May 4, 2012

Northwood High School • Pittsboro, N.C.

www.nhsomniscient.com

OMNISCIENT ­- THE NORTHWOOD -

(om-nish-ent) adj.: having infinite knowledge and awareness MaY 4, 2012 • Volume 5 • Issue 5

NC primary Summer ready, or dermatologist ready?

The reality of tanning beds and teenagers invites NHS opinions

By Quinn Kerscher Staff Writer

North Carolina’s primary elections will be held Tuesday, May 8, and students who can vote will have a chance to help decide outcomes of important statewide and national issues. One such issue will be the Republican Party’s choice of a presidential nominee, who will run against President Barack Obama in the 2012 November election.

Mitt Romney currently has the most support from the Party and at this point is virtually unchallenged. Most of the politicians he was running against earlier this year have left the race.

Just in the last month, Romney’s two biggest challengers, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, suspended their campaigns. Santorum went first, despite having much more support from voters than Gingrich. Civics teacher Roddy Story says the Gingrich campaign outstayed its welcome, and put Santorum at a disadvantage.

“Had Newt Gingrich dropped out a couple months ago, when a lot of people thought he

see PRIMARY page 5

By Madison R oberts & C aroline S chneider S taff W riters

“This year it’s for prom. My dress is peach and I can’t look white with a peach dress,” senior Anna Brown said. “I have to look tan.”

Brown is one of many Northwood students who tan in beds and in the sun. She says she

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/MCT

By Kristen Hutchinson Staff Writer

and what to feed each of the animals so that they would be better benefitted regarding their long-term health,” said senior Lizzie Northwood students have been busy Gordon, one of Brickhouse’s animal science raising a variety of animals under Gale students.

Brickhouse, the The most wellagriculture teacher. known animals kept The animals include at Northwood are chickens, rabbits, the chickens that gerbils, geckos, were purchased last turtles and chinchilyear from Southern las, and are kept in States, a comthe barn behind the pany specializing school. Brickhouse’s in agriculture tools agriculture classes and techniques, by are designed to give the small animal students a hands-on science class, which experience before studies and evaluates they enter the field of small animals. Their agriculture. names are Oreo, Kristen Hutchinson/The Omniscient “The kids work Hoot, Dixie, Tiffany NHS AGRISCIENCE CLASSES keep a with the small and Harris.

Before variety of animals behind the school. animals and some of they were purchased, the larger animals. By giving them an early- the class had to build a chicken coop, which on experience, they’ll be able to decide was kept in the shop in Brickhouse’s classwhether they want to do this or not,” said room.

Brickhouse.

“We raised them in their chicken coop for Not only do the students work with the about two or three months. This past fall animals, but Brickhouse also teaches the we put them [in the barn] on the hill so that students about the anatomy of the animals they would have a bigger space to roam,” and the types of foods that would benefit said Brickhouse. them the most.

Because the chickens are laying eggs “We learned about the digestive systems see AGRISCIENCE page 5

By Caroline Schneider Editor-in-Chief

This school year, four of Northwood’s classes were taken over, part way through the year, by new or substitute teachers.

Both science teacher Natalie Grace and social studies teacher Sarah Keever left at the end of last semester on maternity leave, leaving their classes in the

see TANNING page 4

hands of substitute teachers. Distance education teacher Shannon Wolfgang took over online classes recently, and after math teacher Jeanette VanVickle left Northwood, her classes were taken over by certified teacher Richard Bakaylan.

“There is a distinction between someone who comes in for you when you’re sick for a couple of days, versus someone who takes over a class for six weeks

see SUBS page 3

Kristen Hutchinson/The Omniscient

A BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO: On April 8, Northwood students participated in the second annual bike to school day, sponsored by student council. Above, April Gibbs and Jesse Mathias ride a two-seater bike.

New Teacher of the Year

On to a bigger stage

Page # 3

Page # 6

Northwood announced science teacher Cari Christopherson as the 2012-13 Teacher of the Year last month.

UVA rays have 15 times the strength of UVA radiation as sunlight does. In comparison, one hour in the tanning bed would be 15 hours in the sun in the middle of July.

But Brown doesn’t only tan in beds. Actually, she starts the summer tanning in beds and then spends the rest of the hot months tanning outside. She says it helps her get a darker tan.

“I get a better tan outside, but I guess [the] tanning bed for me is a pre-tan for summer,” Brown said.

CTE teacher Kim Hall also tans in a tanning bed from April to May before she starts tanning outside over the summer.

“If I tan in a tanning bed first and get a base tan, then I won’t burn when I go out in the sun,” Hall said.

Burkhart doesn’t believe in this theory. “[Studies show that] people who do this ‘base tan’ thing actually tend to get more sunburn than the [people] who didn’t get the base tan,” Burkhart said. “It’s probably because they have this false sense that they are protected when they are really not. It provides you with an SPF of maybe two, so what you’re really doing is providing an extra couple of days of damage to your skin. It’s not

Some subs are here to stay

TANNING BEDS are used by many students, regardless of the consequences.

Gardens, Chickens and Chinchillas, Oh My!

What’s Inside...

has been tanning in beds five days a week since the beginning of March.

Although Brown admits that she considers the threat of skin cancer, it’s not to the point of preventing her from going to beds. “[It’s] not enough to make me stop tanning because I tan outside anyway,” Brown said.

UNC Dermatologist Dr. Craig Burkhart says that indoor tanning beds that use solely

Dance teacher Leah Smith takes her talent beyond NHS and into Carrboro Modern Dance Company.

Going to McDonald’s?

The Omniscient takes a look at the nutrition habits of student athletes and how they affect their game.

Page # 10

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The Omniscient

Briefs

Sci. Olympiad places 21st

The Science Olympiad team finished 21st out of 43 teams competing at States April 28. This year was its first year competing in states.

For more info, see: www.nhsomniscient.com

May 4, 2012

Horse team places 5th

Northwood’s Future Farmers of America club won fifth place in the state out of 31 teams for judging how high school students ride their horses. Individually, and out of 95 people, senior Lizzie Gordon ranked No. 8. Maggie Strickland, also a senior, ranked No. 40 and Morgan Moser, a freshman, ranked No. 42.

Senior receives dance recognition

Senior Julia Sloane was recently honored as a National Honor Society for Dance Arts Achievement Merit Regional Finalist. She received the top score for North Carolina.

From Tenderfoot to Eagle, some students remain Scouts

By Emily Brooks Staff Writer

When many people think of Boy Scouts, they picture young kids selling popcorn or tying knots. But little do some people know, many high school students still participate in the Scouting program.

There are several ranks in Scouts, from the beginner’s Tenderfoot rank, all the way up to the advanced Eagle Scout. Senior Jackson Seagroves, a Boy Scout since the fifth grade, recently earned his Eagle Scout rank, making him the only Eagle Scout at Northwood. For his Eagle Scout project, he built the uniform closet in the band room. Seagroves believes that participating with Scouts as a high school student is beneficial.

“I think it helps prepare people for the real world later in life. It

teaches [you] things [you] need to know, [like] how to survive,” said Seagroves. “If I were lost in the woods, I think I would live.”

History teacher Phillip Little, who was a Boy Scout in high school with famous actor Zach Galifianakis, also believes that the Scouts help prepare you for the future.

“Scouts was a huge influence on me. It opened up many opportunities.... It teaches leadership; it teaches young boys how to be men, which is what my Scoutmaster said,” Little said.

Scouts are divided into troops, in which they learn new skills and travel to different places such as a Boy Scout ranch known as “Philmont,” and the Grand Canyon. Sophomore Gabe Duff reflected on his experience at Philmont where he said his troop backpacked 57 miles over 10 days,

Correction:

In last month’s article “See You in First Period,” The Omniscient failed to identify the following faculty members who have children at Northwood: treasurer Karen Cheek and her daughter, Chelsey Burnette; SIMS coordinator Bonnie Morris and her son, Caleb; social worker Debbie Womble and her daughter, Lauren. The Omniscient regrets the error.

and participated in activities like rappelling, blacksmithing, horseback riding and archery.

Seagroves went to the Grand Canyon as well as Zion Canyon, which is a slot canyon and can be 10 to 75 feet wide. His troop had to walk through water in the canyon that was up to their ankles, and travel through water that was so deep they had to take off their backpacks and swim.

Senior Connor Tripp said that going to Philmont was one of his favorite memories of Scouts, and, like Seagroves, feels the benefits of being a Scout from the academic standpoint.

“I couldn’t say for sure, but I like to think that there are advantages.

[Colleges] see that you have done something in terms of character, and that you do help your community,” said Tripp. “If you’re an Eagle Scout, [colleges see] that you’re able to take something from a conceptual standpoint and take it all the way to finish it in the real world.”

