TNL Edition Two

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The Northern Lights · North Central High School

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Get the scoop on gossip girl

Hill pushes for half days

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September 22, 2009 · Issue 2 · Volume 54 · www.nchslive.com · www.twitter.com/nchslive

Invitation only Recycling Club:

Should homeroom status apply to non-councils? page 4

2 AT ISSUE

September 22, 2009

FROM THE EDITORS

One step ahead of last issue ONG

PERRIN

We are really excited about how well our first issue of The Northern Lights was received by the student body. Overall, we got positive feedback and we’re pleased with how the issue turned out. However, we are only getting started. We, as a staff, are using the first issue as a jumping off point to publish the best issues of The Northern Lights North Central has seen in years. We hope you’ll keep reading throughout the year and giving us feedback so we can integrate the student body and your wants in to every issue.

The issue this year will only get better from the first one so keep an eye out for each issue of The Northern Lights.

The Northern Lights is reaching out to the student body in multiple ways using the mediums that are most convenient for you. We are on Facebook with the NCHS LIVE fan page (become a fan, we have more than 650!), we are on Twitter so you

can get to the minute updates about scores and breaking news sent directly to your cell phone (search nchslive) and we’ve also got our own Web site: www.nchslive. com. You can always be in contact with what is going on at our school no matter where you are.

This issue you’ll find a news story on the letter Jay Hill wrote to the school board regarding half days and how our township should go about handling them.

He proposed an idea we think the student body will strongly support. The article features exclusive interviews with Tony Bennett, the Indiana State Superintendent and school board members who were faced with Hill’s proposition.

Also, for everyone who has become infatuated with “Gossip Girl” check out our story on page three which tackles the rumors and allegations circulating in the school.

The third major story of the issue revolves around The Recycling Club and it’s legitimacy as a school-sponsored club.

There’s been a big buzz about all three of these stories now you can see what all the buzz is about.

This issue is something our staff is very proud of and we believe it has gone a step ahead of the previous issue. We’ve got more hard-hitting news stories so there is bound to be something for each and every student to read and enjoy. We’ve even expanded our entertainment section to include a game.

We hope you enjoy the second issue of The Northern Lights and see how it’s improved from the first. Let us know what you think and what you want to see next issue, we love to hear from our student body. Use any or all of the mediums we described before or drop into the classroom with your suggestions.

OMBUDSMAN

One issue down, one big difference Staal

Our last issue was heralded by some, mainly adviser Tom Gayda, as one of the best first day of school newspapers published at our school. This is somewhat of a disappointment for us at TNL, because from the phrase ‘one of the best’ one can connote that there are others that share the same label with us. As a staff we want to be the very best that no one ever was, not as Pokemon trainers, but as journalists.

One complaint from the general public is that we write the same old stories about the same old people.

We take into consideration this complaint and strive for more diversity in the pool of stories that we provide.

Some have also complained about our interviews and believe that we write stories with bias. I can assure all readers that no story (unless it is a column, which by nature shows opinion) is written with any bias or contains any information that

has not been gathered through interviews or are cold, hard facts.

“Potty Training 101: high school edition” tackled the issue of taking a bathroom break in the fast pace world of high school and was probably the most popular story from the last issue. If you did not read that far into the issue, then shame on you, everyone that I talked to loved it.

Because of the lack of critiques and suggestions sent to us by our readers, I will now write about the issue that you are currently reading.

Hyped for Panther Quest 2010? If you are, then read about your new student coordinators later on in the issue.

Who is the Gossip Girl? Gossip Girl took the school by storm attracting a lot of attention, thus we wrote about it in this issue.

Do you know that there is a Recycling

club at school? Not that many people know about the club or how it goes about its business. There is a story in this issue that delves into the facts about Recycling Club.

Ever wondered about recruiting in high school sports? We tackle that issue along with a preview of all the football teams in the MIC. It is a shame that people are not doing anything to get our half days back.

Everyone likes to complain about the problem but no one likes to step up and fight to get back the half days that we feel entitlement to, right? Wrong. Dr. Jay Hill is stepping up to address the problem, learn more about his efforts in this issue.

Once again, if you have any ideas, complaints or praise for the staff at TNL, please let us know. E-mail me at will.stall@ nchslive.com today.

Out now: TNL Special Edition: Tolerance

additional copies available at this weekend’s “The Laramie Project” performances

EDITORIAL POLICY The purpose of the Northern Lights is to serve the school audience, including administrators, teachers, faculty and staff, parents, community members and most importantly, the students as an established open forum.

Since this is a school newspaper, the content and character of the paper will cater to the student body’s interest and ideas by covering a wide variety of events and issues concerning the students of North Central High School.

The newspaper will serve as a medium for student opinions and ideas. The staff strives to achieve objective,

accurate content to cover and feature a well-balanced variety of different students and their viewpoints.

Because school officials do not engage in prior review, and the content of the Northern Lights is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself, its student editorial board and responsible student staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication.

The views of columnists are not necessarily those of the newspaper staff.

The goal of the newspaper is to have no errors; however, that goal is not easily accomplished. The staff

apologizes for such errors and will run corrections whenever possible.

Letters to the editor are welcomed and encouraged, but will only be published if they are signed. The Northern Lights reserves the right to edit letters for length, grammar and unacceptable content. Each issue will feature a lead editorial, which reflects the viewpoint of the majority of the staff. An editorial board consisting of the adviser, the editors-in-chief, the copy editor, the managing editors, the design editor and the photo editor will review the lead editorial and help edit it, especially in case of questionable material. Letters to the editor should be delivered to K634.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Joan Ong Andrew Perrin MANAGING EDITORS Daniel Dorson Ashley Falcon PHOTO EDITOR Joe Tyler EDITORIAL BOARD Tim Dugan Beth Hannon Michael Hardie Rachel Potenza Chris Swarbrick STAFF MEMBERS Dakota Allen Jessica Ayers Calvin Boots Amit Boukai Ben Cardwell Noelle Carter Simon Elser Alicia Erwin Eva Goldfarb Shane Hanley Matt Hansen Daniel Hursh Tessa Judge Emily Keesling Elliott Kinney Emma Kotyuk Kennedy Long Morgan Loudermilk Emma Markey Thomas O’Farrell Ashley Parry Beau Scott Meredith Shevitz Dallas Shirley Isaac Smith Will Staal Savannah Wooten ADVISER Tom Gayda

WEB MASTERS Sam Alderfer Nick Panyard NORTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 1801 East 86th Street Indianapolis, IN 46240 (317) 259-5301 phone www.nchs.cc www.nchslive.com

NEWS 3

September 22, 2009

What it’s all about At press time the “Gossip Girl” Web site had not been updated in more than a week. Below are examples of what the blog has featured. While one rule of “Gossip GIrl” is to not name names, clever writing often reveals who “her” subjects are.

Experimentation

High school is a time where teenagers start to find themselves. They realize who they are and who they want to become. A time to explore spirituality, personality, ...sexuality?

Parlez vous Frances?

In the standards of today’s society, the pressure to stay thin is monumental.

Some people will go through great lengths to achieve their perfect body type ...

Betrayl

What senior girl decided her junior boyfriend was not her true love?

She was seen at the concert making out with the wright one for her, another 2011 individual with eyes as blue as the Gulf of Mexico ...

‘Gossip Girl’ wins hearts, disrupts others Rachel Potenza Eva Goldfarb Reporters In a school of 3,408 there are 6,816 eyes and 3,408 mouths. In these halls filled with gossip, it only takes one of these mouths to spread a rumor. Now the halls are loud with talk of just one mouth, two eyes and 10 fingers: the “Gossip Girl.”

The “Gossip Girl,” an anonymous writer, spreads gossip and secrets of many students.

Using an online blog service, “Blogspot,” which is available to the public, one student calls him or herself “Gossip Girl,” a character based on a CW TV show.

On “Gossip Girl” the TV show, an anonymous source follows the scandalous lives of the Upper East Side teenagers, reporting the drama and scandals that surround the main characters. The show follows the emotional effects on the characters as “Gossip Girl’s” blasts, or posts, affects them.

North Central students are also affected by “Gossip Girl’s” blasts.

Senior Olivia Wright was the subject of an early “Gossip Girl” blast where she was said to have “hooked up” with a junior boy who was not her boyfriend.

“Everyone thinks I cheated on my ex-boyfriend even though I didn’t,” Wright said.

“Gossip Girl” also accused senior Molly Eng of having a sexually transmitted disease.

“GG never really appealed to me and once I was on it, I couldn’t see

why or how people could be obsessed with it. It is cruel and hurtful. All I could do was deny it, but if I seemed on the defense people would wonder if it is true. All I can say is karma sucks and whoever it is has it coming,” Eng said “It affected me because it affected my best friend,” Wright said in defense of Eng. Senior Katy Gallienne was upset with “Gossip Girl’s” accusation of Gallienne’s purchase of diet pills.

“She made me realize how rumors start and how many lies people can make up. I was shocked that she could make up such lies.

I’ve never bought diet pills in my entire life. How is ‘Gossip Girl’ the one to talk about self-esteem issues?”

Gallienne said.

While some students were upset with the posts, others liked the publicity.

Senior Will Maethner was the focus of one post after he was seen kissing a junior girl.

“It was kind of nice having people running up to me and calling me saying ‘You’re on “Gossip Girl!”’ I just thought it was funny,” Maethner said.

