The Chronicle, 8.8

William Mason High School

The Chronicle Volume 8

Friday, May 20, 2011 Issue 8

School News Generation of current teens deals with the repercussions of war The current generation of young people has been immersed in the War on Terrorism for a decade.

As a result, students do not know a time of an absence of war like previous generations that have been immersed in domestic and overseas conflicts. In addition, students about to enter the military will experience increased military standards because of the withdrawl of troops in Iraq and future withdrawl from Afghanistan.

Now, with family members and peers going into the military, students have reacted patriotically, but could still lack the awareness of war’s reality.

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Heard it in the halls Run, Walk and Roll tomorrow

the world will

end

One of many apocalyptic theories prophesizes end of the world on May 21, 2011 see page 19 photo art by Jami Bechard

Tomorrow, the Mason Parks and Recreation Foundation will be hosting the third annual Run, Walk and Roll event.

The event, which will include= a fivekilometer run and a one-mile walk, will benefit the building of Mason’s Common Ground Park. The park will have an inclusive playground which allows all children, regardless of mental or physical disabilities, to play.

Beginning at 9 a.m., the event will include face-painting, a live DJ and games.

The event will take place at Corwin M. Nixon Park and Pine Hill Lakes Park.

Mason Community Center to host 5K run on June 5 Mason Community Center will host the 5K Run & Sun event on June 5. Participants will be able to either run or walk a five-kilometer path Pine Hill Lakes Park and Corwin M. Nixon Park.

There is a registration fee of $15 for youth and $30 for adults.

The fee also includes food and pool admission to the Lou Eves Municipal Pool.

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

Former MHS teacher, student leave country to work on Libyan broadcast tion to her country. not shoot me; you cannot bomb me,’” Kablan said. “So I “It’s really important [that we’re here] because even responded back on [the news network] Al Jazeera that, yes, Former English Language Learners teacher Shahrazad though I’m young, I’m still helping out with a lot and they we will not do that. We will not poison you; we will not Kablan picked up and moved to Doha, Qatar in March need all the help they can get,” Bugazia said. “It’s the least shoot you; we will not bomb you; but we will YouTube you, to begin her job as a host of a freedom broadcast show, we can do to help the people of Libya get the freedom they we will Tweet you and we will Facebook you, and that’s defending her native country of Libya in the midst of the deserve and the freedom we have in America.” exactly what we’re doing.” revolution. Kablan brought her daughter, Miriam Bugazia, The social media, which is responsible for spreading the Despite the less than ideal conditions that the Libyan a former sophomore at Mason High School, with her to word on the revolution through anchors like Kablan, is people are fighting with, Kablan said she is optimistic for a the Middle East. Bugazia said she no longer attends school, what has brought the revolution to the world’s attention. brighter future. instead working at the news station daily.

Social media is what will also see the revolution to through “[We] don’t have bombs; [we] are not military, [we] are Though Kablan originally moved from Libya as a young to the end, according to Kablan. just young people who are revolting for freedom and wishadult to escape the brutality of dictator Muammar Gad“Gaddafi came out and he said, ‘You cannot poison ing for a better future,” Kablan said. “So, [social media] is dafi’s regime and gain freedom that is offered in America, me; you canour weapon, and we will use it.” she said she has now moved back to the Middle East in hopes of seeing her people achieve the same freedom.

“Libya has been ruled for 42 years by Muammar Gaddafi,” Kablan said. “The reason we moved back is that, on February 17, a revolution started to end a dictatorship. Now we are participating in this revolution, because [Libyans are] getting [their] freedom back.”

Kablan is the first female to host a freedom show for the Freedom Press, a network specific to the goal of freedom in Libya. She was offered the job by the photos contributed From left: former English Language Learners teacher Shahrazad Kablan publishes daily columns on the website English.Libya.TV; Kablan is currently a Freedom Press network soon presenter of the daily show, “Libya: The People,” on Libya TV. after the outbreak of revolution in February, despite her lack of previous experience.

Kablan hosts an hour-long nightly show called “Libya: The People,” where she takes calls from people directly affected by the Julia Halpin | Staff Writer tendee of the voluntary meeting with topic, there’s going to be some [uncomconflict. The Freedom Press network -- Libya’s Walton, said she views the meeting as a fortable aspects] to it,” McCarty-Stewart first in 42 years -- airs 12 hours a day. Because Senior Tyler Walton led a discussion “step in the right direction,” and hopes said. “[That’s] the whole reason why we her job entails speaking out against the about sexual orientation and gender iden- that all of staff will have the opportunity have to have formal sessions -- to open up infamous dictator, Kablan and the Freedom tity with the Mason High School staff on to hear the information that Walton the dialogue, to invite people in, to help Press headquarters aren’t located immediately April 20. Through a question-and-answer presented. to break those barriers.” in Libya, so as to lessen the threat of harm session, Walton, who said he identifies “I definitely think [the staff] learned Being a part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, from Gaddafi and his forces. She said her job himself as bisexual, shared his story of [from the meeting],” Holmes said. “I transgender community himself, accordchanges daily, but a few daily duties remain coming out, along with advice helping think you couldn’t leave that meeting ing to Walton, his own experience of the same. students who may be in the closet. without learning something about what coming out helps him understand what “[As] an anchor, I’m actually speaking with The goal of this presentation, accordit feels like to be a student in school who’s other students are going through. Walton people every night,” Kablan said. “[‘Libya: The ing to Walton, was to help the MHS staff gay, or bisexual or transgender.” also said that denial of a person’s true sexPeople’ is] a show where people report from be more aware of the issues homosexual Though discussing sexual orientation ual orientation is what makes coming out back home with their ideas and tell us what’s or transgender students could face, and and gender identity may be uncomfor homosexual or transgender students going on, so it’s a first-hand account of the therefore, be more capable of helping so difficult in their high school years. situation in Libya.” them through those issues.

Bugazia helps her mother through her daily duties, but instead of being in front of the camera, most of her work is done behind it.

“I’m not in school; I’m just working here at the station,” Bugazia said. “Mainly, I work for the [network’s accompanying] website, so I go in everyday. …Sometimes, I write an article, but usually I’m just doing research. …

Sometimes, I work in production. I help with the videos or I sit and just learn. Basically, whatever work [is] lying around, I do it.”

Kablan said she knows that with Gaddafi’s way of killing off people who speak against him, both she and Bugazia are in imminent danger with her position as news anchor with the Freedom Press network.

“Anyone who speaks against Gaddafi is put on a hit list and Gaddafi has done this before,” Kablan said. “He has killed people outside of the country just for speaking against him and this has been done for years. …The minute we’re involved in any work like this, we know that we are in danger -- especially myself, “[My presentation was] primarily a disbecause I’m on TV every night; [Gaddafi] cussion over sexual orientation,” Walton “I came out as a sophomore,” Walton photos by Julia Halpin knows my name.” said. “I want[ed] to educate the staff on said.

