The Chronicle, 7.3

News: Blood drive turns away homosexual student

Chronicle Sports: Head football coach Dave Sedmak resigns, Castner to take over

The William Mason High School

Volume 7

NEWS BRIEF

December 4, 2009

Issue 3

Compromising integrity for GPA

Part-time students will come to Mason Pressures frequently result in cheaters in advanced courses Jordan Berger | Staff Writer When students feel grades are the sole contributor to success, devaluto obtain credits Kris Ogungbemi | Staff Writer ing the significance of education, a much deeper issue lies within the A newly approved policy regarding parttime students at Mason will help homeschooled students hone special skills, such as music, according to Connie Yingling, president of the Mason City School Board.

Yingling said a parent in attendance at November 17’s board meeting voiced her concern for her homeschooled daughter’s musical education, leading in part to the change in policy.

“It gives the ability for homeschooled students to take up to two classes at Mason schools,” Yingling said. “What brought about this change was a parent of a sixth grader who wanted her daughter to be able to take clarinet at Mason.”

Yingling said students should begin to see homeschooled students mixed in along with them in their classes, though the homeschooled students will be placed depending on room in Mason classes.

“If there are three classes, if two are [full of] full-time students, they have to accommodate another time slot,” Yingling said. “[But,] they still will be in the same class.”

Perfect is impossible. But every year students are caught comprising society’s commonly accepted moral principles to meet this unreachable goal. Cheating is common among students at Mason High School, according to senior Carmen Bizzarri.

“I’ve seen people cheat around me, and I’ve seen people I like and talk to in my classes cheat,” Bizzarri said. “High school is a somewhat easy environment to cheat in, so people wrongly take advantage of it. It happens way too often.”

Different motivations for the action to obtain an A are prevalent in every student: cheating is often the result of the differences in students’ reasoning for working to obtain an education, according to Bizzarri.

“School is pretty much about gaining your own knowledge, so there is no point in cheating,” Bizzarri said. “It shouldn’t be about grades; learning is more important.”

While many understand the importance of learning as opposed to merely getting grades, students still feel the societal and personal pressures for perfection, according to Bizzarri.

“I pressure myself to get good grades because I feel like I can compete with all the other smart people,” Bizzarri said. “I think I deserve to get good grades because I’m smart enough. So, I’m disappointed when I don’t, because I know I can do better than that.”

student for his or her motives for cheating, according to AP U.S. History teacher Darin Little.

“I think cheating is a character issue,” Little said. “Are you willing to take short cuts in life to get ahead? Students feel they have to do whatever to get the grade and don’t value the importance of a well rounded education.”

Often, pressures for cheating increase with students challenging themselves in higher level and advanced classes, expecting to maintain a perfect grade point average with the large workload, according to Bizzarri. Many high school students have been groomed to accept only perfection, which is why some students attempt to achieve a perfect grade by any means, Bizzarri said.

“A lot of people say they cheat because they are busy,” Bizzarri said.

“First of all, you chose to be busy, and you should know your limits. If you know you can’t take five AP classes, but you expect to get all As, you know you won’t have time for that. There is no point [in taking AP classes] if you’re just going to cheat.”

Senior Michael Zhou takes five AP classes including AP Computer Science and AP Physics.

See CHEATING on page 2

TODAY

Christmas in Mason tonight The annual Christmas in Mason festival is tonight from six to nine p.m. in downtown Mason. The festival will offer craft booths for children, free horse-drawn carriages, food, beverages and an appearance from Santa. Downtown will be decorated for the festivities with holiday lights and a Christmas tree on the plaza. There will be free parking.

Chicago at the Aronoff tonight Broadway Across America presents Chicago The Musical tonight at eight p.m. in the Procter and Gamble Hall of the Aronoff Center. Other performance times are December 5 at two and eight p.m and December 6 at one and 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $20 to $62.

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

photo art by Caleb Schowalter

PAGE 2 | NEWS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 | THE CHRONICLE

CHEATING: Academic competition a cause of dishonesty continued from page 1 “I see in [advanced classes] more [cheating, because] the grades matter a lot more,” Zhou said. “[There is] a lot of trading answers with homework and asking each other what happens in class. It’s hard for the teachers to be observant of all 30 students at once, so I don’t think cheating will ever be gone.”

The rising pressure for academic excellence, especially in the most competitive arenas, has resulted in students striving to achieve perfection with any means possible, according to Assistant Principal Tim Keeton.

“Cheating in the upper level classes with our smartest students is more common than cheating we find in the [college preparatory] classes,” Keeton said.

According to a fact sheet produced by the Education Testing Service (ETS), while cheating is more frequent among students taking higher level courses, the frequency of cheating has also increased over time.

According to Zhou, some students are not aware of the actions that must be taken by the administration.

“I don’t really know what the punishment is for cheating,” Zhou said. “I don’t know what the actual administration does regarding cheating. I just know what actual specific teachers do.”

Harshness of punishment for cheating changes with the degree of cheating according to Keeton.

“It depends on the degree of the cheating,” Keeton said.

While about 20 percent of college students admitted to cheating in high school during the 1940s, today between 75 and 98 percent of college students surveyed each year report having cheated in high school, according to the ETS. According to the MHS Administration, 48 students were punished for cheating in the 2008–2009 school year; 33 of those

incidents resulted in Saturday Schools. Those 48 reported infractions made up three percent of all of the high school’s 1,703 disciplines.

A lack of confidence by students in their preparations for an assessment or low self-esteem after hours of studying motivates them to reassure the perfect grade through cheating, according to Keeton.

“I’ve seen some [students] that have even studied but been afraid they’re going to get a freaking B,” Keeton said. “Some are prepared and just afraid.”

According to Bizzarri, while pressures thrust on students vary, one main factor for the stress of trying to appease society.

“It’s just sad,” Bizzarri said. “It’s the pressures of society, honestly. It makes me sad that [students] are so stressed out that cheating relieves the stress. I find that sad, especially when it’s just from an A to a B. It’s not the end of the world.”

The benefits of cheating are not worth the moral sacrifice, and often, Zhou said his opinion of a person drops when his or her cheating comes to light.

“My opinion of those people goes down because they’re willing to lose a part of their morality for five or six points,” Zhou said.

Students who cheat on assignments may feel more relieved after receiving an A, but peers feel differently as they witness others in the classroom cheat, according to Bizzarri.

“When people cheat, I feel like it’s not fair at all,” Bizzarri said. “If I spend two hours on homework that’s really hard, then you should too. I don’t want to get a 100 percent and then you get a 100 percent when you just cheated.”

Honors English III teacher Ann Helwig said she pushes her students to remain academically honest and reap the intangible benefits.

“I encourage students to learn so that their minds can be strengthened,” Helwig said, “I tell them character counts. And it does -sometimes the rewards are intrinsic.”

Cheating is seen by 80 perfect of America’s best students as “not a big deal,” according to the ETS. Helwig said she agrees that small, daily actions like cheating can be a bigger deal regarding students’ futures.

“Students have to decide which kind of person they will be,” Helwig said. “They need to stand on faith issues sometimes and make their faith and values real, even when integrity brings discomfort. If one lies and cheats and stays in denial for long enough, life can become dangerous and shoddy.”

The impetus to cheat comes from both the immense strain on students and societal acceptance of cheating; the dangers of continuously giving in to the pressure to obtain perfection by cheating include potentially compromising yourself for achieving simple tasks in life after high school, according to Helwig.

“People cheat in business and finance; people commit adultery,” Helwig said. “People shoplift and embezzle. One of my children said that in her graphics design classes in college, students stole other students’ slides of original artwork to include in their own portfolios.”

Because of the profitable outcomes in grades and success, cheating continues and honesty is ousted, according to Little, and affects the way people view each other.

“Do people know they are an honest person and someone that they can trust?” Little said. “Or does this person take short cuts and take advantage of situations in order to get ahead?”

According to Zhou, cheating is an ongoing cycle, because for some, grades will always matter more than the ethics involved and those who are not caught will continue.

“There will always be people who believe that their grade is more important,” Zhou said.

“I think if you don’t catch it early, the people are more likely to do it more and more.”

Honesty can potentially override and exceed

outcomes for people who cheat and provide opportunities that attempting to hide cheating would not, according to Helwig.

“I talk about business ethics and tell a story of a friend of mine who was hired primarily because he highlighted a paragraph of some writing he was asked to submit in an interview and explained that he collaborated with another person for the material,” Helwig said.

“The firm offered him a job based on his honor and on the fact that he could be trusted with sensitive materials.”

Extreme stress and the extensive culture of cheating contribute to all time cheating highs, and these pressures forced upon high school students today can affect their futures if this perfectionist society goes without recognition, according to Helwig. “[It’s the] extreme stress [and the] culture of cheating,” Helwig said, “But I’d call any college to support integrity and honor and to encourage admissions to welcome in spite of a B on [a] transcript.”

The perception a teacher holds of students is extremely important -- cheating is a sure way to forfeit that image and, according to Zhou, it isn’t worth it.

“I guess it’s the consequences that make me not want to do it,” Zhou said. “A little homework I’d take a zero out of five on rather than a bad image in the teacher’s mind, because I think that means more.”

According to Helwig, who said she cheated once in college, the sincerity and conviction of students recently has been debatable.

“I did cheat [one time] in college on a Broadcast Journalism test,” Helwig said. “I can still watch myself in that seat looking at a test, and I feel bad about it to this day. My guess is that many students here are also deeply convicted about cheating . . . but sometimes it doesn’t seem so.”

No-Shave November prompts charity drive Cady Meece | Staff Writer No-Shave November, a popular event in the past, is being utilized this year as an avenue to raise awareness about the growing problem of poverty and homelessness in Cincinnati.

Contemporary Social Issues teacher Dan Distel said he decided to create a project in conjunction with No-Shave November to collect toiletries that will go to the Drop Inn Center, a homeless shelter located in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

“Myself and several other teachers are collecting toiletries such as shaving cream, new clothes and razors that will be given to the homeless,” Distel said.

According to senior Ib Chaudhry, the cause grew from collecting only shaving supplies to collecting any basic needs.

“I was talking to Distel, and I told him that he should do NoShave November,” Chaudhry said. “Distel suggested making it something more important, so he came up with this project. At first, he wanted to only collect shaving supplies but then, we decided that collecting more than that would be better.”

Beginning as a discussion, according to Distel, the project was a spur-of-the-moment thought.

“There wasn’t much forethought about it,” Distel said. “I was told about No-Shave November by some of my students, but I just stuck the bug in people’s ears and basically said, ‘we can make this bigger than it is.’”

Although some wonder why the drive is conducted now, according to Distel, the timing couldn’t be better for the drive.

“I teach Contemporary Social Issues and homelessness is usually not a topic that we cover, but with No-Shave November happening and this being a rampant issue among our veterans, who are also honored in November, it just fit,” Distel said.

There are many reasons to donate to the cause, according to senior Miles Koutney, but one reason in particular was the driving force behind his donations.

“There are many reasons why I wanted to donate, but the main reason is that it’s giving to people that are less fortunate,” Koutney said. “For a lot of homeless people, it’s not their fault that they are in that situation. Actually, a lot of homeless people are veterans, and it’s our governments’ fault that they are not giving them the support and funds they need when they return from duty.”

According to Distel, many students are excited for the cause and are readily offering up anything they can give.

