October 2012

Northwood High School • Pittsboro, N.C.

www.nhsomniscient.com

OMNISCIENT ­- THE NORTHWOOD -

(om-nish-ent) adj.: having infinite knowledge and awareness October 22, 2012 • Volume 6 • Issue 1

What’s Inside...

Olympic Dreams Freshman Cameron Moore is a BMX rider training to compete in the Olympics.

Page # 11

Series of car accidents impact NHS B y F rances B eroset & J essica C layton S taff W riters Recently, the Northwood community has experienced many car crashes, ranging from a series of fender benders in the intersection outside the school to a serious crash that resulted in the death of former student Trey Wallace.

Often, the difference between a fatal accident and a dented bumper is only a few seconds.

“Anything that can distract people and take their eyes off the road for a second [could result] in a collision,” said Sergeant Jonathan Davis of the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Car accidents are the number one killer of teenagers in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, teenagers ages In the first three weeks of when normally we don’t have 16 to 19 are four times more the school year, there were this many wrecks in the beginlikely to crash than older drivfour known accidents right ning of school. They’re usually ers. Inexperience is certainly outside school grounds. spread out through the year,” a factor, but some point to the “We’ve had more accidents Student Resource Officer see DRIVING page 5 number of distractions teen in a smaller range of time drivers face as an explanation for the increased number.

“I think there is a lot of research that says teenagers are generally in more accidents than folks that are a little bit older.

I think there are a lot of reasons.

I think they are more easily distracted. They tend to be a little more social so they ride around in groups,” Photo courtesy of Evan Seagroves principal Chris JUNIOR EVAN SEAGROVES was in a car accident while driving between Blice said.

CCCC and Northwood.

Election spread The Omniscient looks at the 2012 presidential election from a student’s point of view.

Pages # 6-7

Ally DeJong/The Omniscient

SENIOR MONTÈ SMITH watches his teammates play against Lee Senior Sept. 21. Smith suffered a torn meniscus in the preseason, jeopardizing his chances for an athletic scholarship.

Senior Year: Three students share their stories

By Ally DeJong Staff Writer

Defy Gravity Northwood students attend DefyGravity, a business in Durham that takes trampolines to a new level.

Page # 8

This year The Omniscient will follow three seniors, Montè Smith, Diane Thompson and Pedro Becquer-Ramos, on their journeys through senior year as they prepare to graduate and attend college.

Montè Smith After wanting to play football in college and working four years to try and achieve this dream, Smith suffered a major setback with a college-bound athlete’s worst nightmare: injury.

Smith’s injury happened at the beginning of the school year during a scrimmage at Pine Crest High School.

“I got tackled and it was raining. My foot got stuck in the ground and the dude came in and hit me right in the knee,” Smith said.

When Smith went to the hospital they told

him he had a torn ACL, which would have ended his season. Immediately after his surgery, he found out he actually had a torn meniscus, and Smith returned to the field Oct. 5 after missing the first seven games.

Smith still hopes to get a scholarship at one of his top three college choices: Campbell, Wingate or Gardner Webb.

“Once [the colleges] found out about my injury, they said I still could get a scholarship.

I just need to play well in these last couple of games,” he said. “I know I’m going to do well; I have faith in God.” However, there is always a possibility that when he returns to the field he will re-injure his knee. If that happens, Smith says it will be the end of his football career. Smith also worries he is not the same player he was just three short months ago.

“I lost a lot of muscle definition in my right

leg. I’m a lot slower than I was before,” he said.

“It has affected it big time because now it’s a lot of pressure put on my shoulders. I’ve got to do this, I’ve got to do that to receive a scholarship.”

Life without football seemed to last an eternity to Smith.

“It hurts because I see all my friends out there playing who I have played with for the previous three years of my high school career,” he said. “I worked so hard during the off-season and then I go out there and get hurt. It kind of sucked. It made me a stronger person though.”

Smith’s mother went to college but his father did not, so it was important to Montè and his family that he would attend. Smith knew his injury affected his family more than they let on.

“They all tell me it’s not the end of the world, but my mom was banking on me getting a scholarship, so when they told me that I wasn’t

see SENIORS page 5

Page 2

The Omniscient

In Memoriam

Briefs Sophomores to take PLAN

All sophomores will take the PLAN test Oct. 23. The PLAN is a preliminary ACT test and claims to predict success on the ACT. The PLAN is the equivalent of the PSAT. There will be a makeup date Oct. 25.

October 22, 2012

Seniors earn nominations

John Adams and Grace Shackleford were nominated for the NC State Parks Scholarship, a four year scholarship valued at $88,000. Scholarship nominees for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship, a full ride to UNC, are Sierra Atwater, Pedro Becquer-Ramos and Diane Thompson.

Would your teacher go on strike?

By Frances Beroset Staff Writer

Nickolas Trey Wallace 1995 - 2012 Trey Wallace, a former Northwood student who graduated from Tar Heel Challenge Academy, passed away Oct. 4. He was 16 years old.

The Northwood community mourns his passing and expresses its deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

“Unions and striking are just not North Carolina things,” Spanish teacher Craig Frazier said. “I have a feeling very few here [at Northwood] would go on strike.”

English teacher Kari Haddy had a different perspective.

Imagine if one day, in the middle of the week, you came to “Children deserve an education; therefore, you need to fight school and there were no teachers. Imagine if you did not have to go to school that day, or the next day. Imagine if you were not for their rights,” Haddy said. “At Northwood we have great working conditions, so it’s hard to understand that these things sure exactly when you would have school again. happen in other school districts.”

It sounds like a pleasant dream, but Blice and Frazier agree with Haddy this was a reality for 350,000 children in that working conditions at Northwood Chicago Sept. 10. Teachers in Chicago are good, and they have the numbers to are members of a labor union. back it up. A survey of teachers in North The teachers went on strike due to a Carolina called the North Carolina’s lack of agreement between the Chicago Teacher Working Conditions Initiative Teachers Union and Chicago mayor shows that teachers at Northwood feel Rahm Emanuel over wages, job securithat they have good access to materials, ty and teacher evaluations. The teachers safety, allocation of time and adminisvoted to end their strike Sept. 19.

— Principal Chris Blice tration. A comparable survey in Illinois Teachers cannot go on strike in North known as the Illinois Teaching, LeadCarolina. They are prohibited from doing, and Learning Survey shows that teachers are consistently ing so by Article 12 of North Carolina’s general statutes. less satisfied with their conditions.

Principal Chris Blice agrees with this law.

When asked about school safety, 91 percent of high school “There are some fields where [striking] should not be acceptteacher respondents to the North Carolina survey agree that the able, and I think education is one of them,” Blice said. conditions they work in are safe. Illinois high school teachers Civics teacher Roddy Story isn’t sure striking is a good idea agree that they are safe only 51.2 percent of the time. for a different reason.

All of the teachers and administrators that were contacted “I think strikes hurt the perception of teachers overall,” responded that they thought very few teachers at Northwood Story said. “I think most people don’t understand how hard would ever strike. of a job it is.”

