ramparts Volume 20, Issue 6
Holt High School
Holt Senior High School 5885 West Holt Rd. Holt, MI 48842
MARCH 2012 News:
Schools have issues with violence; how does Holt connect?
PAGE 5
Photo by Anna Pavlik
Feature:
Interns share their past, current and future plans; their likes and dislikes about life as an intern.
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Spring Fever Budget cuts threaten school performances page 3
Photo by Chloe Henley
sports:
Juniors Emily Hadick and Colin McCarthy rehearse for their upcoming performance in the school musical “9 to 5.� Students wishing to participate in such activities will have few chances in the coming years.
The girls gymnastics team shares about their successful season.
PAGE 16 Photo by Cody Shattuck
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News
March 2012
Holt High School Ramparts
F.Y.I.
Food Drop helps the less fortunate
BILLY DEAN
Country singer Billy Dean will be performing at HHS on Saturday, April 14. The performance is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. in the Margaret Livensparger Theater. To order tickets for the event go to http://holt.tix.com. Ticket prices are $20 and $25.
SENIOR EXAM POLICY
For graduating seniors, exams can be avoided by keeping a good attendance record in the third trimester. Students who have no more than three excused absences in a class are excused from that exam. Any unexcused absences or three or more tardies in a class will result in exams. Senior exams will be held on May 31.
SCHOLARSHIP PACKETS
Scholarship packets are located in the Counseling Office. Complete the application form along with three letters of recommendation and a personal essay. One recommendation letter should come from a faculty member and the other two can come from anyone outside the school, such as from church, business or volunteer service agency. All local scholarship applications are due in the counseling office by March 29.
PROM COMMITTEE
Prom Committee meetings are held every Thursday at 3 p.m. in room S125. The meeting usually gets over around 5 p.m. Prom will be held on May 19 with the theme being “Year of the Dragon.”
PALS EXCHANGE DAY
On April 20 and 26, PALs from Holt and Lansing Catholic will exchange students for one day. This is a chance for students to see diversity in schools and experience a different environment. It also gives students the feeling of being a transfer student at a new school.
STUDENT SUCCESS ROOM
The Student Success Room is a place where students can go and study, do homework or sign up for a tutor. It is held Monday-Thursday in the library and lasts from 2:453:45. Any 10-12 grade students are welcome to attend. Students must have their own transportation home. Contact Student Success Coordinator Joann Weil at 699-6423 with any further questions.
Students help to supply food for families in need Hannah Marsh staff writer
Imagine the food on your dinner plate gone. Imagine the lunch money in your account nonexistent. This is the reality for some families in the Lansing area. To work to ‘Stomp Out Hunger,’ many local churches came together, along with members of the community, to make an impact on the lives of less fortunate families. The Food Drop is an event where members of the community come together to help out families in need. This year, the event was held on Saturday, February 25 at HHS. Churches and people from the greater Lansing area ordered and donated food to box up to distribute to less fortunate families, in the
greater Lansing area, who can’t afford the food to feed themselves and their families. “Not only is it a way to help those less fortunate, but it’s also a way to get to know and show support to the humans in the community,” English teacher Erin Umpstead said. The Food Drop gathered around 3,000 boxes to distribute. Each box of food held enough to feed a family of four for two weeks. As a result of Michigan’s economic down turn, in the past year Lansing food banks have recorded a 32% i n c re a s e d n e e d, a cco rd i n g to trinitywired.com, making the Food Drop an important event to help the community. “The football players helped load food into cars and take the food to the families,” junior Arthur Turner said. “There were a lot of people helping out. I think we did a lot of good.” Members of the communit y brought food to donate, and then members of the Holt football team
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Holt High School Ramparts
Forensics: fighting with words to win Students prepare for upcoming tournaments staff writer
Photo by Cody Shattuck
Local churches work to “Stomp Out Hunger” in the Lansing area. Boxes of food were picked up on February 25 to help out the less fortunate families. helped load the boxes into trucks and physically deliver the food to those who needed it. “The football players did a lot of work, but they didn’t do it all themselves. The Holt community does a great job helping out in these
kinds of situations,” football coach Al Slamer said, “Over the course of three hours they loaded the boxes into cars and took them to needy and deserving families throughout the Lansing area.”
New program gives students a new alternative Chloe Henley editor-in-chief
Photo by Chloe Henley Photo by Chloe Henley
Sophomores Jenna Whitson and LaNaya Petosky challenge each other to a game of foosball at the Building 21 5th Quarter After Party on March 2. Building 21 was created to designate a safe place for students to hang out at. said that it is a safe place to go to on it for three or four years,” hangout with friends. Communications Director Chris “It’s a fun alternative for kids Neal said. “We attended a Town to go to instead of going out and Hall meeting after the accident and drinking or doing drugs,” Whitson we heard students say they wanted said. “I think Building 21 is going an alternative. That’s when Ben and to be so fun once a lot more people I looked at each other and knew this start to go.” is when we should get it started.” Whitson along with her friend With the accident still fresh sophomore LaNaya Petosky both on students’ minds, Building 21 said that their first party was an provides an environment free from ‘Open Mic Night’. Although, the danger. Sophomore Jenna Whitson
turnout was not the largest on that date, the center has seen 150-200 kids at their past events. “Building 21 offers new things to do every time. You know it will keep you on your toes because they have something different featured at every party,” Petosky said. The organization will soon be hosting punk rock band Hawthorne Heights and hopes to bring Foster the People to their stage. Concerts are primarily the only events that require an entrance fee at only $8 with a student ID. 5th Quarter After Parties are free with a student ID and drop-in on Wednesdays and Thursday ’s is always free. “Building 21 is a nonprofit organization recognized by the federal government. We also receive donations from local business and parents,” Neal said. Although, the center is primarily intended for the senior high, students ranging from seventh grade up unto twelfth grade are welcome. The next 5th Quarter After Party will be held on April 2 featuring Hawthorne Heights with doors opening at 7 p.m.
This year’s forensics team is getting prepared for their many competitions ahead. Without too much prep these students are pushed to do their best. Forensics is a nationwide club. It is composed of two parts, Interscholastic Speech and Theater Competition. Interscholastic Speech is run by Guil Northrup and theater competition is ran by Erin Umpstead. Public Address competition categories include oratory, impromptu, extemporaneous and broadcasting. Individual events, which is called IE, include; duo acting, poetry, and prose interpretation, storytelling and individual dramatic interpretation. Both parts of forensics take a lot of prior knowledge and practice. Forensics students learn a lot about current events and work of social skills. “You learn speaking and presentation skills while being on a team,” Umpstead said. IE events are full blown acting competitions judged by teachers and college students with acting experience. They act out literature like movies, books, music, short stories, and kid stories.