“I have yet to feel like I need to ask for support for this cause,” Distel said. “It’s the whole month and some students seemed to embrace it right away. I have had students bring in

Before and After

photos by Cady Meece

From top: Seniors Ib Chaudhry, Miles Koutney and Contemporary Social Issues teacher Dan Distel are participating in the ever-popular No-Shave November, donating to charity and abstaining from shaving for an entire month.

huge bags full of supplies, so the cause must have gotten to them somehow.”

According to Koutney, the image of students’ with scruffy faces is just enough to connect this project with the established and popular No-Shave November.

“No-Shave November is connected to this cause because, when people picture homelessness, they picture a man that is dirty, usually with a beard,” Koutney said. “Because a lot of people are not shaving, they can give their extra supplies to the cause.”

Although the reasons for students’ participation in No-Shave November may not be connected to the project, according to Distel, some students are helping to raise awareness for the cause by keeping a face full of hair to encourage others to do the same and donate.

“When you see students that seem to be not shaving, it’s sort of hit and miss on why they are doing it,” Distel said. “Some say they forgot to shave that morning and others really are participating. I’ve seen some who are actually participating trying to encourage others to participate as well.”

Chaudhry said he hopes that students will donate supplies to the cause regardless of their participation in No-Shave November.

“Prior to No-Shave November, I had a full beard,” Chaudhry said. “I shaved it off the day before November 1, and I haven’t shaved it since. Having a full beard helps to connect homelessness to No-Shave November because of how others view those that are homeless. I hope others are encouraged to donate anything they can, even if they aren’t participating.”

According to Koutney, although keeping his facial hair helped raise awareness for the cause, in his case, shaving it all off in the middle of the month helped the cause more.

“My dad told me that if I did shave, he would buy five times as many supplies as he would if I didn’t, so I shaved,” Koutney said.

For some, the connection between No-shave November and homelessness may be lost, but there is a reward that, according to Distel, is much bigger than having a little extra facial hair.

“Many students have asked me how this connects to NoShave November,” Distel said. “The reason this all fits together is because having a clean shave and a shower makes people feel human. The reason people turn the other way or keep walking past someone is because we don’t view them to be human because of how we see them. People need this stuff.

It makes people feel like a new person when [they] have the chance to clean up and have a fresh appearance. That’s the message that I really want people to take from this cause.”

THE CHRONICLE | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

NEWS | PAGE 3

New school board members look to be part of a fresh approach Alyssa Howard | Editor in Chief Beth DeGroft and John Odell, the two newcomers to the Mason City School Board resulting from the November 3 local elections, both said that they look to represent sizable constituencies within Mason, incorporating new approaches to boardroom politics.

DeGroft, who has kids in three of the six Mason City Schools buildings, said that her main motivation to run stemmed from a

“I think that differences are a good thing, but when you sit in front of the public in that boardroom you need to present a united front together as a cohesive force.”

-Beth DeGroft desire to represent parental interests in the community. While DeGroft said she had considered candidacy for about two years before the election, this year proved a time compatible with her family’s schedule.

“I have four kids in the district, and only one other current board member when I was running had students still in the district,” DeGroft said. “So, as a parent, I have a vested interest; I wanted to get involved.”

Odell, a former Mason City Schools teacher, said that his decision to run after three years of retirement resulted from a priority to sustain his prior involvements with the district.

“It’s primarily motivated by a desire to do public service,” Odell said. “I feel like working in Mason City Schools for 21 years that I had an investment in our district; I was proud of my Beth DeGroft contributions, and I wanted to see that continue.”

Odell said that his presence on the board will be representa-

tive of two vital demographics in the Mason community necesbest interest of the district as a whole and just work respectfulsary for accurate input. ly and professionally with each other, which hasn’t happened “The board talks about education, but really, you don’t for the past four years,” DeGroft said. “I think that differences know something until you’ve actually done it,” Odell said. “I are a good thing, but when you sit in front of the public in that think that I am going to bring a needed perspective to board boardroom, you need to present a united front together as a discussion on a whole range of topics as we face some difficult cohesive force, together in the best interest of the district.” times….And now that I’m retired, I also have a natural constituOdell also said that while grappling with current financial ency of retired people. I have a different focus in my life and crises, he expects the board members will have dissenting different interests, financial needs. So, I think I’ll bring a baldialogue, but in a strictly issue-based atmosphere. ance from that perspective as well.”

DeGroft, who ran on a platform of bringing a fresh approach to the boardroom, said that she will provide a new style to the “I expect that there will be school board amidst a membership primarily characterized by debate: not that which gets incumbency. personal, but certainly focuses on “The fresh approach is just that a lot of the board members have been on the board a long time, and sometimes I think the issue....So, I’m actually some change and fresh perspectives are a good thing,” DeGroft looking forward to getting back to said. “So, just some fresh ideas and a fresh face in front of some more boring board meetings.” everybody [are the fresh approach], I think.”

After officially taking public office, Odell said that he looks to -John Odell achieve two standards in his first term, based on feedback he gathered as a candidate.

“The primary concerns that I heard from the public were “We’re facing some very dire situations, given the economic [that] most people were happy with Mason City Schools, [so] climate and the slowing of the growth in Mason, [which] are most people wanted me to maintain the quality of our district,” going to present us with a whole new set of problems,” Odell Odell said. “The second thing that came out was, while they said. “And to some degree, that probably will be a unifying wanted to maintain the quality, they also wanted to do so at a force for the board. I expect that there will be debate: not that reasonable cost.” which gets personal, but certainly focuses on the issues.”

Similarly, DeGroft said that she emphasizes communication Odell said he sees the current dynamic of the Mason School and wants the community to feel that she is always open to Board reflected in the public response. national political scene, “I think the biggest thing for me really is to be an apbut he hopes that an proachable board member,” DeGroft said. “I don’t want increased presence of restaff or parents to ever feel like they can’t call me or I’m not spectful debate will mark open to suggestions, because I definitely want to be. I may a return to less exciting not always agree or be able to put their ideas into play, but school board meetings.

I definitely want people to feel that I am approachable and “There’s a certain keep the lines of communication open between parents entertainment value here and staff and students, as well.” that we’re moving away While DeGroft said she anticipates and appreciates diffrom serious discussion ferences of opinion among board members and the public, and into news-as-entershe expects the new set of board members to communitainment, and in order cate in an environment of respect for one another. to draw readership, you “And I think that the board, the way it’s going to be made John Odell need to have some kind up now, will be able to express differences of opinion and share of controversy,” Odell said. “So, I’m actually looking forward to different ideas that still come to conclusions that will be in the getting back to some more boring school board meetings.”

Governor institutes cuts in public funding for libraries Ellen Duffer | Associate Editor Libraries in Ohio need help. Due to recent statewide budget cuts imposed by Governor Ted Strickland, public libraries are facing the need to reduce hours of operation, sizes of staff and frequency of purchasing new material.

Mason Public Library is not immune to the loss of funds, according to the library’s director, Sarah Brown. Although the library has faced budget cuts in the past, she said that these are the largest cuts it has seen.

“Ninety-eight percent of our funding comes from the state of Ohio,” Brown said. “We don’t get any kind of regular funding from the city or the township. Over the years, we have had percentage cuts of the amount of monies that came out of Columbus. This is the most severe [cut that has occurred.]”

Brown said that the library learned the specifics of the budget cuts this summer.

“We ended up at roughly around 33 percent [of our funding being cut],” Brown said. “It’s pretty drastic. The state’s fiscal year starts in July. So, we learned [that] between July and as soon as possible, we had to cut $150,000 out of our budget.”

After Strickland announced the cuts in state funding for public libraries in July, Mason Public Library had to start creating a plan for action and implementing its own cuts, Brown said.

“We’ve already laid off five staff members, and two have resigned,” Brown said. “We’ve cut 23 hours out of our schedule. We’ve cut our spending on new materials for the library, print and non-print, drastically. We’ve reduced the number of activities we have at the library -- some of that was forced when the hours were cut.”

Because there is no predicted increase in funding from Ohio, Brown said the library is considering putting a levy on the ballot in May to obtain more money.

“There’s no evidence that it’s going to get any better, so the board voted to pursue a levy in the spring,” Brown said. “[But,] if the levy

is successful, then we won’t see the money Besides book purchases, the library will be current cuts will satisfy those currently until the collection which would be early in cutting its schedule of organized activities and imposed by Ohio. If Strickland and the Ohio 2011. If the levy goes through, we surely will events, especially those held for adults. government cut more funding for public librarbe able to reinstate [the previous] hours [of “We cut back on some of our Story Hour ies, however, Brown said the library may have operation].” programs and activities for the young people,” to stop getting new books entirely.

The budget cuts led to the closing of the Brown said. “The only programming we’re “Hopefully we can get by with the cutbacks library on Sundays, which, according to Brown, going to be able to offer for adults now are we have in place now,” Brown said. “If the were days on which the library was highly frequented. But, Brown said there weren’t many ways to save money -- they had no choice.

“Sundays were wonderful days for families,” Brown said. “We opened at one and we closed at five, so they could go to church or sleep in or whatever they do and still get here and get things done. So, we felt very badly about that. I mean, none of this did we want to do: it was either turn off the lights and lock the doors or [lose more money].”

Senior Nisha Giridharan said she has seen firsthand the effects of Strickland‘s cuts. As a member of the library’s Teen Advisory Board, which helps decide which young adult books the library should purchase, Giridharan said she has witnessed a more selective approach among the library’s staff to buying books for public use and a motivation to find other ways to stock the library with material.

“Basically, the budgets for teens and children have gone down significantly,” Giridharan said. “[The library staff members] really want to photo by Ellen Duffer encourage the children to read; so, I think later this year they’re going to The Mason Public Library has shorter hours of operation and is closed entirely on Sundays, resulting in a have a school-wide book drive to try parking lot devoid of all vehicles except the always stationary library van. to get more books, because unfortunately, our budget’s been cut. That affects how things that we can do free of charge. For funding gets any worse from the state, of much material we’re allowed to buy every example, we offer help with your taxes in the course cutbacks will be more severe. Conceivmonth, and we’re being a lot more selective, spring. I don’t think people realize that to ably, if it gets worse, we could just stop buying now. It used to be [that] if we heard there was bring in an author or a performer, you pay for new materials altogether.” some interest for a book, we’d just ask to purthat. You get a better rate because you’re a chase it. But now [there] has to be a significant library, but still, it’s expensive.” amount of people who want the book.”

Brown said she is optimistic that the library’s

PAGE 4

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 | THE CHRONICLE

THE CHRONICLE | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

NEWS | PAGE 5

Homosexual student barred from giving blood

Hoxworth Blood Center prohibits the donation of blood from gay men Beena Raghavendran | Staff Writer Homosexual students are being denied the opportunity to give blood.

As the December 8 blood drive approaches, one homosexual MHS student is reminded of when Hoxworth Blood Center did not permit him to donate blood in last year’s final blood drive because of its rule barring gay men from giving blood.

Former MHS student and current School of Creative and Performing Arts sophomore Mason Howell said his friend, the deferred student, answered the donation form honestly and was then denied the chance to give blood.

“Everyone has to fill out a questionnaire,” Howell said. “[The official] told him that he wasn’t allowed to give blood because he answered [that he had had sexual contact with a man].”

