Vol. 5, Issue 3

Northwood High School • Pittsboro, N.C.

www.nhsomniscient.com

OMNISCIENT ­- THE NORTHWOOD -

(om-nish-ent) adj.: having infinite knowledge and awareness December 19, 2011 • Volume 5 • Issue 3

Safe and sound? A look at security on campus

By C aroline S chneider Editor- in -C hief

“I do [feel safe at Northwood], and I feel like if I didn’t feel safe, my concerns would be addressed,” said English teacher Meredith Lewis. “And that’s really important.”

After last month’s North Carolina college gunmen incidents, where three NC college campuses, including East Carolina University, had to go into a lock down, and October’s Cape Fear High School shooting, it’s safe to say that students and teachers alike are thinking about what ways they’re being protected at Northwood.

“I feel like Pittsboro is a really safe location, and we don’t have to worry about gangs at Northwood because we don’t have any [prominent activity],” said student body president, Diane Thompson.

And gang violence at Cape Fear may have been the cause of the shooting in October.

English teacher Nick Winstead used to teach at a school in Durham, and he has noticed differences between the environment in Pittsboro compared to the

Students discuss their vegetarianism

By Kaitlyn Mattiace Staff Writer

“I was uncomfortable with the thought of eating something that used to be living.

It just made me feel gross,” said senior Julia Sloane, vegetarian of six years.

While eliminating meat from their plates is a moral choice for some vegetarians, others just don’t like the taste of flesh.

“I just don’t like the taste of meat. [I’ve] never liked it… it’s just disgusting,” said science teacher Cari Christopherson, vegetarian of 13 years.

Science teacher Aaron Freeman is conflicted by her knowledge of the meat industry as an environmental science teacher, along with the fact that she prepares meals for her husband, a devout carnivore, and her child. While her child is quite fond of beans, her husband uses meat as a main source of protein, so Freeman strives to find a perfect balance between the two food groups.

“It’s a protein thing…protein-deficient diets lead to a variety of health issues,” said Freeman.

While meat is the most prominent source

What’s Inside...

see VEGETARIAN page 4

environment in Durham, and how that affects a school’s safety.

“There are a lot of places in Durham where I think it’s easier to find elements that can tempt people to do something wrong, versus here, where it’s sort of more isolated,” Winstead said. “I feel like in Pittsboro, it’s harder to get mixed

up in things that could distract you from what school is for.”

Northwood’s School Resource Officer, Herbie Stubbs, agrees that Northwood’s location has a large impact on the ways the school keeps students safe, but his views are more focused on how the campus is set up, rather than that the

Caroline Schneider/The Omniscient

SECURITY MEASURES at Northwood include the school’s single entrance.

school is in Pittsboro.

“Our school location does help out: there’s only one way in, one way out,” Stubbs said.

But it’s much more than location that helps keep Northwood secure. From “Code Blue” drills to locking doors, with the help of security cameras and an SRO, Northwood does a lot to protect the students within the school.

“Being proactive keeps schools safe,” said Stubbs. “[We are] proactive on discipline, maybe a little harder than some schools are, so students know, ‘Hey, I’m not going to do this or do that because of the consequences behind it.’”

Lewis agrees that the way discipline is handled has an impact on fights at Northwood, and since Principal Chris Blice arrived in 2009, the number of fights the school has per year has decreased, with only one fight last year.

“I feel like [Blice] encourages good behavior, so bad behavior, whether it’s dangerous or threatening, is just not acceptable,” Lewis said.

Another way that Northwood keeps its students safe is that Blice has reinforced the idea of keeping teachers and adminis

see SECURITY page 4

Why many “just say no” to drugs

By Madison Roberts Staff Writer

Studies show that being involved in extracurricular activities such as sports and clubs discourage students from engaging in activities like drugs and alcohol. In a recent survey conducted by The Omniscient, 21.8 percent of upperclassmen who don’t play sports admitted to using drugs at least once a week.

That’s nine percent higher than students who do play sports.

“I think having students involved in extracurricular activities and having them involved in different things here at school, like sports, arts programs and clubs, can have a very positive effect,” Principal Chris Blice said.

Junior Chris Smith says that he has never experimented with drugs or alcohol because he plans on playing sports beyond the walls of Northwood.

“I think it would affect my abilities,” Smith said. “I’m really into sports and I would like to play sports in college so I don’t want to do anything dumb that could jeopardize my chances.”

Along with sports and other extracurricular activities that Northwood offers, Blice believes that Northwood promotes an environment that discourages drugs and alcohol through the faculty.

“The overwhelming majority of our teachers are great role models. They give students a strong sense of the right things they should be doing and I think we all encourage our young

Too Big to Fail

The Omniscient investigates Occupy Chapel Hill and unemployment as part of an economy spread.

Page # 3

people to be involved in those right things,” but it’s not cheap.”

Blice said.

Athletic Director Jason Amy also believes Smith agrees. drug testing would benefit Northwood.

“It’s an environment where if [someone] “It’s something that I feel like would benefit does drugs [they] can get in trouble, and it everyone if we were to somehow find the influences a lot of people not to do stuff like money to create that system,” Amy said. that,” Smith said.

An anonymous Northwood athlete, who Maggie Denny, last year’s President of Stusays he currently uses drugs almost every dents Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), day, said that he would probably discontinbelieves there are ways Northwood could ue drug use if he had to go through random improve their methods of discouraging drugs drug testing. and alcohol.

“I want to play [sports] in the future and if “I think there could be a lot more done to see DRUGLESS page 5 prevent it, especially with sports,” Denny said.

One of her suggestions was random drug testing, which Northwood currently does not perform due to funding.

“I would love to [drug test], but not just for athletics. If we’re going to do a random drug testing program we would need to do it with everything that happens after school,” Blice said. “There are Madison Roberts/The Omniscient a lot of school systems that have gone to that MANY ATHLETES choose sports over drugs and alcohol; in fact, in and it’s very positive, an Omniscient poll, athletes were less likely to use drugs regularly.

Minecraft Club

Students talk about a new video game club they started that incorporates math to create buildings virtually.

Page # 6

Battle of the Sexes

The Omniscient takes a look at the social differences between boys’ and girls’ sports at Northwood.

Page # 10

Page 2

The Omniscient

Briefs

Art show Jan. 8

On Sunday, Jan. 8, there will be a student art show from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will take place in the school’s front lobby and feature artwork from various art students.

December 19, 2011

106 students donate blood at annual blood drive

Taylor Maloch/The Omniscient

The STANCE step club team ran its annual blood drive Dec. 7. Overall, 106 students donated blood. “That was a great experience,” senior Tevin Page said. “I was scared the needle

was going to hurt a lot but it really didn’t; they distracted me and the needle was in my arm before I even knew it. I hope my blood saved somebody’s life.”

Freshman Reiter is model, athlete, actress

By Ally DeJong Staff Writer

“Everything has to be pin-point perfect.

There are so many beautiful girls in the world, and it really makes [me] think twice about [my] confidence,” said Kelly Reiter, a freshman who has modeled for New York’s fashion week. Reiter also practices Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting and is an aspiring actress.

A year and a half ago Reiter was asked by the clothing store Bebe if she would be interested in modeling for them. Once she tried it, she learned that she had a real passion for it.

“I loved it; it was a lot of fun,” Reiter said. “I love being able to control the room, just having everyone see what [I’m] going to do.”

Modeling is a tough business to get into.

Many enter, and few end up on a runway in New York City, like Reiter has. “[Modeling] is so competitive. It’s all about your connections,” Reiter said. “Once [models] find the right people [they’re] going to be really well off, [they] just have to push through that first step.”

Although Reiter doesn’t work with an agency, she has still been able to make connections and find modeling jobs.

Because of the recession, money is a delicate issue for many small modeling corporations. But Reiter’s eyes are on bigger things.

“Since it is Chapel Hill, there is not a lot of her appearance for jobs. money to be made,” Reiter said. “Once [mod“I had to dye my hair for modeling jobs. Alels] have the credentials, and have done things though [an agency has] never really said, ‘Lose in New York and weight,’ it depends on bigger markets, [they] the market. In print are treated better. The they want to look at jobs with more money the model, runway open up.” they want to look at Despite the enjoythe clothes. So they ment Reiter finds in want [models] to be modeling, she has also sticks,” Reiter said. come across challengSince modeling es in the industry. is based on physical “[Modeling] all appearance, the typidepends on looks,” cal modeling career Reiter said. “Everylength is more tranthing has to be perfect: sient than an average weight, height, face, occupation. smile, poses, every“I do [want to keep thing.” modeling]; I think Reiter says that it’s really fun, but [a some people treat her modeling] career is differently because over by 25. It’s not a she is a model. long-term thing,” she “A lot of girls often Photo courtesy of Marissa Joy said. ask me for connections FRESHMAN KELLY REITER walks the Once Reiter started because they want to runway during New York’s Fashion Week. modeling regularly, get into modeling, or her father pushed her they are typically more mean to me,” Reiter said. to learn key defense mechanisms to protect Another challenge Reiter has come across herself in uneasy situations, so he had her get is the occasional client who asks her to change into MMA fighting.