Chloe Henley editor-in-chief As the school district has been facing $4.3 million in budget cuts, school programs, teachers and students are taking the hit. In an effort to reduce costs, extracurricular activities and important positions here at HHS are being sacrificed. “The basis of the problems are that the costs are going up faster than the revenue,” Principal Brian Templin said. “Because of this, we have to make cuts. Most cuts have been invisible such as eliminating positions. Originally, it was thought that around $4 million would be cut but it’s really only about $2 million.” The s chool board has propos ed ma ny eliminations including PALS (Peer Assistance Leaders), the Peer Resistance Club, Debate, Forensics and Athletic Trainer Steve Pingston. The Debate team is at risk for elimination unless the team can provide their own source of funding. “Cutting debate definitely sucks. Debate and
In Brief DECA RESULTS
BUILDING 21
Photo by Maya Fews
Junior Evan Edwards and senior Ben Lyth are preparing for a tournament at the University of Michigan this Saturday. They are coming up with three topic points on the Middle East Crisis. Public Address has more criteria to follow and is more structured. Speeches have to do with current event situations like revolutions in the Middle East. “Public Address is just that, speech competitions, some of the speeches are planned and some of the speeches have to be delivered on the spur of the moment without a lot of prep,” Northrup said. Competitions are in the form of tournaments.
They are usually held on Saturdays and held in schools and at colleges throughout the state. This year’s team will travel to high schools in Gaylord, Dexter, Frankenmuth, Alma, Leslie, Portage, and Walled Lake, as well as University of Michigan and Western Michigan University. Regionals will be in late April, States start in early May, and Nationals are in June.
Budget cuts planned for next year Decreased revenue affects teachers and students
March 2012
Senior Jason Ziolkowski and senior Madison Hayes were finalists at states for D.E.C.A. There were also two more students, senior Drew Dyer and senior Clayton Hosfield, which were able to make it all the way to Nationals. They will be attending Nationals in Salt Lake City at the end of April.
McKenna Glisson
Building 21 provides a safe hangout
An alternative program has been proposed to HHS called Building 21. Building 21 gives students another option of what they can do in their spare time with their friends. B u i l d i n g 2 1 i s a n o n p ro f i t organization that runs activities every Wednesday and Thursday after school. At the center, there are a number of things for students to get involved with; foosball, air hockey, tutors, snacks and coffee are offered to students. About once a month, the center hosts a 5th Quarter After Party, which have featured mechanical bulls, an open mic and concerts. Often times, the parties occur after a Friday night game. After a lot of time and work, Building 21 debuted early this year. “Building 21 has been a dream of Ben’s (Executive Director) for a long time. We’ve been working
News
Forensics are what I have done the past three years in high school,” junior Evan Edwards said. “We can still run if we supply our own funding, but we can’t do nearly as much as we used to. We won’t be able to attend as many tournaments. It wouldn’t be the same at all.” As an active member of both debate and forensics, Edwards, along with junior Andee Krueger, plans to petition against the elimination of the teams. “Forensics has been a big element in helping me and my teammates become better actors, and it is important that it is not cut,” Krueger said. Along with clubs, many positions are up for elimination such as that of Pingston. As an Athletic Trainer, Pingston is there for student athletes who are injured and need tro seek medical attention. “ When I tore my ACL, I couldn’t get a doctor’s appointment for two weeks. I couldn’t walk, and I didn’t have a brace or crutches,” junior Jenny McKee said. “I went to Steve and he got me an appointment the next day. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have known what was wrong or how to prepare myself for my appointment.” Without an athletic trainer, many student athletes would be lost without any direction of where to go about their injury. Another alternative to eliminate costs are making student athletes pay to play.
According to the Children’s Hospital Boston, about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports and 3.5 million injuries occur each year. The majority of those injuries deal with sprains and strains. Although this statistic is looking at a larger spectrum, 11.4 percent of those children and teens who are involved in a sport get injured. Without Pingston’s position, many students would be left with no guidance. “When I was at the Haslett invitational for gymnastics this past year, a girl fell off of the bars and she landed on her neck with her arm being bent out of shape,” McKee said. If it wasn’t for the trainer, she probably would have gotten up, not knowing that you shouldn’t move someone after an injury. I think trainers play a very important role in the lives of student athletes.” Pingston’s position is very doubtful to be cut, many clubs and extracurricular activities are up to potentially getting cut. These programs include a choice between either the Fall play or the Spring musical, PALs, Peer Resistance Club, Key Club, Debate and Forensics. None of the programs listed are certainly getting cut and a focus group has been put in to action.
Building Twentyone is hosting the 2nd Annual Stripped to the Bone acoustic tour featuring: Hawthorne Heights, Mark Rose, Sandlot Heroes and Lansing’s very own Eyes on the Sky. This event is on Monday, April 2nd. Tickets are $10 or $8 with student ID and can be purchased online at http://bit. ly/xmarNJ or at the door. Doors will be opening at 7p.m.
NHS Induction
On Monday April 9, students who were accepted into the Holt chapter of National Honor Society (NHS) will be inducted as official members. The ceremony is set to take place at 7p.m. in the Margaret Livensparger Theater. Inductees are asked to arrive by 6:15 p.m. in an effort to line up in the correct order for the procession part of induction. They will meet in the hallways on the east side of the theater.
Choir Talent Show
The Choir counsel has decided to have a talent show featuring students who are a part of the various choirs at HHS. The purpose of the event is to help raise money for events they would like to attend that have costs not covered by the school district. They will hold the event in the Black Box on Thursday May 17 at 7 p.m. Choir students will be performing. Tickets will be sold for $4 apiece or for $2 when a canned food item is brought along.