Little added that not only does being a Scout help when applying to college, but that it also carries

through when it comes to applying for programs and jobs.

Regardless of the benefits though, according to Duff, managing Boy Scouts and high school academics is no easy task.

“As you get [further] into high school, you have less free time and less time for Scouts,” said Duff. “It’s harder to get your ranks.”

Seagroves, a member of “The Order of the Arrow,” a Scout honor society, agreed with Duff. “[There is] so much time management [involved]. You have nights when you have a lot of tests the next day, but you have to go to a [Scout] meeting, or you have a project or camping trip that weekend,” said Seagroves.

In addition to the difficulties that come with being a high school Boy Scout, Duff shared another challenge.

“We need more Boy Scouts [because] people don’t consider it to be important anymore, [just] something nerds do,” he said. “[Scouts] helps build character.

Being around a bunch of good people that really care about you and teach you how to do [certain things],

it rubs off on you.”

Although Duff sees a lack of high school Scouts, Tripp added that the scouts are “a tight-knit community.”

Little shared similar views.

“It is kind of like a fraternity. It’s a neat way to start a conversation with somebody. If I see anybody that’s walking up and down the hall with a Scout shirt on that I recognize, I’m instantly going to go up and shake his hand,” said Little.

Photo courtesy of Jackson Seagroves

SENIOR JACKSON SEAGROVES is an Eagle Scout.

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The Omniscient

Christopherson wins Teacher of the Year

May 4, 2012

Subs

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By Morgan Y igdal S taff W riter

Christopherson was one of nine teachers nominated for Teacher of the Year, and wrote the required paragraph “I told them it was her birthday,” said about her philosophy of teaching and social studies teacher Skip Thibault, as other aspects about her job. the large group of students approached “I love laughing in [my] class,” said the door. Principal Chris Blice nodChristopherson. “I love it when [my ded his head students] make and led them me laugh, I into the room love it when full of people. they can laugh.

Blice went to I like it when the front of the they get excited room and stood about what beside science they’re learnteacher Cari ing and they’re Christopherson. excited to be in “Students, my class. It’s we’re here to nice to know tell Ms. Christhat in some topherson how way, shape or much we love form, you’ve her and aphopefully made preciate her,” an impact on Blice said to some of their the students in lives. It makes the room. “We you come back would also every day.” like to anChristophernounce that Ms. son added that Kristen Hutchinson/The Omniscient Christopherson it was hard for CARI CHRISTOPHERSON is congratulated by is this year’s her to accept all principal Chris Blice for winning Teacher of the Year.

Northwood of the recogniHigh School tion because Teacher of the Year.”

Northwood has so many “amazing” The room exploded into cheers like teachers. roaring thunder. Christopherson couldn’t “They [all] have a passion about their help the smile that spread across her job and they work really hard,” said face, struck speechless at the announceChristopherson. “They want their kids to ment as Blice gave her a hug. love what they teach and feel good about “Northwood has so many amazing themselves.” teachers and that’s why this is kind of Blice felt it was that passion that made hard, because I don’t really like recognipicking one teacher so difficult. tion much,” Christopherson said about “It was tough,” said Blice. “[We had] a being chosen. great list of teachers, some of the very best Christopherson was voted to be the that I’ve ever worked with were nominated, 2012-13 Teacher of the Year by Northand it’s a matter of people looking at who wood’s faculty. they feel has the biggest impact on the kids.”

The process of voting for Teacher of the Sophomore Shea Wood, who was in Year begins with the school sending out a Christopherson’s class last semester, wasn’t list of people who are eligible. Teachers can shocked when he heard that Christopherson then nominate people from the list who they had won. feel are deserving of the award. The teach“We did a lot of hands-on material [in ers nominated then write from a prompt her class],” said Wood. “I think that she about their philosophy of teaching, among is probably the best teacher I’ve ever had, other things. The winner is voted on by just because she is kind to her students and teachers from the list of nominees. builds relationships.”

According to Blice, Teacher of the Although teaching can be difficult, Year is a high honor.

Christopherson says she enjoys it.

“It’s a real pat on the back from your “I love having my students for that colleagues,” said Blice. “But it’s also certain amount of time and being able to very humbling, particularly in a school make some sort of impact on them, and like Northwood, because you realize that’s pretty powerful if you think about that you’re part of this school that has so it,” said Christopherson. “I was meant to many really great teachers.” do this job and I love it.”

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DENISE WEBSTER has taken over science classes for the remainder of the year. [or] 10 weeks,” said principal Chris Blice. “We try to find someone who is certified in the same [subject].”

In Keever’s case, the school was able to do just that.

“We were actually able to find two people who were both social studies certified and they kind of split the time that she was out,” Blice said. “We’re very fortunate.

That’s hard to do.”

For Grace’s class, however, the school was unable to find a replacement certified in the sciences she was teaching, so they asked Denise Webster, a frequent Northwood substitute teacher, to fill in.

Webster has been a substitute teacher for the last seven years, in every subject, and usually fills in for various teachers about three to five days a week at Northwood. She decided to take over the classes after Grace asked her to. Being a frequent sub, Webster was able to quickly pick up on how the classroom ran differently when she was in charge daily.

“It’s a whole different level, because as a sub, you’re coming and going,” Webster said. “When you’re in the classroom every day, you have to maintain that classroom control. It’s not as easy to maintain it and I think it takes longer to get to know [the students].”

Advances in technology, however, have made the process of substitutes taking over classes much easier.

“Everything is online,” Keever said. “So every day, everything we did was supposed to be online and all set up for [the students], and I worked very hard to do that.”

Webster agreed that having the internet made being a long-term substitute much simpler.

“You take what the teacher gives you,” Webster said. “You do your best to follow it, make sure that the learning process is there, interject real world examples and just hope that they’re getting it.”

Keever and Grace sent lesson plans, note guides and tests to their substitutes to ensure the students were getting the correct information.

When a sub fills in for a teacher, there are many challenges.

Ellie Frost, a freshman in Keever’s

spring semester class, said having a sub at the beginning of the year was detrimental to her ability to understand the information being presented to her. She felt that the entire class was at a disadvantage.

“We didn’t really learn anything,” Frost said. “Mrs. Keever is a lot more organized than the substitute was and she definitely has a plan in mind for what she wants us to know. The substitute didn’t really have [a plan] in mind.”

Keever agreed that having a substitute start the semester for her was less than ideal. “[Having a sub is] not my favorite because I didn’t get to do everything the way I wanted,” Keever said.

Webster believes that when teachers have a substitute fill in for them for a long time, teaching styles are just different.

“My way of teaching might be different than [the regular teacher’s] way of teaching, so [the students] are going to learn it from me, but they would also learn it from her,” Webster said.

Although some students believe that the transition back to their teacher can be difficult, Keever said that her classes made it go smoothly.

“I think I have really good students and that they’ve really sort of jumped in the game with me,” Keever said. “They’ve let me come in and say, ‘Okay, this is the way I want things to be’ and I think they’re doing great. I’m very proud of them.”

Bakaylan, a full-time teacher who took over a math class, also agrees that Northwood’s students made his February transition easier than it could have been.

“Northwood High School students behave much better [than other students I’ve taught], and the administration and the teachers work very closely together to make sure that the students are always on task,” Bakaylan said.

Although Bakaylan’s assignment was only from February until the end of the year, he says that his experience at Northwood has impacted his decision for next year as well.

“I would have plans to stay here,” Bakaylan said. “[I’m] definitely happy. It’s a very good school.”

May 4, 2012

The Omniscient

Page 4

Tanning

anywhere near as protective as people say.”

Testing coordinator Nancy Brown says she enjoys tanning in beds because of the way she feels afterwards.

“The reason why I do it is because I love the way it makes me feel. I just feel better soaking in some Vitamin D,” Brown said.

But Burkhart says there is no real way to receive Vitamin D from a tanning bed.

“Vitamin D comes from UVB [rays], not from UVA, [which are in tanning beds], so you don’t get therapeutic levels from a tanning bed,” Burkhart said. “That’s bogus.”

Although some students say they only tan 10 or 15 minutes every time they go to the beds, according to Burkhart, the first exposure, especially while they are still young, is the worst for the students.

“One exposure to an indoor tanning bed in young life will increase your risk by 75 percent for melanoma. And then it just goes up from there,” Burkhart said. “Moderate exposure seems to be what most kids are getting that causes their melanoma.”

Working in a dermatology clinic, Burkhart sees firsthand what the effects of indoor and outdoor tanning have on young

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people. At the UNC clinic, Burkhart says that they see about 50 patients a week for melanomas, a form of skin cancer. About 30 percent of those patients are young women ages 25-35.

“If you ever get exposed to radiation, it takes 10 years to develop cancer,” Burkhart said. “So most girls get their exposure [as teenagers], and then they develop their melanoma [in their 20’s]. The most common cancer, for 25-29 year old girls, is melanoma.”