Adam Goldstein of the Student Press Law Center says that the school cannot shut down “Gossip Girl” without problems occurring at the school due to the blog first.

“If some physical event occurred causing students not to go to school or if it disrupts classes, the school can interfere. If this happens, the school can trace the Web site and find out who the

“Gossip Girl” discovers the gossip and reports it online without naming names. Making-out is a popular post subject on the blog.

‘Gossip Girl’ is. It is up to the administrators of what the punishment will be,” Goldstein said.

Rumors have been circulating that Dean of Discipline, Rex Rymers, has dealt with particular students about the blog.

Rymers refused to comment on the rumors.

“I heard that a junior girl got suspended and might be expelled [for the blog]. The administration is trying to keep it low key,” junior Nico Pariambada said.

The main junior girl that has been accused of being

“Gossip Girl” is Emily Kasting.

“The first blog post was about a girl that I hate so everyone thinks I wrote it,” Kasting said.

Strengthening the rumors, Kasting was suspended a few days after the ‘Gossip Girl” blog became popular.

However, Kasting’s suspension was not related to the blog.

“Jacob Hirsch shoved me into a door and Rymers said it was my fault, because according to Rymers, ‘I went that route to my class to run into Jacob and

Mariam,’ Rymers said I was shouting profanities because a student told him I did. He suspended me for it when it never happened,” Kasting said.

Kasting has been receiving negative feedback from fellow students who believe her to be “Gossip Girl.”

“I’ve been threatened by girls who were posted about.

This is the kind of stuff girls hang themselves in the bathroom for. Not just me, the girls who were posted about too,” Kasting said.

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4 NEWS

September 22, 2009

Recycling Club operations under scrutiny Daniel Dorson Will Staal Reporters Recycling Club could be forced to undergo some changes soon. Currently, the club meets every week during homeroom.

“All other clubs meet after school,” Associate principal Evans Branigan III said. “Why does Recycling Club get a homeroom?”

Branigan meets with the principal’s cabinet every Wednesday after school. One topic of recent discussion was Recycling Club.

“It’s not a hot button of the day,” Branigan said. “We had a short meeting and spent an hour discussing student government, but it’s [Recycling Club] probably going to be moved to after school.”

Student council also meets during homeroom, but student council is not like a normal club.

“We are entirely selfsufficient,” student council sponsor Chris Vermilion said. “All our funding comes through our events.

Although the sponsors are paid by the school.”

The Recycling Club began

about five years ago, and has been growing since. Club sponsor Jenny Lindell does not get paid like the student council sponsors.

Recently the club has had less time to collect recycling.

“We have less homerooms now,” Lindell said. “We can’t collect on fire drill days and days we go to convocations.

We end up collecting only once or twice a month.”

Recycling Club chooses the members of the club.

There is no call out meeting.

“It’s done by word of mouth,” Recycling Club president Sam Winterheimer said. “Last year’s previous seniors pick a few, then form a list of possible people who they ask to be in.”

Winterheimer and vice president Ariel Hendrickson say the club is not exclusive and anyone who asks to be in it can be.

“They just have to express interest to Sam or I or [club sponsor] Ms. Lindell,” Hendrickson said.

“The administration doesn’t want us to have more than 40 members. We pick seniors first.”

There are no special requirements to being in the club other than those

specified by the school such as having a 2.0 grade point average.

“We look at if the group will be good together and who will want to work on recycling,” Winterheimer said.

Some members of the club have a different view.

“We have a very important mission,” senior Meredith Katz said. “We can’t just let anyone in. You have to be very passionate about recycling.”

Senior Shelby Trusty asked Winterheimer and Hendrickson to be in Recycling Club.

“I asked to be in and was told I would be considered, but no one ever called me,” Trusty said.

Club guidelines designate that clubs cannot turn anyone away unless they don’t meet the specified requirements.

“Clubs are not allowed to be exclusive,” Branigan said.

“We do not acknowledge or endorse any sort of an initiation.”

As of now no decisions have been made as to whether or not the Recycling Club will be allowed to continue meeting during homeroom.

Above: Recycling Club members congregate outside NC. Joe Tyler photo; Below: TNL obtained an invite sent to a Recycling Club member.

Healthier options, better ingredients main cafeteria focus Morgan Loudermilk Reporter This school year has brought about many changes. Lack of half days, a new natatorium and weight room are a few of the new things this school year. Another change that students have noticed is the cafeteria cookies.

From last year, the price has jumped from 75 cents for two cookies to 50 cents for one. The changes do not stop with the cookies. The entire cafeteria is undergoing a transformation to bring healthier choices to lunch.

Food Service Manager Vera Kirch understands the importance of healthy ingredients in cafeteria foods despite the rise in pricing.

“We are using better

ingredients such as real butter, real M&M’s, and real Heath bar pieces,” Kirch said, “Better ingredients will cost more which is why the price has gone up, but there are not many places you can go to get a home baked cookie for 50 cents.”

The new ingredients have brought about a taste difference in the cafeteria’s food. Junior Will Klein believes that the ingredient change has made the cookies taste bad.

“I strongly dislike the new cookies,” Klein said, “They taste like they are 10 years old.”

Incoming freshmen do not tend to see a problem with the new food. Freshman Kendra Perdue enjoys most items that the cafeteria has to offer.

New pre-packaged lunches provide a healthy alternative for students. Cody Allen photo.

“I like the nachos best.

The lunches are a lot better than the middle school lunches,” Perdue said, “I

have tried the cookies and they are really good.”

Student requests have also had an effect on the

cafeteria transitioning process. Kirch has received numerous letters and emails that express student opinions on cafeteria food.

“I have received emails from students asking for more vegetarian meals so now we try really hard to have a meal without meat in every line,” Kirch said, “A new option will be veggie burgers when we serve regular burgers.”

Grab ‘n’ Go lunches are now available.

Located with the water, Grab ‘n’ Go lunches count as a full meal and include a sandwich that differs each day and fruit or yogurt.

Kirch believes that these lunches are a nice alternative to the conventional cafeteria meal.

“Our Grab ‘n’ Go lunches

are a healthy option for students because you can choose a vegetable and milk,” Kirch said.

Although many students are not receptive to the changes in the cafeteria, healthier options are becoming important with the rising obesity rates in America.

Kirch understands the importance of discouraging unhealthy eating habits.

“There is always talk about how school lunches can affect obesity,” Kirch said, “By increasing the price of cookies and not selling them in pairs, it could possibly discourage a student from eating as many.

It could also be an alternative to a student who is watching their weight.”

NEWS 5

September 22, 2009

Teacher challenges state’s new half day law Tessa Judge Alicia Erwin Reporters State Superintendent Tony Bennett has taken away half days from all schools in Indiana. While teachers and students continue to complain about the issue, social studies teacher Jay Hill is taking action to challenge the new rule.

Hill sent a letter to the Board of Education requesting permission to keep the schedule for half days on final exam days as has been done in years past. The letter he sent was addressed to James Mervilde, and copies of it were sent to Cheri Herris, the School Board President, Principal C E Quandt, and Raymond Ball representing the Teachers’ Association. If approved by the Board, the school would be in a position of defying Indiana law, and risking punishment. NC could potentially be sued or the State Department of Education could withhold funds from the school.

In his letter Hill includes several reasons for keeping the half days during final exams.

“We probably wouldn’t devote the kind of time we need to grade essays well and to me, that’s an injustice to you,” Hill said.

As a teacher who utilizes the half days for grading purposes, Hill feels the half days are a necessity to the grading quality of the teachers. However, Bennett views that argument from a different perspective.

“I don’t see that as a fair argument. We can’t compromise the integrity of grading. I think teachers care more than that. The thing is, everyone’s tired at the end of the day,” Bennett said, “That’s a fact of life.”

Although Hill himself is a teacher with these concerns, he wrote the letter from a parent’s perspective.

“With a daughter who’s now a sophomore at IU, I’ve seen the benefits of the final exam schedule that NC has,” Hill said, “She took two and three hour exams and had no problems, but those students from other schools were freaked out. My other daughter, who is currently at NC, deserves those same opportunities.”

Hill’s confidence in his argument is clear, however he is uncertain on how the Board will react. The potential consequences make it much harder for the Board to make the decision that Hill is looking for.

“I have no inclination of what their reaction will be, but I would easily stand in front of the Board and present my argument, if that’s what it takes,” Hill said.

As a government teacher, Hill knows his liberties as a citizen of Indiana.

“The Indiana State Constitution gives me the right to petition to the state if I have a grievance. I have a grievance,” Hill said.

Before Hill exercised his right to petition, he looked for other solutions.

“When someone complains, they usually

Protesting a lack of half days, teacher Jay Hill poses with his sign. Joe Tyler photo. want a suggestion to remedy the complaint,” Hill said, “But I’m not sure there’s a better way than what we’ve always done.”

In the past, NC has been granted a waiver for the half days because it is in session many hours above the minimum hours required.

Quandt understands that the amount of time students spend at school is more than adequate.

“We are not just scraping by,” Quandt said, “We go to school 90 extra hours each semester than required, and the 13 or 14 hours we want for half days would still keep us way over the minimum.”

According to the law, secondary schools must be in session for 180 days, six

hours a day. Bennett believes that half days are not the same as full days, and should not qualify as such.