Frazier said, “Conditions [would have to be] beyond what I But could a strike happen here? The general consensus could imagine would happen here.” among faculty members is no.

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“There are some fields where [striking] should not be acceptable, and I think education is one of them.”

October 22, 2012

Coming back to Northwood

Page 3

The Omniscient

Kristen Norwood returns to NHS to work alongside former dance teacher

By Taylor Maloch Staff Writer

They say a dance teacher’s dream is to inspire other dancers, and the new dance teacher is living proof of just that. Former Northwood student Kristen Norwood has returned to the school to teach students dance along with her former teacher, Leah Smith.

“I love being back here. It’s crazy to be back as a teacher because I used to walk these hallways and I was Kristen; now I walk these hallways as Ms. Norwood,” said Norwood, who graduated in 2006.

The dance department received another teaching position because of the growth of student interest. A panel of interviewers from the staff interviewed Norwood over the summer.

“The interview was in the auditorium and I was so nervous walking down the steps,” Norwood said. “[The interviewers] were sitting there staring at me; I don’t know if I breathed during the interview, but a week later I got a phone call from Mr. Blice offering me the job, and I might have screamed in his ear I was so excited.”

Now she teaches her own group of students everyday with her new colleague, Smith.

“When I first started teaching here I remember she was introduced to me as the soccer player,” Smith said.

“I was all about soccer. I was going to play college soccer until I met this one,” Norwood said, pointing to Smith.

For Smith, this new arrangement is familiar.

Before coming to Northwood, she taught with her former teacher at her old high school. So when Norwood joined the NHS staff, Smith found herself in her former teacher’s position.

“The reason why I wanted to be a dance teacher was because of my dance teacher in high school,” Smith said. “When I heard

Teacher Turnover

Kristen Norwood is one of 13 teachers new to Northwood this year.

“We actually did not have anyone leave because they were dissatisfied with our school; if you look at our working conditions data we have an extremely high level of teacher satisfaction.”

— Principal Chris Blice

Taylor Maloch/The Omniscient

LEAH SMITH AND KRISTEN NORWOOD are the two dance teachers at NHS. about the position that opened here at Northwood, I decided to leave to see what I was made of.”

This summer, Smith found herself in the role of the mentor looking to hire her former student.

“Out of nowhere, we got the news that we were getting a second dance teacher so it was a complete no brainer,” Smith said. “I knew who I wanted and I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. It’s very full circle because now I’m in the position of my dance teacher, and it’s very odd, but very cool at the same time.”

Even though Norwood and Smith are two different dance teachers, they try to keep their classes and teaching style the same.

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While Smith’s classes are still held in the dance room, Norwood’s classes are held in the auditorium. The dance concert will be adjusted as well, and both groups will perform together in a grand finale.

“It’s great, it’s busy, it’s crowded,” said Smith.

Added Norwood, laughing, “We’re up close and personal.”

Smith says that she is enjoying having another dance teacher at the school.

“We’ve gotten a lot closer,” she said. “It’s fantastic because every student here at Northwood who wants to take dance can take it and that as dance teachers is our biggest goal and also our biggest thrill. It’s been lively; this room feels very much more alive now than before.”

“I like the friendly staff. I like that the students are good people; they’re cooperative and I like that [the campus] is rural.”

— Sharon Kolman, French

“I love [Northwood]; it’s awesome. I’ve taught at a few schools; this is the best place.”

— Melissa Hayden, social studies

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the kids, getting to know everyone on staff and everything the school has to offer.”

— Cameron Vernon, P.E.

October 22, 2012

The Omniscient

Page 4

An exam for every class: N.C. Staff, students wonder if teachers introduces Common Examinations should share their political beliefs

By Morgan Yigdal Staff Writer

Coming to Northwood this year is a new state mandated test that could affect different aspects of school life such as teaching styles, teacher’s pay and exam exemption policies.

The new state mandated tests are called the Common Examinations. These tests aim to make sure all students are learning the new common core central standards, as well as measure teacher effectiveness and make sure that teachers are doing a good job based off of student test scores.

While the Common Examinations have been postponed until the second semester, many students and teachers have their own feelings about the Common Examinations.

Some teachers see both the positive effects of the Common Examinations and the negative effects. “[The Common Examination] benefits are definitely [to] encourage students to be more actively involved, especially in classes such as the arts,” dance teacher Kristen Norwood said. “[Students think] ‘oh well I have an opportunity [to not be involved], there’s not a state mandated test,’ there’s not really an extra push or that drive that they really grasp everything.”

Some students feel that the Common Examination will not have any positive effects.

“I feel like [having the Common Examination for every class at the end of the semester] is just one long extended period of preparing for the test,” senior Julio Romero said. “To me it’s like as long as you pass the test, you’re golden. With the whole emphasis on test scores rather than whether or not we actually know the material at hand.”

Some teachers are concerned with how these new tests will affect their teaching style. Lyn Smith, physical education and health teacher, doesn’t believe that the Common Examination

will affect her teaching style.

“The tests will not affect the teaching style that I use in the classroom, especially the way that we do so much group discussion and role playing to help students make good decisions in their adolescent years that have consequences in their futures,” Smith said. “I think teaching towards testing in Health/PE is not necessary because if you do not understand and apply the content in the Health/PE curriculum and work towards maintaining a healthier lifestyle, the outcome for a healthy long life is slim.”

The Common Examination measure a teacher’s effectiveness and makes an evaluation of that teacher’s teaching ability. This evaluation could affect teacher’s pay.

“I think that teachers, students, administrators and parents are all responsible for a child’s education and that if we all work together, our students will achieve success and live healthy,” Smith said. “I do not think teachers should be paid based on one group of students’ tests.

There is more to the whole picture in making our students to become accomplished than a test. Some students that are learning in the classroom lack test-taking skills; therefore, one test will not prove how the teacher is teaching the course, which should not affect the pay of the teacher.”

One of the big issues that students have with the coming Common Examinations is the lack of exam exemptions. “[Exam exemptions] are really still up in the air,” testing coordinator Kim-Marie Hall said.

With the lack of exam exemptions there is the question of attendance.

“People aren’t [going to] worry about coming to class as much and are just [going to] skip and not come,” junior Mikayla Pendergraph said. “I know some people, from experience, who have not come to school for days because they knew they already had to take their exam, so why worry?”

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By Tyler White Staff Writer

In civics classes, explaining different sides of political issues seems to be a key point in educating students and letting them decide what they think is right, but should teachers express their own views in their classes?

“As long as I can explain why I am pro-choice and why someone else may not be, I think that that’s okay,” social studies teacher Skip Thibault said.

Thibault says he sometimes expresses his opinions in class, but not always. He says he used to be really nervous about it and did not want to tell people how he felt. Thibault changed his mind and started saying certain views after he realized students wanted to know his opinion.

“I think it’s pretty important for us to be able to tell both sides of the story, and let kids make up their own mind,” Thibault said.

Some students may have had teachers express opinions, but junior Jeremiah Hartsock, said he has had classes where they talk politics, but never had teachers express their own views.

Hartsock feels teachers should continue to not express their beliefs “in order to stay neutral and not cause any problems.”

