The Chronicle, 8.4

WILLIAM MASON HIGH SCHOOL

The Chronicle VOLUME 8

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

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SCHOOL NEWS Revised version of “Huckleberry Finn” causes controversy Huck Finn. Tom Sawyer. Jim. The Grangerfords. Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is what Ernest Hemingway calls the source of “all modern American literature.” The novel, taught in Honors English III, will be republished with the N-word replaced by the word ‘slave.’

photo by Beena Raghavendran

New governor intends to give five calamity days to Ohio schools Samantha Weaver | Staff Writer

Ohio schools have three calamity days available before they start to have makeup days. This is due to a revision in House Bill One that, when revised, called for “two fewer such days for the 2010-2011 school year.”

With an above-average snowfall for the month of Decem-

ber, some schools in Ohio have already used all three of their allotted calamity days, according to News 5 Meteorologist Randi Rico.

“Ohio typically gets most of its snowfall in January and February,” Rico said. “We haven’t even gone through [the] months with expected snow and a lot of the schools in the see SNOW DAY page 4

Red, Rhythm and Boom canceled this summer Megan McCormack | Staff Writer

The City of Mason’s annual Fourth of July celebration, Red, Rhythm and Boom, has been canceled for this summer due to budget cutbacks, according to Mason City Council member Tony Bradburn.

Bradburn said that the Mason community should not be looking forward to the return of Red, Rhythm and Boom in the summer of 2012.

“It’s hard to tell [if this is the only year Red, Rhythm and Boom will be cancelled],” Bradburn said. “But I’m not optimistic that it will necessarily be restarted in 2012.”

The Mason City Council was prompted to make this decision by the tight budget for this year, according to Bradburn. The city is predicting less revenue than previous years because of less economic activity in the past years.

“This is what I would call a real[ly] tight budget,” Bradburn said. “[We had to cut Red, Rhythm and Boom because

[of] lack of economic activity, less income tax, less property tax and anticipation of less state funding for the second half of the year.” photo courtesy of ImagineAccording to Mason.com Bradburn, by cutMason City Council Member Tony Bradburn ting Red, Rhythm and Boom, the city is saving approximately a quarter of a million dollars.

Red, Rhythm and Boom isn’t the only festival that is getting cut by the City of Mason. The Sunshine Concert Series has also been removed from this summer’s activities, while either the Heritage Festival or Christmas in Mason will be canceled. The Festivals of Mason committee will only host one event.

“The Festivals of Mason [committee] gets $50,000 to do [Christmas in Mason and the Heritage Festival],” Bradburn

said. “We gave them $25,000 and they can make a decision on whether they want to do Christmas in Mason or the Heritage Festival.”

Bradburn said that the suspension of Red, Rhythm and Boom will distribute the saved money evenly and the council won’t have to spend reserve fund money.

“The budget will be balanced,” Bradburn said. “We will not have to use any of our reserve funds next year to go ahead and provide services to the citizens.”

Although Red, Rhythm and Boom brought together the Mason community for a Fourth of July celebration, the city’s budget couldn’t withstand the festival’s expensive nature, according to Bradburn.

“Everyone has really enjoyed the Red, Rhythm and Boom [festival],” Bradburn said. “And I think it’s a sense for the community to come together see RRB page 5

Page 5

HEARD IT IN THE HALLS Fun League Bowling registration deadline February 10 Fun League Bowling sign-ups are going on now until February 10th. Packets can be picked up in the commons and in the office windows and must be turned in to room B304.

The bowling season starts February 15 and ends with the ‘Big Bodacious Bowl Banquet’ on April 5 where over 60 trophies and awards are given.

Service hourse could earn students credit There will not be a service hour requirement for graduation in the future, according to Assistant Principal William Rice.

Instead, students may be able to earn high school credits for doing service through the credit-flex opportunity, Rice said. Students will do this service work outside of school.

Rice said this plan isn’t set in stone, but that the school hopes to create it as a way for students to earn credit for service-learning they do on their own, such as mission trips or internships with organizations like UNICEF. Students will take what they’ve done in the outside world and propose it through flex credit to potentially earn high school credit.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

Census’ American Community Survey shows Mason’s racial diversity area may be more diverse, according to The New York Times data.

The Mason area may have greater racial Although all races and ethnicities are and ethnic diversity than nearby subur- not equally represented, the district ban school districts, as examined by The works hard to represent the diversity it New York Times in an interactive article, does have, according to Assistant Princi“Mapping America: Every City, Every pal and Diversity Council leader George Block.”

Coates.

The article, based on the U.S. “We have some Census Bureau’s Ameridiversity,” can Community Survey’s samples from 2005 to Carlie Sack | Editor in Chief

photo art by Jami Bechard images from Google Earth and The New York Times

2009, visually shows the racial and ethnic distribution of individual census tracts, which are statistical measures of land that are used by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The City of Mason occupies approximately two census tracts, according to U.S. Census Bureau’s American FactFinder.

The New York Times published that one of the census tracts that encompasses of City of Mason has an 82% white population. A nearby census tract, that includes some of Kings Local School District, has a 94% white population.

Because of the large statistically significant difference between these two areas, Mason appears to be more racially and ethnically diverse.

Similarly, another census tract that encompasses part of Sycamore Community Schools has a 92% white population. Mason’s census tract also seems to be more racially diverse in this case, as the difference between the two areas is largely statistically significant.

Although Mason City Schools’ District Report Card does not show large percentages of non-white races, compared to some nearby school districts, the Mason

In The New York Times’ article, “Mapping America: Every City, Every Block,” the website user can type in an area code to view various regional statistics by census tracts. When examining racial diversity in the City of Mason area (census tract 319.02 and 319.03), the racial and ethnic distribution is as follows, according to The New York Times: Census Tract 319.02: Whites: 82%; Blacks: 2%; Hispanics: 6%; Asians: 7%; Other groups: 2% Census Tract 319.03: Whites: 83%; Blacks: 4%; Hispanics: 2%; Asians: 9%; Other groups: 2%

Coates said. “There are a lot of people who may say, ‘Yeah, we’re very diverse’ because we have so many countries represented [in our district, but we are] a very white district, a very white school.”

Mason City Schools’ Diversity Council is a district-wide group with branches at every school building; the council’s main goal is to promote awareness of Mason’s existing racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic diversity. Mason High School Diversity Council member Dan Distel said the council must be sure to acknowledge all types of diversity, not just racial or ethnic diversity.

“When [the diversity council] think[s] about diversity, we are not just thinking [about] ethnic diversity or racial diversity, we’re thinking about socioeconomic diversity…[and] religious diversity,” Distel said. “We’re trying to keep that definition as broad as possible, because we’re trying to make [it so] that, when it comes to students, we’re acknowledging all students in the classroom and in the district.”

Mason City Schools’ racial distribution Race White, non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander Black, non-Hispanic Multi-Racial Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Na-

Percentage 76.9 12.8 3.7 3.4 3.1 0.1

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011 PAGE 3 | C

Ohio’s calamity day legislation may change this school year Kasich gains political popularity among high school students with promise of two more calamity days Rebekah Barnes | Staff Writer

John Kasich, Governor of Ohio, who took office on January 10, said he may change this school year’s number of calamity days back to five, as it was in previous years. This proposal has caused Kasich to become a popular name around Mason High School’s halls, according to sophomore Drew Stein.

Under Governor Ted Strickland, the number of calamity days (used mostly as snow days) were reduced to three in order to keep students in the classroom and increase the length of the school year. After three calamity days are used, Ohio schools must make the days up at some point in the remaining school year, according to the state.

Kasich has said he received this idea to return to five calamity days from his 10-year-old daughter, Reese. After hearing her complaints about her school’s change to only three calamity days, he said that he would change this once in office.

Stein said he had recently begun talking about Kasich’s decision with his friends. He said he found that the majority of his friends agreed with Kasich’s decision, but said some questioned Kasich’s authority because the idea of changing the number of calamity days was brought about by his daughter.

“I heard that [Kasich’s] daughter told [Kasich to change the number of calamity days],” Stein said. “I’ve heard people that are opposed to the new governor, [and] are like, ‘Oh, look at that, his 10-year-old daughter is making the decisions.’

[However], I [would] like having the five snow days again.”

Government and history teacher Darin Little, however, said he doesn’t think that Kasich’s daughter had much influence on the decision to bring up the issue of calamity days. Organizations such as the Ohio Education Association (OEA) and school districts themselves brought up the concern for the issue, Little said.

Mason City Schools Superintendent Kevin Bright said that if more calamity days are given, and if two more snow days occur, Mason schools will not have to make up days of school.

However, with the policy still not official, according to Bright, he is still unsure of the number of calamity days for the year. Bright said that he is interested to see if the policy is changed when Kasich enters office.

“As it stands right now, without the governor or the legislature taking action to reinstitute two more calamity photo by Beena Raghavendran days [to give schools a total of five], we [have] three [calamity days total],” If severe weather hits, Mason City Schools must decide whether or not to use an alloted snow day.

Bright said. “If we have two more choosing a candidate. [calamity days without the policy beStein said he agrees that Kasich’s change of ing changed], we would have to make one of [the calamity days would sway his voting, and he said calamity days] up [at some point in the year].” he believes that Kasich’s decision to listen to his Little thinks that although changing the number daughter helps Kasich and others to see how imof calamity days is one of Kasich’s first moves, he portant it is for people who cannot vote to have a will be facing more difficult decisions in office, say in the government. including debt and unemployment. “[Kasich] listening to his 10-year-old daughter “Calamity days, in the big picture of things, is a definitely shows that government is small issue in comparison to the other problems he listening to kids more…than what is facing these next 4 years [in office],” Little said. they were,” Stein said. “Kasich is Freshman Kendall Heydt said that she is excited [finding out that] there is more in and supports the possible change back to five the world than just people calamity days. However, Heydt said she believes over 18; there are people that bad weather is a major factor for the amount under 18, too.” of snow days given, junior Bhanu Banda said she thinks Kasich is not only creating a better environment to make a difference in office, but he is also creating a following of supporters in high schools.

