Ramparts November 2010

ramparts Volume 19, Issue 2

Holt High School

Students show their school pride as they scream their chants from the crowd, motivating teams to victory.

Heart Ram of a

Holt Senior High School 5885 West Holt Rd. Holt, MI 48842

NOVEMBER 2010 Feature:

From peach fuzz to the full grizzly beard, students participate in No Shave November.

PAGE 11

The Posse’s got your back

Photo by Iman Ben-Hamza

Sports:

page 16

Girls swim team sets goals and braces for a bright future ahead.

PAGE 15

Feature:

You are what you eat: The importance of building healthy eating habits.

PAGE 4

Photo by Iman Ben-Hamza

Photo by Stephanie Le

2

News

Holt High School Ramparts

November 2010

F.Y.I.

Students and staff prepare for flu season

Honors Choir

Tips for staying happy and healthy this holiday season

Eleven students will be auditioning and performing at the Regional Honors Choir Concert held on Saturday, December 4 at Western Michigan University. These students, along with students from other schools, will perform their concert as the Regional Honors Choir. They qualified for the Regional Honors Choir with their first auditions on October 16.

Food Drive

National Honor Society will be holding a food drive to collect non-perishable goods for the Holt Community Food Bank. Collection baskets will be in classrooms for a week in December. The class that collects the most food will be awarded a prize.

Student Success Room

Students wanting extra help for any class subject are encouraged to take advantage of the Student Success Room, Monday through Thursday from 2:45-3:45 p.m. and Wednesday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Contact Student Success Room coordinators Joann Weil or Elizabeth Graf with any questions.

Tree Lighting

The Delhi tree lighting will be held on December 1 at 6 p.m. in front of the Delhi library and fire station.To bring some holiday cheer to spectators, hot chocolate, snacks and music will be provided. The Santa Band will also perforn.

Holiday Band Concert

The Ninth Grade Band, the Concert Band and the Symphonic Band will be featured in the Holiday Band Concert. The concert will be held in the Margaret Livensparger Theater at 7 p.m. on December 9.

 School Website

The new and improved school website is up and running at www. holthighschool.net. Created and maintained by the Advanced Web Publishing students, it features information on the media center and the school store, senior information, daily announcements and much more.

Alyssa Stepter staff writer During the holiday season many people look forward to spending time w ith friends and family, but can’t stand it when they end up spending time on the couch coughing, sneezing, and home sick with the common cold, or even worse, the flu.

Students all know when it’s coming. They feel tired and groggy.

Suddenly they’re coughing more than usual. Shortly following is the burn of a sore throat and the irritation of a stuffy nose. They want cough drops and tissue more than anything. But even with all of the sickness traveling around, students can take action to stay healthy this season.

The Center for Disease Control advises avoiding close contact, covering the mouth and nose w h e n c ou g h i ng and sne ezing to help protect others, frequent hand washing, avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth, and

lastly, practicing healthy habits by drinking plenty of fluids and eating a healthy diet.

“I recommend gearing up for the cold and flu season by getting enough sleep, eating nutritiously, getting regular exercise and managing stress,” said Nanc y Guettler, Holt Public Schools’ nurse.

Stress management also plays a major role in staying healthy.

When students become stressed they lower the function of their immune system, causing them to be more susceptible to getting sick.

A Ramparts survey recently taken shows that 32 percent of students always come to school, even when they are sick.

“Stay home from school when you are sick. You are not doing yourself a favor by pushing yourself – you will usually just add a few extra days of not getting well,” Guettler said.

It’s important that students take the time to thoroughly wash their hands, according to the Center for Disease Control. As many times as it has been heard and said, washing hands is a small step they can take to avoid getting sick as well as spreading germs to other people.

“Not enough people wash their hands, especially before lunch. If

they do, then usually they don’t do it well enough in a rush to beat lunchtime traffic and get a good spot in line,” health teacher Brock Holtsclaw said.

When soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer is a good substitution, most of which are shown to kill 99.9 percent of germs.

A Ramparts survey showed that when soap and water was not available, 48 percent of students always used sanitizer, 44 percent did sometimes and eight percent of students never used it.

Another quick and easy way to prevent getting sick is by getting a flu shot. Local Walgreens stores are preparing people for cold and flu season by providing flu shots at a small cost. No appointments are required.

“It’s never a bad idea to get a shot. It won’t protect you every time, but it is still a good idea,” Holtsclaw said.

A R a mp a r t s su r ve y s h ow e d that, only 25 percent of students said they got an updated flu shot every year, while 35 percent said they never did and 38 percent said they did sometimes. Although not required, it can be another way students can protect themselves and others around them.

Five steps to super hand washing

Photo by Alyssa Stepter

1. Wash hands using soap and warm, running water.

2. Vigorously scrub hands for at least 20 seconds, with special attention paid to the backs of the hands, wrists, between the fingers and under the fingernails.

3. Rinse hands well while leaving the water running.

4. With the water running, Dry hands with a single-use towel.

5. Turn off the water using a paper towel, covering washed hands to prevent recontamination.

Source: Centers for Disease Control

Students give back to local charities

Students lend a helping hand to the less fortunate Kailey Kraushaar feature editor

Rather than focusing on the holidays ahead, on extra-curricular activities, or of weekend plans with friends, some students are thinking of charities and of helping others during the holiday season.

In order to help their community, many students donate their time and money to non-profit organizations.

“I help do food and clothing drives for my church,” junior Tyler Kramer said. “It’s good because it makes you a better person.”

Students usually can find charities that they can participate in through activities they already do, like through church or sports. However, there are many charities in the area that are not tied to the school that need help as well.

The Capital Area Humane Society, for instance, takes volunteers to walk dogs, play with cats, and clean kennels and dog pens. They also accept items such as leashes and animal food, or simple monetary donations. Other charities, like the Holt Community

Food Bank or the Rescue Mission, are also places students can start helping others.

“I think it’s important for students to realize that there are people out there who are less fortunate than they are,” math teacher and National Honor Society Advisor Heidi Misaras said.

Being in NHS opens opportunities for students to donate to charities that are sponsored by the school as well as charities of their choice. Students who participate in NHS are required to complete 20 hours of community service per year.

Some students are involved in donating their time and money to charitable organizations through different classes, like those in the Web Publishing class. The class donates money toward buying holiday gifts for local families who are coping with the hard financial times in the November and December months.

“My Web Publishing students seemed to be the caring type, so I asked them if they’d be interested in doing this project,” business teacher Margo Strong said. “My number one purpose to doing this is to help students realize that there’s people who live in this community who don’t have enough money to buy Christmas presents. It helps kids learn about giving, caring, and just being a good citizen.”

Even students who don’t do community service

How can you help?

Where: Capital Area Humane Society How: Attend an orientation on the third Saturday of the month beginning in January.

What would I do?: There are opportunities to walk and play with dogs and cats, to clean cages and kennels, and to do laundry.

Where: Ronald McDonald House How: Contact the Ronald McDonald House of Mid Michigan at (517) 485-9303.

What would I do?: Make phone calls, greet new families, register new families into the house, help organize living and kitchen areas. agree that it’s a good thing to do, and say they would consider it in the future.

“It’s good to do so you can be a well-rounded person,” junior Audra Barcarcel. “I’ll probably do it when I’m older.”

For those who are interested in helping, but are shorter on time, NHS will be sponsoring a food drive to collect canned goods for the Holt Community Food Bank. Baskets to collect non-perishable goods will be in classrooms in December.

News

3

Holt High School Ramparts

November 2010

Band takes center stage this winter Holiday events involve the band Cody Shattuck staff writer Bells on bobtails ring and nerves rise as the band prepares for several upcoming events, including the Delhi Tree Lighting on December 1 and the Holiday Concert on December 9. The band was recently in Silver Bells in the City. They worked hard and practiced a lot to make it perfect.

“Practice, that is what makes it perfect. We have been tuning up and scaling our instruments for these events,” sophomore Nick Harmon said. “It is very nerve racking to know that everyone is going to be there staring and watching you.”

Junior Chris Lewis has been participating in Silver Bells for many years. He said he feels that the tree lighting and Silver Bells in the City are important.

“It’s a great way to give back to the community, and it brings the community together as a whole,”

Photo by Jacqui Marpa

As the band prepared for the light show, they practiced their marching.

They were also practicing a few holiday pieces for upcoming winter events.

Lewis said.

This was the 26th annual Silver Bells in the City for the Lansing area.

The Delhi Tree Lighting takes place at the Library and fire station, and will involve a Santa Band.

The Santa Band is a volunteer band that any band member can participate in. They will start at the fire station

and travel to various businesses performing a variety of holiday songs for the crowd.

The holiday light decorations, the caroling and the joy of make these events fun and a good time, said Lewis.

“It’s fun to see the kids there. Santa is there and it’s nice to see all the kids

having fun at Silver Bells in the City and the concert,” senior Nicole Borek said. “The events in general though, are really fun and important. The community can really connect and come together.”

Band members have said that they have some favorite parts to the events.

“My favorite part of the whole thing would have to be hearing everyone sing. It’s really cool and funny,” senior Katrina Schlicker said. “But mostly I like the events because it’s really festive and the kids make it worth the time.”

A few members of the band have specific pieces they like that they will be performing.

“I would have to say that my favorite piece is ‘Merry Christmas’ because it is three different songs in one. And the fact that it is composed in different elements and it meshes it together is fun,” junior Darnell Hamilton said.

Other aspects also make this special for the band members.

“Being in it makes me feel good about what I am doing. It’s satisfying and great,” Lewis said.

MOH brings a new face to the choir Former after-school program becomes course offering Will Thurston staff writer A new choir class has been added this school year that is aimed at a specific type of singer: A male.

The Men of Holt (MOH) choir is an all-male choir.

The choir has been around for a few years, but this is the first year MOH is offered as a class. The MOH choir has existed in the past as an after school program.