“For me, [when I realized I was On April 20, senior Tyler Walton gave a preKablan said the danger is worth it because a bunch of different terms that they may sentation to Mason High School staff address- bisexual] I was thinking, ‘I’m going to go she believes Libyans’ liberation is invaluable. ing the possible struggles that transgender, or may not [have] already know[n]. …I to hell, I don’t deserve to live.’ …After you “I know that I am putting myself and my gay, lesbian or bisexual students may face. want[ed] [teachers] to be able to underrealize that you are [homosexual or transfamily in jeopardy and danger, but we’re stand what students are going through… gender], you don’t want to be…but after willing to go through the sacrifice for Libya [that] may be in the closet and [are] fortable, according to Principal Mindy so long [being in denial] really breaks and for freedom,” Kablan said. “I’m not better trying to deal with coming out. …For the McCarty-Stewart, this discussion between down on you, especially when you’re in a than anybody who has been killed during this staff to have a better understanding of Walton and staff will help make the topic society that tells you that you’re wrong.” revolution.” that place allows it to help those students” easier to talk about in the future.

Bugazia said that she also feels that the danMath teacher Katie Holmes, an at“I think any time you talk about this ger is worthwhile because she feels a dedicaJanica Kaneshiro | Staff Writer

Sexuality, gender identity issues addressed at staff meeting

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

Ten years of war Generation surrounded by war reacts patriotically

Enlisted seniors faced with higher military standards Beena Raghavendran | Associate Editor

It has been ten years since 9/11. The falling of the Twin Towers from news clips, then, is one of this group of high school students’ first memories.

But this generation’s proximity to war and conflict throughout childhood is nothing new in America, according to U.S. Army Sergeant James Leitelt.

“Every generation has [its] wars,” Leitelt said. “[This] generation currently has the war on terrorism. [In] my generation, we had Iran, we had Somalia, we had Panama; ...our parents [had] Vietnam [and] Korea, [our] grandparents had [the] World Wars, and it just goes back. So, to specifically point out this generation as being a generation of war -- I wouldn’t label it that way.”

Though students have grown up in a world

Military families exhibit passion, patriotism for armed forces enlistment Megan McCormack | Staff Writer

U.S. involvement in the War in Iraq for ten years now immersed current teenagers in war which makes them more passionate about the military, according to junior Annie Clark.

“There’s definitely more passion [for the military],” Clark said. “You…realize how many people…do care and I think a lot of people are going to want to go [into the military] just because of this war. …They’ve grown up with it and it’s what they know.”

Interest in enlistment Social studies teacher Darin Little said after 9/11, he saw an increase in student interest about the military.

“After 9/11...a larger percentage of our kids… starting to be interested in getting involved in the service,” Little said. “[At] Mason, …most of our students have intentions [of]…going to college; compared to…other schools you [won’t] see a large percent of our population go towards the military.

But I did see, because of 9/11, a heightened interest in going into [the military].”

Little said that more students decided to go into the service because of the threat to American security.

“After 9/11, …people realized an increased threat to our way of life,” Little said. “And one of the ways in which to protect…that was through increasing our military involvement overseas.”

“Every generation has its wars,” Leitelt said. where war has always been present, assistant principal William Rice said that students are not as spurred by 9/11 to enlist today as they were a decade ago.

In fact, Rice said that Mason High School’s enlisting statistics for the class of 2011 are slightly lower than those of the class of 2010.

“If you just look at our [school’s] statistics [of enlistment], ...we’re actually down this year as opposed to last,” Rice said. “Last year, we were up a little bit, but this year, officially, we only have seven [enlisting, as of] right now.”

Standards for joining the military are increasing, according to senior Olivia Mendoza, who is enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. Leitelt said the reason for the tighter standards is because of a decreasing demand for troops overseas.

“In the Air Force in 2008, training was only six and a half weeks, and now it’s eight and a half weeks,” Mendoza said. “I think [the military] just want[s] people...to be prepared and just have the right training to do their jobs.”

Combatting the average enlistment, Leitelt said, is this generation’s above-average involvement in the conflict overseas when compared to the generational reactions of students in eras such as the Vietnam War. “Now, schools are sending out letters...[and] care packages, [and] the students are getting involved because they want to, not because they have to,” Leitelt said.

However, though this generation is on the whole familiar with the concept of war, society’s reaction to the war -- even after ten years of conflict -- is a disconnection when it comes to actualities overseas, Rice said.

“Wars that we’ve seen before [were] societal change[s]; [they were] war[s] as much on the home front, in terms of your economy shifting to fight the war,” Rice said. “With Vietnam, we saw such a movement to get out of that war, and a generation that was empowered to speak out against that war. And this one is just quietly being fought, even though we have a couple hundred thousand men and women that are serving in it in two different battlefronts.”

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A military family Senior Maria Rodriguez, whose mother, father, brother and herself are in the Army, said that less high school students want to enlist because of fear.

However, Rodriguez also said that younger kids say they want to go into the military. “Younger generations…are saying they want to [enlist],” Rodriguez said. “[My younger siblings] say that [they want to] and I think that’s because they’ve grown up with it.

We don’t know anything else but military. I’m also in Teacher Academy and [the kids] will read books about Iraq and say that they’re interested in joining the Army.”

According to Junior Maggie West, having a sibling in the military has made her think more about enlisting.

“I can see how people would try to get more involved in [the military],” West said.

According to Clark, this war has made people more aware of war in general, but some people are still ignorant.

“I wasn’t even sure [about what the war was about] until my brother told me,” Clark said. “[The

“People...do care and I think a lot of people are going to want to go [into the military] just because of this war,” Clark said. “They’ve grown up with it and it’s what they know.”

War in Iraq has] made us realize more, …we’re smarter about [wars]. But there are people who are [still] naïve to what’s going on [overseas]. People think [it’s about] specifically 9/11, but there are so many other things that are going on over there.”

An increased awareness

from top, from left: photo contributed by Maggie West, photo by Beena Raghavendran photo by Beena Raghavendran, photo contributed by Annie Clark, photo by Megan McCormack

From top, from left: junior Maggie West hugs her brother before he leaves for the Army; Sergeant James Leitelt of the U.S. Army has traveled to multiple parts of Iraq and experienced the first democratic elections there; the Mason Veterans Memorial displays the casualties of wars proportional to one another, from most recent wars to most historic; junior Annie Clark hugs her brother the night before he leaves for the U.S. Army Special Forces (or the Green Beret); a photo display at the front of Mason High School honoring recent graduates who are serving in the military.

According to Little, this war has made our country realize that it needs a stronger defense system.

“You have to realize that our country needs to have a strong defense system,” Little said. “Our government [needs to] play a positive role around the world.”

Clark said that the war has made her family rely on each other more.

“I was always the kind of person when everyone was upset about it, I…was perfectly fine,” Clark said. “So, I was the person that everyone relied on…and then one day I just broke down and…we all realized that we were all really upset.”

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011 PAGE 5 | C

Community input considered in process of selecting new superintendent Rebekah Barnes | Staff Writer

Mason City Schools’ Board of Education has begun listening to community input through community forums as it searches for the next superintendent. The board is looking towards implementing more outlets for Mason community members to voice opinions in the future, according to Mason City Schools’ Board of Education President Debbie Delp.

With Mason City Schools Superintendent Kevin Bright leaving the district on July 31, the board held a community forum on April 26 for residents to give feedback about what they are looking for in a superintendent.

The board also uploaded an online survey for community members to fill out and give opinions on the next superintendent. On April 27, various Human Resources (HR) experts for companies in the area were asked by the board to give their perspectives on the board’s search to fill the position, according to Delp.