Of the 1,009,219 adult and adolescent cases of AIDS in 2007, eighty percent were in males; of the 80 percent, 60 percent were because of male-to-male sexual contact, according to the 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV/AIDS factsheet. This higher risk of HIV/AIDS for homosexual men is the reason they cannot donate blood, according to Hoxworth Blood Official Gail Schaffer.

Hoxworth Blood Official Rebecca Davis said the reason to deny homosexual men the right to give blood is because of the likeliness that they will continue to make the same sexual choices throughout their lives. “[We] have to assume that if they’re having male-to-male sex, the probability is that they’d continue with that lifestyle, so they would always be at high risk,” Davis said.

Unlike some potential donors, who lie to donate blood, Howell said his friend was completely honest about his sexual orientation. “[He] answered truthfully,” Howell said. “He’s not afraid of who he is.”

Not truthfully answering the initial survey is dangerous for recipients, according to Schaffer: because the AIDS test can’t be trusted yet, Schaffer said a lie risks giving infected blood to a potentially weak immune system -- a deadly combination.

“The AIDS test right now isn’t fool-proof,” Schaffer said.

“There’s a window where a person can be HIV positive, but the test will be negative.”

Howell said his friend was disappointed that he couldn’t donate.

“He was kind of upset about it,” Howell said. “He’s a sweet

person and just wanted to help.”

Schaffer said this kind of deferral of patients is out of the blood center’s hands, and that the center doesn’t try to hurt or embarrass potential donors.

“It’s federal law -- do it their way or shut down,” Schaffer said.

“Even if [the potential donor] is with the same partner for his whole life, [it’s still a deferral].”

But federal law is starting to be challenged. In August 2009, the Assembly Judiciary Committee in California passed the U.S. Blood Donor Nondiscrimination Resolution, asking the federal government to lift the ban on gay men giving blood. The AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks) and the American Red Cross said they are advocates of removing this ban as well.

“It does not appear rational to broadly differentiate sexual transmission via male-to-male sexual activity from that via heterosexual activity on scientific grounds,” the AABB and the American Red Cross said. “To many, [the ban] is unfair and discriminatory, resulting in negative attitudes to blood donor eligibility criteria.”

Howell said he thinks the blood restriction is built on a stereotype of fear.

“It’s probably fear of judgement,” Howell said. “[Like how] people think being gay is contagious, which is not true at all.”

Sophomore Jimena Esparza said she thinks this law is discriminatory and needs to be abolished.

“It’s like discriminating [against] them, [or] saying, ‘You can’t give blood because [of your race],’” Esparza said.

Senior Eric Severson said he thinks that this discrimination against homosexuals is just a continuation of society’s reaction to gays over time.

“People are still ignorant and they don’t respect [others], believing that people aren’t equal to one another,” Severson said.

Junior Kevin Wermuth said he is shocked at laws like the homosexual blood donation ban that define this generation’s response to homosexuality. According to Wermuth, today’s restrictions are absurd and should have ended years ago.

“I was born in the [1990s],” Wermuth said. “This is the new generation.”

Wermuth said restrictions on volunteering like the law prohibiting homosexual blood donation go against natural rights.

“Equality is supposed to be everything,” Wermuth said.

“When I hear the Pledge [of Allegiance] every morning [and] I hear, ‘Justice for all,’ I honestly don’t believe it.”

photo art by Caleb Schowalter

Howell said that beyond these restrictions, he thinks society should erase the invisible lines between heterosexuals and homosexuals.

“In cities, you have the gay part of the city and the straight part of the city, [but] there should just be the city,” Howell said.

“All of us joined together as one.”

As for what should happen with the law, Howell said he is certain the homosexual blood ban should be lifted.

“Let gay people give blood,” Howell said. “[There are] blood shortages and there [are] gay people out there willing to give blood.”

Junior Chay Ruby said he is optimistic: looking past today’s laws, he said he thinks that students are more accepting in 2009 than they were twenty years ago.

“It’s more okay to be out now,” Ruby said. “As more generations and new ideas come [and homosexuals] fight more [for equality], it’ll get better.”

National Novel Writing Month elicits 50,000 word novels from participants Rachel Giesel | Staff Writer Writers across the world immerse themselves in creating a novel in one month by participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). NaNoWriMo occurs every November as a way to push writers to the completion of a 50,000 word novel. From midnight on November 1 to midnight on the eve of December 1, people across the globe race to win the writing marathon.

According to NaNoWriMo.org, in order to win, participants must have 50,000 comprehensive words that are created by the participant in the given time period. Material that is written before the starting date is not accepted, although preparing before the event with outlines or character sketches is allowed. The winners of the event are awarded with a printable certificate of accomplishment and a lot of self-satisfaction if they complete the task by the end of the month.

Junior Alison Bewley said she hopes to finish her NaNoWriMo story this year. She attempted NaNoWriMo last year, but dropped out after about 20,000 words. The event is quite time-consuming, but she said she participates because writing is what she loves to do.

“You plunk yourself down at the computer for hours and hours and hours in November neglecting all of your school work, all of your life, to do something you like to do,” Bewley said. “You push yourself through because you know you have to get it done. At the end of the month, you feel really good about yourself, and then want to go cry because you don’t know what to do with all your free time.”

Junior Charlotte Eads was a winner of NaNoWriMo last year, and said she is hoping to become a winner again this year.

“I finished my NaNoWriMo novel last year, and that was mentally satisfying,” Eads said. “I haven’t finished editing yet and I don’t know if I want it to be published. But it was loads of fun and it was definitely worth it!”

Eads said it is “sheer insanity,” but pleasurable and self-pleasing, as well as a way to con-

nect with the rest of the world. The website allows users to communicate with each other and encourage each other along as the month passes.

“You are fueled by your passion for writing, lots of coffee and the community feeling that it gives you,” Eads said. “It’s not just you alone hunched over a little typewriter. We’re all in this together. There’s really no reward except for the satisfaction that you’ve succeeded in doing this. You managed to write a full story on your own in this blistering short period of time.”

Eads said participating in and completing the event helped her improve as a writer: after not being able to finish more than a two-page story, Eads said she proudly finished because of such an extreme deadline.

“You stop trying to make it perfect the first time around,” Eads said. “Because I’m a perfectionist, [I know] you don’t get anything done, because you’re always stalling yourself like, ‘Oh, it’s not good enough.’ But, [NaNoWriMo] just makes you run with it.”

Both girls said that writing is a core aspect of their lives throughout the year. Bewley said that NaNoWriMo is a priority to her because of her love for writing.

“School is not doing so hot,” Bewley said. “I have to write two papers and I haven’t started those. I’m not very good at prioritizing. For NaNoWriMo, I just redirect all that writing energy towards the story.”

Bewley said she writes all the time because she’s so passionate about it, so devoting time to NaNoWriMo isn’t a challenge for her. She said she began writing in sixth grade when she realized she was allowed write outside of school for her own entertainment and said she’s been an avid writer ever since.

“I write in school when I’m not supposed to,” Bewley said. “But it’s just because I think what we’re doing [in school] is redundant and I want to be able to get away from it without actually going anywhere. [Writing] makes me feel like I have something to say that is important, even if I have a story that isn’t real.”

PAGE 6 | EDITORIAL

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 | THE CHRONICLE

Views

Chronicle Policy

Round Table

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.

30046 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 C106 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.

How would you evaluate Obama’s first 10 months as President?

Contact Information The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Mason, Ohio 45040 398-5025

The Chronicle Staff Editor In Chief Alyssa Howard Associate Editor Ellen Duffer Business/Circulation Manager Griffin Frank Technical and Graphic Manager Caleb Schowalter Staff Writers Jami Bechard Jordan Berger Tony DeLotell Rachel Giesel Julia Halpin Ryan Hoffman Ian Howard Janica Kaneshiro Jessica Kantor Trevor Maxim Cady Meece Kris Ogungbemi Beena Raghavendran Carlie Sack Rachel Schowalter Danielle Simms Janie Simonton Samantha Stulen Adviser Mr. Dale Conner

photo by Rachel Schowalter

From left to right: Zach Zaerr, Ryan Lyons, Allison Linn, Blayr Richie, Umy Savani, Kaitlin McNamara.

The Round Table is a forum-based discussion. The students picked for this edition were selected due to their opinionated natures. To be involved in the Round Table, please contact The Chronicle in room C106.

Zach Zaerr Junior “Obama is extremely liberal in what he wants to do and what he thinks. On the bright side, his first year has been a whole lot of talk and barely any action.

The people wanted a decisive leader and Obama has proved so far to be extremely neutral on everything, appearing as though he just wants to look good and take credit for everything good.”

Ryan Lyons Freshman “To the heart of the issue, I think it is too hard to say how to evaluate what the President has done because he has done almost nothing. He has done many things to prepare for the months ahead, but you could probably put ten things down on a piece of paper that the president has done in this past year. In my overall opinion, I think he has really just spent a little too much money on things that are really not helping the overall economy of our country.”

Allison Linn Senior “In addition to proposing several ideas that are based on the fact that he thinks the population will just give him money for anything, Obama in his first year has proved three things: 1) emotional speeches do not take the place of leadership skills and decisive action, 2) good intentions don’t solve real problems and 3) disagreeing with the media’s favorite politician will get you labeled as a racist or un-American.”

Letters to the Editor

Blayr Richie Senior “I think he is definitely making an effort to enact the changes he said he would and is not catering to an individual party. He is trying to do what is good for the American people. It’s ridiculous to criticize him for not fixing and doing everything he said he would the minute he took office, especially considering where the country was and that the system itself is working against him.”

Umy Savani Sophomore “I am very confident that he will bring our troops back home from Afghanistan like he is doing in Iraq, peacefully. I am also confident that he is more than capable of handling our economy, but everything takes time and you can’t change a whole country within a year. I believe that if we give President Obama a little more time, he will prove to be a very successful president.”

Kaitlin McNamara Junior “He has made great strides in fixing the crumbling economy, has changed the outlook of our foreign wars and helped guide health care reform legislation. In dealing with so many issues, he has left campaign promises unfulfilled, but now that the foundation of his administration is set, the country will look to him to keep those promises.”

Compiled by Rachel Schowalter

Guest Column

Ski Club is irreplaceable Title IX has benefited women I disagree with the decision of demolishing Ski Club from our winter activities. Attending [the] middle school last year, I did witness numerous injuries of my peers. That’s due to [those students’] lack of following rules and choosing to mess around. It’s a shame that a few people can ruin fun for everyone. The decision was made for our safety, but taking away a club that may be the only participation for some students was a bad choice. Replacing this club won’t be possible, and the participants will miss it -- I know, myself being one of them. Only for a year I participated and it was a fun learning opportunity I [had] with my friends. Safety comes first, but when you’re having so much fun, you forget about [it]. I think that’s what led to so many injuries, and the final decision of getting rid of it. I’ll miss it, but I’ll just have to find something else this winter.

-Nia Sylvester, Freshman

Society’s acceptance reflected in portrayal of vampires I would agree that the modern vampires reflect the people in today’s society, because people today are a lot more accepting of others. This is just like in Twilight: when Bella finds out that Edward is a vampire, she still likes him. This can be seen as something in today’s society, [like] when someone finds out that his or her friend [follows] a different religion than he or she does, but stays his or her friend.