According to skincancer.org, melanomas are the second most common form of cancer for young people 15-29 years of age.

Burkhart said that the clinic has seen a melanoma patient as young as 17.

As of now, the only way to treat these melanomas is to cut them out of the skin.

“It depends on your depth,” Burkhart said. “If you have a melanoma that’s really thin, you just cut it out, but it leaves a big scar. If it gets any deeper than one millimeter into your skin, then it’s likely to spread throughout the rest of your body and then it’s just kind of finding the tumor, cutting it out of your body and crossing your fingers with the help of chemotherapy.”

According to skincancer.org, once the melanoma penetrates

the skin, the survival rate drops to 15 percent.

Because of his daily exposure to young people with melanomas, Burkhart is an advocate for a bill to ban indoor, radiationbased tanning for people under 18.

“Eighteen is the age tanning should be banned because it has the highest risk of getting melanoma,” Burkhart said. “Kids are being lied to. Maybe as high as 95 percent [of tanning salons] would lie to you about the risks when you go into those tanning parlors. So we really need to protect [young people].”

Although the decision on whether or not the bill is passed will not be known for another couple of years, Burkhart goes to Raleigh almost every week to educate legislators about the risks of indoor tanning.

“One thing to realize about indoor tanning beds: [they use] UVA [rays], and that is the one ray that causes all of the things we don’t like,” Burkhart said. “The brown spots, the blood vessels coming to the surface of your skin, the skin thinning and wrinkles.

“Every time you get tan, that’s the sign that your skin is damaged, that’s the sign that DNA was damaged, so there is no safe way to tan.”

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Agriscience

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The Omniscient

more frequently, the school plans to expand Miller is currently working on a cool the coop. Once the eggs are laid, Brickseason bed that contains lettuces, radishes, house gives them to teachers at Northwood. collards and peas. She also has a warm Brickhouse also plans on taking another season bed that contains corn, okra, squash, class to buy more baby chicks. tomatoes and peppers. She visits the garden Many students see the chickens as pets every day to inspect the plants for pests or and want them to be placed in cages every any fungal infections. night to protect them from predators such as “She is approaching [gardening at chicken hawks. school] from a very ecologically sound and “One of [the chickens] got caught by a natural standpoint,” said principal Chris chicken hawk. It was sad; we had to read Blice. scripture, sing Miller hopes songs and then that there will bury him,” said be a rise in Brickhouse. student interest The agriculas she continues ture students not to work on the only handle the garden throughbarn animals, out the school but also tend to year and into the the greenhouse, summer. located just “I’m a little beside the barn. concerned when The students the plants get grow a multibigger that the tude of seeds deer will think and learn how that they have a to grow them to big salad bar to a certain height Kristen Hutchinson/The Omniscient munch on,” said and then plant NORTHWOOD’S GARDEN grows several different Miller. them around the varieties of vegetables.

Blice feels school. that the agriculSarah Miller, one of the English teachers ture programs are a great asset, not only for at Northwood, has been tending to a garden the school, but for the students as well. located near the greenhouse. She believes “It gives students the chance to find out that gardening is a good way to get engaged what it is really like to work in agriculture,” with activism for things that everyone cares said Blice. “The people involved with our about, such as healthiness and quality of life. agriculture program have really improved “Gardening is a great way to increase the barn and garden area. They have your physical activity and get healthy food. cleaned out the barn, fixed the water and Plus, food fresh from the garden tastes so gas lines for it, given it a new coat of paint much better than fancy-schmancy, organic and replaced its old doors. That area is actugrocery market food. Nothing can beat ally being used again—it isn’t just a place freshly picked produce,” said Miller. for students to go hide anymore.”

Primary

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Page 5

was going to, and, perhaps, should have, then Gillespie supports the amendment and told Santorum would have gotten a lot of those vot- The News & Observer that he expects “a large ers and probably could have been a legitimate bipartisan vote on it.” However, because Presithreat to Romney,” said Story. dent Obama is the only Democratic candidate Gingrich announced that he would suspend for the presidency in this election, there will not his campaign after Romney won all five pribe a vote for a Democratic nominee. Meaning maries held April 24. At this point, Romney is there will likely be more Republican voters all but assured the party’s nomination. attending the primary than Democratic ones, Republicans have mixed though the disparity might opinions about the man be smaller due to the now who is likely to be their less-contested Republican nominee. contest.

Some people, like Republican junior Drew Republican sophomore Hill supports the amendAllie Ray, support Romney ment. because “he’s not incredibly “I’m a religious person conservative.” Others find and it says in the Bible that that his moderate-conservaa man and man or woman tive policies leave a little to and woman shouldn’t be desired. marry, so I personally think “I’m a Republican myself, that there should still be a and personally, I feel that ban on gay marriage.”

[Republican ideals] aren’t Sophomore Carter Smith, Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT going to win,” freshman MITT ROMNEY has survived nu- who opposes the amendBrandon Kelly said. “We’re merous Republican challengers. ment, does volunteer work just going to have another called phone banking. The ‘Obama,’ whether it’s Mitt Romney or Obama; group she works with calls Democratic voters we are going to have another ‘Obama’ in office.” and encourages them to vote at the primary.

Conservatives like Kelly don’t think Romney “We don’t want it to be just the Repubrepresents the Republican Party as they see it. licans [that vote on this], we want it to be Another issue on the ballot in May is a vote everyone.... Everyone who is able to vote and on whether the state should pass an amendwho has parents who are able to vote should ment to its Constitution that is commonly be encouraged to find out as much as they can known as the “Marriage Amendment.” There about this amendment from both sides of it, not are currently state laws that prevent same-sex just against it, and really make the decision for marriage, but this amendment would make themselves,” Smith said. “This is a big issue that prevention a part of the state Constitution. and we really need to work on figuring out The amendment also has potential to influence what we want our state to be like.” the legality of civil partnerships and domestic Senior and independent voter Rebecca unions. These are legal standings used by a Moore shares this point of view. variety of North Carolina couples who, for dif“I think you are born gay and I think it ferent reasons, do not have a marriage but still should be every person’s decision what they want the legal benefits of one. should do with their life,” Moore said. “I’m North Carolina House Representative Mitch going to vote. Everybody should vote.”

Right behind McDonald’s

6

E ntertainment Beyond the classroom: Smith joins dance troupe

By Madison Roberts Staff Writer

“Dance is not like riding a bike; if you don’t do it for a while, you forget things,” dance teacher Leah Smith said.

Although Smith dances every day as part of her teaching job, she decided to take her passion outside of the classroom this past fall, and auditioned to perform with Carrboro Modern Dance Company.

After hearing about the company through her student, Julia Sloane, Smith went in for an audition. During her audition, she was led through a modern dance class and was evaluated by one of the choreographers who is working on the show for the company. After this process, they sat her down, asked her what her profession was, why she was there and told her they would “let her know.”

“And they let me know!” Smith said.

Smith now spends every Sunday practicing with Carrboro Modern Dance Company in preparation for her show, which is tentatively scheduled for August.

Smith graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in dance education. She took dance classes throughout high school, but stopped performing when she became a teacher.

“I have been teaching for 10 years and there is always a little part of me that wants to perform and wishes I could jump out on the stage with [my students],” Smith said. “[This taught me] that I really did miss performing and I really do love that aspect of dance. It

gives me that outlet that I need.” dancer, but also as a teacher,” Smith said.

Smith says that teaching and performing Since Smith started performing again, are two different concepts of dancing, and Sloane said she has seen a change in her require two different mindsets. teacher’s attitude.

“When I teach, I can tell everybody: ‘That “I think she’s a lot more excited because foot needs to be pointed,’ ‘That needs to be [she’s doing something] new and fresh,” pulled up,’ ‘Your core needs to be engaged,’ Sloane said.

‘Your body needs to be here,’ ‘Turn that Although Smith enjoys performing, she way,’” Smith said. “I’m very good at seeing prefers teaching dance. the problem and “I love performfixing it. But when ing, but performing you’re the performer, is a couple of nights it’s someone else a week for one judging you, and it’s show, and teaching you taking their diis every day,” Smith rection. It’s just a difsaid. “[Performing] ferent mindset. You definitely made me have to be willing appreciate teaching to say ‘okay’ and fix and being around the problem instead all of [my students] of [saying] ‘You fix every day. I’m the problem.’” around adults, and Although there adults just aren’t are contrasting apquite as fun as 90 proaches between [teenagers].” the two, Smith said Principal Chris that performing has Blice believes that affected the way she Smith’s dancing teaches dance. with this company “It has definitely has a positive effect opened my eyes to on her students. different ways of “I think it points approaching things, Kristen Hutchinson/The Omniscient out to them that which is always this is something LEAH SMITH dances in her room; she good. So I’m learnnow performs with Carrboro Modern Dance you can use for the ing, not just as a rest of your life; it Company.