MOH is directed by Monty Bishop who also directs all of the other choir classes.

The idea of the all-male choir is very appealing to the members. They feel that having MOH is important because all of the other choirs are heavily populated by females and a male-dominated choir is needed. It gives the males a chance to prove that they can really sing as well.

“There is mostly ladies in all other choirs,” junior James Osborne said. “(It) didn’t feel like guys had a

choir, and ladies don’t think guys can sing.”

Also, with MOH being an all-male choir they are able to sing songs that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to sing if there were females in the choir.

“We sing songs with deeper tones, deeper sound,” junior Brando Rendon said.

The members of the choir had many different reasons for wanting to join the choir. Some want to get better at singing. Some want to just have fun.

Then, there are some who are very serious about singing and want to pursue a career in the business.

“I do want to be a singer for my career,” Osborne said.

Osborne also sings outside of MOH. He is also in Chorale, writes music and participates in radio contests.

“I tried out for the 96.5 ‘I’m a Star’ talent show,” Osborne said. “I made it to final auditions.”

However, no matter the reason for wanting to be in the choir, all of the members are there ultimately because they love singing.

“I like to sing and it’s a way to express yourself,” Sharrah said. “Guys don’t show emotion, so (when you sing) you show emotion. (Singing is) good if you don’t know how to say something.”

Bishop is very well-liked and appreciated amongst the choir members.

In Brief Challenge Day

Challenge Day will take place on Monday, January 31 and Tuesday, February 1. Students can start signing up for Challenge Day on November 29 in the counseling office. Two-hundred students will be able to participate, 50 from each grade. Half will participate Monday and the other half will participate Tuesday The purpose of Challenge Day is to get students to understand that they are more alike than they are different and to stop bullying.

For more information, see Student Success Coordinator Joann Weil in the attendance office.

Electronic Books

Downloadable books are now available on the Capital Area District Library (CADL) web site.

To download these books the user will need either a computer, MP3 player, iTouch or an ebook reader.

The books can be checked out for two weeks at a time. In order to tell if a book is electronic or not just look for an icon that reads either audio, MP3 or ebook. To get a downloadable book the user must have a CADL card. Additional questions can be answered by media specialist Teresa Asch.

Debate Team

The novice debate team will be competing at the state meet the first week in December at Dexter High School. The varsity debate team has a national tournament at Michigan State University on December 10. The state meet for the varsity team does not take place until January and will be in Minnesota. The topic of debate this year is reducing United States Military influence in Asia and the Middle-East.

Variety Show

Photo by Cody Shattuck

For their first holiday concert, the MOH choir practices for Silver Bells in the City. Their next performance will be the concert on December 14.

“Mr. Bishop is the greatest teacher in the world,” senior Caleb Sharrah said.

The MOH choir has not performed in a concert yet. However, they have performed at Silver Bells in the City. Their first concert is December 14, which is a holiday concert. They will be joined by the other choirs at HHS. Also, plans are in the works for the choir to perform at the Winterfest dance.

The First Annual Student and Staff Variety Show will be held on Thursday, December 2 in the Margaret Livensparger Theater.

Performers will include vocal soloists and duets (country, pop and Broadway music), dancers, instrumental musicians, and slam poetry on a variety of topical issues.

Seniors Nick Thomas and Jasmine Trevino will be the emcees of the show. Tickets will cost $5.

4

News

November 2010

Holt High School Ramparts

Winter weather brings hardships for travel Heed these tips, and be wary of road conditions

Tips & Tricks for driving: Students should stick to these guidelines for safe, and efficient travel.

Brian Proctor news editor As winter weather rolls into Michigan, students need to realize t hat ro a d c o n d i t i o n s c ha n g e.

Managing time allows getting to school safely and on time.

No matter the kind of vehicle, and what the road conditions are, certain actions should not occur while driving.

A m e r i ca n Au t o A s s o c i at i o n (AAA), a motor club and leading insurance and automotive service provider, offers tips for drivers for overall safe driving.

Avoid driving fatigued. It is equivalent to ‘buzzed driving’.

Never use cruise control on slippery surfaces. Sticking to these basic rules will ensure safe travel.

All vehicles have different drive wheels, the wheels that propel the vehicle.

Many small cars and vans are front-wheel drive. The opposite, rear-wheel drive, tends to be on trucks, large cars, and large vans.

The downfall of some vehicles is traction. Lighter vehicles require more traction. The rear part of vehicles tends to be lighter than the front, because the front houses the engine.

Rear-wheel drive vehicles are commonly seen as the hardest vehicles to drive in winter.

Even though senior Abdullah Q aw w e e d r i v e s a t w o - w h e e l drive truck, he has other ways of

The night before: • Watch the news for weather forecasts and upcoming details.

• Watch for colder conditions.

• Plan your time. Leave earlier if the conditions are worse.

• Make sure to have at least a quarter tank of gas.

Photo by Brian Proctor

The essentials: food, water, warm clothes and jumper cables. These items are useful in the event of an accident.

“Jumper cables, flashlight, and combating winter’s fury.

“I keep bags of dirt and sand in an emergency kit”, math teacher Sara Bieda said about the supplies the back of my truck.” she keeps in her This creates more car. traction, lessening The life the chance of an of a battery accident. decreases when AAA suggests the weather gets that once the cold. Testing is weather starts to usually free at a get cold, it is time local part’s store. to take action.

If stranded, Talk to parents or -- social studies do not leave gu a rd i a n s ab ou t supplies to keep in teacher Corey Martin t h e v e h i c l e .

It is a sh el ter, vehicles, and take and will attract these to heart.

“I keep gloves and a (tire) jack in authorities, or other motorists.

Only run the engine to take the my truck”, Qawwee said.

Staying warm in any situation is chill off. If there is snow covering the exhaust pipe, make sure to clear essential to survival.

“I once pulled another teacher out of the snow with the jeep, wearing Crocs.”

it out. Failure to do so will increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Many Spor t Utility Vehicles (SUV) and trucks have the ability to rescue other vehicles that have become stuck. “(I keep) A tow strap, snatch block, tree saver, and a 9,500 pound winch. Pretty much any emergency device known to man,” history teacher Corey Martin said.

Martin is no stranger to helping others.

“I once pulled another teacher out of the snow with the jeep, wearing Crocs.”

Martin chose not to comment on whom he rescued, but ended the comment with a few chuckles.

The morning: • Bundle up.

• Start the vehicle.

• Run all heaters and defrosters.

• Sweep/brush off all snow from the vehicle.

The drive: • Have everything set before you head out.

• Don’t get distracted by phones, music devices, or the radio.

• Take your time, and go slowly.

• Be ready for anything.

• Remember, you can control yourself, but not others around you.

Source: www.michigan.aaa.com

News

5

Holt High School Ramparts

November 2010

Clubs lose activity period 

Groups adjust to loss of monthly meeting time Ryan Carrier staff writer

Photo by Ryan Carrier

Meeting before school, senior Student Council members Max Poole and Mandy Johnson go over school issues. With no activity period clubs will have to be like Student Council and meet before or after school. to really work the way they should.

“For a club to have any real meaning for a student, the planning and activities need to be student-driven,” Mann said.

He saw activity period as a way for students to get out of class by attending a club meeting, one that they had little role in.

Science teacher Dave Foy is also content with the choice to eliminate activity period. He said that he understands that some groups can’t meet after school because of certain restrictions, but they can meet on Wednesday mornings.

Foy said he thought that activity period was a disruption of class time.

“It took vital time from a class for activities that could be done before school, after school, or some other time,” Foy said.

In contrast, the cutting of activity period is seen as a negative for some who are involved in clubs. Math teacher Heidi Misaras advises the National Honor Society (NHS). NHS, one of the clubs that used to meet during activity period, but now meets on selected Wednesday mornings.

Misaras said that meeting outside of school could be problematic because some members have things they have to do in the morning, like students who attend the Capital Area Career Center.

She said that not having activity period is affecting the way that the club may have to run.

“I don’t think it will affect the number of people who want to be in NHS, but it does make less people show up to meetings,” Misaras said.

Misaras said that NHS may have to adopt a mandatory attendance to meetings, and that they may create a website that would have announcements and the ability to sign up for activities online. For now, all announcements, including meeting dates, are on the NHS board in the commons.

Along with NHS, the German club has been having some attendance problems since the cutting of activity period. Junior Tori Rueckert is a member of the club. She said that the club functioned more efficiently last year with activity period.

“We have to stay after school which makes it tougher for people that are involved in sports to make it to the meetings,” Rueckert said.

Without activity period, the German club has had less of a turnout.

Some clubs and groups, such as Student Council and GSA (Gay Straight Alliance), haven’t been affected as much because they regularly met outside of school even when there was activity period.



Some students may find themselves spending more time than they planned at school during the 201011 school year. It isn’t because they will be working on homework, but because they might have to meet with clubs due to the elimination of activity period.

Activity period was a 30-minute session taken out of the school day once every three weeks for clubs to meet. With the 3x5 schedule HHS used last year, this 30-minute time slot didn’t have that big of an effect, but now that the schedule consists of six classes over three trimesters, activity period would be problematic.

Under the current contract between the teachers and administration, the teachers are guaranteed a certain amount of time as a planning period.

Planning period is a class period where the teachers don’t teach a class so they can work on duties that need to get done. Under the 3x5 schedule there was enough extra planning time to have activity period and still meet that minimum planning time.

However, with the new 3x6 schedule teachers have the minimum amount of planning time allotted by the contract.

If there was an activity period teachers would have less than the minimum.

Science teacher and Holt Education Association (HEA) President Eric Pulver said that he doesn’t like the fact that activity period had to be cut, but teachers’ planning period is too important.