Delp said that each opportunity for community input has helped the board to search for the superintendent.

“The public forum and survey have given us direction, [and] the community HR forum [has] helped us understand some of the fine points of the process,” Delp said.

While the board is working toward creating a process to fill the position, they conducted the community forum, which had eight community members in attendance. One of the eight was Social Studies teacher Darin Little said that he was shocked at the lack of members of the Mason community.

Susan Melcher, Mason resident and mother of four students in the district, said that while she appreciates these opportunities, she doesn’t think the board will listen to all opinions in order to make

their final decision. “[The board members] are my elected officials, so therefore, I have to trust what they do,” Melcher said. “I may not agree with everything they say, but I trust that they’re going to make the right decision.”

Delp said that the board is hoping to incorporate these types of forums and opportunities in the future for district-wide decisions. While they are planned, Little said he believes the community must take the opportunities given in the future if they are going to discuss decisions made by the board.

However, with the opportunities for community input, Delp said that the board will make the decision in the end.

“Ultimately, the decision must be made by the board,” Delp said. “A school board has two major responsibilities: to hire the superintendent and treasurer, and to set policy for the district.”

C NOTES • 403 individuals completed the Superintendent Search Survey, conducted by Mason City Schools’ Board of Education • Valued qualities, as indicated by the survey, include a reputation for integrity (55 percent), a visionary leader (48 percent) and an excellent communicator (48 percent) • The board will start reviewing applications and interviewing prospective superintendents starting June 11

photo by Rebekah Barnes

At the April 27 meeting, (from left) Human Resources representatives Renee Collins-Vogler, Kate Olsen and Mason City Schools’ Board of Education President Debbie Delp discussed the process of naming a new superintendent.

Grace Chapel student ministry focuses on science, sustainability Ian Howard | Staff Writer

From top: photo contributed, photo by Ian Howard, photo

by Ian Howard

From top: sustainability efforts set up by Self-Sustaining Enterprise in Nos, Nigeria; Grace Chapel’s aquaponics systems set up at H.J. Benkins’ Florist and Greenhouse

With its student-led humanitarian efforts, Grace Chapel in Mason is unafraid to incorporate science into church, according to Senior Pastor Jeff Greer.

Behind the ministry’s humanitarian initiatives abroad and in urban areas are two non-profit organizations, Back 2 Back Ministries and Self-Sustaining Enterprise, according to Greer. Self-Sustaining Enterprise sends workers to set up and train locals how to operate them aquaponics systems, which are systems of symbiotic fish farming and vegetable growing. According to Greer, Grace Chapel hopes to incorporate this into student mission trips later.

The typical response of humanitarian efforts is to simply send money, Greer said, but through scientific developments such as aquaponics, the church can create jobs in Nigeria and Mexico.

“Our church is not the normal traditional church,” Greer said. “From my perspective, [aquaponics systems are] as much godly as anything else.

This [effort] isn’t secular, this is sacred; this is right thing to do.”

Junior Hailey Bollinger, a student in the ministry, said that the church’s efforts are not typical. The difference transcends ideologies into the church’s efforts abroad, according to Bollinger.

“I was really interested in the group because instead of just going out and talking about helping people, we’re actually doing a long-term kind of process,” Bollinger said. “We’re giving communities benefits that are going to help them long-term.”

Aquaponics already form impor-

“[Students are] using their minds and they’re coming to church; they’re talking about science, they’re talking about biology,” Greer said.

tant mainstays in Nigeria and a more compact urban method is in the making, according to Greer. The relatively new method of self-sufficiency can provide jobs for third world countries, as well as food, Greer said, which is why the church supports it.

Grace Chapel has its own small model of aquaponics processes, made up of fish tanks sitting next to rows of cabbage floating on a smaller elevated trough. Greer said thtat when he feeds the fish, a group of electric pumps sends the water up to the higher trough via tube. Then the feces of the fish fertilize the cabbage as the pebbles at the bottom of the trough filter the water providing fresh waste-free water falling back down to the fish. Greer said that the purpose of the aquaponic system model at the church is to inspire children.

Environmentalism is also a key staple in mixing science with faith, according to Greer. Greer said that the student group plans to create a house in Mason that is a model of

self-sufficiency. The house, which Greer said will be painted symbolically green, is a foot forward in the involvement of students with the church’s effort.

“The environmental movement is not a secular endeavor,” Greer said. “As Christians, we are called to take care of the environment.

So why not create something where students can come and do projects that they could not do anywhere else?”

Although Bollinger said that there are specialized professionals that help most of the ideas and initiative come from the students.

“It’s definitely a student group, but there’s the youth ministers and some other people that are helping us out that have specialties in certain areas,” Bollinger said. “We’ve got a guy that knows everything about gardening and growing crops. It’s basically the students coming up with the ideas.”

Learning the occupations of people in his flock, Greer said that he can utilize the talents of many different industries such as electrical engineering in researching solar power for the house and businessmen to teach Nigerians. Through Grace Chapel’s many unconventional methods inspiration of future generations at the church is a major priority, according to Greer.

“There will be students in here that will rebuild this system [of aquaponics and improve it] because they have a scientific mind and they’ve been engrossed in it so they’ll know how to do it,” Greer said.

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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, MAY 20, 2011

Editorial Cartoon

Staff Editorial

Letters to the Editor

Military career requires increasing qualifications

Increase of Subways will not affect eating habits

There’s a list of things a student can do after receiving that sought-after high school diploma: attend a four-year college, a technical school or enter the job market. Sometimes the military is not even considered.

Since the Vietnam days depicted in movies like “Across the Universe” with women waving off their newly-drafted, freshfaced 18-year-old soldiers, the idea of entering the military after a high school education has changed.

The fact remains that military service is highly respected throughout the United States, which is made obvious by the increase of “Support Our Troops” stickers since 9/11. But entering the military has become more of a professional career since the “‘Nam” days of drafting. It has turned into more of a distinguished job rather than simply a temporary “service.”

Most universities offer Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) scholarships among merit scholarships and other academic-based scholarships, a testification to its elevation in status. At ROTC schools, college men and women train for the military, completing push-up tests and obstacle courses while studying for finals for their selected major.

Besides the standards of the individuals, the military itself has even upped its general recruitments in recent years. Boys can no longer drop out of high school to become an officer, even if they are 18. According to GoArmy.com, all applicants must have a high school degree or an equivalent (GED) in order to even apply to become an officer, and a vast majority of soldiers earn a degree in college that enhances their militaristic skills such a business, history, or logistics.

An article on ArmyTimes.com said that there are to be standards in place for incoming soldiers mandating that they take Structured Self Development classes (SSD) to earn a degree while training. This new requirement was set in place as of early November, 2010. In the earlier days of military service, education and military seemed to be on opposite ends of the spectrum, but as time has continued, their meanings became synonymous.

The image of the gung-ho American teen lying about his age to enter the First World War’s doomed ranks, however noble it may be, is long gone. Today’s alternative, no less noble by any means, is that of a man or woman who has chosen a distinguished profession in the sea of other majors at college.

Even though Subway has passed McDonalds in chains worldwide, I don’t think that this will affect how people eat.