Siri-ously cool!

By Ally DeJong Staff Writer

really is,” junior Allison Stokely said. “You can ask her something and she will think you said something else. For example, I asked her to She understands and knows all. She helps call someone and she said, ‘Did you mean “this Northwood students and people all around person?”’ and she automatically called, but I the world do things everyday. Apple’s newest didn’t ask to call them. She has a ton of flaws. iPhone, the 4S, takes dictation.

Anytime you ask her something most of the time Who is “she”? “She” is Siri, a program on she doesn’t detect what you say 100 percent.” the iPhone 4S that will listen to a voice comMany Northwood students have iPhones but mand, know what is being asked of her and only a few have the iPhone 4S. Some know of find out the information needed. She can be Siri only because of the media attention she has used to send text messages, make phone calls, been getting or through their friends. set reminders and find nearby restaurants just Hill has the regular iPhone 4 and wishes by recognizing a she had Siri. directive order.

“I think it would “She is basibe a lot easier to tap cally this robot in my your phone and say phone. I can ask her something; having a questions and she will 4 is okay, but having pull up the answer; a 4S would be so she does whatever I much easier.” ask her to do,” senior Siri has made an Angelica Del Corro, impression, good a frequent Siri user, and bad, on many explained. iPhone 4S owners.

This virtual assisSome students feel tant can also be used she is more than just to help students get a robot that caters to through their day. every wish and com“If you have a mand. reminder on your “She has a percalendar you can sonality and she has ask, ‘What am I doa name. She’s not ing today?’ and she just an App, I think will tell you what that’s cool to think you’re doing based about,” sophomore on what is schedEmma Korynta said. uled,” said freshman Siri is sometimes Ally DeJong/The Omniscient Peyton Hill, who explained to be more SIRI, on the iPhone 4S, can help users doesn’t have a 4S. logical than other with all sorts of problems.

As more states ban similar devices, and texting while driving, more comparable invenat times, is used more for entertainment. tions, like Siri, are being used to send messages “She has an attitude sometimes. You can while behind the wheel. ask her certain things and she will be like, “I use her to text while I’m driving. I’ll be ‘I don’t have to tell you that,’” sophomore like, ‘Send my mom a text message’ and then Ryan Millis said.

I will tell her what I want it to say and she will Siri’s humor is another factor for fans. send it for me,” Del Corro said.

“The most funny and common question On the other hand, not all owners of Siri are people ask Siri is where to hide a body, and she that impressed with her. will tell you swamps and reservoirs. I love her,” “People make her seem way better than she Del Corro said.

doesn’t have to end when you graduate from high school,” Blice said. “Whether you major in it or not, it’s a continual thing.”

Smith says that this affects her life not only as a teacher, but as a mother as well.

“As a mom, it’s been really awesome because [my son] Lincoln has been able to come to the tail end of a practice, and I think it’s cool that he gets to see his mom not be a mom,” Smith said. “This is something that I love to do and he gets to see me dance and perform. He gets to see that I am creative and I can express myself. I do have this side of me that he doesn’t get to see. We dance every night around the house, but that’s a little different.”

Including this new activity into her life has added some difficulty in managing her teaching job, her family and performing, but Smith says that it all works out at the end of the day.

“I don’t know that I do manage it. I just kind of throw everything up in the air and hope it falls into place. My mom watches Lincoln while I’m at practice on Sundays sometimes. If I didn’t have her, I guess I would just strap Lincoln to my back and hope for the best,” Smith said.

Smith says that she wants to continue dancing and performing with Carrboro Modern Dance Company and that after joining this company, she feels self-accomplished.

“I kind of am proud of myself. I feel kind of arrogant saying that, but it makes me feel like ‘Okay, you still have it, you’re not this old dance teacher,’” Smith said. “I’m proud that I went out on a limb and tried it at 32; most dancers’ careers end at 25.”

Lost In the Trees

By D ylan N ewcity S taff W riter

Bugsy) are my favorites, just to name a few,” said Picker.

The more contemporary direction “In high school, everyone [at Northon this album was also an intentional wood] was listening to gangster rap. I choice, according to Picker. just listened to the radio,” said NHS grad “I wanted to do something more Ari Picker, commodern musiposer, songwriter, cally. There’s singer and guitarmore bombastic ist for Chapel Hill rhythm and odd band Lost in the time [signatures] Trees. this time,” Picker Picker exsaid. plained that the Picker said he beginnings of his had been pigeonnow internationholed in the past ally acclaimed but is beginning orchestral-folk to diversify. band were about “I used to only as humble as it listen to classical gets. and older mu“Writing, sic from the 60s recording in and 70s, but I’ve bedrooms, getting been listening to people to come more new stuff play, hanging recently: Blonde Photo Courtesy of Morgan McDonnell Redhead, Grizzly up posters… It just grew organi- LOST IN THE TREES performed at Cat’s Bear, that kind of cally from there,” Cradle April 20. stuff,” said Picker.

Picker said.

When asked Picker has had many members acthe standard “Is there anything else company him in Lost in the Trees, but he you’d like to add?” at the end of our asserts that the core group of members interview, Picker answered with a series has remained fairly consistent. of questions.

“Everybody [in the band currently] “How is Northwood? What’s it like has been with us for a long time,” said these days? It seems a little different from Picker. when I went there; there seems to be a lot Lost in the Trees’ most recent release, more cool kids who listen to underground A Church That Fits Our Needs, diverges music and go to shows these days.” slightly from the band’s previous, folkPicker’s affable response encapsutinged release All Alone In an Empty lates the unassuming nature that permeHouse. This release shows Picker develates Lost in the Trees. oping a more grandiose cinematic scope The band’s expansion from playing with his songwriting, an effect he asserts small local venues to touring the country, is no accident. has not caused them to lose sight of their “I’ve pretty much always been interroots. Such personal an art form can ofested in film scores. Bernard Herrmann ten drain on the artist, but with their new (Psycho, Citizen Kane, The Twilight album and upcoming tour dates, Lost in Zone), Mark Mothersbaugh (Rugrats, the Trees show that they are looking to The Royal Tenenbaums) and Ennio Marthe future. One replete with harmony and ricone (The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, a killer string section.

Page 7

The Omniscient

May 4, 2012

Midnight Madness: Students flock to movie premieres

By T ori N othnagel S taff W riter

March debut, waited in line for an hour and was forced to sit at the very front.

“I think being some of the first to Many Northwood students go through see [the movie] is just really cool and I a night of waiting in lines and sitting in didn’t want to wait at all,” said Luft. packed theaters just to get the pride of Sophomore Lane Poag bought tickets saying: “I went to the midnight prethree months in advance for Harry Potmiere.” ter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 last Stusummer, dents find which premieres was sold to be excitout two ing because months in people advance. make such She ended enormous up sitting deals out of toward the them. front, after “I read waiting in all three of line for an [The Hunhour and a ger Games] half. books back Alin middle though the school, and wait seems I’ve always Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate tedious been exto some THE HUNGER GAMES grossed $19.7 million during cited about midnight showings March 23. students, a movie sophomore coming out. When [the movie] finally Courtney Lineman explained that waitcame out, I was like ‘Oh my God, I have ing in line with excited fans was enterto go to the midnight premiere,’” said taining. senior Yancey Luft. “[People] were running around Most students buy their tickets at screaming lines from the movie and least two weeks in advance. Buying tick- asking people how they thought [the ets in advance doesn’t guarantee a good movie] was going to be,” said Lineman, seat though. Luft bought her tickets for who waited in line three hours to see the The Hunger Games two weeks before its midnight premiere of Harry Potter and

Music Reviews

Artist: Lost in the Trees Album: With a Church That Fits Our Needs Go Download: “Golden Eyelids”

Loss and despair rarely come in a more beautiful form. In With A Church That Fits Our Needs, Chapel Hill bred Lost in the Trees’ songwriter Ari Picker seeks to construct a musical tribute to his late mother. This album represents a stylistic evolution from the band’s previous, the more folk-oriented All Alone In an Empty House. The band has developed a distinctly more modern style complete with odd-meter shifts and a lush instrumentation that reveals some new, angelic nuance with each repeated listen. Rather than deal with the topic of his mother’s death head-on, Picker uses allegory and imagery cathartically to address grief and loss in way that eschews the morose and depressing atmosphere typical of such subject matter. Rhythm serves not only to support the songs, but as an integral part of the composition adding mood, texture and propulsion. Opener “Neither Here Nor There” exemplifies the vital role rhythm plays on this album; the consistent, almost electronic beat adds a layer of complexity and intrigue that would be lost with a more conventional cadence.