“Adequate quality planning and preparation is essential to be an effective educator,” Pulver said. “Some examples of how this time is used include communication with parents and colleagues, creating activities, preparing lessons and grading assignments.”

Pulver said that with the 3x6 schedule, the planning time is even more necessary because there is another class for which teachers need to plan.

Economics teacher Alex Mann said that he didn’t think activity period was worthwhile. He said that a club needs an extended period of time, one more than the thirty minutes once a month,

6

Viewpoints

November 2010

Holt High School Ramparts

Our View Cutting activity period hurts clubs

I

t comes as no surprise, what with all the changes a new school year brings, that activity period would also be thrown into the mix. Now, instead of having activity period for clubs to meet during the day, they have to meet either before or after school. This is because activity period was cut out of the schedule completely. This has been an adjustment for some students and even some teachers. When the editors of Ramparts discussed how they felt about the situation, it was a unanimous vote that getting rid of activity period was a bad idea.

Not everyone is against this new enforcement. Many teachers are happy because it cuts less time out of their planning schedules. When HHS did have activity period during the day, it left limited time for the teachers to come up with their lesson plans. Not to mention having no activity period causes less of a distraction. When students used to have to leave for their clubs during class it was an open door for others still in the class to space out because most teachers would cut the lesson plan short.

Having no activity period allows classes to continue to be the same length every day, unlike last year when some classes were shortened to make space for that extra half an hour. An added benefit of having no activity period is that students can no longer abuse this time by walking around in the hallways, giving their teachers the false impression that they are in a club.

However, with clubs not being able to meet during the day they are forced to move meetings to before or after school. The problem with this is not all students have the means of transportation to make these meetings every time. Thus some students are not able to participate in clubs that they want to.

The Environmental Club is no longer a club because counselor John Conner cannot meet before or after school. This is a letdown for students who were in Environmental Club, now they can’t meet with each other to discuss and participate in activities they are passionate about.

Our editorial staff understands the reasons why activity period was cut.

We see how it can help keep students on task and out of trouble. For us, the negatives of losing activity period outweigh the positives.

ramparts Editors in Chief:

Managing Editors: News: Features: Opinion: Entertainment: Sports: Photos: Design: PR Rep: Exchange Manager: Staff Writers:

Adviser:

Holt Senior High School

Lindsey Hamlin Kelsey Manas Brian Proctor Kailey Kraushaar Karina Drachman Jacqui Marpa Mariah Massa Chloe Henley Meg McKay Ben Gates Jordan Rakas Joey Myers Iman Ben-Hamza, Ryan Carrier, Hannan Gedeon, Stephanie Le, Anna Pavlik, Alex Sanford, Cody Shattuck, Alyssa Stepter, Will Thurston Amy Clark

Editorial Policy: Ramparts is published by the Journalism class of Holt High School.

The newspaper serves the students and staff of Holt High School and as a connection to the Holt-Dimondale community.

The objective of Ramparts is to publish a factual, informative and entertaining newspaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints.

The opinions and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all Ramparts staff members.

The editors reserve the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment.

Ramparts prints letters to the editor and guest editorials as space allows. Letters must be typed, less than 100 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. Ramparts will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an individual.

Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. Ramparts reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Ramparts staff at (517) 694-2162.

Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

Mental health days lead to more stress Taking days off of school is a bad decision

Karina Drachman

A

lmost every student has had the experience of waking up to an annoying alarm on a Monday morning, sighing, and thinking ‘I can’t go to school today.’

Eyes barely open, limbs still dead with sleep, maybe it’s time to take a day off.

Mental health days occur often among students, including the infamous ‘Senior Skip Day.’ It’s understandable for students to feel stressed and mentally exhausted, but skipping a day of school is not always the right option.

Missing class time and having make-up work will only result in

more stress because you will most likely fall behind and have trouble catching up. You will have more homework on top of the make-up work, and you could end up more stressed than you were before you decided to take the day off.

According to msnbc.com, academics are the leading cause of stress among teens. This means that even though most of us deal with relationships, family matters, jobs, hook-ups, break-ups, sports, death, and much more, we mostly stress about school and keeping good grades.

If grades are so important to students, then why would we take mental health days? Sure, your stress is relieved for that day, but it becomes so much more stressful afterward to maintain good grades and get caught up.

Senior Skip Day is a big mistake if you participate. Taking a day off of school for no reason just isn’t a good idea. I understand that seniors are very stressed and they may feel overwhelmed, but it would be best to just keep moving on. Otherwise, you may never feel relieved of your stress.

If feeling tired and stressed leads

Your View Silly bands are pointless Dear Editor, I’d like to say something about these silly bands that everyone seems to wear. Their use is completely pointless. It is a rubber band that takes the shape of an animal or a food or cartoon character. If they were used as rubber bands, then they would be useful, but people wear them as jewelry. Once it is placed on the wrist, or sometimes even the finger as a ring, the shape in unknown. To actually know what shape you are wearing, you have to take them off and set them on a table to see it. Even at the mall, there are special kiosks that sell these bands. Drug stores, grocery stores, even gas stations sell them, whether they are the name brand or knock-offs. No one could tell one way or another, they all look the same.

It’s not just the high school crowd wearing them. I have seen second graders covered in them up to their elbows, boys and girls. Even four-year old children have them. What little kid needs a rubber band around their wrist instead of a truck to play with or a book to read? You could probably find one for about the same amount and it would last way longer.

The funny part is that you get about ten for $3.00, when I can go to Staples and get a quarter pound for only $1.99. It’s funny how in times of economic instability, fashion trends, even as pointless as silly bands, seem to flourish and grow.

If our generation spent as much money on the environment and education as they do with the fashion, the world would be a much better place. But here we are, spending $21 for 70 multicolored rubber bands

students to taking days off now, they will continue these bad habits in the future. We need to practice good habits now for when we step into the ‘real world’ in just a few years.

Every once in a while, a mental health day might be okay, but you should not get into the habit of taking days off. Keep in mind: just because you decide to slow down doesn’t mean life will slow down with you.

High school really gives us a break to unwind on weekends and holidays, plus three months of no school in the summer. Also, we get most Wednesday mornings off, which is a bigger break than any other school in the area. It’s more beneficial to let those days feel like a break than stressing out over the day you took off as a break.

Mental health days are a great idea, but they’re not the best choice. The idea of taking a day off to manage stress and forget about school and social life for a moment seems really appealing, but once reality hits you again, it’s just going to be worse than before. You can’t push pause and be done with life for a little while, so don’t try it with school.

rather than donating to charity. What have we come to?

Samantha Brown, senior A.P. classes do not reflect ‘the real world’ Dear Editor, At the end of each school year, we as students choose our classes for the upcoming year. However, if we sign up for an Advanced Placement class, it is almost impossible to be taken out of it.

This is unfair to those students who give their best effort, but in the end, do not comprehend the A.P. material. Although some people argue that since A.P. classes are voluntary, students should be forced to continue throughout the school year, I disagree. I believe that if a student signs up for an A.P. class and then realizes the material is too complex, they should be able to drop the class without hassle.

Teachers say they are preparing us for the real world, but in the real world if you are unhappy doing something you are given the freedom to stop. So why is it that in high school if we are unhappy in an A.P. class, we are forced to stay in the class throughout the year?

Or if we want even the slightest chance of dropping the class we must write a letter to the vice principal? If we are supposed to be adults we should have the freedom to make our own choices.

Ashley Boisclair, senior Express your view Ramparts wants to hear from you. If you’d like to comment on an article in Ramparts, or any issue in the news, write us a letter to the editor of 100 words or less and e-mail it to us at ramparts@hpsk12.net.

Viewpoints Holt High School Ramparts

Violent games under question Supreme Court discusses controversy

Chloe Henley

B

anning violent video games is a question that the Supreme Court is considering.

Throughout the last month, the Supreme Court has been hearing arguments on the idea of banning the sale of violent video games to minors.

The case raises arguments about free speech and protecting children.

Like New York’s law trying to ban minor’s access to sexual material without a parent’s discretion, California has been also concerned with the level of violence in a number of video games.

California passed a law in 2005 stating that parents are allowed to buy video games from a retailer for their children, but if the retailer sells the game straight to a minor, they face charges up to $1,000 per game.

The law is not in effect because it was struck down by a lower court. Now the Supreme Court has taken up the issue.

The Supreme Court has such a tough time with this case because nowhere in the First Amendment does it talk about violence. Only freedom of speech, petition, press, assembly, and religion are ratified in the First Amendment. There was no mention of violence.

The very familiar games Halo and Call of Duty are causing most of the issues in today’s case. A split decision is currently taking place in the Supreme Court. Many argue that the violence in these video games is affecting behavior in children these days.

I don’t see a lot of children getting their hands on guns and grenades nowadays. I could see video games consisting of boxing or wrestling causing more of a case in today’s society.

But on another stance, children know that the video games are not real. Because they can’t go around shooting people today, this is the closest they will come to that experience. If you can’t do it in real life, then I don’t see the problem in pretending. At an alternating view, the media today is very influential and can raise a child to act violent or however society portrays them.

The parents have a lot of say in the age that their children should be allowed to play games, such as Halo and Call of Duty. Language and violence takes place in such games, and some children will strive to be

like them. Maybe banning is not the answer, maybe just a higher age restriction is needed.

The law seems a bit unreasonable.

If children want to play video games, then that is up to the parents’ discretion. Just because the characters shoot people, doesn’t mean that children will too. Children play the games to feel the rush of killing somebody. Banning video games will not stop the violence in today’s society.

Many would argue that children will take after what they see in the media. Because these games are popular today, children will want to be like them. But in real life, those killers would be taken to jail. However, that is not the way it is portrayed in the games. Children are exposed to many other forms of violence that don’t necessarily affect them.

Since violence is portrayed negatively in video games, should it not be allowed in movies? What about drinking, smoking, or sexual encounters? Those are all viewed negatively to society, yet they are still present in movies, books, and songs.