Civics teacher Joseph Kiertekles says he tries to present both sides of issues and then lets the students decide their views, but if a student asks his opinion, he will present his side.

“That is why this country is a democracy; because we are allowed to agree to disagree,” Kiertekles said.

Junior James Calhoun feels that teachers should not share their views in high school because students are still deciding what they

want to believe.

“Teachers have the ability to make an imprint on students at a high school level,” Calhoun said.

While some students may think that teachers should not express views, civics teacher Roddy Story said he had college professors who have had opposite opinions. One professor thought in order to let students make up their minds, teachers must remain neutral, while the other thought in order to strengthen students’ current beliefs, it is necessary for the teacher to let students know up front where they stand on their views.

Story personally tries not to express his beliefs in class, but sometimes he does.

“For example: spending.

There are some people who are concerned about our government spending,” Story said.

“I am so positive that we need to get spending under control, that would be something where I would express my views.”

Although Story may express certain opinions, he always makes sure to explain the other side of the issue. On controversial topics, Story tries not to make his opinion known.

“On stuff where it’s really opinionated, really hot-button, wedge issues, I try not to put my opinion on that,” Story said.

While Story personally expresses some views in class, he believes it is important to explain different sides.

“I think explaining points of view is good, but preaching points of view is not,” Story said.

Along with Story, Thibault thinks it is okay for teachers to explain their views.

Thibault said, “As long as you are not, as a teacher, putting somebody down because they don’t agree with you [it is okay].”

October 22, 2012

Seniors

The Omniscient

Driving

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 playing for the rest of the season, she started crying,” Smith said. “She was thinking, ‘How are we going to get him into a school?’ because we can’t afford it unless I’m on a scholarship.”

Diane Thompson Between being student body president, taking AP and honors courses and being an active member of DECA, Thompson still found time to write her essays to apply for college.

She hopes to attend one of her top college choices next fall.

“I have never [been focused on just] one college my entire life.

I have just made it where in school I just Diane Thompson apply myself as much as possible, so when I decided, I’d be able to go,” she said. “I’m looking at UNC and Virginia Tech, and then I have reach schools like Duke, Wake Forest and Princeton, just to see if I get in, but I don’t think I will. That’s just to see.”

Thompson says her top choice in state is UNC-Chapel Hill, but she would much rather go out of state to Virginia Tech.

“I really want to go to Virginia Tech just because my mom went there and the environment is so good,” Thompson said. “I think that by going to as many places as possible I’ll be able to experience as much as possible. I like out of state a lot because it is getting out experiencing the world, but I always plan to come back here.”

Unlike many students, Thompson knows exactly what she wants to do after high school.

“I want to go to a four-year college and double major in marketing and political science. Then I want to get a master’s degree somehow, while making money. I really want to found a non-profit organization for high school students,” she said.

Thompson feels her applications are strong enough that she will be accepted into one of her

choice schools. However, there is always the possibility of being rejected.

“I’m nervous about being declined, saying no, but since I don’t have a set school that I want to go to, I would probably get over it really quickly,” she said. “I’m nervous about losing the connections with the people I have at high school right now. I’m not really nervous about college.”

Thomspon says her parents really stressed the importance of college to her and her siblings so that they could get every opportunity in life they could.

“They never really gave me an option of going to college; they just told me I had to,” she said.

Pedro Becquer-Ramos “The first thing that motivates me is becoming an educated person. Becoming someone who doesn’t believe all of the misleading things that media tell us. The second thing that motivates me is improving the environment, like solar and water quality,” Becquer-Ramos said.

“My parents motivate me because they didn’t go to college, but they still are living good lives. They worked hard and have prospered and have made a name for themselves. I want to take that a step further.”

Becquer-Ramos will be a first generation college student. During his time at Northwood, he says he has grown as a student.

“Freshman year, I didn’t get involved in too many activities; I think I could describe myself as the average high school student. I liked studying but I put other things in front of it,” he said.

“Beginning my sophomore year, I put education first; I made it a priority. I got into better habits—studying habits and physical habits.”

Becquer-Ramos applied and was nominated for the Morehead-Cain scholarship at UNCChapel Hill. The Morehead-Cain is a four-year merit scholarship that includes full tuition, student fees, housing, meals, supplies and other miscellaneous needs. Everything would be funded fully.

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“Since I’m not a very good writer, I’m a little nervous that I didn’t get my message across in the application. I’m a little nervous I didn’t communicate effectively to the people who will read my scholarship,” he said. “I have gotten involved more in the community and at school, but I don’t know if it is comparable to the achievements of the people I’m going up against for that scholarship. Although I haven’t achieved as much as other people have, I’m certain that I’m better in some aspects of that scholarship than others.”

Pedro Becquer-Ramos says if he gets that scholarBecquer-Ramos ship he will attend UNC next fall. He is also looking at NC State and UNC-Greensboro, but his top choice is UNC. “They are top notch schools in the state and country. I just really like the atmosphere of those universities,” he said.

Becquer-Ramos says financial concerns are not a problem in his family but he hopes to do as much as possible for his parents when it comes to paying for college.

“I don’t want my parents to pay for college,” he said. “I don’t want them to pay full tuition at all. I want to be responsible for the money my parents have to pay for my college. I know they’re not going to have trouble paying for it, but I don’t want them to.”

When thinking about college, many feel nervous, frightened and intimidated. Many also don’t want to leave their home and friends. But Becquer-Ramos has a different approach to what lies ahead for him.

“I’m hopeful and excited to see what college is going to bring me,” he said. “I’m not scared or anything; I’m looking forward to it. I’ll definitely miss my parents and friends, but I’m looking forward to making new ones.”

Herby Stubbs said.

So what caused these morning accidents? Blice thinks it is more due to the carelessness of student drivers and the sheer quantity of students arriving at once than it does the traffic pattern itself.

“The pattern is very safe. None of the accidents were necessarily related to the length of the line. It is just more people,” Blice said. “Especially at the beginning of school, they’re just a little careless.”

There was a noticeable difference once students and newcomers adjusted to the traffic pattern and school became a normal routine again.

Davis has some practical suggestions for students who want to avoid getting into a crash.

“Anything [that] can distract people and take their eyes off the road for one second [can result] in a collision. [If you are] eating [and a] French fry falls on the floor, for that brief second your attention is off the road,” said Davis.

“Remain as calm as you can. Take away the distractions.”

For some of the students involved in the morning crashes, it was their first accident with another car. In some cases, it has changed the way they drive.

“I pay a lot more attention when I drive now,” said senior Justin King, who was involved in an accident on his way to school.

But Davis worries that the impact the accidents have on students will fade. “[Trey Wallace’s death] has opened up a lot of eyes for a lot of students,” Davis said. “After a while… students may move on and unfortunately it will happen again.”

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Page 6

Why Obama?