So, basically things change as the society changes. Back then, vampires used to be very scary and we would see them mainly in horror films, like Dracula, because in times back then, people weren’t as accepting of others and were very mean to them. Today, vampires are in romance stories and are a lot more kind, like the Cullen family, because in the present, people are a lot more accepting of others.

-Kaitlin Findley, Freshman

Melanie Wright, English Teacher

I am writing in response to a recent article about the difficulty for today’s athletes in earning a college scholarship. As a college athlete at one time myself, I recall the frustration and sadness I initially suffered when not earning a “full ride” to a Division I college. I sympathize with those who experience such heartache.

This is not why I am writing, however. I am writing to express my frustration at this article, which seems to lack any celebration of what Title IX has accomplished in the lives of so many females, and instead focuses on the challenge it makes in the lives of male athletes.

It surprised me and saddened me to see the discussion in your article begin with a seemingly negative focus on Title IX as a culprit in creating more competition for males.

For me, Title IX is a given -- a long needed standard for ensuring gender equality, and not a hurdle to be overcome, a debatable rule to be disrespected, or legislation to be treated with disdain . In 2009, I would have expected an article that began with an illumination of male scholarship competition to focus on the large number of funds which are given to football or the number of males who play sports in our society instead of subtly blaming female sports. I don’t see what place Title IX had in this entire conversation. To a degree, this article made me think our society has not fully accepted

equality for female athletes.

We must be so careful to not join voices of those who are quick to doubt why females should get athletic scholarships because of their revenue reports in comparison to males. Any revolutionary will tell you social justice efforts take time to infiltrate every aspect of the culture. Thirty-five years of female involvement in sports is hardly a fair duration of time to measure how popular female sports can be. Additionally, do we want a culture where decisions are made based on money rather than equality?

In many of the Gender Viewpoints classes here at the high school, I am so saddened when I notice how some females are often the meanest to other females and how some females do not even advocate for themselves. I can’t say for sure why some females do not fight for their own equality, but I know a diminishing of the value of Title IX is probably not helping them to see their worth. Female athletes recently turned in a group assignment, which concluded, in their own words, that female sports will never be fully equal to male sports. How troubling to see that female athletes imagine this for their futures.

What if females of the past believed this in regards to voting or marginalized groups of the past believed this in regard to their futures? Such hopeless beliefs would be seen as outrageous and wrong to us. Let us see the fact that current female athletes don’t see sports equality in their future as a cause for concern, self-examination, and action. In such an examination, one can see that the devaluing of Title IX is a huge loss, which ultimately takes away from both genders.

Sports THE CHRONICLE | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

The Press Box Fans often want to have their say. The Press Box is a forum for Comet fans to voice their opinions on the latest in Mason athletics.

Back

What do you think a new head coach would need to do to make Mason football a top-tier GMC team?

SPORTS | PAGE 7

2

Back

2008 Championship Time: 15:15.66

2009 Championship Time: 15:45.11

“To work on the offensive playbook and the defensive one. Actually, they just need to throw out the old playbook and make a new one.”

Nick Reynolds Senior

“Better offense and defense. And put [sophomore] Elias Magana out there more often.”

Jen Center Freshman

“He’d have to instill a sense of pride in his players; he’d have to mesh them together as a team unit, make them play as a team.”

Ali Jamali Senior

“[He should hold] less workouts. The kids feel like they’re being worked too hard. I think if they realized it was a sport, not a career, they’d enjoy it more.”

Charlie Cryder Senior

Cross-country runner picks up second state championship Ryan Hoffman | Staff Writer

Along with his faith, Rapp said he sees a very humble competitor in Wills, who is concerned more with the well-being of the team than his own personal achievements.

“He would sacrifice individual awards for the team,” Rapp said.

“That’s a big part of him.”

Rapp said that Wills shows strong commitment to the details necessary to sustain high-level performances.

“Certainly, he has a great work ethic,” Rapp said. “He does a good job of taking care of the little things that you have to do to stay healthy so you can train at that level.”

Going into his senior year and last high school season, Wills said he is confident that he will continue to lead the team. Wills said he is also thinking about the athletes of the future and understands the importance of looking ahead.

“I want to lay down the foundation for future cross country runners,” Wills said.

Junior Zach Wills captured his second consecutive state championship on November 7, finishing at 15 minutes, 45.11 seconds. Although Wills, who came in four seconds before the runner-up, said that the win was a rush, the victory fell short of his ultimate goal.

“Initially I was really excited and pumped up that I got the championship,” Wills said. “But I was immediately concerned about the team….

My goal was to get a championship, but we fell short of that.”

While he was disappointed to not be standing with his team on the podium, Wills said that his success, and accolades that have accompanied them, continue to encourage him.

“A lot of people get caught up and want more and more,” Wills said. “But sometimes I need to sit back and realize what I have accomplished. It motivates me to do more, and I feel blessed to have so much support.”

Varsity Men’s Cross Country Coach Tom Rapp said he believes that Wills’ success all starts with his faith.

“He believes very strongly that God has blessed him with these abilities, and he uses them to his advantage,” Rapp said.

-Compiled by Janie Simonton

Team Tracker Leading varsity bowler senior Chuck Hammond said he is expects success this season.

According to Hammond, the team is likely to reach the top 10 in districts, and he personally expects to make it to state. While Hammond said he has improved his game, the team will still need to react to the loss of its senior class. “Opening up with Middletown and Hamilton [matches are] going to be our two hardest,” Hammond said. photo by Ian Howard

photos by Rachel Schowalter

After a close miss at state qualification last season, the varsity gymnastics team can expect much success, according to junior gymnast Alex Perez. “Hopefully we’ll make it to state [because] last year we were really close, so I think we’re a better team this year,” Perez said. Perez said that Mason is challenged to win by a close loss last year. “[Centerville] beat us to state by .2 [points], so they’re our…main rival,” Perez said. photo by Ian Howard

PAGE 8 | SPORTS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 | THE CHRONICLE

Sedmak steps down as head football coach Tony DeLotell | Staff Writer

Varsity Head Football Coach Dave Sedmak resigned on November 9 after an 8-22 record over a span of three years. Sedmak said his resignation is Dave Sedmak a result of being exhausted working a job that he said had been year-round.

“A lot of people don’t understand what goes into this job and what’s necessary to win in this league,” Sedmak said. “Every week, you’re facing a brutal battle, and if you don’t have success in those battles, it makes the next week ten times harder. It just wore me out. I’m out of gas.”

Sedmak said he carefully considered whether to return as coach or not.

“I really agonized over this, because there were a lot of kids I wanted to come back and coach, and there were a lot of kids that wanted me to coach,” Sedmak said. “I know there were some that didn’t care, and some of their parents were the ones that were tougher to deal with and that wasn’t going to go away. When you sacrifice every aspect of your life, your health, your family, everything for this, and you’re getting more resistance,

it’s time to move on.”

Junior running back Matt Bertrams said that he felt a loss for words after hearing the news of Sedmak’s resignation.

“He’s the only coach I’ve had playing high school ball,” Bertrams said. “It’s going to be my senior year, so I will have to learn new stuff just for one year.”

Junior quarterback Seth Schwartz said he felt uncertainty because the team’s offseason schedule will have to be changed entirely.

“I was kind of just in shock,” Schwartz said.

“I thought, ‘What are we going to do for next year?’”

According to Sedmak, the overall physical size of the players and the commitment levels of other teams make it difficult for Mason to win in the GMC. “The one thing that hasn’t been established here yet is the commitment level that it takes to compete in the GMC,” Sedmak said. “In my last school, it took a while to get that in, but eventually it got established.

Here, not enough people were willing to pay those dues, and not enough people thought that was necessary. A lot of people think that this is Mason, so we should win anyway.”

Schwartz said that the players on the team, not Sedmak, were solely responsible for the poor record this season. Though the record didn’t show it, Schwartz said he felt like the team accomplished a lot.

“It’s all on us,” Schwartz said. “Nothing is on him. We did the best we could, and the coaches did the best they could. There’s no use putting the blame on someone. This year the record wasn’t good, but we felt we accomplished so much through the work we put in.”

Bertrams said he believes that a new coach will be beneficial to the football program, but he said he doesn’t think Sedmak is to blame for the team’s past records.

“I think that a new coach will help,” Bertrams said. “I don’t think Coach Sedmak was doing anything wrong; it just didn’t work out.”

Sedmak said his bond that he created with the players and parents is what he will miss the most about coaching at Mason.

“Wherever you are, you build a relationship with the kids and a lot of the parents,” Sedmak said. “That, I’ll miss.”

Sedmak said that what he did in his three years was not enough for him to be satisfied.

“The good coaches know that high school football includes two things: building kids into men, holding them accountable and teaching them how to be successful in life, and then competing, winning and bringing pride to your community. I did one of the two, and that wasn’t enough.”

A rival coach offers advice to new Comet head football coach Head football Coach at Colerain High School Tom Bolden has a record of 69 – 4 since 2004.

According to Bolden, to have a successful program in the GMC a coach must exhibit the following traits: 1. Your players must hate you at times, love you at times, but respect you always!

2. Be willing to out work everybody else!

Commitment, Commitment, Commitment!

3. Be passionate about football.

Remember that it’s not something you do, but rather it is what you are!

4. Be organized!

5. Be able to communicate to your players, their families, and the community!

Castner tapped to take over football program Tony DeLotell | Staff Writer Brian Castner was named head varsity football coach on November 23, pending school board approval.

With 16 years of football coaching experience, including a state championship with St. Xavier High School under his belt, Castner said he brings a lot to the table as a coach.

Castner said he will finish out this year with the softball team, and then switch his focus solely to football.

“I met with the [softball players] and told them that my number one priority to them is that we’re going to close this book together,” Castner said. “At the end of the year...hopefully somebody else on the staff will want to take the job and continue what we’ve accomplished.”

Castner said a large part of achieving success as the football coach will be getting all aspects of the Mason football program on the same page, stressing community involvement.

“We need to make sure everybody understands that this is Mason High School varsity football from third grade all the way up to twelfth grade,” Castner said. “We all have a purpose; we all have a direction.”

Part of the new program is the Big Four, which is a priority list that every football player must follow, according to Castner.

“We’re going to stress the Big Four: faith, family, education and football, in that order,” Castner said. “If any kid or player cannot have a priority list in that order, then that’s when we’re going to have issues. We’re going to get everybody on that bus right there.”

Video gamers transfer sports skills to the field Trevor Maxim | Staff Writer With the increasing popularity of sportsrelated video games, those who were once merely spectators can now become coaches or players in the virtual world. Xbox Live, the most popular online gaming service, allows players to compete against each other over the internet in real-time. The service had 17 million active users as of January 2009, according to Microsoft executive Robbie Bach.

For senior Kasim Ahmad, there is a thin line between the world of professional sports and that of sports video games. An enthusiast of both the Madden NFL football and NBA 2k basketball series, Ahmad said that he has become an expert in the world of professional football based on his experiences playing on Xbox live. “[I recognize] what kind of defense [an NFL team] is in just by looking at their formation,” Ahmad said. “If they’re in a cover two or something or cover three or not, you would be able to know that from playing Madden.”

Ahmad said he often critiques his favorite sports teams, including the Bengals, using knowledge that he has gained from Madden NFL 10.

Regarding the in-game tactics of the team, Ahmad said he has a variety of recommendations, ranging from the serious to the lighthearted.

