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W il l i a m M a s o n H i g h S c h o o l PLAYING IT SAFE

photo by Mitchell Matacia

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A pril 20, 2012 Volume 9, Issue 7

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BEST BURGER IN TOWN SEE PAGE 16

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“KONY 2012”

Invisible Children campaign under question

SEE PAGE 6

PAGE 2 | APRIL 20, 2012

Trending Now Online View these and other stories and galleries at

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C MHS students to attend

Buckeye State Program this summer Seven juniors were nominated to attend the Buckeye Boys and Girls State Program, sponsored by the American Legion this summer, where they will be educated in the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of a good citizen.

Check out thecspn.com to find out about the program and the students’ personal goals going into the program.

C Varsity track teams trek to

University of Tennessee The Mason boys’ and girls’ varsity track teams are competing the University of Tennessee Volunteer Classic in Knoxville, TN, today.

Read about their preparations, expectations and what they are hoping to take away from the competition on thecspn.com.

Economy major factor in Obama’s political campaign Voters looking for a “change” in economy in order to re-elect Ashley Calvani | Staff Writer

As the end of President Obama’s first term in office approaches, the direction of the economy will have a significant impact on Obama’s 2012 campaign for re-election, according to nytimes.com.

Economics teacher Chip Dobson said this is because the economy is usually on the top of the list for most voters.

“Americans can look at all these different issues a candidate debates [about], but if the economy is good, a president stands a better chance of getting re-elected,” Dobson said.

“If it’s bad, they usually do poorly [in the election].”

This is the case because a stable or improving economy during a presidency is usually attributed directly to the president, according to Dobson.

Junior Andrey Backscheider said that America needs proof that Obama did indeed cause “change” with his policies, and citizens will

look to the state of the economy to measure that.

Dobson said that depending on the numbers at the end of Obama’s first term, Obama’s campaign may become stronger or weaker.

“A lot of people have been saying that Obama didn’t ‘change’ much during his term, contrary to his original 2008 campaign slogan,” Dobson said. “But, if the economy looks good right now, it will look good for his campaign. He can point to the numbers, and if they’ve improved, he can say that at a time when our country was at the precipice of falling apart [economically], his policies changed that for the better. That looks good to voters.”

Despite the fact that statistics usually provide inarguable, blackand-white information, Dobson said it’s not so easy with the economy; there are layers to the several economic indicators that are often over-looked by those who don’t

Story

C Academic Team vs Staff

face off As the Academic Team represents the GMC in the regional tournament on April 21, in order to prepare for the competition the team hosted a Staff vs Academic Team meet on Wednesday. Check out more at thecspn.com.

C “Anything Goes” coming

April 26 The MHS drama department is putting on the musical “Anything Goes” starting on April 26. Click on thecspn.com to read more on the event. compiled by Ashley Calvani

know what they’re looking for. One example: the unemployment rate.

“Lately, the numbers seem better [for Obama’s economy],” Dobson said. “But, it depends on who you talk to. Some would argue that unemployment has gone down. But, that number varies because a lot of times people have been looking for a job for so long that they actually come off that unemployment number. There is a real unemployment number, and then the one you hear on TV. Yes, both have improved, but the real unemployment hasn’t improved quite as dramatically as some reports might suggest.”

Other common economic indicators are the Consumer Price Index, inflation rates, Consumer Sentiment and Housing Starts values.

American Government teacher Dan Broaddrick said that these statistics can be muddled depending on the provider, and the context.

“I think in the same way the

AMERICAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 2006

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FROM

FEBRUARY 2011

TO

2007

FEBRUARY 2012

CONSUMER SENTIMENT

2008 2009

DECREASED

2010 2011 2012 =1% of population unemployed

contributed by Bureau of Labor Satistics and www.thomsonreuters.com

2.8%

info graphics by Erica Boden

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media uses sound bytes to portray people in a certain light, politicians and political parties will use ‘sound bytes’ of economic statistics,” Broaddrick said. “They can use the numbers…,take a small ‘sound byte’, leave out the other facts, and use them to their advantage.”

The nuances in the numbers aren’t usually noticed by voters, according to Dobson, and in the past, presidents campaigning for re-election have both fallen prey to that fact and received benefit of it. As for Obama’s 2012 campaign, though, the numbers may be in his favor, Dobson said.

“I think there is enough neutral to positive news that [Obama] can use it in a way that helps him,” Dobson said. “He can point to the unemployment number, which lowered from 9.7 to 8.2 percent, the fact that we don’t have dramatic inflation, and that fact the Dow Jones Industrial average is up dramatically, and say it was because of his policies.”

According to Broaddrick, voters have to be aware that the economy takes time to respond to decisions the president makes, and oftentimes, Americans blame things on or attribute things to the president incorrectly.

Backscheider said he often sees young voters like himself confused about elections because they don’t know how to sort all of the information about candidates out, and then draw their own conclusions based on the facts.

“If you’re going to make a vote decision, you can’t just make generalizations about what you hear,” Backscheider said. “You need to find out for yourself, and know how the person you elect will affect your [future].”

The best way for voters to know the truth about the numbers is to keep informed, the right way, according to Dobson.

“You have to look at multiple media outlets,” Dobson said. “Every media outlet has an agenda and a political bend. If you just get your news from one source or the other, you can be slighted on that information.

Information can put it out in a way that sounds very compelling. The key: stay as informed as possible with multiple different sources.”

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MHS students decide their political position for upcoming election Katherine Hansen | Staff Writer

As the 2012 election approaches, establishing firm political standings presses student voters, according to American Government teacher Maria Mueller. Consequentially the race for nomination pushes individual beliefs on current issues into the shadows, according to Mueller.

“Identifying a political view is very important,” Mueller said. “Identifying your political stance as in party association, I think, is much less significant.”

Junior Usoshi Chatterjee said that being aware is the key to finding personal political views. Avoiding politics ultimately proves the oblivious teen stereotype.

“Teens should be aware of what’s going on around them,” Chatterjee said. “Otherwise it’s the stereotypical teen who doesn’t have any idea of what’s going on.”

According to Mueller, teens tend to avoid politics because it doesn’t capture a sense of urgency with them. Yet, she said as a teen is the pivotal moment to get acquainted with politics.

“When you’re in high school…it’s time to stop and think; ‘I’ve had all these messages bombarding me and now I’m moving into my own decisions’,” Mueller said.

“Not only what do you want to be when you grow up but what do you believe.”

But, to get to this point takes a desire to find political fulfillment, according to Mueller.

“It takes an active effort,” Mueller said. “It’s not just something that’s going to happen. A healthy democracy requires people making educated, conscious choices.”

But, putting in this effort doesn’t top the priorities of many teens, according to sophomore Alexis Porter. As teens neglect their political growth, a dependency on the ideals and positions of their parents takes root, according to Porter.

Senior TJ Burich said he maintains a firm Republican position in politics that is derived from his parents’ views.

“I’m a Republican, and I chose that because my parents had a big influence on me,” Burich said. “I was brought up

that way.”

Following in the path of parents’ political stances is only natural, according to Mueller, and lingers beyond impressionable teenage years.

“The strengths of [parents’] political identity becomes something that rubs off on you,” Mueller said. “They take care of you, you love them, you trust them. Why then would their political views be something you shouldn’t trust in?”

As teens follow their parents’ views they search for a party label, according to Burich. He said party labels are essentially the initial thought when considering a political identity.

According to Mueller, this false mentality restricts teens in growing their political standings. A sense of little flexibility in political identities traps young voters, according to her.

Another major barrier for teens in valuing political identities is not having a direct connection to the effects of politics.

Talk of the economy steers teenage attention away from political awareness according to Burich.

“We’re not out in the workplace, so we’re not directly affected by the economy as much as our parents are,” Burich said. “So, it doesn’t directly affect us as much as it would if we were older.”

According to Porter, the insignificance of politics at a young age can result in a habit of stagnant political involvement.

“They’ll just go along with what everyone else thinks without really expressing their own viewpoints,” Porter said.

Not only does teenage lack of value in growing political views lead to mindless following, according to Mueller, it can also come to complete political removal.

“There’s this very negative tone [around politics] that isn’t very inspirational,” Mueller said. “Not having a label is preferred because [teens] don’t want to be affiliated.”

Facing party restrictions, overbearing parent positions and a lack of political involvement, teens turn to avoiding political exploration, according to Mueller, despite the aftermath.

“Politicians are going to ignore [teens],” Mueller said. “It’s a vicious cycle. Young people are the least likely to engage, they also then are the most ignored.” cartoon by Ajay Agrawal

photo art by Janica Kaneshiro

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APRIL 20, 2012

Digital-age makes bullying easier for teens Janica Kaneshiro | Editor-in-Chief

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Despite this saying’s popularity, it is often untrue when it comes to the Internet, where seemingly harmless posts could have unintended outcomes. In the case of ex-Rutgers student Dharun Ravi, these outcomes could include a ten-year stay in jail.