The Omniscient

Bashing Obama

• “Floridians are struggling to find a job, keep a home and raise a family. This is the real state of our union. But you won’t hear stories like those at President Obama’s address tonight. The unemployed don’t get tickets to sit next to the first lady.” — Mitt Romney, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal • “You can never satisfy the opposition research team of the Obama organization” — Romney, to CBS

• “You know in his big speeches he tends to tell tall tales about an America that’s thriving on his watch. In 2010 he announced that the worst of this economic storm has passed. I know the people of Tampa don’t believe that.” — Romney, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal

Frances Beroset

Election time is nearly here, and that means political ads and televised debates. It means that it’s time to choose a president—the person who will run our country for the next four years. It is an important decision, and that is why voters should choose Barack Obama.

Obama has and will continue to take a progressive stance on social issues and equal rights. He supports marriage equality for the gay community and pushed Congress to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

He’s made huge strides towards equality.

Romney defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

“It’s unfortunate that those who choose to defend the institution of marriage are often demonized,” said Romney.

Well, Mr. Romney, I think of marriage as highly as you do. That’s why I think everybody should be able to get married.

Obama also supports a woman’s right

STUDENT QUOTES

“[Obama] has a lot of views of what he wants to do and four years is not enough time to do it.”

— Teniger Lee, junior “We’ve had constant job growth under Obama’s plans.... We’re on our way, but only if we continue with Obama will we become the best we can be.” —Jordon Ormond, senior “I support Obama because he stands up for common American citizens.”

— Blake Hollar, senior

to abort a pregnancy. As Mitt Romney himself said in 1994, “abortion should be safe and legal in this country.”

Romney changed his position on abortion in 2004 when he began considering running for president. He changes his position on issues so often that it seems to me that he is pandering to which ever group he has to appeal to at the moment.

Romney has promised that he will not cut defense at all. Obama has cut the defense budget by $487 billion.

Romney says he will get rid of those cuts. Romney attacks Obama for borrowing from China, but where is Romney going to get those extra $487 billion? He says he’s going to ‘close loopholes’ and cut funding to PBS. PBS only accounts for .012 percent of the federal budget. Defense takes up a whopping 24 percent of taxpayer dollars even with Obama’s huge cuts. Keeping America safe is important, but so is keeping them healthy, fed, educated and informed.

Obama wants to raise the taxes for wealthy people to cover the cost of the tax cuts for the middle and lower classes.

Romney believes that by cutting taxes for everyone, he can improve the economy. However, cutting taxes across the board means that the government will have to cut important programs like Social Security, Medicare, and SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. People who use those services simply can’t afford for them to be cut.

There are literally lives on the line. Besides, do millionaires really need another million?

No, or at least not nearly as much as poor people need food, or sick people need Medicare.

Make the right choice this election season—vote for Obama.

October 22, 2012

Issu No raise of taxes on the middle class, raise taxes on the wealthy.

Pro-choice

Tax

Abor

Improve education — Race to the Top

Educ

Supports gay marriage

Gay ma

Spend to prevent depression; pivot to paying for college, Medicaid Keep America safe, help open opportunity, create frameworks where American people can succeed

Doesn’t change your plan if you already have coverage

Defi

Role o

Obam

The Other Guys:

Gary Johnson

Jill Stein

•Immigration-Wants to make citizenship.

•Education- He wants to get r and “Race to the Top.” •Internet Rights- Would try to lating content, Internet speeds •Energy- Doesn’t believe that market, and would try to prev •Drug Reform- Wants to mak

•Education- Wants to provide lege.

•Energy- Wants to do away w •Immigration- She wants to g ing and working in the United become a U.S. citizen.

•Internet Rights- She would o (S.O.P.A.) •Housing- Impose a ban on fo

•Education- Wants to end the wants to put education in the •Energy- Wants the U.S. to be resources like natural gas.

•Health Care- Wants to end O •Defense- Supports a strong m •Immigration- Wants to tighte

Virgil Goode Jr.

Why Romney?

Ally DeJong

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rtion

cation

Why should you vote for Mitt Romney? Where do I begin? For one, he is not Barack Obama.

Obama’s new slogan “Forward” actually scares me. With the United States being $16 trillion in debt, let’s rewind instead.

Many say, “Oh, well everything is Bush’s fault” or “You can’t fix something in only four years.” My reply to those copouts is that just because Bush spent like a Democrat, it does not justify Obama’s actions in spending three times as much.

Yes, you’re probably right, you cannot fix a plummeting economy in four short years, but with Obama’s track record, I don’t see why anyone would want him to stick around to put us six times more in debt than when he took office. Come on, the man had a four-year plan! With Romney, we at least have a chance to slow Photos courtesy of Zhang Jun/Xinhua/Zuma Press/MCT down the spending.

Obama is a broken record.

He is saying identical things to what he said four years ago.

Taxes reduced for the wealthy and poor He has the same speeches, same promises and same ideas.

Obama’s actions should speak louder than the continuation of broken promises.

Let’s acknowledge some staExpand parental choice, reward teachers for tistics: according to The Weekly their results instead of their tenure Standard, a few major issues Believes marriage is defined between a were addressed. There are 13.8 million more people on food man and a woman stamps now than in 2008. Gas Cut programs (PBS), stop borrowing was $2.40 and is now $3.80. The average household income has money from China decreased by over $1,000. The Rights of individuals to pursue their dreams; unemployment rate had a peak of 10.10 percent under Obama. Can prefers limited government you really say that this country is Repeal Obamacare, says that Obam- better off than it was in 2008?

Arguments for Obama that acare “killed jobs”

Pro-life

arriage

ficit

Page 7

The Omniscient

October 22, 2012

of Gov.

macare

the Independents

it easier for immigrants to get work visas and apply

rid of federal mandates like “No Child Left Behind”

o prevent the FCC from being able to create tools regus, or pricing for services. t the government should have a hand in the energy vent involvement. ke marijuana legal.

e tuition-free education from kindergarten through col-

with hydrofracking. grant undocumented immigrants who are already residd States a legal status, which includes the chance to

oppose policies like the Stop Online Piracy Act

oreclosures and evictions.

Department of Education (as does Johnson), and hands of states. e free of foreign oil, and depend more on natural

Obamacare. military, but wants to cut defense spending. en U.S. border control.

I hear on a regular basis are: Obama got the troops out of Iraq and that he killed Osama Bin Laden. First of all, Obama did not kill anybody. The Navy Seals found where he was staying and asked for permission to proceed with their mission.

In regards to Obama getting the troops out of Iraq: Obama simply finished the troop withdrawal from Iraq that started under the Bush administration. Last time I checked, Obama told us he would get the troops out of Afghanistan as well, but failed at doing that, too.

Romney has a proposal of a 5-point plan that aims to create 12 million jobs.

The plan includes achieving energy independence by 2020, creating a more efficient system of trade better for America, improving education and opportunities to those higher educations, cutting the deficit and to champion small businesses that are the heart and soul of this country.

I have made my point as best as I possibly can that Obama is not working for the United States of America. Romney’s successful history in the private sector turning around failing businesses and enterprises is what America needs. He has NEW plans on how to turn the economy around. We should give him a chance, because we need change.

Bashing Romney • “Mitt Romney’s not the solution.