“To use hours or minutes is not consistent with the law. It’s a matter of a half day shouldn’t count as a full day,” Bennett said.

Quandt read Hill’s letter and agrees with it, however, he does not foresee the Board defying it.

“Since it’s the first year of the new interpretation of the law, it’s not likely that the Board will challenge it,” Quandt said, “I would expect the Board to be cautious, and see what happens this year before taking any action.”

The long exams are still expected to take place at the end of the semester. The

administration is reviewing two different models for the schedule during the exams.

The first model would be to have one final, many short classes during lunch periods, and then another final at the end of the day. Each day, students would attend all classes, meaning that all students would attend the classes they have already taken a final in.

The second model would be to have a test at the beginning of the day and a test at the end of the day, but not go back to the class in which the student has already taken the exam. For this model, the length of the classes would change each day, and dismissal for lunch would be based on specific

NHS adds Dance Marathon to benefit Riley Hospital Meredith Shevitz Reporter National Honor Society is introducing a new event this year.

Dance Marathon is a fundraiser for the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center at Riley Hospital for Children. There are different events that will be advertised in the coming weeks through which students can raise money to participate.

The event will be on October 17 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Dance Marathon is an established fundraiser that began on the Indiana University Bloomington Campus almost 20 years ago. The first fundraiser lasted for 36 hours, and has been held annually on the IU campus ever since.

Following this example many high schools from the state have taken on similar

goals, and have raised thousands of dollars each.

Senior Dena Weiss’ efforts are bringing this fundraiser here for the first time.

Weiss thoroughly enjoyed the Dance Marathon at IU, and wants to bring the fun to NC. “I went down to the Dance Marathon at IU last year and it was so much fun. Riley Hospital affects so many people at NC, so I hope students take the

initiative to help out their peers,” Weiss said.

Dancing is not the only activity at the marathon for people to participate in.

Dancing will not be the only activity at the Dance Marathon. Other activities such as eating, playing games and listening to Riley patients tell their stories about how Riley Hospital changed, or saved their lives.

“I definitely want to have

Riley patients that go to NC tell their stories,” Weiss said.

There will also be live musical entertainment at the marathon. Indiana University’s male a cappella group, Straight No Chaser, is scheduled to perform.

Dance Marathon is the first of two events NHS will sponsor for Riely, Rockin’ for Riley will contiue to take place in April.

classrooms as opposed to the normal periods.

Bennett has faith in the school systems, as he believes they can find a way to meet the requirement of school days.

“Students should get the maximum instruction and study time possible. The school corporation can find creative ways to get students 180 days of school,” Bennett said.

Although the Board’s deliberation is still unclear, Hill’s letter proposes a logical answer to this debate.

“If you never ask, you never get what you want,” Hill said, “I might lose, that’s fine, but someone’s got to ask.”

Watch nchslive.com for more information about NHS’ Dance Marathon!

6 NEWS

September 22, 2009

60-year-old man killed in front of tennis center Ashley Parry Reporter Sixty-year-old Dennis Dodson died after being struck by a teenage driver in the NC parking lot Aug. 29. Dodson was jogging by the tennis center on the far north side of the parking lot just after 5 p.m. when he was hit and seriously injured.

Sixteen-year-old Colin O’Connor, a tennis player at

Cathedral, was driving the SUV that hit Dodson.

As O’Connor was leaving the parking lot, he stopped at a stop sign. He checked his rearview mirror to see if his friends were following behind him. When he realized they weren’t there, he put the car in reverse, throwing Dodson to the ground.

O’Connor was unable to see Dodson because he was in O’Connor’s blind spot.

Dodson was taken to

Methodist Hospital in critical condition. Although police speculated that O’Connor was not under the influence of alcohol, he was also taken to the hospital for a blood draw as required by state law. O’Connor was not arrested after the accident.

O’Connor visited the hospital over the weekend before Dodson died September 1. Services were held at 6 p.m. Thursday, September 3 at Leppert

Mortuary, Nora Chapel with visitation there from 2 p.m. until the start of the service.

Junior Amy Katz remains indifferent to the situation.

“I don’t think it makes me a more cautious driver. I try to always look behind me.

People just need to be more aware of their surroundings when they’re behind the wheel. It wasn’t Colin’s fault, it just became a bad situation,” said Katz.

Andy Kleschick, Sam

Aldefer and Zak Trowbridge, three NC boy’s cross country runners were hit Aug 28 in the parking lot, just a day preceding Dodson’s accident.

Junior Brice Mossman was in shock that the car that hit them didn’t stay to apologize or make sure they were OK. “It’s ridiculous that someone would hit three kids with a car and just drive away,” said Mossman.

English ACP couse increasing exponentially year to year Morgan Loudermilk Reporter W 131 and L 202 are two senior English classes seeing an exponential increase of student enrollment during senior year. Both are ACP English classes that are weighted.

There are multiple choices for seniors when it comes to English class. English 12 and Humanities are for the average student who finds that English is not the easiest

subject or who doesn’t take interest in it. English 12 AP is for students that are very skilled and have previously excelled in English and W 131 and L 202 are for the students in between.

“W 131 would be for English 10x and 11 AP dropouts,” Jocelyn Sisson, W131 teacher said. “Also, a student who has done CP through out their high school career may also opt to take these courses.”

Both courses are ACP, which means the student

is earning college credits towards Indiana University.

“Taking this class is just like if you were sitting in an IU classroom taking it. This is IU’s class,” Sisson said.

W 131 is also titled Elementary Composition I. It is not structured like a regular English class rather it’s structured like a writing class. Students read non – fiction and write college level essays about their topic.

“Students learn to write for anything whether it be math, science, whatever,”

Sisson said.

L 202 is the second semester choice for most W 131 students. It is also named Literary Interpretation and it is more of the typical English class.

Four teachers teach these ACP courses: Tony Armstrong, Leslie Decker, Lynda McQuiston and Jocelyn Sisson.

Melissa Bright was the first to start teaching the subject again in the fall of 2006.

“North Central had these classes before but then they

went away,” Bright said. “In 2006 they brought it back and I was the only teacher who taught it.”

Even though it is a challenging subject, the amount of students enrolling in it is continually rising.

“Students are finding that they are completing a college transcript and find merit in that,” Bright Said. “I think they like the idea that they can leave high school with credits already on their transcript.”

Announcements take new approach Ashley Falcon Noelle Carter Reporters

Doc Miller shows an anchor his lines. Joe Tyler photo

Students and teachers were surprised when the normally student-run announcements were replaced with a brief broadcast from Principal C E Quandt at the beginning of this year.

During the last two years, students were familiar with watching JEL’s Electronic Journalism class’ version of the announcements.

However, this year, due to low enrollment, the class was dissolved.

Junior Chelsea JacksonGreene understands the significance of the dropped class, and its effect on those previously involved with the class.

“I think it is bad because students who have an interest in the class and enrolled should still have

that opportunity,” JacksonGreene said.

The announcements were formerly produced at a studio in JEL, but will now be located in the main building in room H158.

This semester students in reparatory theater are doing the announcements.

Mark “Doc” Miller, a biology teacher, is the current coordinator of this project.

Miller has a background in electronic journalism that includes working with Fox 59 and Radio Now. Miller has a new goal for the daily announcements.

“My goal is to make something for students to watch and keep them informed,” Miller said.

The new announcements are shot live, and are taped in 25-minute increments during second period.

Everything is student-run and includes positions such as directors, cameramen and

script editors.

The new look of the broadcasts will become more professional including matching anchor suits.

Quandt also encouraged the written publications to consider participating in the production of morning announcements.

Although TV and written journalism are different forms of media, both cultivate skills needed by journalists.

“You can’t get one without the other,” Quandt said.

Plans for second semester include more student journalism involvement.

“We have talked about how publications’ students can be more involved and how to add more ‘journalism’ to the announcements,” Tom Gayda, TNL adviser said.

“Professional journalism is now all-encompassing, and we need to be, as well.”

Revolving doors no more Noelle Carter Reporter The revolving door that was located at Door 1 has been removed.

The door was unable to be used and has not been used for many years because it has been blocked off.

They have not been used for nearly eight years due to security reasons.

A large window has been placed where the old door was.

Student-created art is now displayed where the revolving door once stood.

When the door was used, it was not very efficient.

Linda Swift, who works near Door 1, believes that the door was virtually useless.

“They did not work well and they were always letting in cold air whenever they were used,” Swift said.

C E Quandt stresses that the doors have not been used in nearly eight years because of security issues.

“The doors were hard to lock and unlock. It was also a heating and cooling factor. When the doors would open the cold air came in,” Quandt said.

Most students only remember the doors as something that obstructed their path when exiting and entering.

The change is minimal and students, such as junior Jasmine James, didn’t even notice the change.

“I had no idea they changed. I guess it’s a part of North Central’s new look,” James said.

Check www.nchslive.com for coverage of “The Laramie Project’s” opening!

FEATURE 7

September 22, 2009

Students posed for a picture in front on the camp sign. Students spend seven days in Colorado backpacking while on the “Wilderness” trip. Photo contributed.

Young Life trip fosters trust Rachel Potenza Beth Hannon Reporters

Senior goes on misson Jessica Ayres Reporter Twenty-five students handed out candy to the Hessian children standing in trash and watched as each one threw the wrapper to ground.

On August 2, 2009 senior Rachel Ragsdale left with an organization called Sundou on a mission trip to Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world. Their purpose: to help the people and show them the love of Jesus.