World Language Week
World Language Week (WLW) starts on April 16 and goes until April 20. Monday and Friday will be wear your WLW or throw back t-shirt day. Tuesday will be international dress up day. Wednesday will be WLW t-shirt day. Thursday will be dress in your team colors and the World Cup Game. For further information or any questions contact Mrs. Cervera or email her at Kholmanc@hpsk12.net
News
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March 2012
Holt High School Ramparts
Practice makes for a perfect first performance Drama classes display talents through second trimester skits
Maya Fews staff writer Months of rehearsing and preparation go into making a performances but for the fifth and sixth hour drama classes one trimester is all the time the classes had to prepare had to prepare for opening day. The drama classes performed scenes from The Breakfast Club”, “Bridesmaids” and an original piece written by senior Adam Lyon as well as skits from favorite You Tube videos and “Gap Girls” a skit from Saturday Night Live. The drama Performances took place in the Margret Livensparger Theater during fifth and sixth hours on March 6,7 and 8. The purpose of the drama performances is for students to gain the ability to preform on an actual stage in front of a large audience. A lot of preparation goes into the skits the drama classes preformed from making sure lines are memorized and having costumes that go with the scene and character.
Photo by Zahra Ahmad
Acting in a fit of rage junior John Murphy, senior Mike Ramer and sophomore Donquevis Brown reenact a scene. The drama performances were a test of the classes progress over the trimester. “There is a lot of stuff to worry about like having to memorize lines and staying in character the whole time especially with “Breakfast Club” because the scene is 15 minutes of talking,” senior Joe Listing said. Lines and costumes aren’t the only things that go into having the perfect performance, also having being comfortable with your
character and the right mindset are also important. “I liked how they had the guts to get on stage and act. I could never do that,” junior Gabriele Gomez said. The original skit written by Adam Lyon is about a two-headed monster, a professor and the woman who is kidnapped by the two-
headed monster and professor. In addition to the scenes from the “Breakfast Club”, “Bridesmaids” and the original skit by Lyon, sixth hour also performed a skit about the high school and what teenagers go through during those four years. “My favorite skit was about high school. I thought it was a pretty good representation of high school,” Gomez said. “The best part about the performances, in my opinion is the way the actors portray the characters. Usually it isn’t how I imagine the characters being, but it’s always better then how imagine it,” senior Adam Lyon said. “ The per formances accomplished entertaining an audience and helping my students have confidence in themselves,” English teacher Ryan Ray said. One thing most people do not know about the drama classes is how close the students become at the end of the trimester as a result of working and supporting each other with the performances. “I’ve met people that support one another on stage and become friends outside of Drama Class. It’s nice to have people coming together to entertain our fellow classmates,” sophomore Natalie Baker said.
News
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Holt High School Ramparts
March 2012
School violence leads to deaths ‘Bang, Bang, You’re Dead’ hits close to home for students Meg McKay editor-in-chief Students face potential danger no matter where they attend school. Students at Chardon High School in Ohio know too well the reality of violence, due to an open fire shooting during students’ lunch that occurred February 27. T.J. Lane, 17, has been charged in juvenile court with three counts of aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated attempted murder and one count of felonious assault as a result of his shooting rampage. Not long after the shooting in Ohio, 10-year-old Joanna Ramos, from Long Beach, California got into a fight with a classmate. Because of trauma to her head she suffered a blood clot in her brain and later died. Events similar to these that threaten the lives of students often make it into the news. It may not seem like it to students here, but the students at Jackson, who recently were faced with a bomb threat, and other schools in the area have seen it firsthand more recently. On February 16, while the juniors prepared for the ACT and MME tests, sophomores and seniors watched a movie called ‘Bang, Bang, You’re Dead.’ The movie outlines a troubled teen who was a victim of bullying. At one point in time he makes a threat against the school saying he has a bomb. It goes on to show the hard times he faces as a result of his threat. “We wanted to show a thought-based video,” science teacher
b21 building
twentyone
Heather Peterson said. “We wanted to connect it to Challenge Day.” The video was first shown to students about eight years ago, after it was met with some controversial opinions by staff. Peterson said it was ‘shelved’ from year to year because it was unnecessary for students who had already seen it to see it again. When it was suggested as the alternative for students not participating in testing this year, there was not as much negativity to showing it as it had been met with in the past. HHS students do not have to deal with violent acts or threats very often because administration works hard to ‘be in the know’ and ‘handle situations discretely’ said Assistant Principal Chris Billingslea. “We are always looking and asking questions,” Billingslea said. “We try to prepare often for issues, minimizing distractions to students.” The goal is that students don’t know about threats until students start talking. The ability to identify whether a given student is a threat or not, is the first step to ensuring safety for students. Senior Monique Bailhe said she thinks the video helped open students’ eyes to situations not present in the Holt student body every day. She had confidence in classmates to do the right thing if a potentially dangerous situation occurred. “I think our school just has enough sensible students that someone would step in if someone was being bullied to that extreme,” Bailhe said. “If there were 500 kids sitting in the commons, not everyone would just look the other way.” Senior Shaleen Williams thought the movie had a positive and encouraging message, however, she doesn’t think it had such an effect on fellow students. “It didn’t really affect students because that same week there were fights,” Williams said. “Students think those things can
Have you
Photo by Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/MCT
Classmates of Joanna Ramos mourn the loss of their friend in the days after her death. Students are seeing the effects of violence and fighting at younger and younger ages. never happen in real life.” The teacher in the movie says “when kids are labeled at risk, you’ve just created a risk.” Many students who responded to the survey that was given along with the movie agreed with this. Some responses suggested that staff and students be more helpful in stopping problems before they escalate too much. There also varying opinions in whether students felt safe or not at school.
Building Twentyone Presents the 2nd annual
heard? Stripped to the
Building Twentyone has partnered with Holt High School and Planet X to bring you the HOTTEST After Prom Party ever seen. This year we will be in the gym immediately following prom!
Want to get involved? email chris@buildingtwentyone.org or text 517-582-7564 for more details.
bone acoustic tour featuring
04.02.12 only @ 2289 Cedar Street | Holt
Hawthorne Heights Mark rose sandlot heroes with special guest
eyes on the sky
Doors open at 7pm
$8 with student ID or $10 advance purchase tickets are available at buildingtwentyone.org
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Viewpoints
March 2012
Holt High School Ramparts
Our View
Building Twentyone offers safe alternatives
As a whole, Ramparts newspaper editors feel as if Building Twentyone is a great opportunity for high school students. It is hard to be a high school student and always make smart, mature decisions. If students have somewhere to go, bad and dangerous situations can be avoided all together without even being in a place of having to make a judgment call. Although students have lost friends due to accidents, Building Twentyone is being proactive in helping students stay out of unwanted situations. Building Twentyone may not be for every student, but has provided a place where many go to spend their time in a safe, fun environment after remembering the devastating accident. We feel as if even though all students may not use Building Twentyone, it will still be there if any given student needs it. It’s not always about what you do, but what is given to you as an option. Choosing to use Building Twentyone can have a significant impact on some student’s lives, while for other’s it is just a comfort knowing that it’s there. Building Twentyone is a nonprofit organization that offers so many different activities ranging from foosball to air hockey and just hanging out with your friends. Every time it features different activities. Providing activities after school and after sport’s games can significantly reduce the amount of time students have to get themselves into a bad situation. It’s not just about Building Twentyone, but more about the general idea of other, more productive activities to do with student’s time. It makes students sit back and weigh the options, really thinking about if they’re making the right decisions. Alternatives can be fun and exciting, rather than a drag on a night out with your friends. Students should be grateful for those in the community who care enough to provide these kinds of opportunities for students and should be taking advantage of it instead of overlooking it. With the community helping high school students, there is no reason for students to make bad decisions. The alternatives are out there, it is up to students to be strong enough and smart enough to make a good decision instead of giving into a negative situation that could end badly.