Banda said she disagrees that increasing snow days will sway her voting, because since she will be out of high school when she turns 18, it will not be her only deciding factor when

photo by Megan McCormack

SNOW DAY: calamity days return to five next school year continued from page 1

‘Snow Belt’ have used over [their allotted amount of snow days.]”

The schools’ situations could improve for the rest of the school year, with the recent promise of Governor John Kasich to add more calamity days, but no plans are final, according to Ohio Department of Education Associate Director of Communications and Media Patrick Gallaway.

“Governor [Kasich] has said that he will be adding two more [calamity] days back onto the school year,” said Gallaway.

“We can’t correctly say that it will [happen] until it actually does happen.”

Ohio schools can have a positive outlook for the upcoming school year of 2011-2012, according to Gallaway.

“The legislation passed in House Bill One says that the change [in available calamity days] only applies to [the 2010-2011] school year,” Gallway said.

“If nothing more is done legislatively, the number of calamity days will revert to five for the next school year.”

For the current school year, if Mason City Schools uses one more snow day in the 2010-2011 school year, it will be adding extra makeup days onto the end of the school year (as of January 10), according to Mason City Schools’ Superintendent Kevin Bright.

“We only get three calamity days as of right now,” said Bright. “We have already used up two of them. If we use another without any legislation happening, we will start having required

makeup days.”

According to Public Information Officer Tracey Carson, Mason City Schools’ makeup days would be added on to the end of the year, never to spring break or any other observed holidays. “[The district] understand[s] that vacation plans can already be made during spring break,” Carson said.

“When we publish our calendar we make families aware that [any makeup days] will [get added] on to the end of the year, so we recommend that people wait about a week before scheduling vacations.”

Even with the legislation passed last year reducing the amount of calamity days, the decision- making process about snow days stays the same, according to Carson.

Transportation Supervisor Carole Abrams said she drives a specific route that takes her through all of the Mason School District because the conditions of the roads can change from one road to the next.

“Our Transportation Supervisor Carole Abrams starts by driving the roads of Mason around 4 a.m.,” Carson said. “She is checking to see if [the district] will be ready for buses and students to be driving on these roads.”

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 PAGE 5 | C

Ohio’s 10-cent minimum wage increase to benefit some teen workers

C| Notes

Bobby Gibler | Staff Writer

As of January 1, Ohio’s minimum wage has increased 10 cents from the previous $7.30 to $7.40 per hour. The change affects employees of 16 years or older.

Minimum wage increases yearly as a result of an amendment to Ohio’s constitution in 2006, which requires the state to raise minimum wage anually. This year, full-time employees will earn $208 more than they would have earned in 2010.

Six other states joined Ohio in raising minimum wage above the federal standard: Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

Ohio Department of Commerce spokesman Dennis Ginty said that the rate of increase in minimum wage is based on the change in prices paid by urban consumers for goods and services.

“Minimum wage is tied to the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the 12-month period prior to September,” Ginty said. “The following year’s Ohio minimum wage is based on this formula and the wage rate is also rounded to the nearest five cents.”

Employees working for companies grossing less than $271,000 per year will continue to earn last year’s minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

Fourteen- and 15-year-old workers will also receive this hourly wage at minimum, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce.

According to Ginty, the amend-

Seventeen states, including Ohio, and District of Columbia have minimum hourly wages above the federal standard of $7.25 per hour.

• Alaska: $7.75 • Arizona: $7.35 • California: $8.00 • Colorado: $7.36 • Connecticut: $8.25 • District of Columbia: $8.25 • Illinois: $8.25 • Maine: $7.50 • Massachusetts: $8.00 • Michigan: $7.40 • Montana: $7.35 • Nevada: $8.25 • New Mexico: $7.50 • Ohio: $7.40 • Oregon: $8.50 • Rhode Island: $7.40 • Vermont: $8.15 • Washington: $8.67 ment that affects minimum wage cannot be affected by periods of deflation. Because of this, minimum wage cannot be lowered. Despite this, the Ohio Small Business Association has said that the raise of minimum wage could cause an increase in layoffs.

Senior Savannah Ellis said that she is pleased with this year’s

minimum wage increase.

“Every cent counts,” Ellis said.

“That extra hourly ten cents adds up eventually, especially for people who work all the time.”

Ellis said that while she is happy about the minimum wage increase, the benefit mostly rests with fulltime workers. “[The increase will] make workers happier and [more willing] to work longer hours,” Ellis said. “[But] since most of us are busy with school and aren’t able to work [many] hours, the extra money is just a bonus.”

Senior Samantha Stewart said students won’t get to experience the benefits of the 10-cent increase unless they’re able to work long hours. “[At first], you won’t be able to tell that your paycheck went up ten cents every hour,” Stewart said. “[The increase benefits] people who work longer hours.”

Stewart said she feels students are fortunate to have minimum wage above the federal standard.

“Based on the economy and [students’] needs, [our minimum wage] is a good amount,” Stewart said. “[The fact] that we have minimum wage at all is a good thing.”

According to Ellis, students who work to pay for college will also be benefited by the change. “[Working students] will enjoy the extra money [for college expenses],” Ellis said. “I think, for now, the change is enough. Teenagers work hard and a lot of companies don’t realize how hard we

RRB: festival canceled in 2011, possibly 2012 continued from page 1

and have a good time. But the financial situation right now is not conducive to doing that.”

While the cuts are being made mainly in recreational activities, the council does not anticipate having to cut the important city services, according to Bradburn.

“We have core services, such as our police, our fire, our street program, public works and community center and we’re not anticipating any cutbacks in those because of cutting back in discretionary spending, which is Red, Rhythm and Boom, the Sunshine Series and things like that,” Bradburn said.

The City of Mason currently receives 1.2 million dollars from the state government as a part of the local government fund. According to Bradburn, if that funding gets cut because of low income taxes to the state government, there are going to be more reductions.

“We’re anxiously waiting to see how the local government fund will be affected in the new state budget that comes out July 1,” Bradburn said. “If that fund is cut or eliminated, we’re likely to see further reductions in service or we’ll have to go ahead and [spend] our reserve funds, which we really don’t want to do.”

The reserve fund is for emergency events only and the council doesn’t want to use that money for everyday services.

“Reserve funds are funds for catastrophic emergencies,” Bradburn said. “There’s 7.6 million dollars in the reserve fund and we’re, at this point in time, maintaining that reserve fund level.”

Politically-correct version of “Huckleberry Finn” to be published in February Rebekah Barnes | Staff Writer

Due to excessive use of the N-word in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”

by Mark Twain, a revised version of the novel is to be published in February. The publisher of the new version, NewSouth Books, will be releasing it with the N-word replaced by the word ‘slave.’

Twain published “Huckleberry Finn” in 1884, 126 years ago, and its portrayal of Jim, an escaped slave, still stirs conflict throughout the world. It has become one of the most challenged books book in history, according to Time magazine. Within the book, Twain uses the N-word 219 times and up to six times on one page.

Mason High School juniors taking Honors English IIIA are required to read the book for class.

Honors English II teacher Fred Reeder said that changing Mark Twain’s original text is insulting to Twain.

“It upset me to have somebody alter an original work without authors’ permission,” Reeder said.

Revising “Huckleberry Finn” for the Nword, according to English teacher Nathan Coates, is overlooking the theme of the book.

“Whenever you censor, what you do is you focus in on one thing and skew the importance of it,” Coates said. “People always want to censor books about words or about a sexual scene, but they never want to censor a book because of the big ideas it conveys, which can be far more controversial.”

Junior Brandon Labarowski said that Twain’s use of the N-word added an irony to the story.

“What [Twain] was intending was to

photo by Beena Raghavendran

Mason Public Library’s copies of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” The novel will be published without the N-word in February.

use [the N-word] ironically,” Labarowski said. “If you censor [‘Huckleberry Finn’], that irony is gone and theme of the story goes with it.”

However, junior Nadine Zaki said she does see possible reasoning behind changing the text; with repeated use of N-word, the word may appear as an acceptable word for use by some of the book’s readers.

Labarowski said that in his class with Honors English III teacher Ann

Helwig, a final paper challenged students’ opinions of the use of the N-word through the novel.

“Some people probably think like me [where ‘Huckleberry Finn’] absolutely should not be censored, while other people think [‘Huckleberry Finn’] is trash…or outdated…or maybe[should] not even [be] read,” Labrowski said.

According to Coates, who has taught at Wilmington High School,

said some schools with racial issues choose not to teach “Huckleberry Finn.”

“Having taught that book, it does create a great deal of discomfort in the class,” Coates said. “There is no way around it. I taught at Wilmington High School before I taught here and they elected not to teach that book because of the discomfort it created and the community complaints. There are real issues that come with the decision to teach a book that has controversial things in it.”

But Reeder said that learning how to deal with racial issues should be part of the lesson that educators teach in the classroom.

“Isn’t a good time [and place] to have the conversation about race…in school, with teachers who are qualified to help facilitate the discussion?” Reeder said.

If the book is revised, Coates said that it may make it accessible to districts and students who are not permitted to read the text in class in its original condition.