“I really liked playing with the kids and getting to know them, even though we couldn’t talk to them through language,” Ragsdale said.

Much of their time was spent with the 100120 Hessian children at an orphan camp.

They handed out notebooks, pencils, bibles, and soccer balls.

“The children were even happy to get the sleeves of our shirts,” Ragsdale said.

“One girl was so tiny that she got two sleeves and wore them as a shirt and skirt.”

The children were divided into eight teams where they played Frisbee, jump-rope, soccer and learned to play baseball.

“They showed us up in soccer,” Ragsdale said, “they are all really good at it. Once we were walking through the village and two boys were trying to sew their soccer ball. Our leader asked to see the ball and acted like he was taking it, but he pulled a new ball from his back and gave it to them.”

The Hessian children speak French and Crail, so they provided translator to be on each team.

“I helped a girl, Ketsea, come out of her shell and become friends with the four other girls on my team,” Ragsdale said.

“It was neat to be able to do that even though we couldn’t communicate with words, we used signs and played.”

The grounds of Haiti are coved with trash and the people have very little possessions.

“It was hard to come back, but I was glad to get away from the heat. I wanted to stay because I felt like there was a lot more we could do to improve their lives,” Ragsdale said.

This summer senior Nick Barrett went on Wilderness, a Young Life summer program that takes students to Creed, Colorado to hike through mountains. Wilderness is credited for taking kids away from the distractions of the city life along with seeing the country in a new perspective.

“I wanted to go to Wilderness to strengthen my faith and to become closer with my friends that were going,” Barrett said.

Young Life offers another summer camp, which is similar to staying at a resort with your friends.

Wilderness is very different

from normal camps.

“I’ve been to three Young Life camps,” Barrett said, “At Young Life camps, kids are waited on and sleep in cabins. At Wilderness we slept outside under tents and had to cook our own meals. We hiked a total of 35 miles and peaked a 14,000 foot mountain.”

A common concern of Wilderness is how strenuous the hiking is, especially with the 30-pound backpacks that had to be carried. The guides and leaders of Wilderness Ranch warn kids of the difficult conditions.

“Wilderness was more physically demanding than a regular Young Life camp.

Camps are mostly fun and games but Wilderness was more serious,” Barrett said.

Jon Whitmer is the leader of Young Life at NC. Whitmer has been on Wilderness five times and greatly enjoys it.

“What I love is the oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to be completely real with your friends and with Christ. It forces you to depend on one another and Christ. There is a community and family created on the trip that can’t be created anywhere else.

Wilderness is my favorite thing that Young Life provides for kids,” Whitmer said.

Barrett’s life after Wilderness has brought him much closer to the rest of the kids on the trip. Everyone on the trip had to share their life story, which forced the group to trust in one another.

Pantherquest names new leaders Emily Keesling Reporter Blair Heidenreich and Danny Miller are the new 2010 Pantherquest Student Coordinators.

The Pantherquest teacher facilitators, Chris Vermilion and Traci Rodgers, decided that Miller and Heidenreich would be excellent leaders for next year.

“They demonstrated the spirit of Pantherquest and proved themselves to be [future] leaders by their actions, interactions and words,” Rodgers said.

Throughout the year they plan to reunite the freshman with their leaders and get the facilitators together to discuss the success of this

year’s Pantherquest. They also want to set up meetings to plan a few new activities and themes for the next Pantherquest.

Last year’s student coordinators were Ana Mitchell and Will Staal.

Miller and Heidenreich were impressed with their leadership and how they united the entire Pantherquest staff. They both plan to build off of what Mitchell and Staal did.

Instead of being a team leader, Miller and Heidenreich will be overseeing the entire process of Pantherquest. They will be helping decorate the school, keep the staff and students entertained, and organizing the activities.

Miller and Heidenreich want to organize next years Pantherquest activities to the incoming freshman’s interests.

Heidenreich is excited to help everyone and to spend time with the student facilitator’s and teachers.

She is also eager to work with Miller.

“I’m really excited to work with Danny. We mesh well together and we have the same sense of humor,” Heidenreich said.

Danny is looking forward to getting to know the new staff and spending time with this year’s staff.

“I’m very excited to work with Blair. I know we work well together. So it will be a fun experience,” Miller said.

8 FEATURE

September 22, 2009

Despite harmful effects, students experiment Savannah Wooten Emma Kotyuk Reporters “I smoked weed before I came to school today,” an anonymous source said.

Many North Central students agree that weed— marijuana— has no harmful affects.

In reality it does.

In a random poll of 125 students, 75 admitted to at least trying marijuana.

“As far as I know I don’t think weed can do bad things to you, it is a healthy, natural, and organic pain killer,” senior Kyle Ennis said.

What these students have yet to realize is that there are serious consequences when using the drug.

According to National Institute on Drug Abuse, some marijuana users can become psychologically dependent on the drug.

Not only can it become psychologically addicting, but marijuana can be harmful to a person’s physical health

as well.

Marijuana smoke contains some of the same, and sometimes even more, of the cancer-causing chemicals that tobacco smoke contains.

marijuana smoker is affected as well.

The risk of getting in trouble with the police is much greater.

“I’ve been arrested

Marijuana Facts •Traces of marijuana can sometimes be detected for weeks after they have stopped using marijuana.

•Weed can cause distorted perception, learning disability, trouble with thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination and increased heart rate, anxiety and panic attacks.

•Blood shot eyes are a common side effect of using marijuana.

drugs because they could harm the growing fetus.

•Since 1991, lifetime marijuana use has doubled among 8th and 10th grade students and increased by a third among high school seniors.

•All forms of cannabis are mind-altering drugs; they all contain THC-the main active chemical in marijuana. They also contain more than 400 other chemicals.

•Doctors advise pregnant women not to use any

source: healthieryou.com

Marijuana can also produce tumors in the body.

The social life of a

twice for distribution and possession charges, which is the main reason why I have

stopped smoking,” Ennis said.

The experience of marijuana isn’t always just “rainbows and butterflies.”

The experience of getting high can result in hunger, panic attacks and the feel or sense of loosing control of oneself.

“I get hungry, feel good, and study a lot,” Ennis said.

Several studies associate workers’ and students’ marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness and accidents.

The price of marijuana has increased over time according to Ennis.

He used to spend approximately $100 a week.

The normal way to acquire marijuana is through dealers, family and friends.

“I just have connections,” Ennis said.

Ennis started smoking at a the age of 7, and was influenced by his cousin.

Other students confessed to being influenced at young ages as well.

Some have been

A student packs a bong with marijuana. A bong is a common item used for smoking. Cody Allen photo. influenced by other relatives, and by some of their favorite rappers.

By starting at a young age these students have become accustomed to marijuana.

“I’ve been doing it

forever, it is just what I do,” Ennis said.

Despite becoming aware of potential health issues, many students intend to continue using marijuana despite it being illegal.

Seniors gets experience at world famous company Eva Goldfarb Reporter As a sixth grader starting an engineering program called MEPI Tre Haskins has no idea that his involvement would eventually lead to a job at Lilly. Now as a senior Haskins works every morning from 7 to 9:30 am arriving back at school in time for third period.

MEPI is a non-profit organization for minority students interested in science, technology, engineering and math related fields. Evelyn Pounds, the director of MEPI, recommended Haskins for his internship at Lilly.

“It was a total surprise,”

Haskins said. “My counselor called me down and told me I had an interview with Lilly.”

Of the 22 kids that applied for the internship, Haskins was one of the five that actually made it.

Haskins is a paid worker of Lilly’s PDS, Pharmaceutical Delivery System. “We make insulin injection pens for people with diabetes,” Haskins said.

The internship will last Haskins’s entire senior year and he will have the opportunity to work on several different projects.

“My current duty is to figure out how recyclable the insulin pens are,” Haskins

said. “I go to the production plant and figure out how to reduce waist.”

Working a paid job a Lilly and helping the environment seems like a full time job but Haskins also takes three AP classes.

“I have three academic classes and one elective and I also get class credit for it,” Haskins said.

The workload is not too much for Haskins. Rather, it is hard for him to balance his activities at school.

“Because I am not here in the mornings, there are meetings for different activities, like French Honor Society and other stuff that I miss,” Haskins said.

Haskins has also had to make sacrifices at school.

“I am a DJ on WJEL 89.3 but I can’t take the class for it during school because I don’t have enough room in my schedule,” Haskins said, “Working part time forces me to be more creative with how I use my time and plan activities.”

Haskins use to work all weekend at Chick-Fil-A, but cut back his hours when the Lilly job was offered. His new schedule breaks up his days and frees up his weekends that were previously devoted to Chick-Fil-A. “Now I have weekends to do fun things with friends,” Haskins said.

t ol e r anc e

Joseph “Tre” Haskins wears this name badge while he interns at Eli Lilly. Joe Tyler photo.

Special TNL available now!

SPORTS 9

September 22, 2009

Athlete considers transfer Cal Boots Reporter The future of sophomore basketball star D’vauntes Smith-Rivera as a panther is up in the air.

The young star wants to stay at North Central but his father is considering relocating to a job in Chicago.

Although the 6’3” 220pound point guard thinks his chances of leaving are pretty low, and he wants to stay at NC with his friends.

“As of now, I don’t know, probably not,” Smith-Rivera said, when asked if he was going to move.