“The way I celebrate personally after I score, [the Bengals] could use some of them,” Ahmad said. “Some of my dance moves are exceptional, I’d say, to the competition.”

The consequences of taking sports video games so seriously can sometimes be difficult, according to Ahmad. He said that Xbox Live games

against friends create intense competition.

“I usually place a wager [on games],” Ahmad said. “I actually lost a bass guitar to [junior] Carson Craig earlier this year.”

Sophomore Matt Buchko also said that he finds an interest in some sports through their video games, with very little on-field experience. Buchko said he follows professional and college football, analyzing the games with the knowledge he gained from the Madden NFL and NCAA Football series.

“When I’m watching a game or playing with my friends, I kind of realize stuff that I probably wouldn’t have realized without playing

the [football video] games,” Buchko said.

Although Buchko said his gaming does get very competitive on Xbox Live and with his friends, he said that he has not played organized football since fifth grade. Buchko also said, however, that he is content with his decision and does not plan on returning to the gridiron.

“I [don’t want to play] for a real team,” Buchko said. “But every once in a while, I play outside with my friends or something.”

Football games like Madden NFL 10 do, however, make some players want to put their sports knowledge to the test, according

to junior Gera Dimitriev. Dimitriev said that playing the video game has not only taught him about football, but he is even contemplating a return to the field for the first time since eighth grade.

“I’m considering playing [for the football team] senior year if I get taller and buffer,” Dimitriev said. “Madden pumps me up and makes me want to play.”

Dimitriev said he often treats the video game as more than just a recreational activity, with the intensity of the competition and the real meaning of the outcomes.

“I’ve broken [Xbox 360] controllers before,” Dimitriev said. “I threw like six interceptions in a game, and I threw [the controller] against the ground.”

While senior Alex Farren is best known for his achievements on the football field, he said that his skill on the virtual hockey rink is equally impressive. Farren said there was a period of a week in January 2009 during which he was ranked eighth in the nation for EA Sports’ NHL 09 hockey game.

“I was playing about six hours a day, [and] I had, like, an 80-game win streak or something crazy like that,” Farren said. “But since then, my ranking has dropped, and I have yet to break the top 500.”

Outside of his accomplishments in NHL 09, Farren said the only real experience he has playing the game came from a street hockey league when he was in second grade. He has, though, begun to follow professional hockey based on his interest in NHL 09.

“I only got interested in hockey because of the video game,” Farren said.

“If it wasn’t for the video game, I’d have no interest in the game. In fact, photo art by Caleb Schowalter I’d probably hate it.”

THE CHRONICLE | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

PAGE 9

PAGE 10 | SPORTS

Ch@tRoom

The_Chronicle: Which QB has

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 | THE CHRONICLE

evan harris

What you won’t find on Facebook

a better chance at leading the UC Bearcats to a National Championship?

qVehicle of choice: That would be a hovercraft.

Freshman_Drew_Matula: Tony Pike is the

qLast thing you said in a microphone: I was probably rapping in the

original leader of the UC Bearcats. They should still have faith in him.

Pitch Blark crew.

Junior_Adam_Kuenzig: I’d say it’s a fifty-fifty

qMost used catch-phrase: “Either you can count me in or you can count

chance. Just because Collaros is an underclassman doesn’t mean anything. Tony Pike has great experience, and with great coaching by Brian Kelley, anything is possible.

Sophomore_Connor_Thygerson: Zach Collaros. He can run but he also is really good at passing.

Junior_Alex_Newport: Tony Pike has played better teams than Zach Collaros, so I would say Tony Pike.

Senior_Courtney_Moses: I say Tony Pike

me out.” qYou are most likely to: Look good every

day. qTheme song: It would probably be

like, “A-B-C-1-2-3-do-re-mi.” I don’t remember what that song’s called. I don’t know the name of it.

because whenever he goes in, they makes good plays.

The other guy’s consistent, but [Pike] makes good plays and he’ll win it.

qMac or PC: Mac

Freshman_Kyle_Bonomini: I think that

qBulletin boards are most useful

Collaros has a better chance of taking UC all the way because I think he’s been doing good so far. Tony Pike has good stats, but I still think Collaros has been doing good in the past couple games.

in the production of: Police cases qNickname: E-Harr

(pronounced hair) -Compiled by Ryan Hoffman

qBiggest fear:

Roller coasters

TweetingTwits

qIf you had a time capsule

what would you put in it: Jorts

andyroddick: Attendant definitely just got on the pa system and asked if anyone on board speaks Russian...... Can’t be good

qIf your life were a movie, which actor

would play you: Joaquin Pheonix or Barry Hensley qMost plentiful thing in your life: Women qHow would you spend a million dollars: I would probably eat it. Yeah,

-- Tennis player Andy Roddick

I’d make peanut butter-and-money sandwiches.

-Compiled by Trevor Maxim -As told to Ian Howard

How soon we forget the early season successes of Tony Pike.

Before Pike’s injury sustained against South Florida, he was a Heisman contender closing in on the trophy. But then, Collaros took over and strung together some solid games. UC fans seemed to forget that they had arguably the best quarterback in the nation sitting on the sidelines with an injury. Collaros and Pike have recently begun to split time between the two of them in certain game situations. While Collaros certainly has the advantage in mobility, Pike has an envious amount of knowledge and a killer arm to go with it.

This provides a dangerous combination for any defense to stop, and Pike has yet to be shut down at all this year.

Evidenced by his recent six-touchdown, 399-yard route of Illinois last Friday, there should be no question of who should be under center for the Bearcats. If UC wants to win a championship, Tony Pike is the most efficient way to do so.

Debating the quarterback controversy at UC The University of Cincinnati has a problem for which most other college football teams would kill: having two elite quarterbacks. Zach Collaros should be named UC’s Starting Quarterback simply because of his stats: his quarterback rating is 16.6 points higher than Tony Pike’s.

Collaros’ Completion Percentage is 75 percent, 10 percent higher than Pike’s. Collaros did a fantastic job stepping in as the offensive leader while Pike was nursing his broken arm. Collaros also does a great job escaping the pocket and turning a negative play into a positive one. If the UC Bearcats want a shot at a National Championship run, then they need a quarterback who will grind it out every down, and they have Ryan Hoffman | Staff Writer that in Zach Collaros.

Even though Tony Pike is healthy again, UC can’t forget the performances that Zach Collaros has pulled off the past several weeks at the quarterback position. He came into the season a relative unknown on the UC roster and has suddenly appeared as a powerful force for the team’s offense. The wins against Louisville, Syracuse and Connecticut prove that Collaros has the ability to lead the team effectively.

Now that Brian Kelly has put Pike back in as the starting quarterback, I’m afraid that he will forget about Collaros during the end of this season. It’s important to realize that with Pike being a senior, Collaros really is the future of this UC football team. I can see the value of giving playing time to the experienced leader in Pike, but I also think that Collaros needs more opportunities to develop himself as a player. As the 2009 season winds down, these two quarterbacks should share the field in order to do what’s best for the team.

Trevor Maxim | Staff Writer

Tony DeLotell | Staff Writer

SportsRant

photos by Alyssa Howard

THE CHRONICLE | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

PAGE 11

PAGE 12 | THE CHRONICLE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

Janica Kaneshiro | Staff Writer

ably spend 300 dollars a month, because I use salon products. They’re Straight, curly, dyed or natural, like 50 to 75 dollars a bottle, and it whatever the style, there are plenty gets pretty expensive.” of students at Mason High School Clark said he also understands the who know a thing or two about expenses of good hair. good hair and the effort required to “[The most expensive thing I own achieve it. According to Senior Kayis] my hair dryer,” Clark said. “I got it elin Tiggs, good hair takes time. for Christmas one year as a joke, but I “I have to wake up at 4:45,” Tiggs actually use it. It’s pretty funny.” said. “I have to keep [my hair] Clark said that among other reacombed, and I have to wrap it at sons, he likes to keep good hair to set night or it gets totally messed up the example and that he might have in the morning. I basically have to different motives as well. straighten it every morning.”

“If people don’t wash [their hair] or Sophomore Daulton Clark said that it’s messy, it bugs me,” Clark said. “I he gets flack at times from other guys just don’t like looking at it. Besides, for trying to create the “perfect look. the ladies like it when I have nice “They usually mess it up or somehair.” thing, because they know I like havSenior Kelsey Harris said she feels ing it all perfect.” Clark said. like hair care is a part of overall hyClark said that those people can giene. get on his nerves; he also knows his “If you have good hygiene, you routine isn’t anywhere near normal, have good hair,” Harris said, “It’s just especially for a guy. me taking care of myself.”

“I shampoo and condition [my hair] For Tiggs however, her hair is more twice, and then I blow dry it,” Clark of an obsession. said. “Then, I wear a hat because it “I’m very obsessed with it actukeeps it from getting all poufy, and ally.” Tiggs said. “If it looks crazy, I get then I blow dry it again after wearing really upset, and I get upset when the hat for a little bit.” people talk about my hair, too. When Maintaining stylish hair can also be they make fun of my hair, it makes expensive, according to Tiggs. me really mad.”

“It was 185 dollars to get my hair In fact, Tiggs said that she’s so done last [time].” Tiggs said. “I prob- obsessed, she’ll take extra measures

THE CHRONICLE | PAGE 13

just to preserve her efforts.

“If I don’t have an umbrella [and it’s raining] I will use my coat to cover my head instead or during track season, I will put a shower cap on,“ Tiggs said.

Harris said she has her own obsession, routinely dying her hair. Harris has a system of coloring her hair and she said that it’s bad to mess with her system.

“In the summer, I like having my blond hair,” Harris said. “I get it lightened a couple times over the summer, and then once fall comes, I normally get a little bit darker, like I’ll either get strips or two tones underneath just because it’s normally what I do.”

She also said that she once changed her system, taking on the fully brunette look, she now regrets it fully.

“Last year, I got my [died] hair completely brown,” Harris said. “I won’t ever do it again. Life is short; I just didn’t want to die not knowing what I looked like as a brunette, so I gave it a shot and it ended up being the biggest mistake ever.”

Tiggs said she feels like good hair is an essential part of looking good overall.

“You can’t have on a cute outfit and have your hair all messed up,” Tiggs said. “Your hair can make or break you.”

Good hair is pricey

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FEATURES

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Upholding High Standards Mormon students at MHS use religious principles as guide in daily lives Jessica Kantor | Staff Writer

dress modestly, girls only have one piercing, no swearing, no smoking, no drinking alcohol and paying tithing (giving 10 percent of your income to the church). The tithing helps welfare programs we have set up. A lot of the youth follows this.”

Both Davis and Noe practice their religion with a group every day of the week and on Sundays.

“We go to church on Sunday from 1-4 p.m. for sacrament and Sunday school,” Noe said. “I go to Seminary every day of the week. We do youth activities on Tuesday nights.”

Davis’s schedule is similar, but her church time on Sundays is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and she does youth activities on Wednesday nights.

“Seminary is a big part of practicing the religion as a high school student,” Davis said. “My ward gets together as a youth

When most Mason High School students are waking up at 5:45 a.m., seniors Amy Davis and Taylor Noe are already on their way to Seminary. These two students participate in Seminary daily from 6 a.m. to 6:50 a.m. as a part of their religion, Mormonism.

Noe said that Seminary is comparable to a Bible study in Catholicism or other Christian religions.

