3. 8. 16

CRIER Vol. 50/Issue 9/March 18, 2016

MUNSTER HIGH SCHOOL

Page 7: Students discuss experiences with vaping

8808 COLUMBIA AVE, MUNSTER IN 46321

Do the arts matter?

UPCOMING n

Spring Break: No school from March 19-28 n Good

Friday: March 25 n Easter: March 27 n

Pennies for Patients Drive: Project X ends fundraiser today

INSIDE LOOK

With Youth Arts Month observed in March, students, teachers discuss importance of fine arts Page 10 Softball starts season with away game Thursday against Hanover Central at 4:30 p.m.

photos by Rachel Bishop, Olivia Hesterman, Bree Karl, Nicole Roberts, Jaylee Rodriguez

STATE OF THE ARTS Students participate in arts courses and art-related extracurricular activities. Clockwise from top left, Anisha Kondamuri, junior, cuts developed film negatives in Photography; Carlos Douglas, senior, and Kelsey Pappas, freshman, paint the art club mural; Micala Boyd, sophomore, looks at professional publications for design inspiration for the yearbook; Ani Arzumanian, junior, performs in the fall musical “Working”; Justin Gill, sophomore, molds clay in Ceramics I; Arlo Detmer, senior, plays the flute during Marching Band practice; Kendyll Reeves, freshman, volunteers to paint faces for Art Club; Mega Dafiaghor, senior, works on a piece in her sculpture class.

Page 2 Robotics team returns from first district competition and prepares for second district competition next week

Page 9 Students create brackets to participate in March Madness

Meena Kandallu Editor-in-Chief Art teacher Mrs. Elena Lopez’s classes are different than most

classes in the school. The students don’t read from textbooks. Lectures are rare. Students are allowed to move freely around the classroom if they need to gather art supplies.

Easels with artwork clutter the room. Mrs. Lopez describes the room as chaotic but simultaneously relaxing and inviting.

Carlos Douglas, senior, has been taking Mrs. Lopez’s art classes

since his sophomore year; he has taken Intro to 2D Art, Painting I, Painting II, Digital Design, and Drawing, and he is now taking AP Studio Art. Having taken so many art classes, he describes them as a unique place in the school where he is able to develop his creativity without the constraints of a traditional classroom and curriculum.

“Everyone’s basically doing their own thing. Mrs. Lopez is there to help us, but we’re just experimenting and making up our own style,” Carlos said. “So, in a way, it is like a home.”

As the district attempts to overcome a budget deficit, Mrs.

Lopez considers the debate that has surrounded the importance of fine arts that has taken place for decades. Since college, she has seen the issue of the importance fine arts in the school curriculum go through cycles of support and then withdrawn support.

Recent years have seen the growth of a movement to change the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) model

Continued on pg. 8

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Crier/March 18, 2016

Quick Notes Pennies for Patients Classrooms collect spare change to donate to ‘Pennies for Patients’ Pennies for Patients ends later today.

Project X Sponsor Ms. Leigh Ann Westland, English teacher, hopes students can achieve the goal of $1,200 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“So many students are affected by Leukemia and Lymphoma with family members, and we have faculty members who had family members who have been affected by it and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a good student program to get in the schools and raise awareness and to help raise money,” Ms. Westland said.

Ms. Westland hopes students can achieve their fundraising goal without being offered a reward.

“Honestly, I want people to donate out of the goodness of their heart, not because they’ll get a donut or a sucker,” Ms. Westland said. “It’s just a lot of bookkeeping for us, and I don’t want teachers to get offended if I accidentally miscalculate, so I think people should just do it because they want to do it.”

Speech

Speech team travels to State, three students win State for their events Last Saturday, March 12, the Speech team participated in the State competition at Fishers High School in Fishers, Ind. Of 35 qualifying entries, Ani Arzumanian, junior, who competed in Scripted Duo and Humor, Anna Bilse, senior, who competed in Declamation and Cody Reinsma, sophomore, who competed in Scripted Duo, all won State championship titles.

“I knew we had a shot at (winning) state, but in past years certain schools really improved,” Speech president Chloe Zatorski, senior, said. “I recognized that there were really good schools, and it wasn’t going to be easy.”

Winter Percussion Newly formed winter percussion ensemble prepares for State Preliminaries Tomorrow, the winter percussion ensemble will play at State Preliminaries at the Hulman Center at Indiana State University. This is the first year of the winter percussion ensemble, and if the team does well at State Preliminaries, they can advance to State April 2.

“I’m not entirely sure (about how the ensemble will do) over the next few weeks. It’s a cleaning process to get the show running smoothly,” Jack Foster, sophomore, said. “Before now we were in a lower class, which was class A, but they bumped us up to open class, so we have some better competition now.

We need to work a little bit harder at trying to get better.”

photo by Easan Venkat

NOT ROCKET SCIENCE Building their Prebuild portion, the last of three portions, of the Protein Modeling event, Safa Chowdhury, junior, Julia Chael, senior, and Tony Zmuda, senior, put together a Sepiapterin Reductase, a type of protein found in mice, inside of a model cell. ”I’m excited because it’ll be my first time on the state team,” Safa said. “I’m excited because we’re all working really hard and also all of us have grown really close.”

Going for the gold

Science Olympiad prepares for State tomorrow in Bloomington Sofía Navarro Infocus Editor Science Olympiad is participating in State finals tomorrow. When it comes to their performance, Tony Zmuda, senior, team captain, is uncertain of the outcome.

“We’ve got a really good team this year, but a lot of other teams in the state are trying really hard to beat us, so we have to try just as hard to not let them,” Tony said.

Team captain Julia Chael, senior, also has trouble predicting the outcome of State. Although she is confident in her team members, she is uncertain of how skilled the other teams will be.

“There’s no way to really predict what State is going to be like. We haven’t faced a lot of teams in competition before at this level. All we can really hope is to do our best,” Julia said.

In the past Science Olympiad has had success at State, winning for the

Machine match-ups Robotics places second at first District competition, looks ahead to second

Corrections

In issue 8 of Crier, on page 2, the ACDA brief should have stated that an ACDA performance occurred Feb. 27. On page 4, air dates for “Friends” and “Saved by the Bell” were incorrect. “Saved by the Bell” ran from 1989-1992, and “Friends” ran from 1994-2004. Page 6 should have stated that Jerry Jacinto, senior, also performs vocals for “Belladonna.” On page 10, the sectional competition for Boys’ Swimming occurred Feb. 20, and the State competition occurred Feb. 27. Crier regrets these errors.

past three years, but both Julia and ferent events (and) competing with my Tony believe the competition may be team. Learning is a lot of fun, everything is fun,” Julia said. evenly matched.

The team participates “At State, we’ve Olympic events won for the past Science Olympiad ranks their events once a month starting in December, with four three years. Before by color before attending State competitions before that, we were getting n Green: Events range from the State: three invitationals, in fourth place overearly stages of feeling confident Regional, and then State. all, but for the last to totally ready to compete. Two “I love everyone on few years we’ve been events are currently in Green. the team so much, we’re doing really well,” n Yellow: Events feel they can Tony said. compete, but feel that they have like a giant family. Going to tournaments with The competition things to work on first. Thirteen them is a lot of fun, beconsists of a varievents are currently in Yellow. cause we get to spend a ety of tests cover- n Red: Events feel that they lot of time with each othing various science have several issues that need subjects, such as immediate attention. Five events er,” Tony said. “(During) Biology, Chemistry, practice, we’re not are currently in Red. physics, astronoworking for two and a source: Mrs. Samantha Ebert, Science my, or engineering. half hours, we’re talking Olympiad sponsor Twenty-three events with each other, we’re are available for parcollaborating. Everyone ticipants to compete in, which involve on the team is more than just smart, either written tests or building devices. they’re also social, they’re caring, and “I really like learning about the dif- they want the best for everyone.”