The lilting “Golden Eyelids” employs a steady 3/4 groove and an undulating string section that resembles the sound of wind on a blustery day, adding an eerie counterpoint to the otherwise melodic piece. Between their updated style and Picker’s cinematic compositional style, Lost in the Trees have outdone themselves. These sweeping works of baroque pop beauty should appeal to just about anyone; fans of Radiohead, Fleet Foxes and Iron & Wine rejoice—you may have just found your album of the year so far.

— Dylan Newcity Artist: We Shot the Moon Album: We Are All Odd Go Download: “Start” The indie rock band from San Diego is back with a new album. The band’s fusion of rock, piano instrumentals and indie-themed lyrics leave little to the imagination. While Fear and Love is still the most popular album they have produced, We Are All Odd is quickly gaining popularity. With the addition of three new members in the band since the last album was released, a new sound has been added, allowing a more broad strain of instruments to integrate into its music. “Start” has a theme of losing yourself along the way, as some teenagers do when transitioning through high school. If you like bands like Eyeshine or The Script, you should really check out this band.

— Morgan Yigdal Artist: The Fooligans Album: Love Songs for the Apocalypse Go Download: “Devilip” Originating in Carrboro, this band provides an electric sound of raw powerful punk mixed with mellow beats and southern rock.

With an appropriate title of Love Songs for the Apocalypse, for all those believers of the Mayan calendar, the songs on this album have bleak despair tunes without the sappy clichéd romantic lyrics.

The band’s sound resembles bands such as The Flaming Lips and Deer Tick, even sounding like Led Zeppelin on some levels of their music. The band’s ability to improvise lets listeners have a new experience with their songs when they are sung live. If you don’t buy their music, see them live and experience their mystifying performance.

— Morgan Yigdal

the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.

Some students, however, do not like Many fans even dress up for pregoing through the trouble just to see a mieres. Poag dressed as a half muggle, movie at midnight. They find it to be too half wizard for the final Harry Potter film. late and are worried about school the “[I dressed up] because I felt the next day. need [to] and it was just a lot of fun,” “[Midnight premieres] are late at said Poag. night and school is hard,” said sophoSome students want to go to midnight more Donald Morgan. “I need to go to premieres so they can be some of the sleep.” first people to see the movie.

Despite possible drawbacks, many “I was really impatient, so I didn’t students still seem to like going to want to wait until the next day,” said premieres. Poag and Lineman both saw junior Brandon Edwards, who saw the Breaking Dawn and Harry Potter and the midnight premiere of The Hunger Games Deathly Hallows, Part 2 at midnight. in March.

“All the people dressed up and the Edwards also read The Hunger Games feeling in the air… you could just tell series and enjoyed it. Both Edwards and everyone there wanted to see it and they Luft were excited to see the movie. Luft were all excited,” said Lineman. said the movie did the book justice.

Luft was one of the few who got to participate in a trivia game in the Southpoint movie theater at the premiere.

Some UNC-Chapel Hill students started the game. They had a mock reaping, which was similar to a scene from the movie, and Luft’s name was chosen out of the note cards. There were 24 people parPhoto Courtesy of Maggie Denny ticipating and they were SENIORS YANCEY LUFT, MAGGIE DENNY AND asked trivia questions until one remained. Luft CATHERINE ANDERSON await the midnight premiere of Twilight: Breaking Dawn last November. did not win.

Art Spotlight: Key Winners

NHS art students entered Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and received keys based on their achievements.

—Compiled by Dylan Newcity

“We had gone to Pittsboro to look at houses and architecture, and I saw this house. Of course it’s not pink and blue, it was just the architecture of the house... I wanted to challenge myself.” — Allison Stokely, Silver Key

“I just looked and I saw him [my grandpa] and I thought, ‘Oh, that looks interesting’.... When I was editing it I wanted to put the focus on him.”

—Kristen Hutchinson, Gold Key

“It started off as an elephant looking over a cliff with a river... I just added the flowers and the fishies because I like them.” — Rebecca Moore, Silver Key

8

“Look it up on Google”

Teachers should appeal to all learning styles

Staff Editorial

At some point, many of us have answered questions or taken tests to determine what kind of learner we are. We are either kinesthetic, visual or auditory learners. Even discussing this topic in journalism, we noticed that each person on the staff has a different learning style and liked or disliked different aspects of their classes. So, if we know that we all learn differently, teachers should appeal to each learning style.

Good teachers write on the board, discuss the topic, show videos pertaining to what is being taught and plan related activities as practice. That type of teaching covers every learning style. It’s far better than teachers just making the kids read from a book and do a problem or just standing at the back of the classroom making the students take notes from a PowerPoint. Yes, each subject has its challenges, but there are still ways to incorporate each type of learning into every class—we have seen it.

In an English class for instance, instead of a teacher standing at the front of the classroom and talking for most of the period, they could engage the students.

Urge students to discuss, allow them to act out scenes or use real-life examples.

This way, you can appeal to each student’s learning style. When teachers do these types of activities, students are more engaged and are likely to enjoy the class and want to try harder.

Teachers’ confidence in the subject they teach could also impact a student’s ability to learn. A teacher’s job is to make us think, and if they are enthusias-

tic and know the material they are teaching, students are likely to learn more.

The teacher’s attitude toward the subject is infectious, and their confidence will rub off on the student.

We understand that teachers don’t know everything, but if you’re asked six questions in a row and can’t answer one of them, that’s not teaching, and it lets us know that you don’t know the material any better than we do. When you have students talk to other teachers instead of offering them your after-school time, that makes us feel that you don’t care about the subject, which won’t help student learning.

We understand that a lack of confidence may come from teachers shuffling between subjects they are teaching, but it’s still the teacher’s job to learn the material, so they can effectively teach it to us.

When teachers genuinely care about students and their grades and the material they are teaching, students will care more about the class. When teachers don’t teach by appealing to different learning styles, it makes the students not want to come to class, or their interest in the subject goes down, so their grade may go down.

We understand that teachers are human, and they can’t fit a hundred things into one day. They must follow a schedule, and can’t spend a bunch of time re-teaching topics in different ways, but we also know that we have had many teachers in every subject who do teach by incorporating these learning styles into their curriculum—it’s not impossible.

Editorial Cartoon

Opinion

Wherefore art thou Romeo?

Romances give the wrong impression

with our aspiring for the things we read in Nicholas Sparks’ books.

People need to realize that in real life, there is not an author behind the scenes making sure that happily-ever-after actually follows through. Nobody is calling the shots or controlling our relationships, except for the Boy meets girl. Boy does an amazing thing people in them.

The misunderstandings and misconcepfor girl. Girl and boy live happily ever after. tions are not magically cleared up by someThis is a typical romance novel or movie. thing clever or that 6-foot-2, tan, baby-blueAre you still waiting to be swept off your eyed, handsome and witty man. True love, feet? Well, you shouldn’t be. Or how about waiting for the day you get that firework kiss? like the one in The Notebook, only happens once in a great while. And when it does hapIt’s probably not going to happen, so stop pen, the couple doesn’t meet by Channing wishing your life away.

Tatum diving deep into the ocean fetching I am all for the sappy chick flicks, believe your purse for you, as seen in Dear John. me; they are the only things I actually enjoy Girls mostly need to stop watching. They touch setting themselves up for my heart and make me disappointment. Who wish those things could knows, your life could happen to me as well, end up becoming your but I’m socially aware own movie. enough to not anticipate I do believe, howthose types of things. ever, that these novels and The appeal of these movies let us hold onto fictions rarely ever that happily-ever-after transpose into real life. vision. These movies Girls tend to think that were obviously made for the things portrayed in a reason; relationships like movies are normal. RelaMichaela Johnson/The Omniscient these do happen, but it’s a tionships are set to higher one-in-a-million chance.

ROMANCE MOVIES give teens standards and are given When does it become too unrealistic expectations for dating. unrealistic expectations much though? There are on what is anticipated some things a guy should do to make sure his from guys in their real-life relationships. I’m lady feels happy and loved, but those things guilty of it, too—a lot of girls are.

I believe this could be a contributing factor should be separated from things that are totally far-fetched and would almost never happen. to all the two-month relationships that go If you have a soulmate, he will be predesdown the drain in high school. After dating the first guy who makes you feel like a million tined for you, so stop searching for it. Maybe bucks, the passion seems to run dry, so instead if Hollywood didn’t implant high expectations for our relationships, people would apof trying to fix things with their current boypreciate the little things. The little things end friend, people part ways so girls can find that up being the bigger things in the end. “fairy-tale ending.”