“I love being able to protect myself,” Reiter said. “I know if someone tried to do something to me, I would know what to do. Being in [the modeling] industry, [I am] put into a lot of situations [I am] not comfortable with and I just feel so secure now.”

Although Reiter says she would like to get into real matches, modeling prevents her from doing anything but training. “[My fighting instructors] mentioned me doing [MMA] competitively, like in a ring or tournaments. But I can’t with modeling because I would get all cut up and bloody,” Reiter said.

On top of modeling and martial arts, Reiter has found time to step into the acting world.

Her grandfather always wanted her to become an actress, so she decided to give it a try.

“I had never been an actress; I had done one monologue in my entire life. I went to an open call not expecting anything and I got called back,” Reiter said.

After Reiter had her second audition, she scored a lead role on a feature film. She started filming last month for The Guild, a science fiction film that Reiter said would be released next year.

“Everybody is so amazing,” Reiter said.

“The whole project is so much fun and so professional. These people are so great; I have never worked with anyone like them before.”

December 19, 2011

Influence of the Economy

Page 3

The Omniscient

National unemployment issues affect NHS community

By Caroline Schneider Editor-in-Chief

“A lot of places didn’t even give me applications because they weren’t hiring,” said Emily Davis, a senior who has been looking for a job since her fall sport season ended in October. “And some places said it [was] a possibility, but then they needed jobs during lunch time.”

The information about the unemployment crisis in America is prevalent in almost any city or town in the United States. It is understood that there are a lack of jobs for qualified citizens everywhere, and the ever-dawdling economy has put a lot of pressure on multiple families across the map. But educated adults aren’t the only ones struggling to find work in today’s system; some students at Northwood are dealing with the same problems.

Davis said she has applied to “pretty much every possible place in Pittsboro,” including a furniture store, which most students wouldn’t describe as glamorous work.

Although the lack of jobs may be frustrating for teenagers who can’t find employment, they do understand why it’s so difficult for them to get even an interview. “[Businesses] don’t need employment because they have enough people already,

and they can’t spend anymore money,” Davis said.

Senior Chelsea Williams has applied to 10 places in the Beaver Creek shopping center, with only one of the businesses calling her back.

“I had one place call me back and that was a yogurt place,” said Williams, who didn’t get the job for what she thinks was just too many candidates. “They had a bunch of people that applied for that one job.”

Some people, such as Principal Chris Blice, believe that it’s always going to be harder for teenagers to find jobs because now businesses can have adults for even the littlest tasks.

“It’s harder for everybody at this day and age to find jobs. I think it’s harder for teenagers because adults are having to do things that years ago we let teenagers do, just because there isn’t anything else for the adults to do,” said Blice.

Many adults are also working multiple jobs to make ends meet, further weakening the teen job market.

“There are adults [at work] that do work as hostesses, but they also have other jobs; this is just a second job for them, because there’s no way they could sustain a family on what we make there,” said Livy Griffin, who works at the Carolina

Brewery.

For many students, it takes a personal connection to a business to find work.

Senior Silva Stout works at Galloway Ridge in Fearrington. Stout attributes part of that to a connection that was made with the business by her sister.

“My sister worked there before I did so she recommended me,” said Stout.

Griffin also worked at Harris Teeter at the same time as she did the Brewery for a while too. Finding these jobs was easy for her, thanks to connections she had within the businesses.

“For the Brewery I got a recommendation, [and] that’s how I got my job at Harris Teeter too; I knew all the kids that worked there and they put in a good word for me,” Griffin said. “I think you have to know someone; honestly, I think that [businesses are] only going to hire people whom they get recommendations from.”

Some find that one of the main problems that come with finding employment is time, or rather, a lack there of. “[School] definitely [affects your ability to get a job] because it takes up pretty much your entire day; and even if you do get a job, you only have like four hours to do it,” Davis said.

Even those who do work agree that

on top of seven hours of school, having to go to work makes for a pretty tight schedule.

“I would have a lot more free time [if I didn’t work],” said Stout.

Griffin remembers getting a job and then having to refuse it because of her busy schedule.

“When I was 16 I applied to the Belted Goat in Fearrington, and I got the job; but I was taking so many dance classes [at that time] that I would have had to give up a dance class and I wasn’t willing to do that so I turned that job down,” Griffin said.

Teenagers not being able to find employment may be frustrating for some parents as well, as multiple adolescents indicated that they were looking for jobs so they could spend their own hardearned cash.

“I want to buy Christmas presents without using my parents money,” Davis said.

Stout said that her earned money goes to personal items such as clothes, gas to fill her tank and most of all, food.

One consensus among a lot of students is that they believe that their lives are, or would be, easier with a job.

“I enjoy having a job. I think it’s a great way to earn responsibility and mature, I think all teenagers should have jobs,” said Griffin.

“Occupy” Movement Reaches Chapel Hill

By Austin Moody Staff Writer

Many people feel that, despite attracting attention, the Chapel Hill meet in the Capitol building at 6 p.m. every Occupy Chapel Hill movement is not a particularly noteevening in a general assembly to discuss plans for the worthy cause. occupation.

Jose Hernandez, a sophomore who lives near Chapel Hill, The protesters discuss things collectively as a group, “Taking space is a tactic; it’s not a message, so we take doesn’t take the movement seriously, nor pays it much attenand normally about 30 members attend each meeting, the space and hold the space for our own reasons,” said Evan tion as a passerby. sometimes breaking up into smaller, more manageable Munn, an involved member of Occupy Chapel Hill. “[We] “They’re just there.

You can see them and you’re just like, groups and then presenting their thoughts collectively won’t always agree po‘Alright, whatever,’” said Hernandez. after some brainstorming. litically, but what we can Sophomore Justin Elkins sees Occupy Chapel Hill as a “Consensus doesn’t work over everything, but its not agree on is that the space is poorly planned concept as well.

He believes that the opinions designed to. It’s only designed to work over issues that affect good for us to share ideas, of many of the protestors are poorly supported and that their the whole group, so what I would like to see is more conplan actions and network movement is poorly planned. sensus groups come up all across the country,” said Munn, with people.”

“I think it’s kind of stupid because explaining his thoughts on the general This ideology is one of they’re protesting in the wrong place,” assembly. the main concepts behind said Elkins.

“And there is not really Although Occupy Chapel Hill tries what is now known as anything to protest about; most of the to be a positive part of the commuOccupy Chapel Hill, which people there don’t even know what’s nity, many people see the organizabegan after an inaugural going on.” tion as burdensome on the Chapel Austin Moody/The Omniscient event was held Oct. 15.

Yet, there are also those who strongly Hill area.

PROTESTERS meet downtown.

Tents were set up in front support the cause.

“It can deter people from going there of the Franklin Street Post Jeff Forbes, a senior and frequent because it’s a bunch of people protesting Office in downtown Chapel Hill, keeping the area occupied visitor of Occupy Chapel Hill, thinks about what they don’t even know,” said with a full time occupation. that the protestors deserve admiration for Elkins.

The movement’s members occupy for several different Austin Moody/The Omniscient the time, effort and discipline they put Despite the different opinions concauses, but they are primarily trying to make known their TENTS are set up for protesters. towards their demonstrations. cerning Occupy Chapel Hill, whether thoughts against what they believe to be an unfair distribution “The community involved with Ocit’s worthwhile or worthless, nobody can of wealth in America. cupy Chapel Hill should be respected for their willingness to argue with the fact that the act of protesting in America is “They are looking for attention and getting the message out give up their jobs and free time for the chance to bond together nothing new. there that they’re not happy with the way income in the United and let their opinions be heard in hope of change,” said Forbes.

“We are all about protest in this country; we are about States is distributed,” said social studies teacher Skip Thibault.

As the movement remains active, members of Occupy freedom of speech and the first amendment,” said Thibault.

“So what they are doing is just a form of civil disobedience.”

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December 19, 2011

The Omniscient

Security

Vegetarian

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 trators visible at all time. Teachers stand in the hallways during class changes, and administrators and Stubbs walk around the campus throughout the day.

“I’m pretty mobile,” said Stubbs.

“I don’t sit in my office a whole lot, so [I’m] able to see what’s going on and what’s out of place.”

And although the faculty and staff do what they can to keep the school as secure as possible, Blice feels that the students also have a big part in keeping the school out of harm’s way.