“From 6 to 6:50 a.m., we read scriptures in Seminary,” Noe said. “This year, we are working on reading and talking about The Book of Mormon. We meet in the Municipal Building, and it is similar to a Bible study.”

Davis is the class president of her Seminary class and often leads discussions.

“There are about twelve of us from one ward (the church is split up by location of housing) that attend Seminary together,” Davis said. “We get there and I conduct the meeting. We start with a prayer and then a song (usually a hymn). Next is a spiritual, which is when one member is assigned each week to give a tidbit related to the gospel.”

Once they get to MHS, Davis and Noe are surrounded by different people, most of whom are not Mormon.

“There was only one time when I felt that I was being looked down upon because of being [Mormon],” Davis said. “When we were doing a debate in ECA, I was the only one for one side [of the argument]. I felt very put on the spot. The way I felt [about the topic] led back to my religious beliefs.”

Noe said she feels accepted and respected by our school’s population.

“People look at me differently because I am Mormon,” Noe said. “I don’t feel that I am judged badly, though. I feel that people respect me because of my values and things that I will and won’t do.

Noe and Davis both said that they follow a pamphlet titled “For the Strength of Youth,” which outlines guidelines and standards for teenagers in the religion.

“We are careful of music and entertainment -- what we watch and listen to,” Davis said. “We don’t watch or listen to anything that we’d be embarrassed to listen to in front of Heavenly Father or parents. We are not allowed to watch R rated movies, either.”

Davis said that modern day prophets and leaders of the church have decided to set these standards in order to guide youth in the right direction in life.

“Modern day prophets have decided how we should act and photo by Jessica Kantor conduct ourselves,” Davis said. “It then depends on the person Senior Amy Davis uses The Book of Mormon, the holy text of her if they follow it or not. I choose to follow my standards. We religion, for spiritual guidance.

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Joseph Smith 1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father; and in His Son, Jesus Christ; and in the Holy Ghost.

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

[group] and does uplifting activities [such as] giving canned goods and clothing to a shelter. Any activity that is centered on being followers of Christ [could be done].”

Davis said that the beliefs of Mormonism can be summed up in a document called the Articles of Faith.

“The Articles of Faith are scripted verses that modern day prophets have come up with to tell others what we believe,” Davis said. “We believe in God, the eternal Father; His son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost. We believe that they are three separate beings.”

Both Davis and Noe said that they have been lucky to find friends that accept them for who they are and respect their standards.

“None of my best friends are Mormon,” Noe said. “The group of people that I hang out with knows what I will and won’t do.

They have been really respectful. If we go to the movies, I can’t see R-rated movies, so if they want to see an R-rated movie they either go without me or most of the time they choose to go to another movie that I can see.”

Davis said that her friends that are not Mormon actually help her stick to her standards.

“My friends are really accepting of my beliefs,” Davis said.

“One time, my friend called me on Sunday and asked me to go to lunch. Sundays are the Sabbath Day, and we are taught to keep it holy and spend time with family at home. She then remembered that it was Sunday and apologized. The situation depends on who your friends are.”

Noe said that her rules for relationships according to her religion have not interfered with her dating life.

“You are not technically supposed to date until you are sixteen,” Noe said. “There are people who wouldn’t date me just because I am Mormon and I wouldn’t do certain things, but at the same time I don’t want to be with those types of people.”

Davis said that the reason her religion advises teens not to date before the age of sixteen is that it often ends in premarital sex. “[Sex] is something that should only be had in the bonds of marriage,” Davis said. “We are asked to go on group dates when we are younger. Once we are looking to get married, then we can steady date.”

Dating is not the only situation, Davis said, where standards are sometimes compromised: there are some people that will try to get her to compromise her standards.

“Some friends may want you to compromise your standards and there are some friends that don’t,” Davis said. “Choosing your friends wisely helps you keep involved in the Gospel and to remember who you are. Some people think I am caged in by my standards, but really I think that I am more free.”

8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. 9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. 10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.

13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul -- We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.

If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

-LDS.org, Church of Latter-Day Saints website

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Mason transcends midwestern stereotypes Janie Simonton | Staff Writer Cow-tipping, Republicans, NASCAR and farmers. According to Sam A. Winter, a staff writer for The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University’s student newspaper, all of these are common Midwestern misconceptions that other regions harbor.

Mason, on the other hand, acknowledged and then disregarded this stereotype, according to MTV’s High School Stories, a show that describes “scandals, pranks and controversies” that occur in United States’ high schools. When it relayed the story of Mason’s infamous livestock senior prank of 2003, it portrayed Mason as “a small farm town that suddenly exploded into a rich suburb.”

A rich suburb isn’t synonymous with cow-tipping and farmers, but according to Maya Roney of Business Week, the whole Midwest isn’t full of rich suburbs, but “has its fair share of economically depressed cities, and it’s certainly not crime-free.”

The Midwest also enjoys sleepy villages, according to Dick Allen, author of the poem “Sleepy Old Towns,” who lists “Winesburg, Ohio” and “Hannibal, Missouri” as “towns that never flourished…where everything lingers too long.” This is why freshman Randolph Anderson said he thinks that the Midwest lacks excitement. “[It’s] not as up [to date] as New York and California,” Anderson said.

“It’s not really a place you would want to visit for vacation.”

Junior Chad Oswalt, who moved to Mason from Japan in August 2008, said he thought the Midwest would be very agricultural. “[I thought] it was going to be completely farmland,” Oswalt said. “[I wasn’t expecting] really any cities, [but instead] lots of farms [and] corn.”

Senior AJ Schappacher, who lives on Schappacher Farm on Route 42, said he’s living proof that the agricultural side of Mason still exists.

“I’m involved in 4H, [which is a lot of] agriculture and raising animals,” Schappacher said. “My whole summer is…the fair [and 4H;] I’m a camp counselor for 4H.” According to Schappacher, the life he leads is more reminiscent of older Mason, back when it was much smaller.

“My dad [has told] me how Mason used to be: [he said] Mason-Montgomery [was] a two-lane road and he actually grew up where Procter and Gamble is now,” Schappacher said.

“Places [that] he used to farm are now subdivisions and golf courses.”

Another new student, sophomore Melissa Iannuzzi, who hails from California, said that her expectations for Mason were far different from what she has experienced.

“I thought it would be a little less diverse,” Iannuzzi said.

“There are a lot of people [who are similar to each other,] but

said.

Oswalt said that people he works with tend to view Mason as a rich area. “[When] people at work [asked me] what school [I] go to [and I said I go to] Mason, [they had responses like,] ‘Oh, one of those rich kids?’” Oswalt said.

But that’s not what residents of Mason think of themselves, according to Anderson.

“If you live here, you don’t really see yourself as stuck-up or rich,” Anderson said.

This stereotype can be attributed to the sense of entitlement and privilege most Masonians enjoy, Anderson said.

“Most people outside of Mason are not as privileged as we are,” Anderson said. “So, they see us as rich.”

And Mason could easily be called financially privileged; according to LocalSchoolDirectory.com, the Mason census reported the majority of households earning between $75,000 and $100,000 annually, which is far above the 2008 average of $61,620 for all fifty states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, according to an average conducted based on numbers provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. “[Mason is] more advanced; there [are] a lot more people,” Anderson said. “[Plus,] we have one of the biggest high schools in Ohio.”

Junior Rachel Larson said the size of Mason can actuphotos by Janie Simonton and art by Caleb Schowalter ally have its advantages.

Although Mason was previously a farming community, commercial develop“I think because we have ment currently characterizes the city. such a diverse school, we realize that not everyone here is they’re more like everyone else than I thought they would be.” stuck-up,” Larson said.

Oswalt said Mason’s qualities make it a role model for other Oswalt said that most outsiders have false beliefs about what Midwestern towns. the Midwest is like.

“I think Mason’s a good example for change that’s [going to] “My friends that don’t live in the Midwest [will say things occur [in other towns],” Oswalt said. like,] ‘How’s the farmland goin’? Raisin’ your cattle and all that When he gets stereotyped, Anderson said that the names stuff?’” Oswalt said. he hears are not of the Midwestern persuasion, but specific to Although Anderson’s opinion of the Midwest overall is that Mason. it is a region that lags culturally behind other areas, he said he “Maybe [people will call me] a snob, but not really a farmer,” believes the stereotype for Mason is quite different.

Anderson said. “[People see us as] preppy, just rich and stuck-up,” Anderson

Kids attempt to live up to high expectations of parents Jami Bechard | Staff Writer From elementary school to senior year, the same principles are enforced: academics come first, college is a must and finding a solid career is the ultimate goal, according to senior Sri Rajamouli. Rajamouli said that fulfilling her parents’ wishes means altering her chosen career paths.

“Ever since I was little, I was brainwashed into thinking I had to [be a doctor],” Rajamouli said. “My parents have always wanted to be doctors. My mom got into medical school, but then she didn’t have the money to pay for it.

So, it’s been her lifelong dream to be a doctor.

She wants me to fulfill her dream.”

Rajamouli’s dad is a research professor at the University of Cincinnati, and her mom is an engineer. Rajamouli said she has a lot to live up to, since her family expects her to become a doctor.

“At this point, I don’t really have a choice, so I might as well just go with it,” Rajamouli said.

“I’ve accepted the fact that I’m going to have to [become a doctor]. I don’t see myself doing anything else [because I’ve been raised knowing I’m going to be a doctor].”

Rajamouli said that since she has had her career laid out for her since her childhood, academics have always been a top priority. Rajamouli said she has been encouraged to work hard now in order to lock in a solid career in the future.

“Ever since I was little, academics have been the [priority],” Rajamouli said. “[My parents have taught me], if you work hard now, then you’re only going to reap the benefits from then on. Hard work has definitely been emphasized since I was little.”

According to Rajamouli, the pressure from her parents has motivated her to work harder in school and in her other activities. She said she has learned to challenge herself and reach her goals from motivation and extra pressure

from her parents.

“I push myself because [my parents] push me,” Rajamouli said. “[My parents] didn’t want me to take AP English because I wouldn’t need it. But, I like English, so I challenged myself to it. I feel like I push myself more because of them.”

But Rajamouli said her interests lie elsewhere then just in medicine; she also has an interest in the culinary arts as well as in theatre and dance. Rajamouli said she hopes to participate in the next school play and enjoy her last year of high school.

“It sounds kind of funny, but if I didn’t have to be a doctor, I’d go to culinary school,” Rajamouli said. “If I wasn’t pushed to do this, I’d probably consider it. I’d also do something along the lines [of theatre and dance], if I didn’t have to do medicine.”

Junior Amari Agee said she wants to take a different path than her parents as well. She said she hopes to be a teacher or major in Forensics Physiology. Agee’s dad is a research engineer at Procter and Gamble and her mom used to also be an engineer for Procter and Gamble, but now is a full-time homemaker.

“I’m trying to go for what my interests are,” Agee said. “[My parents] are letting me decide, but I know what they want me to do.

They don’t say anything, but I know they’d be happy if I did what they did.”

But, Agee said her parents have always been pressuring her to do more and succeed.

She said she tries her best, but her parents see more in her.

“As I’ve grown up [my parents] have held me to such high expectations that I feel like I’m not smart enough sometimes,” Agee said.

“I’m taking AP Chemistry and all of these hard classes because they want me to. They think I’m a lot smarter than I really am and think that I can do a lot better all the time, when I know that I’m doing my best.”