ramparts Editors in Chief:
Managing Editors: News: Opinion: Features: Hot Spot: Sports: Staff Writers:
Adviser:
Chloé Henley Meg McKay Cody Shattuck Tori Frailey Anna Pavlik Ben Blanck Michael Hua Zahra Ahmad, Maya Fews, Dalton Gibson, Zack Gilliland, McKenna Glisson, Hannah Marsh, Ana Moncao, Daniel Yu 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 200 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.
P.D.A. needs to E.N.D Students are being too open with their relationships
Hannah Marsh
W
alking down the hallway, I feel like I’m overwhelmed with unruly sites. A couple holding each other by the door, two kids kissing each other and blocking my locker. Yes, I understand that dating is a part of high school. Makeups and break-ups are inevitable. But should everyone around you have the inside scoop on your relationship? No. Walking down the hallway next to a couple of high school sweethearts who feel the need to hold on to each other, as if their life depended on it, is just awkward. You can’t walk around them, but it’s almost unbearable to walk behind the two people who seem to have become attached at the hip. And those couples who have a
Your View
Rising poverty in Lansing Dear Editor, As teens that live and have grown up in the Lansing area, we have noticed more and more poverty pop up. Our pacesetter class decided to stand up and combat this problem. By raising money from our two events, the Duct Tape a Teacher and our Bounce House, we raised enough money to buy and make care bags. The care bags are filled with basic needs that we will donate to the local food bank. We are also donating a portion of our profits to the local food bank for their needs that they have. We are hoping the other people will see what we are doing and join our cause to help combat Lansing poverty. We hope that more people get involved and help us in our efforts. Signed, Cody Bradford, Brian Cobus, Zack Hawks and Jason Ziolkowski, seniors Budget cuts hit athletic department Dear Editor, A majority of students at HHS play sports, and as many of us know, due to pay cuts sports will be hit hard. Athletic Training is a huge part of athletics and for the first time this program is in jeopardy. Being a student athletic trainer, I see first-
daily make out session in front of all their fellow classmates, and teachers for that matter, are making the school hallways a scary place. It’s too much public display of affection (PDA), and it really needs to stop. Very few people need, or care, to know the details of your relationship. Don’t share them with the whole school by letting us see what goes on between the two of you when we’re just trying to walk to class. T h e r e ’s n o t h i n g wrong with being in a relationship. A little hand holding is okay, a small kiss-alright, not a big deal. There’s a fine line between what’s okay and what’s not. Don’t cross that line. Just don’t. Honestly, a relationship is meant to be between two people. When a couple is constantly all over each other in public, they invite other people into their personal business. Everyone can see what they’re doing, how they get along and how they act around each other. It needs to be kept simple and classy. I’m not only finding PDA offenders at school, oh no. They’re everywhere, especially on the Internet. With so many advancements in
technology, it’s even easier to go overboard on PDA, because more people can see what you’re doing. Constant tweets about how much you’re in love, Facebook status’s about your flavor of the week. No, not everyone is interested in seeing that, and it’s nothing personal against you, it doesn’t mean they don’t like you. It means they don’t want to constantly know how your relationship is going. Let’s be real, the only people who think that a profile picture of you two kissing is cute, is you. Loving your girlfriend, or being really happy that you have a boyfriend, is all well and fine. Be happy! Just don’t drag everyone else into your personal relationship. If I can see you making out, I’ve seen too much. Whether it’s online or in person, too much PDA is socially unacceptable. Students need to see that. They need to learn it and put action into changing their ways. I would like to walk down the hallway, or log into my Facebook account, just once, without seeing random people I don’t really care about attached at the mouth.
relationship “isA meant to be
between two people.
hand how much our Athletic Trainer, Steve Pingston, means to the athletic department. During the fall season, Steve see’s an average of 20 athletes a day. I don’t know what our program would be like without our Athletic Training program, all the athletes, coaches and sports teams are aided by the program and Steve puts in more hours than anyone I know, he cares for our sports teams. If you’re an athlete and have ever been helped or affected by Steve and/or the training program, help us keep on keeping on! Save Steve! Thank you, Mallory Weil, sophomore Pacesetter focus on Drunk Driving Dear Editor, This trimester in our Pacesetter class at HHS we have decided on two different issues to focus on. One of these is the issue of Drunk Driving. Last year the school experienced the loss of two of its students and of an alumni. The family and friends of the victims were dumbstruck and devastated. T-shirts displaying the three as “Holt’s Three Angels” were sold to raise money for the families and a program known as “Holly’s Ride” was set up to provide a safe ride home for intoxicated minors. It has roughly been a year since the
”
fatal accident that claimed the lives of Holly Bosenberry, Taylyr Cochran and Anthony Harris. While some still hold to the bitter memories, it seems that the incident did not make a long term impression on the school. The Holly’s Ride program has not been discussed since last spring and seems to have disappeared from the student body’s conscience. It also failed to develop into something that aims at the roots of the problem instead of only dealing with the result, drunk high school students. We in pacesetter have come up with an awareness campaign titled “Too Important to Lose.” It is also the name of a Facebook group and all are welcome to join. Every Friday members of our class gather at the doors of the school to greet exiting students at the end of school. We use encouraging words and uplifting phrases so as to imprint into exiting students that there are those who care. Even though the trimester is nearing its end and we will no longer be in Pacesetter, we still intend to continue to the end of the year and establish a legacy of hope and love at HHS. Sincerely, Meghan Wheeler, Lea Schafer, Joshua Hayhoe, Jeremy Pollok and Rachael Morehouse, seniors
Viewpoints Holt High School Ramparts
Pay to Play: brings cash in Would you spend money to participate?