“The best measure is really [the students] being conscious, and hopefully we’ve established the kind of relationships with [them] that if [they] had a concern, if something was happening that wasn’t safe, [they would] come and talk to us about it, and we would take it very seriously,” said Blice.

“That’s the thing that we learned from [the Columbine incident], was to take [students] seriously, listen to them.”

And Blice practices listening to students in how he trains his teachers. Lewis says that when it comes to school safety, one of the most important things the administration has trained her to do is be conscious of what’s going on with the students in her class.

“A lot of what we’re encouraged to do is look out for changes in behavior and report it if something seems really fishy, because it’s our job to keep [students] safe as well,” Lewis said.

“Code Blue” drills are the

most prominent ways that Northwood acts to keep students protected.

The practice involves students getting on the floor as to not be visible if there were a gunman on campus. Teachers lock the doors and close the blinds and everyone is to remain quiet until they hear it is safe.

“Code Blue” drills happen once a year, with the most recent one being first semester of last year, but not all students feel that is enough.

“Say we have a Code Blue practice in first period but something happened in third period, we wouldn’t know [what to do],” Thompson said. “And I think that they’re not handled very well.”

Blice doesn’t completely disagree.

“Honestly, the hardest part of that is getting students to cooperate, and that should be the easiest part,” Blice said. “Safety is something that we’re all responsible for.”

Lewis finds that students have trouble cooperating because they know “Code Blue” is a drill.

“It’s always hard because there’s this level of unreality about it where it’s hard to take something seriously when it doesn’t seem like it could happen,” said Lewis. “But just having a plan in place is what’s important, whether or not the practices are perfect.”

Despite the imperfect drills, however, the number of safety precautions Northwood takes have so far been pretty effective.

“We have a good, safe school,” said Stubbs. “Keep it that way.”

Caroline Schneider/The Omniscient

HERBIE STUBBS and his sheriff car are highly visible on campus.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

of protein, vegetarians have found other protein alternatives in order to completely avoid eating animals. New ex-meat eaters are joining the world of vegetarianism every day for different reasons.

Graphic videos that display cruel treatment of livestock and hazardous meat handling from organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have had an effect on some students.

“I saw a video and it was really graphic and gross, so I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s the deciding factor,’” said sophomore Lauren Merrill, vegetarian since the fifth grade.

Becoming a vegetarian comes with many challenges, from where to eat, to what to eat, to whom to eat with.

“My dad is a pescatarian, so he eats fish. We eat vegetarian at home, but my mom will eat meat outside [the home],” said Sloane.

Although some vegetarians have the support of their family and access to vegetarian meals at home, others’ choices differ from their family member’s choices.

“My dad and my brothers are straight up carnivores and they still are struggling with the fact that I don’t eat meat,” said Christopherson.

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Kaitlyn Mattiace/The Omniscient

Another struggle that vegetarians face is ordering off of meat-oriented menus. “[It is challenging to find vegetarian options] when my friends and I go out to eat and they choose somewhere like Arby’s that has meat in everything, including salads,” said senior Melissa House, vegetarian of nine years.

While some vegetarians eat no form of meat whatsoever, others, called pescatarians, eat seafood.

“I eat fish, so I’m a poser in that aspect,” said Christopherson.

Some vegetarians quickly realized that becoming a vegetarian entails much more effort than eating a large amount of vegetables, a common stereotype for vegetarians.

“When I fist stopped eating meat, I was a very unhealthy vegetarian…I remember being fatigued and feeling tired, so I started to pay a little bit more attention to my diet and started to eat a lot healthier, got some protein supplements in there,” said Christopherson.

Regardless of their initial reason for converting to vegetarianism, most vegetarians agree that they have become much healthier. “[Since becoming a vegetarian,] I feel healthier and better about my impact on the world,” said Sloane.

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Page 5

The Omniscient

Drugless CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Northwood drug tested I probably would not do drugs,” he said.

Although some athletes continue drug and alcohol use because the school does not drug test, others have quit because they feel like it affects their athletic ability.

“It affects your body in so many different ways while playing sports. You don’t perform the same. They don’t have to drug test to find out how you’re performing,” said an anonymous senior.

Another anonymous athlete says that he smoked marijuana one time because his friends were pressuring him to do so, but made a commitment to never do it again.

“I was peer pressured into doing it. I was the only one there not doing it and [my friends] tried to pin me down and make me do it, so I said, ‘Okay, I’ll just do it,’” he said. “But after that, I promised myself I wouldn’t do it anymore.”

Despite the pressures some are faced with in

high school, 54.5 percent of surveyed students have never experimented with drugs or alcohol.

Some students attributed that to personal reasons or parental guidance.

“My dad motivated me because he always told me to stay off the streets and keep my head straight,” said freshman Kadarus Rone, who says he has never experimented with drugs.

Senior athlete Rachel Snuggs says she has never done drugs simply because it doesn’t appeal to her.

“I don’t feel the desire to because it’s not going to make me go anywhere with my life,” Snuggs said.

Whatever the reasons behind not doing drugs and alcohol may be, Northwood students and faculty agree that it has many negative impacts.

“I don’t see the reason for it; it’s just stupid,” junior Aumad Walker said. “It’s a waste of time and a waste of money.”

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Entertainment

Northwood’s Newest Club is Building Up

By Matt Waite Staff Writer

Minecraft is a game where players gather resources of varying rarity to build whatever they want, while staying alive from the various monsters who come out during the night.

The Minecraft Club was founded this year by sophomores Zafer Estill and Tyler White, who presented math teacher Seth Risinger with the idea after they noticed he had Minecraft on his laptop.

They then had to put together a presentation for Principal Chris Blice to show that Minecraft is educational, demonstrating how math is used to build scale models, how it teaches learning through unconventional means and by showing some of the creations they had made.

Although the club is official, it still has to get approval from the Technology Committee, because Minecraft is a blocked application. To continue, the club will most likely require the purchasing of educational copies of the game.

“There is a small movement of using Minecraft in education that is starting to take off and they’re offering educational discounts,” said Risinger. “So what it kind of sounds like, is that if we can get approved and have the funds to purchase it officially, that might make the difference between approved and not approved.”

To raise the funds to purchase copies of Minecraft, the club is planning on instituting membership dues and selling Minecraft t-shirts to its 12 members.

The club’s goal is to bring together the different people who play Minecraft at Northwood to collaborate on projects and showcase some of their creations.

Photo courtesy of Minecraft Club

MINECRAFT PLAYERS can create entire worlds in this popular game.

According to White, the game’s popularity can bring together people who normally have disparate interests and give them common ground.

“You can have people who like to play Minecraft in completely different social groups, you can have someone on the football team and then someone in Anime Club, whatever. Just completely different people come together to play,” White said.

Minecraft, which was designed by a single person, has sold over four million copies and created a die-hard fan base. This success has confused some outsiders who have not played the game and wonder how it has managed to draw in so many players and retain them. The answer is quite simple: players like having the

ability to explore the endless world and build whatever they want.

“There’s no limit to the game; you keep going and your imagination is what keeps calling you back,” Estill states.

Risinger also sees the appeal.

“I like its simplicity and its complexity at the same time,” Risinger said. “I like that there are no rules and that it’s very simple but at the same time I am able to create whatever I want and am free to explore at essentially no penalty.”

The game gives players complete freedom in a world without quests or objectives and requires players to set their own goals.

The world is generated by the game, which allows for an endlessly large game world,

’90s Nick is Back

no matter how far the players explore. The player is then given free reign to harvest materials to build whatever they can imagine, which has included impressive 1:1 scale replicas of Hogwarts, Minas Tirith and The Star Trek Enterprise.

However, many people prefer to use their creativity to create unique structures, such as White, who has made villages, towns, farms and castles.

“I just like building whatever, I don’t really replicate anything; I just build whatever I have on my mind,” said White.

Risinger has been impressed with his students’ creations.

“Some students in our club have just incredible worlds with restaurants, houses, castles, incredible railway systems, and deep cavernous mines and I would love to have all that. It’s an issue of time,” Risinger said. “If you’re going to build a castle you’re committing yourself to a large project and you just need to make sure you’re ready for that. So I’m starting small; I’m starting with little houses for a village and slowly, maybe eventually, I’ll have a massive castle. But right now I’m on a much smaller scale than some of my students.”

The Minecraft Club still faces difficulties with financing and gaining approval of the Technology Committee, but Risinger thinks that it should be approved.

“We wanted an opportunity to share our ideas within the school world, because whether we admit it or not, the students want to play Minecraft and we’re looking for a way to show our creations within the school rules,” he said.