Just because there are more Subways doesn’t mean that people will choose to go to them. ...It will take a lot more Subways’ advertising to change people’s minds about where they eat.

-Ben Niswander, freshman

Attention should shift to school lunch choices Instead of talking about how Subway has taken over McDonalds in numbers of restaurants worldwide, we should be [concerned with the] food served in our schools and how it influences our students’ health. Many of us are overweight, especially teenagers. ...Some choices kids make can be the same as going to McDonalds or Subway. I know that everyone loves fries and pizza for lunch, but that shouldn’t be [an] option for school. I believe that little changes in our school can make a big difference and maybe kids will even learn better eating habits, too.

-Allie Rodriguez, freshman

Email feedback.chronicle@gmail.com

to have your voice heard.

Parents a factor in academic motivation, success Girls are more motivated to do well in school, and boys aren’t as much. ...It has something to do with [a student’s] home life, because if [students] have stricter parents, [they] are more likely to care about grades. I know with my parents, they put pressure on me to do well in school, so that’s mostly what motivates me.

-Lindsay Thomas, freshman

Converse an increasingly popular fashion choice What was once a sporty basketball shoe became known as punk-rock clothing attire. I say that Converse…are high-class style because they are worn by celebrities, athletes and musicians. Getting in touch with MHS’s style was the right thing to do for this…issue. It seems like the shoe is coming back, and is being worn by every clique at Mason High School.

-Hunter Burress, freshman

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

C OPINION Column

Although cliché, “shoot for the stars”

Janica Kaneshiro | Staff Writer

I’m tired of being told what I can’t do.

Ever reminisce about the toddler days when great-aunt Sue asked you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I do. I answered in a variety of ways of course, like all young kids, from “I want to be President” to “I want to be an astronaut.” Actually, if I look back on what I wanted to be, even in the sixth grade, my answer was, “I want to be an astronomer.” What? I don’t even consider that now as a career option. That just seems beyond me, or so I’ve been told.

Now, as a junior in high school, I’ve come to accept that I will never be any of those things. I will never get into Yale like Rory Gilmore did and I probably won’t discover a new star anytime soon. Thinking back on dreams lost is just depressing. But, honestly, what’s keeping me from that adolescent optimism?

So what if I didn’t get a perfect ACT score; does that mean that my biggest hopes for myself are out the window? Does College Board really get to determine the outcome of my life? Up until recently, I thought so, too.

But looking back, I believed with every fiber of my being that the title of President would one day be attached to my name and that one

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day my everyday-job life would include star-gazing. As ridiculous as those aspirations sound, without big dreams, I wouldn’t have had the drive to get this far.

I’m not sure if I would have made it to where I am now if on every student sheet in elementary school I wrote down “corporate business woman” on my paper for my “dream job.” There’s nothing wrong with getting a reality check and realizing that not every fiveyear-old saying they will one day be the president actually will be.

But listen to that deeply unoriginal yet synonymous message in every inspirational movie you’ve ever seen: you can’t go through life settling. You will only be regular if you accept yourself as regular.

So why not dream big?

Yeah, you’ve heard it before, and I, like everyone else, roll my eyes when my grandparents send me cards that say “shoot for the stars” in glittery pink bubble letters. And yet, paradoxically, our parents sit at the dinner table and talk about how much they hate their jobs because their jobs fell short of their childhood dreams.

Now, in these times, a job’s a job, but if I’m going to be a corporate businesswoman I might as well be the corporate businesswoman and approach the future with the same zest I did when I was answering dear Aunt Sue at the tender age of five.

Limits are for people willing to settle; personally, I’m not willing to settle. So I’m going to look forward to college with the mindset of my five-year-old self. Take that, College -- Board, you could still be looking at the first president with a major in astronomy.

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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

Life exists outside of MHS; explore it

Julia Halpin | Staff Writer

“What did you get on your ACT?” “Did you see those pictures on Facebook from last weekend?”

“Can you believe they broke up?”

To all of the gossipers, Facebook stalkers, girly cliques and cocky guys, I just have one small request.

Stop. Stop thinking that every second spent in the classrooms, fields or cafeterias of Mason High School is the pinnacle of your life. Despite the excitement of hallway gossip and the importance of good grades, there’s an entire world out there outside of little old Mason.

And we have to realize that.

I fall victim to that same type of thinking. I obsess over my grades; too many Bs won’t get me into any highly-ranked Journalism college. I compare myself to other girls who seamlessly strut into school every morning like they just walked off the set of a Herbal Essence commercial; how do they do that? I’ve experienced the excitement of the he-said-she-said that everyone’s buzzing about, and I get it.

Prom dates are life-changing, SAT scores determine my self-worth and school ranking is critical to success.

Wrong.

After we run our last track meet, experience our last high school fling and have our final “girls night out,” what’s left of us?

By consuming ourselves in our high school world, we subconsciously stop caring about anything else. Big things are happening in our world, country, even state, and most of us are too lost in the stream of homework assignments and Friday nights to notice.

Out there lies the real world, where fullscale revolutions are taking place, where diseases are being researched and cured and where technology is being advanced day after day.

I want to be able to experience something ten times larger than the world of MHS. I want to travel to places where I don’t know the common language, eat foreign food that may or may not taste disgusting and talk to people who I have absolutely nothing in common with.

I hope that we all can expand our thinking outside of the brick walls that make up this school. Bigger than ourselves, our circle of friends and our schedules is a world that will teach us lessons that won’t be taught in Math class.

These four years of our lives don’t define us as human beings, and however dramatic a Facebook status may seem, there’s a world out there bigger than our social lives and GPAs. Go live in it.

W h at Y o u T h i n k “Regardless of how much we want to say that the people matter, a lot of people don’t even know what’s going on half the time when they’re making their decision.

[Like] when we vote, [we] don’t really [know] what’s on the ballot. ...Unless... [a candidate’s] qualifications and different information about his background [are put out], then the public opinion really isn’t relevant.”

Nazz Brandon, junior

Should public input regarding a new superintendent be considered as much as the school board’s opinion?

“The public opinion should definitely have a say in it because ultimately, the school board is serving us, so therefore we should have input [on] the next superintendent.”

Sohum Talreja, sophomore

“The levy failed probably because of [the leadership of] Kevin Bright, so we should probably pick the superintendent or at least have an opinion ...rather than just [letting the school board decide for itself].”

Mackenzie Rich, sophomore

“The school board probably knows what is best for the school and the public elects the school board [members]. [The public has its] say in [choosing a new superintendent] that way.”

Chris Rupp, senior

“The public opinion should weigh more because the decision is made for the public.

We are a public school system.”

Andrew Morin, junior

“The public [is] sending [its] kids to this school, so [it wants] to pick somebody who [it] feel[s] comfortable with their kids learning under. While the school board should have some say in it, I don’t think it should be solely [its] decision because the ones paying the bill are the [parents], and that’s who it affects the most.”

Jon Gruseck, senior

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

SPORTS C

Representin’ the

PAGE 9 | C

Head basketball coach Greg Richards was awarded the 2011 Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity award by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association. Richards has been the head boys’ basketball coach for 16 years.

it’s going, going,

gone

TEAM

TRACKER

Varsity girls’ lacrosse

photo by Katelyn Cain

The Mason girls’ lacrosse team finished the regular seaon with a record of 9-5-2, as of May 12. The season has been a historic one with the team getting the hundreth program win and beating rival Sycamore. The team is ranked tenth in the state going into the state playoffs.