Dalton Gibson
D
id you know it cost, on average, around $100 to play a sport? That is just paying for the equipment you need for yourself, like shoes, shorts, helmets, bats, and all other sport’s needs. Well, the schools have always thought about making pay to play a requirement in the school district, some years schools have it, some years they don’t. Pay to play costs around $80 for each sport. So that would be around $180 in order to play just one sport a year, which seems a little extreme. Some families can’t afford the money for their child to pay and play and that isn’t really fair because what about the athletes who are really good at a sport. Just because they have some financial problems doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be able to play a sport and help out the team. Their athleticism will go unrecognized and the team wouldn’t
be as good. Where does the money that we spend in order to play go? Pay to play doesn’t really help with much of anything. It is raising a little bit of money, but not enough to actually make an impact in the school. It might be able to buy pencils and tissues which will help the school. But by getting these, it is putting some families in a bad situation, and taking away the ability of some students to play a sport that they could go to college for. Pay to play has only been required once here at Holt, and that was the
Some families “can’t afford the money for their children to pay and play.
”
year 1997-1998. It cost $80 to play and that was for every sport. The school ended up making around 50,000 that year. Ever since that year, any sport that started up was required to pay for their own stuff. Those sports included hockey, lacrosse and bowling. Those three sports must pay for their own stuff and the school only helps with a little bit of stuff such as transportation. Our high school has been thinking about doing pay to play for all sports
because of our budget issues. But, if that is what happens, it won’t come into effect until the beginning of next year. Boosters help pay for a lot of costs and actually make a lot of money. They could raise so much more money than having to pay to play. Also, boosters go on all year long and all sport long. Where pay to play only occurs once at the beginning of the season. There are 27 different boosters because there are 27 different sports. Together all the boosters make around $207,000 a year. But, the money raised by each individual sport can be spent however that team wants to, like, it might pay for uniforms, banquets, or sports trips. With pay to play in action, some student athletes aren’t able to afford the sport and can’t participate. Also, if there is a really athletic student who does more than one sport a year, they might only be able to do one sport, otherwise it costs too much. Plus, students who pay money to play, except to play a certain amount of play time. Back then not many schools did do pay to play. But, now that the economy is getting worse and schools need money to operate and have school supplies for the students, more than half the schools now a days have pay to play in their district.
Hot or not? Happy Weather: The random sunny, warm days that begin to remind us of summer and lead to rolling the car windows down and singing loudly.
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March 2012 Sad Weather: Snowy or rainy weather that brings down our high hopes of reaching warmer seasons and leave the mood dreary.
Speak up
Which gender do you think has it easier in our culture? Have you ever wished you were the other gender, why?
“Men because when they wake up, they don’t have to shave, their leg hair. No, because girls are too much drama.” Greg Blanck, sophomore
“Guys because no image issues, less drama. Thought of as a joke but not serious.” Mark Kreft, junior
“I think guys have it easier because girls have too much drama. I’ve never wished I was a guy, but I think it’d be cool for a day. Just to see what it was like.” Kailia Gibson, junior
“I think guys have it easier in our society, they don’t have to do as much as girls, like they don’t have to take so long in the morning to get ready. But no, I’m very happy I’m a female.” Reagen Brock, senior
“Man, because we don’t have to go through pregnancy, other women related things, like shopping. No, because I like doing stupid guy things and i don’t have to shop. Tyler Leighton, senior
Corrections Illustration by Chloe Henley
Ramparts is committed to printing news that is both informative and accurate. If we get it wrong, we want to put it right. 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.net.
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Holt High School Ramparts
Features
everyone else use it. You cannot be using it offensively though,” Swihart said.
Mixin’ it up for spring break Spring Break Tips: Students become excited as warm
Features
March 2012
Here to now, how we talk in the world today
Have we changed how we speak from 20 years ago to the present? Cody Shattuck news editor From generation to generation, new styles and ways of going about a daily routine have changed. Teens now do differently what their parents would have done to keep up on the cultured differences that are seen. One thing that has changed due to pop culture is the way people talk. Slang. Throughout history, languages and culture shifts have caused blending in the words that we speak. Slang has become something that is more commonly seen throughout schools, workplaces and even households. Location has allowed cities and states to adapt to the way natives of that region as well as newcomers speak. Some things that are said however, may have an impact for later in life. Slang can be seen in many different environments and types. Words that are used between workers and similar jobs can be considered as slang. Businesses and places such as hospitals use some words so they can easily communicate with each other. “Slang can have a negative impact in an interview. It can mess it up for anyone,” business teacher Clara Swihart said. “When learning good interview skills, it can benefit if you are teaching what’s wrong and what not to do.” Students like sophomore Teliea King say that slang is not seen as a ranking of intelligence, but rather one that is a way to express who you are
Dialect
in a unique way. It can be more than just a way of life or a way of talking. “I use a lot of slang because I don’t like to add endings of words,” King said. “To me slang is a unique way to express yourself the way you want. Most teens do it because that is just how we talk. It’s not really about intellect. It’s just what us teens do.”
History Dialects and different languages have changed how people speak and the way they use slang throughout the centuries. The first versions of slang didn’t appear until the 16th and 17th centuries. A play in 1700 was written by Richard Brome, which featured slang in it through poems and songs. Over the years following, the English language began to evolve and expand throughout the world, growing the way it was used, according to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke official website www. uncp.edu/home/.
Chat Slang Chat Slang is a type of slang that is used within the internet and texting world. Words that can be abbreviated such as r (are), u (you), and idk (I don’t know) are just a few examples of how these can be used. Chat slang is a type that is most commonly seen within the social world, and not so much in the professional fields. “I hear people use swag a lot when they talk. It’s a very common word,” sophomore Mitchel Bailhe said.
Photo by Cody Shattuck
Words that have similar meanings which can be abbreviated are considered slang terms. Students use the given slang to fit the cultured aspects that are created by them, to set and get a sense what they view. “Slang isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if it is used a lot it can sound trashy. It just makes people feel cool because everyone else is using it.” A lot of the slang words or terms that are seen in the world derive from the minds of young teens who want to create something for themselves. What is on seen on television and in pop culture, students give their own spin on it. “I see it in classes and i see it as texting,” English teacher Jennifer Jones said. “Students really need to be aware of their audience.”