“In some environments that may have a racial[ly]-charged environment or have past racial issues, then [revising “Huckleberry Finn’] could be a way that the book can be viable that may not be considered otherwise,” Coates said. “[But] I think that [‘Huckleberry Finn’] is a book that is meant to challenge.”

Reeder agreed that there might be a good outcome, if censoring the book means more students and adults reading and become fans of Mark Twain literature, as he is himself.

“By taking the N-word out might result in more people reading [‘Huckleberry Finn,’]” Reeder said. “Perhaps, they, like I, will be turned on to his writing, which will result in them reading more of his [literature], and perhaps the original version of ‘Huckleberry Finn.’”

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C EDITORIAL Chronicle Policy The Chronicle is the official student newspaper of William Mason High School.

The Chronicle promises to report the truth and adhere to the journalistic code of ethics through online and print mediums.

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.

33106 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.

Contact Information The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Mason, Ohio 45040 398-5025 The Chronicle Staff Editor In Chief Carlie Sack Associate Editor Beena Raghavendran Editor Intern Julia Halpin Online Editor Janie Simonton Business/Circulation Manager Cady Meece Technical/Graphic Manager Jami Bechard Editorial Cartoonist Ajay Agrawal Staff Writers Rebekah Barnes Katelyn Cain Miranda Carney Thom Carter Bobby Gibler Ian Howard Janica Kaneshiro Megan McCormack James Nosek Joseph Spencer Samantha Weaver Adviser Dale Conner

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

Editorial Cartoon

Staff Editorial

Letters to the Editor

Seniors’ desire for retouched photos has crossed line

Blue dots enhance high school experience

Surveillance cameras helpful, yet invasive

I feel like [talking to others] is a very important part of high school. ...Some people feel very alone and feel like there is no one they can talk to that will listen. ...Most teens won’t talk to someone because they like to keep it to themselves, but it’s good to get out there and talk with not only counselors, but your teachers too. ...Teachers actually care. The blue dots show that.

-Christina Tomondi, freshman

I think the surveillance cameras are a great idea. They are useful for reporting crimes. ...It’s a great way to maintain order throughout the school because the cameras are visible. Kids know they’re there, so they have to be on their best behavior at all times or they could get in trouble for their actions. On the other side, ...kids can’t joke around without getting in trouble. ...Our school is safe, so I don’t think we need...a large network of [surveillance cameras].

-Ilaria Tedoldi, freshman

CONNECT club fills much-needed void

Varsity letter jackets should be cherished

[CONNECT] is a great way for people to relate to what they are feeling with each other. ...You can share things with each other that maybe you couldn’t share with a friend or a counselor because...having someone who knows what you mean is a great way to feel comfortable. ...It is great that someone has finally stepped up and noticed that...a high school like MHS that is full of a variety of people needed...a club like this. ...For a student in MHS to have this opportunity... to feel support is something that not all students at other high schools get.

-Maria Fuentes, freshman

Having a letter makes you feel good and that you have accomplished something you love. ...It gives you a sense of pride and encouragement. ...To everyone who has [a letter jacket], it means more than just a jacket.

Other people might...think that person is just cocky and want[s] to show off, but if you really take the time to look at it, you may understand what it means to that person. In the future, I think people just may regret not getting a jacket. ...I think it would be cool, someday, to be able to share that with your kids.

-Jessica Casciotti, freshman

As our friends hand out their wallet-sized senior pictures throughout their senior year, we can’t help but notice that the people in these pictures aren’t the people we see every day in class. The pictures hold an airbrushed model, a person who barely resembles our friends.

Senior picture retouching goes too far when it does not truthfully represent students. By altering the very sparkle in our eyes, seniors’ wants may have reached the line of too much photo editing. Isn’t the point of a senior picture to capture snapshots of students just as they were their senior year? After all, we are just 17- and 18-year-old kids. We don’t need to look like models, although removing a blemish or two would be nice.

More and more seniors want to look like they are in a fashion magazine and will not settle for less. If we have the ability to fix our flaws, why wouldn’t we? But when small touch-ups turn into large transformations, seniors do not even look like themselves in the photos.

Excessive retouching it is not truthful. As we are constantly surrounded by highly retouched actresses and models, it’s no wonder why we want to look more and more like them in our senior pictures.

The media is telling us that we don’t look good enough just being ourselves. We need more. This is unhealthy for our confidence; we are being told that we are not beautiful enough, even when we are young and healthy. We think we need something extra so that we can achieve perfection.

We should think before we begin to edit ourselves away. We will not be remembered in 20 years if our senior photos are barely recognizable; we want to be remembered as the people that we truly are.

Email feedback.chronicle@gmail.com to have your voice heard.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011 PAGE 7 | C

C OPINION Column

Makeup doesn’t mean beauty

Julia Halpin | Staff Writer

I definitely don’t look like her.

She’s the girl on the cover of Seventeen magazine every month. And she’s quite the opposite of me.

Her legs are about as long as my entire body. I mean, Lord knows I’m nowhere near 5’9”. I chopped off six inches of my brown hair last summer, so it’s not like her shiny blonde hair looks like anything on my head. And do her eyes naturally sparkle like that? It can’t be possible.

Let’s face it: most every girl in this high school thinks the same thing I do when she opens Seventeen magazine. The combination of our appearance-crazed culture and looks-focused media has lead today’s teenage girls to believe that we have to look like these women.

I know that the faces plastered on billboards are practically spraypainted with cover-up before they’re photographed. The amount of mascara that girls in advertisements have on their eyelashes is probably a minimum of two tubes, and I am fully aware that their eyes do not naturally sparkle. But, let’s be honest, they look practically perfect.

That’s why seeing a girl who throws all those ideas out the window is entirely refreshing.

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Most of us have given in, lining our eyes with that black pencil stuff every morning in hopes that we’ll look decent for our peers that day, but there are girls who don’t wear makeup.

Though I’m not one of those girls, I admire them. With so many girls obsessing over their looks, it’s nice to see some who find themselves naturally beautiful, however cliché that might be. Our moms are always trying to tell us that we don’t need that stuff while every magazine cover is informing us that we do, and the most expensive kind is probably the best.

I think we should start listening to our moms when they feed us lines about how we don’t need makeup. Who established this idea that just because we’re of the female gender, we’re required, nearly obligated to put makeup on every time we leave the house?

Going without makeup is not going to make you any less “beautiful” than the girl sitting next to you in class whose face is orange with bronzer. In all honesty, it will make you more beautiful. Mason High School girls, eye liner does not equal beauty.

The girls at our school who don’t fit painting their faces into their daily routine are few and far between, showing how most of us are subject to whatever Seventeen magazine is trying to tell us.

Go without makeup one day. You might even get a few compliments.

W h at Y o u T h i n k

“Well, a lot of people go [to Red, Rhythm and Boom], and it’s just kind of like a meeting place for everyone.

So, I think… people will be a little disappointed because we all [won’t be able to] meet there and hang out and watch fireworks.”

Katie Rojas, freshman

In each issue, you will find two columns in print and two columns on our online companion, The Chronline.

Keep up with your favorite columnist on The Chronline at www.masoncomets.org/features/chronicle/

Column

Grammys not musical achievements

Thom Carter | Staff Writer

Movies have the Academy Awards, the Emmys commend television and Broadway celebrates with the Tonys. Of course, the Grammy Awards seem like the obvious choice as the premier award show for music, but is it? To be frank, no, it’s not. In fact, the Grammys represent everything wrong with the music industry. Trent Reznor, who was most recently part of the duo that conducted the score to the film “The Social Network,” posted in a Tweet during last year’s show, “The Grammys = the…old media propping up their puppets trying to convince the outside world (and each other) they’re relevant.” Harsh? Not really.

My jaw dropped when Taylor Swift won the so-called “prestigious” Album of the Year Grammy at last year’s ceremony.

Surely, a songwriter whose lyrics rarely expand outside of sappy teen romance territory can’t be awarded such an honor.

Unfortunately, Swift can, proving it’s a popularity vote based on album sales, not quality of music. This year’s nominations for the award are even more of a sham. Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream?”

How will the cancellation of Red, Rhythm and Boom affect students this summer?

“I’ve gone since I was in middle school. ...So, it’s been like a tradition to [go to Red, Rhythm and Boom]. ...[The cancellation] will just change the tradition.”

Morgan Bamberger, senior

“The time at Red, Rhythm and Boom is where we can really be together with our friends and celebrate [July 4] that way, and now we can’t, so we’re going to have to find something better to do, which we probably won’t be able to [find].”

Victoria Ellis, junior

“I always went to [Red, Rhythm and Boom] just be with my friends and [to] have fun. ...I don’t think it will affect us too bad[ly]. It’s just another event we won’t be able to go to.”

Drew Matula, sophomore

“I think it’s going to not give [high school students]…very many things to do. It might make a lot of people shoot off their own fireworks, which could be bad. [Fourth of July] just won’t be as fun, …because I always go [to Red, Rhythm and Boom].”

Kelsey Hairston, senior

Proof that wearing candy-coated clothing can get you places, assuming you look good doing it. Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now?” An album featuring the most overplayed song in recent memory with the most predictable pop/country formula ever is making strides in a miserable direction. Eminem’s “Recovery?” Many will loathe me for saying this, but he’s a has-been, and his quality of music has spiraled downward since his 2002 album “The Eminem Show.” The real surprise? Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs.” A band that rose to prominence in 2005 with their debut album “Funeral,” Arcade Fire has been hailed “the greatest band in the history of music” by Coldplay’s front man and one of the decade’s best-selling artists Chris Martin.

However, their inclusion in the Album of the Year running is just more evidence on the sadness of “music’s biggest night.”

In a speech after winning Best Hard Rock Performance, Eddie Vedder, front man of long-running rock group Pearl Jam, lazily remarked, “I don’t what this [Grammy] means.