Senior Kristy Dezenzo said that the team is looking forward to a deep playoff run.

“This year we got a great seed and we hope to use that as a advantage to go far in the tournament,” Dezenzo said. photos by Janica Kaneshiro photo art by Jami Bechard

On one hot spring night, two boys fulfilled their childhood dreams -- one behind the plate and one behind the microphone Katelyn Cain | Staff Writer

When junior Josh Galloway stepped up to the plate last Thursday night in the bottom of the ninth inning in a scoreless game against Princeton in the sectional tournament opener, he was able to fulfill every little boy’s dream: the dream of hitting a homer to lead his team to a thrilling victory. And that’s exactly what the catcher did when he took a hanging curve ball and deposited it over the left field fence to send the Comets to a thrilling 1-0 victory.

It was a dream come true for sophomore Alex Day as well; Day sat in the broadcasting booth and called the homer in his first game as the playby-play man in the first broadcast for English teacher Chris DeLotell’s sports broadcast club. “[Hitting a walk-off home run] was pretty amazing,” Galloway said. “I actually felt quite a bit of pressure when I stepped up to the plate, being that we were already in extra innings and I knew that I could end it with one swing of the bat. And that’s what I did. The feeling of crossing home plate and being swamped by your teammates is the greatest feeling in the world.”

According to Day, he was also able to live his life-long dream of announcing a climactic game, he said.

“I’ve dreamt of being an announcer since I was young,” Day said. “I’ve always wanted to call a game that would end in dramatic fashion. It just so happens that the first game I got to call would be that one.”

According to Galloway, he felt that

he was going to win the game for Mason when he stepped up to bat, despite being in a stressful situation.

“There was definitely a lot of pressure [when I walked up to hit],” Galloway said.

“I hit in the [third spot] in the lineup, so it’s my job to come up with big hits in big situations, …but I did [feel like I could win the game]. I felt very confident and there was a feeling in my stomach that told me that I was going to get the job done.”

According to assistant coach Curt Bly, Galloway’s walk-off home run was a rare and memorable moment, especially because the game was so close. “[Hitting a walk-off home run] is tremendously special, and [Galloway’s] walk-off was even more special, considering it was a 0-0 game in extra innings of a tournament game,” Bly said. “You lose that game and the season is over.”

According to Day, he had predicted that Galloway could end the game “with one swing of the bat.”

“I knew that the bottom of the ninth was going to be an inning that could’ve changed the game,” Day said. “Princeton’s pitcher was going deep in his pitch count and Galloway had already had four home runs on the season. I knew he had the power and I said, ‘With one swing of the bat, he could end this game,’ and sure enough, he hit a shot.”

Galloway said that one of his favorite parts of his walk-off was when his team stormed home plate as he rounded the bases. “[My teammates] went crazy,” Galloway said. “They came running out of the dugout screaming and jumped all over me when I crossed the plate. It was a great

feeling to have all of my teammates be so excited about something that I did; it was almost as if the entire team hit the walk-off homer.”

Bly said that Galloway’s excitement was gratifying for him as a coach, and he hopes that Galloway continues to perform well in pressuring situations.

“As a coach, it really is great when you get a chance to see a kid succeed in a pressure situation and get excited about it,” Bly said. “[Galloway] was so excited and that was the most fun part for me. [He] is someone we really count on to produce, and when he does, we usually win.”

For both Day and Galloway, the walk-off home run was meaningful, and for Day, it validated his dream of becoming a radio announcer.

“I’ve always wanted to be a broadcaster, and this call brought so much excitement that it made it more clear to me that this is what I want to do with my life in the future,” Day said.

“For now, I enjoy being on the baseball field and basketball court playing, but as the years go on, broadcasting is what I see myself doing in the future.”

Galloway said that his experience was something that he will take with him later in life.

“I’ve hit home runs and grand slams before, but this was my first walk off, so it’s very special to me,” Galloway said. “It will be something that I will never forget, because when I would see someone in the [Major Leagues] hit one, I would always think about how it would feel to hit one. And now I have.”

Track and field The boys’ and girls’ track team won their fourth consecutive GMC titles on May 13 at the GMC Track and Field Championships. The boys’ total of 151 points was supported by winning performances in the pole vault, 3200-meter, 4x100 relay, 4x200 relay and 200-dash events. The girls’ team set new conference records in the pole vault and 4x200 events. Both the girls’ and boys’ teams have placed first every year in the Championships since Mason entered the GMC. The championship performances by the teams helped earn Coach of the Year honors for girls’ coach Tony Affatato and boys’ coach Chip Dobson. Pole vaulter Olivia Bergesen set a new GMC record with a vault of 11 feet.

Junior varsity softball

photo by Thom Carter

The junior varisty softball team finished the season with an undefeated record of 24-0. Sophomore Emily Rumford said that the team’s successful season was due to the encouragement of the coaches and the easy competition. “The season was a big success and that was mainly due to the support of the coaches,” Rumford said. “The competition [this season] was not tough, so our goal was to just go undefeated.”

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011 PAGE 11 | C

The Physics P=IV

F=M

A

Trading Punches

V=IR

Of Po

l

D=

m

e

/V

v a

P=W

/T

u l Eg ti P = K N g PE

=m

Katelyn Cain | Staff Writer

With most sports, the spheres of school and athletics are kept separate, but pole vaulting, an event in track and field, incorporates physics to maximize jump height. Understanding the physics of pole vaulting is essential to achieving the perfect pole vault, according to head pole vault coach Mark Sutton.

“There is a science to [pole vaulting],” Sutton said. “Over 30 years ago, Vitaly Petrov, a physicist, created a technique [concerning] the physics of pole vaulting. Today, most athletes use this model to [jump] high.”

According to Sutton, there are specific formulas that go into pole vaulting, such as: initial energy=final energy and Force=(mass)(acceleration). “[One equation is] initial energy equals final energy,” Sutton said. “The energy that an athlete puts into the pole will equal the energy that the pole releases the athlete at the end of the vault with.

[The second equation is] concerning force. The force of the pole equals the mass of the athlete times how fast the pole accelerates the athlete upward.”

According to Advanced Placement Physics teacher DeeDee Messer, if a pole vaulter wants to reach a certain height, the equation is height = 0.55*(jumper’s height) + (1/2)(velocity^2)/(gravity).

gh

photo by Katelyn Cain photo art by Jami Bechard

“Because a pole vaulter’s height is slightly above the ground, the equation needs to be adjusted with your center of mass, which is 55 percent of your height,” Messer said.

While sophomore Emily Schlimm, a former pole vaulter, said that there is a lot of physics behind a pole vaulters’ success and “talent can only get you so far,” Sutton said that it is both physics and natural ability that jump-starts a pole vaulter’s success. “[Pole vaulting requires] a little bit of both [physics and natural ability],” Sutton said. You must want to work at the fine details of the science behind pole vaulting to improve.”

Sutton said that besides understanding the physics of pole vaulting and being naturally gifted, a pole vaulter needs to be a well rounded athlete.