Ian Brundige Student Life Editor

photo by Andrew Vicari

IN THE MAKING Preparing for Robotics’ first District competition, Jacob Powers, senior, works on the team’s project. “We consider the first competition to be almost like a practice,” Jacob said. “We want to learn from the first competition and make improvements.”

After a controversial incident in the quarterfinals, damage to an opposing team’s robot and a red card ruling in the team’s favor, Robotics finished second at their competition last weekend at William Henry Harrison High School in West Lafayette, making them a Tippecanoe district finalist.

One of the opposing robots was destroying Munster’s robot, but the opposition was not initially penalized because there was no physical damage.

However, the announcement was made that there was physical damage to one of the opponent’s robots.

“If you do that, (receive damage from hitting an opposing robot), you get an immediate red card, which means you’re out of the game,” Jenna Cappo, junior, said. “That’s how we won quarterfinals and it was this heart-wrenching, ‘Oh my god, yes, we did it!’”

Three teams from three different schools work together in an alliance.

While the alliances are important, teams are individually ranked and are put in different, random alliance at almost every competition.

“There’s a lot of teamwork. The winner is the alliance; it’s a teamwork win; not one team or one robot can win,” Jenna said.

testing 3

Crier/March, 18 2016

n w o d g n i Break

the ISTEP

My experience with testing

With ISTEPs approaching, Crier explains need-to-know facts about changes in standardized testing, academic standards What is happening to sophomores this year?

Who takes the ISTEP? n

First to third graders

n

Sixth to eighth graders

n

Sophomores

n

Testing for sophomores starts April 18 and ends May 6.

n

Sophomores will take ISTEPs as an endof-course assessment for math in order to graduate. (Math has no ECA)

n

Sophomores will take ISTEP and ECAs as end-of-course assessments for English 10 in order to graduate. This is the last year that sophomores will take ECAs, as they will be replaced by ISTEP.

What is the ISTEP? n Standardized

test chosen by the Indiana Department of Education

n

Tests if students are academically keeping up with their grade level

n Measures

school accountability rankings, which determines school funding

Why do sophomores have to take the ISTEP?

n

n

Indiana switched from nationwide Common Core standards to the Indiana Academic Standards.

The Indiana Department of Education signed a two-year contract to replace both math and English 10 ECAs with the ISTEP because they believed the ISTEP better fit the new standards.

infographic by Meena Kandallu and Chloe Wineinger

n

Because MHS is a pilot school for new test questions, there will be five extra days of testing.

Why is the state considering removing ISTEP scores from rankings? n

n

The ISTEP became more difficult for the 2014-2015 school year after Indiana changed its academic standards, causing test scores to drop. Because of this, ISTEP scores from last year are not counted in school rankings.

Senate passed a bill that prevented ISTEP scores from affecting school accountability rankings and teachers’ individual evaluations.

source: Mr. Robert Snyder, assistant principal; in.chalkboard.com

Sofía Navarro Infocus Editor A little over a month ago, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Since middle school, I’ve struggled terribly in any form of mathematics or science. In 5th grade, I couldn’t memorize my multiplication tables, yet I had no trouble reading and writing at a college level. I didn’t know why; I thought I was just lazy. My teachers said the same thing for years— I’m not stupid, I just don’t apply myself enough.

It took me two years of homeschooling through 7th and 8th grade and five years of desperately wondering what was wrong with me to see a psychologist. Eventually, I was diagnosed with ADD. Knowing the root of my problem was a relief, but envisioning the tear-filled nights trying to teach myself simple algebra concepts was one of the most difficult things.

It’s also difficult knowing I’m not alone. It’s difficult knowing that there’s plenty of people in my situation who blame themselves for not being able to sit in a desk and stare at a whiteboard. It’s difficult knowing that, according to The New York Times, the number of children ages 4 through 17 being diagnosed with ADD and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) has skyrocketed to 41 percent in the last decade, and it isn’t a coincidence.

The way we educate our youth needs to change.

As students, we are expected to memorize and regurgitate information in seconds. Our future is no longer determined by our individual abilities and personalities; instead we rely on sets of preselected questions and answers to measure a person’s intelligence.

The fact of the matter is that many people— most people, in fact— cannot function in a classroom environment. There are people like myself who have watched their own tears fall onto a Scantron and wondered why it felt so difficult and draining to conform like everyone else— individuals who find it easier to fixate on the carpeting and envision what their World of Warcraft character would be doing right now, because the weight of reality is too heavy to live in their own world.

To these individuals who I desperately hope find this article, I understand you. You are not alone, and there is nothing wrong with you.

Follow us on Snapchat: Munstermedia

Guaranteed Credit Approval 2340 Martha Street Highland, IN 219-923-9000 Fax:219-923-5544 iautopartnersinc@gmail.com iautopartners.com

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Crier/March 18, 2016

Day Trip Avoid boring days without breaking the bank with these local spots

City bound Take the Metra Electric Line Trains downtown. Trains from Homewood all the way to Millenium station run daily, and weekend passes are only $8 for unlimited rides Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to watch the time on Sunday—those who miss their train are left waiting for another two hours.

Head to the West Loop for the Randolf Street Market tomorrow and Sunday. The European style antique market features vintage clothing, furniture, records and more. There will be more than 200 indoor and outdoor vendors attending, and student admission is $3 online and $5 at the gate.

Student I.D.s are required.

photos by Rachel Bishop and Veronica Bilek

SKATING AROUND (above) Community members of all ages go to Lynwood Roller Rink. The 80s style rink includes arcade games and cheap snacks, making it an ideal place to spend time with friends. HIT THE ICE (left) A young skater works on her skills at Midwest Ice Rink. Midwest offers both open skate at their ice rink as well as open gym on their gymnastics center, satisfying both experts and amateurs.

Something new every day Cheap local spots offer entertaining activities for students over Spring Break Wednesday at Dave & Buster’s, spring break might be the perfect time to honor the Fun Nestled inside a retail center across Center’s legacy. —Ian Brunthe street from Strack & Van Til, Timdige, student life editor brook Kitchens at 17 Ridge Road specializes in freshly baked goods, pastry items and breakfast and lunch options.

Going to Timbrook Kitchens can The concept is simple: escape. Unbe difficult due to bizarre hours. The fortunately the puzzles are too. restaurant’s website is very Escape Room NWI is a confusing, claiming the small business on Indiarestaurant closes at 4 p.m., napolis Blvd. across from while their Facebook claims Lowes. Presently, there is closing time actually varies. only one game room availGiving off a welcoming able, so if you are able to feeling as soon as a cusescape the room in the hour tomer walks in, Timbrook given, spending any more Kitchens feels like home time there is pointless. and makes a customer comfortable The puzzles are mostly common quickly. sense, relying on extra things in the While the menu changes daily, these room to distract from the real codes. changes never disappoint. If a customWhile this difficulty may seem imer is looking for a lunch restaurant that portant, losing can be just as fun as is affordable and close, they’ve found winning for competitive people, urgtheir spot.—Simon Pirok, news editor ing participants to try again. But the infinite help from the employees and overall simplicity of the clues can take away the element of difficulty.

After the tragic 2007 closing Escape Room NWI is designed for of the Fun Center, Dave & eight people, and unless you are Buster’s is all that is left. going in a group with eight of Thankfully it has better your friends, it’s likely that you food (nothing amazing will be in a room with strangers. though, imagine slight—Ian Brundige, student life editor ly better than Apple-

Handmade Meals

The Great Escape

Game On

bees) and a larger variety of games. Not-so-thankfully it is more expensive and farther, the closest location in Orland Park, Ill. Like most new arcades, Dave & Buster’s has mastered the art of sensory overload. When walking in, there is so much to do, see, hear and smell.