In reality, this probably does affect children but the parents shouldn’t allow their children to view this so young if they didn’t want their children seeing it. Children have to see the world at every angle, and if everyone makes it out to be such a great place, then children won’t know how to handle real life situations.

Hot or not?

Holiday Treats: With the holidays approaching and commercials flooding TV sets, people ask themselves, why not the treats?

7

November 2010 Halloween Treats: Laffy Taffys are good for only so long.

The stale candy from October 31 should be dumped in everyone’s trash at this point.

Speak up

Do you prefer to hang out at your house or your friend’s house and why?

“To their house; there is more freedom because I can’t go into my room at home. And my foster dad is always using the TV downstairs.

My dogs are always hyper anyways.”

Roxana Aguirre, junior

“Friend’s house because it’s more fun to go to a new place.”

Haley McFarland, junior

“My friend’s house. There’s nothing to do at my house.”

Jazmine Fews, senior

“I like to go to my friend’s house because I’m a crappy host.”

Adam Lansdell, senior

“It doesn’t matter to me. Wherever is easiest or wherever we will have most fun.”

Brandon Cornellier, sophomore

Corrections

Cartoon by Chloe Henley

The Battle of the Bands F.Y.I. in the October issue of Ramparts incorrectly stated that last year’s winning band received $100 towards a purchase at Marshall Music. The prize was $100 towards a purchase at Music Manor.

If you are aware of any errors of fact in our reporting please contact us in room E221 or send an e-mail to ramparts@hpsk12.

8

Features

November 2010

Holt High School Ramparts

These social networks are out of site

Skype allows people to video chat over the Internet. Founded in 2003, Skype only allowed users to make a phone call over the Internet, lately it has evolved into a face-to-face conversation.

Skype is a free program that can be downloaded over the Internet.

“I can see my friends a jillion miles away,” senior Chandler Pacheco said. “It’s like AIM, but you talk with a web cam.”

Skype is mainly used by people who have friends or family that live far away that they don’t see very often. The usage of Skype has jumped from 74.4 million in 2005 to 521 million in 2009 according to eBay Inc, who formerly owned Skype.

Between status updates and creating photo albums, playing games and posting notes, users can stay in contact with friends, family and coworkers on a daily basis by using Facebook.

In February 2004, the start of the world renowned web site, created by Mark Zuckerberg and co-founders, connected Harvard students making clear the founders’ original goal. By March the site expanded to Stanford, Columbia and Yale. In less than a year, the active members had reached one million. As of July 2010, the official count for active users reached 500 million.

Sophomore Justin Chandler said he is on Facebook 24 hours 7 days a week. He likes the way Facebook lets a user search for friends.

“Normally on myspace when I search it shows everyone in the world with that name. On Facebook it actually shows the closest person to you,” Chandler said.

Mariah Massa Meg McKay staff writers

Twitter stands out from other social networks because of the different ways friends interact. Unlike Facebook, Twitter allows users to ‘follow’ their friends. Each ‘tweet’, the title of their posts, displays on a newsfeed and must be 140 characters or less.

Twitter’s main goal of merging the Internet ‘away message’ with the Short Message Service (SMS), more commonly known as a text message launched through an experiment in 2006.

Evan Willams and Biz Stone created the now privately funded Twitter site as of 2007. In addition to updating a status, users can upload pictures as well.

“I usually just update it like a status,” senior Dharbi Hicok said. “I had a lot of friends who use it. It’s another way for us to communicate.” In her opinion, Twitter compares most to Facebook.

In January 2004 Tom Anderson and Chris De Wolfe experienced a time of great accomplishment. At this time they founded a popular web site know as Myspace with their goal to allow users to share through messages and photos.

By sending e-mails and posting videos, posting play lists and writing blogs, users could stay in contact with friends in a social network. A group of friends could share their interests with others. In more recent additions to the site, the option to post classified ads and events improved the website. There have been changes to Myspace in recent years, such as the addition of the chat option, but there is still a standard template that the founders stick with.

Logos by stumbleupon.com, myspace.com, facebook.com, twitter.com, skype.com, google.com, tumblr.com and aim.com. Used with permission.

Google Documents, or Google Docs, allows many people to work on the same document at the same time but in different places. All it takes is one person in the group to put the document online and then send it to the other people in the group. Google Docs is one of Google’s many features. It can only be accessed if the user has a Gmail account.

“I like using Google Docs because I don’t have to meet someone, I don’t waste gas, and I can do it online,” senior BichTran Nguyen said.

Not only can users work on the same document at the same time, they can also talk with one another while working by using the chat feature. The now modern Google Docs was updated this past March, but this idea originated in 2006.

In August of 2006, under president of Tumblr, John Maloney, seven developers founded the site Tumblr.com. When you open the web page, it reads ‘The easiest way to blog.’ Under this saying, but above the creating an account, is a green tab that says ‘See 30 reasons why you’ll love Tumblr. This provides potential users with a basic knowledge about the site.

While blogging may not be as popular as other social networks, senior Meredith Harper is an avid user of Tumblr.

“Any time I have my laptop near me I’m on Tumblr,” Harper said, “I’m pretty much always Tumbling.”

She does warn, however, that some of the material on this particular web site may not be school appropriate.

“Generally Tumblr’s language isn’t too great to use in school,” Harper said. “The people on Tumblr are their own breed. We’re pretty strange. The general population doesn’t get us.”

Harper said she would compare Tumblr to being most like Twitter.

Almost everyone remembers coming home from school and getting on the Internet to “talk” with their friends on AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). Along with the cool screen names and smiley face icons came the complaints of the mothers who needed to use the phone.

To use AIM, all users had to do was type in what they wanted to say and submit it to the person they were talking to. AIM came out in 1997 and is the basis of social networking. Current web sites like Facebook, Myspace, Google Docs, Gmail and many more use some type of instant messaging.



Stumbleupon is used to find new and interesting web sites.

When users first sign up, they are asked to select topics that they are interested in. Stumbleupon then proceeds to take users to a different web site every time they press the “Stumble!” button.

To create a profile on Stumbleupon, users need to make an account which requires an e-mail address.

“I use this site when I’m bored,” senior Kat Majeske said. “I find things out and see things I would never see. Like a turtle eating a strawberry.”

Stumbleupon has approximately 12,110,045 members and that number is growing every day. Stumbleupon started in 2001

by Garrett Camp and Geoff Smith.

“Everyone should use it to cure boredom around the world,” Majeske said.

A closer look at familiar web sites and an introduction to some you may not have heard of before now

Features Healthy eating for the teenage soul Holt High School Ramparts

Students and teachers stress the importance of eating healthy Stephanie Le staff writer Between sports, work and school, most teenagers don’t have the time or the inclination to eat healthy. What they don’t realize is having a well-balanced diet is a crucial component to their growth.

“Students are building habits that carry into adulthood,” science teacher Mike VanAntwerp said. “Generally students don’t eat very healthy.”

According to WebMD.com, many students skimp on eating food that will help fuel their development and replace fresh eating options with processed and convenience food.

Senior Scott Briggs agrees that students don’t eat as healthy as they should.

“Some kids’ diets are healthy, but a lot of them aren’t,” Briggs said. “Like at lunch a lot of people just get fries and pizza everyday and usually a cookie.”

VanAntwerp said he believes that eating healthy as a teenager is very important and that it’s easier for kids to eat unhealthy foods because the foods that don’t have much nutritious value usually cost less.

“It’s becoming more of a societal thing because most often the foods that are worse for you are less expensive,” Van Antwerp said.

This leads to students choosing easy foods over foods that will benefit them. Math teacher Sandy Callis said that most teenagers don’t eat healthy, but it isn’t necessarily their fault.

“Almost every message given to them is of sugar, which is high in calories and not good for them,” Callis said.

Callis said that most families connect junk food with comfort and celebration, which is a poor message to convey to children.

Made completely out of fruits and vegetables, Fredo is the epitome of the phrase “You are what you eat.” To lead a healthier lifestyle, students should replace processed packaged food with a lot of fresh foods.

Photo by Stephanie Le

With junk food surrounding them at home, some students said that eating healthy is harder than eating whatever they want.

“It’s definitely harder to eat healthy,” senior Hailey Richardson said. “It’s way easier to get fast food than to go home a make a healthy meal.”

Richardson said her diet usually consists of pizza for lunch and a homemade meal for dinner.

She said that she doesn’t eat breakfast, which WebMD.com states as a detrimental decision to

a person’s development.

The medical website says that skipping the most important meal of the day could lead to energy deficiency and binge eating later on.

Some students know that breakfast is beneficial to them, but they just don’t care.

“I should eat breakfast, but I’m usually too tired and I just don’t care when it’s that early in the morning,” Richardson said.

Most students, like Richardson, don’t eat

9

November 2010

healthy, but for the few students who do choose the more nutritious road, they say that school and sports are a lot more tolerable.

Junior Patrick Carrier said that eating healthy isn’t very hard for him and that it helps him perform better for cross country.

Senior Brooke Smythe said that she eats a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. She also really likes eating healthy food because it tastes good. “[Eating healthy] helps me do better in school. I can focus a lot better,” Smythe said.

Similarly, senior Ciara Garchow said it’s easier for her to have a nutritious meal because her parents mostly buy foods that are good for her.

“You just feel happier when you eat healthy,” senior Ciara Garchow said.

Garchow said that she chooses to eat healthy because her family has a history of diabetes from poor eating habits.

“I don’t want to end up like that,” Garchow said. “People have to make the choice to eat healthy or deal with the consequences.”

These students also said that eating healthy isn’t always a tedious task.

“Instead of chips, grab a banana or an apple,” Garchow said. “Even some string cheese is good because it is high in protein.”

Both Callis and VanAntwerp recommend eating a lot of colorful foods. Foods with bright natural pigment carry many nutrients that assist development, FoodPyramid.com says.