Students feel nostalgia for favorite programs of their childhood

By C aroline S chneider Editor- in-C hief

“I like watching shows that I used to watch in the old days,” said senior Gino LaManna, who frequently watches the Although seniors may be focusing programs from “The ’90s are All That.” “I directly on the future, the school year just remember being a kid and watching presented more to them than college them so it brings back old memories.” applications and Some students senioritis. This year like the way the also brought a blast old shows make from the past to them feel. their early years, as “It’s refreshTeen Nick started ing; it’s like your playing ’90s Nickchildhood is being elodeon programs replayed to you on again, beginning TV,” said junior over the summer.

Brandon Edwards, The promotion who started watchis called “The ’90s ing All That over are All That,” playthe summer when ing off of the well the network aired it known and largely at midnight. admired All That, Although sewhich features niors may be the stars such as Kenan earliest ’90s kids Thompson and at Northwood, Amanda Bynes.

Photo courtesy of Teennick.com everyone rememTeen Nick made “THE ’90S ARE ALL THAT” reconnects bers their favorite the decision to programs. From All students with shows from their past. bring these shows That to Rugrats, back after noticing Northwood’s stuinterest in them across social networking dents can recall the variety of old shows sites, like Facebook, which has a page Nickelodeon aired back in the day. called “I Want My ’90s Nickelodeon “All That [was my favorite] because Back,” that had 1,164,883 likes as of last it had the mix of everything going on,” week.

Edwards said. “It wasn’t just the same Over the summer, when the procharacters, it was different kinds of skits grams first began airing again, they going on; it was just pure comedy.” came on in the early hours of the morn“[I liked] Hey Arnold because it took ing. But it seems that popular demand place in New York and I’m from New got the best of the network, and now the York,” said LaManna, who left New York shows are occasionally aired during the while the show was airing. day, even starting at 5 p.m., when most So why the fascination with these older students are home in front of the early childhood shows? What makes them television. better than the ones that are on now, or

even better than competing networks such noying,” LaManna said. “It’s basically as Disney Channel? Edwards attributes the same story over and over again.” his love of these So whether it shows to a lack of be Hey Arnold or talent displayed on The Amanda Show, other channels when Doug or Kenan and he began his love Kel, Northwood for television. students in any “It was either grade remember [Nickelodeon] or the kid with the Disney Channel, — Brandon Edwards, junior football head and and that’s when Amanda Bynes’ Disney [was] kind Judge Trudy, and of [lame],” Edwards said. “[And] those sometimes, it’s just nice to take a break were the golden years for Nickelodeon.” from reality and revisit one’s childhood.

Golden years, as in the shows that the “I watch them now because I watched network presents now don’t exactly meet them when I was younger,” Edwards par in the eyes of today’s teenagers. said. “I think it’s just fun to look back at “I find [the current shows] really anwhat I watched when I was little.”

“It’s refreshing; it’s like your childhood is being replayed to you on TV.”

Photo courtesy of Teennick.com

DOUG is one of several 1990’s hits that are re-airing on Teen Nick.

By T aylor Maloch S taff W riter

The fairy tale of Taylor Swift

vember. Now, at age 22, Swift has done a lot at a very young age, winning over 90 awards, including four Grammys. She If someone said “Taylor Swift” five sings, writes her own music and has done years ago, it would just be an ordinary a little bit of acting. name. Now Swift, a country singer and But it’s not the awards that make her songwriter, is No. 7 on the Forbes Most famous—it’s how she speaks out to her Powerful People in Entertainment Top fans through her music, with lyrics such 100. Needless to say, she has come a as “Dreaming about the day when you long way in a short amount of time. wake up and find that what you’re lookSwift was named Entertainer of the ing for has been here the whole time,” Year at the Country Music Awards in No- from “You Belong with Me.” Her lyrics are personal and have an effect on teenage girls everywhere, including at Northwood.

Swift writes about love and boys, sharing her past experiences that show teenage girls what to expect in life.

Some celebrities tend to let their fame get to them after a few years, but Swift isn’t known to have done anything against the law, such as underage drinking or using drugs.

“I think she Taylor Maloch/The Omniscient is [a good role TAYLOR SWIFT performs “Last Kiss” at the RBC Center. model]. I haven’t

Review:

Just Another Kid

By Jessica Clayton Staff Writer

Page 7

The Omniscient

December 19, 2011

songs from Blue Slide Park and closed with “Donald Trump.”

I was disappointed that he didn’t Anticipation. When will he come perform a lot of the better songs from out? What songs will he play? What’s his album and instead played on the safe going to happen? The lights dim, side with the more commercial, wellsilence overcomes the crowd. The beat known songs like “Frick Park Market.” I drops and out comes Mac Miller and wanted to see all of his talent, not just the his gang, piling on few songs everyone a stage equipped knows him by. with a park bench, What really ina playground back trigued me though, drop and an ice was how connected cream truck to gloriI felt to the 19-yearfy the central theme: old rapper and the Blue Slide Park. rest of his fans. Who At first, the music can relate better to is hardly audible a teenager than anthrough the screamother teenager? Mac ing fans crammed lives the life every into a space suited kid would want to for 2,000 organized live, and he was people, not crazy, not afraid to scream wild animals who his extraordinary all want a piece of lifestyle to the the artist. audience. It didn’t Mac Miller feel like a big shot, performed at the over the top concert, Jessica Clayton/The Omniscient but more like the Fillmore in Charlotte, Nov. 27. I was MAC MILLER performed at the kid across the street Fillmore in Charlotte Nov. 27. blown away by put on a show for how similar the live all the kids in the music was to the pre-recorded albums community. It was a nice change from and just the excited energy of the whole the “I’m-larger-than-life” attitude of scene. many celebrities. He talked to the crowd Mac started with some old favorabout things related to our lives and what ites and after that, boy, was I in for a goes on in the big, bad teenage world surprise. He left the stage and then rein an uncut, uncensored way. To me, he appeared with a fancy white guitar and appeared to be an average, everyday kid a microphone and began singing covers I would sit next to in class. Fame hasn’t in acoustic! I was really impressed seemed to change him. with what I saw: a more serious side If I ever get the chance, I will defiof him, playing songs such as “Wonnitely go to another concert because I derwall,” “Sweet Home Alabama” and left with a new respect and love for an “I Try.” While keeping this mood, he artist who wasn’t afraid to uncover a transitioned into personal songs like different side of himself. The concert “Poppy,” “Another Night” and “Missed got my adrenaline pumping, heart Calls.” I don’t know about everybody racing, mind spinning, gave me a sore else, but that just sealed the deal for me. throat the next day and a memory that Who couldn’t fall in love with him? lasts a life time, all in one four hour sesMac finished with the more popular sion, and I loved every second of it.

heard any bad stuff about her like most celebrities in the spotlight,” said junior Carlee Romagnoli.

In a recent interview with 60 Minutes, Lesley Stahl described Swift’s message to her fans as: Taylor Maloch/The Omniscient “You can be a TAYLOR SWIFT performs “Sparks Fly.” Swift has taken home good girl, a nice many awards this year, including Entertainer of the Year. person, and still have fun.” topics that have happened to her in the Students agree that Swift has a positive past, like a personal diary to her fans. impact on young girls.

Even though her background is country “I think she’s a great influence on kids. music, her songs are extremely popular In her songs, she speaks the truth about on the charts. In fact, she is the youngest what goes on in life and what her life is person in history to write and sing a No. 1 like,” said freshman Summer Chegash. country song.

But not every student has the same In the pop culture, Swift’s Speak opinion.

Now has the title of “Fastest Selling “I don’t like [Taylor Swift’s] music beDigital Album by a Female Artist.” The cause it’s country and I don’t listen to that,” album sold 278,000 digital versions in said sophomore Madison Sell.

November 2010, according to Nielsen Through her songs, Swift shows that SoundScan, a company that tracks mulife isn’t always perfect. There could sic sales. Another record Swift holds is be some good moments and some bad the “Most Simultaneous U.S. Hot 100 moments, but people have to learn from Hits by a Female Artist,” with 11 backtheir mistakes and enjoy the good memo- to-back singles. ries. For example, in her song “Dear Swift has just finished the year with a John,” Swift sings about her relationship world tour and is planning to release her with John Mayer, and how he treated her fourth album in the fall of 2012. like a child, not letting her be her own “I think [her new album] will be about person. boys, breakups, get togethers and family,” Through Swift’s writing, she covers said Chegash.

— Compiled by Gloria Rodriguez

Jan Reinberg “The Sleepy Sun”

“I [painted this] because I was trying to visually represent a place that came out of my head, someplace like my ideal place to just chill or clear my head.”

“Untitled” “[This is] a map of my mind in terms of interest, such as hobbies and places I like.”

“Sun Down Syndrome” “I was trying to sort of experiment with surf art because I like to surf and also incorporate psychedelic colors to make it more interesting or unusual.”