I don’t think it means anything.” He’s right.

It doesn’t mean anything, and it won’t mean anything until the folks at National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the organizers of the ceremony, decide to wake up and award musicians worthy of accolades in a ceremony that is supposed to celebrate music, not spoil it.

“I think a lot of [people who] go to [Red, Rhythm and Boom] will not be able to party it up. But, I guess [they] can do other stuff instead. I’ve always been out-of-town during [Red, Rhythm and Boom], but I know a lot of my friends go to it. So, I guess [they’ll] have to [have] a party in its place.”

John Deaton, sophomore

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

SPORTS C

Representin’ the

PAGE 9 | C

Junior Reuben Victoria, a wrestler, is ranked first in the GMC in the 103 lb. weight class, leading with 17 wins, 4 losses and 7 pins.

TEAM

TRACKER

GYMNASTICS

photos by Katelyn Cain

From left: Angela Bizzari’s jersey hanging in the Mason Middle School Arena lobby, with a list of her athletic accomplishments; Maria Muñoz’s signed jersey is honored in the Middle School Arena.

More than just a number Recognized jersey one of highest athletic honors

Katelyn Cain | Staff Writer

When walking into the Mason Middle School Arena, people will see adorned on the walls the jerseys of Michelle Muñoz and Angela Bizzarri, MHS graduates of 2001 and 2006, respectively -- the only jerseys that have ever been recognized in Mason High School history. According to Assistant Athletic Director Eric Silverman, although a recognized jersey is not the same thing as a retired jersey, it’s no small feat to have your jersey recognized, which is one of the reasons Mason has so few. “[Getting your jersey recognized is] one of the highest honors you can receive, because it signifies that you were so much better and...far[ther] above the best while you were at Mason, and that’s a very high standard to meet,” Silverman said.

According to Silverman, Muñoz, a girls’ basketball player, and Bizzarri, a girls’ cross country runner, were chosen because of their momentous athletic achievements. “[Muñoz] was on the 2000 state championship [basketball] team; she was a two-time Miss Ohio in basketball, which is the award given to the top [girls’] basketball player in the state and she won it two years in a row,” Silverman said. “And [Bizzarri] was a two-time state champion in cross country, a three-time state champion in the 3200-meter [run] in track, and she holds numerous records for both track and cross country.”

According to Athletic Director Scott Stemple, Mason does not have a specific procedure for recognizing a jersey.

“We don’t really have a procedure

[for recognizing jerseys] at Mason,” Stemple said. “[Muñoz’s]...jersey recognizing was driven by the head [girls’ basketball] coach at the time, Jerry Lackey, and [he] just wanted to do that to recognize her [for] being named Miss Basketball [of Ohio].”

Stemple said that if a proposal for a recognized jersey did arise, the Athletic Council would make the decision to recognize a jersey if a new athlete was considered.

“If a jersey retirement was proposed, then I would put that through our Athletic Council, [which] is a board of coaches, a representative of the Superintendent and the Principal and the Athletic Department,” Stemple said.

“We would evaluate the proposal and then make a recommendation to the school board to [recognize the jersey].

There are no criteria in place right now because...our intention [is not] to recognize jerseys every day.”

According to Silverman, the council would look for specific qualities in an athlete when considering recognizing a jersey.

“We’d look for a phenomenal, oneof-a-kind athlete,” Silverman said.

“Someone who represented their school...[and] team well. Their athletic accomplishments [would have to be] so far above and beyond what a normal high school athlete would accomplish.”

Silverman said the reason Mason has only had two jerseys recognized is because, athletically, the district only started getting successful when it began to grow and excel against fierce competition.

“When you look at a lot of our athletic successes, [you can see that]

they’ve only been recent,” Silverman said. “That is mainly because of the growth of our school district... but that doesn’t mean that there [are] athletes from [the past] that don’t deserve it, but it’s one of those [situations] where you have to look at what those accomplishments were and for that time period [and ask yourself], ‘Is that type of honor warranted?’”

Silverman said that although the retiring of jerseys honors athletes’ accomplishments while they were at Mason, the Athletic Council tends to wait until after the athlete has graduated before retiring the jersey. “[Recognizing a jersey is] like an induction to the Hall of Fame,” Silverman said. “It’s typically after the athlete leaves the program, because it’s [a] recognition of what [he or she] accomplished while... [in high school]. There are very few instances when [the jersey will] be recognized while the athlete is still there.”

According to Stemple, Mason has leaned more towards public recognition than an actual retirement of jerseys.

“If you drive into Mason you’ll see...we’ve put signs in the arena ...recognizing athletes that went to state and state champions,” Stemple said. “The track is also going to have some signage for [Bizzarri] and [senior cross country and track runner Zach Wills]. We’ve leaned more towards public recognition and displaying jerseys, rather than a retirement production.”

As of January 6, the gymnastics team has started its season off with a first place finish in the Snowflake Invite. According to sophomore Sophomore Maggie Maggie Fewell, the Fewell team will be successful for the rest of the season.

“Based on our previous season, [when we went] undefeated, and this year [when] we’ve had a lot of pressure on us, I expect us to do well again,” Fewell said.

Fewell said that with the team not having as many freshmen, it can work together well.

“We all know each other really well, so we know how to push each other and encourage each other,” Fewell said.

GIRLS’ SWIMMING The girls’ swimming team is ranked first in the city, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. This is due to a great start by the team, with individual wins over Sycamore and Anderson. The team also placed 6 out of 39 teams in the Neb Reed Invitational. Junior Morgan Emter is one of the varsity team members, and she said she has high expectations for the team.

“I believe that we will not only make it to state as a team, but we also have the ability to place in the top teams,” Emter said.

photo by Katelyn Cain

ICE HOCKEY Captain defenseman senior DJ Smith said the 2010-2011 hockey season has been successful so far, as the team holds a 9-1 win-loss Senior DJ Smith record. The year has been highlighted by a win against Lakota West, which was the first time the team pulled a victory over Lakota West in many years, according to Smith. Smith said the team has great chemistry with an effective mix of seniors and underclassmen.

The bond between upperclassmen also helps the team’s performance, Smith said.

“The couple [of] upperclassmen on the team have been together for about four years,” Smith said.

C | PAGE 10

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

cademic team makes the grade “Jeopardy”-like sport contributes to GMC All-Sports Trophy

photos by Janie Simonton

Are you smarter than an

academic team member?

Can you answer the following questions? Answers at the bottom. Questions contributed by coach Thurman Allen.

1. The 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth ended what conflict?

2. What novel by Norman Mailer describes an American division led by General Cummings as they invade a Japanese-held island in the Pacific?

3. If x + 2y = 6 and x - 2y = 3, what is x^2 - 4y^2?

4. To what phylum do human beings belong?

5. What is the common English name of the constellation Aquilia?

6. What is the nickname of the wife of the 36th President of the US? 7. What is the last name of the couple who was convicted of passing classified information about the atomic bomb to the Soviets after World War II? 8. In geometry, what does S-A-S mean?

9. What English engineer discovered a process for making steel by removing carbon from molten iron?

10. FIFA (pronounced: FEE-fuh) is the governing body of what international sport?

6. Lady Bird (Johnson) 7. (Julius & Ethel) Rosenberg 8. Side, Angle, Side 9. (Henry) Bessemer 10. Soccer

The only television show junior academic team player Michael Duplisea said he watches is “Jeopardy.” Duplisea said he enjoys watching the show because the structure of the show is similar to the structure of an academic team match, and sometimes watching the show can provide answers for questions during competitions. “[‘Jeopardy’] covers a whole range of topics,” Duplisea said. “There are general knowledge questions that are asked quite frequently.”

Just like Duplisea, junior Tina Pan said she sees similarities between the academic team and “Jeopardy.” For Pan, playing on the team makes her feel like a contestant on “Jeopardy,” except there are three other teammates to help her out and compete in a match. “[The goal] is to win as many matches as possible,” Pan said. “But not [at] all costs; [the academic team is not as competitive as other sports].”

A normal meet is made up of two matches, comprised of three rounds each: a category round, an alphabet round and a lightning round, according to Pan. Pan said the category round includes eight different subjects and three questions for each subject. “[In the category round,] a team gets two chances to answer the question right, [and] if [it doesn’t], the other team has a chance [to answer the question correctly],” Pan said.

According to Pan, the alphabet round is where each team is asked 20 questions and all answers, which begin with the same letter, must be compiled by the team. Duplisea said the alphabet round is unique, and having all the answers start with the same letter can be an advantage. “[All the answers starting with the same letter] helps you because [knowing] what the answer is already going to start with helps you process a few answers in your head [and narrow down answers],” Duplisea said.

The lightning round is a speed round that involves buzzing in to answer questions as fast as the team can. There are 20 questions and an individual on the team has three seconds to answer each question, according to Pan. Coach Mark Wyatt said the team improves its performance through buzzer drills.

“We try [to] do drills and practice the

speed of buzzing in,” Wyatt said.

Wyatt said that another major skill of the academic team is knowing and predicting what question the reader will ask.

“It is hard to teach and prepare a player for the range of questions asked in a match,” Wyatt said. “[But,] since we know the categories and since they are themed, a player can predict what the [next] question [might] be.”

For example, Wyatt said, two proceeding questions can often combine somehow to form a third.

“If a question asked ‘Who wrote this book?”, then [the next question asked] ‘Who wrote this [other] book?’ a player could predict what the third book because of a connection between the first two [questions],” Wyatt said.

Wyatt said that because the categories are so vague and since all schools in the state study different subjects, it’s hard to know which questions will be asked during a match.