FoodPyramid.com is a website dedicated to the new and improved food pyramid and ways to use it to optimize healthy living.

Smythe suggests bringing a packed lunch to school, so there isn’t that temptation to eat pizza or a cookie every day.

“My personal motto is if it comes from the ground or had a mom then it’s good to eat,” Smythe said.

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10

Features

November 2010

Connecting the Dots

Jacqui Marpa

Superficial crisis

D

rama makes life more interesting and fun—not.

Too much of anything is bad for us. Not long ago the drama was just about who stole the crayon from whom. Something that has been taken out of context becomes gossip, then when it gets to the target it becomes drama.

It’s time to grow up. Drama is so grade school and getting in it or starting the drama just makes us immature. It won’t make us more popular and most certainly doesn’t make us better than others. High school students are supposed to be more mature than the grade schoolers, but drama existing in high school proves the statement wrong.

It turns out that we are still the same level with the grade schoolers when it comes to immaturity. Let’s face it: nobody likes it when someone’s being called out “childish” in high school.

I’m not saying that high schoolers involved in drama are a bunch of whiny teenagers, but if we really don’t want to be involved in it, we would normally take the high road in a fight. I dislike drama. Not only the people involved in it are affected, but the friends as well. I know people who used to be really close to each other, and now, they can’t even stand the thought of mentioning the person by name because someone was flirting with someone else’s boyfriend when they weren’t supposed to, then after that they started taking out on each others’ flaws and mistakes; from flirting with someone else’s boyfriend to bringing out old issues that were supposedly “resolved.”

I understand that someone did something that they didn’t like, but if we just lower our pride and apologize regardless of who was wrong, then we can get rid of the superficial high school crisis. Drama is a messy situation, where if we just stand still and watch everything burn, we can’t expect the fire to be put out on its own—it will only die out if the people who started it voluntarily put it out by apologizing to each other.

Think about it.

Holt High School Ramparts

To save money or to flaunt the brand A case of two different shoppers

Hannan Gedeon Jacqui Marpa staff writers After debating on what items to keep and what to lose, the shoppers then hand their picked items to the cashier, swipe their debit card and get the receipt—the items are finally theirs to keep.

Two types of shoppers are name brand shoppers and resale store shoppers. People shop in the stores they like because either the store is able to provide the clothes that define their style, or because the items in the store are fashionable and less expensive.

According to a recent Ramparts survey, over 70 percent of students spend $40 and above on clothing alone per shopping trip. In the same survey, 56 percent of students would rather spend $25 on one clothing item from a name brand store than buying an entire outfit with the same budget at a resale store.

“I believe buying one item for $25 from a name brand store has better quality and is more comfortable to wear,” junior Erik Fiasky said.

Senior Janelle Briggs said that she enjoys shopping at Forever 21 because she finds cute clothes at lower prices compared to other name brand stores. Briggs said that she also thinks people shopping at name brand stores have different reasons.

“They have cute clothes that are cheaper and their style is different from Hollister,” Briggs said. “When I was younger I thought name brands are important, and now most people

Photos by Hannan Gedeon and Jacqui Marpa

L-R: Seniors Caleb Haddad and Amanda Bolanowski share with us their experience in shopping at name brand stores. Junior Erik Fiasky explained why he would rather buy a name brand clothing while senior Gayle Holmes opened up on how she is able to find good clothes from resale stores. have grown out of it. People wear what they like now instead of what other people wear.”

Some students, like senior Amanda Bolanowski, began shopping at name brand stores even before they were able to buy clothes with their own money.

“I have been shopping at Forever 21, Buckle and Abercrombie & Fitch since seventh grade,” Bolanowski said.

Other shoppers buy some of their clothes from out of town. Senior Caleb Haddad purchases a portion of his clothes whenever he travels outside Michigan.

“I got some of my clothes from Buffalo Exchange when I went to San

and they have unique stuff that you can’t find anywhere else that fits my style,” Finnerty said.

Senior Gayle Holmes said that she loves shopping at Goodwill because she gets out of the store with four items having spent only $10-15 in one shopping trip.

“I shop at Goodwill because I know that eventually the clothes I’m going to wear will be thrown away—so I don’t see the point of spending a lot of money if it will be thrown away anyways,” Holmes said. “Goodwill makes me appreciate things more, so when I did go to a name brand store I realize how overpriced it was.”

Francisco,” Haddad said.

Haddad also said that he shops at name brand stores not because e v e r y o n e d o e s, b u t b e c a u s e department stores, such as Nordstrom, allow him to express his sense of style with the clothing items that they sell.

“My mom got me into shopping in the store; she really doesn’t like the shirt and jeans look. She wants me to dress up sophisticatedly and I like it,” Haddad said.

On the other end of the spectrum, senior Brendan Finnerty said that he likes shopping at Goodwill because he finds himself buying novel clothing items at budget friendly prices in the store.

“I shop there because it’s cheap,

Bare Essentials: The basics for dressing up effortlessly

Photos by Jacqui Marpa

Plain colored shirt: Whether the shirt is collared, round neck, or even V-neck shaped, it still works well for both females and males.

Keds shoes or Vans: These types of shoes are versatile and work best with skinny jeans because they can make the outfit look laid back.

Skinny Jeans: Different washes such as dark washed, torn, whisker washed or light washed gives an oomph to the outfit.

Male accessories: A watch is an accessory, It’s perfect for minimalists.

Fe m a l e a c c e s s o r i e s : Avoid wearing too many accessories because it could make a person look like a christmas tree.

Features

11

November 2010

Holt High School Ramparts

Students get too close to a hairy situation The sign of manliness returns Lindsey Hamlin editor-in-chief Young men run their hands across their chins to find one of the signs of manhood: The beard. No Shave November allows males to put down the razor and allow their facial hair to trespass on their cheeks and chin. It is a month that allows men to bring back their manhood; the time of plowing the earth and killing animals with their hands instead of driving their eco-friendly car to Wal-Mart for a nice healthy snack.

This month is when men vow to not let a razor blade or shaving cream touch the being of their face, mutilating their unevenly grown beard.

If a boy starts shaving five days a week at age 15 and lives till he is 90, he will have shaved 19,500 times. If that

same boy choose to partake in No Shave November for the entirety of those 75 years, his shave number will be 18,000, according to one website devoted to No Shave November (noshavenovember.weebly.com).

Boys have different reasons for participating in this monthlong event.

This is the first year that sophomore Aaron Mull is participating in No Shave November. Mull takes part in No Shave November for two reasons.

“I’m participating in No Shave November because for one, the football team is growing their play off beards. The second reason is because I like to be different and I don’t know that many sophomores that can [grow a beard], so I am going to do it,” Mull said.

Senior Travis Sweet grows his beard for the humorous side of No Shave November.

“I think it is funny to see everybody who grows out their facial hair. It looks gross, but it is quite amusing,” Sweet said.

This is the first year he is truly participating due to the lack of facial

hair in years prior.

“This is my first year because last year all I could grow was a weird dirt mustache,” Sweet said.

Some boys decided not to take part in No Shave November at all, not because they can’t grow a beard, but just because they choose not to.

“It gets annoying after a point and you have to trim it to make it looks nice. It’s easier to just shave it off, plus it looks better,” senior Corey Bullock said.

Bullock said he has to shave everyday, but if he doesn’t shave it gets annoying.

“It gets itchy and a lot of girls don’t like facial hair,” Bullock said.

Junior Lauren Maier and senior Chantel Nguyen are examples of girls who do not like facial hair.

“I think beards are gross. Food gets caught in it, and if you tried to kiss them it would be prickly. I like clean-shaved guys,” Maier said.

Maier thinks it is funny when people have competitions to see who can go the longest without shaving, but she also thinks beards are ‘gross.’

“I kind of think their hygiene is not as good,” Maier said.

Nguyen thinks that No Shave November makes boys look unclean and unprofessional.

“I do not like it, I think there is a difference between a little scruff and ‘I’m hairy,’” Nguyen said.

Nguyen said someone told her once that No Shave November started from hunting season. Now she thinks boys do it because they think it is funny. Nguyen said she thinks beards are unpleasant and thinks hair would get in their food.

“I don’t think beards are very attractive. I’ll kiss the top of your head if I want to kiss a lot of hair,” Nguyen said.

For one month a year men are able to feel manly and go back to the times of building fires with sticks, killing animals with their bare hands, and growing their food in fields that go on for miles. For many, the beard is a sign of manliness and masculinity.

When December comes back around baby soft cheeks come back too.

Different kinds of Beards When growing a beard for No Shave November, here are a few options you could choose.

Short Boxed Beard

Goatee

Soul patch Illustrations by Lindsey Hamlin

International men and women of mystery HHS welcomes students from around the world Joey Myers

Esther Hertschal Cologne, Germany “The chocolate here is not good,” Hertschal says. ”German chocolate is way better.”

Likes: Reading, dancing, shopping and listening to music.

Dislikes: The attitudes of many people here. ”Some people here are too nice, if I do something wrong just tell me, don’t sugar coat it.”

staff writer Patrice “Trice“ Balthaiar Haiti, Caribbean T r i c e i s multilingual. He speaks English, which he picked up from traveling.

French is taught Photos by Joey Myers to the students in Haiti. The local lingo he speaks is called Kreyol.

Likes: Playing basketball with his friends Dislikes: The cold and unforgiving weather here in Michigan. “First it’s hot then it’s cold. Choose.“ Florence Amouzou Togo, West Africa Likes: Shopping, playing games and watching movies Dislikes: The weather. “It’s so cold here, I don’t like it.“ Florence’s cousin is Fabrice (right) and her uncle is French teacher Agbeko Agbenyiga.