Smith-Rivera’s parents are taking what D’vauntes wants to do into consideration and regarding his basketball career as a priority.

“My parents asked me what I wanted to do and I said I wanted to stay here with my friends,” said Smith-Rivera.

Smith-Rivera is being heavily recruited by Indiana, Purdue and Tennessee and after a very impressive summer with his AAU team Indiana Elite. North Carolina and Wake Forest have also been bidding for Smith-Rivera.

Smith-Rivera averaged 15.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game last year.

The first basketball game of the season isn’t until November 19th and when that time comes around the Smith-Rivera family most likely will have made a decision.

The football team prepares to run a play against Lawrence North in the homecoming football game. Joe Tyler photo

School reviewing rules for recruiting Beau Scott Shane Hanley Reporters Recruiting at the high school level has been an issue in high school athletics for years. Student athletes can find themselves being recruited at young ages, at times in the middle school level or even earlier.

Athletic Director Chuck Jones sees the presence of recruiting in high school sports on several levels.

“Heck yes, it happens,” Jones said. “It’s hard to say how much, or on what levels because an athletic department can talk to a family of an athlete and tell them how great their school is. Some would say that’s recruiting.”

Some think that recruiting is necessary for private schools such as Bishop Chatard and Park Tudor

because they do not have a township with an automatic influx of athletes. Without recruiting, some advocates for these schools say that the quality of their programs would be well below par.

Jones thinks that high school recruiting is a broad topic and it’s difficult to distinguish between what is legal and illegal recruiting.

“When the family of an athlete approaches a school like ours, or Carmel, or Cathedral or Chatard, we’re going to promote our schools as much as we can,” Jones said. “However, if a school tells an athlete, ‘We want you to come play football for our program’—that’s where I draw the line.”

The reaction to recruiting in high school among NC athletes is mixed. Junior basketball player Micah Smith thinks that the whole recruiting process is unfair.

“I think schools that do it are cheating,” Smith said.

“Even though schools deny it, I think it happens all the time.”

Senior baseball player Sean McManus thinks that recruiting is a strategic move but not cheating.

“I don’t think recruiting is cheating, I think it is tactics,” McManus said.

Some advocates for harsher penalties for schools that recruit think that the athlete can begin to be recruited by high schools as early as the middle school level. Jones believes that recruiting at this level happens all the time.

“Often times it will just be a coach or athletic director wearing the shirt with his school on it and speaking with the athlete,” Jones said.

“Most of the time it’s very subtle, but both the athlete and the school know what’s

going on.”

Jones did not specifically blame any particular schools in Central Indiana of partaking in illegal recruiting, although said it often occurs.

With an excellent academic reputation, a stateof-the-art weight room and athletic facilities, North Central has many aspects that could potentially attract athletes looking for a high school. However, in contrast, many think that the 2.0 grade point average rule discourages athletes from coming to NC. Jones thinks the 2.0 rule helps and hurts athletic teams.

“I think it goes both ways. Some families will immediately count our school out because they know their son or daughter won’t qualify,” Jones said.

“On the other side of that,

some families are encouraged to come here because they know their kid will get a good education.”

Many athletes are recruited away to other schools, and Jones thinks that our teams could have benefited from enrolling some of these athletes.

“There have been some excellent athletes that have chosen to go elsewhere.

Absolutely our teams could have benefited from having them,” Jones said.

Jones, explained how he is involved in recruiting young athletes.

“I do what’s allowed. I tell them what they don’t want to hear—that they’re going to get an excellent education,” Jones said. “If that’s not what’s important for you, maybe North Central isn’t the right choice for you.”

OPINION

Boy’s football team shows promise Dallas Shirley Reporter

Two NC players try to make a tackle. Daniel Hursh photo

The boys football team has gotten off to a better start than many presumed with their upset victory over Lawrence North in their second game of the season.

In their two losses to Pike and Ben Davis, the team has thrown the ball for a meager 88 total yards, and run

for a combined 211 yards.

In order to win more games, they have to get the ball moving downfield on offense more efficiently.

During their victory over Lawrence North, the Panthers showed that they could run, with 205 rushing yards.

This allowed senior quarterback Derek Themes to throw for an improved 92

passing yards, at an impressive 50 percent accuracy.

During their loss to Pike, the defensive squad allowed the opposing junior quarterback Grant Kitcoff to tear them up through the air with 216 passing yards, including a 96 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Special teams have been an area of trouble and hope for

the team.

They have allowed two kickoff returns for touchdowns, both for 90 or more yards.

Senior kicker Trip McFall has been a tremendous help for the Panthers so far this season though.

Already he has hit three field goals, one of them giving the Panthers the lead as time expired from 31 yards out.

Another bright

spot for the team is their lack of penalties.

In the first three games, the Panthers have had 140 yards in penalties to their opponent’s 225.

If the Panthers can keep up the good work staying out of penalty trouble, and get their offense going into scoring mode, then fans have something to look forward to as the season progresses.

10 Sports

September 22, 2009

MIC provides multiple contenders this season Thomas O’Farrell Reporter As another fall sports season rushes in, MIC football teams around the region prepare to make a run at the state title.

The 2009 season looks to be very promising year for several teams in the conference.

Ben Davis tops the Indy Star poll after a difficult loss to Center Grove in last year’s semistate game. Michigan State recruit Isaiah Lewis looks to lead the Giants to their first state title since 2002. Giants coach Mike Kirschner is very excited about the upcoming season.

“The level competition we face each week in our conference makes each and

every week exciting and challenging,” Kirschner said.

Warren Central has improved from last year’s season and is in contention for yet another state championship.

Led by division one prospects James Manuel and Kris Harley, the Warriors are also looking forward to a potentially exciting season.

After a disappointing season last year, the NC team looks to rebound and make several improvements.

The Panther defense returns seven starters while the offense returns key seniors Derek Theimes, Miles Clark and Jarrett Thomaston.

Offensive line coach Matt Panzer is looking forward to watch the senior class this year.

Keith Shelton gives his team a pep talk. Joe Tyler “I am excited to see the seniors on the team succeed this season,” Panzer said.

Trying to bounce back from a loss in the state title game last year, The Carmel football team looks to rebuild

Fantasy football is here at last Isaac Smith

The NFL season is finally here and with that comes the most exciting activity of the year… fantasy football!

It’s time to spend obscene amounts of time pretending to be an NFL General Manager, trying to pick up players and sending out ridiculous trades.

Of course after you do

all that, the starting line up needs to be looked at and adjusted based on player stats and research. Then, after all aspects of the team have been updated, it’s time to wait for game day. Every one has their own game day ritual, but I like to set up my laptop then relax and watch the Colts game with a close eye on how my players are performing.

After the games it’s time to start the whole process over again and get excited about next week. This may all sound like a ridiculous waste of time to you and that’s probably because it is.

Playing fantasy football has no real value and doesn’t serve any real purpose.

However, that doesn’t mean people should stop playing fantasy football, it just means that people need to spend less time obsessing about it. It doesn’t matter if you think there is a new trade opportunity, it can wait until later.

The trade doesn’t need to be checked during school or take the place of doing homework. So take it from someone who plays fantasy football more than anyone ever should. Be careful.

Hockey team changes name Thomas O’Farrell Reporter The defending state champion North Central hockey team is no more.

A logo issue has caused a dispute between the school and the team. The hockey team is technically a club, therefore they aren’t allowed to have any affiliation with the Panther logo, which is copyrighted by the school.

To avoid a lawsuit from the school, the hockey team has decided to now base itself in Zionsville. Senior captain Will Lerums remains

hopeful despite the move.

“Even though we’re with a new school, we still hope to make a run at state.” “I hope the name change won’t change our teams attitude or cause a distraction.” Lerums said.

The decision to move was justified in that some of the players on the team are from Zionsville. Senior Oliver Wenck is still disappointed at the affiliation change.

“It’s a shame because although we weren’t completely all North Central students we still represented our school,” Wenck said.

Many on the team think that the team’s abilities should not be inhibited this season, seeing as their roster and schedule are already set.

Senior Jackson Richey sees no problem with the name change and plans on not letting that affect the team’s play.

“The team’s performance should stay the same. A name change won’t bother us and we still hope to be as successful as last year,” Richey said.

The new Zionsville Eagles will start up play this winter.

after the graduation of their star quarterback Morgan Newton.

They will now have to look for the leadership of such players as emerging star running back Devon

Bennison.

The Center Grove Trojans set out on their quest for a repeat state championship this year.

The Trojans lost 32 seniors and will be relying heavily on a younger team.

They return no offensive starters and only a handful of defensive starters. Coach Eric Moore has a lot of faith in his team, despite their undeniable youth.

“No matter the amount of seniors a team graduates a coach must still have a vision to pursue the dream of trying to win the state championship,” Moore said.

“I believe we will make a run in the state tournament because of the quality of opponents that we play in the MIC.” Defensive leaders for the

Lawrence Central Wildcats Vince Coach, Phil Schwenk, and Max Vandermark will all be returning at the linebacker position this year.

Led, by head coach Chris Barrett, The Terre Haute North Patriots look to emerge as a powerhouse in the MIC after a winless season in the conference last year.

Rounding out the MIC conference is the Terre Haute South Braves. The Braves are commonly projected to have a standout year offensively, and are led by veteran running backs Tre Stephens and Tyler Evans.