“A lot of questions are just general content that the kids learn in class,” Wyatt said.

During practice, Wyatt said the team goes through an old question set and practices buzzing in for a question. He also said part of the preparation comes in the classroom every day at school. “[The way I see it, the players spend] seven hours [in the classroom] prepping for academic team,” Wyatt said.

“Your daily classroom doesn’t necessarily help [an athlete] on the soccer field, but it does help [a student on the] academic team.”

Although there are some noticeable differences between traditional athletes and academic team members, they share a common goal: the GMC AllSports Trophy.

Over the last three years, the academic team has contributed an average of 8.6 points per year to the All-Sports Trophy, which is more of a contribution than basketball, football and baseball individually per year.

Wyatt said his team has contributed tremendously to the All-Sports Trophy over the last three years.

“I find it neat that [the academic team] gets to contribute to the GMC All-Sports Trophy,” Wyatt said. “It’s interesting that in the past, without [the academic team] contributing to the all sports trophy, [Mason] would not have won.”

Answers: 1. Russo-Japanese (War) 2. (The) Naked and the Dead 3. 18 4. Chordata 5. Eagle

James Nosek | Staff Writer

What’s the weirdest question you’ve ever been asked?

“Name a certain character from ‘Lord of the Rings.”’

-Qian Wang, junior

“Name the regional number of the Pope who ordered the first crusade.”

-Michael Dupilsea, junior

“What is the county in Ohio that starts with an ‘A’?”

-Ananya Hindupur, senior

“What is the fourth opera written by Mozart?”

-Abhishek Ravinuthala, sophomore

“Naming scientific names of certain random animals.”

-Shakib Islam, sophomore

“A question about The Backstreet Boys [and] boy bands of the 1980s and 1990s.”

-Sahir Rama, junior photos by James Nosek

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011 PAGE 11 | C

Comets’ hot start has team in GMC title race

Michael Vick served 23 months in prison for his role in the operation and financing of dogfighting, in which numerous dogs died. Vick, who is having an incredible year as quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, recently admitted in an interview that he would like to own a dog. Should Vick be able to own a dog again someday?

Stingy defense, team chemistry key factors in early wins Joe Spencer | Staff Writer

The boys’ varsity basketball team is in shape to win the GMC, with an 8-1 record going into the bulk of their GMC schedule, according to senior Parker Raffel. They also lead the league in points scored against and this stingy defense is the reason for much of the team’s success, according to Raffel.

“We are so successful because of our defense,” Raffel said. “We play hard defense, which in return, helps us generate points.”

The team’s tough defense can be credited to the team’s game philosophy, according to junior Darin Harris.

“Every game, we go into the battle with the mentality to hold [the other team off by making sure it doesn’t score more than]…40 points,” Harris said. “If we can hold them under 40 [points], then we are on track to winning that game.”

Tough defense has been key for the Comets during Coach Greg Richard’s reign, and the reason for the defense’s success this year is the closeness of the team, according to junior Michael Van Kleunen.

“Everyone on the team fits together,” Van Kleunen said. “When we are out there, everyone is able to lead in [his]

own way. I would credit our closeness [and] trust for each other [as] the reason that we have been so successful.”

Raffel said that this closeness was started in the off-season.

“This off-season we started our new workout with Coach Carl [Richburg],” Raffel said. “This definitely brought us closer because it helped us work with the players who we have not played with before.”

Using its newfound team bond, the team must stick together over the next weeks as the bulk of the team’s GMC schedule is played, according to Van Kluenen.

“The next few weeks will be huge for the team,” Van Kluenen said. “We have Lakota East and Middletown in back-toback home games. Those will be two huge games for us and our goal of winning the GMC championship.”

On January 7, the Comets, ranked fifth citywide, played Princeton, who were ranked sixth citywide. This game was one of the team’s biggest games of the year, according to Harris.

“Princeton [is always] one of our biggest games of the year,” Harris said. “It [leads] us into two weeks of tough games.”

The team fought hard to earn a tied

photo courtesy of The Pulse Journal

Senior Brain Carden, a leader of the boys’ varsity basketball team, during a team scrimmage.

game, which Princeton finally ended with a hot streak during overtime and a final score of 62-57, Princeton. Junior point guard JD Sprague said that the team will move on from this loss and look forward to the weeks ahead.

“We are not going to dwell on the past,” Sprague said. “[Instead,] we are going to take it one game at a time for the next two weeks. We know what we have to fix and we will keep improving from there.”

Senior lacrosse player to help build program at San Diego State Bobby Gibler | Staff Writer

Senior Fal Manns signed with San Diego State University on November 15 and will be playing for its women’s lacrosse team. Manns’ freshman season will also be the college’s first women’s lacrosse season. Manns said her decision to join San Diego State’s lacross team stemmed from her club Senior Fal Manns coach’s recommendation.

“My Midwestern Force club coach told me to check out the school, so I contacted [San Diego State’s] coach and sent her my [highlight] video,” Manns said. “[Then,] she said ‘We’d really love for you to come play out here,’ so I visited the college and I loved it.”

Manns said she is expecting difficulty in playing more experienced teams at the college level. According to Manns, this uncertainty is creating some ambiguity in how San Diego State’s team will perform at the beginning of its season next year. “[Our players are] not [going to be] very strong [because] we’re freshmen,” Manns said. “We’ve never played college sports and we’re going to be up against seniors who

have been playing for their entire college career.”

Because she has not met with her teammates in person yet, Manns said that her team has not elected a team captain. According to Manns, this may prove managing time difficult early in the season.

“In high school lacrosse, you could go to [your team captain] to get help if you were struggling with balancing school and lacrosse,” Manns said. “But [in the upcoming season], we may not be able to do that.”

Manns said she has been using Facebook to connect with her teammates before playing with them for the first time on the field.

“There’s a group on Facebook that we’re all in; [so far] there are 10 of us who have committed,” Manns said. “There are two from Florida, a bunch from California and one from Australia.

It’s a bunch of different cultures [mixed together] and it’s really interesting to see them all.”

Manns said that the training will be more exhausting than her high school team’s. “[Workouts] are going to be way more intense, and we’re going to have way more workouts in the off-season [up to] three times per week,” Manns said. “We’ll have ‘fall-ball’, which is condensed indoor lacrosse where you have scrimmages with other college teams.”

Outside the Lines...

SPORTS IN PRINT The Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica hit shelves on January 11, 2011, joining the five other kid- and teen-oriented sports novels Lupica has written since 2004. Protagonist Nate Brodie, who has the nickname of “Brady,” gets a chance at halftime of a New England Patriots game to win a million dollars by throwing a football through a target.

Suffering financial problems in the Brodie household, Nate is pressured to make a “million dollar throw,” possibly to save his family.

-compiled by James Nosek

SPORTS IN VIDEO GAMES Sports will be viewed from the cartoon world of Mario as “Mario Sports Mix” for the Nintendo Wii shoots for a February 7 release date. “Mario Sports Mix” lets players jump into games of hockey, basketball, volleyball or dodgeball, while still playing as the familiar characters from Mushroom Kingdom, who each have a special outrageous move. Players can also challenge Mario and other characters directly by paying as their own Mii characters.

-compiled by Katelyn Cain

Trading Punches

SPORTS ON TELEVISION

The new FX television show “Lights Out” premiered January 11. The show is about the trials and tribulations of boxer Patrick “Lights” Leary, played by actor Holt McCallany, and his comeback to try and regain the heavyweight title. The show is on FX on Tuesdays at 11 p.m.

-compiled by Joseph Spencer

I don’t care if Michael Vick has paid his debt to society and Katelyn Cain is having a fantastic season. Those dogs’ lives are still gone, so Vick should never be allowed to have his own dog again. Let him back into the NFL, sure, but don’t let him own a dog. If you gave one thousand dollars to someone, with instructions to put it in a bank, but instead he spent it on energy drinks, would you give him one thousand more dollars? Absolutely not.

Michael Vick should not get a dog now or in the future.

The reason for this is Joseph Spencer because he blew his chance with the animal by torturing and killing dogs. A sex offender is not allowed to be around kids just because he wants to, and it is the same way with Vick. Just because he is famous doesn’t mean he should get exceptions to the law.

Michael Vick should absolutely be allowed to own a dog.

James Nosek He faced his consequence, which was more than being suspended from football. If he was allowed to make a return to the NFL, in a way “buy his career back,” he should be able to “buy another dog,” once again. photos by Beena Raghavendran

Coach’s Corner Craig Murnan Head Wrestling Coach Sixth Year

In his sixth year as head wrestling coach, Craig Murnan has led the wrestling team to a third place ranking in the Greater Cincinnati area and a 9-1 dual meet record as of January 5, with many of its players ranked in the GMC. Murnan said that one of the reasons the team has been successful so far this season is because of the coaching staff ’s philosophy. “[Our philosophy] is to dominate the neutral position...and to prepare and train hard and try to outwork our opponents both in [practice] and in competitions,” Murnan said.

-compiled by Katelyn Cain

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011 PAGE 13 | C

Mac vs. PC

In booming world of technology, Apple and Microsoft computers prevail in different realms Beena Raghavendran | Associate Editor

A familiar television advertisement flickers on, with two men standing an equal distance apart in front of a white background. The man on the left is sporting a business pant-suit combo and wide glasses. The man on the right is wearing some variation of a blue t-shirt, jeans and sneakers, with casual brown hair splashing his forehead. These are the two personifications as part of the familiar “Get a Mac” campaign by Apple, countered later by the “I’m a PC” Windows campaign, each advertising their respective computer operating systems.

“I’m a Mac,” the man on the right says, “and I’m a PC,” the man on the left says. And so the battle begins.