While Dave & Buster’s is a modern arcade, in that sense, it still understands the importance of classic arcade games with skee ball. It also takes the standard games and update them, like the 4-player competitive Pac-Man. With half-priced games every

Get Active

Midwest Training Center and Ice Arena’s open gym is the location-equivalent of a sugar rush in the best way possible; everything is buzzing with energy.

There are balance beams and parallel bars, huge trampolines, mats for stunts and a foam pit that one can jump or flip into.

Despite the number of people, the facility is big enough to accommodate the crowd, and numerous staffers are

Comedy Sportz downtown offers laugh-out-loud fun. Two improv teams face off with jokes ranging from family-fun humor to adults-only recommended shows. Wacky props and audience participation fuel the games, and everyone in the room gets in on the competitive spirit. Tickets for Feature Shows are under $30.

Sunny skies around to supervise.

When the gym is closed, the ice rink is another great option for a fun, athletic activity. The rental skates are a bit worn and never fit anyone quite right, but they are no worse than any other rental skates. The rink in itself is great for beginners, but open skate only lasts for an hour and a half at a time. While this is a bit disappointing, ice skating is tiring, and an hour and half is usually a satisfying amount of time. —Danie Oberman, associate editor

On a roll

“Roller Skating? For spring break?

1989 called...they want their hobby back.”

But wait, give it a chance.

This Spring Break when Netflix runs dry and the couch feels like quicksand, grab a few friends and head to Lynwood Roller Rink. It will not disappoint.

First and foremost, Lynwood Roller Rink does look like the 1980s threw up everywhere. The rink features abstractly space-patterned floors, fluorescent light stained walls and various arcade games, including a gumball machine that has gum that probably does date back to before the 1980s.

But, even in 2016, roller skating is still a blast.

With skate rentals as low as $4 and cheese sticks even cheaper than that, an afternoon at Lynwood Roller Rink is every broke high schooler’s dream.

Being on the laminated floor gliding along with perfect strangers to everything from Beyonce to Future puts Lynwood Roller Rink ahead of the game: it’s like 107.5 WGCI on wheels.

But in all seriousness, more importantly than cheap food or ancient gumballs, the Lynwood Roller Rink offers a vibrant, safe place to go and have blast.

—Jordan Szymanski, sports editor

If it’s beach weather, go to Indiana Dunes West Beach. Free and open to the public, West Beach in Portage includes plenty of space to hang out by the water and scenic hiking trails.

For a day full of outdoor adventure, Starved Rock is less than an hour away. Located in Oglesby, Ill., Starved Rock has more than 13 miles of hiking trails, which lead to waterfalls and other breathtaking views. There are also opportunities for trolley rides and horsebacking. Got a weekend? Camp or stay in the Starved Rock Lodge.

Play inside The Three B’s: Bocce, Bowling, and Bistro, are all offered at Pinstripes in Oakbrook. Grab an meal, sweet desert, or a cup of coffee and get a game going. If you’re up to staying late, hit up the bowling lanes or bocce court for $1 an hour from 9:00 p.m. to closing time Sunday-Thursday.

See the newest movies for only $5 all day on Tuesdays at Marcus Theaters. The theaters are less crowded during the week, leaving more seats open. The best part? Cheap tickets means more cash to spend on popcorn. The drive out to Orland Park is worth it.

Coffee break Coffee Cabin in Schererville is operated entirely by a drive through.

Drinks extend beyond just coffee: customers can try smoothies, teas, hot chocolate, and Italian sodas. It also offers a selection of baked goods. The espresso brownie is only $2.50.

Scribble boards, free wifi, good music and cheap coffee—Grindhouse Cafe has it all. It’s located in Griffith, and the menu offers a good selection of drinks and food. It’s the ideal spot to hang out or get homework that is due after break done early.

Instead of going to Crown Point for the Sip, try the one that recently opened in Highland.

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Crier/March 18, 2016

CRIER Munster High School

TRUMPING THE DEBATE List every person students are encouraged to look up to as role models: politicians, athletes, musicians, artists, writers, scientists, and a hundred of others. Now cross off every person on that list who has uttered a curse word. Is anyone left? Didn’t think so.

editorial

Speak for yourself

Think about the reaction elicited when a student says a curse word in front of a teacher, parent or boss.

Now, compare it to a time Donald Trump cursed.

While giving a speech in February at a rally in New Hampshire, Trump dropped the f-bomb, saying “...you can tell [the businesses who left] to go f**k themselves!” The crowd’s reaction? Ten seconds of loud cheering with Trump OUR TAKE waiting to begin speaking again.

Students should Any student who ever let a four-letbe treated as ter word slip most likely received a adults when different reaction than Trump. deciding if cursing is A front running candidate for the appropriate presidency can curse and receive immediate approval while a student curses and receives immediate disapproval.

It doesn’t make much sense, but it happens anyway.

When considering cursing, the act itself isn’t the main problem. Students, teachers and even Trump curse for a reason. Cursing allows for emphasis in certain situations, releases emotions, or helps a person seem “cooler.”

Unfortunately, cursing has been deemed taboo for anyone labeled a student or child; it conveys immaturity and lack of respect on their part.

If a student cursing signifies immaturity, then an adult cursing should ruin the model of maturity they are supposed to represent.

For students and children, role models deviate from the well-known rule of no inappropriate language at school. Adults do curse at the school, and it is conflicting to hear these words yet also listen to them say “Watch your language.”

For all moral reasons, the school shouldn’t permit students to curse against others. But there does need to be more fairness and levity when students curse. Accordingly, the reaction towards a student and an adult cursing should stay the same, every time.

If a teacher can say s**t when a PowerPoint won’t load, then a student can say it when a laptop crashes. If a parent can say d**m it while fixing their tax return, then a student can say it while correcting their homework. If adults can decide that cursing is acceptable at times, then so can students.

It happens more than once Jordan Szymanski Sports Editor In today’s culture we pride ourselves on how far we have come as far as gender equality. One hundred years ago, women did not have the right to vote.

Sixty years ago, a woman’s place was never too far from the kitchen. Twenty years ago, women reclaimed their place in the workforce. This year, a woman is running for President of the United States.

However, we haven’t come as far as we’d like to think.

In 2014, recording artist Kesha filed a lawsuit against her label producer, Lukasz Gottwald (Dr. Luke). She attempted to gain control of her career and break the legally binding contract that requires her to work under Dr. Luke’s management. The bombshell of the lawsuit hit

when the 27 year old claimed the 41 year old drugged and raped her.

However, on Feb. 19, the court ruled against Kesha and did not release her from her contract. Although there are rumors of Sony dropping Dr. Luke, no decision has been made.

In 2016 the courts decided to allow her abuse to continue: that is terrifying.

But the most terrifying part of Kesha’s story is the familiarity.

One in five women will be raped in their lifetime, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. This staggering statistic speaks volumes about the prevalence of Kesha’s case among women.

From Kelly Clarkson tweeting a snarky comment towards Dr. Luke and then openly bashing him in an interview to Taylor Swift donating $250,000 to Kesha to help buy out her contract, the women of the industry have banded

together.

In the public spotlight, this familiar issue of rape culture gains national attention. Rape culture is the systematic normalization of rape and acceptance of sexual violence. And it is something we should discuss more often, not just when it affects major celebrities.

Rape culture affects women everywhere: just ask one in five women.