With a number of football teams from the MIC projected high in preseason polls, the conference looks to have another strong year when the state tournament starts.

New coach volleys into action Will Staal Matt Hansen Reporters As the girl’s volleyball team sets up for practice, the new coach watches from his office.

Nick Wolf thinks about his team and the new ideas that he brings from his many years of involvement with the sport.

“My previous coaching experiences include eight years total at Indiana State, Tarlton State and Ranger Junior College,” Wolf said.

At these colleges, Wolf had experience with both division one and division two schools.

“Volleyball teams in either division one or two play against each other. In my case I played in division two at the University of Findlay, where I matched up against division one powerhouses like Ohio State and Ball State,” Wolf said.

Wolf is excited to start coaching in the MIC. “Every year the MIC conference prepares our team for sectionals, and this year won’t be an exception,” Wolf said.

However he does have some concern about certain obstacles the team will face this year.

“Our team has many

Coach Wolf reviews at practice. Ashley Parry photo matches in a week, and it is hard to develop a skill level that meets the standards I would like,” Wolf said. “The transition is not a setback for the team. The players were helpful by making the transition as easy as possible, especially with listening to the instructions I gave them. Chuck Jones also contributed.”

Jane Reagan, a sophomore varsity player, is transitioning well.

“It’s been pretty easy and everyone has adjusted to the new style [of coaching],” Reagan said. “The new changes are evident as seen in a recent scrimmage against Hamilton South Eastern.”

“Our scrimmage was a success because of the way the girls handled the new playing styles against a tough opponent, with a

long time coach,” Wolf said.

“Although we lost, we can learn from this experience.”

Wolf is looking forward to being able to watch a young team grow.

“14 of our 36 players are sophomores,” Wolf said.

“They will become the best class in a while to come through North Central.”

The team is looking forward to working with Wolf.

Varsity sophomore player Linda Albrecht is also excited to be playing with the new coach.

“I love him. He is a very knowledgeable coach and he relates to the players very well,” Albrecht said. “I can see him leading us into the future.”

Ana Mitchell, a senior varsity player also like the change.

“He means business and brings a winning attitude to the court at all times; something that has been lacking in the previous years,” Mitchell said.

The recent match on August 20 turned out to be a victory for the team with scores being 21-25, 18-25, 2521, 25-15 and 18-16.

The girl’s volleyball team will be in action this week at the Marion County tournament.

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Sports 11

September 22, 2009

Sophomore climbs at worlds Daniel Hursh Reporter

Sophomore Marissa Stephens climbs a wall. Stephens competed at the world level.

Photo contributed.

Sophomore Marissa Stephens recently competed at the Junior World Rock Climbing Championships on August 28-30 and came home with an eighth place finish.

After building her climbing career over the past 9 years by practicing at least 3 times a week at Climb Time Rock Climbing on the east side, Stephens qualified last summer for the Junior World Championships.

This was Stephens’ first time qualifying for a competition of this magnitude and she was happy to make it onto the

Hokum Karems require new style Beau Scott Reporter Both the boys and girls cross country teams are now in full swing. Typically, a standard cross country race consists of a five kilometer run. Each of the top five runners are scored and the lowest score of the competing teams wins the meet.

However, in recent years, the popularity has risen for a type of cross country race called a Hokum Karem.

A Hokum Karem is a relay type race where runners are paired up, each running three alternating mile legs.

A team nominates five pairs of runners, and the top three pairs earn points for the team.

Each of the three scoring pairs’ times are added together giving the team one

final time. The lowest time of the competing teams wins the meet.

AHokum Karem demands a slightly different skill set of the competing runners, as it allows the runners a short rest in between the parts of their race.

However, runners are expected to run consistent mile times.

Sophomore cross country runner Emma Timpson believes success in a Hokum Karem relies not only on the ability of the individual runner.

“It’s important to be partnered with a good person in a Hokum. Both runners have to do well,” Timpson said.

Hokum Karems have been a part of the cross country schedule for many years. This year our boys and girls teams hosted the

first Hokum Karem at North Central. Even though the races are historic, many runners prefer the traditional 5K races.

Sarah Freeman, a sophomore runner, doesn’t enjoy running in Hokum Karems.

“They’re harder and not fun,” Freeman said.

Senior captain for the boys’ team, Julian Toumey also prefers 5Ks. “I prefer 5Ks because in Hokum Karems it’s easy to tighten up in between miles. They’re fun to run at the beginning of the season but I don’t think that the outcomes should affect any of the rankings,” Toumey said.

With six total runners’ performance determining the outcome of the meet, rather than five, different teams could be more successful

running Hokum Karems.

Toumey agrees on the possibility of a team doing better in a Hokum Karem.

“If a team is deeper you can do better at a Hokum,” Toumey said.

Meredith Katz, a senior runner, disagrees.

“The results are usually the same in a Hokum as they are in a regular race,” Katz said.

The number one ranked boys team was highly successful in their two Hokum Karums, finishing first and second place. The girls’ team placed second and fifth.

Julian Toumey commented on the need to perform, no matter what type of race.

“When it comes down to it, you just have to go out and run.”

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World Rock Climbing stage.

“I didn’t really get nervous; just getting there was such a big accomplishment that it didn’t really matter how I did,” Stephens said.

There were 45 people from all over the World competing in the fourteen to fifteen year-old category.

After the first round, the field was cut down to 16, Stephens included.

Stephens enjoyed making friends with the international climbers.

“Watching the climbers from the other countries was amazing. I also enjoyed making friends with climbers from different parts of the world,” Stephens said Next year Stephens will

compete in the A Category for 16 and 17 year olds. She will then be competing in both the speed and sport categories.

Sport climbing is when everyone climbs the same, inverted wall and whoever makes it furthest up the wall wins.

“I prefer sport competitions over speed competitions. They are more fun and more of a challenge that speed competitions,” Stephens said.

Stephens will continue to climb competitively until next year’s World Championships and hopes to bring back two gold medals.

Q&ATerone Johnson with:

Q. The team made it to the State championship your freshman year, however it has not made it back since. Do you think there is a legitimate chance that you’ll make it to state this year?

A. Yes I believe there is a great chance at making it back to state this year. We have some really talented players who are ready to do what ever it takes to get there.

Q. The team lost a lot of starting experience and leadership from last year. What do you plan on doing to make up for these losses?

A. We plan on working harder than we did last year because we lost some of that leadership, but also follow the lead of our seniors who know a lot.

Q. Are there any other players that you think will step up and make a difference this year that we may not know about yet?

A. Yes I believe Pat Ingram, and my brother Ronnie Johnson will step up and be a bunch of help. Also our senior Trip Mcfall is ready to step up and help us more than before.

Q. There is a rumor that Dvauntes Smith-Rivera

may be transferring; what affect would this have on the team?

A. Well we want him to make the best decision possible for him, but if he does leave I think we have plenty of talented players that would step up and help with that loss.

Q. Have you set any personal goals for this upcoming season, such as points per game or assists per game?

A. I really don’t set goals when it comes to statistics, my goals are to win state and if possible win Mr. Basketball.

Q. Purdue is an up and coming Big Ten powerhouse, how excited are you to join the team?

Are you close with any other members of Purdue’s class of 2010?

A. I’m very excited to be apart of the Purdue class of 2010. I can’t wait to get there and play. I am not very close with any 2010 members, but I am with a few 2009 players.

Q. What are your plans after college?

A. My plans after college would be trying to take my game to the highest level possible I could play at, but if not I want to be a sports agent.

12 OPINION

September 22, 2009

Editorial

Lessons from ‘GG’ won’t last

In high school, it’s common for students to make up rumors about each other and spread them around. In fact, it’s expected. High school is all about drama since you’re living in your own little world consisting of about 50 “friends” for four years. By the time you get to your senior year, you’re bound to get a little bored.

So naturally, you start making up rumors and backstabbing those who have stood by you through the highs and lows of growing up, right?

That idea might seem ridiculous but unfortunately it’s the truth of our school and “Gossip Girl” has only further proven it. Since any viewer of “Gossip Girl” can e-mail in story ideas then we shouldn’t be blaming the writer herself, we should be blaming our “friends.”

The people you spend time with on the weekends are the ones who are telling “Gossip Girl” about your drama. The people you go to parties with, those who

you confide in about your latest hook-up and those who know your private business are the same people who are e-mailing “Gossip Girl” the latest drama.

Most people agree “Gossip Girl” has a negative effect on school but she has done more good than is recognized. It seems that it is only under these extreme conditions people begin to understand the painful and severe effects of rumors. Students are being forced to watch the immediate and long-term effects of rumors on their friends so they see how the stories affect people emotionally and mentally. Maybe it will cause students to form relationships deeper than weekly intoxication and partying.

Probably not though. “Gossip Girl” will fade out in a few weeks and the learning that has taken place because of the blog will fade out right along with it.

Dear strangers, don’t touch me ... too much Daniel Dorson

It seems every year someone writes a column complaining about how they hate people walking slow in the halls and running into them and things of that sort. There’s a bigger problem at hand.

The most infuriating thing for me is when people decide it’s going to be absolutely hilarious to start touching me and talking

to me and making stupid comments. It’s not funny.

During the senior convocation I was sitting calmly in my seat just enjoying Mr. Quandt’s speech when my neighbor to my left decided it would just be a gas to start rubbing my arm and calling me “sexy.” Every time she did that she would then turn around to her friends and cackle like a witch on Halloween.