As the Macintosh turns 27 years old on January 24 and Mas o n C i t y S c h o o l s m o v e s f o r w a r d i n i t s 1 0 - Ye a r P l a n g o a l t o “ i n tegrate technology into instruction and operations in a manner that reflects the current realities of the K-12 en-

vironment and the world at large,” according to the plan, the 100% PC-based district is keeping Mason in the right direction, a c c o r d i n g t o C o m p u t e r P r o g r a m m i n g t e a c h e r G r e g K u m m e r.

Kummer is a PC, he said. According to him, the “bells and whistles” that come with Macs can’t compare with the dominance of Windows and the future it holds, making it the right path for the Mason school district.

“Tthe district needs to go where the jobs are, and the jobs are with Windows,” Kummer said.

D i g i t a l I m a g e D e s i g n t e a c h e r A a r o n R o b e r t s , h o w e v e r, s a i d that he is a Mac. According to him, the district’s best computer depends on the needs of both the district cost-wise and the students within it -- which, especially in the arts areas, sometimes calls for Mac operating systems.

“We’re on all Dells throughout the whole district, and there’s a big advantage to that in that...that’s probably more cost-effective for technology support,” Roberts said. “But, if you were to go to a system where you would use the platform that was the most appropriate for each area, I think that here in...both visual and performing arts, we’d want to be on a Mac.” Seni or C l audi o R odri guez sai d that though he prefers the PC for hi s vi deo gami ng purposes, he thi nks that the Mac w oul d be the best computer for the school envi ronment.

“Macs w oul d probabl y be better [for our school ],” R odri guez sai d. “They’ re real l y good w i th art programs...[and] pi ctures, and they have fast dow nl oad speeds.”

Juni or Matt A nderson sai d he thi nks that the operati ng system preference for computer users depends on thei r areas of w ork -- Mi crosoft takes offi ce cl i entel e, A ppl e i s used w i th the desi gn fol ks, and a thi rd freew are operati ng system, Li nux, i s used w i th busi ness

profes s i onal s .

“I thi nk that [preferenc e i s ] k i nd of di s pers ed [bas ed on] w hat y ou’ re doi ng v ers us any one grav i tati onal poi nt,” A nders on s ai d.

R oberts al s o s ai d he thi nk s that the w orl d i s not trendi ng tow ard a domi nant c omputer any more -- i ns tead, he s ai d mobi l i ty w i l l bec ome the k ey to future tec hnol ogi c al adv anc ements , s i nc e the w orl d i s mov i ng tow ard mobi l e appl i c ati ons .

“P eopl e are i nterac ti ng w i th i nformati on on the Internet through apps rather than through a brow s er,” R oberts s ai d. “The trend i s aw ay from des k top c omputers and ev en l aptops .”

K ummer s ai d that i n the future, he thi nk s the di fferent operati ng s y s tems w i l l l earn that to get the bes t of both w orl ds and be the mos t effec ti v e.

“A ppl e’s goi ng to al l ow Mi c ros oft produc ts to w ork on i t [and] Mi c ros oft’s goi ng to al l ow A ppl e produc ts to w ork on them, s o i t’s goi ng to be a beauti ful w orl d w here ev ery body gets al ong,” K ummer s ai d.

photo art by Jami Bechard

C | PAGE 14

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

The New Kodak Moment With the increase of senior picture retouching, the effects of retouching on self-esteem of retouching are questioned Janica Kaneshiro | Staff Writer

A rise in retouching is giving a whole new meaning to ‘picture perfect’. For years, magazines have used picture retouching to airbrush celebrities to perfection, and the movement is now filtering down to Mason High School through senior portraits.

Cindy Dover, from Cindy Dover Photography, said media such as magazines that feature retouched models are one of many reasons that retouching in senior portraits is increasing. “[Seniors] want the Vogue look,” Dover said. “They want more of an ‘America’s Next Top Model’ look. …[Seniors are] not happy with pictures that are not retouched.”

Senior Sam Dunn, who had her senior pictures taken at Blip In Time Photography, said that media has influenced the rise of retouching because she’s noticed more girls going for a model look in their senior pictures.

“A lot of people I know, mainly girls, are doing more posing and they’re trying to get that model look to look more like [the magazines], with a lot of retouching or a lot of posing,” Dunn said. “It isn’t the simple sit-and-stand anymore.”

Sophomore Corynne Hogan, who is a senior picture photographer, said she has also noticed the increasing interest in the model look.

BEFORE photos contributed

AFTER “I was going for a vintage look on this picture,” Hogan said. “I wanted the lips to pop so I used major saturation. I added lots of contrast to make the picture more stunning. I also used cross process from Picnik.com.”

try to make [senior pictures] look more professional to give [seniors] something they can’t get from a point-and-shoot camera or printing at Walmart or off their own printer. I want my pictures to say, ‘Wow,’ and photos contributed not, ‘I could have taken that.’”

“I love the Dover said retouching improves self-esteem more than damages it. movement and “I think if [retouching] changes the way [seniors] look, like if it changes mood of this picture,” Hogan their appearance drastically where people look at their pictures and say, said. “I just added ‘That doesn’t even look like you,’ then retouching is [detrimental],” Dover a vignette and a said. “I’ve never had a senior say to me, ‘You’ve over-worked me.’ I’ve had slight contrast.” [seniors] ask for more, but I’ve never had them ask for less.”

Dunn said that there are both pros and cons to what retouching can do AFTER to a student’s confidence.

“It feels good to know you can be that pretty [after retouching], but it also diminishes [self-esteem] in a way because you think, ‘Well, if they “[Media] plays a big part in [retouching],” Hogan said. “I’ll look at had to do that much retouching, then I must [not be pretty normally],’” magazine covers and through the magazines to get inspiration. The Dunn said.

American Eagle [catalog] is probably one of my big [inspirations]. I Dover said that, as a photographer, she tries to limit retouching on love the way their models look, …so that influences me a lot.” boys’ photos because they want to look masculine and retouching can Dunn said that photo retouching is increasing because students want sometimes make facial features look more feminine. more than a basic snapshot for the price. “[Boys’ pictures are] when it’s really difficult to tell how much [retouch“If you’re paying that much money for your pictures, you want your ing] is too much, and how much is not enough,” Dover said. “You don’t pictures to look good, and you don’t want your face covered in zits,” want them to look feminine, and you still want them to look rough-andDunn said. tough. Usually, I will just take away blemishes, but I will not do as much Dover said professional retouching is something regular teens can’t face-softening.” get at home with a basic Senior Austin Blanco, who got his senior digital camera. pictures taken at Little Rascals Photogra“I don’t charge extra phy, said that issues like self-esteem are diffor retouching,” Dover ferent with boys because they’re more likely said. “It’s just a given. I to like their appearance before retouching.

Senior pictures’ purpose is to reflect on the past, so seniors want to look their best, according to Dover. She said she feels that retouching contributes to the overall happiness of the buyer, which makes her happy.

“The best part of my job is making people feel good,” Dover said. “I think [retouching] boosts self-esteem. It’s a good feeling because not all girls like pictures taken [of them] because of bad self-esteem. After they had a really long [shooting session] and AFTER they’re nervous and feeling insecure about [their pictures], and they see their pictures photos contributed are really beautiful, it just feels good. If I can “I used contrast, a little bit of exposure and cross do that for somebody, that’s a real positive.” process on this portrait,” Hogan said.

BEFORE

BEFORE all photos contributed by Corynne Hogan, senior photographer

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The transformation of a genre

Rap entices Mason using suburban appeal Thom Carter | Staff Writer

Rap music is moving out of the ghetto and into the suburbs with rappers swapping their baggy jeans and t-shirts for designer duds, according to junior Kelechi Aguomo. As a result, Aguomo said suburban teens in areas like Mason are becoming the target audience for many mainstream rap acts.

Rap’s image has always been criticized; in 2008 Barack Obama, in an interview with MTV, said that young African-American men should “pull up their pants.”

Aguomo, who has listened to and followed rap music for much of his life, said that ten years ago, rap was focused around rappers like 50 Cent who grew up in rough, urban areas whose topics of choice were violence, money, and women. “[Earlier in the 2000s], you’d always see [50 Cent] with a baggy t-shirt and baggy jeans,” Aguomo said. “He always talked about his girls and his money, or about fighting this person [or that person].”

According to The New York Times, it was Kanye West’s debut album in 2004, “The College Dropout,” that changed much of what rap was about lyrically, different to the rap Aguomo said was prevalent a decade ago.

Instead, the article said that West focused on topics such as class struggle, self-doubts, a middle class upbringing, and higher education.

Robert Christgau, a music critic for The Village Voice, a New York City newspaper, said that West’s more sophisticated statements against education instead of the usual pro-thug statements create a role model unlike that of any rapper previously seen.

“His arguments against education are as market-targeted as other rappers’ arguments for thug life,” Christgau said.

Along with West, Aguomo said that other rappers such as Drake, Lil Wayne and Kid Cudi are all moving away from a thuggish style and making music aimed at suburban audiences like Mason.

“Now, newer songs are focused toward suburban kids and stuff that they could relate to,” Aguomo said.

Like Aguomo, junior John Wunderle, a fan of rap who said he prefers more obscure, underground artists, said that a decade ago, rap music rarely ventured outside of urban areas where the genre first

originated. “[Ten years ago, rap] was more centralized in urban areas, [and] not so much played all the time on the radio,” Wunderle said.

Sophomore Drew Maguire, a rap fan who said he enjoys the unique styles of artists like Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa, said that this mainstream rap has found its way to popular radio stations, but the result isn’t always good, namely when songs become overplayed.