In today’s culture, a woman should have the right to free herself from her abuser. In today’s culture, a woman should be able to discuss her abuse and seek help, not be denied refuge.

In today’s culture, we should talk about the seriousness of rape culture.

Sexual abuse is too familiar of an issue to not discuss more frequently.

One in five women will hear a story like Kesha’s and shake with fear and memories, but just like Kesha, they remember they are not alone.

Crier, Munster High School’s official student newspaper, may be reached at 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321, phone 219-836-3200, Ext. 3443; Fax: 219-836-3202. Crier is published through the Honors Newspaper Advanced Writing and Editing classes and extra-curricular involvement.

•The newspaper serves as a public forum and twoway communication for the school and community.

•Crier is a source of information, entertainment, advertising and opinion for the student body, faculty, administration and community •Published material will stress objective reporting except on the editorial page where opinion writing will be featured. All published material will stress accuracy, truthfulness, integrity, honesty, responsibility, objectivity, fairness and independence. Corrections, when necessary, will be published on page 2.

Opinions expressed in the newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the School Town of Munster, faculty or administration.

Letters to the editor and reader suggestions are welcomed, but should be limited to 250 words. All letters must be signed and should be given directly to any staff member or delivered to the Publications room, N155, one week prior to publication. Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual. Editors reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, and grammatical errors. Crier will accept letters from anyone, provided that the content pertains to school or school issues. Feedback may also be submitted on Twitter @munstermedia.

Mailed subscriptions cost $25 per year. Ad rates and policies are available to anyone upon request.

Crier is published 11 times a school year.

The Staff Editor-in-Chief Meena Kandallu Design Editor Chloe Wineinger Copy Editor Mariah Villaroman Associate Editor Danie Oberman Media Editor Jordan Szymanski Opinion Editor Danie Oberman Sports Editors Joseph Bermudez Jordan Szymanski News Editors Gavin Hamilton Simon Pirok Infocus Editor Sofía Navarro Student Life Editor Ian Brundige Cartoonist Gavin Hamilton Head Photographer Rachel Bishop Business Manager Mary Ellen Gilhooly Photographers Veronica Bilek Elisa Del Toro Elizabeth Fonseca Olivia Hesterman Brandi Hoover Ashwin Iyer Danijela Kaurin Bree Karl Sidney Milne Vrusti Patel Melanie Powers Nicole Roberts Jaylee Rodriguez Emma Trivunovic Easan Venkat Andrew Vicari Summer Witvoet Adviser Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman

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Crier/March 18, 2016

Engineering for the

FUTURE Senior enjoys building, civil engineering, participating in robotics Meena Kandallu Editor-in-Chief

S

enior Michelle Weller’s favorite toys were always building sets, cardboard boxes that

she could use to create structures and Hot Wheels cars with ramps. In her kindergarten class, she recalls building an elaborate assembly by collecting all of the cardboard boxes in the classroom, creating a ramp and sending a car down it in order to knock over a laundry basket.

For as long as Michelle can remember, she has had a penchant for building things; for this reason, she has decided to pursue a career of civil engineering and architecture.

“When I was little, I was like ‘I want to be an architect; I want to build things’ and then I was like, ‘No, I want to be a ballerina or an astronaut.’ Then I was like, ‘No, I want to be an architect.’ Then for a while, I was like ‘I don’t know, fashion designing would be cool.’ And then I went back to civil engineering and architecture,” Michelle said. “It’s just the thing that I’ve always come back to. I feel like it’s something I’m good at, and it continues being of interest to me.”

Specifically, Michelle plans to focus on the aspects of civil engineering such as traffic or urban planning.

“Everybody spends so much time in transit (that) you end up seeing roads a lot. So you start to notice problems with them and you want to fix them,” Michelle said. “It’s maybe a silly reason, but if I can improve roads and make people less angry when they drive, that’d be kind of cool.”

While Michelle has not tried to gear her entire high school schedule toward engineering-relat-

photo by Andrew Vicari

BRAINBOX Measuring an old blueprint of renovations to the school from 1996, Michelle Weller, senior, carefully plans her 3-D model of the school on a sheet of paper. “I think it’s really fulfilling to be able to design something that either would work and benefit someone, to have something you made or had some part in to succeed.”

ed classes, she has taken a science course each year of high school and is currently taking Calculus BC. Additionally, she is currently enrolled in the Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA) course after taking the Introduction to Engineering Design course last year.

Beyond the classwork in her CEA class, Michelle has taken on several projects of her own.

Her current project involves creating a 3-D model of the school building.

“Because I’m moving through the (class-related) projects faster than most people, I can focus on the additional projects. It’s not meant to be some big final statement; it’s about the learning experience,” Michelle said. “This is just taking on extra projects to get familiar with things (and) to get familiar with the software just because I can.”

Michelle is also a member of the Robotics team. Last year, she held the officer position of Head of Engineering, and in past years, she has been a member of the drive team and pit crew at competitions.

As one of three seniors on the team, she is in-

volved heavily in training newer members and leading portions of projects.

Though Robotics, with its emphasis on mechanical, hands-on experience, does not align FACE THE FACTS exactly with her inter Civil engineering focuses est in civil engineeron building structures for ing, Michelle values the everyday society competitive aspect and teamwork that Robotics In 2014, the median pay for a offers. civil engineer was $82,050 “(When I joined), Roper year botics just looked really cool. I mean, it was Everyday structures from stop signs to the Golden Gate building something. RoBridge require civil engineering botics is the sort of engineering you can compete with, you can show off, sources: American Society of Civil Engineers, (and) you can (clearly) Bureau of Labor Statistics say which way worked better.” Michelle said. “(In Robotics), there’s still a lot of leadership skills you’d need actually at any engineering firm, a lot of teamwork, (and) a lot of having to rely on other people.”

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Crier/March 18, 2016

Clearing the AIR

Students pick up vaping, or inhaling flavored water vapor through vaporizers, as an activity Mariah Villaroman Copy Editor

A

t around midnight, he would

wake up in a coughing fit, still tasting the cigarette he had smoked earlier. In the morning, he cleared his nicotine-covered throat with more coughing. For the rest of the day, he had trouble breathing while doing simple activities.

“Family, friends and siblings smoked,” said the junior, who is under 18 years old and wishes to maintain anonymity to protect himself from disciplinary action. “(I was) trying not to be cool, but to impress them. I don’t know how to describe it. If your family does it, it kind of grows on you, and you kind of do it. If my parents found out I smoked, they’d be pretty angry.”

Without fully realizing it, the junior became addicted to cigarettes in the short six months he smoked them.

“It was one (cigarette) a day, or it usually maxed out at three a day just to get me through for a while,” the junior said. “I know some smoke a pack a day, and I don’t think I could ever do that. (I struggled with the addiction) especially during school.

I wouldn’t do it, but I’d be thinking, ‘Okay, come on we need to hurry this up (so I could go smoke).’”

After he began noticing the serious effects smoking had on his health and relationships, the junior decided to try an alternative habit: vaporizers.

Vaporizers are a form of e-cigarettes, and using them is commonly known as vaping. The junior started off vaping with nicotine, then switched to using nicotine-free vaporizers.

What is vaping?

Vaping is inhaling flavored water vapor through vaporizers, a type of e-cigarette Users can adjust the level of nicotine in vaporizers by milligrams, allowing for vaporizers to be nicotine-free

For anyone under 18 years old, vaping is illegal. “(Vaping) doesn’t smell gross, it’s cheaper than cigarettes, and it’s overall better for you. It doesn’t have all the toxins like nicotine does,” the junior said. “Everyone else is saying it causes cancer just like cigarettes do, but no, it doesn’t. It’ll say (on the label) what it has in there and if it’s bad for you, you shouldn’t have it, but you know some people are stupid and they’re like ‘I don’t need the warnings’ and they’ll use it. But what I have, I research. It’ll even say, when you get it from a website, what it has in the description.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that there has not been substantial study to detect “the potential risks of e-cigarettes when used as intended,” as written on their website.