Needless to say I was irate. By the end of the day I just managed to get over it, but then some large underclassman came up and put his gargantuan arm around me and attempted to carry on a fake conversation

with me. I was intimidated and terrified by his size so I decided to play along.

I was pretty angry when I went home that day. Annoying as it was, it seemed like it was just something unique to our halls. Sadly I was mistaken.

My family and I went to the Colts preseason game against the Eagles and as we were leaving the older folks in my family decided they needed to use the restroom. Being the spry young man I am I didn’t need to go. I went and stood against the wall waiting for them to finish. I’m sitting there minding my own business when some squat blonde kid walked

by with a group of large friends and got right in my face and screamed “What’s up?” Then he and all of his friends scampered off giggling.

It was extremely obnoxious to deal with all these kids and I was furious.

I was planning on writing a seething column doing nothing but complaining about these situations, but then I realized I’m just as guilty.

When I’m with a group of friends and I see a kid sitting alone there is no doubt in my mind one of my friends will run up and obnoxiously start a fake conversation with the kid.

I am just as guilty as the

next guy of using ridiculous pick-up lines on girls I’ve never met and never plan on seeing again. It’s rude and uncalled for, I know.

Last year, there was a column telling people to be more accepting to being the butt of a joke and I remember reading it thinking that it was stupid and that no one should have to be made fun of like that, but I was wrong.

Sometimes you do have to be willing to take the jokes. If you can make fun of kids and make jokes you need to be able to take it too. So to those who kept touching me just know I’m not mad. And to the girl in the convocation, call me.

Winning in high school isn’t everything Chris

Swarbrick

When I was driving through campus this summer, I saw a phrase painted on a press box that read, “We judge ourselves by the quality of our effort not by the result of the

game.”

As I stewed over this comment up until this school year, I realized how false it really is.

In NC sports, we are supposed to value the development of the player just as much, at times even more, than winning the game.

The sad fact ends up being that coaches and administrators value winning the game even more than anything, at

times even more than an over-paid, arrogant professional athlete.

In researching this column, I talked to athletes that are a part of virtually every fall sport.

When I asked all of them that if a team wins one game and loses the other, but tries their hardest in every game, if the coaches post-game speech would praise their hard work in both games; the answer of every athlete was a

resounding “No.” I am not suggesting that we totally reform the ongoing system of athletic excellence that we have at our school, but merely that the majority of the athletic coaches need to reform their mindset.

Seeing as only 4 percent of high school athletes play in college, a system of player development, one that focuses on teaching both athletic skill and life skills, needs to be in place

to help a player succeed not only in life but also in college and their career.

Idealistically, the statement I saw on the press box fits perfectly into this system of player development, but the fact is, it just does not happen.

Coaches need to realize more than just their selfish goal of winning, because the student, the player and the future leader needs to come before all else.

Ashley Parry

Advice for a house party The doorbell rings and you open the front door to another group of random faces, ready to party. They file into your house with their muddy shoes, leaving tracks everywhere they walk. They have no respect for you or your home. They only want your home as a place to party.

You glance at your cell phone to receive yet another message inviting you to your own house party. A strange sensation comes when you realize that your address is circulating via text message throughout Indianapolis.

Anyone from the area could show up to the place you call home. That’s when home starts to not feel as safe as it used to.

You see your “guests” having fun in your house, and you wish you could join them. Instead, you pace nervously around like a hallway monitor, creating a routine pathway from your room, to the front door, to the basement. You begin to realize that you have made a mistake. Things are out of control.

If you’re lucky, maybe the cops will only come to your house two times, and they won’t be able to enter.

Don’t count on it though.

Cell phones are stolen, as well as iPods, money, and cameras. Maybe one of the cell phones was your brothers’. That would be unfortunate.

Not only do you have to clean your whole house to perfection afterwards, but when your parents find out (which they will) they ground you for a month and never trust you again.

This is what a typical house party could be like, not that I would know or anything, just guessing.

Next time your parents go out of town, do not feel obligated to throw down.

OPINION 13

September 22, 2009

Kennedy Long

I want my food and I want it now Morgan Loudermilk

Let ‘em know

Remember back in the day when if your underwear was showing you would know if only from the taunting kids singing, “I see London, I see France I see your underpants!” If only things could go back to how they used to be. It reduced embarrassment, and made life all around easier.

Today if you have something in your teeth, you’re lucky to find out if you happen to smile at yourself in the mirror.

God forbid you have food on your face. Not only do you walk around looking like the cookie monster for the rest of the day, but as soon as you step out the building birds swarm to your upper lip to finish your lunch.

Sadly the only way to tell that your breath stinks is when you see plants wilting as you walk on by.

The problem is people don’t tell others these embarrassing things. Now personally if I had toilet paper stuck to my shoe, I’d want to know.

Why doesn’t anyone ever say anything? Do they think I want it there? In case you were wondering, no one in their right mind wants toilet paper trailing from their shoes.

Every time you see someone in an embarrassing situation think, what would Kennedy do? Well she would yell “Pull your pants up your panties are showing!” But you may want to be more subtle.

But seriously, say something. It’s terribly embarrasing to have to walk around looking ridiculous.

And besides, wouldn’t you want to know?

Keep in mind everything your teachers taught you in elementary. Even the jokes, “Look under there!”

“Under where?”

“I made you say underwear!”

(P.s. it’s showing.)

Waiting to eat until eighth period is always a struggle for me. My classes before then aren’t particularly hard or anything. It’s just difficult, but why?

It may have to do with the fact that I go approximately seven hours without being able to eat.

There’s a school rule that does not allow food

or drink outside of the cafeteria.

Liquid I can sort of understand because colored drinks make a mess and some idiots try to pass alcohol as a clear drink.

Food is also understandable because it can make a mess and be a distraction.

What I don’t understand is why we can’t have a certain time of the day, other than lunch, where we are allowed to eat some food?

Every day except Tuesdays, we have five extra minutes tacked onto third period to allow for the announcements. Most students see this as time to

hurry up and finish their due assignment and a select few watch the announcements.

Nevertheless, this five minutes is sort of “our time” since we aren’t really required to do anything. So the question is, why can’t we eat during those five minutes?

A quick snack would take probably three minutes and it wouldn’t be distracting to anyone besides the irresponsible people who should’ve done their home work the night before.

Homeroom day is also a period of time that often goes unused. So why can’t we eat?

I wake up at 5:15 a.m. every morning and eat my Special K cereal around 5:30 a.m. I know the key to success is a good breakfast but around fourth period I’m hungry again and I still have another two hours until lunch.

It’s extremely unfair to suffer for seven hours and go hungry all because of a stupid rule that could be altered.

Eating is not a privilege.

It’s a right. No one deserves to be hungry and I’m sick of stuffing food in my mouth when the teacher turns around to write on the board.

Please, sir, don’t kill my grandmother Tim Dugan

With the uproar concerning President Barack Obama’s new health plan, many conservatives are afraid of the possible changes.

I won’t say that we don’t need to make some adaptations with our current system, but a possible consequence of this plan could be that healthcare for

the elderly will be limited.

In order to provide care for those without health insurance, there are rumored propositions of picking and choosing whether or not a surgery is worthwhile for an elderly person.

This is unbelievable to me. Yes I know some of you Obama supporters believe him to be the “Messiah” (which by the way is ridiculous), but he doesn’t have the right to be playing God, which is essentially what he is proposing.

I cannot even begin to fathom why the life of a person who has health insurance should be cut short

to make room for someone who doesn’t have proper, or even any health coverage.

Who says that a person of 75 or older is done living? If that person replaces a heart valve or a coronary artery, they could potentially live for several more decades.

Should someone really be limited to the amount of care they receive because a government bureaucrat says so? Let’s be real here.

Although a grim picture, at this moment the United States has over 50 million people who are uninsured and nearly ten percent of Americans are unemployed.

There is no way that

limiting lives of some elderly people will inhibit adequate care for the majority of these uninsured people.

Is Obama really out to kill my grandma? Nah not really, but I leave you with this. Is it really fair that someone who worked hard for their healthcare insurance should have to sacrifice years off their lives for someone who hasn’t made the effort to obtain coverage?

This consequence won’t provide equal healthcare like Obama wants to. It will just transfer the healthcare burden from one generation to the next, which doesn’t solve anything.

Spoiled Brett gets what he wants...again Elliott Kinney

Yet again Brett Favre and his toddler like attitude have found a team to play for in the NFL. This time it is the Minnesota Vikings, the archrival of Favre’s former team the Green Bay Packers.

Don’t think this was a coincidence, Favre has been planning this one for a while. . Last year when he decided that he had grown tired of retirement after just

a few months, he informed the Packers that he would like to return to the team.

The problem was that the Packers had moved on to new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers., a decision that any good NFL franchise would have made.

When Favre was told that he would have to compete for a starting job, he threw a hissy fit and eventually made his way to the New York Jets.

Once he was in New York, Favre did not impress much.

He did manage to throw 22 touchdown passes; however that is far less impressive when you realize that he also had a league worst 22 interceptions. The ESPN

analysts will tell you that “Brett’s just a gunslinger that’s why he throws so many interceptions,” but common sense will tell you that he is an aging quarterback whose talent is decaying.