8

Students don’t benefit from having exams after break

Staff Editorial

Due to a state law, the school year is not allowed to start before Aug. 25, causing end of the semester exams to fall after Christmas break for students on a block schedule. The problem is, no one wants to study over break.

The point of a break is for both students and teachers to relax and refresh, not agonize over their end of the semester exams or the outcome of their final grade.

The best thing for the students would be to take exams before Christmas break, so that all of the learned material is still fresh in their minds, eliminating the possibility of students forgetting a lot of what they learned during their two weeks out of school. To do that, however, the state would have to change the law to allow the school year to start earlier.

The reason the law is in place is to increase tourism income in August, but we don’t see a difference between vacationing in May and vacationing in August. Even though studies done by tourism companies disagree, both months are warm and there would be more of a benefit to starting the school year earlier— exams before Christmas break.

The other option would be to start the school year even later, such as beginning in early September, giving students more time to learn and study with their teachers after the break. Although that extra time would be helpful, the most beneficial thing for students would be to be able to take their exams with 90 days of material fresh in their minds. The problem with this is that state law says that school cannot end later than June 10. This gives school systems virtually no choice in deciding what is best for their students, meaning that no matter how much of a hassle it is to study for finals over break, Chatham County can’t change that to benefit our schools.

We understand that Northwood’s first semester test grades are good, and we can also understand that having two weeks in which students could study wouldn’t be such a bad thing either, except we’re sure that most students won’t spend much time studying over their break. And again, as lazy teenagers, we need to point out that the point of a break is to take a break from school and spend time enjoying the holidays and relaxing with our families, not looking over our notes and rereading our study guides.

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As an art student for four years, I have never had a problem with The Omniscient until now. Artists at Northwood have no way to represent their work because the Art Spotlight section was removed [from the paper]. The Omniscient needs to represent a variety of classes, clubs and highlights

of Northwood, especially the very talented artists. Diversify the information within The Omniscient and add the Art Spotlight section back. This way, a much broader audience will enjoy The Omniscient.

Sincerely, Richie Varnadore, senior

Editorial Cartoon by Samantha Yigdal

- THE NORTHWOOD -

OMNISCIENT The Northwood Omniscient is published monthly by journalism students at Northwood High School. It aims to present accurate coverage of events of interest to our readers, as well as provide an open forum for the opinions of students, faculty and the community.

We welcome letters to the editor, which can be delivered to the advisor in Room 914 or sent to the school’s address. Letters must be signed, and the staff reserves the right to reject any letter containing libelous statements, to edit for length and to ascertain the truthfulness of the content. Letters should be limited to 250 words.

Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board. Columns, letters and cartoons represent the views of the authors.

- EDITORS Editor-in-Chief: Caroline Schneider

Opinion Editor: Madison Roberts - STAFF Emily Brooks Jessica Clayton Ally DeJong Taylor Maloch Kaitlyn Mattiace Austin Moody Gloria Rodriguez Matt Waite -ADVISORNeal Morgan nmorgan@chatham.k12.nc.us

Opinion

Jessica Clayton/The Omniscient

From candy corn to mistletoe Jessica Clayton Flashback: Halloween is over and all the candy is gone, along with the holiday. What do you see on the shelves to replace the previous spooky items? Christmas stuff. Wait, isn’t it only November? What happened to Thanksgiving?

And why are my ears being tortured with the same music that is stuck on repeat every year?

Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas.

It’s my favorite holiday of the year. But who in their right mind wants to hear the music, see the traditional green and red decorations stocked on shelves and decorations that are crammed in every possible corner of the world on Nov. 1? It’s enough to send a completely sane person to an asylum. By the time Christmas is over I’m just thinking to myself, “Kill me now.” It’s like Santa came with his reindeer, vomited the North Pole and dropped his huge bundle of headaches, aggravation and annoyance all over America two months before the Christmas holiday.

I think there should be an international rule: no Christmas until Thanksgiving is over. There are so many great things about the holiday, but those few people who kick it into overdrive, kill it. To me it screams, “HEY, look at me and my hoard of decorations piled as high as

possible on every inch of my house, and let me blast those classic songs we’ve heard for years on repeat and I don’t care if you don’t like it, you’re just a Grinch.”

Maybe I am a Grinch, but only until November is over. Then, I get excited. Yes! Presents, family, break, trees, decorations, lights, the whole package, but only in December will these thoughts even begin to enter my brain.

It’s not like you can escape it either. It’s plastered all over town, in windows, at your neighbor’s house, on radio stations and all over your favorite TV stations. And then the fanatics wonder why people are so bitter during the holidays. Hello, it’s because of all the over zealous people who drown them in the holiday spirit for months in advance.

Everybody just needs to calm down, there is a time and place for everything. If you want to celebrate Christmas two months in advance, that’s great. Do it in your own house behind closed doors where I can’t see or hear the obnoxious, excessive aspects of the holiday when it isn’t even “around the corner,” but more like to the left, then right, and 10 miles ahead after the blinking caution signs.

Now, in the month of December, is the appropriate time to start “getting into the holiday spirit.” This way, you don’t anger everyone you encounter and you can have your jolly, everything-is-great time of the year. Everyone wins.

Oh, and one last thing: When the holidays are over, please take down your decorations.

You just look tacky.

School is unfair for boys Matt Waite

High school hates boys. Wait, before you count me out as just another disillusioned student who wants an excuse to rant against the system, take a look at these statistics: according to an article in The New York Times, the average high school grade point average for males is a 2.86, the average GPA for a female is 3.09.

64 percent of National Honor Society members are girls; boys are about 25 percent more likely to drop out and the American Association of School Administration reports that boys make up only 44 percent of college attendees (some colleges now use affirmative action to try to solve this problem).

As a male who has attended high school for nearly four years, earned a decent GPA and was accepted into a college, I cannot claim to be a victim of the system. However, I believe in equality and it bothers me when any group of people is ignored for political correctness, ignorance, ambivalence or whatever other reason.

After doing some research on why males underperform, it appears that by far the biggest cause of this problem has been the feminization of schools. Basically, to put it in other words, schools have moved from hating girls to hating boys. How is that for progressive thinking?

Whenever boys have scored lower in any

subject no one ever does anything about it.

However, when girls score lower in a subject, it becomes a matter of sexism, and millions of dollars are spent to help them improve and several influential and high profile reports go out about the subject.

This problem also comes up with how classes in school are taught. Boys tend to learn best through abstract learning and competition, whereas most girls learn best through verbal and written analytical format.

The vast majority of classes obviously favor the learning styles of girls more than then boys.

Just think about how many tests, quizzes and projects require extensive written work along with the occasional essay and how the typical lesson plan involves large amounts of note taking and discussion and you get the point.

So if schools are doing more to help girls succeed and teaching in ways that favor girls’ learning styles over boys’, is it any wonder why boys are scoring lower in every subject?

The more important question here is how large the discrepancy will have to grow before people notice and react, because if people are still talking about improving girls’ scores in an education system that shortchanges them, that point is very far off.

I have said a lot about how schools put boys at a disadvantage, but let me also mention that since nothing is going to change anytime soon, it’s a problem every male student will have to confront and deal with. Males need to try harder, but it is certainly not impossible for them to succeed.

December 19, 2011

When I turn 18...

The Omniscient

almost-adult, I should look over my seventh grade spelling tests and refresh my memory. I’m sure any teacher I’ve ever had would agree.

5. Reading my young teenage books from back when I had time to read.

What middle school girl didn’t love her books about a 14-year-old girl’s summer Next month, I turn 18. And although with her father where she meets a cute I’m not one to reminisce on the past and 15-year-old boy and they hang out for all of the things I’m going to be leaving behind next year, I have given thought to happily ever after? Well, now that I’m going to be an adult, it’s time to move on some of the things I’m going to have to to bigger, badder, notgive up when I become an as-happy books more apadult. propriate for my age. That 1. Disney Chanis, if I ever do find time to nel shows. Once I turn read for fun.

18, my love for Hannah 6. Children’s food. I Montana reruns and new am all about some Kids episodes of Phineas and Meals and Cars macaroni Ferb is going to have to and cheese. That’s all die, because as an adult I right though, because I’m have no excuse to watch technically still a child, these childish shows. Unright? Not to mention that less I’m babysitting, then most children’s food is that’s okay.