And, for all those guys wondering why we Of course, not every relationship is suplove watching sappy chick flicks and want posed to work out, and every relationship has you to watch them with us too, take the hint, its problems, but speaking from the female and learn something. perspective, I feel a lot of conflict has to do

Ally DeJong

Due Tomorrow: Time Management Sterling Logan

By Samantha Yigdal

- THE NORTHWOOD -

OMNISCIENT - EDITORS Caroline Schneider - Editor-in-Chief Madison Roberts - Opinion - STAFF Emily Brooks Sterling Logan Ally DeJong Taylor Maloch Kristen Hutchinson Dylan Newcity Michaela Johnson Tori Nothnagel Quinn Kerscher Morgan Yigdal Anna LaRocco Masi -ADVISORNeal Morgan nmorgan@chatham.k12.nc.us (919) 542-4181

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.

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

When high school hits, everybody suddenly realizes that they are being stretched a little thin. So what do you do when you can’t keep up?

Most of the time, you have a million things flying through your head and all you want to do is sit down and relax, but that is never an option until all the work gets done.

This is where time management becomes your best friend. Do not complain about the lack of time in a day and the fact that you have three tests this week and haven’t slept in two nights. We have all been there and know your pain, but we also know that we could have avoided those sleepless nights by organizing our lives.

Organization is key. If you have a set plan for what you want to accomplish in a given time period, then it is easier to finish work and move on to the next task.

For example, if you know on Monday that there will be a test on Thursday, and you have to work every Wednesday, then you know that Tuesday you need to study for your test.

The philosophy behind this is simple:

Consider free time work time until the work is done. Most teenagers sit down and take their free time as it comes. I know, because I do it too. This is called procrastination and when you procrastinate you end up with a lot of work to do on the same day. I also know that without procrastination, things get done and have a higher quality.

On top of organization, find out what your rhythm is and work on a schedule that fits your rhythm. If you know that at night you get tired and fall asleep or get easily distracted, then do your work in the morning.

Or if you know that every Sunday you get lazy and decide to watch TV instead of completing your assignments, then finish them Saturday morning before you go out. Or, if you know that you are going to have a busy month, then do your volunteer work before it reaches that point.

Knowing your schedule and organizing your days, weeks or months can prevent you from having scheduling conflicts, missing out on social events with friends and stressing over making deadlines.

Yes, life is crazy, especially in high school, but I have a hunch that more responsibility and difficulty will approach with time. So learning time management now will only help you in the long run. And applying these three simple things: organization, time management and finding your rhythm, will make a world of difference.

May 4, 2012

Page 9

The Omniscient

Save our state, stop the hate Vote against Amendment I

same benefits as marriage. With a domestic partnership, you can get rights involving child custody and employee benefits for married couples. If you know any two people who live together who are not married (gay or straight), some of their rights could be taken away. All kinds of scenarios can be drawn up, because May 8: the day that could possibly change the way this amendment has been written althe lives of millions of North Carolinians. lows for a lot of different interpretations.

On the ballot is Amendment I, which says This amendment can cause committed “Marriage between one man and one woman partners to lose the ability to take care of one is the only domestic legal union that shall be another financially or medically. For example, valid or recognized in this state.” people who rely on health care from their Our law allows so much to be interpreted partner’s job could lose those benefits. into those 22 words, especially the part “only Imagine a child who lives with his birth domestic legal union.” Domestic amendments mother and another man who are in a domestic don’t happen very partnership together. often, but when they If this law passed and do, it is very hard for the child’s mother died, them to be changed. the man he has been Amendment I is a living with (who he very big deal; not only might call his dad) will could it affect millions, no longer be legally but the effects may responsible for him. also be permanent and The child could be extremely difficult taken away from the to change if later man if someone with a down the road people stronger legal obligawanted to change it tion wanted to take back. That is why it is Anna LaRocco Masi/The Omniscient him, because this man important that before AN AMENDMENT I sign placed in a yard in who had rights under you vote, you know the old law might no Pittsboro. what you are doing. longer have them.

If you want to Governor Beverly be a well-informed voter, you should know Perdue stated in a Youtube interview that that this amendment deals with more than Amendment I could also invalidate domestic just gay marriage, because that is already violence protections for unmarried partners. against the law in North Carolina. It bans all Due to the fact that no Democrat is seriously civil unions and domestic partnerships. In a running against Obama, there will be a low marriage you have matrimonial rights such voter turnout for the N.C. Democratic primary. as work benefits and child custody. Civil The legislators who made this bill chose to unions and domestic partnerships are very place it on this day so there would be fewer similar to this. They grant two people who Democrats voting and it would be more likely are joined together, usually because they to pass. It is so crucial that this amendment live together, the same matrimonial rights does not get passed. Our state is taking a step given to married people. backward. This amendment will hurt people Many businesses in North Carolina recogwho live right in our community, so please go nize domestic partnerships and give them the out and vote against Amendment I.

Anna LaRocco Masi

Tardy policy goes too far

Taking kids out of class for being late Madison Roberts It’s 8:02 a.m.: you pull into the parking lot, and the tardy bell has already rung. This isn’t the first time you’ve been tardy by a long shot.

It’s probably your fifth, or sixth. And your first period teacher keeps writing you up.

So let’s say today is your sixth tardy. In a few days, you wait for your office referral from your first period teacher, but when you get it, your punishment is no longer an hour of after school detention—instead it is ISS. Then, after your ninth tardy, your punishment is OSS. Seriously, students have to miss an entire six-hour school day because we were a couple minutes late to class six or more times?

To most students, these punishments aren’t effective. Honestly, they’re just detrimental to student learning and cause more work for the teacher because he has to spend extra time teaching students what they missed.

Another problem with this tardy policy is that whether your tardies are excused or unexcused does not make a difference. If I had six doctors’ appointments during a semester and they all caused me to be late, I shouldn’t be penalized for that.

It’s not fair to tell me that I have to go to ASD for three days of coming to school late if I have a good reason. Would you rather me just take an absence and not come at all? If I do that, at least my doctor’s note would count for something.

I’ve done this, and so have some of my friends, and it wasn’t so bad. We’re basically just doing the same thing the policy is enforcing; we’re just getting counted as absent and only missing one class period instead of the whole day.

But this creates a whole other issue because students miss full class periods, so they’re missing all the material from that day.

Don’t get me wrong: I don’t think that being tardy is okay. I’m well aware that I am a lazy student and could easily get here on time. But the punishments Northwood uses are not effective. Why not continue to give ASD? That is our after-school time we’re wasting, not being in ISS or OSS and missing classes all day.

Or what about threatening our parking privileges? An effective punishment could be that once students have a certain number of unexcused tardies, their parking privileges are taken away. Another idea would be to revert back to the idea of when tardies counted toward exam exemption, which Principal Chris Blice said will take effect next year. If you get two tardies, that counts as an absence toward your exam exemption. If you get four, that counts as two absences. Or, what about rewarding the students who aren’t tardy? It would be an incentive to come to school on time if the administration said that if you didn’t have any tardies, you could miss one extra day of school for your exam exemption.

All I’m saying is that by forcing students to ISS and OSS for being late to class for six days or more is ridiculous. There are other punishments that would be much more effective; the current punishments just cause more work for the administration, the teacher and the student.

What do you think?

Up until recently, Bynum Bridge, located off 15-501, was covered with a variety of spraypaintings and artwork. It was recently painted over.

Students largely feel that the graffiti should not have been covered up.

— Compiled by Kristen Hutchinson

“The artwork there was really unique and I don’t think it should’ve been covered up because it was a way for people to express themselves.”

— Katelyn Thompson, junior “I really enjoyed how diverse the artwork was. It gave the bridge character.”

— Richie Varnadore, senior “It was a form of self expression, it was art. I don’t agree with covering it up.”

— Katy Young, sophomore “It used to be really cool but a lot of it got covered up. I think people went to the bridge to draw out their emotions.”

— Taylor Thomas, freshman

Caroline Schneider/The Omniscient

Prom-autized

while talking about “school issues.” I should have just put flyers up around the school that read: “PROM DATE NEEDED.” All jokes aside, I don’t understand why we get so stressed out about an event that is supposed to be fun. Honestly, prom is such a hassle that it ends up being not as fun as it is supposed Prom. The event that we all look forward to be. Not to mention it also feels horrible being to and also dread at the same time. Nobody in a position watching all your friends get dates wants to be the girl or and then you end up the guy that is the ninth dateless. wheel in a group of We are all so hung couples, dateless. up on what other Finding a date people think of us always seems to be these days. I know that an issue with prom.

I get that way someI had a boyfriend for times, but in reality, I junior prom, so I had just have to realize that no problem finding a it’s not important. Godate, but this year I ing to prom with your looked ahead at May friends and having a 19 in fear. As April good time would make was approaching and the whole situation so everyone around me much less stressful. was getting a date, I People wouldn’t felt like I was under have to spend extra an enormous amount money on their date’s of stress. Why is it so ticket. No one would hard to find a date? Is have to run around the Kristen Hutchinson/The Omniscient school frantically lookit that the boy-to-girl EMILY BROOKS was desperate for a ratio is uneven and ing for eligible bachedate to prom. there are simply not lors like I did. Everyone enough guys to go would just show up and around? just have a good time.