He’s the problem.” — Campaign commercial for Barack Obama • “Ultimately, I think, Mr. Romney is going to have to answer those questions [about his jobs record] because if he aspires to being president, one of the things you learn is you’re ultimately responsible for the conduct of your operations.” — Obama, in an interview with the District of Columbia’s WJLA-TV •“For Romney, the truth hurts— and that’s why today, you’ll see him try to dodge accountability by launching false attacks against President Obama.... But voters deserve better. And once they see Romney’s real record, they’ll know exactly why he continues to run from it every single day.”

— Official DNC statement

STUDENT QUOTES

“He knows the strife America has been through these past years. He will not only better the economy, but America as a whole.”

— Moli Eddins, junior “Mitt Romney has better plans for decreasing America’s debt by lowering deficits.”

— Hailey Pister, junior “Romney is a good debater and he knows what he is talking about.”

— Michael Williams, junior

8

REVIEWS MUSIC

Entertainment Instagram It!

• Gaining more users than ever before, Instagram might be more popular than you thought. Is it a new way to be creative, or is it just another social networking fad?

By Meredith Norman Staff Writer

Artist: Passion Pit Album: Gossamer Go Download: “Cry Like a Ghost” Gossamer is Passion Pit’s second album following their debut album, Manners. While Manners definitely erred on the side of melancholy, Gossamer is downright sad. “Cry Like A Ghost” is definitely the best song of the album, but the band’s emotionally intense lyrics tend to get lost in the overly layered tracks.

Gossamer becomes depressing without the danceable beats that made Manners so popular. Overall, Gossamer is a disappointment for fans of Manners.

— Frances Beroset

It’s no kept secret that teens like using social networking as a way to inform people about what’s going on in their daily lives. Now, yet another social networking site, Instagram, gives them another outlet to do so.

Instagram is a free photo-sharing program, and social network service that enables users to take a photo, apply a digital filter to it, and then share it with any other Instagram user, or on a variety of other social networking sites.

“I use [Instagram] a lot as a way to document daily life,” said senior Tanishia Thomas, who says she uploads about seven photos every day. “You get to learn more about people and what they do; you get to see what they do during the day.”

Thomas is one of many students who see Instagram as a much simpler way to use social networking.

“It’s simpler because there’s no random stuff,” Thomas said. “There’s a basic point to it: you post a picture and that’s it; there’s no stupid stuff like game requests or spam.”

Now, with the total amount of Instagram users boasting 50 million active users as of September 2012, the number of users is growing. Instagram gains one new user every second, and over one billion photos have been taken with the app already.

“It draws people in with popularity,” senior Abbey Johnson said. “Other people are like, ‘Oh,

other people use it, maybe I should too.’”

Instagram also hosts a large amount of famous users. Celebrities such as Katy Perry, Emma Roberts and Lucy Hale are just a few of the site’s active celebrities who people can follow.

Now that the Instagram trend is growing, arguments have begun between people who see it solely as a fun, quick way to upload photos, and people who stand by traditional photography.

Some people are sick of hearing about Instagram. Some cafes, (including San Francisco’s “Four Barrel Coffee” who started the trend) have gone as far as banning customers from using, or even talking about Instagram Meredith Norman/The Omniscient while in the shop as they feel it’s INSTAGRAM gains one new user every second and over just another annoying social net- 1 billion photos have been taken with the app already. work for people to gossip about. themselves look better; I don’t think it’s real Junior Katy Young sees Instaphotography.” gram’s popularity as a fad with our generation.

While some people think Instagram limits “I think [Instagram] is popular because this creativity, other people think it helps improve the generation keeps getting less creative and it’s an easy way to feel artistic. It’s fun for quick pictures beauty in photos.

“I like Instagram because it can edit photos to but it’s the furthest thing from photography,” make them more beautiful,” sophomore CheyYoung said. enne Altomare said.

As Instagram continues to dominate the lives Altomare sees Instagram as a creative new way of people and teens everywhere, a photography hobby seems to take a backseat as an achievement to make any photo beautiful.

“It adds more creativity every time you now that digital effects can be applied with the upload a photo, then you can take the pretty click of a button. So many people ask, do digital pictures and put them on other sites, like Facefeatures applied through Instagram count as art? book,” Altomare said.

“I think the fact that all you do is add a With more users than ever before, Instagram filter makes it generic,” Young said. “People continues to become an active part in teen’s lives. are already over using photo editing to make

DefyGravity offers teens Blocked: Students question place to jump, “go crazy” policy that limits e-mail sites

Artist: Lil’ Wayne Album: Dedication 4 Go Download: “No Worries” Lil’ Wayne’s back on track with his Dedication mix tape. In typical Wayne mix tape fashion, it features Wayne rapping over some of the year’s most popular beats such as “Cashin Out” by Cash Out and “No Lie” by 2Chainz ft. Drake. The first single off the mix tape is entitled, “No Worries,” which features Wayne boasting about his worry-free life. This song is rapidly gaining popularity, as people love Wayne’s metaphorical lyrics and catchy hooks.

The mix tape represents a more mature Wayne with the same great flow that people love and love to hate.

—Kiada Capel

TV

Glee After season three, I doubted that Glee could ever live up to the emotional ending of Finn leaving Rachel on that train to start her new life at NYADA. (Finchel forever!)

To my surprise, the season premiere was probably the best to date. With new people, drama and of course, delicious eye candy, the season is starting to be original again. For a while, Glee became repetitive and predictable, but I once again look forward to discussing the tasty gossip with my fellow Gleeks in first period.

— Ally DeJong

By Katie Robbins Staff Writer

Gravity is a force of nature that we have learned to live with. But imagine flying through the air without gravity weighing you down.

DefyGravity is all the rage. It is a Trampoline Sports Arena located in Durham that includes a foam pit to jump into, dodge ball games and aerobics classes.

In the months since it first opened, DefyGravity has become a very popular spot for people of all ages to spend their days.

“You can just be young and not have to worry about anyone asking why you look like a weirdo, you can just be yourself and it’s a lot of fun,” sophomore Karen Vanderford said.

DefyGravity invites kids and adults of all age groups. There is a KidJump time, and Club Gravity for those 15 and older on Fridays and Saturdays after 9:00 pm.

“It’s a really good environment because there are so many kids there, and you get to meet new people,” sophomore Jamie Palermo said.

Palermo is certainly not the only one who enjoys a floor covered in trampolines. More and more Northwood students have been visiting DefyGravity recently.

“You can hang out with a lot of friends there and bond with them.

It’s for all ages, so it’s really fun,” sophomore Buff Hart said.

Not only is DefyGravity for recreation purposes, but it has also been proven to be a way to get exercise. Aerobics classes are held, and

just an hour of trampoline bouncing can provide a day’s work out.

“You only go for an hour, and by the end of it you feel like you’re going to pass out, you’re so tired,” junior Darrin DiBenedetto said.

In addition to a foam pit and dodge ball, DefyGravity also includes a punching bag suspended in the air. If you grab it, you get the honor of having your picture hung up on the wall labeled, “Gravity Defied.”

Senior Brandon Thomas grabbed the punching bag and sure enough, his picture is on the wall at Defy Gravity.

