The Chronicle, 6.3

Page 1

News: National recession impacts local businesses and families

Chronicle Sports: Female athletes ditch dainty stereotypes on the court

The William Mason High School

Volume 6

NEWS BRIEF

Orchestras will perform in New York Mason High School’s concert and symphony orchestras will travel to New York City on April 2, 2009 for a concert at the famed Lincoln Center, returning on April 6. Junior Faith Prunty, a second violinist in symphony orchestra, said that other than state contests, the MHS orchestra has not participated in such a large-scale concert. “We’ve just gone to state contest but that was just a general thing,” Prunty said. In addition, according to Prunty, Mason will be one of only twelve schools from around the nation represented at the event. Prunty said that she recognizes the stellar opportunity the orchestra has been given. “It’s a real honor for us to be going,” Prunty said. “I’m really excited about it.”

TODAY

First Black Hole game of the year Last year’s schoolwide phenomenon, the Black Hole, will be returning for tonight’s varsity basketball game against Glen Este. This year, the group will be led by seniors Pat Koman, Mike Sparks and Brian Snodgrass. Today is the last day for the Comet Zone’s t-shirt and ticket sale, with the package priced at ten dollars. Wear your t-shirt to tonight’s game to support the Comets.

Celebrate Christmas in Mason Christmas in Mason will be hosted by Festivals in Mason from six to nine tonight. The event will include traditional stands such as caricature artists, ice carvers, wood carvers, and food and craft booths. As always, there will be a parade and horse-drawn carriage rides, and stage entertainment will be featured. Regular shuttles to the celebration will be available from Grace Baptist and Saint Suanna churches.

The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Road Mason, Ohio 45040

December 5, 2008

Issue 3

Whoever said...

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me?

] G N O R [W

They were...

Danni Simms | Staff Writer

In the hallways of Mason High School the n-word is heard, causing students to question who should and shouldn’t be able to use the term. The n-word: a word that has been used throughout history to convey a strong emotion of hate, but now is heard on a daily basis by some people at MHS. A word that, according to senior Maya Antoine, is very hurtful. Looking back in history, the n-word has served as a label for African-American people who have been considered less than human and enslaved throughout history, according to Abolishthenword.com. However, in more recent times the word that was considered largely derogatory has begun to be used by African-Americans. “The definition of the n-word was a lazy person with no self respect,” Abolishthenword.com said. “African-Americans started using the n-word to refer to themselves in the 1920s taking the ‘-er’ off of the end of the word and adding the letter ‘-a.’” Antoine said that she’s offended by the word’s use, even in a classroom context. “It makes me really uncomfortable,” Antoine said. “Either skip over the word, or don’t read that part out loud.” Although the n-word is taught in school to be known as a racial slur, some students use the word in two separate contexts. One connotation is positive, generally stemming from a variation of the n-word,

while the other meaning is negative, according to sophomore Geneva Boyd. “The word has changed over the years,” Boyd said. “Some African-Americans use the word to greet someone [in a friendly manner], and then sometimes it is used negatively. To me it is just another word.” Boyd said she doesn’t believe any certain type of person should be forbidden from using the word, as long as it isn’t used in a negative light. According to junior Sam Simpson, the connotation of the n-word can be judged through its suffixes. “The suffixes determine the real meaning: ‘-ger’ is a slander and ‘-ga’ is more casual,” Simpson said. Simpson said he only uses the word when another person uses it around him in order to make sure the other person is not opposed to its use. Simpson said he doesn’t believe there should be two meanings for the n-word; however, he believes race should not determine who should use the word. Either everyone uses it, or no one at all. Sophomore Dasia Hood said the n-word is a part of daily language she hears, even though she doesn’t say the word. Hood

See DEROGATORY on page 2

photo by Ellen Duffer

With construction finishing on the new high school addition, the district faces an uncertain financial future.

Bright warns economic forecast for school district is gloomy Ellen Duffer | Associate Editor Next November, Mason City Schools may be facing the implementation of a multi-million dollar operating levy. With the current national economic situation continually worsening, public officials are concerned about the city’s financial future, according to Mason City Schools Treasurer Dick Gardner. Gardner said that the current fiscal climate requires a levy, the level at which he said he doesn’t want to be at or exceeding $10 million. “Based on the economy, based on the fact that property values are not increasing as much as they have been, based on the fact that construction in Mason is down significantly, based on what the state is doing to us including removing tangible property taxes -- from a financial standpoint, we need to go on the ballot in 2009,” Gardner said. Gardner said that the fiscal cycle usually results in the proposal of a levy every three years. That time period passed in the early months of this year, as the last passage of a levy was in May of 2005; so, according to Gardner, Mason’s levy is overdue. “We promised the voters that we wouldn’t be back for at least three years,” Gardner said. “It will have been four years [in January]. We’ve looked at what it would take to stretch it to five years, but it’s just too much: it will have an impact

See SCHOOL FINANCE on page 3


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