I ended up getting a date (Thanks, Rafa!)

After the agonizing months before but before then I felt so incredibly desperprom, I suggest that none of you should ate. My friends told me to announce that I ever freak out about a night at the Wicker needed at date at a student council meeting Civic Center again.

Emily Brooks

10

Sports

Snacks and sports: How NHS athletes eat

By Sterling Logan Staff Writer

“I really don’t eat healthy, but I run it off during soccer so I would say it balances out,” said Orellana.

On any average day, the bell will ring Senior lacrosse player Anthony Harr at three and students will fill the halls does occasionally try to improve his diet anxious to get home, or to their next after by including salads and removing the school activity. Many athletes, however, dressing, but agrees that it’s okay to eat will most likely hop in their cars and take unhealthily if one is going to work it off. the short drive to McDonald’s. Here they However, he also agrees that making will order the greasy delights of their changes could improve his performance. choice, enjoy it with friends and return to “If I made a really big change to [my Northwood for their game. diet], I think [my performance] would imMany athletes eat out before games prove. I would play better and have more at the nearest restaurants, which include energy,” said Harr.

Subway, McDonald’s and Elizabeth’s He does not stand alone with this Pizza, and after games they eat out again. opinion.

Many feel that they should be able to eat “It would give me more endurance and whatever they please before a game.

I wouldn’t get tired as fast as I do now,” “[I] usually eat anything before bassaid sophomore basketball player Tyeshia ketball, like a Philly cheese steak, and Baldwin. right before the game I’d eat a Snickers While most sports do not require a and a Mountain Dew,” said senior basket- strict diet, some athletes, such as wresball/baseball player John Wieland. tlers, have to pay attention to what they Some students do occasionally make eat and how much they eat. a conscious effort to improve their diets, “It’s difficult when you’re used to eatwhile some believe ing candy [in the that unhealthy food off season], and is acceptable bethen you can’t eat cause they are exanything [beercising so much. cause] you have Others believe an to cut weight. I improvement to dropped 20 pounds diet would result over wrestling in an improved season and it was performance. tough,” said senior “I definitely wrestler Gino don’t eat fast food LaManna. before a game Though Labecause I would Manna claims to —Anthony Harr, senior feel bad,” said have a healthy senior soccer/volleyball player Hannah diet, eating only peanut butter and jelly Lawrence. with Gatorade before matches and games, Senior soccer player Rafael Orellana the question that rises is: Is it really safe thinks his diet and exercise balance out. to have a fluctuating weight throughout

“If I made a really big change to [my diet], I think [my performance] would improve. I would play better and have more energy.”

Emily Brooks/The Omniscient

NORTHWOOD ATHLETES have a variety of opinions when it comes to deciding on what to eat before and after practices and games. the year?

Studies show that this form of dieting is hard on the body and puts athletes at risk for heart problems. Though shedding a few pounds for wrestling is not going to cause heart disease, the habit of rapid weight loss could create problems in the future.

Though the view of unhealthy diet and active lifestyle seem okay to some students, others feel that both are key in living well.

“There are a lot of other factors; you may be skinny, but you can still be unhealthy,” said Lawrence.

The majority of athletes agree that their eating habits are poor and that they could improve, but a handful feel like they have their diets under control. “[Before games] I try to eat a banana

so I don’t get cramps,” said sophomore soccer/tennis/basketball player Hannah Holloway.

Holloway had previously had the experience of eating poorly and playing immediately after.

“If I have eaten a lot of cookies or something, I feel like I’m slower,” said Holloway.

Junior basketball player Alexis Brower agrees with Holloway and has experienced the effects of an unhealthy meal.

“I have eaten Bojangles’ before a game and I felt heavier,” said Brower.

While poor diet may affect some players, LaManna feels that diet does not relate to the performance of athletes.

“I see kids next to me eating candy bars and they still play well,” said LaManna.

Lacrosse earns 1st wins, sees growth in 2nd varsity season

By Emily Brooks Staff Writer

Two years ago, Northwood added boys’ lacrosse as a varsity sport. After an 0-16 record in its 2011 season, the team had a change in tides for its 2012 season, finishing 4-12.

With two key conference wins against Orange High School and wins against 4A schools, Pinecrest and Heritage, the boys’ lacrosse team has made strides in just two years.

Senior goalie Daniel Ball pointed to the quadruple overtime win against Heritage as a particularly important game.

“That [win] felt really good for me. I was thinking, ‘Just don’t let [a goal] in,” said Ball, who earned second-team All-Conference.

Head coach Kevin McDaniel noted that others are noticing the success of the team.

“You can see what happened in just one year by looking at our records. Refs talk to us and tell us how much we have improved,” said McDaniel.

Ball elaborated on why he thinks the team has been doing so much better this year.

“It’s more of a team now since our first win,” said Ball. “Everything has just come together.”

McDaniel not only agreed with Ball,

Tori Nothnagel/The Omniscient

JUNIOR DANIEL BURWELL scored 10 goals and two assists for the lacrosse team, which earned its first wins as a varsity program this year.

but also addressed the change in the technical aspect of the players’ skills.

“We can catch and throw, and we are starting to get more game theory down, starting to run plays,” said McDaniel. “But mainly our fundamentals have stepped up.”

Returning Tori Nothnagel/The Omniscient players such as Ball, juniors NORTHWOOD LACROSSE won four games this season after a winless year last year.

Cory Volk and Daniel Burwell, said McDaniel. and sophomore Wesley Meyer have all The chances for winning will only contributed to the newfound success, improve with the increase of young talent, but also junior-transfer Jimmy Ashness giving Northwood lacrosse time to grow into and newcomer senior Matt Johnson have something bigger and better. helped the Chargers. The addition of “We have given [the season] some time, freshmen Jack Dalton, Ryan Harradine and time is on our side, so we are gradually and Tyler Romel has also brought new getting better as a team,” said Junior Dan talent.

Gingerich.

Even though the team does not have Sophomore Rob Hamlet agreed with a stellar record, and suffered lopsided Gingerich. losses to powerhouse schools such as “I hope we will be able to come back next Chapel Hill High and East Chapel Hill year and win just as many,” said Hamlet.

High, McDaniel said that his team focuses “I see us being able to be successful and more on doing better against them than advance more in two or three years.” they did last time.

Senior Will Stine described the future of “Teams that are at our competitive Northwood lacrosse as bright. level, those are the games that we look for“In a few years I see lacrosse becoming a ward to. It gives us a chance at winning,” key sport at Northwood,” said Stine.

May 4, 2012

The Omniscient

Who gets how much?

How athletics funding works

By Michaela Johnson Staff Writer

The feeling of joy when the star player scores the winning goal is something an athlete never forgets. The crowd jumps up and no one can pick out a single sound because they all come together in the final moments. What would result if that couldn’t happen anymore?

No more blasting buzzers telling the crowd it was all over, no MVPs, no feet stomping on the bleachers. Funding behind the scenes is what makes all sports and their excitement possible.

Where does all of the funding come from?

Who decides which sport is more expensive or which sport deserves more funding? Athletic director Jason Amy said that there are a few different things that one must understand about the procedures of funding sports.

“We try to work together to raise money for each program, and each coach is individually in charge of trying to generate money for their program,” said Amy. According to Amy, the cost of running all of the sports for Northwood costs slightly over $100,000 per year.

To pay this fee, different organizations are needed, and the money does not come from one concrete place.

“We have a general athletic booster club.

For some of our bigger sports, like baseball and football, we have separate booster clubs that try to raise a little extra money for those sports,” said Amy. Football coach Bill Hall said that football funding comes from three main sources. “[The] Northwood athletic department funds what they can, and that’s mostly travel, lights, the reconditioning of our equipment and a few other odds and ends. The school’s athletics booster club is the second part,” said Hall. “Then we have the Friday Football Foundation (the football booster

club) and they basically do everything else like our homecoming jerseys…we do a lot of fundraising with the Friday Football Foundation.”

Much of athletics funding also comes from grants and working with the PTSA through thrift shop hours.

Although some question why there is a gate charge to attend athletic events, Amy says this money is critical to cover basic costs.

“Typically, if there is an official, then we try to raise money to pay for the official and the referee. We have to charge for that,” said Amy. Lacrosse coach Kevin McDaniel added that an admission cost helps to run the lights and pay for maintenance. According to Amy, football has the highest admission cost, $6 as compared to the $5 charge of other sports, simply because there are more officials.

In many districts, there is a fee to be on a team. According to principal Chris Blice, many schools are forced to do this because of high transportation costs.