The story that hit newsstands across the country, including USAToday, is one in which Ravi’s roommate, Tyler Clementi, committed suicide after Ravi posted a video of his “gay encounter” on the Internet. On Friday, March 16, Ravi was convicted, not in the death of Clementi, but for invading his privacy for the purpose of intimidation due to his sexual orientation. Though Ravi didn’t directly cause Clementi’s death, his choice to post the video on the Internet had lasting consequences including a guilty verdict and an unnecessary death.

According to the Huffington Post, since Clementi’s suicide, Internet bullying has seized the national spotlight with celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres, Lady Gaga, Madonna and Oprah Winfrey backing the anti-Internet-bullying cause and a documentary “Bully” was released on March 30 in support of the same cause.

On a smaller scale, Mason High School students also feel the seriousness of Internet bullying. For freshman Gayla Bates, who had a “hate page” made about her on Facebook following a bad break-up, Internet bullying is an important issue.

“I think Internet bullying is really serious because it’s just as bad as any other type of bullying, and it can have the same side effects,” Bates said. “I know I have several friends who have gone through bullying, and they’ve done self-harm, and they’ve had suicidal thoughts. It can be stressful and take a really big emotional toll on a person.”

Rarely, though, do bullies understand the lasting consequences associated with their posts, often taking Internet bullying too lightly, according to Bates, but bullies are gutsier on the Internet because fewer people will report Internet bullying.

“I don’t have the guts to print something off and take it to the authorities, and I don’t think most people do because they see it and they think, ‘I see it, but if I tell, what if I’m next?’ I think they definitely know that people won’t tell. They don’t hide their identity because they know people are either too lazy or too scared to report them.”

According to Assistant principal William Rice, the people who just let Internet bullying without speaking up are just as much at fault

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as the bullies themselves.

“You might not be the person that’s bullying but you might have seen it happen,” Rice said. “You might have received a text message and forwarded it on; you might have commented on a posting and you’re just as much at fault as the bully. If you’re not trying to find a solution to stop it, you’re just as much the issue.”

Bates said that Internet bullies don’t realize that their posts can permanently affect the lives of their victims.

“I don’t think people realize it’s permanent, but it definitely is because I know on Facebook, it can keep everything,” Bates said.

“Even if you delete it, everyone who read it still has it.”

The permanency is real for freshman Rachel Formica who, following a suspension, faced Internet bullying and rumors which have caused her to make the choice to transfer schools next year to avoid the reputation she has gained through the Internet.

“I’m switching schools based on [Internet] bulling actually,” Formica said. “I know when I first came back to school after my break, I was definitely nervous to come through these doors because I was hoping things would die down, but [with the Internet] it just popped right back up as soon as they saw my face. …

People would say things to me, tweet about me and gently bump me in the hallway, and I know they didn’t do it on accident.”

Like in Ravi’s case, Formica said that high school students rarely think about the consequences that come with Internet bullying. “[Bullies] definitely don’t think about [the person they’re harming] because the person that is posting [negative things], they don’t get a reputation for it,” Formica said. “[They don’t think] until they hear someone’s story. We just went through that week of antibullying, and noticing peoples stories and bad choices, and I think that opened some people’s eyes, but it’s not going to stop them.”

For Formica, though, she hopes to take the harm done to her on Facebook and Twitter in stride and become more content with herself so what others say about her on the Internet won’t harm her as much. She said she looks forward to a future in which colleges and future employers analyze posts for malicious intent against her rather than judging her character based on others’ opinions of her.

“Definitely, with my self-respect, I’ve lost some, I’ve gained some, I’ve overcome challenges and beaten battles, and I’ve [learned] it’s okay to lose friends because I’m only going to take a handful through life and my dad always tells me that I’m going to Mount Notre Dame next year so I have a chance to change things and that’s my goal,” Formica said. “They can say what they want on the Internet. Hopefully colleges will look at people for who they are and also what they post.”

Rice said he doesn’t see a definite solution for Internet bullying because he knows how much bullying has evolved throughout the years. Rice admitted that bullying is much more prevalent today because of technology which makes it much more harmful to students being bullied.

“Bullying has changed,” Rice said. “It isn’t new by any means… bullying has been around since we’ve had kids. The difference is, my generation, teacher’s generations, when it happened at school, you left school and it stayed at school. If it happened on the bus, it stayed on the bus. Today, with Twitter, Facebook and texting, they cannot get away from it; they cannot shut it off; it stays with them forever. …When we were young, we went home and we were able to decompress and build ourselves back up for the next day… we could work through it. In this day and age, it’s right there… and kids see it all the time. I mean kids sleep with their phones now.”

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contributed by bullyingstatistics.org photos by Corynne Hogan cover photo by Corynne Hogan info graphic by Jami Bechard

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APRIL 20, 2012

Invisible Children campaign under fire Invisible Children organization grows in popularity and scandal Mitchell Matacia | Staff Writer

Invisible Children, an organization promoting peace in central Africa, released the film “Kony 2012” to YouTube on March 5 which has since become the most viral video to ever hit the web according to Time Magazine. Ever since the debut of the “Kony 2012” film, Invisible Children has come under fire over the legitimacy of their information and how their donations are distributed, according to Fox News.

The Prime Minister of Uganda, Amama Mbabazi, has also criticized Invisible Children’s campaign. In a video posted to YouTube, Mbabazi stated that there is no conflict in Uganda and that the Lord’s Resistance Army leader, Joseph Kony, is no longer in Uganda.

Senior Michael Duplisea said that Invisible Children’s presentation of facts could be misunderstood and also said that in some cases, are untrue.

“The fact that they boiled it down to such simple terms, some of it became practiphoto by Megan McCormack cally untrue because they made it sound like Kony was still in Uganda,” Duplisea Junior Julia Johnstone hangs posters for the KONY 2012 event taking place on April 20. said.

Junior Julia Johnstone disagrees and said the war against the LRA shouldn’t be hometown to promote awareness of his crimes. ignored.

However, Duplisea said that Cover the Night and the Invisible Children organiza“I think [Invisible Children] tried to put it in a way that everyone can understand,” tion itself could be threatened by the actions of an Invisible Children spokesperson.

Johnstone said. “[The war] may not be in Uganda, but it’s still going on in other Jason Russell, Invisible Children director, was detained by police on March 15 after places and that’s enough for it to still matter. a display of public nudity and reports of “banging his hands on the ground and Beyond the message that Invisible Children delivers in the “Kony 2012” video, screaming incoherently,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

Duplisea said the donations Invisible Children receives, are a cause for concern as “I think the widespread coverage of [Russell’s] mental breakdown is definitely gowell. ing to hurt the organization and it’s definitely going to hurt his credibility with his According to the Invisible Children website, the organization claims that 37.14 target audience,” Duplisea said. percent of donations went directly towards programs in Africa and rebuilding in Since the premier of “Kony 2012”, Invisible Children has released “Kony 2012: Part Uganda in 2011. In that same year, 62.86 percent of donations, as reported, went II – Beyond Famous.” Last year, President Obama sent 100 U.S. troops to central towards fundraising, media and film creation, awareness products, management Africa to combat the LRA but according to CNN, LRA attacks were on the rise in salaries and awareness programs.

March.

“If I’m paying them $10 and only $3 goes to helping the problem, I don’t really Johnstone said she will continue to follow and support Invisible Children. feel like I’ve gotten what I want out of the money I’ve given them,” Duplisea said.

“Their methods have been really effective in the fact that the war’s no longer in Johnstone said the widespread popularity of “Kony 2012” has triggered questions Uganda and people are lot safer,” Johnstone said. and suspicions among the public.

Duplisea said that even if Invisible Children’s cause is righteous, he won’t be do“I’ve followed their finances. Nothing has really changed except now the new nating to their organization because of the information that was not shared.

“Kony 2012” [video] is out and people are starting to question and people are start“The way [Invisible Children] presented it, it seemed like, ‘Wow, we all need to ing to pay attention,” Johnstone said. do something about this right now, we all need to buy these shirts, and we all need Today, Johnstone and the Mason Invisible Children Club will take part in Cover to buy this and do something about it,’” Duplisea said. “As it stands now, there’s no the Night to bring attention to who Joseph Kony is. According to the “Kony 2012” reason to go through Invisible Children.” video, Cover the Night involves activists spreading posters of Kony around their

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APRIL 20, 2012

PAGE 7

A devastating reminder Recent outbreak of killer tornadoes brings back horrible memories for Mason residents Miranda Carney | Staff Writer

When several tornadoes rolled across West Liberty, Kentucky in early March, the realities of ‘tornado season’ were brought to light for many Mason residents who saw the extreme damage, according to Meteorologist for Local 12 news, Scott Dimmich.

“People who live in severe weather hotspots tend to be more prepared for tornadoes because they happen more often,” Dimmich said. “People prepare for tornadoes and react to Tornado Warnings in different ways, too. Many tornadoes--some that injure people, kill people, or cause significant damage--occur when a large outbreak is not expected.”

When the tornadoes destroyed part of West Liberty, many Mason residents were reminded of the surreal terror of these natural disasters, according to Freddie Grischam, who lived through the devastating tornado that hit Mason on April 3, 1974.