“You get to go crazy,” Thomas said.

Although DefyGravity is extremely popular, it can also be dangerous. DiBenedetto broke his finger while doing a backflip at DefyGravity.

“It’s fun, but you get hurt all the time. I’ve been hurt about every time I’ve been there,” DiBenedetto said. “It is dangerous, but it’s totally worth the money you pay.”

Despite the possible injuries, DefyGravity is so popular that reservations are often the only way to guarantee a jumping session. “[It’s so popular because] there’s nowhere else around here where you can do this kind of thing,” senior Jordan Ormond said.

Weekends and holidays are especially crowded, and DefyGravity recommends making a reservation at least two to four days in advance.

“It’s mind blowing,” sophomore Ace Farrell said. “It’s the future of floors!”

By Kiada Capel Staff Writer

problems with misuse of the laptops.

The decision to go through with the block was made by Chatham County At the beginning of the school School’s director of technology, year, e-mail sites like g-mail were Keith Medlin. blocked for all students during “Students were most freschool hours, available between quently using their personal 3:16 p.m and midnight on school e-mail accounts for non-instrucnights and open all weekend. tional activities. In a number of Recently, revisions were made cases we found personal e-mail for juniors and access during seniors to have the school day access to e-mail facilitating during school bullying, acahours, but the demic cheating freshmen and and served as a sophomores are distraction durstill blocked during class time,” ing the day, Medlin wrote “I don’t think in an e-mail. it’s fair for only Medlin said juniors and seniors he lifted the to have access to ban on juniors these sites because and seniors to most teachers do allow them to somewhat teach Meredith Norman/The Omniscient better comonline; therefore, TJ OLESON and other freshmunicate with everybody should men are blocked from Gmail colleges. have access to The block has during the day. their e-mails,” affected some senior Alajah Dudley said. teachers and students. According to Many students were used to using teachers, many students have raised their personal e-mails to communiconcern about the e-mail block. cate with teachers, rather than the stu“I have heard a lot of students mail accounts given to each student. complaining about it. I think most of The new e-mailing system took some them just think it’s unfair, but I will time for some students to get used to. say that I have had problems with “I didn’t like it because I had to students using g-mail and g-chat in e-mail my teachers, then I had to the past,” said social studies teacher figure out how to use the student eRoddy Story. “It’s one of those mail which was more work,” senior things where I would bet that these Brenda Martinez said. things wouldn’t be in place if g-mail According to Chatham County and g-chat had been used responsiSchools, in previous years there were bly by students.”

The Omniscient

October 22, 2012

Page 9

Home Coming 2012

The Chargers’ 2012 Homecoming kicked off with Spirit Week.

Each day students participated in a different theme to show school spirit, and a contest to see who had the most spirit was held in each lunch. On Friday, Oct. 5, students and staff participated in the pep rally, featured performances from several student groups as well as the teacher Homecoming Court. From L to R: Junior Kayla Cotten and social studies teacher Joseph Kiertekles That night the football team (Andre Agassi) dress up for character day. lost 20-17 to Carrboro and the Homecoming King and Queen were awarded to seniors Etop Udoh and Gaby Mehringer.

Photos by Ally DeJong, Taylor Maloch, Tori Nothnagel and Morgan Yigdal

The homecoming courts (and the Charger) compete in Tug-of-War during the pep rally.

BAILEY REVELS competed for the best spirit outfit during lunch period.

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GABY MEHRINGER won Homecoming Queen and is flanked by last year’s winners, Carly Almes and Jacobi Harris.

10

Another state exam?

More state testing hurts students Staff Editorial

Most of you are probably aware of the new state-mandated tests that will be in effect at Northwood in the spring semester.

These Common Exams and are going to be used to make sure that students are learning the core curriculum material. In the spring, schools will give Common Exams for all core classes, and then spread to all classes at a later time. We believe these exams will do a lot more harm than good.

With state exams, Northwood’s current exam exemption policy will no longer apply. While the school is still trying to come up with a solution, the fact is that for some students, the exemption policy is the only reason they do not take off those extra “sick days” throughout the year. While it is true that coming to school and learning is a privilege in itself, it is good to have an incentive at the end of the semester for coming to school and maintaining good grades.

Also, it is no secret that the economy is struggling, and education funding is not at its best right now. Creating, distributing and scoring all these tests is expensive. Are tests the best use of limited resources? If these exams do not work out, then it is just wasted money that could have gone to something more productive and beneficial to students.

These tests are supposed to have a writing component in them. While writing is an important form of communication, it may not be the best showcase of knowledge for some students. The writing component

on the tests will have to be graded as well.

The multiple-choice part of the test will be electronically scored, but the question is: who is going to grade the writing part?

All people perceive writing differently; therefore, while one person may think that a student’s writing is good, another person may not agree. It all depends on who is grading the paper. The people and machinery to grade these tests are not going to be cheap and will add on to the expenses. If teachers score the tests to allow for a quick grading turnaround, will this not lead to the temptation to cheat?

The concern that most teachers have with these tests is that it may have an impact on their pay. We all know there are students who come to class and use the desk as a pillow, so for these tests to be a basis for a teacher’s pay is not fair. In addition, with pay linked to test scores, teachers will be more inclined to only teach to a test.

Finally, some students are not good test takers, and these tests will account for 25 percent of the student’s final grades. This could affect a student’s GPA negatively, which is a major concern considering the weight colleges give to transcripts.

If our exam policy is working fine now and is helping with attendance, then why change it to something costly that could influence attendance negatively? The current exams give students a reason to get good grades and come to school. This new plan by the state hinders Northwood’s ability to create a plan that works best for its own students.

Editorial Cartoon

O pinion You may not have a vote, but politics do matter Frances Beroset How many times have you heard someone say, “I don’t really follow politics”?

If you’re like me, you’ve heard it a lot.

Teenagers, most of them, seem to think that they shouldn’t be concerned with politics because they can’t vote, or because they don’t think they can make a difference.

Well, here’s the thing: politics matters. It may seem as though it’s just a bunch of old white men arguing with each other, but there’s actually quite a bit more to it than that.

Politics affects your life. It affects your parents. For example, how much money they pay in taxes translates to how much money you have. Politicians decide how our schools are funded, which is why we can have a football team or an arts program. Politicians make laws about what we can and cannot do.

Drug legalization and gay marriage are two major issues in the United States at the moment. Do you think you should be able to use drugs if you want to, or that no one should? Do you think that you should be able to marry whomever you want, or do you think that gay marriage is a sin?

Either way, you probably have an opinion.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to influence the laws the country has about those issues?

The presidential election is happening right now, but a lot of people aren’t paying attention. Why not? This is a part of history.

The nation is choosing who will lead us for the next four years, during which time you will have graduated from high school and will have a job or be in college. You will be an adult living with the choices that the country made, that your parents and the people in your community made. You can’t vote, but that doesn’t mean you can’t influence things.

Start with your parents. If they don’t care about the issues, try to educate them.

If you disagree with them, have a debate.

They might end up learning something and changing their position.

Get involved! You don’t have to attend political rallies or donate to campaigns.