“You must train to be as strong as a thrower, as fast as a sprinter, have the endurance of a distance runner and the body awareness of a gymnast. Each day the athletes must train differently and be…very well rounded athlete[s],” Sutton said.

According to sophomore Sydney Sloan, a varsity pole vaulter, an athlete must master all of these factors and understand the physics in order to achieve a “perfect pole vault.” “[To achieve the perfect pole vault,] you

need to have a strong run and a good jump,” Sloan said. “You have to keep your right leg forward and swing your left leg through to get inverted. Otherwise, the pole could come to a stop. And then, you come out of the jump and you turn your right foot over your left and then you have to hollow out to get over the bar.”

Sutton said that even if these techniques are mastered, very few athletes have completed a “perfect pole vault.”

“Very few people in history have achieved a “‘perfect pole vault.’” It takes years and years of training on top of being incredibly naturally gifted,” Sutton said. “People may train hard for 20 years and never have a perfect vault, because you have to get everything precise.”

Although Sutton said he believes in athletic training to push a pole vaulter to the top, Messer said she finds pole vaulting incorporates more of what’s taught in a classroom than any other sport.

“Just as there is some sort of science to every sport, pole vaulting, encompasses the most aspects of science and physics,” Messer said.

There is no reason to give sports teams a class period because the same rules Katelyn Cain don’t apply.

Not all of the people in band class are in the marching band, and that class is dedicated to the perfoming arts, just like orchestra class or choir. So, if sports, being extracurriculars, need extra time to practice, then the coaches should either schedule longer practices or more practices.

MHS sports teams should get class periods during their season to Joseph Spencer prepare for games. Even if the sports were not in season, the time could be used to watch film of previous games and future opponents to better themselves as players. This act is already used at other schools for student athletes and should be implemented at Mason High School.

Having MHS sports teams spend a class to practice or prepare for games isn’t James Nosek necessary; teams get enough practice time as it is, spending hours after school, in season or not. This would take away from the idea of sports being an extracurricular activity. Sports are really not the main priority and making classes for team sports would take the focus away from academics. photos by Beena Raghavendran

Coach’s Corner

Outside the Lines...

SPORTS IN PRINT

SPORTS IN VIDEO GAMES

SPORTS IN MOVIES

Sports like ferret legging, bull poker, chess boxing and nude bicycling are the sports that acclaimed former “Sports Illustrated” writer and current ESPN.com columnist Rick Reilly has been looking for. In his eleventh book, “Sports From Hell,” he focuses on the sports that nobody has any clue that they exist. For Reilly, it is the search to find the most outrageous sports competition in the world. The book will be released on May 31.

NCAA Football 12 for the Playstation and and Wii will be released on July 12, and takes Saturday game day to the next level. Going from high school athlete to top college player, this new version of NCAA Football uses enhanced ingame presentations, a new collision system and a pre-game traditions feature that allows a college team to run out on the field performing its school tradition.

Summer is racing closer and closer and a great way to spend the break is to go see “Cars 2.” It is the sequel to the DisneyPixar movie “Cars,” bringing back Lightning McQueen and Mater as they travel overseas to participate in the first World’s Grand Prix, a car racing event. The movie hits theaters on June 24.

-compiled by James Nosek

The band program at Mason High School gets class periods (along with hours of after-school practice) to work on and perfect their craft. Should sports teams at MHS also get a class period when during their respective seasons to work on skills needed to help them prepare for games and competitions?

-compiled by Katelyn Cain

-compiled by Joseph Spencer

Chip Dobson Head track and field coach Fifth year Chip Dobson is in his fifth year as the boys’ track and field coach.

Currently, the track team is first in five different events in the GMC. “[The season] has been great; we have a lot of good kids and they work hard and they do great things,” Dobson said. For the rest of the year, Dobson said he has set two goals that he believes his team can achieve. “[We want to] Get all relays to the Regional Championship,” Dobson said. “Also, have at least 15 different people compete at the Regional meet.”

-compiled by James Nosek

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Lyons Photography

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

Jen Flan ad Here

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Mason

Unwrapped Mason’s hometown cuisine prevails over chain restaurants been a favorite amongst his customers.

“Right now, [the Spinach Fetas have] been [selling] like hot cakes,” Aponte said. “[The pizza has] spinach, tomato, onions, provolone, feta [and] a garlic and olive oil base.”

Aponte said the key to staying open and finding success is the consistency he presents with each and every customer that walks through his doors. “[The key is] making sure you give the people what they want, and making sure when they walk in the door you treat them like family,” Aponte said.

The Wildflower Café & Coffee House When he was 25, chef and owner Todd Hudson bought the century-old house on East Main Street that now houses his restaurant, The WildFlower Café.

“When I was a freshman in high school, I decided I wanted to open this place, and basically everything photos by Thom Carter I did prior to this was in working towards getting this [restaurant],” HudThom Carter | Staff Writer son said.

After his graduation from Fairfield High School, From a New Jersey-style pizza joint to a downtown Hudson worked in a number ice cream parlor, there are a number of locally-owned of kitchens where he said he eateries around Mason that manage to preserve the established his philosophy local flavor. behind food that is embraced at the Wildflower. “[At least] 95 percent of the Tucker’s Whippy Dip [food on my] menu is produced, harvested [or] grown Located at 127 East Main Street in the middle of within half an hour of this downtown Mason, Spaeth, the daughter of owner restaurant,” Hudson said.

Glinda Spaeth, said that the location was an ice Hudson said he purchases cream parlor before it became Whippy Dip in 1999. all his own cattle that he uses “My mom and her sister decided one day that for beef in many of the dishes, they wanted to buy this old ice cream place that had including the award-winning always been in Mason but went out of business,” Spaburger. eth said. “They decided to rejuvenate and revamp it.”

“We see [our] cows from beSpaeth said that what sets Whippy Dip apart from ginning to end,” Hudson said. other parlors in the area are the array of decorative “Right now, we’ve got about 15 kids’ cones that it has become known for. cows floating around in this “We focus a lot on [the kids’ cones], because pasture [on Webb Valley Farm] [they’re] something different and something unique up in Wilmington having a to us,” Spaeth said. good time with their lives.”

According to Spaeth, Whippy Dip has been a small The taste produced by this landmark in the downtown area for years, thanks to traditional method that Hudits location and the number of customers who conson employs is found in one of tinue to return time and time again. the dishes that he said is cur“It’s always been a staple in downtown Mason and rently one of his most popular. it’s right next to Heritage Oak Park, so after soft“Lately, [our most popular ball, baseball and soccer games, teams always come dish has] been a barbecue sauce down,” Spaeth said. “Friends [of our employees] where we [use] Zinfandel wine always visit. It’s just like a web of people that keep and bacon and onions. …It’s coming.” probably 98 percent wine and bacon, …which pairs really Aponte’s Pizzeria & Family Restaurant well with smoked ribs,” Hudson said.

Owner Tony Aponte said the most important After remaining open for alaspect of his restaurant is the food and New Jerseymost three years, Hudson said style pizza that he and his family have been dishing that it’s his job to prepare the out since 2005. food in the most delicious and “It’s fresh -- the best quality you can buy -- and it’s traditional way possible. good,” Aponte said.