Madison Roberts/The Omniscient extremely unhealthy, but 2. Complaining. it’s going to be hard to Anyone who knows me is TURNING 18 brings many changes to childish lifestyles. explain my love for gumthinking, “Yeah, right,” mies and cinnamon Eggo but once I turn 18, I’m gowaffles when I go to college, and, you ing to make it a goal of mine to act like know, enter the real adult world. an adult when things happen that I don’t Lastly, and probably most importantlike, instead of whining about not getting ly, I’m going to have to give up the limmy way. ited responsibility that comes with being 3. Wearing things from middle a kid. Sooner than I’d like, I’m going to school. I may be one of three seniors at have to do my own dishes, take out my Northwood who is the same size they own trash and make my own food, even were in eighth grade, and although I on those days that I just really want my can still get away with that solid pink daddy to make that food for me. Turning Hollister shirt I bought when I was 13, I think next month it will be time to take it 18 comes with more than furthered legal consequences for bad things and being to Plato’s Closet and see how much gas able to vote. It comes with a responsibilmoney I can get for it. ity that I’m not sure I’m all that ready to 4. Not knowing how to spell. The handle yet. I’ve spent the past 17 years other week, when Mrs. Freeman pointed and 11 months waiting to be 18, but now, out that I didn’t know how to spell 18 seems to be coming too soon. vegetation, I realized that maybe as an

Caroline Schneider

Come back to reality

It’s not what’s on television

topics that nobody really thought about writing, like a show about a Glee club (Glee), or a gymnastics team (Make it or Break it). But we also have totally random, yet entertaining, shows like Jersey Shore. The show has gotten so popular because all they do is party and fight, which can sometimes be really funny.

Teen television shows have changed Drama is pretty much the main theme a lot over the years; we finally got rid of of every show, I know there’s a lot of the laugh track in comedy shows, made drama in high school, but we don’t literdrama shows even more dramatic and ally kill each other. Over half the drama made reality shows about every single shows out there are about the popular thing you can think of. girl being mean.

Then, all of a sudden, One of my favorite shows is Pretty she gets murdered or “disappears.” Then Little Liars. Even though I love that later she has some crazy explanation show to death, sometimes I sit there like “it was my twin and think, seriously? sister” ….are we that Did she really just stupid?

Do you really make out with her expect us to believe teacher? Other shows that?

Hollywood like Secret Life of the writers, make it a little American Teenager, more realistic.

Glee, Raising Hope I have to admit, I and about a million love watching Pretty others have at least one Little Liars because girl who had a baby. the suspense of “A” Come on, people, not Photo Courtesy of abcfamily.com knowing everything every teenage girl gets PRETTY LITTLE LIARS and similar about the girls. If it pregnant. shows are not grounded in reality. were just a typical I guess female char“dealing-with-highacters in general have school” show, it would be so boring. Ratchanged, but now it seems like they’re ings would go down and the show would always desperate for a boyfriend. That’s be dead, so writers have to put in these not fair, some girls realize they don’t crazy storylines.

But they should have need a boyfriend to be happy. TV shows a limit, or at least some common sense, should have a good balance of a variety about how far to push the story. of girls with different interests, instead What I’m saying is make teen TV of making them look like trash. dramas a little more realistic, but not One thing I think has really changed too boring.

Have a balance of things we on TV is the story lines of the shows can relate to instead of some impossible they air now. They’re so different from story that would never happen in real shows 10 years ago, which means we’re life. making progress. Teen shows cover

Taylor Maloch

Others don’t act for you, it’s your decision Madison Roberts

All through middle school, parents and teachers alike told me about the hardships of high school and how difficult it would be for me to resist peer pressure and “just say no.”

I know you all know what I’m talking about.

Those infamous talks with parents about how most people you know will do drugs and the hardest thing you’ll ever do is resist them.

As a matter of fact, I was told that if I didn’t smoke weed people would think I wasn’t cool.

Now, as a senior in high school, I can proudly say that I have never once experimented with drugs. I’m proud to say that I have “said no.” The thing is, it really wasn’t that hard.

Maybe I’m hanging out with the right people, or maybe I just somehow have incredibly strong willpower, but I have never felt left out or bullied simply because I don’t do drugs. Yes, I have been offered these illegal substances, but after my easy reply of “no thanks,” my peers simply move on and continue what they were doing.

No one has ever said they wouldn’t be my friend, that they don’t want to hang out with me, or made fun of me because I don’t do drugs. No one has ever even been bothered by the fact that I don’t.

Most people have this misconception about peer pressure. It may be the reason behind a few students doing drugs or partying too hard, but not everyone, not even

most students. Going into high school, I had this huge fear that people would be forcing alcohol down my throat and drugs into my body and I would basically be harassed until I gave in. That’s not the case at all; it’s not even close.

And even though I interviewed a student for my story in this issue who told me that he only tried drugs because of peer pressure, I still believe that teenagers control their own decisions. If people want to do drugs and drink alcohol, they are doing it out of their own desires. Not because their friends are, and not because they are scared that if they don’t smoke weed they will be called a loser. They are doing it because they want to. Hey, here’s an idea: maybe they’re just curious. Or maybe they just want to find an escape for their problems, I don’t know; but I don’t think that all of these kids are doing drugs because their friends are telling them to do so.

I’m not going to sit here and preach about the bad effects of illegal drugs. Yes, we all know they can hurt you; we all went through some education about drugs and alcohol at some point in time. Truthfully, I don’t care if people do drugs. It’s their body, it’s their decision. But just like I don’t care if people do, people don’t care if I don’t.

My main point is that adults need to chill out, and teenagers need to realize that it’s not that hard to say no. Students come in to high school thinking that people are going to try to sell them drugs in the bathroom, or force them to down a bottle of liquor. No. If a teenager wants to try something, they are going to try it, regardless of the people they hang out with or peer pressure.

A Meatless Thanksgiving Kaitlyn Mattiace

Journalism assignment: Do something you’ve never done before, then write about the experience.

I thought to myself, something new, eh?

I’ve been chit-chatting with a whole lot of vegetarians lately, I wonder… what’s it like to be a vegetarian? Better yet, what’s it like to be a vegetarian over Thanksgiving? That, I shall determine! But can I do it?

I sat there around the table watching my mom, dad, uncle and grammy cut the meat and rip the flesh to shreds and I wondered, “Do they ever think about what they are actually eating?”

I poked the meaty part on top of my forearm— it’s the same texture as the filet my dad cut into, that same squishy but tough texture.

I never really thought about my nonvegetarian ways until I helped my sister pet sit chickens over the summer. They’re beautiful animals! Not too responsive, but to see an animal frolicking in the outdoors, moving and interacting with its fellow kin, really makes you think twice before eating them. They have a mommy, just like all of us. They have a life, just like us. Watching the meat move on top of the bones and under those brown, red and slightly blue feathers of the rooster became an image that my mind would revisit every time I viewed chicken as a meal of choice.

Some might say “eww” to that last part. I hate that. If you can’t handle someone talking about animal flesh and what part of the body the meat you are eating came from, then you shouldn’t be eating it. That’s just ignorant.

Oh, but the protein! I used to see meat as the ultimate source of protein and the thing that will fill you up most. I felt like I really needed it to maintain a healthy diet.

So there begins my journey into the world of vegetarianism. To eat meat, or not to eat meat?

Will my ever-growing appetite be unsatisfied and yearning for more after every meatless meal? You never know until you try. The best time to test out my true desire for meat was

Page 9

over Thanksgiving break. No turkey, no real marshmallows (yay for vegan marshmallows from the Marketplace), no real gravy, no chicken or turkey bouillon/broth and none of these things during the days of leftovers that follow the holiday.

There are some things I have learned so far as an attempted vegetarian, and a few things that I have done that a true vegetarian would not approve of. Here are some examples: Nov. 30: Ate pepperoni pizza because it looked so yummy and I didn’t want to throw away part of the pizza. How could I possibly do that?

Dec. 2: I reached for the delicious looking spinach and feta croissant at the Marketplace.

I was so excited to take a bite. I sat down, got out my computer and took the croissant out of the bag. I took a big bite. Much to my surprise, I got a sweet sensation of a softer taste than spinach and feta. It was ham and swiss. Sin as I might, I came to the conclusion that I trusted that ham from the Marketplace was from a happy, well-raised piggy—I guess that makes it a little bit better. But still meat…

Dec. 4: I had not yet had dinner, but my mom was making chicken and dumplings—so good. The chicken was from the Fresh Market.

I did some research, and the image that I had in my head of where this chicken was raised was not too gruesome at all: a nice farm.

So that was when I came to the conclusion that all I want to do is know where my food comes from, and know that eating whatever I choose to eat isn’t in support of harm to the environment (through whichever way the food was processed).

I’m slightly unsure about whether or not I want to go full-blown vegetarian quite yet. I hate the idea of slaughter, but I know that there is nothing I can do to stop that practice.

I don’t want to fall into that American way of eating whatever I pay for at the store or buying pre-prepared meals without being able to know or appreciate what went into that food in terms of labor and ingredients.

For now, I’d consider myself part vegetarian, but more so just aware. I’m aware of and I care about where my food came from, how much work was put into my food and what type of environment my food was grown or raised in.