All you have to do is learn about the issues and then talk about them with whoever will listen. You might be able to change somebody’s mind by telling them the facts about an issue, and by doing that,x you’re influencing the vote.

I don’t want to convince you to support a particular candidate or issue, but if you’re one of the people who says, “I don’t care,” think twice about it. It’s important that you know what’s happening in our country and our world because, ultimately, it’s your country and your world. You can shape that future now or wait for others to do it for you.

“The nation is choosing who will lead us for the next four years, during which time you will have graduated high school and... will be an adult living with the choices the country made.”

Beyond Facebook: Real friendships can happen online Meredith Norman

By Morgan Yigdal

- THE NORTHWOOD -

OMNISCIENT - STAFF -

Frances Beroset Kiada Capel Jessica Clayton Ally DeJong Taylor Maloch Ryan Millis

Meredith Norman Tori Nothnagel Katie Robbins Jack Teague Tyler White Morgan Yigdal

-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 I get home, I am guilty of a major teenage offense—hopping on the computer is often the first thing I do when I get home from school.

Most teens use the computer as a way to interact with their friends, but I use it to make new friends. Yes, a lot of teens do that so-called “sketchy” thing of meeting new peers online. People say you can’t be friends with someone you’ve never met, but in reality, that’s just not true.

Internet friend rule number one: Having 800 or more friends on Facebook doesn’t mean you have “internet friends.” Facebook, like any place else, basically acts like a popularity contest. It all depends on who you know. A friendship, though, is something gained through talk and time; clicking “accept” to some random person just to make it seem like you know a ton of people isn’t a friendship.

Internet friend rule number two: Trust your gut instincts. When meeting friends online, it’s important to trust yourself, as well as others. If something seems dangerous, sketchy or untruthful, there’s obviously something wrong and it’s best to end it there.

Internet friend rule number three: Parents, don’t freak. Trust us, your teens aren’t the only teens who spend hours online. Please don’t assume that every person

your teen talks to online is either in jail, or some pedophile. Teens are almost guaranteed to meet more teens online. Your child can meet friends online; I’ve done it before, and most likely I will do it again.

I have a friend; I’ll call her Susan, even if that’s not her real name. I met Susan last spring on a popular art website.

We started talking, and soon we were exchanging Skype accounts. Eight months later, I couldn’t imagine my life without her. We video chat with our other friends, we text and we sometimes even send each other letters, all because of a friendship with someone I met online who I probably would have never met were it not for the internet.

No, it’s not a secret and yes, our parents know we talk to each other. Our mothers approve, and we’re currently trying to plan a meet-up around my birthday this year.

Internet friend rule number four: Find common interests. Like a certain band? Start a blog about them. Like art? Share some of your best work. The internet is a great way to find people your age with common interests, and it’s a great tool to communicate and make friends if you consider yourself “socially awkward” or otherwise.

Internet friend rule number five: Probably one of the most important rules. Have fun. Internet friends can work like digital pen pals. You can meet people from all walks of life and learn more about a variety of people and places. Have fun, share some common interests, and with just a click you can go off to make some new friends.

Sports

Sports Briefs

Freshman BMX rider goes for Moore

By Tori Nothnagel Staff Writer

Volleyball improving at 5-15 Volleyball is 5-15 this year and coming to the end of the season.

“Our players have kept great attitudes all season long, even being up against really tough teams where all their players play on year-round club teams,” said coach Lyn Smith.

Chatham does not have recreational volleyball, which, according to Smith, makes it difficult for Northwood.

Football stands at 4-5 The football team is 4-5 overall, and 1-2 in conference.

The Chargers are coming off a three-point loss to Carrboro on Homecoming and a 40-30 loss to South Granville Oct. 12.

Senior Jordan Blackmon is on pace to break his own school record in tackles.

Senior night will be against Cedar Ridge Oct. 26.

Soccer wins 6 in a row The boy’s soccer team has won six games in a row, improving to 9-6 after a rough start to the season.

“We started out shaky, but now we are on a streak,” said junior Daniel Marro.

NHS has survived several close calls lately.

“We were playing DSA and we were tied, and in the last four seconds Anthony Castro scored a goal and won us the game,” he said.

Girls’ golf wins conference The girls’ golf team capped a strong season with a 45 shot victory in the conference tournament. Conference player of the year Rachel Wynne was a medalist with a score of 93, while Kyndal Hutchinson and Logan McClamroch placed second and fourth, respectively.

The regionals will be Oct. 22 in Jacksonville, NC.

Cross country teams place in conference Cross country ran the Carolina 12 championships Oct. 16. The girls’ team finished second, led

by Maria Vanderford and Erin Nelson. The boys’ team, led by Forrest Glosson, finished fourth.

“We’ve got good contributions from kids that were eighth graders last year, and they’ve moved up and improved,” coach Richard McDonald said “They are a year older, so they should be better.”

ago after coming out of motocross and is now sponsored by a team called Rennen Answer S Squared.

He’s won so many races that he has “no clue” as to how many he has actually won. When he wins a race he can either get a trophy, money or money that goes towards bike parts.

Moore said his biggest win was the one he worked hardest for. It was at the national championship last year in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Moore doesn’t “necessarily” have a coach, but considers his father, Mark Moore, the closest thing to it.

“I try to make him understand

about the sacrifice he has to make,” Mark said. “Understand the times where he cannot be a normal This summer while watch14-year-old boy and times where he ing young athletes like Gabby can. I instill in him that discipline to Douglas, Missy Franklin, Jordyn work when you do not feel like you Wieber and many other teenagwant to or you are tired.” ers win medals and qualify for Being that good doesn’t just the Olympics, we just sat at home come from doing nothing. BMX on our couches and did nothing. takes a lot out of Moore’s free However, one student, freshman time and social life. He has pracCameron Moore, is on track totice three to four times a week and ward being in the Olympics. works out every day he doesn’t Moore is No. 1 in the country out have practice. All of this happens of all 14-year-olds and fifth in the after school so he doesn’t have country out of everyone in BMX. He much free time for friends. started riding seven and half years “As soon as I get home from school [BMX] takes up all that time and basically all my free time,” Cameron said. “I get my schoolwork done in the car, but [BMX] takes up a lot of time so it affects my social life a lot. “ It also takes time out of his parent’s lives.

Mark Moore spends 10 to 12 hours on training and practice on a normal week.

On race weekends, the family Photo courtesy of Snapcult usually leaves on FRESHMAN CAMERON MOORE rides in a race in Morristown. He travels to dif- Thursday nights and comes back on ferent places for each race.

11

Sunday nights or Monday mornings.

BMX doesn’t just have an effect on Cameron’s social life, but also can hurt him physically. Moore broke his sternum once on the track’s gate. He leaned back, then forward before the gate dropped, and flipped over his bike and fell onto the gate. A worse injury can change everything though, especially when training for the Olympics.

“He can be the best, but it can all go away if he gets hurt a few months before [the Olympics],” Mark said. “It’s such a sacrifice for anyone to pursue the Olympics. He has four years to make it happen.”