His year with the Jets seemed to make Favre realize that he was no longer the stud he used to be and he re-retired after the season. It was a disappointing ending to his illustrious career.

All was calm for a few months until once again there were reports that Favre may be interested in playing again. For about a month rumors swirled that he was going to sign with the Vikings, eventually Favre

himself said that he planed on staying retired.

The situation seemed to be over until about three weeks later news broke that Favre would in fact sign with the Vikings. At this point it’s kind of sad; Favre seems to feel very uncomfortable when the spotlight is not on him. So what’s next for Favre, 23 interceptions?

A lackluster season and missing the playoffs?

Another retirement followed by a dramatic re-entry into the league? The only thing that is for sure is that the media will be there to cover every part of the sideshow that Brett Favre has turned his career into.

Speak your mind What do you think about the Colts this year?

“I want to see more Donald Brown and less Joseph Addai.”

“I don’t know yet, it’s too early to tell.”

“They’re good. 12-4.”

“I think they looked pretty good and I like how the defense looked. The offense is coming on still.”

“I feel like Colts are going to dominate the Pats.”

“The Colts are red hot and are totally going to smash every single team they play this year.”

“They’ll probably choke again like they usually do.”

“Better than last year.”

“Amazing.”

“The Colts will struggle this year, but end up having a winning record.”

“Like I ever watch football.”

“Really, really, really good.”

“They will make it to the AFC Championship.”

“They’re going to win every single game including the Superbowl.”

“They won’t even make the playoffs.”

“They’re going to win every game.”

“Colts will go undefeated.”

“They aren’t going to go very far in the playoffs.”

“Awesome. Peyton Manning is looking hot.”

“I can tell that they’re going to be really good this year.”

14 ENTERTAINMENT

September 22, 2009

Basterds far from ‘Inglorious’

Upcoming Movie Releases

Michael Hardie Reporter

September 25: Fame Pandorum Surrogates October 2: Capitalism: A Love Story Whip it Zombieland October 9: Couples Retreat Bronson An Education

Upcoming CD Releases September 22: Sean “Diddy” Combs – Last Train to Paris Pearl Jam – Backspacer Wale – Attention: Deficit September 29: Mariah Carey – Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel Nelly Furtado – Mi Plan October 6: Backstreet Boys – This is Us Switchfoot- Hello Hurricane

New York Times Bestseller List 1. “Dark Slayer” Christine Feehan 2. “Alex Cross’s Trial” James Patterson & Richard DiLallo 3. “South of Borad” Pat Conroy 4. “Spartan Gold” Clive Cussler & Grant Blackwood 5. “The Help” Kathryn Stockett 6. “The White Queen” Philippa Gregory 7. “Homer & Langley” E.L. Doctorow 8. “206 Bones” Kathy Reichs 9. “The Girl Who Played with Fire” Stieg Larsson 10. “A Gate at the Stairs” Lorrie Moore

The cover art for the Black Eyed Peas new album. The group begins their world tour in September.

‘E.N.D.’ is here Eliott Kinney Reporter Many fans of the group Black Eyed Peas were upset when members Will.i.am and Fergie branched off from the group and released solo albums.

People were saddemed whem they realized that the group that had produced hits such as “Don’t Lie,” “Where is the Love,” and “Lets Get It Started” was no longer together.

However they didn’t have to wait long for the group to join together again.

This summer the fans rejoiced when the Black Eyed Peas released their long anticipated fifth studio album “The E.N.D (Energy Never Dies).”

Group leader Will.i.am describes the music as, “a lot

of dance stuff, real melodic, electronic, soulful. We call it , like, electric static funk.”

Will.i.am. also emphaszied the group was trying to break away from the traditional concept of an album.

The new album certainly does not disappoint and fans are treated to new electropop hits like “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling,” a song featured in several recent commercials.

Though the album offers a slightly different sound from traditional Black Eyed Peas music, it still delivers plenty of funky songs like “Rock That Body” and “Imma Be” that make this group fun to listen to.

As long as they keep making catchy tunes that people can dance to, the Black Eyed Peas should be around for a while.

Even though summer is nearing its end, Hollywood is continuing to churn out blockbusters.

Following his wave of success with past films such as Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill series, Quentin Tarantino recently released his newest and possibly best film, Inglorious Basterds.

Tarantino has emphasized that although it is a war film, “Inglorious Basterds is his spaghetti western but with World War II iconography.”

The cast is headlined by actor extraordinaire Brad Pitt along with up and coming actress Melanie Laurent and actor B.J. Novak and was produced by The Weinstein Co. The film is set in 1940s

France and tells the story of two separate forces attempting to assassinate Hitler. One is the Basterds, a group of Jewish-American soldiers, led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Pitt).

The other is revenge seeking Shoshanna Dreyfuss, (Laurent) a Jewish refugee whose family was killed by

the Jew-Hunter played by Christopher Walda.

Dreyfuss owns a cinema in France at which a Nazi propaganda film is set to premiere with the entire Nazi leadership being in attendance.

The Basterds meet up with German actress Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) and attempt to infiltrate the cinema posing as Italians.

Both groups unaware of each other, attempt to blow up the theater the night of the premiere.

The ending is that of a typical Tarantino film, full of explosions, violence, and anomalies that reinforce the film’s fictional roots.

If you’re a fan of Tarantino or of action flicks, then Inglorious Basterds is a must see.

Madden domination continues Michael Hardie Reporter Every year NFL fans and gamers rejoice with the release of the newest game in the Madden NFL series. This year’s release is no different and looks to be even more promising than previous years.

Electronic Arts released its first edition of the game in 1989.

In recent years its widespread popularity has caused other videogame companies to postpone the release of their titles until after the release of Madden to ensure no profits are lost.

This year’s release is full of new features.

One of the most signifi-

cant is procedural awareness which allows gamers to swivel the heads of players allowing them to track the ball.

Another new feature is adaptive AI, which allows the computer to track how many of a certain type you run and adjust to them accordingly.

The Fight for the Fumble feature allows the user to gain posession of the fumble by pressing a series of buttons that appear onscreen.

The Designers have also added expanded stats to emphasize the difference between average players and superstars.

This has caused a playe’rs weight to be further emphasized which will determine

how hard a player hits and tackles.

This along with a more pronounced difference between the speed of older and younger players will play a much larger factor in a player’s size and age.

NFL fans will also rejoice with the addition of the Wildcat formation to the playbooks of teams.

Electronic Arts has also released new updates for the game that update rosters with team’s cuts and additions.

The game is available for Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, and PSP. If you’re a sports fan or you just like video games, then Madden NFL 10 is definitely a good buy.

Visit nchslive.com and win prizes!

September 22, 2009

Playlist of the issue

ENTERTAINMENT 15

WORD JUMBLE!

This issue TNL asked senior John Crist for some of his favorite tunes.

7. “Iron Man” – Black Sabbath This is also an oldie but a goody. My favorite part in this song is the guitar part because it is so catchy.

Simon Elser Reporter 1. “Whatcha Say” – Jason Derulo This is a really catchy song that came out in July and really got my attention because of the verse: “When the roof caved in and the truth came out, I just didn’t know what to do.”

2. “Down” – Jay Sean The reason I like this song so much is mainly because of the chorus, it’s really cool because whenever I’m down this part always cheers me up.

3. “Secret Valentine” – We the Kings I think this is one of the greatest bands ever and one of their best songs. I always listen to this song in my car.

These have begun to fall Vegetable rhyming with quash Gathering of crops Round and orange

8. “You’re a Jerk” – New Boys This came out at the beginning of the summer and the dance is popular, but I’m not very good at it.

4. “Best I Ever Had” – Drake He is rapidly becoming one of the top artists with the help of this song. This song is the best I’ve ever heard.

5. “Weightless” – All Time Low It’s their newest and best song by them, in my opinion. All Time Low is taken

from the lyrics in one of their songs called “Head On Collision.”

6. “Walkie Talkie Man” – Steriogram This is an older band that was formed in 1999 but I love this song because of how fast the lead singer sings the lyrics.

Fourth Thursday of November Go Colts

9. “Imma Star” - Jeremiah He is also becoming a big star and the music video is really funny. I like the part where he drive up to the valet in his station wagon.

Used to gather leaves

Birds begin this journey to the south

10. “One Time” – Justin Bieber I like Justin because he is so young and has a lot of potential, he will become a star when he’s older

Worn on Halloween Pagan Holiday

Sketching With Simon Answers: leaves, squash, harvest, pumpkin, Thanksgiving, football, rake, migration, costumes, Halloween, Autumn has begun

Jokes of the Issue Q: Why does the Statue of Liberty stand in the New York Harbor?

A: Because it can’t sit down.

Q: What kind of license does a pharmacist have?

A: A license to pill.

YEARBOOK INFORMATION CENTER ...

• Order your yearbook at www.yearbookordercenter.com today!

• Seniors, the Grad Ad deadline is Sept. 30. Forms are available at K634!

• Seniors, schedule your senior picture sitting with Prestige Portraits ASAP! Call 317-829-2080!

September 22, 2009

BACKPAGE

Pep Rally

Far left: Senior Parnell Johnson performs with the dance team. Middle: Coach Keith Shelton inspires the crowd with a rousing speech. Top right: Students cheer after the dance team performs.

Bottom right: Seniors Ana Mitchell and Will Staal dance in front of the football team. Bottom left: the dance team gives their first performance for the student body.