Jargon Jargon is a type a slang that members of a profession may use when working with each other. Stores that sell items such as electronic devices may use slang words that other co-workers can understand and wor k with. Hospitals use abbreviations and terms that only personnel within that career will be able to understand. “You have to know when slang is right to use. You have to see who your audience is. Teachers as well as
Dialect is a type of slang that is seen not as words, but way the words or phrases are spoken. Dialect can be viewed culturally, regionally, between countries or through different languages. Dialect can closely relate to colloquialism. Colloquialism is a type of slang that deals with words that are contractions or have words that have a secondary meaning. Words that are within this category can be classified to certain geographical areas. Some examples of this type of slang include wanna, y’all and soda. Senior Jessica Weldon feels that slang should be used in certain circumstances and sparingly. “It depends on what a person says to determine if it’s good or bad. I don’t really see slang as a good or bad thing, but if you say something that is discriminatory or offensive, you should watch what you say,” Weldon said. “Slang can be positive when it is used appropriately like in texting or with an atmosphere where it is normally used.”
common terms a’ight- alright grill- face balla’- mONEY MAN LOL- LAUGH OUT LOUD HMU- HIT ME UP NBD- NO BIG DEAL THNX- THANKS TTYL- TALK TO YOU LATER
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Holt High School Ramparts
March 2012
weather starts up and spring break is just around the corner Ben Blanck entertainment editor
Photo by Ben Blanck
The Grand Palladium Resort in Jamaica is a popular all inclusive location for many spring break traverlers every year to have some fun in the sun.
Spring break is one of the most anticipated times of the school year for students everywhere. Here at HHS, the students take a variety of different approaches for their vacation plans. From staying home and working for the week, to going on mission trips with churches and youth groups, to going for a long trip somewhere warm with friends and family. This year both the French and Spanish programs are offering trips for students to Europe. Spanish teacher Amy Sheppard will be in charge of the Spanish trip to Costa del
Sol, Granada, Tangier, Ronda, Seville, Cordoba and Madrid. “We chose Spain because that is where students like to go. All of Spain has great history, natural beauty, great food and very friendly people. I hope that everyone has a great time experiencing the language, people, foods and culture,” Sheppard said. Also happening this year, the French class, accompanied by teacher Agbeko Agbenyiga, will be traveling to France. France was chosen by the students over Montreal and Quebec this year, and they will be visiting Paris, Brittany and
Normandy. In Paris they will see the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre, and in Normandy they will be seeing historic D-Day sights. “We will be visiting these sites because of their historical, cultural and overall connections to the world. I am looking forward to the authentic French cuisine, fashion trends, and especially the Normandy visit,” Agbenyiga said. “I hope the students and chaperones enjoy the different tourist sites they’ve only heard about in videos, textbooks.” Some of the language students are also excited about the trip. “I’m nervous about the plane ride because I’ve never flown anywhere before. But I am excited to go to Paris to experience the culture and go shopping with friends,” junior Hailee Butler said. Two students are going to take part in mission trips. Senior Drew Dyer will travel to the west coast of Mexico, to a city called Mazatlyn with a group from Riverview Church. Last year he went with a group of 59 people where they helped better a poor community in Monterrey, Mexico. “There was a lot of worship, it was really awesome because what we did most of the time was help build buildings that were orphanages or community centers,” Dyer said. “I really won’t know what will be happening this year because they don’t really tell us until we get there. I am just looking forward to helping people who need it”. Some students, like senior Kali Schlee, choose to take a trip with friends. She will be traveling to Mexico with a group of four other friends. She chose to visit Mexico this year because that is where her friends wanted to go. “We are going to relax on the beach, go para-sailing snorkeling and maybe swim with dolphins. I just want to relax and have fun for the most part,” Schlee said.
1.) While driving, rotate positions to keep the ride as safe as possible. Also, be sure to keep the person in the passenger seat awake to help the driver. 2.)Wear sun screen while relaxing on the beach to prevent skin damage. 3.) Be careful while swimming because even the most experienced swimmer can be easily swept away by undertow currents. 4.) When going out always use the buddy system to prevent added stranger danger 5.) If leaving the country, be sure to stay in safe areas that are designated by the resort or other authorities.
Join us Friday, April 13th for an AQDay and see what Aquinas is all about. For more details or to register, visit www.aquinas.edu/ undergraduate/visit or call (800) 678-9593. If our dates don’t work, we’re happy to schedule individual visits between 9 and 4 Monday – Friday, and on most Saturdays during the academic year.
1607 Robinson Road, SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506-1799 616 632-2900 or 800 678-9593 www.aquinas.edu
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Features
March 2012
It’s in the genes Anna Pavlik
One extra
W
hen people ask me how many siblings I have, I say that I have two older brothers. However, when I really think about it, I realize I have one more than that. I always knew that Jake was my best friend. After all, he’s been my next door neighbor since we were little. That’s just how it goes when you’re little. The kids in your neighborhood become your best friends. But things tend to change once you get older and go to school. You get to pick your friends. I always tended to still pick Jake. We went to the same school, we carpooled every day, we played sports in our yards and hung out at each other’s houses all the time. It was one of my favorite days of the year: Ingham County Fair day. Jake’s mom always took me, Jake and his two little siblings to the fair every year with our other neighbors, Mrs. Kreft and Mark. I always looked forward to it, up until we went in 2005. It was an extremely hot day, and my two Mountain Dews didn’t cut it. I started feeling dizzy and nauseated. Jake’s mom sat me down and the medics at the park told her she should take me to Redi Care, so Mrs. Kreft took the other kids to go see the animals while I went to make sure everything was okay. Everything was not okay. I was diagnosed with type one diabetes and put in the hospital for a week. I didn’t know what was happening, and I was scared. Then my neighbors visited me with little presents and homemade cards. I still have the card that Jake made me. It had me with an ice pack on my head and a smile on my face. Inside it read: Get well soon. You’re kind of lucky. You got to go inside and get cooled off while I had to go look at the smelly pigs. Love, Jake. Jake was the first person that didn’t look at me while shaking their head and having tears in their eyes like something was wrong with me. And even though I would’ve much rather looked at animals in the heat than get diagnosed with diabetes, I adore him for it. Still living next door to me, Jake and I are constantly busy with our lives. We hardly ever get to hang out. Next year I’ll be going off to college, and I won’t have Jake right next door to me anymore. No matter what happens or however far away we are, he’ll always be my best friend and brother.