“I think anybody from my generation does [understand the reality of tornadoes],” Grischam said. “It was a real wake-up call. We were down in the basement and we could just hear all the stuff going on. We knew it was a tornado.”

Grischam said she does not think younger generations have a real perspective on the dangers of tornadoes.

After seeing the damage and fatalities from West Liberty, freshman Ben Kennedy agreed that it was an eye-opener and it showed him the reality of a natural disaster hitting Mason.

After the recent tornadoes, Grischam said she is currently a lot more prepared than she is now. When Mason was hit by the tornado in 1974, she wasn’t prepared, but she has learned from that.

“I don’t think we were [prepared] in [1974],” Grischam said. “We knew we had to go to the basement, but we are more prepared now, after going through that, so we have pillows and some lawn chairs downstairs and flashlights and candles. We are ready.”

Freshman Ben Kennedy said he felt Mason could be a lot more prepared than it is now, after he has seen the way his peers react to tornado drills and tornado warnings.

“Mason hasn’t had very many tornadoes actually hit us,” Kennedy said. “So, Mason isn’t as prepared as we could be. [Seeing nearby damage] affects students a lot more, but I don’t think it would affect students as much if it wasn’t as close to Mason as the recent ones.”

According to the Tornado Index on USA.com, Mason

has an index of 263.72, which is almost double the average for Ohio, which is 156.36, and even greater than the U.S average which is 136.98. West Liberty, on the other hand, only has a tornado index of 45.37.

Dimmich said that many people don’t take warnings and watches seriously, when in actuality it is important to take immediate action when a warning comes.

“It’s important to know specific severe weather threats and the time of day when a storm is expected to hit,” Dimmich said. “When a watch is issued, be alert for warnings, and be ready to take cover if needed. When a warning is issued, the threat for severe weather is imminent, and you need to react appropriately and quickly.”

Kennedy said he has personally driven through a tornado, so he knows the reality of how easily a tornado can destroy a town or take a life.

“I have technically driven through a tornado without knowing it,” Kennedy said. “It was on our way to spring break two years ago. We were driving through and the weather got really bad. When we stopped for gas, everyone was [saying] there was a tornado. We went right through it.”

Unlike Kennedy, Dimmich said many people never experience a life-threatening tornado in their life, so they don’t take it seriously. Because there seems to be so many warnings and watches, he said people don’t pay attention as well as they should.

“The main reason is that many people feel there are too many warnings or that storms never affect them,” Dimmich said. “The odds of a given spot on any given day getting hit by a tornado are very low. While the daily chance of getting hit by a tornado is low, those in the path of a tornado and not in shelter are likely to be injured or killed.”

Just like most people are unaware of the true dangers of tornadoes, most students don’t take tornado drills seriously either, according to Kennedy. He said that Mason could easily be hit, so students should take the measures necessary to protect their lives.

“I think I’m as prepared as I can be [for a tornado,] but there are so many more things that we could do, like just have people take [warnings] more seriously,” Kennedy said. “All of these tornado drills, even though they may seem like a joke, you want to take [them] seriously. This may actually save your life.”

Tornado Index * 262.72

Mason, OH Ohio U.S.

156.36 136.98

* Tornado Index based on historical tornado events. It’s an indicator of the tornado level in a region.

A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.

photos contributed by Mason Historical Society

From top to bottom: 1. Old thrift store destroyed 1974 tornado, 2. 1974 tornado that was spotted in Mason, 3. Mason fire station roof comes down during 1974 tornado. photo art by Erica Boden

C EDITORIAL PAGE 8 | APRIL 20, 2012

Chronicle Policy

C Editorial Cartoon

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 necessarily 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, obscenity, 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 Ohio Scholastic Media Association.

Contact Information The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Mason, Ohio 45040 (513) 398-5025 The Chronicle Staff Editor-in-Chief Janica Kaneshiro Associate Editor Julia Halpin Layout and Design Editor Jami Bechard Online Editor Rebekah Barnes Sports Editor Katelyn Cain Business Manager Samantha Weaver Editorial Cartoonist Ajay Agrawal Staff Writers Ashley Calvani Miranda Carney Thom Carter Chloe Knue Branden Labarowski Katherine Hansen Corynne Hogan Ian Howard Nicole Huser Mitchell Matacia Megan McCormack James Nosek Joseph Spencer Taylor Telford Adviser Dale Conner

C Staff Editorial Becoming a poster child takes courage Oftentimes courage is sprawled across headlines in epic tales of heroism. Firefighters, surgeons and mission workers push the boundaries everyday of human strength and tenacity across the globe, but sometimes, the most courageous people are those who find strength in average circumstances at the local level and overcome the invisible boundaries most people push aside each day.

Bullying is an issue that we as high school aged kids hear about every day, but in a district as safe as Mason, we like to think that we are a community of hand-holding, Kumbaya-singing friendly individuals that never fail to support each other. But in a district as big as Mason, issues like bullying get lost in the tide, and we need people like our front-cover model, Rachel Formica to push through and stand as a reminder that we could always be more there for each other.

High school is no doubt a difficult time, we do have bullies here, we do have people with issues at home. We all have a buried life, and for people like Formica who are willing to share part of theirs is a step in the right direction towards the school we often are on surface level.

C Letters

to the

Editor

Inappropriate movies have negative influence on students Dear Editor, I think Project X is [a movie] for high school students with certain insecurities that just want to escape and “fit it” with the generic teenage label. To me, it displays their immaturity and adolescence. The fact that Project X parties are a main topic of conversation amongst seniors concerns me a little because they are supposed to be the role models of the school, but as of now they are basically encouraging underage drinking and drugs. For example, there was a teen in Texas who recently tried to throw one of these parties, which resulted in a shooting. I really hope this serves as an example of the potential dangers of throwing such an out of control party. People in Mason especially have skewed views because of the safe feel in this city. Teens in Mason, I feel, have the feeling of invincibility, which will result in a stunning reality check and I hope it will come before Mason experiences an incident like the one in Texas.

Bhanu Banda, senior

We should rethink our final exam procedures Dear Editor, I think that if you have an A in a class you should not have to take a final exam. A final exam will not boost your grade. It will only bring you down if you are on the edge. For example, if you have an A- in a class and you get a D or an F on the exam, you drop down to a B. If you worked really hard for that A, it would be pointless in the end since [you did poorly] on the final exam.

If you have an A and already are passing the class, why take an exam on all of what you have learned, when it is very obvious that you understand the material. Our school should definitely look into this.

Kayla Rousseau, senior

C OPINION

Follow these columnists online at thecspn.com

PAGE 9 | APRIL 20, 2012

C Columns

Media doesn’t have collaboration anymore

On the verge of greater things Julia Halpin

Branden Labarowski

Being on Welfare doesn’t make you a person lazy

Relationships are a nice yet mysterious business

Janica Kaneshiro | Editor-in-Chief

Thom Carter | Staff Writer

I’m sick of hearing people say that Welfare is a program for America’s laziest scumbag.

For some reason, when people picture welfare, they tend to picture President Obama ladling wads of money into the pockets of people living easy lives in their La-Z-Boy recliners. I’m not sure that people realize that usually welfare is a system of food stamps and minimalism that can possibly buy you six cans of peaches, four ounces of black eyed peas and, if you prove needy enough, perhaps even a quarter of next month’s heating bill. Not exactly living the high-life.

Now, I’m not going to pretend that there aren’t people who cheat the system. But the vast majority of the people on welfare desperately need it. Whether it’s because they were born into a cycle of poverty they can’t break, or they’ve had a hard time and can’t seem to catch a break, it’s a lifestyle that the people gutsy enough to proclaim that welfare is an outdated system couldn’t begin to imagine. I, myself, couldn’t grasp the idea of what welfare even was before I met somebody trying to live off of it.

A girl I started working with is, well, admittedly, pretty weird. She initially had problems fitting in with the other servers at good ol’ TGIFridays, and she said a lot of bizarre things that I had trouble making sense of. How she handled being stiffed by a table, though, made me understand her a little better. $125 dollar check, and she made a measly eight dollars. As she watched them walk out the door, she said, “Guess I’ll have spread the loaf of bread to my name a little thinner.” I had no idea what she meant by that, but by inquiring, I found out that though she had a job as a server, and at 25 years old, she was on welfare.

At first I though, c’mon, a pretty mid-twenties girl can’t have it so bad she needs free food from the government, right? But as she explained that was working to get her father through chemotherapy, my judgments dropped away. On top of that, her father’s primary caretaker, her older brother, recently passed away, and she had to sell her car to continue her father’s chemo treatments. Well, wouldn’t luck have it that her father passed away shortly after. Now, it’s just her. One 25 year old, able-bodied girl who can’t seem to catch a break with some government money and a loaf of bread to her name.

I know people around here will just say I’m a democrat trying to promote socialism and spread money from the pockets that earned it to the pockets of the lazy who stand and do nothing. But before making that judgment, I’d like for those people to consider all the people they know on welfare, and then consider to what degree laziness is measured. For me, I’m not an idiot, I know people cheat the system, but I’d rather three guilty men go free than let one innocent suffer in a sense. I know an innocent, and if I have to let three cheaters pocket my money so that other people like her can get a chance at a better future, by golly, I’ll take it.