“On the radio, they play a lot of [rap] that gets repeated,” Maguire said. “They’re good songs, but there [are] better songs that no one really knows about.”

According to Wunderle, rap’s prevalence on the radio has made it one of the most popular genres in Mason.

“In Mason now, you could say everybody listens to rap,” Wunderle said. “Rock and rap are the two big classes.”

After the amount of rap on the radio, Wunderle also said that its usage at dances has added to the popularity of the genre and its prevalence amongst suburban kids.

According to Maguire, this is a major departure from rap earlier in the decade that involved more storytelling, instead of just rapping about a dance such as the Jerk or the Dougie, which are dances set to rap music.

Along with appealing dances, Maguire said that the appearance of rappers is adapting to a more suburban setting as artists such as Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa shift toward more fitted clothing. “[Lil Wayne and Whiz Khalifa] definitely dress a lot more like people [in Mason],” Maguire said. “[Their clothes] are more fitted.”

According to Aguomo, this change in appearance is noticeable in the lyrics also as typical rap topics have changed from one series subjects to another. “[In the 2000s, rap talked about] money and women,” Aguomo said.

“It’s cars and clothes now.”

As issues centered around a suburban lifestyle such as education, clothes and class struggle leap into mainstream rap, Aguomo said that it’s the whip-smart lyrics of today’s best rappers that have made the biggest impression. “[Today’s rappers] think more,” Aguomo said. “Instead of talking about money and girls, [they’re] more in-depth.”

Senior female enters realm of rap Ian Howard | Staff Writer

Rap, once a music genre to promote racial equality, is now going full-circle to promote gender equality, according to senior Nicole Frees.

In mainstream music, female rapper Nicki Minaj has risen to prominence, according to junior Nicole Rojas. Minaj’s photo contributed Nicole Frees and her group Yung n Official. first album appeared in Senior Frees is Yung n Official’s only female rapper.

2010 at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Through female rappers like herself and Nicki Minaj, Frees said women are advancing in hip-hop.

“It’s normal for me [to rap] because I’m big on women being opinionated and empowered,” Frees said. “I think that girls are rising because of Nicki Minaj; everyone wants to be like her.”

Rojas said that she is also a rap fan and that she agrees with Frees that Nicki Minaj has opened doors for other female rappers.

“She’s really expanded the opportunities for women and shown [them] that they have a lot of potential,” Rojas said.

Frees raps for the group Yung n Official, which consists of brothers Phonzie Boi, F.A.M.E., T-Wiz, Hooligan and Petey. Yung n Official has performed for many high-profile acts such as Wiz Khalifa-collaborator Mac Miller, according to Frees. Frees said that she joined the band soon after meeting the two co-founders, Phonzie and F.A.M.E. who are both out of high school.

Frees said the root of Yung n Official’s stage planning success lies in their connection with Sean Herron, the creator of Mad Hatter, a music venue in Covington, Kentucky with a 500-person capacity.

Frees said that this friendship has helped in snagging big shows such as opening with Mac Miller and an initial plan to open for Big Sean.

While Frees is the only female rapper in Yung n Official, she said she thinks her gender difference makes her stick out and have something to work towards as an artist.

“I think [the fact that I am a female rapper] makes [my contribution] special because it’s like [a] spotlight,” Frees said. “[The] group spotlight...[is] kind of on me because I feel pressure[d]…to be even better for the girls that are listening to me.”

The popularity of female rappers taking the spotlight can only rise, according to sophomore Alexa Paridiso. Paridiso said that the basis for this change lies in the male-dominated rap industry’s lack of appeal to the female population. “[Girls] can’t really relate to the guys, but [Minaj] sings about things that I can relate to,” Paridiso said.

While there had been female rappers before Minaj, her heightened prominence has helped her change the rap industry, according to Rojas.

“She’s definitely different [from] a lot of [other] female artists because it seems like [other artists’ careers] are a lot smaller, mostly in features [for other artists’ songs],” Rojas said. “Not only is Minaj in features, but she has her own CDs that are popular.”

Frees said that despite her similarities to Minaj in that they are both female rappers, she is still her own artist.

“People [are] like, ‘Oh, [she’s] kind of like Nicki Minaj,’ and I’m like, ‘No, I’m my own person,’” Frees said. “[An] artist doesn’t want to be compared to [another person], but I think that [Minaj] is a good influence for girls to want to do more [in music] and be involved, and [she lets them know that] they can do it.”

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: I CS

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Criminal Show Investigation Crime investigation television shows vary in accuracy

acters and plot lines that attempt to resemble real crime investigations. Physical Science and Forensics teacher Randy Hubbard said that while shows have to No matter what channel TV watchers turn on, they can always catch a flick with encompass a lot of qualities, overall, they are improving their accuracy to real tons of action, crime scenes and jail time. Each show has a different set of charinvestigations. “[Crime shows are] getting better,” Hubbard said. “At first, [the actors] just “You have to secure the scene,” Hubbard said. “Then you have to take pictures of walked in, picked [evidence] up, and better about showing [the characters] putting the scene, figure out which evidence to collect and then determine what kind of the gloves on and covering their feet. They’re getting better at it, [but] I personally tests you’re going to do on the evidence. Then [you have to] talk to witnesses; try think there’s always going to be some things that really don’t match up [to real to connect people to a particular crime [or] dead people to a victim. A lot of times life].” it’s looking at the victim [and asking yourself,] ‘What kind of crime was it? Was it a Hubbard said that there are certain steps that must take violent crime? Was it a robbery?’ [Looking at] those kinds of things [helps you] to place in a correct crime scene investigation see where the evidence would take you.” that are vital to TV shows that are portraying these scenes.

Julia Halpin | Staff Writer

“Criminal Minds” Junior Annie Clark said that CBS’s “Criminal Minds”, compared to other crime shows, is the most realistic and believable.

“I like that [‘Criminal Minds’] [takes] something that you would never see on a daily basis [and it] makes [the drama] real,” Clark said.

“You would never think anyone in the world could ever do something like that, but then they make [the show] relatable and [you think], ‘Oh my God. That could actually happen.’”

Clark said that even with the shocking plots, “Criminal Minds” is a show that is entirely believable.

“I think that the [plot] idea starts too far out there; then [writers] pull [the plot] back to make it realistic,” Clark said. “You would never think about something [that scary] happening, but the way they do it makes it [seem] like that could easily happen. Just stuff that you wouldn’t think about, but they make it realistic and it kind of scares me.”

In determining which show is the most realistic, Hubbard said that “Criminal Minds” is the one he would vote for. He also said that while “Criminal Minds” is realistic, it still has elements that are not accurate, which can transfer to real court systems.

“I would say ‘Criminal Minds’, for the most part, is probably the best in the fact that it kind of gives you that background in what a FBI agent in that particular field is going to do,” Hubbard said. “But, I do think they make things too Hollywood [like] it’s really causing trouble in court because they ask for jury members, and jury members get selected. A lot of times [the jury] want[s] the evidence

to point directly to somebody or they want it done in a certain amount of time, and realistically, that doesn’t happen.”

According to Clark, even though she sees “Criminal Minds” as the most realistic crime show, she said there is no way to be sure because of our lack of exposure to real crime.

“Every time I watch it I kind of think, ‘Is that how offices are really run?’” Clark said. “What you see on the streets are just Mason cops, you don’t get to see the inside stuff of the CIA, the FBI, so you can’t really know. I think [‘Criminal Minds’ is the most realistic] personally, but that’s just because I love it.”

The courtroom

American History, Psychology and Law and Criminal Justice teacher Jerry Schrock said that while the Hollywood element of crime and court-based TV shows is strong, these shows could never truly recreate the intensity of a court room.

“There is something that is so dramatic about the moment when a jury announces their verdict,” Schrock said. “I’ll never forget the feeling I had when I watched O.J. Simpson stand before a jury and wait to hear the words guilty or innocent. My heart was pounding, thinking to myself, ‘this is reality.

He is waiting to hear if he was going home or to jail.’ In addition, they expose the problems with the legal system... a system which sometimes protects criminals more than victims. Often when a verdict comes back with not guilty, the pressure is too much for a victim’s family and explosions of emotion come out in a courtroom. As much as “Hollywood” tries to recreate this,

Thrillers

Hubbard said that the thrill of the crime shows is the major characteristic that makes them so popular, not the accuracy of them.

“I think it’s the fact that [viewers] watch something that they normally wouldn’t look at,” Hubbard said. “You know a dead body, things like that; things that [the audience] really would never get to see, they kind of get to see on the TV show. Many people like to solve crimes. They like to do the mysteries and things like that. This way they can kind of work through it and, a lot of times, by the end of the show they’re already guessing who did what.”

they just cannot. It’s real-life drama that movies can only attempt to re-create.”

Schrock said that while shows like “48 Hours” are realistic, most others have a large fault that makes them identifiably unrealistic: time. “[‘48 Hours’] is actually based on real life crime cases,” Schrock said. “The problem with most of the other [crime shows] is that they go for the drama of a case more than facts. For example, often times on ‘CSI’ and ‘Law & Order’ they need to solve a case from start to finish in one hour. It often takes three to six months or more to get DNA results back from a lab for local law enforcement agencies. If these shows stuck to this kind of a schedule, many of the viewers would lose interest.”

Along with the time concern of current crime shows, Schrock said that when court-based shows include jury verdicts, it automatically makes them unrealistic.

“Less than one percent of all crimes end with a jury verdict,” Schrock said. “Nearly all of them are pled out to lesser charges. This becomes very unpopular with the public, so it again isn’t what’s shown on television shows that need viewers. That is probably the most unrealistic part of these shows.”