Parannee “Na“ Saengphaijit Bangkok, Thailand “The school is much bigger here than back home. Being able to walk around to different classes is fun. In Thailand we stay in one class and the teachers move from class to class.“ Likes: Taking photos, using InDesign, and everything else that deals with art.

Dislikes: The many food choices here in America.

“I’m so used to one kind a food [Thai food], it was weird to eat something else every day of the week. “

Fabrice Uiami Togo, West Africa “I’ve never seen snow before. It should be fun, but really cold.“ Likes: Playing soccer Dislikes: The weather here is not the best, it is very cold.”

Fa b r i c e’s c o u s i n i s Florence (left), and his uncle is French teacher Agbeko Agbenyiga.

12

The Hot Spot

November 2010

Holt High School Ramparts

New music shakes the eardrums of students Take a closer look at four new albums released this month Benjamin Gates staff writer

brought much anticipation to the album.

“Man on the Moon II” catches the attention of any listener who is willing to step outside the norms of hip-hop and experience a cosmic jumble of rap/rock/alternative/pop. Jim Jonsin put it perfectly- he really is going everywhere on this album.

Specific genre: Hip-hop/Alternative Album release date: November 9

Kid Cudi

Sufjan Stevens

Rather than bringing people into his dreams like his previous music, Cudi presents reality to the listeners in his sophomore album. The new music contains many collaborations, including Cee Lo, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West and more.

“Man on the Moon II” shows the diversity of music Cudi can create, and reveals the alternative taste he throws in with hip-hop.

“It’s a mix. It’s kind of some club stuff, some hip-hop traditional rap stuff, and then some rock-pop stuff. He’s goin’ everywhere,” explained producer Jim Jonsin on Rap-Up.com.

Featuring Cudi’s music mentor Kanye West, the single “Erase Me” from the new album

It can be presumed that the attempt to write an album for each of the 50 states is likely over for Sufjan Stevens, but with his sixth proper album out, Stevens shows that he still has more musical magic up his sleeve.

“The Age of Adz” dismisses the accustomed whispering vocals, banjo fills and historical lyrics Stevens is known for and says hello to ambient electronics, deep bass, and a rather roaring voice.

[Ending the album with a 25-minute track, “Impossible Soul” which includes some funky auto-tune, a series of melodies and emotionally drained lyrics, Stevens sums up his album saying, “Boy, we made such a mess together,” claiming

Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager

The Age of Adz

success rather than disgrace. “The Age of Adz” displays a complete other side of Sufjan Stevens as he creates a gorgeous mess in the new album, and he proves he has everything it takes to create an organized chaos.

Specific genre: Indie Folk Album release date:October 12

Underoath

Disambiguation Disambiguation will be the first album Underoath records without founding member and vocalist Aaron Gillespie. When the driving force behind the vocals left the band, fans held their breath. In the new album, lead singer Spencer Chamberlain takes charge and truly shows his range. Another monumental change to the music is the drums. New drummer and percussionist, Daniel Davison, adds a sense of maturity and creativity to Underoath’s new sound.

Without the face of the band or any founding members, Underoath proves to listeners that change is good. From start to finish you can’t fight the urge of wanting to grow your hair out, crank the decibels, and head bang.

Specific genre: Metalcore Album release date: November 9

Bieber fever sweeps the nation

Students are sick with excitement for Bieber’s releases Chloe Henley staff writer Who is 16 years old, a teen heart-throb, and Canadian? Justin Bieber. Discovered in 2008 on YouTube, Bieber is sweeping the nation. His hit songs have been reaching the top spots for months now, causing individuals to come down with a high temperature that doctors are calling ‘Bieber fever.’

“I totally have Bieber fever. When I hear Justin on the radio, I can barely contain myself. He came from nothing in a small town, and it really just shows his fans that anything is possible. It gives us hope,” sophomore Madison Starr said.

Love him or hate him, it’s all a matter of perspective. Growing up in Stratford, Ontario, relying on YouTube to make his dreams come true is one thing that makes him stand out. For some, fame comes naturally, for others you have to work hard for it. There are many things that set him apart from all of the other celebrities.

“The most special thing about Justin is

definitely his hair and the fact that all of his songs are about me. He truly just loves his fans,” junior Kali Schlee said.

Support from fans can play a vital role in the motivation of an individual. Schlee says that Bieber is a true inspiration to her. Fans also look up to him in other ways.

“A lot of people think I look like Justin, and it gets really annoying, but on the bright side, it helps me pick up the girls. I don’t have the voice of Justin, though,” sophomore Andrew Middleton said.

For the past year, Bieber has been releasing songs to keep his fans interested, but this year he is putting a spin on things. Bieber teamed up with Paramount Pictures for a 3D film, “Never Say Never” scheduled to be released on February 11, 2011.

According to MTV News, Bieber said that the movie portrays his experiences showing that the sky is the limit and that anybody is able to do whatever they set their mind to as long as they don’t let the discouraging people along the way bring them down. They said he would never make it, but he never stopped believing. Along with the 3D film, Bieber will also be releasing a perfume line, a biography and nail polish.

“I am getting all of these items, especially the nail polish,” junior Alex Hrapkiewicz said.

Nicole by OPI is creating the nail polish inspired by Justin. The first six shades will debut

in December, while eight others debut in January. Nail polishes will be available in Wal-Mart stores. The shades all take after the names of his songs, such as “One Less Lonely Glitter” and “Me + Blue.”

According to Access Hollywood, Justin will not be using his nail polish but hopes that many of his fans will.

“Justin never seems to stop working hard.

He started off with just songs and now he’s coming out with all these new releases. I’m really interested in all of it, and I will definitely have it before a n y o n e e l s e ,” senior Colleen Lierman said.

Hard work has paid off for Bieber. According to Paramount Pictures, the advice Bieber has given out to his fans is to “never say never.”

Photo by Universal Music Distribution. Used with permission.

Taylor Swift Speak Now

Every two years, American country pop singer Taylor Swift releases a new album. Swift put listeners through her “Love Story” in her previous 2008 album “Fearless”, and as late 2010 rolls around Taylor Swift fanatics know what time it is.

“Speak Now”, Swift’s third studio album, guides us through her diary as she sticks to her very autobiographical songwriting style.

The album sold approximately 1,047,000 units in its first week, and hit number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.

“Like a procession of country singers before her, she creates characters and situations—some from life—and finds potent ways to describe them,” criticized Theon Weber of The Village Voice in New York.

Unlike the past two albums, Swift wrote all the material by herself. “Speak Now” demonstrates the usual Taylor Swift fans fell in love with and also reveals she is staying to her roots and vividly showing her true colors, leaving listeners “Enchanted.”

Specific genre: Country pop Album release date: October 25 Photos by Coverhunt.com. Fair use.

Bieber in brief Birthdate: March 1, 1994 Speaks fluent French Can solve a Rubik’s cube in under a minute Taught himself to play the trumpet, guitar, piano and drums •Left-handed •Had his first kiss when he was 13 Most embarrassing moment is when he fell and broke his foot on stage Doesn’t like chocolate, but can’t refuse Twix His dancers burn more than 6,000 calories per show Source: www.justinbieberzone. com, a Justin Bieber fan site.

The Hot Spot

13

Holt High School Ramparts

The beginning of the end Harry Potter fans say goodbye as part one of the finale hits theaters

Jordan Rakas

staff writer The ‘Boy Who Lived’ is back. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the seventh and final installment in the Harry Potter series, has finally hit the big screen. However, not all of it at once.

The last book is being broken up into two movies, the first of which arrived in theaters November 19. Fans all over the world have been anxiously awaiting the end of this phenomenon and it’s finally here.

In 1997, the first book in the infamous series, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” was released. Now, more than a decade later, Harry says good-bye for good.

There are millions of fans in this country alone and several walk these hallways. One of

Photo by Jordan Rakas

Seniors Natalie Zaleski and Janelle Briggs dress up for the latest release of Harry Potter. They consider themsleves to be “super-fans”.

those is senior Natalie Zaleski who says she is the ultimate fan because she knows absolutely everything about each book and movie. Part one premiered at midnght on Thursday and she was one of many that filled the sold out theater.

“I am so excited for the finale,” Zaleski said. “I’m dressing up as either Hermione or a Prizoner from Azkaban.” (Azkaban is the Wizard Prison).

When hearing about Warner Brothers’ decision to split the seventh book into two parts, Zaleski said she wasn’t surprised.

“One movie would cut out too much important detail,” Zaleski said.

Senior Morgan Counseller said she wishes they would have thought to make one book into two movies a lot sooner.

“In the earlier movies they left out a lot of details, so I’m glad they are dividing it up.

The finale wouldn’t be as good if they tried cramming it all into one movie,” Counseller said.

Avid fans from this generation such as Zaleski and junior Haleigh DeRose have not only read and seen Harry Potter; they have grown up alongside him.

“It’s really cool how the viewers and actors have grown up with the characters they’re playing,” DeRose said.

Senior Ryan Schooley said growing up with these witches and wizards has brought him adventure and excitement and he can’t imagine what it’ll be like when part two of “The Deathly Hallows” is released July 15.

“I can barely contain myself knowing the finale is right around the corner,” Schooley said.

“I’m sad that it’s all coming to an end. I don’t know what I’ll have to look forward to once it’s all over.”

Fellow senior Janelle Briggs has accepted the end.

“I’m sad it’s ending, but it can’t go on forever,” Briggs said. Zaleski agreed.

“I like the way it ended, so I don’t mind. Just knowing that there aren’t anymore books or movies coming out after July stinks,” Zaleski said.

November 2010

My Tunes We’ve selected two people to interview and find out what music they love this month.

What’s stuck in math teacher Heidi Misaras’ head?

Photo by Jaap Buitendijk/Courtesy Warner Bros./MCT. Used with Permisson.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One was released this month. Many students are sad to see the series come to an end.

A midnight premiere on a school night is not a problem for Counseller and other super-fans.