C What You Think “The main things I look for when I’m thinking about a political affiliation are more social issues since I don’t really have to pay taxes or anything like that so I have the benefit of looking more at where a political candidate stands on the social issues and that’s the main thing for me.

Economics obviously are important but not as big as social issues.”

John Quinn, sophomore

I’ve never been particularly adept when conversing with the opposite sex. My efforts are sparse and naïve, holding the notion that skewed humor and useless knowledge sparks playful dialogue.

In actuality, I don’t think the approach has attracted any actual females—only weirdly intrigued them. They take more to me being a kid who usually remains stoic in the background, chiming in whenever he catches wisps of conversation that remotely interests him. The chimes are ill-advised.

I’m not one to preach about forming relationships and the events that unfold shortly thereafter. They infuriate me to excruciatingly high levels, oozing glitzy, superficial sap that most of us find ourselves regretfully washing off our hands at one time or another. That has been the case in nearly every instance for me. On my fingertips, the stuff tends to congeal before it really has set any foundation, steadfastly cracking away as a result.

But love isn’t of the same resin. I learnt that on March 12 in the ungodly hours of the morning watching F.W. Murnau’s “Sunrise” on the family laptop. A sweeping silent of lyrical quality, the film has more to say about the fleeting emotion than any other movie made after. Watch it if you can get your hands on a copy.

It’s a sad fact that I don’t own a family cottage in a sleepy rural hamlet like the couple in “Sunrise,” but I have aspirations. Romance is abundant in such a location and church bells ring with clarity. But that era passed long ago. Mr. Darcy and Ms. Bennet will forever remain fictitious no matter how hard I or anyone else tries.

And I do try hard. No, I’m not saving for that quaint home in the foothills of Northumberland, but I’m allowed to dream. “Trying” closely pertains to my perpetual social critiques of the student body that I constantly find myself drowning in. That’s not a cry for help. I’m up to my neck in irritability spurred from unintelligible chatter that any normal, well regarded young man would find adorable— not soaked in ignorance that provokes my mental gag reflex.

Therefore, you would think that the relationships where I do find myself involved would be reminiscent of epic love stories that nestle their way into our waning hearts. That’s never the case. I have the same lack of understanding every adolescent suffers from. We think we know what we want, but in actuality we don’t, at least not now. All the whimsy that I reiterate in doomed conversation and pieces such as this never goes far enough to truly unearth what my feeble mindedness never has the audacity to solve.

What factors help determine your political identity?

“I’d have to say my family; I guess I follow the views of what my family and my parents think most of the time.”

Margo Walton, sophomore

“I watch a lot of “Colbert Report,” so I don’t identify myself with a party politically. In terms of where I get my views from it’s probably the media, because I don’t really talk politics to my family or friends.”

Nate Webb, senior

“I don’t really follow anything personally so I’d probably just go with my parents, I just go with what they say.”

Collin Nissen, junior

“I would say my parents affect [my political identity] because what they believe, I kind of live with so I would follow in their footsteps, and also friends because it’s kind of like a bandwagon.”

Rachel Siegrist, freshman

compiled by Katherine Hansen

“I’m probably most influenced by my family and my parents because I know that my judgment will probably be skewed a little bit by what their belief is, but I do trust their judgment. They seem to choose the right, moral thing and in a candidate that’s probably what I would value.”

Abigail Snarr, junior

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Letters

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Mason students should learn to relax Dear Editor, I feel like high school students take certain obstacles too seriously. High school and your teenage years should be the best time of your life and should be all about having fun. I understand that we all go through tough times but we need to realize that we have so much to live for. We have grown up in a society full of judgments that we are forced to face.

When we face these judgments, we become stronger.

I just want people to understand that you only live once and when you face something that may seem like the end of the world at the time, it will get better tomorrow.

Mallory Young, senior

Election buzz starts among students Dear Editor, I look forward to the 2012 general presidential election. With the political process in full swing right now, it is very interesting to see who is going to be the Republican nominee. Something that intrigues me is the relationship between amount of campaign money spent and the number of votes gathered. I see that Mitt Romney spends millions of dollars campaigning (some of which is mudslinging) and gets a lot of votes in return. Meanwhile, his competition, like Rick Santorum, does not have deep war chests to tap into and subsequently receive fewer votes.

But the real question to be asked here is if the Republican disarray will affect their presidential chances in the general election. It seems to be a weakness of the party. With several splintering groups like the Tea Party and the Occupy Wall Street Movements, it is hard to satisfy everyone. Therefore, the only way what a Republican can take the office this fall is if he is able to unite the party together. Otherwise, we can add four more years to Barack Obama’s tenure as the President of the United States of America.

Kaushik Chagarlamudi, senior

“KONY 2012” plays on short attention spans Dear Editor, People seem to have very short attention spans these days. Fads come and go and what is popular one day is forgotton the next. The “Kony 2012” video was intended to play to our short attention spans. It simplifiied a problem to make it accesible to many and was successful at doing so. But by aiming at the masses, it too was vulnerable to be forgotten--and as you can see, it has.

If the makers of the “KONY” video really wanted to affect change, they should have grounded their resources on a different problem first--making our attention spans longer.

Sahir Rama, senior

APRIL 20, 2012

Beach Waterpark closes after 27 years Closure of park leaves many MHS teens unemployed Branden Labarowski | Staff Writer

On March 9, 2012, The Beach Waterpark fore the start of the season putting new rides up,” Welage announced its decision to close its doors said. “They spent a lot of money to get that, and then to for the 2012 season. As the park closes, not have the kind of attendance they’d had in the past—I Mason is losing a major source of summer think it really affected them.” employment for teenagers, according to According to Business Courier, The Beach supplied the senior and former Beach lifeguard Ryan Greater Cincinnati area with over 500 jobs a year on averMumma. age. As this common source of summer work for Mason According to The Beach’s website, “a students disappears, Mumma said he predicts a “huge “challenging competitive and economic unemployment for teenagers.” climate and changing patron entertain“Those who can’t get a job at KI or restaurants, or even ment habits” were the reasons behind the the community center, [are] going to be out of a job or decision to close. According to Mumma, they’re going to be applying to a bunch of places and not the park has suffered a noticeable drop in photo by Miranda Carney attendance over the years.

After 27 years, The Beach Waterpark is closing due to the economy “My brother worked [at The Beach] a and a change in patronage. couple years back and he said it was incredibly busy, [but] when I worked there…it didn’t look hearing back,” Mumma said. “[They] are going to have to busy at all,” Mumma said. “If you go to Kings Island go back into our local area to get a job.”

Waterpark, it is packed compared to what The Beach Senior Cody Schrand, however, said that the closure’s has.” impact on teenage employment will be minimal.

Accounting and Entrepreneurs in Action teacher “There will be a few people who won’t be able to find Debra Gentene said that The Beach’s inability to jobs, but I don’t think a lot of people depended on [The compete with other amusement parks stems in Beach],” Schrand said. part from its status as a privately-owned company.

Gentene said that although she predicts some unemBecause it was privately-owned, she said, The Beach ployment, she believes it will be negated by the other lacked the revenue-raising opportunities that its opportunities opening up at Kings Island and Great Wolf publically-owned franchise competitors Kings Lodge. According to Gentene, the skills employees honed Island and Great Wolf Lodge have. at The Beach will make them more marketable elsewhere “Whenever Cedar Fair wants to make improvein the entertainment industry. ments to Kings Island, they can sell stock, and with “Any time you lose 500 jobs, it’s going to set a commuall the money they get they can put in a new waternity back…but at the same time, you have to look at the slide,” Gentene said. “Where[as with The] Beach, new opportunities that are being created by Kings Island if they want to improve their waterslide, they have and Great Wolf Lodge,” Gentene said. “As their revenue to go to the bank and get a loan, because they don’t increases, their employment is going to more likely have investors. …And I would say based on how old increase also. So I think what will happen is it will make that waterpark is, they would need to make imthose Beach employees more marketable elsewhere.” provements and just didn’t have the opportunity to As former Beach employees look for new jobs, they do that because they weren’t a public corporation.” have already begun taking the skills they learned at the Junior Ryan Welage said he blames The Beach’s waterpark to their new places of employment. Welage, inability to compete on the failure of new attractions who worked as a cook for the park’s Beachside Grill, said to attract visitors. According to Welage, The Beach he would like to continue pursuing the cooking career he installed two new rides—Rainforest Rapids and started at The Beach.

Toucan Lagoon—at the beginning of its 2011 season At any rate, as The Beach closes its doors, it will be taking that ultimately proved to be a loss of money for the with it an over 25-year-old tradition of supplying the city waterpark. of Mason with summertime entertainment. Welage said he “Last year…[The Beach] was trying to make a lot will miss the park. of improvements, so they spent a lot of money be“It was a fun place to go,” Welage said.

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Never been kissed

MHS senior is proud of never being kissed.

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Old fashioned influences

Spring fashion trending towards vintage look

Corynne Hogan | Staff Writer

As the vintage trend has increasingly gained in popularity, the blast from the past look has allowed styles and values of past decades to weave into today’s society’s everyday look.

