis Tseng, a former runner in the halls of MHS, said he didn't like some of the attention he got for running. "I ran as a freshman, [but it] attracted some unwanted attention," Tseng said. "Then I guess I just realized that I didn't need to run to get to my classes on time." As far as the future of hallway running goes, Audrey Nguyen said she doesn't think everyone in the school is cut out for running in the halls. "Because I'm a little smaller than most people I've learned how to weave around people," Audrey Nguyen said. "Running is a sport, [and in the halls it] should be reserved for those who are small and agile." Rao said he doesn't think it would be beneficial to hallway traffic if every student started running. "If you could imagine the whole school running, it would be more humorous than efficient," Rao said. Wang, as a freshman, is still uncertain of his potential as a runner in the halls of MHS. "I'm just trying to get to class early," Wang said. "I don't know if I'll keep running - I'm not sure about the future."
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May 22, 2008
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