Nick Zawadzki, senior, also researches before buying his different vapes,

mainly at Blacksheep Vapors in Highland. He has been vaping since around his 18th birthday in November.

“Nowadays, people somewhat don’t care (that I vape),” Nick said. “They’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t really care. You don’t smell like (a person who smokes cigarettes).’ People like that there’s no nicotine. (Sometimes they say,) ‘I don’t wanna try it and get addicted.’ ‘You’re not,’ I always let people know. Of course you have to be 18, (but I say) ‘If you want to try, I have no nicotine in this vape right now. If you want to try it, you can try it.”’

For Nick, vaping has more practicality than smoking. He spent $203 on his newest vape because vaping provides an activity he can continually do with

E-cigarette use increased from

4.5 percent in 2013 to 13.4 percent in 2014 Usage nearly tripled in size Product use by high school students, 2014 Snus (wet smokeless tobacco) 1.9% Smokeless Pipes, 1.5% tobacco, 5.5% Cigars, 8.2% Cigarettes, 9.2%

Uses no product, 50.1%

Hookah, 9.4%

friends.

“Most people I know who vape don’t even use nicotine. No one will be needing to go out (and smoke), because oh, no nicotine,” Nick said. “It’s not like we need (vaping) or else we’re going to have an episode. You know how people have their popular spots to hang out like coffee shops or something like that—vaping is, in a sense, our get-together thing.”

Initially, the junior only planned to vape as a way to quit smoking and did not expect to find a large amount of people also vaping.

“It’s kind of a chillaxed thing. Sometimes people will be like ‘Oh what flavor you got?’ ‘Oh I have cherry.’ ‘Oh that’s cool.’ Some people switch parts.

I wouldn’t say it’s like Pokémon cards, but it’s something easy to get into,” the junior said. “You can talk about it with anyone and everyone will understand it.”

For people struggling to overcome a cigarette addiction, Nick recommends learning more about vaping.

“I would suggest just to do some research on (vaping). Don’t let people making jokes on vaping deter you,” Nick said. “It’s your own opinion and your own will. I somewhat suggest it as a great deterrent from smoking (cigarettes). I can’t really say do it because it’s cool; do it because you want to.”

It has been one month since the junior switched from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, and he has not smoked a cigarette since. “(I’m) doing a lot better,” the junior said. “I don’t have to wake up and experience pain in my throat from the many, many amounts of nicotine. I don’t wake up in the middle of the night with a coughing fit. Even after just six months, it was able to do that to me. It’s kind of crazy; now I can wake up and actually carry out activities without coughing.”

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has limited regulation over e-cigarettes.

The FDA can regulate: Cigarettes Cigarette tobacco Roll-your-own tobacco Smokeless tobacco

Can anyone vape?

In Indiana vaping is illegal for anyone under

18 years old

E-cigarettes, 13.4% survey of 22,000 students

sources: FDA, CDC, Nick Zawadzki, senior

infographic by Mariah Villaroman photo illustration by Rachel Bishop

8 infocus

‘Do the arts matter?’

Continued from Front of education to STEAM, which includes an A for Art. However, schools across the country now face the problem of obtaining the funding necessary to support an arts program.

“In order to really incorporate (arts) in the way that it could be according to the STEAM ideology, just like STEM, it would have to be at every level available to every student. And right now, the availability in a lot of school districts is minimal at best,” Mrs. Lopez said. “So if we can get the funding changed, then the (curriculum) for everyone in the state of Indiana and throughout the country would be able to be more involved.”

Dr. Larry Brechner, auditorium director, is not worried for the funding of the theater program itself because it is self-supported through ticket sales and an annual patron drive. However, he is concerned that the loss of support staff such as auditorium secretary Ms. Anne Kinser—who was cut from the high school last year—puts a strain on the entire program.

“Munster has always been very pro-arts, but obviously in our current budget situation, everyone’s had to make cuts in their areas,” Dr. Brechner said. “But Munster, because of the nature of the community, really wants to maintain (the arts). But the reality is that there is a severe money situation, which is caused by the state of Indiana underfunding our school.”

The district’s music program has also seen the effects of a lack of funding in recent years. In previous years, each elementary school had its own general music teacher. However, as teachers left, some were not replaced, and other teachers were assigned to fill in the gaps by rotating through schools in the district.

Ms. Bridget Parker, Orchestra director, currently teaches orchestra at the middle school and high school as well as several classes of general music at the elementary schools. While Ms. Parker sometimes finds it difficult to plan, assess and grade work for so many different courses, she understands that a lack of funding is at the root of this problem.

“I think the reason they did this is because the arts are kind of expendable. If a bunch of

Crier/March 18, 2016

elementary math teachers left, they would have rehired them,” Ms. Parker said. “It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but that’s how it is.”

Similar to the music program, Munster has seen several personnel cuts to the visual arts program throughout the district, according to Mrs. Lopez.

Additionally, while no classes have been cut at the high school level, class sizes have increased.

Mrs. Lopez remembers a time when classes were capped at 24 students, but her Intro to 2D Art course currently has 32 students.

Furthermore, if too few students enroll in a class, the class will not run that semester or will be combined with another class. This year, Painting II, Painting III and AP Studio Art have been combined into a single class period.

For Carlos, arts offer an important break from the rest of the school day.

“(Without arts courses), we’d all basically become robots because we’d all just be working on the formula curriculum with textbooks and lectures,” Carlos said. “It’d all be conceptual instead of being able to free your mind and use your creativity.”

Ms. Lopez explains that fine arts not only open students up to being more creative, but they also influence students’ level of understanding in other subjects.

“There’s things that carry over from math and science into the arts. When we’re mixing colors, we talk about physics and the theories of lights.

And when we’re doing figure drawing, we talk about proportion, enlargement, scale and ratio.

They study artists from all over the world, so there’s cultural references for every one of our foreign language departments,” Mrs. Lopez said. “So really, within the arts, you can really have a reflection of the entire population, not just within the school, but of the world.”

Furthermore, Dr. Brechner says that fine arts can provide students with a way to find their place in the school.

“I think that extracurriculars stimulate students in ways that they’re not going to get in the classroom. And I’ve seen it anecdotally here, in my program, that kids who otherwise didn’t fit in—school was not important to them—once they got involved in something, they all of a sudden blossomed. All of a sudden, school became important to them,” Dr. Brechner said.

photos by Rachel Bishop, Veronica Bilek, Sidney Milne, Melanie Powers, Andrew Vicari

ART WORKS Clockwise from top left, Mr. William Woods, music teacher, accompanies Chorale singers on piano; Aarju Patel, senior, Megha Patil, freshman, and Diana Ortiz, sophomore, play violin during orchestra; Abbey Nielson, junior, works on a charcoal and chalk piece for her drawing class; Moira Boyle, freshman, practices a monologue during her theater arts class; Tara Layous, sophomore, applies makeup for a performance of the novice play “The Election.”

Women’s Formal Wear alterations 219-951-6283 Bring this coupon in and receive $10.00 off your next purchase!

Follow us on Twitter @MunsterMedia

sports 9

Crier/March 18, 2016

Bracket racket The NCAA college basketball tournament began Tuesday and encompasses 68 teams-—and millions of fans— in a chaotic month of highly competitive basketball. Fans contribute to the madness by filling out brackets and predicting the winners for each game. Crier staff members Jordan Szymanski, Sports Editor and Simon Pirok, News Editor chose the four teams that will make it all the way to the Final Four weekend in Indianapolis Kansas

KANSAS is the obvious choice for winning the tournament. The Jayhawks hold the number one seed with a record of 30-4 this season.