According to Agee, the “subtle pressure” she

gets from her parents can have positive and negative ramifications. Agee said she understands when she has reached her highest potential, yet her parents feel that she can do more.

“In a way, it’s good that they’re pushing me because I know what my best is,” Agee said.

“But on the other hand, I know when I’m doing my best so, [they should] stop pushing me.”

Although academics are a big part of high school, extracurricular activities are also important to keep well balanced, according to Rajamouli. She said that her parents have pressured her academically to the point that she decided to quit tennis before her freshman year.

“My parents said, ‘Academics are definitely more important than sports,’” Rajamouli said. “‘[Colleges] aren’t going to care if you’re on varsity. If you don’t have a good GPA, [colleges] aren’t going to accept you.’ I stopped tennis because of academics. I definitely missed out on a lot of things [throughout high school].”

Agee is participating in National Honors Society, Student Government, lacrosse and recreational basketball. Agee said her parents are supportive. “[My parents are] supportive of my athletics and my activities and, of course, NHS and Student Government,” Agee said. “They think recreational basketball is a waste of time, but I want to do it just to have fun. They’re pretty much behind me with everything I do.”

Senior Amit Samba said he wants to become a physician and follow in the footsteps of his dad. He said that his ultimate goal is to be successful, and one of the most successful professions is a doctor. Samba said he realizes how important parent support is to a student.

His parents have supported his decisions in his career path, and Samba said it has helped him succeed.

“Parent support is important because they’re the ones that actually bring you up from a child,” Samba said. “When you’re a child, you don’t listen to what your friends say, so it’s mostly your parents who have the biggest say in your life. So, if you have that from childhood, they’re going to bring that up to your teen years.”

Rajamouli said she realizes that her parents are only trying to help her and that in the long run, she will appreciate their dedication to her career choice.

“When I’m older, I’ll appreciate what they’re doing for me,” Rajamouli said. “A doctor is one of the top professions. They make so much money. They’re set for life, and there is prestige that comes with it. [In the future,] I’ll be so happy that they did this.”

Junior Sharmane Guo said she isn’t sure where she wants to go with her career, but her parents are supporting her along the way.

Her dad is a professor at the University of Cincinnati, and her mom is a homemaker. Guo said her parents realize she should enjoy her career. “[My parents tell me], ‘As long as you find something you have a joy in, as long as you can follow through and do it, then that’s what really matters,’” Guo said.

Agee said she realizes that not everyone has unlimited opportunities: it depends on your dedication and intelligence as to who will succeed. “[You want to say], ‘You can do everything you want to do,’ but some people can and some people can’t,” Agee said. “Not everyone has the ability to do anything they want to do.

Only if you have the determination and the patience to do well in academics, and take the time to study and get good grades, [then you can succeed].”

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Height often connected to perception of abilities Overcoming the stigmas of shortness Julia Halpin | Staff Writer They may never play center on a basketball team or be viewed as their actual age, but those who are vertically challenged are still capable of having their own substantial voices, according to senior Maddie Slutsky.

Slutsky, who stands at four feet, eleven inches, said that she is a perfect example of someone who has a small height, but a big personality.

“I’m really outgoing and friendly, and I don’t let it bother me,” Slutsky said. “People are like, ‘You’re so short,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, am I? I never notice.’ ” Junior Jessica Harrison, who stands at exactly five feet, one and three quarters inches, said she faces the same type of teasing that shorter people do, but is still able to laugh along.

“A lot of the guys on the cross country team always make jokes about me being short,” Harrison said. “If I’m sitting down, they’ll say they thought I was standing up. I get a lot of jokes from them, but it’s still funny.”

According to Slutsky, she’s always been one of the shortest in her class, and has grown up with a petite family.

“My mom is the same height as me, and my dad is five feet, six inches,” Slutsky said. “I come from a small family.”

Though she has become used to her small height, Slutsky said she sees the drawbacks that come with having a short stature.

“I used to work at Drug Mart, and the shelves are really high, and I couldn’t stock the stuff that was really high, so they would make me do other things,”

Slutsky said. “[They would] have the tall people stock [shelves]; it was kind of embarrassing.”

Unlike Slutsky, Harrison said she doesn’t face obstacles in her day to day life. Instead, she said she uses her height to her advantage in athletics world.

“Most people think that with running, you need the long legs for the strides, but with distance running, [having long legs] doesn’t matter,” Harrison said.

Though Harrison is well trained in distance running, she said there are still some areas of track and field in which she can’t participate because of her height.

“I could never [hurdle],” Harrison said. “The thing is taller than me. I would just fall and trip on it.”

Standing at exactly five feet tall, sophomore Brian Aldrich says he is comfortable with his height, but when transitioning into the high school, he was somewhat apprehensive. “[Coming into high school] was kind of intimidating,” Aldrich said. “You just kind of look up [at people], and I just think, ‘Oh, god.’ ” ECA teacher Dino Davis, who is five feet, four inches tall, said he has always maintained an upbeat attitude towards his height.

“I’ve never wished I was taller,” Davis said. “It’s never been an obstacle for me.”

Though Davis is positive about his size, he said he hasn’t always been accepted for his stature.

“As an adult it’s easier, but growing up it’s tougher,” Davis said. “Now, I don’t even hear [short jokes].”

Assistant Athletic Director Eric Silverman, standing at five feet, three inches, said he was able to overcome his height while being younger.

“Even being shorter in high school, I played two years of basketball,” Silverman said. “I mean, I wasn’t the best basketball player on the team, but I still made the team.”

During interviews for jobs or college, Slutsky said that she is often mistaken for a younger, less mature version of herself.

“At school, people know who I am,” Slutsky said. “They know I’m short and I’m fun, but I can be serious at times. For a college interview or a job interview, they think, ‘Oh, well, she’s so small -- she’s probably just like a little kid.’”

Along with the assumptions made by strangers about Slutsky’s height, she said she is often the center of short jokes, to which she has grown accustomed. “[Jokes are made about my height] all the time,” Slutsky said. “[They say things like] ‘Oh, sorry, I didn’t hear anyone; I can’t see anyone either. Where did they go?’ ” Aldrich said he faces the constant criticism on his height as well, but he doesn’t think they have gotten out of control.

“I don’t think [short jokes] are taken too far; [they’re] just used a lot,” Aldrich said. “People need to get new comebacks, other than [telling me] I’m short, because I know it.”

According to Silverman, having an undersized height has just become a part of who he is and he has never faced too much criticism on the subject.

“It’s just part of my personality,” Silverman said. “I laugh at it. It is who I am, and it’s part of my personality.”

Accepting his height has always been a natural thing according to Silverman, and he says that other people usually don’t notice it.

“I’ve never thought about it,” Silverman said. “I personally believe if you’re good at what you do and the people that you work with and work for respect the job you do, it’s not an issue.”

According to Slutsky, her height doesn’t really bother her, and she embraces it more than she is annoyed with it.

“I would consider myself a leader, and I’m really a take charge kind of person,” Slutsky said.

“I don’t let other people push me around. [My height] doesn’t really affect me.”

Similar to Slutsky, Harrison said that her height doesn’t play a big role in who she is, and she utilizes accessible solutions occasionally.

“I wish I was taller sometimes, but it doesn’t really bother me that much,” Harrison said. “You can always wear heels.”

I’m 6’ 8” and I don’t play basketball Jessica Kantor | Staff Writer Junior Matt Benton walks the halls at six feet eight inches tall, and no: he doesn’t play basketball.

He did, however, play basketball when he was in seventh grade.

One season proved, Benton said, that basketball was definitely not the sport for him.

“I played [basketball] in seventh grade,” Benton said. “I decided to play because of pressure from teachers and coaches. After playing a whole season, I realized they just wanted me to play because of my height, and I didn’t like it much.”

Benton said he chose another sport to play that depended less on his height and more on his ability.

“I play baseball now,” Benton said. “I like [baseball]...When I was playing basketball, I didn’t enjoy it.”

Benton said that while he understands where the stereotype of tall people playing basketball comes from, he does not agree with it.

“I can understand why people [make the stereotype] that all tall people play basketball,” Benton said. “But that doesn’t mean it’s fair.

Tall people do not always enjoy basketball.”

Benton said he was one of those players that did not enjoy the sport despite his natural advantage. He said he noticed the judgment passed most by his peers on the court.

“Coaches and basketball players probably make that judgment the most,” Benton said. “They know that it helps to be tall and play basketball.”

Benton said that he sees other people passing judgments on tall people as well.

“People’s first impression of me is probably affected [because of my height],” Benton said.

“After that, they get used to it. The first impression is usually just, ‘Wow, he’s tall.’”

phots by Julia Halpin and Jessica Kantor

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Recent grads offer perspective on high school Carlie Sack | Staff Writer After moving on from Mason High School, a few recent Mason High School alumni reflect on their ideas, wisdom, and strategies of success in high school.

Success should not be narrowly defined by others, according to Courtney Wittekind, a 2009 MHS graduate and current Carnegie Mellon University student. Wittekind said she measures her success by her own personal satisfaction, not by approval from others.

“Success is that moment when you can sit back and be proud of whatever you’ve completed,” Wittekind said.

Niro Wimalasena, a 2008 MHS graduate and current Case Western Reserve University student, said that society tries to determine what success means for individuals.

“Often times in society, we attempt to quantify success, whether it be a grade in a class or a paycheck,” Wimalasena said. “[To me,] success is simply living a life of happiness.”

Shining Li, a 2008 MHS graduate and current Duke University student, said she agrees that success should be a personal measurement.

“In high school, it was easier to listen to other voices [that] tried to define success for me,” Li said. “In college, I’ve found it more satisfying to listen to my own voice.”

2009 MHS graduate and current Harvard University student Peter Chen said he recognizes that there is not one definite “key” to success that is effective for everyone.

“There are many routes to success,” Chen said. “I believe you can excel at anything if you truly put your mind to it.”

According to Li, the “key” to success is pursuing a true passion.

“Success involves finding a passion that exists untouched by considerations of status or prestige,” Li said.

Chen said he recommends that current MHS students can find success by pursuing an activity that they love and to which they are able to commit themselves.

“Too often do students get caught up in this frenzy to get good scores and to write something down on their resume,” Chen said. “They don’t take the time to really enjoy what they are doing.”

Wittekind said that high school students are often pushed to

achieve academically more than personally.

“Especially at Mason, there is this tendency to sort of chain yourself to the classroom,” Wittekind said. “But, I think that is actually a detriment to developing as a person.”

Li said she recommends that MHS students take more per-

photo contributed

Mason High School alumnus Peter Chen is currently a freshman at Harvard University. Chen was National Honor Society and Student Body President.

sonal time to learn about themselves outside of the classroom.

“Do more soul-searching,” Li said. “Learning about yourself is as critical as learning academically.”

Wimalasena said that his time at MHS helped him build foundations for college and that students should enjoy their high school years.

“Make the most of those four years,” Wimalasena said.

“Many students [only] think about getting out of high school and moving on to college.”

MHS students should take the time to investigate new interests during high school, according to Wittekind.

“In high school, I felt like I had to choose a direction and stick to it,” Wittekind said. “I wish I would have thought more about taking classes I wouldn’t have usually taken.”

Wimalasena said that high school helped him develop the right habits to succeed in college.

“The fundamentals of the habits and actions you establish in high school will most likely be the foundation for your success in college,” Wimalasena said.