“I’m a witch at heart,” Counseller said. “I wouldn’t miss this premiere for anything. I even plan on dressing up.

Unfortunately for Briggs, she said she will not be attending the premiere this month. Instead she has made big plans. Briggs said she plans to see it on her 18th birthday.

Expectations are high for both part one and two in the Harry Potter series finale. Both Schooley and Zaleski said they expect lots of action.

“It’s going to be the best yet,” Briggs said.

“I think Harry is going to die,” Derose said.

No matter what speculations you may have, Schooley said he wants you to know one thing.

“It’s gonna be awesome.”

As the series that started bringing magic into this world 13 years ago wraps up, its legacy lives on. Universal Studios in Orlando opened a Harry Potter Theme Park last spring in Island of Adventure. Zaleski said she’s dying to visit.

So as fanatics everywhere prepare to say good-bye to Harry Potter, ‘The Boy Who Lived’, Counseller said she wants them to remember it’s not over.

“Harry Potter is everywhere these days and he will continue to be,” Counseller said. “He brings out the magic in us all.”

Style of music: “I like a little bit of everything for music, it just depends on what type of mood I am in.”

“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz “I just like his voice and upbeat lyrics.”

“Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band “A little country is always good to listen to sometimes.”

“How to Save a Life” by The Fray “I just like their music.”

“Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys “Good music to run to.”

“Bubble Toes” by Jack Johnson “Great voice and easy to listen to.”

What’s stuck in junior Mark Dudley’s head?

Style of music: “I listen to rock. It’s all very lively and you can do anything while listening to it.”

“Actions & Motives” by 10 Years “It protests George Bush and the Iraqi war.”

“We R Who We R” by Ke$ha “This is a great song to listen to while driving. It has a great rhythm and fluid rap.”

“Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’” by the Rolling Stones “The guitar in this song sounds very unique.

It was a new thing in its era.”

“Float On” by Modest Mouse “The beat will make you happy.”

“Somebody to Love” by Queen “I’m pretty sure this was in “Happy Feet” which is a great movie, and this song made me interested in women.”

If you’d like to tell us what songs are stuck in your head, e-mail a list of five songs and your comments to ramparts@hpsk12.net

14

November 2010

The Press Box girls cross Country record: 3-3 league standing: Fourth in blue division season highlight: “I think Ruth’s Race brought the team closer because we all had a common goal of remembering Coach Pridgeon,” senior Sally Carrasco said. in their words: “The season went pretty well. We had our ups and downs, but we worked our butts off to the the best we could be,” sophomore Megan Myers said.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY record: 4-2 league standing: Third in CAAC season highlight: “Beating Grand Ledge by one point, and not having our varsity team try,” junior Patrick Carrier said. in their words: “We’re injury prone,” senior Miles Ranke said.

CHEERLEADING

season highlight: “Because we had such a big squad this year, I think our greatest accomplishment was everyone getting along so well. We always had fun and never fought with each other, despite all the different opinions that we had,” senior Mallory Dickinson said. in their words: “Having fun regardless of all the drama, and just being able to have fun still and laughing at everyone’s memorable jokes,” junior Kali Schlee said.

GIRLS GOLF

record: 14-1 league standing: First place season highlight: “Going to states and placing third because that was the best we’ve ever done before,” junior Casey Harkema said. in their words: “Everybody making up for each other even when some people had bad days played a huge role in making it to states,” senior Haley Bandt said.

Sports

Holt High School Ramparts

Battle on the court

Teams look forward to competitive season There are six seconds left in the game. It’s tied 42-42. Sweat’s dripping on the floor, the coach’s face is intense and the crowd is holding their breath. Holt has the ball, and the player is dribbling down the court as fast as possible. Stopping at the three-point line, the player drills one in the net, completely unguarded.

SWISH! The crowd goes wild, the player is lifted into the air by teammates, and the coach is smiling proudly. Who just won? The boys team or the girls team?

Alex Sanford staff writer

Anna Pavlik staff writer

The boys basketball winning percentage was higher Students know winter as a time for basketball, their than the girls in the regular basketball season last year.

H-town Posse shirts and Friday nights in the gym. What This year, however, some players said it could turn out they don’t know is the competition, the pain, and the differently. hours spent for one simple game, one simple shot and Some factors that go into a quality basketball team one simple win. include size, strength, agility and determination. The So what is making the girls baskteball team crazy this boys varsity basketball team, including both players winter? They’re ready to play. Not only are they ready to and coaches, have opinions on which team they play, they’re ready to win. Most importantly, they’re think is more skillful and competitive. ready to show the boys who really owns that court.

Junior Jordan Herron, a returning varsity Everyone knows the typical stereotypes: Boys are basketball player, said that the boys will be bigger, faster and taller. Even the girls are aware better this year because the girls don’t have of them, but they also know that doesn’t make the as much talent as they did last year. boys any better.

“What we have that the girls don’t “Boys are bigger, so they’re stronger and faster have is size,” Herron said. “We also have usually, but when girls play girls and boys play boys, determination to show it’s not just one person we it’s equal,” senior Emily Klauka said. all carry the team. It all depends on who we’re They aren’t looking to beat the boys team; they’re playing and our competition level.” looking to focus on their league and their personal Boys varsity coach Matt Essell said the genders goals. have certain advantages over each other.

“We don’t play boys,” senior Amanda Johnson said, “I think we tend to get larger crowds, which is “but we want to beat our own competition, so we work an advantage of course,” Essell said. “The size of towards that.” the ball is different, but I don’t think the rules have Klauka and Johnson both said that the boys team much of an impact.” lost a lot of talent last year, graduating some senior Other varsity players, like returning senior Antonio starters. However, for the girls, they said they are going Alvarez, said the boys have more talent. to have a lot of experience on the team this year.

“Boys have an advantage because they are bigger “We have three three-year varsity players that know in size and more athletic,” Alvarez said. “I think the the tempo of the game,” Johnson said. boys will do better, but I still hope the girls will do well Last year the girls team graduated seniors Jessica in their season.”

Peatross and Lexi Kelly, their captains. Johnson said On the other hand, Essell said that overall, the girls that both of the captains were a big part of their team, have more veteran players coming back than the boys. and she’s hoping that the team can learn from them and “The girls are returning with more starters than the continue on. guys,” Essell said. “We have one returner. It’s hard to The boys had an 80 percent winning rate, while the girls say how this year will shake out, but at this point the had a 65 percent winning rate. However, the boys played 20 girls have more seasoned talent coming back than the games with 16 wins and 4 losses while the girls only played guys.”

17 games with 11 wins and 6 losses.

Essell said it doesn’t matter how much more “They had a good season,” Klauka admits, “but this year competitive one is over the other. Both teams we will win more.” support each other either way. In the end, he What stands out in the girls team that sets them said he’d like to see both teams doing well in apart from the boys? According to the girls, quite a lot. their seasons.

“We have more fun when we play, and when we Photo by Anna Pavlik “I don’t think there is much have more fun we play together better. We like what competition between the two programs Getting prepared for the new season, seniors Antonio we’re doing,” Klauka said. that I can see. The guys like watching Alvarez and Emily Klauka represent the boys and girls According to some players, the boys might be at a the girls on Friday nights and a lot of teams. Last year the boys had a higher winning rate, but more physical advantage while playing on the court, this year the girls said they are planning on changing that. but that’s not going to stop the girls this season. them are friends.”

Sports

15

Holt High School Ramparts

November 2010

Girls swimming shows promise for the future

The Press Box

Team sets goals for next season

record: 7-4 league standing: Second place in their words: “What made us get to playoffs was hard work.

We had the hardest working team in our conference,” junior Sawyer McFadden said.

Iman Ben-Hamza

staff writer Another season of girls swimming and diving has come to a close. With 13 first-year swimmers, it was a young team, but that did not affect the team’s success.

“It was a huge learning experience,” coach Marty Pohl said.

At CAAC’s the team tied for fourth with East Lansing on November 4-6.

To stick with the tradition, the team participates in a spirit week before the big meet.

“It’s a tradition dating back 30 years or so, and it started with the upperclassmen helping the underclassmen,” Pohl said “They always did it the week before CAAC’s to get excited.”

Photo by Iman Ben-Hamza

At CAACs swimmers dive into the 50 (meter) freestyle. Senior Ximena Espindola represented the Rams in this event.

Despite their 2-8 season record, both the coach and swimmers and divers agree that this season they saw a lot of improvement in the team, as well in themselves.

“I wanted to place third at districts, and I got first,” senior Katrina Schlicker said.

The team placed fourth at districts out of five, but they were not discouraged. A faster time means a better overall score, so improving times is a goal that all swimmers strive to meet. Several of the swimmers on

the team noticed an improvement in their times over the course of the season.

“My goal for this season was to break a 29 (second) in the 50 (meter) free, and I got a 28,” sophomore Taylor Diaz said.

Swimmers that hope to be on the team next year are setting the bar even higher for themselves. Junior Aaliyah Oliver met her goal for this season of beating 38 seconds in the 50 free.

“Next year I hope to break 30

seconds,” Oliver said.

Having more people on a team can help boost the overall score.

Compared to other teams in the district, HHS’s swim team is smaller in number. But that doesn’t let the swimmers and divers get in their way of reaching for success.

“The team has done pretty good, considering that all the other teams we compete against are giant,” Schlicker said.

Having a successful season as the team did was not easy. The practices, the swimmers and divers said, are tough.

“The last point of the season is hard especially because you’re tired, but in a team you have each other and make each other work harder,” senior Ximena Espindola said.

The team spent a lot of hours together, practicing after school, sometimes even before school, and seeing each other at meets.

“A strength is that when we want to, we support each other and can really cheer each other on,” Diaz said.