Amy Scalia, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Cincy Chic, an online lifestyle publication for women in Greater Cincinnati, said the retro look is rising in popularity primarily because of America’s economical situation and from Hollywood influence.

“Fashion always reflects finance,” Scalia said. “Right now, [America is] experiencing a recession, so there’s a demand for the classics—silhouettes, colors and fabrics that stand the test of time.”

According to senior Alyssa Cousineau, a retro enthusiast, the vintage style is a look that compliments all body types.

“I believe, people are simply drawn to vintage is the fact that no matter what your body type is, it is so incredibly flattering,” Cousineau said.

“And who doesn’t want that beautiful pin up figure?”

Scalia said the new trend is a timeless look that mixes modern and past popular styles together.

“The retro look, to me, is all about the classic with a modern flair,” Scalia said.

“Oversized glasses...pronounced collars, button up blouses and dresses [are a few key looks this season].”

As opposed to some of the looks that thrived in the 90s, the retro trend offers a refined, chic style for women, according to Cousineau.

“Compared to the days of the grungy yet revealing fashions of the 90s, vintage fashion allows you to show just as much skin but still preserves that classy, sophisticated sense about you,” Cousineau said.

Cousineau said that the vintage trend is a style that only certain people will acquire and intertwine into their everyday apparel. “[The] retro [trend] can be defined as wearing a style from a previous decade and completely owning it,” Cousineau said. “I believe you were either born to love vintage and have a passion for wearing it or you weren’t. That’s just grand if you weren’t, because we need some people of today to create the next centuries’ retro look.”

“

[This outfit] is more of the secretary, mother, working housewife kind of look that was very popular in some of the upper class in the 60s.

”

“

The 1950s bikini...is more [of a] modest fit for people now a days who don’t want to show all of their skin like a bikini, but still want the feel. It’s going to be flattering on anyone.

“

”

[This dress] is reflective of the late 40s, early 50s with the peplum and the lace top because you saw a lot of lower cut dresses but since it would be immodest to have that much skin showing, they would cover it up with a lacy little shrug.

”

photos by Corynne Hogan

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oraging aith

MHS students stray away from organized religion to find their own path to faith

Thom Carter | Staff Writer

photos by Corynne Hogan

An increasing number of people are choosing to disregard organized religion. According to TIME, 16.1 percent of the United States’ population consider themselves non-affiliated with any belief.

Senior Jimena Esparza is one student who said that she believes in God, but doesn’t associate herself with any specific religion. When others ask what she considers herself, Esparza said that she simply tells them “nothing.”

“I don’t believe in defining what you are,” Esparza said. “[Doing so] just separates everyone.”

The 12.1 percent Esparza is a part of is growing rapidly. According to TIME, their numbers have more than doubled since 1990. Esparza said she thinks that the growth directly correlates to a more accepting culture that has begun to appreciate diversity.

“I think that we’ve seen [acceptance] a lot and not just in religion, but also in gay rights and anti-discrimination concerning different ethnicities,” Esparza said.

Sophomore Chris McMillan said he is an atheist and rejects the belief of any god.

According to him, he’s always questioned religion and its core beliefs and said he doesn’t see a logical argument in what they preach.

The increase in the non-denominational population is, according to McMillan, a result of scientific research and a better understanding of the world around us. He said society has naturally progressed away from religion. McMillan said that now, sharing the fact that you may be a non-believer isn’t as frowned upon as it once was, another element that, according to him, has contributed to the growth.

“Now that people are more comfortable with saying that [they are non-denominational], I think that we don’t have to go back to [the past],” McMillan said.

Sophomore Ian Cossman said he considers himself

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agnostic. Instead of believing in a god, Cossman said he acknowledges the fact that the existence of a god or gods cannot be proven or disproven, remaining indifferent on the fact of whether a god exists or not.

“I know I can’t prove or disprove [existence] as of now, so I’m going to work on things that other people are working on now,” Cossman said.

According to Esparza, religion’s ability to divide people and create strife mainly explains why she chooses not to join or believe in a particular faith.

“I believe in God, and I believe that he wants us not to be separated,” Esparza said.

Much of Esparza’s non-affiliation also stems from individuals who, according to her, force their beliefs on others. Esparza said she respects people who hold their beliefs in high regard, but when she is pressured into attending religious gatherings, it only backfires. Instead, Esparza said she prefers when religion is taught to her. “[Religious members] have every right to teach and enlighten people, but I think they should respect other’s boundaries,” Esparza said.

Cossman said he has had similar experiences, although he said people tend not to force religion on him when he explains that he is agnostic. It was middle school when he said he began to ponder the notion of religion, especially when he saw many of his friends going to church on Sundays.

Cossman said his parents are Baptists, and while they don’t attend Sunday practice, his sister still does. According to Cossman, his family didn’t instill their beliefs in him.

“My parents, they didn’t force their religion on me,” Cossman said. “They just let me choose my own.”

While he doesn’t deny or accept the existence of a god, Cossman said that he does take issue with some aspects of

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organized religion, especially when dealing with morality and religious doctrines.

“Looking at religious books and literature, …I don’t really agree with [them] morally,” Cossman said. “We’re a different society completely, so we should look at today’s society rather than the pasts.”

While the atheistic McMillan doesn’t believe in God, he said he does appreciate some aspects of religion, especially the morals that spur from religious teachings. He also said he respects the diverse religious pool in the U.S. and the various opinions that go with it. That doesn’t, however, mean he thinks religion is necessary in order to gain a moral code, and he said that he can have his own morals without the influence of religion.

“I look at the world from my perspective and how I affect others, and I base my morals off of that—how I can improve myself, others, society, etc.,” McMillan said.

Faith is an aspect of religion that the agnostic Cossman said he hasn’t given up on entirely. He said he admits that the existence of a god would be cool, but prefers not knowing. And when faced with a struggle, such as a relative with a lifethreatening disease or other traumatic events, hope and faith are more important than scientific fact.

“Sometimes it works better to have faith even though science might say otherwise,” Cossman said.

McMillan said he has different thoughts on faith, and that while at times it’s something that, inevitably, we look to, it doesn’t shake his belief that he is in control of himself and his abilities as a human being.

“I think that’s just human nature to believe that we can be controlled by something greater than us,” McMillan said. “But

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for the most part, I believe in myself, and what I can do myself, every day.”

In the end, happiness, according to Esparza, is pivotal. Despite beliefs, opinion and the control some organized religion may hold, she said that if you’re comfortable, no matter what affiliation, then that’s worth celebrating.

“I think [happiness is] more important— whatever makes you feel happy—and I feel happier not being in a religion,” Esparza said.

The

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APRIL 20, 2012 | PAGE 17

king of burgers Fast

Food

Sit-Down Restaurants

Burger Joints

Hometown Restaurants

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Megan McCormack | Staff Writer

With all the burger places in Mason, it’s nearly impossible for all Mason High School students to agree on the best burger. All places have different tastes, varieties and selections. The Chronicle decided to investigate this by surveying over 300 random MHS students.

We broke the burger places down into four categories: hometown and sit-down restaurants, burger joints, and fast-food places. After conducting the poll having students choose their favorite in each category and then pick their favorite overall, the answer is clear: Red Robin won thirty-four percent of the vote and won best burger in Mason.

However, not all students agree. Senior Chris Wermes said that he prefers the burgers of Culvers to those of Red Robin. “[Culvers] has the best burger because it’s always fresh and it’s cooked to order so you don’t have to worry about eating any frozen patties,” Wermes said.

“They are very consistent with them; they are fresh. I like a greasier burger.”

Senior Alexis Enis, who used to work at Culvers and now works at Red Robin, said that she agrees that Culvers has the best burger in Mason.

“Culvers [has the best burger] because they make each burger personally, it’s not frozen,” Enis said. “It

has its own special taste to it and they don’t taste like any other burgers that I’ve tasted, at least.”

On the other hand, senior Chris Mosley said that the best burger in Mason comes from the kitchen of Quatman’s Café.

“I’d say Quatman’s is the best in Mason because it’s affordable and it has the hometown feel to it,” Mosley said. “[Quatman’s] taste like it’s homemade from original beef.”

Enis said that she can see why so many students chose Red Robin as they’re favorite burger. While she didn’t choose to work at Culvers although they had her favorite burger, she did choose to work at

Red Robin because of the quality of food and atmosphere.

“I worked at Red Robin because I knew they had amazing burgers and fries and I love it there,” Enis said.

Mosley also said that the quality and taste of Quatman’s Café’s makes it the best burger he’s had, not just within the restaurants of Mason.

“A fast food chain…doesn’t even taste like real meat,” Mosley said. “Quatman’s taste delicious; it’s the best burger ever. And actually, I would have Quatman’s overall [the other burgers I’ve had]. I really enjoy it.”

Enis said that Red Robin was voted best burger not just because of the quality of its burgers, but the family atmosphere the restaurant exerts.