Not only do they have a history of being in the final four (which is crucial in one-and-done tournaments like this), but they also are three-time winners with the latest being in 2008.

DUKE is the viable opponent for Kansas in the Final Four. They are the returning champs, but fall three seeds lower than Kansas, putting them up against closer competition that could make for a more tiring tournament (but also more exciting games).

Austin Peay Colorado Connecticut Maryland South Dakota

1 16 8 9 5 12

California

4

Hawaii Arizona Wichita St. Miami Buffalo Iowa

13 6

Kansas 1

1 North Carolina

Kansas 1

1 North Carolina

Kansas 1

South

East

3 14 7

Tagula 10 Villanova 2 UNC Asheville 15 Oregon Holy Cross Saint Joseph Holy Cross Cincinnati Baylor Duke

1 North Carolina

Kansas 1

1 16 8 16 9 5 4

UNC Washington 13

Kansas 1

Duke

1

North Carolina

1

North 1 North Carolina Carolina 16 Florida GC 6 USC 9 Providence 5 Indiana 12 Chattanooga 4 Kentucky 13 Stony Brook 6 Notre Dame 11 Michigan 3 West Virgina 14 Stephen F. Aust.

7 Wisconsin 10 Pittsburgh 2 Xavier 15 Waber St. 1 16 8 9 5 12

4

Duke 4 Duke

4

4

Texas 6 Northern Iowa 11 Texas A&M 3 Green Bay 14 Oregon St. 7 VCU 10 Oklahoma 2 CSU Bakersfield 15

West

Duke 4

V

off the radar until they made an amazing run in the 1998 NCAA March Madness tournament. The team played University of Mississippi in the first round of the tournament and won the game over the fourth-seeded team. The underdog team won with a pass from across the court to give Bryce Drew, former guard and current head coach at Valparaiso, just enough time to make a threepoint shot. They went on to make it to the last 16 teams, or the Sweet Sixteen, in that tournament.

This is how the March Madness Tournament works.

Win or go home.

March brings a time of excitement for college basketball fans. The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) begins their National Championship title tournament in mid-March, drawing the attention of fans across the nation.

Many students find themselves hooked on this frenzy during March and early April by predicting the outcomes of the games in the bracket. The first round of games of the tournament was released this weekend on what is known as Selection Sunday. Jake Ingoglia, junior, takes time to study the top teams in the NCAA each year to pick his bracket.

“First off, I watch games pretty rigorously from the beginning of the season,” Jake said. “Then when Selection Sunday comes around, I do my research on the teams in the bracket. I don’t really have a superstitious way of picking, it’s all analytic.”

To Jake, bracket picking is a science, infact March Madness has brought up the term “bracketology.” There are many factors that must go into consideration to pick the best bracket, but even so, a person has approximately a 1.7 billion chance of predicting all the correct winners in a bracket.

“I look at the strength of the teams’ schedules, RPI (rating percentage index), and I look at which teams have

MICHIGAN STATE should win the Midwest division. Their first game is against a seed 15 team and while they are 29-5, Mid. Tennessee has a record of 24-9. This will be an exciting game; nevertheless, Michigan St.’s stats and recent winning streak should advance them into the Final Four.

source for records and seeds: NCAA.org

Students discuss popularity of hectic month of basketball, NCAA’s March Madness alparaiso University’s basketball team was almost

Iowa St.

13 Iona 2 M. St., 6 Seton hall Midwest 11 Gonzaga 3 Utah CHAMPIONS 14 Fresno St. 2 Michigan St. 7 Dayton Kansas 1 2 Michigan 10 Syracuse St. Michigan St. 2 Michigan 2 St. 15 Mid. Tennessee

Win or go home Mary Ellen Gilhooly Business Manager

Virgina Hampton Texas Tech Butler Purdue Ark Little Rock

NORTH CAROLINA is unmatchable in the East Division. With a seed one and a record of 25-5, North Carolina has easy access to the Final Four.

Their coaching staff gets all the credit. Roy Williams led them to two NCAA championships in the last 15 years.

been performing well recently and have momentum,” Jake said.

Other fans don’t just do it for the love of the game though. Many students like Jesis Ghimire, junior, simply pick their brackets to win prizes by predicting brackets with a group of friends to see who will have the most correct bracket.

“We usually do a competition bracket and put money in for our brackets. The closest bracket will win the money we put in,” Jesis said.

The stories of teams like the 1998 Valparaiso team are what draw the majority of the fans to watch every year.

These Cinderella stories, of lower-seeded teams beating the odds and winning against typical higher-seeded powerhouse schools, happen often in the tournament. The NCAA continues a series on their website about the greatest Cinderella Stories of all time, with videos of the upsets.

“You never know what’s going to happen. Something crazy could happen and you always want to be able to see it,” Jesis said.

The NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament goes through seven rounds of games, beginning with a preliminary round of eight teams in Dayton, Ohio. From there, the four winners from the preliminary round get put into the actual bracket of 64 teams. Teams continue to play, eliminating the losers through the championship game.

Teams are chosen from a committee through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The preliminary round (or the First Four) began Tuesday and the regular bracket began yesterday.

“I like watching the whole process, like watching the upsets and watching your favorite team,” Jake said.

The tournament began on Tuesday with the preliminary round and the tournament will continue until April 4, when the championship game will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, after much of the unexpected has happened.

“One of my favorite parts of it (March Madness) is the prize aspect and the fact that not the best team always wins. The tournament also invokes a community through basketball,” Jake said.

Math Madness A range of numbers from zero to a quintillion makes an appearance in this year’s March Madness

0

dollars is the cost of a seven-day free trial of Sling TV, the streaming service from DirecTV that includes TBS and TNT—the two main pay TV channels airing NCAA March Madness game.

4

dollars is the cheapest list price ever listed for any March Madness game

50

percent discount on all regular Domino’s pizzas now through Sunday, March 22, which marks the end of the tournament’s first weekend.

212

Thousand. Is the estimated amount of money a college basketball player is worth to his school and program, according to a 2014 study.

1 in 92

Quintillion

Odds of picking all of the correct winners in the tournament, from start to finish, for a perfect bracket. source: Bleacher Reports

10sports

Crier/March 18, 2016

Simon Pirok News Editor This year is no regular year; Softball faces several challenges, all before their first game of the season. The team lost five players who would have been returning to the team this season, due to forfeiture of their positions. “(Losing players) could be very difficult or not at all difficult,” Coach Beth Thornburg, math teacher, said. “It’ll be difficult until the other players have developed and we see how talented some of the newcomers are.”

The team is currently battling the weather with the transition from winter to spring. While the team hasn’t had any games canceled this year, finding time for outside practices can be difficult, according to Coach Thornburg.

“Being an outdoor sport, it is always difficult trying to get outside,” Coach Thornburg said. “As long as the weather isn’t ridiculously cold, we’ll be outside. It really helps the team because there is a big difference between being

inside and outside. I don’t try to worry Spring Break or face removal from the about the weather too much, though.” team.

Besides dealing with players leaving “We still have a lot of fun with and changing weather, (Coach Thornburg),” March 29, the team’s sec- Get the grip McCann said. “She lets ond game, they will face Pitcher demonstrates how to us know that there is off against Lake Central, hold ball to throw pitch an appropriate time their biggest rival. and place for everyFastball Fastest pitch used to thing, and she sets these “It’ll be a challenge, get ahead in counts like it is whenever we boundaries. She lets us against hitters play them,” Amanda know when the right Osterhus, senior, said. time and (where) the Changeup “Last year they were right places are.”