“I can make money doing lots A New Jersey native, Aponte said he moved to the of things,” Hudson said. “I’d Eastgate area and decided on Mason as the location prefer to think of my job as a for the restaurant in order to be closer to his three chef or restaurant owner as bedaughters. ing part of the food cycle [and] [My mother] helped me, and I was looking for a that I’m not just here to make location in Mason to be closer to my daughters,” money.”

Aponte said.

According to Aponte, his most popular pizzas include the Spinach Feta that Aponte said has recently

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

Molding the Dip A step-by-step recount of

“Octopus”

Whippy Dip’s ice cream cup

according to junior Nate Webb, Whippy Dip employee

step 1: Here, I’m just cutting up the worms into equal lengths.

These will be the arms of the “Octopus.”

step 2: Adding the ice cream to dish. You can change the size and flavor of the ice cream based on what you want.

step 3: I’m adding the eyes to the “octopus;” [they] make it look cute.

step 4: [The] finished thing. This is a kids’ size. I added rainbow sprinkles for decoration, because kids like that stuff.

photos by Thom Carter

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

I’m a

P&G

PAGE 17 | C

brat

Children of P&G employees constitute own culture

photo art by Jami Bechard

Megan McCormack | Staff Writer

Because of the headquarters of Procter & Gamble (P&G) in Cincinnati and the P&G business center in Mason, some students whose parents work at P&G are part of a network of “P&G Brats” because they’re constantly moving, according to junior Monica Lynde.

Monica said she has lived in three different countries due to her father’s job at P&G, including England and Belgium.

Junior Maria Hurtado said she lived in four different countries, including the United States, Mexico, Germany and Chile.

Monica said that her life as a “P&G Brat” is comparable to the lifestyle of a Military Brat because of her dads transient job, just as an Army Brat has to move for a parent in the military.

Senior Stephan McMillan lived in Japan and Mason

“I’m a part of my dad’s family, so wherever he’s going, he’s going to take [his family],” Monica said. “It’s just something you have to do even if you don’t want to leave your friends.”

Senior Stephan McMillan, who said he

into this somewhat artificial community because none of you are in your native land.”

According to Kent, these relationships become more familial rather than just a friendship. said. “Because [I was] “You need each other to…get lived in Japan because of his mom’s job in this foreign through the experience, share Junior at P&G, said that the connections he has country and these tips on how to survive, help Maria Hurtado made in Japan have blossomed. [were] basically the each other and that becomes “A lot of my friends’…parents work for only people that almost like a family,” Kent said.

P&G,” McMillan said. “Since I lived in [spoke] English so “And so those friendships are lived in Mexico, Japan, everybody [from P&G] that moved formed much faster and really [I became] really Missouri, Germany, back from Japan [has] parties with [the bonded with them.” deeper because your experience Chile and Mason other families] since the relationship we Monica said she is very memorable.” had with them [is strong] and we’ve known feels more culturthem for so long.” ally aware because of the Monica said that being a global atmosphere of P&G. “P&G Brat” makes her more connected “[Europe] is just a completely different to students who have lived in the same culture, ” Monica said. “It’s cool to experiJunior places as her. ence the…life that the teens there live.

Monica Lynde “You feel a connection with …It’s a really good thing to have in life people who’ve had the same because I’m more aware of different people experiences as you,” Monica said. and it’s easier to adapt [to new situations].” lived in Cincinnati, “[I feel] especially [connected to According to McMillan, moving because England, Belgium people who have lived] in Europe of P&G has been more of a positive than and [because] a lot of people here don’t anything because of all the unique friendunderstand what that’s like. But when Mason ships he has made.

Monica you meet people [who have], you have “I’ve met incredible people and done so said that the this connection and you can really relate to many cool things already,” McMillan said. friendships she them.”

“So, [moving has been] more of a blessing made will last for a Monica’s father, Kent Lynde, who works than anything else.” long time even though she didn’t live in for P&G, said he views the friendships Belgium long. built from moving as very deeply-rooted.

“Even though I was [in Belgium] for a “The connections [made with others] are short amount of time, …[I] still [built] going to be very strong,” Kent said. “You’re these really strong connections,” Monica thrown together from all parts of the world

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

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It’s the

end of the world as we know it

Prophecies of world ending cause religious speculations Bobby Gibler | Staff Writer Janie Simonton | Staff Writer

The world ends tomorrow.

According to Howard Camping, a self-proclaimed “Bible scholar” and founder of Christian radio station Family Radio, the exact date for the end of the world is May 21, 2011.

But many Doomsday theories cite other end dates, such as December 21, 2012, the end of the Mayan calendar.

At the site of the Donner party disaster of 1847 (where stranded pioneers anticipating their death left messages for future generations before reverting to cannibalism), professor Lloyd Cunningdale (of Salt Lake City) and his students discovered a time capsule left by settlers containing predictions for the future. According to the information in this capsule, the world will end in 2016 when a massive disease will spread over the world and kill all humans.

At 3:28 AM on September 14, 2047, according to ReligiousTolerance.org’s synopsis of the end-of-the-world prediction prophesized by the Church of !BLAIR!, led by Reverend Clifford Gdansk, the world will end when “Astro-Lemurs (extra-terrestrials similar in shape to lemurs, but with rainbow colored bodies) will attack the entire human race and beat them to death with gigantic burritos.”

However, Biblical prophecies have been fulfilled and through mathematical calculations, it has been concluded that the world will end tomorrow, according to Camping.

“When things [happen] economically or [we have] war, …earthquakes [or] tsunamis, people equate it all with physical prophecy,” Winters said.

Camping said he used his former career skills from civil engineering to do the calculations which stem from Biblical sources.

According to pastor Bill Hounshell of New Hope Baptist Church in Loveland, Biblical prophecies are being fulfilled all the time. Hounshell said the end of the world, regardless of the date, will erupt with several catastrophic events, according to the Bible. “[The] first three-and-a-half years [of the tribulation and slow destruction of the world after Judgment Day] are pretty wild,” Hounshell said. “There’s going to [be] wars; there’s going to [be] famine [and] pestilence. God allows man to destroy himself [in the beginning]. War, that’s man; that’s not God. Disease, pestilence, that’s man; that’s not God. But then after awhile, God then turns loose his nature, and…nature is earthquakes and storms; man can’t control that. Man can control man, or at least try to. But man cannot control nature, because nature’s controlled by God.” Hounshell, however, said he disvalues Camping’s idea that the world will end tomorrow, because the Bible says that man cannot know when the end of the world is.

“In [Matthew 24:36], …Christ himself [said]… ‘But of that day and of that hour, no one knows, even the angels,’” Hounshell said. “Now that’s pretty powerful authority.

He said, ‘Not even the angels in heaven, but my father only [will know when the end of the world is].’”

According to senior Shreya Reddy, who said she is Hindu, Camping’s theories lack clarity, and she believes the end of the world is still thousands of years away. Reddy said the Hindu religion bases itself on four cyclic time scales in which the world gradually degrades and succumbs to sin.

“[In Hinduism,] there are four cycles for the world; they’re called ‘Yugas,’” Reddy said. “We’re in the fourth one right now, which is called the Dark Age. This is when there’s ¾ sin and ¼ virtue. This period is believed, in Hinduism, to have started 5,000 years ago and is a barrier between earth and heaven. It is a time period where corruption and vice and impurity take over.”