McDaniel works to make sure his team isn’t subject to fees to play a sport.

“My goal is to make sure that [the athletes] have to supply cleats and a mouth guard. That is what I have been trying to do for the two years I have been coaching,” said McDaniel, whose lacrosse team recently switched from a club to a varsity team, allowing him to acquire money from the athletic boosters rather than the self-funding of most clubs. “You would have to charge a player more often for a club sport; athletic boosters won’t provide as much.”

McDaniel believes that sports are very important to Northwood and no kid should be left out of them because they do not have enough money. Even if a sport’s funding is threatened, the students should not have to fund it.

“There should be no reason a sport gets cut through any budget crisis, and no kid should have to pay to play,” said McDaniel.

Page 11

SPORTS BRIEFS

Baseball regular season ends The baseball team is currently 18-5 (13-1 in conference) through May 2. The team was battling for a playoff spot this past week.

Head coach Rick Parks noted some important events that occurred this season.

“We had Jordan Mathews beat 10-0 in five [innings] and then they scored a couple runs at the end to make it 10-4, but we dominated both [Carrboro and Jordan Mathews].”

Senior Connor Lawrence pitched two no-hitter games going into the seventh inning, and the pitching staff threw eight shutouts during the season.

Softball fighting for playoff spot The softball team is almost at the end of its season and is 8-10 through April 30. The girls started off the season with a few losses before beating Roxboro Community, March 9.

Today the Chargers play their final regular season game of the year, at Granville Central.

The Chargers are competing for a spot in the playoffs, which would begin May 11.

“I think that everyone is trying really hard,” said sophomore Shelby Kremer. “We’re all together as a team and we play as a team; we just need to clean up our errors.”

Playoffs begin next week for girls’ soccer The girls’ soccer team is currently 114-2 through May 1 and will advance to the playoffs starting next week. On Monday the team defeated South Granville 3-0, and the Chargers defeated DSA 2-1 April 25.

“This year our greatest competition is Carrboro,” said senior Katie McGrath. The Chargers lost to Carrboro 8-0 April 23.

Senior Silva Stout believes that the best part of the team is how the girls on the team mesh through player losses and injuries.

“Our greatest challenge this year is losing one of our strongest players early in the season,” said Stout.

Two tennis players advance to regionals The boys’ tennis team finished 4-11. Chris Cole and Zafer Estill qualified to advance to Regionals.

Composed of one senior, one junior, two sophomores and five freshmen, the team has a majority of underclassmen.

“We are in one of the toughest conferences in possibly the state. We are a young team and are improving, our record just doesn’t really match up,” coach Joseph Kiertekiles said.

Golf finishes third in conference The boys’ golf team finished third in the conference behind Carrboro and Cedar Ridge in regular conference play. Junior Jordan McClamroch was all-conference, finishing fourth individually for the season. McClamroch also tied for first in the conference tournament and will advance to Regionals Monday, May 7.

“It was a successful season, despite a young team and many players working on swing changes from the beginning,” said McClamroch. “I’m happy with the way the team played and I hope to have a good season next year.”

Track competes in conference meet Girls’ track placed seventh with 21 points and the boys placed sixth with 27 points at the conference meet held April 24.

Northwood won the girls’ 4x100 with Eboni Watson, Tyeshia Baldwin, Savannah Morris and Alex Council. The girls’ 4x800 relay team placed fifth. The boys’ 4x200 and 4x100 relay teams placed forth.

Tyler Whitaker, Shelton Moser, Kelly Reiter and Forrest Glosson had top-10 finishes in their events.

“The team is really young [and that is] good because we are going to have 90 percent of the team back so we will have a really good foundation,” said Glosson.

— By Emily Brooks, Ally DeJong, Michaela Johnson, Sterling Logan & Taylor Maloch

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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 Tori Nothnagel and Anna LaRocco Masi

Shelton Moser boys’ track Placed fifth in conference for 400-meter.

“He is the most consistent sprinter on the team.”

— Coach Richard McDonald

Cory Volk lacrosse

Alex Council girls’ track

Qualified for 100-meter dash for Regionals.

Robby Badders boys’ golf

“He consistently maintains a positive attitude.”

—Coach Henry Buckner

Anchored conference champion 4x100 relay team.

Zafer Estill boys’ tennis

13 goals and nine assists (22 points). Averaging one point a game. Honorable mention All-Conference.

“He’s a hard worker and team captain. He keeps the team together.”

— Blake Hollar, Jr.

Adam Lowe baseball

Has qualified for Regionals in doubles and placed as the No. 2 seed.

Tori Nothnagel/The Omniscient

Tyler O’Dell softball

Has .379 batting average.

Plays third base.

“He’s a very hard worker and clutch on the field.”

— Ross Cooper, Jr.

Hitting .290 with a .343 on-base percentage.

Ally DeJong/The Omniscient

“He brings a good energy to the team and he has improved a lot over the course of the season.”

— Ben Cross, Fr.

Yancey Luft girls’ soccer “She’s an amazing soccer player. She’s taught me how to be a better defender.” —Hannah Holloway, So.

Exchange Students in Sports

By Taylor Maloch Staff Writer

should do it, so I did it,” Soonthornrak said.

Soonthornrak said his teammates in crosscountry and wrestling were very open and Every year, Northwood opens its doors to friendly when he joined, giving him lots of exchange students from around the world. Al- support. He said his coaches were also supthough each of this year’s four exchange stuportive and let him join the teams even though dents come from different parts of the world, he was fairly new to the sports. they all have one thing in common—sports.

“I liked [Amy’s] motivation; he told us Jakkarat Soonthornrak, known around to keep [working hard] and we would do it.

Northwood as “Book,” is a junior from ThaiI liked how he believed we could do someland. He ran cross-country and was on both the thing,” Soonthornrak said.

JV and varsity wrestling teams earlier this year.

Both cross-country and wrestling gave “I chose [cross-country] because my Soonthornrak a chance to try something he friends said it was really fun and I liked it a had never done before. lot. For wrestling, Coach [Jason] Amy said I “I like the people in [cross-country],” Soonthornrak said. “I liked how it worked; anyone could play. You don’t have to be on varsity to play, and everyone was really nice.”

Sam Pruegner, a sophomore from Germany is also involved with soccer as well as football.

Tori Nothnagel/The Omniscient Pruegner is also currently LARA LINDEN, from Germany, is the starting goalie for Northone of the wood’s varsity soccer team.

managers for the girls’ soccer team. On the JV football team, he was a linebacker as well as the kicker, playing in a few of the games.

“I started football here because it’s the biggest American sport,” Pruegner said. “It gives me good experience.”

In Germany, Pruegner played an outside center in rugby, which has some similarities to football. When Pruegner played football, he said that his favorite part was tackling other players. “[I liked] tackling because you can hit somebody and it’s legal; the [rules of] football are really awesome,” he said.

Pruegner is also planning to do more rugby and a little bit of football when he returns home to Germany this summer.

“I’m going to at least start [playing football] and see if I’m comfortable with it,” Pruegner said. “If not, then at least I started it.”

Italian exchange student Angela Pizzichetti, a senior, has participated in volleyball, cheerleading and is currently one of the girls’ soccer managers.

“I knew how to play volleyball and I used to play soccer, but I had never done cheerleading before,” Pizzichetti said.

Starting JV and varsity volleyball, Pizzichettit was glad she was able to make the team and play setter.

“My belief is that you want to experience all of what coming to high school is about, and [Pizzichetti and exchange student Lara Linden] actually are very decent athletes; they didn’t just get it because of the exchange, but also to get experience from teammates,” said volleyball coach Rick Perry.

Volleyball coach Steve Thomas agreed.

“We wanted to give them a taste of what it was like to play volleyball,” he said.

Cheerleading coach DeLisa Cohen asked Pizzichetti if she wanted to join cheerleading, and be a base to the flyers.

“Cheerleading was something new that I didn’t have in Italy,” Pizzichetti said.

In the spring, Pizzichetti also tried out for soccer, but was asked to become one of the managers instead.

Another German exchange student is Lara Linden, a junior involved in soccer and volleyball at Northwood. Linden was on the volleyball team and currently plays as the goalie for the varsity soccer team.

“I like the games, when you’re [under] pressure, you really have to work [hard],” Linden said.

Linden is also happy with her teammates and coach because they are open and friendly to her. She says she is also grateful for her coach, Kevin Tanceusz because he has helped her a lot during the season.

“He knows a lot about soccer because he plays; He also knows the tactics. I had a coach in Germany that just read the books and said you had to do this and that, but [Tanceusz] actually knows what he’s doing,” she said.

Playing for 10 years, Linden has had plenty of experience in soccer. She says that she plans to play in the future, and when she returns home to Germany at the end of the school year.

“That’s my sport; that’s what I’ve done all my life,” Linden said.