Slower pitch used to throw off hitters’ State runner-up, but one The team looks to retiming of their good pitchers peat the successes they graduated. We almost had last year, such as Curveball beat them at Sectiongoing undefeated in Movement pitch als (last year), and they used to mix locations Conference, which is a realistic goal, according (went) on to almost win of hitters’ eye to McCann.

State. They are definite“Winning Conference ly defeatable.” source: Amanda Osterhus, senior is one of the top goals Coach Thornburg is considered to be one of the more for us this season,” McCann said. “This laid-back coaches, yet enforces a strict team has a very high work ethic, and Spring Break rule, according to Melis- there is next to no wasted time with us. sa McCann, senior. Players who miss Everyone is extremely motivated, and more two days with the team over we are all sharing the same goals.”

photo by Olivia Hesterman

SWING, BATTER BATTER While preparing for the softball season, Nicole Howard, junior, assists Amy Kaniewski, sophomore, hitting off a tee during practice. Currently adjusting to the changes, the team has been faced with the challenge of filling in the shoes of those they have lost. “This year is obviously a lot different than last year,” Kaniewski said. “Losing some players means we have to step up, and we have been. It also helped us get a lot closer as a team.”

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Spring forward with a new style, 20% off color, cut, and blow dry with participating stylists, through March 31st

A game changer Sports column

Rebuilding

Softball focuses on gaining strength after losing players

Joseph Bermudez Sports Editor The best of the best in baseball fight it out in the final month before the playoffs start, but the NFL season starts then, so who cares about baseball?

Many people have used the words boring or uninteresting to describe baseball, the almost 150-year-old game.

This is due to the slow pace the game endures with long pauses between pitches and mound visits a manager will have with his pitcher.

The slow pace of the game has been noticeable for many years and is the reason why baseball is not as popular as football or basketball.

Despite these three sports having a running time near three hours, the pauses between pitches could bore watchers.

Throughout his 18 year career, Paul Konerko, White Sox retired first baseman, would step out of the batter’s box, spit on or readjust his batting gloves, take a few powerful practice swings, then dig his foot into the dirt of the batter’s box just to do the same process after the next pitch.

Active Commissioner of Baseball, Robert Manfred, realized the problem of the slower pace of baseball. Not too long after he was named the Commissioner in January 2015, Manfred’s first significant rule change to speed up the game was when he installed clocks in all stadiums set at two minutes and 25 seconds for inning breaks and pitching changes.

Manfred updated this rule by changing the time to two minutes and five seconds. It is set to start this year.

Manfred also passed a rule requiring hitters to keep at least one foot in the batter’s box during an at-bat with the exception of hitting a foul ball, eliminating extensive pauses in between innings, including Konerko’s at-bat rituals, had he not retired in 2014.

Changing a game that is almost 150 years old was definitely a risk for Manfred to take, but worth it when games are played at a quicker pace to draw in more fans and reclaim baseball’s title as America’s favorite pastime.

sports 11

Crier/March 18, 2016 Abbey Kapitan throws shot put and discus. She started freshman year. She committed to Notre Dame.

Tyler Keslin runs track. He started running competitively in sixth grade. He committed to Notre Dame.

Connor Manous pitches.

He started playing baseball at age four. He committed to University of Miami.

Theo Burgwald runs track.

He started running competitively in sixth grade. He committed to Purdue.

Across the board

Boys’ Basketball

Boys’ Basketball competed in the sectional tournament March 2. They played against East Chicago Central in the first round, losing 68-52.

The team finished their season going 13-13 overall and 4-3 in their conference.

“The team put in great effort and attitude that the team maintained throughout all of the ups and downs of the season,” Coach Mike Hackett, health teacher, said. “The highlight of the year was probably beating Griffith at home because Griffith is a very good team with a very good record, (and) they are state ranked.”

Dance

Entering archive photo by Natalia Bilek

archive photo by Kasey Luehrs

the big leagues

archive photo by Rachel Bishop

archive photo by Natalia Bilek

Students who have committed to college athletics finish final seasons of high school sports Joseph Bermudez Sports Editor

Dream come true In his freshman year, Connor Manous, senior, caught the attention of the University of Miami and Florida University, to continue his baseball career.

“At first (when I found out University of Miami recruited me), I was really shocked,” Manous said. “I wasn’t really expecting them, a Division 1 school, to be recruiting me at the age of 14. Miami is top baseball school and to play for a top school has always been a dream of mine.”

Despite committing, Manous does not plan on slowing down to conserve himself for college.

“I’m going to play my hardest,” Manous said. “All of our senior mindsets are going to Sectionals and winning State, just like it has always been. (Lake Central) has beat us in the last inning for three straight years to end our seasons, and we’re tired of it. We want to go farther than last year and win (State).”

To the finish line Throughout his Cross Country season, Tyler Keslin, senior, was being recruited to run track for three schools.

Of these three, throughout the season, Keslin was leaning toward one school.

“I loved everything about (Notre Dame): the team, the beautiful campus, the science department. And the general feel of the school,” Keslin said.

Even after officially committing to Notre Dame, Keslin will continue to push and motivate himself to get better.

“I’m very dedicated to working hard and improving just like every other season I have ran but I am also working hard so I can do well in college as well.”

In his freshman year, Keslin did not plan on running track, but with the hard-work he put in his last three years has awarded him to be recruited.

“I did not have any expectations of running in college in my freshman year,” Keslin said. “I was not that fast but I eventually worked hard enough to get to the point where I am today.”

Luck of the Irish Starting the recruitment process later than most, Abbey Kapitan, senior, was surprised Notre Dame, Harvard, Cornell and Indiana University contacted her for shot put and discus. “(Having colleges offer me scholarships for Track) was crazy because I never thought I’d be able to do something like that,” Kapitan said. “Most kids, and my friends, started the recruitment process at a younger age, but I didn’t start until this past summer, so I didn’t expect my decision to be between these schools. It was unexpected but really cool; I never thought this is what would happen.”

Throughout the year, Kapitan believed she had an advantage by not focusing on being recruited and put her attention on the season.

“One of my assets was the fact that I wasn’t worried about being recruited. I never expected to do Track at college when I first started,” Kapitan said. “I wasn’t focused on impressing college scouts and keeping my scores up wondering if they are watching me, so there wasn’t really any pressure. You do so much better when you’re not putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.”

Being a Boilermaker During his Cross Country season, Theo Burgwald, senior, was aware he was being recruited by multiple colleges. Despite being aware of this, he took this information as a compliment rather than added pressure. “(Knowing I was being recruited) didn’t really put any added pressure on me,” Burgwald said. “When you’re getting recruited by a college, it makes you realize how good you are so I’m going to keep up what I’ve been doing to improve myself.”

Though committed to Purdue University, Burgwald will continue to put all of his effort into the season and not concern himself of risks any more than he already does.

“If I get injured, it’s not the end of the world,” Burgwald said. “(Purdue is) still going to stick with me. I won’t be any more cautious than I was in any of my years of running. I definitely still need to try my hardest.”

The varsity dance team placed first in Pom at the state competition last weekend, beating Crown Point, their biggest competition in the category.

The team also got first in large ensemble and fourth in jazz after making major adjustments to their routine. The changes helped the team, according to Sofia Balac, sophomore.

“I think (changing our routine) helped.

We learned to work together,” Balac said.

“It turned out to be good even though we Even though we sacrificed time that we could have spend on Pom, we still got first in Pom and placed higher in Jazz.”

Track and Field Boys’ and Girls’ Track and Field prepare for the Hoosier State Relays (HSR) invitational on the 26th. Both teams will know who qualifies to compete Monday.