10

Sports

Girls’ Sports vs. Boys’ Sports at NHS

By Emily Brooks Staff Writer

“Okay, what about us? Hey, we’re here too. They didn’t even recognize us,” said girls’ basketball player Yancey Luft.

Luft and several other girls’ basketball players say they were not adequately supported last year, a year in which the team advanced to the fourth round of the state playoffs, the furthest in the history for girls’ basketball at Northwood. “[It makes me angry] that the Nuthouse shows up for the third quarter of our game and just sits down. When the guys start, they stand up and start screaming and cheering,” said Luft, referring to last year’s season.

In what seems to be the most talked about controversy between girls’ and boys’ sports at Northwood, many fans tend to watch and cheer on boys’ teams opposed to girls’ teams. This lack of support shown to the players enraged many of the girls’ basketball players last season.

Alex Plummer, a leader of the Northwood Nuthouse, said that the Nuthouse makes an effort to support girls’ sports as well as boys’ sports.

“As one of the leaders of the Nuthouse, I feel that Landis [Barber] and I have made an effort to be more supportive of sports other than just boys’ basketball,” said Plummer. “This year, the Nuthouse is not sexist, period.”

But Luft feels that not enough has changed, and references last month’s season opener, “Charger Madness.” “[The boys’ team] got to do their little

warm ups and show off, and we didn’t get to do that; we didn’t even get introduced,” said Luft.

Hannah Lawrence, a varsity soccer player as well as a member of the Nuthouse, shared her thoughts on the controversy. “[The girls’ team] made it really far last year and I didn’t know about it [when it happened]. They just don’t get as much attention [as the boys’ team],” said Lawrence.

Throughout the past few decades, boys’ sports, such as basketball, have typically been more popular, have had more attendance and are discussed more. Basketball

player Kerri Snipes gave insight to why she thinks that is.

“For most people, boys’ games are more exciting because they can dunk, and they are faster,” said Snipes. “Boys are just usually better at sports than girls, but that doesn’t mean that the girls aren’t good too.”

Luft had a similar opinion.

“I feel like the fans see the girls as wimpy, and not as good as the guys. I [know] we aren’t as good as the guys, but we can still put on a show,” said Luft. “We went to the Elite Eight last year.”

Plummer, an avid sports fan, shared his thoughts on the issue.

Photo courtesy of Mark Goods, Sr.

THE NUTHOUSE received criticism from the girls’ basketball team last year but this year they pledge to support both teams.

“I enjoy boys’ basketball games more because it’s more of a show, more entertaining. Don’t get me wrong, I love the girls’ basketball team, as well as their games,” said Plummer.

In 1972, Title IX of the education amendments was enacted into law. Title IX prohibits federally funded educational institutions from discriminating against students or employees based on sex. This law applies to all women’s rights, but in this world today, the most common aspect of the law has to do with athletics. Prior to Title IX, only one in 27 girls played high school sports, and there were almost no college scholarship opportunities for female athletes.

Though Northwood correctly addresses and complies with the standards and requirements of Title IX, some female athletes feel like they are not treated the same in a social aspect as the male athletes.

“The boys get the advantage to have the later games, because people are off of work and are able to see their games,” said Snipes.

Varsity girls’ basketball coach Cameron Vernon sympathized with the girls.

“I think that most basketball fans like to come to the boys’ games, and a 6:00 p.m. starting time would be hard to get to. I understand why our female athletes would be upset about that,” said Vernon.

In addition to later game times, junior Gaby Mehringer added that the boys’ team is able to practice as long as they want to, having the later practice starting time.

“A lot of things are [different] for [the boys’ teams] so they can be comfortable,” said Mehringer.

Two long-time coaches retire from Northwood

By Kaitlyn Mattiace Staff Writer

“[Since I was a young boy] I wanted to play professional baseball. When you realize you can’t, then you turn to coaching,” said Over the years at Northwood, many coachHorton. es, teachers and principals have made a lasting Middleton began his soccer coaching caimpression on students throughout the school. reer in 1979, coaching for 18 years in Raleigh, Two coaches who have done so are Jack Cary and Apex. However, most Northwood Middleton, who coached soccer for 32 years, students know Middleton from the time he and Ronald Horton, who coached baseball, spent coaching at North Chatham for nine basketball, football and cross-country during years, Northwood for the last four years and his 40 years at Northwood.

Pollard Middle School for the past year.

Both Middleton and Horton recently an“Having played football in high school nounced that they would be retiring, leaving and college, I was determined to coach that behind both the athletes that have looked up to sport, but when I found a job at Hale there them for years and many endless memories of was no football. The Headmaster told me I their coaching careers. was the soccer coach and the rest is history,” Horton always knew that he wanted to be said Middleton. a coach and teacher when he went to college.

Middleton grew to love the sport through He made his mark at Northwood as head working with other coaches and players, as coach of baseball for 34 years, head coach of well as taking many clinics and workshops. cross-country for 17 years, and head coach of His passion for the sport was matched by his basketball and football for four years each. well-known coaching skills.

“I was selected to coach the East squad in the East/ West All-Star game in 1999 by the NCHSAA. That was quite an honor,” said Middleton.

Horton and Middleton made a difference in their athletes’ lives as well as in their athletic departments. “[Middleton is] like a father figure.

He’s always there to give advice and Photo courtesy of NHS Yearbook he’s really nice,” said April Gibbs, COACH RON HORTON has coached at Northwood for 40 a senior who has years. Before retiring, he was frequently seen on his Gator.

been coached by Middleton since the fourth grade. “When he was a coach we were all a family because he would always bring us together and made us play like a team and act like a team.”

Just about every afternoon—especially on the day of a meet—Horton could be found riding around the trail on the Gator, spray-painting roots or divots, picking up branches and putting down gravel for at least three miles. “[Coach Horton] basically built the baseball and cross-country programs into what they are today. And when I say built, I mean it literally and figuratively. He personally carved out the cross-country trail in the woods surrounding the school and turned it into what is widely considered one of the best courses in the state,” said Dylan Mathews, a former athlete of Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw Horton’s and graduate of the class of COACH JACK MIDDLETON talks to the soccer 2009. team at halftime.

Mathews isn’t the only one who having to worry about who wins or loses. saw how much time and dedication While Horton and Middleton will be missed Horton put into his work. by their athletes, the teams have a positive “My wife, Leigh, always said I worked outlook for the future. more on the baseball field and trail at North“I think it will be different, but hopefully it wood than I did our yard,” said Horton. will continue to be just as successful as it was Both Middleton and Horton look back on with [Horton].

We can continue to do great their many years of coaching with no regrets. things,” said Maria Vanderford, a junior who “Seeing the expression on the faces of has run on the cross-country team for the past runners when they finish the cross-country three years. race, those things make coaching worth every Rebecca Moore, a senior who has been minute, hour and year you put into the sport,” coached

by Middleton since the sixth grade and said Horton. has known his family for even longer, has a Regardless of how many years they spent similar attitude about the team’s future success coaching, there will definitely be some things without Middleton. they miss.

“I think we will miss the crap out of him, but “In reality, I will miss it all, but it is time to hopefully the team will take everything he has step back and be a spectator,” said Middleton, taught us and further our skills into winning a who said he looks forward to sitting in a chair state championship,” said Moore. and watching the soccer games for fun, without

December 19, 2011

In Training:

The Omniscient

Managers, trainers aid teams

By Madison Roberts & Caroline Schneider Staff Writers

“I’ve had to tape a JV player to the bench,” senior football trainer Becky Jurius said. “I was taping his ankle and the bottom of his foot looked really swollen, so I was feeling it and he was really ticklish and he almost kicked me in the face. I had to tape his leg to the bench so he wouldn’t kick me.”

Jurius has been a football trainer for four years and is now involved in training other sports too, such as basketball, wrestling and lacrosse.

Football trainers go to every practice and game, where they tape ankles and wrists, diagnose injuries, fill up water bottles and fulfill many other responsibilities.

This past football season, Northwood had eight football trainers, but they aren’t the only students with responsibilities for a team they aren’t on; in fact, Northwood has a trainer or manager for almost every sport, all year long.

— April Senior Marisa McKissick is the manager for both the girls’ basketball team and the volleyball team.

“I didn’t make the volleyball team [my] sophomore year and I still wanted to be involved,” McKissick said of why she became a manager. “And I’ve always liked basketball and I used to play, so I just wanted to be a part of [that too].”

Although McKissick doesn’t do all of medical work that trainers do, as a manager, she still helps the team out as much as possible.

“At practice I help out with the time clock. I basically just help any way I can,” McKissick said.

Senior Rafael Orellana is the manager for the girls’ soccer team, but his reasons for signing up for the job went beyond just being involved.