“I don’t think it’s [just] because…of the burgers,” Enis said. “I think it’s because of the people that work there and the family oriented we are. I feel like we’re really outgoing at Red Robin. And then also, along with that, the great food we have: you can basically get anything at Red Robin and it will taste really good.”

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MHS senior is “old fashioned” when it comes to recieving her first kiss Julia Halpin | Associate Editor

Most teenage girls fantasize over romantic moments like the baseball scene in “Never Been Kissed” when Josie Gellar, played by Drew Barrymore, narrates her first kiss, describing it as, “That thing, that moment, when you kiss someone and everything around becomes hazy and the only thing in focus is you and this person.”

For senior Allie Purvis, that “hazy” moment has yet to happen. She said she puts much more importance on her first kiss than most of her fellow peers do, describing “old-fashioned.”

“I just feel like a kiss is something special,” Purvis said. “It makes me sound so cheesy, [but] I’m old fashioned. I feel like kissing someone that you don’t have feelings for isn’t right. That’s something special that should be saved for someone that you want to be in a relationship with.”

Though Purvis is a senior, rather than taking the typical route of being embarrassed by not having a first

kiss, she said that she is proud of herself for saving that special moment. She also said that because she is satisfied with her decision, people thinking she is different or strange doesn’t affect her.

“I’m not embarrassed about [not having my first kiss],” Purvis said. “A lot of the times I get made fun of, but I’m [okay with that.] I’m proud of it. I know people look at me differently for it, but I truly feel that… having that first kiss is something special.”

Due to her outgoing and flirty personality, Purvis said that most people are surprised when they hear she hasn’t had her first kiss. She said that even though most

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APRIL 20, 2012 of her friends have experienced their first kiss, she doesn’t feel left out and is content with the fact that it hasn’t happened yet.

For her, she said the best route is to be willing to wait.

“I’m patient about it,” Purvis said. “If I were to be crazy about getting my first kiss, I would seem like a psycho. …It’s not that I’m even nervous about having my first kiss… it just hasn’t happened yet; It will happen when it happens.”

Most people, according to Purvis, tend to experience their first kiss in middle school. She said that she went through her “awkward stage” in middle school, and wasn’t as confident talking to boys as everyone else seemed to be. According to her, as she gets older, she’s noticed that boys tend to be reluctant of a girl who has never had her first kiss. “[People] think it’s uncommon to find someone that hasn’t had their first kiss who is now a senior,” Purvis said. “I was awkward in seventh and eighth grade. I will admit, I did not talk to guys; I was scared to. …I think, as you get older, some people shy away from people who haven’t had their first kiss yet. I think it kind of freaks them out. They [think], ‘If you haven’t had your first kiss yet, then why would I want to date you?’”

Though she is happy with her decision to wait until she’s in a relationship, Purvis said that she still has her days when she is less confident. Feeling like the only one, Purvis said, is something she experiences often.

“I haven’t been like depressed about it [but]…when you’ve never been in a relationship and your friends have, and they’ve had their first kiss and they’ve had experience with all that, you feel like a loser,” Purvis said. “I’ve definitely had those days.”

Jokes from friends are something that are targeted pretty frequently at the fact that she has not had her first kiss, Purvis said. According to her, most of the “making-fun” comes from her guy friends, and guys that she might be interested in who often label her as a “freezer” for not having her first kiss yet. For other people, Purvis said that kissing can happen on a dayto-day basis, which is very different from her mind set on kissing.

Being close to entering college, is something that Purvis said makes her more worried about not having her first kiss. Because it seems like most people who are in college have had their first kiss, Purvis said she is more nervous about being the only one.

“I mean, I’m okay that [my first kiss] hasn’t happened, but I also wish that I would’ve had my first kiss [in high school] just because…you get experience in college, but at the same time, sometimes, a first kiss, you get nervous, and people in college would expect you to have already had your first kiss and to not be

PAGE 21 me, but…I jokingly looked the other way.”

Purvis said that most people place more importance in the fact that she hasn’t had a first kiss then she does herself. According to her, she wants her first kiss, but it isn’t of highest importance.

“I don’t think [a first kiss] is a necessity,” Purvis said.

“I don’t think it makes you who you are. …

Whether you’ve had your first kiss or not, I don’t think that determines what type of person you are. I kind of laugh at people who think that it’s crazy that I haven’t had my first kiss yet.”

Most importantly, Purvis said that she is very proud of her decision to wait for her own special moment.

“I just want to wait until I find someone that I truly like to have my first kiss with,” Purvis said. “It’s not something you should be ashamed of. Let it happen with someone you like.”

“I haven’t been depressed about it, [but]… when you’ve never been in a relationship and your friends have, and they’ve had their first kiss and they’ve had experience with all that, you feel like a loser. I’ve definitely had those days.” nervous about kissing someone,” Purvis said.

Having waited until her first kiss, Purvis said that she has had moments where she has come close to having her first kiss. Being adamant on her beliefs towards waiting, Purvis said these moments have usually come with a hint of awkwardness.

“There’s been times where a guy has tried to kiss me, but it wasn’t someone that I liked, it was a friend, so I shrugged it off or whatever,” Purvis said. “It wasn’t intimate, they were goofing around, …and they would come up, and get really close to my face and try to kiss

photo by Erica Boden

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Growing up too fast Technology-based culture causes loss of tween years in children Taylor Telford | Staff Writer

In common culture, a “Tween” is defined as a child who is anywhere from eight to 12 years old Although by every standard tweens are still considered to be children, they are behaving more and more like teenagers according to Mason Intermediate Principal Greg Sears.

Sears said that in his years in education, he has witnessed changes in tween behavior patterns, trending towards more mature interests and behaviors.

“I think that kids are wanting to grow up much faster,” Sears said.

Sears, who has a tween-age daughter, said that there big differences between being a child in today’s world as opposed to several years ago.

“I have a nine year old at home and I see that what she’s doing versus what I was doing when I was nine are very different things,” Sears said.

These changes are spawned in part by differences that have occurred in our modern age, including technology, according to Sears. Sears said he believes that technology allows kids to access information that they might not have otherwise been privy to.

“Technologies like cell phones, iPads and iPods have a lot of versatility to them,” Sears said. “And now students have the tendency to be exposed to things at an earlier age than they once were.”

While technology plays a role in aging kids at a faster rate, the marketing and advertising could be viewed as some of the biggest culprits for changes in behavioral patterns. According to businessweek.com, the term tween actually originated in the marketing sect, in order to categorize children of that age range. And while the tween demographic is a major target for advertisers and marketing, they are also commonly targeted by the media.

Senior Lauren Deluca has seen the effects of the media on younger kids first hand. Deluca has 7 year old sister, on the fringes of officially qualifying as a tween and Deluca says that the television shows she watches have a huge impact on her younger sister’s behavior.

“You can tell after she’s watched TV because then she tries to act like the people she sees on TV,” Deluca said.

“She’ll see people on the TV shows she watches gossiping, and then later she’ll be sitting down playing with Barbie dolls and she’ll be making them gossip, repeating exact lines off the TV show.”

According to Deluca, today’s television shows are being intercepted by audiences that they are not intended for, which is another example of tweens reaching beyond their current age in an attempt to be more like teens.

“Kids aren’t interested in cartoons and things that are targeted towards them,” Deluca said. “My sister will say, ‘What’s Nick Jr.?’ and I’ll say, ‘It’s TV for kindergarten and first graders.” She’ll say, ‘No way, that stuff is for

babies!’ And she’ll list all of the stuff she watches, and it’s the same as stuff kids a few years older are supposed to be watching.”

The content of kid’s television shows today has also shifted, according to Deluca, and the topics and behaviors they depict are not ideal for developing children to be exposed to.

“I think that shows I watched on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon are a lot different than the shows that are on there today,” Deluca said. “The girls on those shows are bratty, they’re unrealistic…I don’t understand why they would want to be instilling these values in little kids.”

Tweens are not only influenced by things they see on television-- they are also shaped by the people who surround them. Maria Sanchez, a fourth grader at MI, said that the person who influences her and her interests the most is her older brother.

“All younger siblings are like copycats, so I usually just try things [my brother] tries,” Sanchez said. “I usually just end up copying him, and it turns out to be really fun.”

Other tweens, such as nine year old Lucas Teufel who is a fourth grader at MI, say that their biggest influences are their friends.

Teufel said that, along with the internet, his best friend is responsible for introducing him to the majority of the things that he likes.

“My friend Dale shows me lots of cool stuff,” Teufel said.

While being a tween in today’s society can present potential challenges that previous generations may not have had to face, there are also some very positive changes occurring within the age group.

Seventh grade teacher Mark Campbell gets the opportunity to see today’s tweens make the transition into full-blown adolescence.

After teaching for fifteen years, Campbell said that the new students he is receiving in recent school years are much closer to being teenagers than generations he taught when he first started his career as a teacher- and in Campbell’s opinion this can be a great thing.

“I’ve seen a shift in priorities and responsibilities,” Campbell said. “There’s a level of maturity in kids now that wasn’t always there.” photo by Janica Kaneshiro

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APRIL 20, 2012

C FEATURE

Person of Interest Freshman Eliot Docherty is a talented musician who has started composing his own songs, creating “an outlet for [him] to escape.”