“It’s kind of an unofficial indoor state championship,” Girls’ Coach Richard Sluder, social studies teacher, said. “It gives us an idea of where we’re at compared to the other teams in the state.”

The HSR breaks up the monotony of the indoor season and rejuvenates the team, according to Boys’ Coach John Stamper, Eads and Elliott teacher.

“It gets the competitive juices flowing early. Indoor season’s long; it’s kind of boring, so it’s good to mix in some competition,” Coach Stamper said.

Hall of Fame The following athletes have been inducted into the Hall of Fame by the athletic office.

Gina Catania, Catherine Tavitas, Sarah Sharpe, Jackie Dye, 2014 Large Ensemble Dance State champions. Jackie Dye, Catherine Tavitas, Sugar Fane, Sara Wilson, Katie Wiening, Melissa Fronczek, Mary Kate Pruzin, 2015 Large Ensemble Dance State champions. Alex Del Rio, 2014 North All-Star Baseball team. Ryan Kritzer, 2014 and 2015 All-State Cross Country. Drew Hackett, 2014 and 2015 All-Star Basketball team and junior Indiana All-Star team. Jacob Helmer and Jordan Cistola, 2014 All-State Football. Jeff Proctor, 2014 Junior All-State Football. Taylor Kotzo, 2015 North All-Star Softball team. Grant Rademacher, Joe Bryant, 2015 North Allstar baseball team. Abbey Kapitan, 2015 All-State shot put runner-up. Corin Erwin, 2015 All-State high jump. Matt Marcus, Tim Chavez, Kyle Jean, Seth Gutwein, 2015 All-State 4x100 relay. Miles Barilla, Seth Gutwein, Jeff Proctor, Dom Lucito, 2015 All-State 4x100 relay.

12student life

R

Crier/March 18, 2016

RESTRICTED The use of oral or written language, visual depictions and/or gestures, that are vulgar and/or obscene, will not be permitted

How restricted is our language?

40%but only26%

of students think swearing distracts from the learning environment

of students think swearing is inappropriate in school

source: Survey conducted by Crier of 658 students from March 8-14 on Google Forms illustration by Veronica Bilek graphic by Ian Brundige

12

the average age when students, who swear daily started swearing regularly

59%

of students think swearing is inappropriate around family

33%

70%

of students say of students say they their they swear around their parents swear around them parents

77% of students swear on a daily basis

the students who swear on a daily basis swear on average

BACKTALK South by Southwest, a music and movie festival that highlights upand-coming artists, takes place in Austin, Texas from March 11-20.

Who is a popular artist that you liked or listened to before they made it big?

64 times a day

“Alessia Cara. She always stays true to herself. She hasn’t really changed her music since she got popular.”

Madison Lewis, freshman

that. And I kind of brush it off because it slips out; things happen. But if I watch a student look at another student say, you know, ‘You effing B,’ then that’s an issue.

That’s when I would take the time to actually write a detention or call somebody out on their behavior, because that’s when it’s inappropriate to me.”

While cursing sparingly can be humorous, the kind of language used can affect other people’s impressions. This can be especially important when applying for a job or a college, according to Ms. Phillips.

“If I’m with a friend standing at line in ChipoChloe Wineinger tle, and we’re just having offhand conversation Design Editor and I’m using a lot of swear words, and Mr. lipping the bird. The F-bomb. Multiple (Mike) Wells (principal) happens to be the perasterisks in a row. Everyone knows the son that’s behind me, he doesn’t know me,” Ms. meanings behind these euphemisms for Phillips said. “But if I come in to interview for swear words that are or heard almost anywhere a teaching spot here at Munster the next week, from the school hallways to a national presidenand he remembers my face as the person who tial debate. Though everyone is accustomed to was swearing a lot in front of him in the line in hearing and using these words on a daily basis, Chipotle a week ago, I automatically look like a school remains officially a no-swear zone. very unprofessional person.”

“I feel like cursing in some situations is underAccording to Ms. Phillips, the real reason standable, like when you’re talking with your adults put these limits on teenagers is to help friends or joking around and trying to make prevent them from developing a habit of unpropeople laugh,” Kiriako said. “But it can get out of fessional vocabulary before entering adulthood. hand when people are disrespectful.”

“When you’re in high school, you don’t really While some students, like Kiriako, curse for understand (cursing’s effect on peothe effect of humor, other students ples’ perception of you) yet, because like Alex Raycroft, junior, curse due you’re not trying to find a job. You’re to stress. Though Alex finds cursing not trying to get your life going just understandable in certain circumyet,” Ms. Phillips said. “But when stances, she says it should be kept to a you get into adulthood, you realize minimum out of respect. that anyone around you at any mo“I personally try not to do it, but if ment could be a very influential perother people do it, it’s not a problem son, and if they hear you use certain Crier staffers tallied the swear words language or they see you looking with me very much. But I do think there’s better words to say,” Alex said. they heard in hallways poorly, that can affect their judgment over three days “There’s so many good words out of you.” there, why would you use your words on average Ms. Phillips also points out that Commons on something that’s insinuating somejust like students, teachers are not after school thing terrible? Sometimes, if you’re supposed to curse either, not only really upset and it calls for saying because it is against school rules, on average bad things such as curse words, (it’s but because it is their responsibility Outside resource room to act professional in an educational excusable). For me, whenever I say passing period something like that, I feel really bad environment and as role models for afterwards.” students’ behavior.

Having graduated from high school five years “I don’t want to invoke that kind of language ago, Ms. Kaitlyn Phillips, a student teacher to (students) because that doesn’t make me look for social studies teacher Mr. Bill Smitka, can like a very good teacher,” Ms. Phillips said. “Like understand and relate to students’ usage of bad if you had a teacher that’s swearing all the time, language. She only interferes when she considers is that really somebody that seems like they the language harmful. know what they’re talking about? The chanc“When you use it to attack or offend somees are, even though we’re adults, if I used that body, that’s when it becomes a big deal,” Ms. language in the classroom, you would never pay Phillips said. “I’ve had kids run in a second after attention to the actual content of the class (bethe bell rings and they’re like ‘Oh s**t,’ and they cause) you’d be so focused on the bad language just sort of look at me and (gasp) when they say coming from my mouth.”

Swearing has become a social norm, yet school rules attempt to censor students’ language by outlining strict standards for the prevention of swearing. But why do students continue to swear even though it is prohibited by the student handbook?

F

#@!$

“I started listening to Shawn Mendes when he was still making cover videos on YouTube. Now he is a ladies’ man.”

Elise Garcia, sophomore

“Future. He’s part of the Atlanta movement, and his beats and instrumentals are kind of darker. I’m kind of happy he’s more popular now.”

Patrick Wu, junior

“Velvet Underground or Neutral Milk Hotel.

I guess they’re not mainstream, but (they’ve) gotten more popular recently due to a cult following.”

Aristotle Galanos, freshman

“Zayn Malik because I used to like 1D, but now that he is on his own I like him more.

Shout out to the Pakistanis, too.”

Adam Nawab, sophomore

“Andrew McMahon.

I found my sister’s iPod and she had a lot of his music, so I ended up finding him when he was not that popular.”

Hannah Curtis, junior

16 21

“Daft Punk. I’ve been listening to them since I was a little kid, so I first heard them in like 2003. Every album of theirs is a different style and they pioneered EDM.”

Nick Ochoa, senior

“I would say Twenty One Pilots. We first started going to their concerts when tickets were around $20, and now tickets are around $100. I first got into them because my kids were into them, but they were too young to go to concerts alone, and I just really liked (the music) they made.”

Mrs. Kim Peirick, business teacher