Athletes practice different rituals to win big Superstitions carry students through season Kelsey Manas editor-in-chief As the final seconds of a game or competition waste away, athletes turn to their ideas of luck. They’re an extra boost of energy and confidence when you need it the most. Superstitions in sports exist everywhere. From freshman to varsity and tennis to football, athletes turn to comfort objects or ideas to give them an advantage. Some may call it coincidence, but many athletes believe in good-luck charms or rituals.

Athletes do many different things to prepare for a sporting event. Some

make sure they eat healthy or hearty before a competition, and some make sure they’re eating exactly what they did before the last competition.

“I always make sure I’m drinking lots of water during breaks or practices and eating healthy food,” junior Ben Majeske said. “I do it so I don’t get sick and perform to the highest possible expectations.”

Others turn to clothing, like wearing the same hat or undershirt for each game. Athletes also have different ways to get ready for competitions other than eating or clothing.

“I tape my middle three fingers on my left hand,” senior Josh Green said.

“I’ve always done it and I feel like I hit the ball a lot cleaner when I do it.”

Many athletes don’t know why they participate in these rituals or superstitions. The majority of the

Lucky Charms

athletes asked, believe that their superstitions make them perform better.

One of the main ideas behind superstitions is the idea of repeating actions that were followed by a successful competition. During their junior varsity year, many football players (who are now seniors) didn’t wash their jerseys until they lost, hoping their good luck would continue into the next week.

The junior varsity team didn’t lose until their last game of the season.

Rituals begin when the athlete is young. They start as young as Junior Rams and continue on through varsity.

When athletes start to realize the pattern between lucky boxers, and winning a hockey game, a trend starts to develop. Other competitors get their superstitions from parents who coached them, or older siblings.

“My mom used to get me Papa Leo’s bread sticks before every basketball game,” assistant football coach Ryan Anderson said.

A down side to lucky charms, rituals or superstitions is the mind games involved. Forgetting to perform a ritual can be detrimental to an athlete when they realize they’ve forgotten. This can affect the player throughout a whole game and cause mental turmoil.

Those who strongly believe in their superstitions may blame a loss or poor performance on forgetting their ritual.

This is why many competitors make their superstitions habit, and don’t have to think about remembering.

“If I don’t listen to a certain song before a game, I don’t get pumped up or ready,” senior Jamie Zelenski said.

Sophomore Amanda Becker, cross country

Junior Brian Cobus, tennis

Sophomore Rachel Dillingham, volleyball

“I tie my shoes like ten times because they have to be tied perfect; not too loose, but not too tight,” sophomore Amanda Becker said.

“I always wore the same hat and wristbands,” junior Brian Cobus said. “It gives you that feeling you’ll play okay.

It also gives you an edge and calms the nerves a little bit.”

“I usually wear the same socks for games and different socks for practices,” sophomore Rachel Dillingham said.

“I feel like when I play good, the socks absorb the ‘lucky.’”

Photos by Kelsey Manas

FOOTBALL

BOYS SOCCER

record: 15-3-6 league standing: CAAC Blue season highlight: “Our season highlight was definitely the Okemos game because it was the most intense and we played as a team, not just one player,” senior Tyler Ennis said. in their words: “You know how putting gel in your hair holds your hair together? Well, our team has gel. We gelled together,” senior Brendan Finnerty said.

GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING

record: 2-8 league standing: 2nd to last season highlight: “I felt that the CAAC’s went really good and everyone has improved over the season,” sophomore Taylor Diaz said. in their words: “Sometimes against other teams it felt like we were less, but ultimately we worked really hard and tried our best,” junior Mariah Crawford said.

VOLLEYBALL

conference record: Third league standing: 32nd in states or higher. season highlight: “The games went well, and being third isn’t bad at all. But we could have done better,” senior Devan Walworth said. in their words: “At the end we had to push really hard, and it paid off because we reached our goal that we wanted, which was to beat Grand Ledge, and won districts,” senior Marissa Starr said.

BOYS TENNIS

record: 13-7-1 season highlight: “Making states, third in district only behind East Lansing and Okemos,” senior Chris Yu said. in their words: “We actually exceeded our goal by getting to states,” senior Josh Green said.

Sports

16

November 2010

Holt High School Ramparts

The water cooler Will Thurston

Painful disease

B

Student Section looks strong once again for sports outings

•Founded: 1998 •Rival Section: Grand Ledge High School •Common Cheer: Ole •Common Theme’s: Black-out, White-out, Neon-out Mascot: Rooty the Ram

Collin Mohr staff writer Whether it’s the last-second shot, or the final 53-yard field goal to win the game, you will always hear the H-Town Posse loud and clear, cheering on their Holt Rams to victory.

The H-Town Posse was founded in 1998 and is a constantly revolving group of students who want to show their school spirit. The student section is usually led by groups of seniors who the section considers their “leaders”.

One of these leaders this year is senior Eric Rapier.

Rapier said he enjoys the idea of a student section and finds it a great way to get the sports teams going.

“It gets everybody hype and into the game. When we are all cheering, the teams just seem to do better,” Rapier said.

This has shown the past couple of years due to the success of both football and basketball programs.

With such a large group of students in the section, this question arises: Is there ever a time when the Posse becomes just too distracting?

Senior Anthony Harris has been on the varsity football team for the past two years and said he enjoys the sections effort to change the game every single day.

“The student section is quite rowdy

Don’t Miss This

School Colors: Brown and Gold Photo Illustration by Collin Mohr Photo by Iman Ben-Hamza

Students participate in the H-Town Posse at the football game against Eastern on September 24. The section is one way students to show school spirit. but definitely brings a lot of energy to the game and makes me personally play harder,” Harris said.

The section may be considered an energy booster, but it has its moments for distraction.

“One time I saw Josh Green in a ghillie suit and I just laughed,” said Harris.

A ghillie suit is a one-piece outfit that has camouflage on it to make a person almost invisible in any sort of terrain.

T h o u g h s o m e a t h l e t e s a re distracted, junior Jordan Herron loves the Posse and sees it as a great way to get his team into the game. Herron has been on the varsity basketball team for the last year and has been affected greatly by the section.

“The student section makes you want to laugh at the things they say, but you can’t laugh or coach will take

you out.” Herron said.

With so many students at the game, this also brings pressure to the players.

“I do not want to disappoint my friends and family. I want to make them all proud and this brings a lot of pressure to me and the team,” Herron said.

Another group of the leaders in the section are seniors Josh Green, Kylie Hoose, and Colleen Lierman.

Green has been known as one of the most outgoing students who participate in every theme. A theme is when the section leaders decide on how the section should all dress . Some of the few common themes are whiteout, black-out, and neon-out. The new exotic theme this year was Holt’s big rivalry game against Rockford. Despite the loss, this game was everlasting due to the effort all kids put into the “camouflage out.”

Girls Basketball November 30

After coming off back-to-back-to-back district championships, the girls basketball team tips off the new season against DeWitt High School November 30 at home starting at 7:30 p.m. Other games of importance at a glance: Sexton High School, Friday December 3, and December 7 at Waverly High. The girls this year look forward to the upcoming challenging schedule and fell a deep playoff run is possible.



Boys Basketball December 7, 10 The boys await the challenge of their tough non-conference schedule by starting out at home against Waverly High School on December 7, and at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School on December 10. The limited weeks of practice will pose a hurdle to a team that returns few players and looks for upcoming young phenoms.

Wrestling December 8 The state qualifying team is back again. The long practice hours and difficult opponents set the bar high for the 2010-11 team, but that’s just where they want it. This year’s team starts out the year at the newly rekindled rival Mason at Mason on December 8.



eing a Lions fan is like watching Charlie Brown try to kick the football Lucy is holding. For some irrational reason you say, “He’s going to kick it this time.” Nevertheless, Lucy always pulls it away and Charlie Brown always ends up flat on his back.

For some odd reason I, along with many other Lions fans every year at the beginning of the season, say, “This is our year. We’re finally going to make it to the playoffs.” And every year the Lions end up with a losing record and don’t even come close to even sniffing the playoffs.

However, the fact that they don’t win isn’t as painful as how they don’t win.

They compete and seem to be just close enough in every game that I watch the whole game and get my hopes up just so they can be smashed as the Lions throw the game away. Then I say, “I’m not going to watch them next week, they are hopeless.”

Then come Sunday, I end up watching the game and repeating the process of believing and then being heartbroken.

If you are like me and have these symptoms, you are infected by the disease of being a Lions fan.

There seems to be no cure for this terrible disease because for the better part of my life the Detroit Lions have been one of the worst franchises in the NFL and are the butt of many jokes.

The last time they were in the playoffs was 1999. Just two years ago they were the first team in NFL history to go 0-16.

This team has found every possible way to lose, even when it seems it is impossible to blow a game, they will blow it.

The positive is the team seems to have drafted solid young players that make a strong nucleus to build around and will be studs in a few years.

Louis Delmas, Ndamukng Suh, Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford, Jahvid Best and DeAndre Levy seem to be really close to all being really good. They also are looking like a legitimate NFL team with their play lately, which hasn’t always been the case in the past.

The negative is me saying all that is a symptom of the Lions fan disease and I am probably just repeating the process of getting my hopes up for the future only to be let down. Only time will tell.

H-Town Posse: A tradition continues

Hoose and Lierman are also seen at almost every game and dressed to every theme.

“I like how all the people that go to the game participate in the themes and it makes the student section look really good,” Hoose said.

Green, Lierman, and Hoose would like to leave a lasting impression on HHS and by going all out in the student section. They think this is achievable by doing so.

“The H-Town posse is one, and we are a family and I want the section to be like that for the rest of my life,” Green said.

Lierman said being a part of both the section and team really helps her find motivation to give that big effort in the section.

“From playing in front of the student section in basketball, I know how it feels to have that much support, and I think that it really does help a lot to have such a diverse group of people cheering for our athletic teams,” Lierman said.