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Skydiver, Skyline-eater, Hyatt has been with class of 2011 for six years

Assistant Principal Dave Hyatt experiences “fruit of his labor” Janie Simonton | Staff Writer

He can be spotted most days in the small commons, patrolling the area during lunch. But his movement isn’t limited to that area -- he’s followed the senior class for the last six years.

Assistant Principal Dave Hyatt said he began working in the Mason district in 1997, and six of those fourteen years have been spent with the class of 2011. “[I] came to Mason as a middle school physical education teacher [and]…athletic director,” Hyatt said. “I [then] went from there to work in the high school athletic department…and following that position, I went [back] to the middle school as an assistant principal, then came back to the high school [at the same time the current senior class started as freshmen to serve] as an assistant principal.”

According to Hyatt, the longevity of his time with the senior class has influenced his relationship with its members. “[Watching the current seniors grow has been] a rewarding experience for me. …[I get to] watch some of our kids change from just little boys [and girls] to responsible young men [and women],” Hyatt said.

“Typically, we’re pretty isolated [in this district]… [because we only] work…one year here or…there, [which makes it hard to get to know the kids as well].

You don’t get to see six years of growth in one group of kids. It’s been really neat.”

Seeing the success and ideas of students he’s followed is something Hyatt said he also attributes to his long-running relationship with the senior class.

“We just awarded a kid who is a senior this year that I’ve worked with for six years an award through the American Legion for the American…government test,” Hyatt said. “It’s really interesting to see those things, [because I got to see that student grow from a much earlier age to achieve this accomplishment]. ...[Also,] we give students a lot of say in the things we do, and I enjoy listening to students, because they come up with some really wild ideas sometimes.”

Hyatt said that remaining around the same kids for such an extended length of time is something he feels all teachers should experience.

“I think every teacher should have the opportunity to experience what I’m experiencing now,” Hyatt said.

“Whether it’s the middle school teachers or the intermediate [teachers], [I think they should] come back and see you guys, because…only then can they see the fruits of their labor, and I think that’s important for us as educators to seek.”

If you were skydiving, and you realized partway through that your parachute wasn’t going to open, what memories would flash through your mind?

What is the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?

“Coffee. I have a coffee…addiction. I don’t know if it’s something I’ve grown up with, but I started drinking coffee earlier than I should have. [Brand] really doesn’t matter. I’ve never had a bad cup of coffee.”

“[I have a] funny story [about this]. I was skydiving (actually I was static-line jumping, which is [slightly] different [from] skydiving), but when I jumped out of the plane, my parachute did tangle, and I did have to unravel it, so many things came to mind. But I’m not sure that when you deal with emergency or crisis situations, you take time to reflect on your entire life or you see your life flash before you.”

If you could be any age, what would it be and why?

“I would love to be 18 again. I’ve thought about that a lot; I had a tremendous high school experience, [and I] obviously didn’t have all the resources and things we have here in Mason, but…I think I had great mentors in high school.”

If you could only eat one meal from the Mason cafeteria for the rest of your life, what would it be any why?

“People that know me would probably know it’s…the Skyline hot dogs on Wednesdays. [I’m] very Ohio-rooted.”

Ohio State or Michigan?

“It’s not even a question. We live here in Ohio; we grow up in Ohio; we’re definitely the Buckeyes.”

If you could only see black, white and one other color, what would the other color be and why?

“Well, being at Mason for fourteen years, I would probably say green. It’s something I think as you learn more about traditions and culture and history in Mason, talked to people like Coach Richards or Coach Popplewell, that green comes to mind.”

Which class that you took in high school was the most beneficial?

“‘Bachelor Survival’ was [a class for] only for young men. We had to learn to sew, …cook and … wash clothes. It was just a quarter-long class, but every guy had to take it [his] senior year, and it was absolutely great for us. We really enjoyed it, learned a lot, had a chance just as guys to sit in class and talk, so it was a great class for me. Not that’s it’s the most important as far as carrying that over into college days, but it was great exposure to a different content that I think a lot of kids don’t get.”

photo by Janie Simonton

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15 inches

of fame

photo contributed

With over 3,000 students at Mason High School, it’s easy to get lost in the masses. But senior Jordan Karim decided to use the size of his class to his advantage when he jokingly dressed up as Waldo, the character always seeked by readers in the book, “Where’s Waldo,” for the senior class picture.

Why did you dress up as Waldo?

“It was for a senior class photo, so I thought I’d wear something funny and [the costume] was fun to wear to school because people say I look like him anyway.”

Do people refer to you as the “Where’s Waldo” guy?

“Yeah, they do, and I just think it’s funny.”

Will you ever dress up as Waldo again?”

“Not for school. Maybe as a joke, but I won’t again for school.”

What is your top college pick and intended major?

“I’d have to say [The Ohio State University], and I’ll probably major in Mechanical Engineering.”

What class at MHS has helped you the most?

“I would say AP Physics. It isn’t as impossible as everyone says it is and it was actually a lot of fun.”

Favorite type of soup?

“Clam chowder.”

What’s your dream car?

“Realistically or unrealistically? Well, I’d have to say my dream car is an Infiniti G37S.” What is your biggest pet peeve?

“My biggest pet peeve is when people don’t clean their cars.”

If you could dye your hair any color, what color would you dye it?

“I don’t usually think about that. Maybe a light brown, just to try it out.”

If you could move anywhere in the world, where would you go?

“California, because that’s where I was born and because it’s warm.”

Favorite childhood show or movie?

“The ‘Home Alone’ movies. That was my favorite series.”

-compiled by Janica Kaneshiro

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

Down on The Farm

Farming a student business

Miranda Carney | Staff Writer

Several students are raising and selling animals as businesses, according to junior Steven Erbeck, who raises two pigs on his large family farm.

Erbeck, who has lived on a farm his whole life, said that raising animals is an easier way to make lots of money and that raising livestock comes with many benefits, such as going to the Warren County Fair.

“Honestly, [I raise pigs] to make profit,” Erbeck said. “It’s having fun too, and getting the experience of the fair, [but] your main goal is to make money. In the end, basically, you’re making anywhere from $500 to $1,000 a year on both pigs. It’s like a job.”

Dedicating an hour or two a day to his animals is nothing compared to working a regular job, according to Erbeck. He said it is nice to make money off something he enjoys doing.

“It’s sort of like a business,” Erbeck said. “I mean, you’re not going to a nine to five job so it’s not as difficult, but you do have to do some dirty work like cleaning up the animal’s stuff and just making their pen. [I like] the fact that I don’t have to get a job. I’m making money this summer just by [raising pigs], and that’s not a lot of hours that I put into it [compared to the hours] a regular job would [require].”

Freshman Kelley Hammeran said she used to raise sheep and pigs on her farm, but she now leases a llama and breeds rabbits in her backyard to sell them for profit. “[Raising] rabbits [is] like a business because you do make profit [from] selling the babies to families,” Hammeran said. “With the money I raise, I either save it or put it back into having more rabbits.”

Freshman Nicole Hartshorn also raises llamas, but this year, she said she has decided to breed one of her llamas. Llamas have certain qualities about their outside coat which makes both the llama and its fiber or wool worth more or less.

“If [the llama baby] has regular fiber, they could sell from $500 and above,” Hartshorn said. “If they have Suri fiber, because [I] bred her with a Suri male, it could sell from $1,000 and above. If your llama has good fiber, you can sell the fiber by the ounce.”

Hartshorn agrees that the best part of raising livestock is going to the Warren County Fair and putting her llama on exhibit so others can learn about it.

“At [the Warren County] fair, you have to take the llamas out twice a day to get them exercise and you have to clean their stalls out and make sure they have fresh food and water,” Hartshorn said. “For showing them, you have showmanship which is where [a judge] judges you.”

Junior Austin Jackson said that raising rabbits for meat and taking them to fair has been one of the most valuable experiences he has had.

“I [raise] rabbits because I live in town and [I] sell them at the fair,” Jackson said. “I have New Zealand’s, which are meat rabbits, and I

photos contributed

Freshman Kelly Hammeran with her llama on her farm.

have Holland Lops, which are like fancy rabbits. It’s like a business because you have to take care of all your stuff everyday and you spend money. If we really got into breeding we could really start making a lot of money. It’s pretty profitable.”

Although Jackson said it is easy to get attached to the rabbits, he said they must be treated very differently from pets and he considers them projects.

“I do not name [the meat rabbits] because you are getting rid of them in three to four months,” Jackson said. “You still get attached to them but you know that at the end they are going to leave. It’s enjoyable but it’s not like keeping a family dog. It is more of a project than a pet because you are doing your best to feed it right and watch its weight and make sure everything’s good so when you take it you can sell it and have a quality product at the end.”

Erbeck said he started to raise animals in third grade when he could join his local 4-H Club, which is a youth organization where kids can raise and show animals, as well as do other projects. His dad and sister also raised animals and got him interested in farm life at an early age. Erbeck considers it unique that he lives on a farm. “[Living on a farm] is a different experience,” Erbeck said. “Sometimes I wish I lived in a neighborhood, but it’s fun. [We have] a barn far enough away so it does not smell. I usually just go over in the morning and make sure [the pigs] have their feed and it’s like a self-feeder so basically they can get food whenever they want.”

Hammeran said she agrees that living on a farm and raising animals comes with certain benefits that most people don’t get to experience. According to Hammeran, raising animals in Mason is like getting to have two different sides to her life.

“I think that I know a lot more about different aspects of life because not many people in Mason do 4-H,” Hammeran said. “When we moved here it was farmland. I think it’s nice because I get the best of both worlds. I get to go to fair and see all of the countryside, as well as having the suburban life.”

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