How long have you been writing lyrics and what is your inspiration?

“I started writing music with the idea of making my own music. Just this last summer I started digging deeper into song meanings and what they were about. It became an outlet for me to escape. I want people to feel the way I do when I jam to my tunes.”

What is your favorite song you have written? “[My] favorite song I have written is called Gravedigger. ...It’s basically about someone who thinks they are invincible… it speaks to me about issues with every day high school friendships.”

What is your greatest fear and how do you overcome it? “[My greatest fear] is probably being alone or getting kidnapped. I’m a socializer. Being alone is [scary] for me. I just don’t think about it as much as I used to which helps.”

If you could have any animals as a pet, what would it be and why?

“Definitely an ostrich. Who doesn’t want to show off their pet ostrich? Plus they are very fast.”

If it could rain something other than rain, what would it be and why?

“ITunes gift cards and gummy worms. First, I never have iTunes money, and second, I like gummy worms.”

If you could state your outlook on life in one sentence, what would it be and why?

“Be yourself…I try to live life to the fullest and do what I want. Don’t let society change who you are.”

compiled by Miranda Carney

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Smoke and mirrors

photo art by Jami Bechard and Etica Boden

APRIL 20, 2012

Despite laxed regulations on marijuana, MHS remains firm on policy Nicole Huser | Staff Writer

In recent years the legalization of marijuana has become a topic of debate on the national level. The government spends $42 billion each year on arrests concerning the use and sale of marijuana. According to Vice Principal William Rice, Mason High School has taken precautions of their own to stop the use and possession of marijuana on school grounds, ranging from drug dogs to counseling.

The ramifications for bringing marijuana onto the MHS campus are serious and can range in harshness depending on the number of offenses, according to Rice.

“If we were to find somebody with marijuana here at school, the bare minimum would be a ten day suspension from school with a recommendation for expulsion,” Rice said. “Also, in order to come back to school whenever that expulsion is up, they have to go have a drug and alcohol assessment, which is privately done with a counselor. Whatever that counselor recommends the student do, they have to follow through with.”

According to Rice, one of the main tools the school uses to stop the use and possession of marijuana on the campus is the drug dogs. “[The drug dogs are] a partnership with myself and Officer Smith,” Rice said. “We come up with the day that the drug dogs come in, and we don’t tell anyone the day until the day before. So, no other administrators will know until the day before because we try to hold that secret.”

According to junior Anastassia Jenjebir, although the drug dogs are a smart idea to keep the presence of marijuana on campus down to a minimum, there are still flaws in the system.

“I think [the drug dogs are] pretty effective, but you also don’t have the dogs coming into the classrooms and checking what’s on the students, because a lot of kids that bring marijuana to school aren’t going to leave the drug in their locker; they’re going to have it on them,” Jenjebir said.

On top of the drug dogs, according to Rice MHS has connections with programs outside of the school that help prevent the use of marijuana and other drugs amongst students.

“The school has a partnership with the Talbert House,” Rice said. “The Talbert House is primarily an adult treatment program, and they have some locations here in Cincinnati for drug addiction and alcoholism. We have a partnership with them where we identify some students that may have a family history of addiction, or they personally have a history, and they go through a curriculum here at school. It’s pretty anonymous, so not many people know who those kids are; we quietly get them out of class so that they can take a course through the Talbert House that better educates them about the influences in [their] life and how to avoid the negative ones such as drugs and alcohol.”

According to sophomore Becca Martin, the negative connotation surrounding the use of marijuana could be overshadowing some of the positives it could bring if it were legalized.

“I don’t have a strong stance because I can see both sides of the argument,” Martin said. “It’d be okay if [marijuana] was legalized because we wouldn’t be using so many resources and manpower on hunting down people that are using the drug. Also, we would get the tax benefits which would help our economy…

I can see why someone would want to legalize it.”

According to Rice, regardless of how the law changes regarding the use of marijuana turn out, the same rules concerning the drug will stay in place at MHS. “I don’t think that there will ever be a day where a student will be able to be under the influence here at school,” Rice said. “Go back in history and look at when some parents were allowed to drink, because the legal drinking age used to be 18. Even then, you couldn’t drink right before coming to school and come to school under the influence. We would still maintain the same order and sanity here at school.

So, regardless of what the laws are, when a student is here at school they won’t be able to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol or have it with them.” statistics contriuted from highereducation.org and alternet.org

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C SPORTS

PAGE 27 | APRIL 20, 2012

C Sports Columnist “Linsanity, oh Linsanity. Remember when that was the biggest thing on not just TV or the internet, but anything you could get your hands on?”

SEE PAGE 30

Varsity baseball player, junior Drew Johnson, practices his swing with his BBCOR bat (“Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution”) at practice.

photo by Mitchell Matacia

New bats decrease homeruns but increase safety James Nosek | Staff Writer

The “Dark Knight” has seen its last pitch for the Mason High School baseball team.

The “Dark Knight” is what senior pitcher Zach Boden calls his all-black Omaha TPX aluminum baseball bat and for this year’s spring season, it is more of a recreational item than the fierce tool to hit the ball around the diamond with the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) mandating a nationwide discontinuation of the BESR bat (“Ball Exit Speed Ratio”) at the high school level.

Now for high school competition nationwide, the NFHS mandates the BBCOR bat (“Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution”)— a newly constructed type of bat thats performance is similar to a wood bat, according to the NFHS. That means Boden’s black Omaha TPX, a type of BESR, will no longer be legal for this year’s season. But that doesn’t mean Boden is disposing of it for good.

“I’m not getting rid of my bat by any means,” Boden said. “I’ll still use it even if I have to play in pickup games or any other area leagues. I’m not

going to buy a $400 bat to play one year.”

Junior shortstop Connor McVey was also attached to Boden’s Omaha TPX bat, and faced the same dilemma. In last year’s season, McVey earned First Team All-GMC honors and batted .425 for the year, using Boden’s bat.

But for this season, McVey — like the rest of the team — had to find an alternative. The most logical solution: McVey said he bought a 2012 Marucci Black BBCOR bat for this year’s season, and he said he has loved it ever since the purchase, even if he misses Boden’s “Dark Knight.”

The NFHS defines the new BBCOR bat— which was put into effect January 1 of this year —to “reduce the trampoline effect of the bat on ball by using thicker barrel walls and/or barrel inserts, which has essentially minimized the ‘pop’ of the bat.”

“From a hitter’s perspective, I don’t really like the new bats because you can’t hit the ball as far or as hard,” junior Matt Beebe said.

Compared to its BESR counterpart, the BBCOR will have less of a “ping” sound, which is so often associated with aluminum baseball bats, due to its thicker bat structure that will offer a more stiffened and smaller “sweet spot.” In an episode of the ESPN television show, Sports Science, they said that the new BBCOR bats’ “sweet spot,” will decrease by about two inches and the velocity at which the ball comes off the bat will be about five percent slower.

“I’m in favor of the [BBCOR bats]… I don’t think they change a hitter’s ability to make good contact,” Assistant coach Curt Bly said. “A good hitter is going to be able to hit with whatever they take up to the plate. It doesn’t change the mechanics at all, but it could take away some cheap homeruns and hits.”

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The idea of “small ball”—which junior Lee Sponseller describes as a stronger emphasis on bunting, hit-and-runs, and stealing bases—is a style of play that the Mason varsity baseball team has always focused on, along with strong defense and pitching, Bly said. But that doesn’t mean pure hitting or hitting with power are other focuses that head coach Ken Gray and his Comets have ever disregarded.

“Coach Gray has always allowed hitters to hit,” Bly said. “But with our situation, having pitching being one of our strengths, we definitely see [the change to BBCOR bats] as a positive for our team that plays good defense and has strong pitching.”

Despite players and coaches reacting to the BBCOR bats from both sides of the spectrum, the main intent, and the reason why the new bats have been put in effect, is to make the game safer, Bly said.

“With the BBCOR, it makes it impossible to hit a ball faster than a human can react from 60 feet, six inches (the distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate),” Bly said. “That is really the point.”

Bly said that when BESR bats were being made to improve the game, they were manufactured for a focus in performance, rather than safety.

“As the bat manufacturers starting making these bats and as technology improved over the last 20 years, the bats have become almost like a golf club,” Bly said. “They tried to find ways to make the ball go farther and increase success. But with that, the safety issue became something that was a biproduct...so, they had to change their research and develop a bat that was safer.”

When the Comets opened their 2012 season in late March with a 9-2 win over Lakota West, junior third baseman Drew Johnson had mixed feelings about using the BBCOR bat for the first time in an official game. He said he wasn’t the biggest fan of

photo art by Erica Boden

the BBCOR bats, because they reduce the power of the bat, but his main focus was on the pitcher that stood before him, not on the bat. In his first at-bat of the season Johnson hit a slow rolling ground ball to the first basemen and grounded out; he said he wasn’t impressed with himself.