Chen said he hopes that his habits of hard work and optimism will continue to bring him success in college.

“I’m still the same person, just in a different environment,” Chen said.

The college atmosphere is different from high school’s because it encourages exploration and even failure, according to Wittekind.

“My professors are very rarely impressed with a correct answer,” Wittekind said. “They’re a lot more interested in the thought process that brings about that answer.”

The emphasis on personal discovery in college is much different from the nurturing received by students in high school, according to Li. “High school and college aren’t really comparable [because] college is a much more open environment,” Li said. “College fosters exploration and individuality.”

Wittekind said that although high school and college are different in environments, high school helps to set the stage for success in college.

“While high school does, in some ways, shape your future, it doesn’t define it,” Wittekind said.

Students shift schedules around television

photo art by Caleb Schowalter

Danni Simms | Staff Writer Whether it is a tool used to escape reality or an effective alternative to reading books, students at Mason High School said they are clearing their schedules to watch television.

Senior Brittany Dyson said she does not have a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), so she has to plan ahead in order to have free time to watch the shows that she likes to watch.

“I come home and do homework,” Dyson said. “If I don’t get it done before the show [I want to watch] comes on, then I’ll do parts of it during commercials. Depending on how late the show [stays on,] I’ll do it after the show.”

Dyson said that she sets time aside for television because of her level of interest in the story lines that she follows.

“If the show is really good, [then] I have to set my time [aside] for it,” Dyson said.

According to Dyson, she spends about two hours a day watching television. For almost every weekday, Dyson said that there is a show that she likes to watch.

“Monday through Friday I watch Maury,” Dyson said. “[I watch] The First 48 and Cops every day, The Game [on] Tuesday, Criminal Minds [and] Law and Order on Wednesday and Real Housewives of Atlanta and Real Housewives of Orange County on Thursdays.”

While Dyson said she watches dramas and reality shows, sophomore Mitchell Smith said he blocks off time when sports are on.

“If there’s a sports game on that I want to watch I’ll pretty much just watch the game,” Smith said. “[Even if I have homework] I watch the game.”

Smith said that his passion for watching sports transcends the television set; the biggest sacrifice he’s made in order watch a game occurred when he saw The Ohio State University play.

“I went to the Ohio State [versus] Wisconsin game rather than going to homecoming,” Smith said. “That’s the worst it’s ever been.”

Another student also blocks her time off specifically for one television event.

“I leave my Thursdays open for The Office,” senior Erica Yancey said. “[A friend and I] specifically plan it so that we don’t have anything during that time [when the show is on].”

Yancey said that homework and her job as a lifeguard are mainly what get in the way of the time she spends watching television.

“When I work as a lifeguard, sometimes it will conflict with watching The Office,” Yancey said. “[So] usually I’ll either DVR it or I watch it online the next day.”

Yancey said that there are occasions where she makes sacrifices to watch special episodes

of The Office.

“Sometimes I’ll even get [someone to work for me] at work if it is a big deal,” Yancey said. “[My friends and I] have parties [for] the finale or huge events.”

Senior Cynthia Tsai said she has made shows so much a part of her routine that she feels compelled to watch the shows.

“It’s like a habit,” Tsai said. “There are times when I don’t even feel like watching [the show], but I do because I’m so used to it.”

Tsai said that the amount of shows that she watches stems from being an avid reader as a child. “[It’s built into my schedule] because I liked to read books a lot when I was younger,” Tsai said. “But [now,] a lot of things that I watch can take those stories and put them with pictures [and] sounds, [which is] more vivid and entertaining.”

Tsai said that she arranges her schedule based on the assignments she receives at school.

“If there’s a deadline, you have to put that first,” Tsai said. “I usually watch first and work later. But if I can do both at once [I do].”

Though Tsai said that she puts school before watching shows, she gives up other things to a certain extent in order to watch the shows that she likes.

“I sacrifice a lot of sleep,” Tsai said. “[However], sometimes I’m really busy so I make up [what I don’t watch] later in the week.”

Junior Laura Bramble is another student that sometimes loses sleep in order to watch television. “[While in Marching Band,] I’d have practice on the same days as some of my favorite shows,” Bramble said. “I’d [come] home from practice and I’d have to wait up for the rerun of [the show] which would make me stay up an extra hour or two hours [than usual,] depending on the show.”

According to Bramble the conflict between Marching Band and the shows that she liked to watch would occur towards the end of the school week.

“I generally watch [TV] on Thursdays and Fridays,” Bramble said. “I watch MTV a lot and ABC Family a lot. [I really like] Greek on ABC Family.”

According to Dyson, the shows that she watches involve things in which she is interested; television also provides a release, however, from the effects of a busy schedule. “[Television] takes stress away,” Dyson said. “I [am able to] stop thinking about other things and concentrate on the show.”

THE CHRONICLE | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

FEATURE | PAGE 23

TRading Registers for turn tables Video game Students choose DJing as an after-school job echoes interest in DJing Samantha Stulen | Staff Writer

A typical high school job might include stints at local corporations such as Target or Wendy’s, but for some students, their high school jobs entail pursued passions and running their own businesses.

Seniors Nick Corey and Sam Simpson have found an alternative to delivering pizzas or standing behind a cash register: Simpson started DJing, as DJ Switch, with Corey assisting him with a few gigs as DJ Swank, in October 2008.

“I got into [DJing as a part-time job] because of Sam Simpson, when he started a year and a half ago,” Corey said. “He started having parties, and I went to two of them. I’ve always been into the whole electronic side of music, because [at] my church, I run sound and lighting when I go with my dad. So, I already knew all the techie stuff about sound boards and mixing. I started showing up at his house before parties and we would work stuff out mixing songs.”

Simpson started DJing last year when he was asked to play at a party last October, and said he was in line to DJ from birth because of his father DJing at a young age during college.

“My dad was a DJ back when he was a junior and he DJed all through college,” Simpson said. “He [DJed for weddings and some college parties]. I was destined to be a DJ. There was a Halloween party last year, and people [asked if I could do music]. I got some cheap equipment, did it and it was good. I just kept getting better and doing better things.”

Switch and Swank are for hire -- Simpson said he is in the process of attaining a DJ position to provide music for Winter Homecoming and hopes to obtain a sanctioned electronic dance-club. The two DJs are approached by Mason students and non-Mason students alike for their services, and Simpson has also branched to parties out-of-state.

“It’s a fair amount [of Mason students who request us,] but most of our deals come from during a party [when] people are like, ‘Dude, come to my party,’” Simpson said. “We’ve had

random people call us [saying], ‘Hey, I heard you did this.’ We’ve done two or three parties over in Lakota and I’ve got one that’s up by Chicago.”

The money earned from the early gigs paid back Simpson’s father who originally bought the DJing equipment. Now, if the boys make a profit, the money goes to buying new or replacing old equipment, Corey said.

Corey said he considers DJing a “different” after-school job, but had another, more traditional job.

“I don’t spend a lot of money outside of school, so I consider [DJing] a source of income,” Corey said. “I [had] a job outside [of school]: I [worked] at Run, Jump,-n-Play. I [got] as many hours there as I do DJing, but I [made] $5.25 an hour plus tips at Run, Jump,n-Play and I make $12 an hour on an average day for DJing.”

Simpson said he used to work at Kings Island as a merchandise associate, but now he is responsible for getting his business in the public eye.

“The DJing is really self-voiced,” Simpson said. “You have to tell everyone you’re a DJ and you want to play for them; you can’t let people find you. You have to be proactive.”

Senior Dan Marque also has his own DJing business with Mason High School graduates Stephen Sargent and Kyle Ebersole. “[The business is] called Moon Beam Productions: Stephen Sargent, Kyle Ebersole and I are co-starters of this business,” Marque said. “There are three different sections of it: there’s a music portion, there’s a film portion, there’s photography. Under each different subject we have different things that we do.

Under the music, we’ll record people and go out and DJ for parties.”

Moon Beam Productions is all media-based and contains many different branches, with DJing as one of the facets, Marque said.

“Right now, I do a lot more of the music aspect more than anything else, like the DJing and the recording,” Marque said. “I’ve recorded two local groups in the past couple months. That’s probably more of an undertak-

ing than the DJing. The DJing I love to do -- it’s not as time consuming as the other [sections of Moon Beam].”

Moon Beam Productions started at the beginning of the summer of 2009 and has since completed a lot of different projects. Sargent, Ebersole and Marque are also involved with The Underground, a music venue in Cincinnati.

Marque volunteers for the audio engineering work as well as video camera work there and is hoping to get hired.

While his current job as co-owner of the production company encompasses more of his pursuits, there was a job on Marque’s résumé that was not so much a peak of interest, he said.

“I used to work at Lifetime Fitness,” Marque said. “As much I liked [making steady] money with Lifetime, probably whatever money I made there I would be spending on [equipment] anyways.”

According to Marque, DJing is not as steady as a job at Lifetime but the job itself is something he enjoys doing.

Marque said not a lot of students from Mason have approached him to DJ for parties, but he has instead DJed at parties in cities neighboring Mason.

“A kid in Loveland has recruited me, someone in Kings recruited me and I did a party in Oxford,” Marque said. “I hope to get more business from Mason; I have to get my name out more, but with the photography, I think I need to have more of a Facebook status. It’s been more of word of mouth. I haven’t had a lot of time, so I don’t want people to approach me when I can’t do it.”

Corey, Marque and Simpson can all be approached by students for a business proposition. The student DJs all said they agree that DJing is all about the people.

“It’s all about the crowd: you don’t want to throw anything at them if they’re not going to enjoy it,” Marque said. “You want to make sure the crowd is reacting well [to the music] and they’re enjoying it with the confines of how people are reacting, because you want to have your own style at the same time.”

Senior Sam Simpson, as DJ Switch, travels as far away as Chicago to earn money for his passion.

Samantha Stulen | Staff Writer DJ Hero: a game where one can live out his or her fantasies of becoming a DJ. Not only can it lead to computerized fame, but it has been receiving fantastic reviews.

Palgn Video Game Website Review said that DJ Hero, a turn-table-based game in which players strike buttons in accordance with light-up discs on the screen, is a very fun music game with a wide selection music and challenge. According to Brittany Hutton, a Gamestop employee, however, the game isn’t getting the amount of advertisement it deserves. “[DJ Hero has] advertisements on the TV, we’ve [had a DJ Hero] set-up display, we even had a day at Gamestop where we had a demo version that people could play just that day exclusively,” Hutton said.

Hutton said the reception of the game by those people who have played DJ Hero has been warm; but, the initial idea might what be what is not attracting students to play the branch-off game of Guitar Hero.

“People have a bad idea about [DJ Hero] and won’t give it a shot,” Hutton said.

“When you hear DJ Hero, you’re used to hearing something awesome like Guitar Hero. Guitar Hero can be hard, [but DJ Hero] takes some skill and it’s not all just synchronizing: there’s music mixing and getting a feel for how [the console] moves and timing everything.”

Senior Nick Corey a student DJ, said that there is some hype around DJ Hero, but there may be console-DJ heroes instead of real DJs, much like what he said happened with Guitar Hero.

“People are interested in [DJing] but don’t necessarily know how to do it for real,” Corey said. “When Guitar Hero came out, people [wanted] to play guitar.’ But, they didn’t know anything about how to play guitar.”

photo by Samantha Stulen