Holt High School Ramparts
Features
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Holt High School Ramparts
March 2012
Odd jobs outside of school
Interns share a little more about themselves
Teachers and student share their different work experiences
How much do you know about this year’s interns in the school?
so nervous that everything I said was not what I meant. Activities outside of school: Seeing my three older sisters and niece. Other than that, all I have time for is MSU games and Holt activities when I’m not doing school work. Favorite animal: Lion
Daniel Yu
Anna Pavlik
Whitney Rantz
Subjects: French College: MSU Hometown: St. Joseph, Michigan What made you want to become a teacher? I love inspiring “light bulb” moments in students. Learning is really important to me, so I enjoy helping others to learn. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I hope to have established myself as a great teacher. I would like to be married with a couple of kids. I hope my family and I can spend our summers in France. Least favorite memory of teaching at Holt: Starting school so early in the day! Activities outside of school: Traveling as much as I can, reading and dancing. Favorite food: Strawberries
feature editor
staff writer Before they worked at HHS, teachers had to take up other jobs to support themselves and to earn extra income. While most teens and young adults get jobs at the mall or fast food restaurants, some of the teachers and students here have done some interesting jobs and they shared their experiences.
Spanish teacher Karen HolmanCevera:
•Where did you work? “Twixwood Nursery was the largest ground cover business east of the Mississippi.” •How did working there affect your social and school life? “It was the only place that hired students our age at the time, so many of our friends worked there.” •Has working there had an impact on your life? “We really were watched to make sure we were always on task and not talking too much. We loved our 15 minute breaks. I can really appreciate people who have physical labor.”
Photos by Daniel Yu
English long-term substitute Forest Tate:
•What were your jobs? “ Teaching at LCC. Plumbing and heating. I learn a little more every year but mostly I’m the second person job, fetching, lifting, solder, run lines, etc. I garden for money. Laborer for Smith Floral. I filled things with dirt or plants, watered plants and general maintenance. I was an ice cream man. My family owns an ice cream store.” •How did working there affect your social and school life? “I started working full time for my parents at about 12. I had more than 40 hour weeks since I was 17. Your social life becomes very tied to your work life: NEVER DATE SOMEONE YOU WORK WITH. It took me a very long time to get through school because I had to pay for it and rent, so it helped my school life after high school.”
Chemistry Teacher Mary Boulanger:
•Where did you work? “I drove a truck for a catering company. It was a ‘lunch wagon.’ I would drive to construction sites and business and sell sandwiches, snacks and beverages.” •How did working there affect your social and school life? “I would have to be to work at 5:30 a.m. to load my truck, make coffee and get ready for my route. Since I had to get up so early, I didn’t really get to have much of a social life at night.” •Has working there had an impact on your life? “Absolutely. It helped motivate me to finish college. It also helped me to think fast on my feet and to be more assertive.”
English teacher Anne Russo:
•What was your job? “Corn detasseling for pollination and hybridization (detasseling is removing the pollen-producing flowers on top of the corn) on large farms in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. The summer after senior year I brazed Chrysler air conditioners parts together in a small auto factory.” •How did working there affect your social life? “Every job I’ve ever had taught me loads about people, cultures, finance and hard work. My social life definitely benefited from the corn detasseling because it was some of the best money I’ve ever made. Lots of spending money! My factory job was 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and I made just above minimum wage. Both jobs I had to wake up early.” •Has working there had an impact on your life? “Corn detasseling: no, though it affected my work ethic in the long-term. I enjoyed being able to pay for things myself and work hard for it. Braze room: yes, I’ll never use the term ‘factory rats’ again. I realized I couldn’t have such a redundant and boring job day after day. And it paid for my first year of college at LCC.”
English teacher Bruce Kutney:
•Where did you work? “I drove semi’s for the 7-UP bottling company in the mountains of California. It’s how I drove my way through college.” •How did working there affect your social and school? “For one thing, it financed it. I was a Teamster, so I made a pretty good hourly wage. That’s how I paid for my undergraduate degree at San Diego State University.” •Has working there had an impact on your life? “I know what hard work is. Between that and working on assembly lines in auto plants in Detroit, I know what hard work is. Every young person should experience real, legitimate hard work.”
Many students know a lot about the teachers that they have or have had in the past. Spending 12 weeks or more with certain teachers allows students to create a relationship with them, and students tend to know details about their personal lives such as where they went to school, their likes and dislikes and their hobbies outside of teaching. But what do students know about the interns in the school? Ramparts set out to help students get to know some of the interns working in the school this year.
Olivia Hoffman
Subjects: Biology and Human Physiology College: MSU Hometown: Berkley, Michigan What made you want to become a teacher? I have wanted to become a teacher since middle school. I struggled with school and many teachers couldn’t help me, but then one worked with me and helped me not only figure out the subject but how to do better in general at school. I wanted to be able to help others like this as well. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Well, no idea where. My husband is in the military so I will move every 4 years. Least favorite memory of teaching at Holt: When the copier broke and realizing trimester two is almost over. Activities outside of school: Choir (show and a capella). All sports (softball, soccer, basketball, bowling). Reading. Doing random things with my husband, (paintball, tennis, hunting). Favorite color: All blues, but dark green is my favorite. I hate light green.
Courtney Stoel
Sophomore Keaven Henson:
•Where do you work? “My job is repossessing cars. When people do not make a car payment or any payment that they took a note out on, the bank sends hired people like us to recover the unit.” •How does working here affect your social and school life? “Working here affects my social life by meeting new people every day and becoming friends with the. Some people do not cooperate, ending up with police involved. It also affects my school life by having to repossess some of my friends’ parents’ cars. This can affect some of my relationships with my friends.” •Has working there had an impact on your life? “Yes, because I have met some really good people and have become friends with a lot of them.”
Subjects: I don’t teach. I’m an intern in the Counseling Center. College: Undergrad at Calvin College. Graduate School at Grand Valley State University. Hometown: Holt, Michigan What made you want to become a counselor? I enjoy working with youth and listening to them. I like helping people figure out life’s challenges. School is very important to be successful in life, and as a counselor, I get to help people become successful and achieve their life goals. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I see myself as a more seasoned school counselor somewhere in Michigan. I hope to still be learning things about my profession and have influenced many students along the way. Favorite memory of teaching at Holt: Getting to know students and remembering when they’ve succeeded. Activities outside of school: Cooking, baking, entertaining, playing cards and board games, watching “Modern Family” and spending time with friends and family. Favorite food: Ice cream and chocolate
Bryce Coon
Photo by Anna Pavlik
Helping seniors Kali Schlee and Victoria Davis, economics and government intern Bryce Coon uses his knowledge gained at MSU to prepare students for the economics final exam.