“I like helping out the ladies, helping them improve their skills,” Orellana said. “I [also] practiced with them because I wanted to get better myself.”

Orellana also helps keep up with soccer balls during games and helps work with the girls during practices.

Although managers do a number of things for the teams they work with, the job of a trainer goes further.

To become football trainers, the girls had to go through four days of training camp, where they became certified in CPR and first aid. They also learned how to tape limbs, diagnose injuries and learned about concussions and heat stroke.

Senior April Gibbs, who became a football trainer her sophomore year, said that training has made her consider something in the medical field for a career.

“I want to become a trainer or do some sort of medical thing for the rest of my life,” she said. “I had no idea what I wanted to do [before I started training]. I got into wrestling and soccer, [along with football], so I could get experience year round and now it’s definitely what I want to do.”

But it’s not just the experience and education that trainers and managers say they enjoy about helping out sports teams. Some of them just like the game.

“I love soccer,” Orellana said. “I might [manage] again [this year].”

And some of them enjoy the people Gibbs, senior they’re around.

“My favorite part about training was definitely the games. Football is kind of like a family so you just are always surrounded by someone to talk to or someone who will make you laugh,” Gibbs said.

Senior Jacobi Harris has interacted with both trainers, as a football player, and managers, as a baseball player. He said that having trainers and managers has benefitted him, not only as an athlete, but also as a person.

“They have helped me interact with other people more.

[It’s nice] always having somebody to talk to and vent to that isn’t a teammate,” Harris said. “[Without them], it would be boring. I would be around a bunch of guys and problems and drama.”

Throughout all the practices, games, injuries, waterbottle fill-ups, stat keeping and time clocks, the trainers and managers say that helping a sports team has affected their lives positively.

“It has made my high school experience so much better,” Gibbs said. “It is literally my favorite part of the year. I count down the days until [football season].”

“It has made my high school experience so much better. It is literally my favorite part of the year.”

Page 11

SPORTS BRIEFS

Ally DeJong/The Omniscient

TYLER WALL wrestles with an opponent from Durham School of the Arts.

Wrestling team off to 4-2 start As of last week, the wrestling team was 4-2, following a 42-39 win over Cedar Ridge Dec. 14. For the first time the team has wrestlers for every single weight class.

“I feel with the large freshman class that we have here at Northwood, many have come out to try the sport of wrestling which has added depth to the team,” coach Jason Amy said.

So far, Amy likes what he sees.

“They are progressing very nicely and wrestling tough, wrestling aggressive, going after people and winning,” he said.

On Dec. 12, the Chargers lost to Chatham Central 45-36.

On Dec. 9, they tied South Granville 42-42 but won because of their first period takedowns.

Girls’ swimming ties for first in meet The growing swim team competed in its first two meets this season. The girls’ team tied for first in its first competition Dec. 1, with nine individual or relay first place finishes.

For the smaller boys’ team, Philip Straughn had a first and second place finish.

Every morning from 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. the swim team gets together and practices. “[Swimming] gives you a big adrenaline rush,” Kellsie Weiss, freshman swim team member stated. “It takes a lot of dedication.”

— Compiled by Jessica Clayton, Ally DeJong & Gloria Rodriguez

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12

Sports

Every month we’ll showcase an individual and his/her achievements from an ongoing sport. In order to qualify, one must be nominated by his/her coach for athletic ability, outstanding leadership, work ethic and sportsmanship.

— Compiled by Emily Brooks and Gloria Rodriguez

Ti Pinnix boys’ basketball

Shelby Wolfe girls’ basketball

“She always tries her hardest and we always have her to rely on for crucial points in the game.”

— Tyler O’Dell, sr.

“He is a fast, intelligent basketball player who has a great skill set.”

— John Wieland, sr.

Ally DeJong/The Omniscient

Noah Mehringer boys’ swimming “He is very dedicated and he has improved a lot since the beginning of the season.”

— Amanda Peele, fr.

Zachery Vanhoy wrestling Currently 8-1 this season.

“Zack is the hardest worker I know and is able to persevere with everything he does. He is a very good leader.”

— Christian Owens, jr.

Madison Roberts/The Omniscient

Sierra Atwater cheerleading

Elizabeth Conte girls’ swimming

“She is a good captain; she understands our problems, she is able to help us when we don’t understand something “She works really hard and is always and she can always make us laugh.” in a good mood; she is a great team— Abby Johnson, jr. mate.” — Riley O’Dell, jr.

Both hoops teams look to build on record-setting years GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

By Emily Brooks Staff Writer Last season, the girls’ basketball team advanced further in the playoffs than any other girls’ basketball team in Northwood’s history. This year’s team is hoping to go even farther.

The Lady Chargers are fully loaded with players ranging from freshmen to seniors, though they lost two starters from last year’s squad. Olivia Oakley, a 6-foot-1 center, was a tall presence, and guard Annie Cleaver was a quick and agile player who is now playing collegiate soccer.

Though the loss of Oakley and Cleaver created a temporary gap in the line up, many key players return to the team. Seniors Brianna Greene, Yancey Luft, Kerri Snipes and Shelby Wolfe have all played travel basketball and all played a significant amount of time last year.

The addition of Jasmine Harris, a 5-foot-11 forward, and Shontai Totten, a 5-foot-4 guard, will help to further strengthen the team. “[Totten] and [junior] Gaby Mehringer are really going to need to step up this season,” said head coach Cameron Vernon.

Wolfe stated that the most difficult games will be against River Mill Academy and rival Jordan Matthews, the Dec. 2 season opening game in which the girls lost to the Jets 56-42.

NHS has rallied from that loss, and as of Dec. 15, were 3-1.

“Our goal is to compete on a nightly basis, hopefully win a conference regular season championship, win a conference

tournament championship, get in the state BOYS’ BASKETBALL playoffs and then who knows what can happen,” Vernon said.

By Emily Brooks Wolfe shared similar goals to Vernon’s.

Staff Writer “[I want] to win the conference championship and get farther than we did last “Our basketball program has gotten to the year in point now playoffs,” where when Wolfe said. we play Alsomeone, though they circle the team their schedis striving ule when to reach Northwood this goal, is coming it has one to play,” weakness said boys’ that will be basketball difficult to coach Russ overcome.

Frazier.

“This “And that’s year we their biggest Emily Brooks/The Omniscient game.” are really short,” said SENIORS SHELBY WOLFE and JOHN WIELAND hope In 2009 to lead their teams deep into the playoffs this year.

Greene. and 2011 the Vernon boys’ team agreed. made it to the state championship game. Both “We are going to have to block out well games ended with heartbreak, but this year’s and just get rebounds,” said Vernon. team has a positive outlook on the season.

Despite the obstacle, Vernon, Greene and Still, this year’s team features a radically Wolfe stated that the team is full of experidifferent lineup from last year’s runner-up. ence and speed.

Juan Young, Antonio Farmer, Trá Chandler and “I am really happy and pleased with the Chris Forbes all played varsity basketball for way that the preseason is going,” said Verthree years, with Young and Farmer as constant non. “Everyone seems to be getting along starters. well and everyone is playing hard.”

“They really set the bar high for the athletic Greene feels the same way. program here at Northwood; those four laid a “We want to get further than last year, foundation,” said Frazier. and we really want to have a better bond as a Despite the loss of the core group, senior John team,” said Greene.

Wieland is back as last year’s conference Player

of the Year. Senior Mark Goods will play an expanded role while senior Jamal Baines returns after not playing last year. Frazier said he is also excited to have Aumad Walker back, who he says continues to work hard.

Cedar Ridge transfer Cam Pappas, a senior, is also expected to help benefit the program.

Before transferring to Northwood, Pappas was an all-conference player in basketball, football and baseball.

In addition to the returning players, two new freshmen have joined the team. Ti Pinnix and Kadarus Rone, both young, talented players are expected to have a significant impact on the program.

“It’s going to be kind of hard to replace the players from last year because the players they had last year were very athletic,” said Pinnix.

“We are going to [need] to have hard work, dedication and heart.”

Frazier said that a challenge for the team this season will be the lack of experience.

“When you lose the amount of seniors we did last year, players have to step up and make plays. It will take a lot of work and attention to detail, but we will get there,” said Frazier.

After losing its first two games, the team improved to 2-2 (as of Dec. 15). In its season opening game against rival Jordan Matthews Dec. 2, the boys’ team lost to the Jets by two, with a final score of 60-58.

With a combination of good leadership, new additions and a positive mindset, the boys’ basketball team is looking for a successful season.

“We want to get better everyday, and become closer as a team,” said Wieland.

Frazier agreed.

“I’m a firm believer that there are no days off,” said Frazier. “If we continue to do so, we will do some great things.”