Reddy said the end of the world will come when the Dark Age ends, not on May 21.

“Hinduism actually believes [the Dark Age] goes on for 432,000 years and it just started 5,000 years ago,” Reddy said. “So the end of the world in [the view of] Hinduism is not coming for a while. Everything is going to be destroyed at the end of [the Dark Age] because sin will have taken over. Then, the creator, Brumha, will create the world again and the four cycles will start over.”

Although Reddy said that the end of the world won’t happen for millenniums, Hounshell said that several Biblical prophecies that predict the end of the world have been lining up, possibly indicating that the end of the world is sooner than what people may think. “[The end of the world] could be today; it doesn’t take a whole lot of prophecy yet to be fulfilled,” Hounshell said. “[For example,] 1948, …Israel was recognized as a nation for the first time. God said, at the end of time, Israel will once again rise up and be recognized. A lot of prophecies that Jesus gave us in the twenty-fourth chapter [of Matthew are] coming true even today.”

Hounshell said that one of the most apparent Biblical prophecies currently being fulfilled deals with the out-of-control population growth of buzzards in the Megiddo Valley of Israel, the site of the prophesized Battle of Armageddon.

Senior Mathew Winters, who said he is a “liberal Catholic,” said that he believes that people tend to fit current disastrous events to the fulfillment of prophecies. “[End-of-the-world speculations are] always…more believable when we have natural disasters or when we have economical disasters,” Winters said. “People thought it was the end of the world after World War I, and then when World War II occurred, they thought it [again]. So when things [happen] economically or [we have], war, … earthquakes [or] tsunamis, people equate it all with physical prophecy.”

Junior Matt Anderson, an atheist, however, said that although the recent tendency of current events to match Doomsday prophecies is eerie, he would not believe anything not grounded in science.

“I don’t think [Camping’s] beliefs have any ground,” Anderson said. “I think

“[The end of the world] could be today; it doesn’t take a whole lot of prophecy yet to be fulfilled,” Hounshell said. anything that relates back to any scientific method would be something I would find probable.”

Anderson also said that, should the end of the world happen, it would not be due to any supernatural force.

“I think the human race will do something stupid to kill [itself],” Anderson said.

Reddy, however, said she sees several qualifications of fulfillment required before the end of the world happens.

“I was kind of spooked and creeped out by [Doomsday] theories, but I think the world has a long way to go. Even though there’s a lot of sin and corruption, there’s still a lot of purity and that needs to be lived out.” photo contributed by Smiley Pool, “Dallas Morning News” photo art by Jami Bechard

C | PAGE 20

15 inches

of fame

Senior Mina Lee said she has a passion for the Harry Potter franchise, art and movies.

She said she’s most defined as “weird”, a term she’s comfortable with.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

More permanent than a Sharpie

photo by Janica Kaneshiro

What college are you going to and what’s your intended major?

“I’m going to [College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning] (DAAP) at UC, and I’m majoring in interior design.”

What’s your biggest passion in life? “[My biggest passion is] just trying to get the most out of [life]. I want to try to see everything I can.”

What’s one thing you’re absolutely obsessed with?

“Movies. I love movies. It’s hard [to pick a favorite]; there are so many. But I’d have to say ‘Children of Men.’” If you could pick any job that you could hold for the rest of your life, what would you do?

“I’ve always wanted to design houses like interior design[ers], except with characters. Like, let’s say somebody wanted a random Batman lair; I would totally do that.”

If you could spend the day with a famous person, dead or alive, who would you spend it with?

“Oh my gosh, Brad Pitt. Always.”

If you were to grow a garden, what would be in it?

“I would grow everything from ‘Harry Potter.’”

If you could talk to animals, which one would you talk to?

“A lion. I kind of want to adopt a lion, so I might as well get to know [one].”

Leonardo DiCaprio or Johnny Depp?

“Johnny Depp. He has that wild look about him.”

What would you say is your most defining characteristic?

“People just call me weird. They don’t really have a better word for it, just ‘weird.’

But I’m okay with that.”

-compiled by Janica Kaneshiro

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col·umn inch (n) - an area one column wide by one

inch deep, measuring the type that fills the space

photo art by Jami Bechard

Tattoos increasingly a venue for expression Miranda Carney | Staff Writer

Tattoos, which used to be associated with sailors, criminals and gangs, are now a popular form of expression, according to high school students that currently have them. The stereotypical tattoos of skulls and anchors have been increasingly replaced by artistic and symbolic images.

Being his “own person"

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enior David Fulcher, who has three tattoos, said he wears them as a way to express his individuality and be a permanent representation of the fact that he is his own person.

“I have my initials on the back of my arms because I want to be my own person,” Fulcher said. “I have the same name as my dad and I don’t want to be just known as a David Fulcher. I want to keep ‘Junior’ the rest of my life. I decided to get ‘D.J.’ on the back of my arms because I’d rather be my own person.”

Fulcher said he has seen the stereotypes of having a tattoo present in his workplace, where customers will treat him differently because of his tattoos.

“I realize [that] ever since I got a tattoo, at work, the customers that come in kind of shy away from me,” Fulcher said.

“I’m a [funny] person, so when they see that I’m joking around a lot, they ease onto me, but if I don’t say anything, they kind of shy away like they’re scared of me. So, I feel like tattoos kind of just scare people.”

Tattoos for remembrance hen junior Mackenzie Money’s sister was about to go into the Air Force in October 2010, she decided she would get a matching tattoo with her.

“My sister went in the Air Force and we wanted to get matching tattoos before she left so I could think about her every day,” Money said. “I wanted to get something I wouldn’t ever change my mind about. It has to do with my faith. We just wanted to get something together.”

Money’s tattoo is Hebrew writing that translates to “The Lord watches over me.” She said that the permanency is a way to know that her and her sister can both look at it and think of each other and remember their faith.

Money said stereotypes about tattoos are changing drastically.

“I think [the stereotypes of tattoos] are definitely changing,” Money said. “You see celebrities with them, and people are getting more small or peaceful tattoos that actually mean something. It used to be that you’d see a bunch of big guys with skulls and scary stuff like that but now more people are getting tattoos like mine that mean something.”

W

Tattoos reflect life experiences

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unior Brittany Lucius said she got her first tattoo in January to serve as closure for the death of her uncle. Her tattoo is a pair of angel wings with the dates of her uncle’s birth and death.

“For me, [that tattoo] was helping me with closure from the whole incident of [my uncle] passing away and so it’s been a lot easier,” Lucius said.

“My mom didn’t like that I got

a tattoo, but I like it and my dad likes it. It’s kind of something that has brought [me and my dad] closer.”

Although it led to the disap Although Lucius said she feels the stereotypes of tattoos sometime affect her, she said she believes tattoos have become a way for people the express what is important to them and what has impacted them in a permanent way.

“I think [some] people think it’s really trashy [to have a tattoo]; I know people have told me that,” Lucius said. “But it’s something that means a lot to me, so I don’t think it’s trashy at all. I definitely think [tattoos] are more of a way of expression than just getting a tattoo. It’s more like art [and] inspiration than anything.”

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