“It was a terrible at-bat,” Johnson said. “It was not a solid hit at all and you could say it was because of the BBCOR.” To redeem the weak ground out, Johnson countered a few innings later with what he called a “very solid” base hit up the middle. Johnson added that

there was an obvious difference between the two at-bats because when he got his single up the middle, he hit the ball square on the barrel—the sweet spot— and that is crucial with the tougher hitting conditions of the new bats.

Although using the BBCOR bats will be a tough transition for not only the Mason varsity baseball team, but the whole country, Boden said everyone will eventually get used to them.

“I don’t think the bats will make a huge difference...” Boden said. “A hard hit ball is a hard hit ball, no matter what bat you’re using.”

C The Numbers

2.56 Alex Schut leads the MHS volleyball team with an average of 2.56 kills per game.

47 Sarah Browning is fifth in the GMC for strikeouts with 47.

6

The boys’ tennis team is undefeated so far this year with a 6-0 record.

That is good for first in the GMC.

126 14.78 The varsity baseball team leads the GMC in runs scored this year (126)

14.78 is Asad Maiden’s GMC leading time for the 110 meter high hurdles event.

results as of April 16.

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APRIL 20, 2012

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Girls’ varsity track captures meet wins and school records early in season James Nosek | Staff Writer

Senior Monica Lake has had nothing short of a successful high school career. She has won a state title, won numerous conference championships and led the GMC statistically in her personal events, including this year in the 1600 meter run.

But this success is something that Lake said she likes to share and enjoy with her teammates more than anything. This season, Lake has been able to mix her own successes with the teams, as the Mason varsity girls’ track team has had a fast start to the early season—placing first in both the LaSalle Invitational in March and the Coaches Classic Track Championship in early April.

“Every meet, I’m trying to get as many points as I can to help my team win,” Lake said.

Getting first place finishes in important regular season events, and breaking a few school records in the process, has head coach Tony Affatato very pleased with the status of his team.

At the Lebanon Relays on April 13, both the 4x1600 MHS record, which was previously held by the 2007 squad, and the Sprint Medley record, which was previously held by the 2004 relay team, were broken. The 4x1600 relay was broken by

C Trading Punches Why is it that every athlete who gets mixed up with a Kardashian ends up in a huge mess professionally and personally? (ie; Lamar Odom, Kris Humphries) ?

From left to right: junior Lauren Wood, senior Bridget McElhenny, junior Tori Martin senior Monica Lake and head distance coach Kelly Affatato.

about 34 seconds.

“Our strength this year is being very balanced as a team,” Affatato said. “We have been good all across the board-- in both our field and running events-- and that has really been an advantage for us.”

Affatato said winning the Coaches Classic was one of the main highlights of the season because of the size of the event, which included around 40 teams, but a bigger and more well-known event is next on the Comets’ schedule.

Tonight Mason will compete in the 49th annual Volunteer Track Classic, an event they placed third in last season, and will represent Ohio as one of the 23 different states running in the event.

Teams from Canada will also be running.

The reason they end up in a huge mess is the Joseph Spencer fact that when an athlete starts dating one of them, their life goes even further under the microscope. The press cover them in a negative light right away because people like to see the dirt on the Kardashians. This is added pressure that puts strain on these athletes professionally and personally. This is why these athlete end up in huge messes. I just hope it doesn’t occur with music stars... good luck Kanye.

photo contributed

“It is good to get away and face some good competition,” Affatato said. “It is a nice treat to run against some different teams.”

Although the Comets will focus on finishing the regular season on the highest note possible, the post season is where they have thrived in the past, and this year that is no exception.

“The goal is to try and send as many runners to a state title,” Affatato said. “Even if some don’t win, it is still a great accomplishment to get there.”

With the high standards put in place, Lake said her Comets will try their best to repeat the successes of last year, and build on them as well.

“We have really high expectations,” Lake said.

“We want to defend our titles from last year, and get back to state.”

I think it’s a pretty simple explanation why athletes get their world James Nosek turned upside down when their with Kim Kardashian: she’s crazy. Just watching her show I came to the conclusion that she would be a horrible person to date because she’s too into herself and she is about as dumb as the pencil I wrote this with.

Her good looks don’t balance out her stupidity. So, for all the athletes that have been with her, specifically Kris Humphries, I feel bad for you guys.

Look how Kris is doing without her in his life. I would feel the same way.

All of the Kardashians are portrayed as California bimbos who Katelyn Cain are pretty much famous for no reason, so once you’re associated with that, it’s hard not to be sucked into that shallow “Kardashian” world. Ever since the Kardashian family got their own TV show, they’ve had bad reputations built up around them, so when an athlete gets involved, it’s automatically negatively recieved beacuse of the negative views people have of the Kardashians. When you get involved with people like that, it’s hard not to have that negativity spill over into their professional life.

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APRIL 20, 2012

Four years on varsity, Kuehn sets high goals for final season Trista Kuehn uses experience to prepare for her future college lacrosse career Joseph Spencer | Staff Writer

Trista Kuehn has been the Mason varsity girls’ Kuehn set high goals for her team in her senior sealacrosse team’s starting goalie for the past four years. son.

Though she had to fight to earn the spot playing “Our goal is to make it to the state final four,” goalie her freshman year, it was something that she Kuehn said. “As a team this is what motivates us day seemed destined to do. to day.”

“When I went to my first lacrosse practice in third While Kuehn has set goals for her senior season, grade they asked who would want to try goalie,” she also has her future planned out after high school, Kuehn said. “My parents instantaneously raised and will be playing on the first girls’ lacrosse team at their hand volunteering me to play since we new Coastal Carolina. nothing about lacrosse as a family. So, I consider it “I will part of Coastal Carolina’s first season of girls’ destiny that I became a goalie.” lacrosse,” Kuehn stated. “In my time there, I look be While Kuehn did not know much about playing a huge part in the beginning of the program and start goalie at the start, this spring she will earn her fourth tradition that will continue for years.” year lettermen, While Trista will move an accomplishon to the collegiate level, “After winning the spot, it gave me she said she hopes she will ment that Kuehn a lot of confidence to keep working always be remembered here said she is very proud of. and improving into the next years.” in Mason as the “Rage in the “My freshman Cage,” and wants to leave year I came in a lasting impact in her last and competed all spring for the spot [of goalie] all year of varsity lacrosse. spring,” Kuehn said. “After winning the spot, it gave “Being a four year varsity letterwoman has been me a lot of confidence to keep working and improvamazing,” Kuehn said. “To be able to win the spot as ing into the next years.” a freshman and then maintain the starting spot for Along with being a four year letterman, Kuehn was the next three years is amazing,” selected this year as an Under Amour All AmeriWhile Kuehn is proud of her accomplishment, she can. said she is focusing the most on the team’s success “Playing in the All-American game was awethis season. some,” Kuehn said. “To be able to play and com“This year as a team we set big goals,” Kuehn said. pete with the best players in the country was sweet “Our goal is to be the first Mason team to reach the and also a big learning point.” final four in Division I.” In addition to playing in the All-American game,

photo by Miranda Carney

C Sports Column With New York Knicks player Jeremy Lin’s recent regular season ending injury, “Linsanity” popularity will dwindle.

James Nosek | Staff Writer

Linsanity, oh Linsanity.

Remember when that was the biggest thing on not just TV or the internet, but anything you could get your hands on?

Thanks to back page headlines and People Magazine, Jeremy Lin became a worldwide phenomenon. Lin’s story needs a movie, that’s how special it was. But was he as good as promoted? Did everyone freak out like a typical New Yorker would?

Of course all the Tabloids thought he was that good, or is that their job? Or is it just because they over exemplify everything?

It’s a mix of all three, plus the fact that he broke very exclusive ethnic barriers in the process. But was it worth it Jeremy?

You can ask him that, but you’d be kidding yourself. It wasn’t his fault, he is just too likeable. He just came in, played really good, and withstood some racist ESPN headlines. You can blame the Tabloids and the world for that. Like good media should, they found the hottest thing, which is their job of course, and transformed it into a well crafted gem that seemed unbreakable, but it turned out to not be the fairytale ending the Big Apple was hoping for. That’s the other part of journalism; you can be eliminated from the news faster than I can click the backspace key.

Who’s Jeremy Lin? Lin’s recent injury, which is regular season ending, can be described as the end of his storied run. He could technically return for the playoffs, but you get the point, he won’t be the same if he did. His small, quiet and under the radar injury is exactly like his life right now. It’s sad, because he’s slowly deteriorating

from everyday life and from the NY tabs. They have some new toys to play with: “Tebow-Mania” and the clutch “Melo”? Who’s Jeremy Lin again?

But back to before, did he deserve all the attention?

Was he really that good?

No he wasn’t and still isn’t. The Knicks probably will get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, if they even make it, and Lin’s numbers overall, as a whole, don’t impress. Turnovers anyone? He had some great games but looking at the painting from afar, it isn’t completely finished. New York sent Lin to another planet, he’s on top of the world, or was.

But don’t throw a hissy fit when you read this, his story and what he did in the beginning of the Knicks’ “MSG Craze” is something that is once in a life time, but would it be as special or magnified in the matter it was if it wasn’t in the Big Apple?

Absolutely not.

APRIL 20, 2012

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