This summer Moore attended a USA BMX Junior Development program to help start the process of getting ready for the 2016 Olympics. The riders learned things from nutrition to health and got to ride the tracks replicated to the ones from China and London in Chula Vista, CA. Moore was also covered on the news this past summer. He was recommended by the owner of his local BMX track to be the one that got covered. Traveling across the country so much and doing well at nationals he was covered on Olympic Zone.

Although he has not yet been accepted to the Olympics, he says he is “hopeful.”

“I’m just going to keep racing and doing what I’m doing now,” Cameron said. “Whenever the year comes then I’ll go to the Olympic training center and ride the super cross tracks that they have there.”

Fantasy Football: A gift to mankind Jack Teague

On Sept. 17, I went to bed sad and hopeful.

That particular night, I was losing in fantasy football. To the worst team in the league.

The score line read: 77.90-57.6. Matt Ryan was my starting quarterback and was playing Denver that night. I was confident that “Matty Ice” could get me the 20.30 points I would need to pull out a win.

Before I continue, I should explain the sensation. Fantasy football is a game that makes good use of numbers. Everything that a player does is quantified and spits out a certain number of points. Teams are set up with fifteen players (or sixteen if the league uses a slot position), but only nine of those start and earn points towards your team’s total that week. You face off against other teams each week, with the regular season ending in a three-round playoff.

Now, let’s flash forward nine hours to the morning of Sept. 18. As soon as I woke up, I turned on my computer to check the score.

I nearly fainted when I saw the number next to Ryan’s name: 52. It was then that I noticed that my record had changed to 1-1. How could I have lost when Ryan put up that many fantasy points? I soon realized that those 52 wonderful points were all the points he had earned in the season. He had actually gotten me 18.66 points Monday night. The final score: 77.90-76.26. I don’t think I’ve ever been that disappointed.

This game is a godsend for someone like me (even after such a depressing loss), who doesn’t like football for football. Fantasy football gives meaning to football that I can’t

Tori Nothnagel/The Omniscient

FANTASY FOOTBALL allows students to compete head to head while managing their own football teams. get anywhere else, and it’s that meaning that has kept me around for this long. Every pass equals more points. Fumble recoveries equal points, pick-sixes (interceptions returned for touchdowns) earn points, and even the boring, time-wasting point-after attempts earn you points. And points equal wins.

Fantasy football is a game with both a lot of luck and skill necessary to win. Matt Ryan might put up 32 points one week, and 18.66 the next. Torrey Smith might never get a touchdown until the game he gets two. You need to be willing to take chances on players, in the hopes that they’ll turn in great performances,

or continue to turn in great performances. It’s that randomness that leads to some of the best moments in the “sport.” San Diego Chargers running back Ronnie Brown has become a running joke in my league thanks to the high hopes of one team owner, and the subsequently abysmal performance Brown turned in.

I love everything about fantasy football, from the jokes about players, to the skill, and even to the luck required to win.

Thanks to fantasy football, the NFL has found itself a new fan. A fan that plans on sticking around as long as good fantasy football times can be had.

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.

Maria Vanderford girls’ cross country

— Compiled by Tori Nothnagel & Taylor Maloch

He has 18 goals given up in 18 games. He has also had seven shutouts.

She is the number one runner on the girls’ team.

“She’s really dedicated and helps us become better runners as well as herself.”

— Elizabeth Hart, So.

“He’s not only got the physical aspect, he’s also in the right mindset when he runs and you know you can always count on him to do a good job.”

— Forrest Glosson, Sr.

“He has a desire to win the game and saves us half the time.”

—William Riggsbee, Jr.

Amaud Walker football Tori Nothnagel/The Omniscient

Max Griffin boys’ cross country

Chase Golden boys’ soccer

“He came out senior year serious about football and he’s our go to playmaker.”

— Coach Bill Hall

Hannah Holloway tennis

She is the number one player and has only lost four singles matches all year in the toughest conference.

“She’s improved tremendously from last year.”

— Coach Joseph Kiertekles

Alexis Hollis volleyball

She has a 92 percent serve; 88 percent passes; 89 percent hits “She brings energy and is so fun. She keeps us motivated in a game.”

— Dionna Bright, Sr.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Davis/Chatham News

Sierra Atwater cheerleading

She is the captain of the varsity cheer team. “[I picked her because] her ability for her leadership skills and her enthusiasm for the team.”

— Coach Delisa Cohen

Rachel Wynne golf

Her best score has been an 86 for 18 holes.

“Rachel’s always been an amazing golfer. She puts a lot of her time into it and she’s been a great team leader.”

—Lauren Merrill, Jr.

Girls’ tennis serves up success

By R yan Millis S taff W riter

Tied up, 4-4. The girls’ tennis team is playing at Carrboro. The fate of the match comes down to doubles team senior Danielle Vanderlelie and sophomore Emma Goodrich. They’re up 7-6 in their match. Carrboro, which doesn’t have lights on its tennis courts, had to postpone the match to the next day. Vanderlelie and Goodrich went to Carrboro, played five points, won 10-8, giving Northwood the 5-4 victory.

It was the first of two wins over top five opponents, and the eighthranked Chargers finished the season 12-5, with an 11-3 conference record.

Still, despite climbing as high as No. 5 in the state, Northwood failed to make the playoffs. The Chargers finished third in a strong conference, and missed a wild card spot, which is determined by winning percentage in the East. “[I] was very disappointed; they worked very hard,” said tennis coach Joseph Kiertekles.

Junior Hannah Holloway was also upset by the narrow miss.

“ I was really sad,” she said. “I think we could have done it; we were so close.”

Team success can be partially attributed to role models like Holloway.

“Even when we are probably going to lose, [Holloway] is just always positive,” said sophomore Elise Crawford.

Most players see Holloway, the team’s No. 1 singles player, as their predominant team role model and say she has a strong influence on the team’s overall ability.

“She’s always out there giving her best effort,” Kiertekles said.

The team defeated eventual conference champ Cedar Ridge Sept.

24. To celebrate, Kiertekles bought all of the girls biscuits the morning after and has bought the team doughnuts in the past. Kiertekles believes it is good to set goals for the team and have rewards for doing well and that it helps keep the players motivated and focused during practice.

Northwood also beat Jordan Matthews in the beginning of the season, though the two teams are in different conferences.

“That was the first time anyone can remember beating Jordan Matthews in

tennis,” said Crawford of the J.M. win.

Kiertekles believes having big wins over strong teams like Jordan Matthews and Cedar Ridge and rewarding players, boosts their confidence in themselves and their drive to do better goes up.

Record

12-5 (11-3)

“We hadn’t beaten them in a very long time, so it was very exciting,” said Kiertekles.

The team went to the conference tournament Oct. 12, and the doubles team of Crawford and Carmen Reichle will be moving on to regionals.

“Carmen and Elise worked very hard for this,” sophomore Emma Caison said.

“We are all very proud of them.”

“That was the first time anyone can remember beating Jordan Matthews in tennis.”

— Elise Crawford, sophomore

Frances Beroset/The Omniscient

HANNAH HOLLOWAY practices her forehand at a recent practice. Holloway is the number one singles player on the team.