Kayla Kremer
Subjects: Biology and Zoology College: MSU Hometown: Royal Oak, Michigan What made you want to become a teacher? I have wanted to teach since the second grade. There are many teachers in my family, and it seemed that it would be a career I could make a difference. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I would like to end up teaching in Michigan because this is where my family is, but I am not opposed to living anywhere. Favorite memory of teaching at Holt: When students have a “light-bulb” moment. Activities outside of school: Hanging out and training my puppy! This is a huge stress relief. Favorite food? Oatmeal
Alexandra Daily
Subjects: Algebra I and Functions and Statistics 2 College: MSU Hometown: Dexter, Michigan What made you want to become a teacher? I had a teacher in high school that motivated me to go past what I believed I could do. He taught me how successful I could be, and I wanted to influence others in that same way. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Teaching high school math, married and having a few kids. Least favorite memory of teaching at Holt: My first day. I was
Subjects: Economics and Government College: MSU Hometown: Rockford, Michigan What made you want to become a teacher? I really enjoy the subjects I teach, but I like working with people most of all. Teaching lets me introduce students to new material that I am really passionate about. I also enjoy the challenge of trying to be as creative and interesting as possible. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Teaching in Michigan, mostly social studies but a period of English as well. I would also enjoy coaching cross country and distance track. Least favorite memory of teaching at Holt: Probably when I briefly locked myself out of my room during a class. We were teaching in a new room, and no one rushed to let me in. Activities outside of school: Running and watching movies. Favorite animal: Dogs, especially Border Collies.
Kelsey Gustafson
Subjects: Third and fourth hour Spanish College: MSU Hometown: Ionia, Michigan What made you want to become a teacher? I’m not sure, really. I’ve always loved kids but never really wanted to teach high school. So, I tried some other things at MSU and ultimately this is where I ended up, and I love it. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In the long run I just want to end up dong what I really love, which is teaching Spanish. Ultimately, I want to always keep myself fresh, motivated and passionate. Favorite memory of teaching at Holt: One of the best experiences by far was being part of Challenge Day. Activities outside of school: Relaxing. I am a fan of reading for pleasure and catching up on my favorite TV shows. I also enjoy walking my dogs, playing tennis and spending time with friends and family. Favorite animal: Elephant, I want a baby one.
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The Hot Spot
March 2012
Holt High School Ramparts
Legends pass too soon to say goodbye
Students and staff express their views on musical artists that have passed away Zahra Ahmad staff writer Making a name within the music industry isn’t something many can do, but for those make it, they usually leave behind legacies. These are musical artists that students and staff have grown up listening to, and when they pass they leave behind more than a name or label -- they leave behind music that still lives on. These artists define what a true musical legend is. For many, the passing of these artists seems surreal because their music is still played on television, radio and through I-Pods. To name every musical legend would be impossible, instead here are a few legends students believe have not only impacted them personally but also impacted the music industry.
Johnny Cash 02/26/32-09/12/03 Whitney Houston 08/09/63-2/11/12
Whitney Houston was a musical artist well known for her effortless singing and presence, which some would claim lit up the room. The singer was at her prime during the 80’s and 90’s. “I’ve always listened to Whitney Houston. She’s a name you know when you come out of the womb. She is a huge influence on me as a young singer; I look up to her, and her music reached the world,” sophomore Melissa Carter said. “I think what made her legendary was not only her singing but her grace. It wasn’t only about her voice but how she carried herself. Her presence was important.” Houston passed away on February 11. The singer was found dead in her Beverly Hilton Hotel suite submerged in a bathtub. Before her passing, Houston was supposed to star in a movie, which Carter said would have opened up so many eyes. Houston was not only an inspiration to the music industry but to young artists everywhere. “My favorite song by her would have to be ‘I Have Nothing,’” Carter said, “I don’t see it as she was a great singer but as she is and always will be a great singer.”
Johnny Cash changed music in ways that not only affected country music industry but also rock and roll along with gospel. Cash was later added to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Cash was known for his impact on all who listened to his music. “Johnny Cash had an impact on the music industry because of what made him different from other country artist. That difference was that he didn’t just play country music he messed around with rock and roll,” sophomore Paul Johnson said. Cash was diagnosed in 1997 with diabetes and a form of multiple system atrophy. The following year he was hospitalized with sever pneumonia which damaged his lungs. Cash would later die from complication from diabetes on September 12, 2003. Before leaving the world Cash left behind 60 new songs within the last four months of his life. Cash was an artist who sculpted the music industry and impacted all who met him. “I know a lot of car commercials still use his music. I mean if it’s still played today, it must have an impact on people,” Johnson said.
All album covers taken by www.allmusic.com. Fair use.
Jimi Hendrix is known as the greatest electric guitar player in history. The artist was well known for his love of loud music and outrageous concerts. Hendrix had an influence over the younger audience within his lifetime. “Jimi Hendrix had amazing guitar skills. He played the guitar unlike any other. He created a new genre,” Physics teacher Mike VanAntwerp said. Hendrix passed away September 18,1970 in London. The cause of death was due to an overdose of sleeping medication. His musical talents still influence the music industry today. VanAntwerp said that Hendrix was in his prime through the years of 1968-70. “Hendrix basically laid out the way for metal and rap, just his complexity and natural ability is what keeps me listening,” VanAntwerp said. “He impacts every guitar player and was pretty significant to me as a teen.” What made Hendrix as popular as he became was how unique he was compared to anyone else in his time. Hendrix had a passion for what he did along with how he presented his work. “My favorite song by him would have to be “Hey Baby and Land of the New Rising Sun.” If he was still around I would love to see him collaborate with Phish. Hendrix had something no one else had,” VanAntwerp said.
Holt High School Ramparts
Best Sellers:What’s on your list? My Tunes
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March 2012
We’ve selected two people to interview and find out what music they love this month.
Students and teachers share their favorite reading material
What’s stuck in English teacher Christine Fisher’s head?
Zack Gilliland staff writer
Tupac Shakur 06/16/71-09/13/96
Jimi Hendrix 11/27/42-09/18/70
The Hot Spot
Bob Marley 2/6/45 – 5/11/81
Bob Marley introduced a whole new genre of music. He allowed music to calm people and make them feel happy. “I love listening to Bob Marley when I want to relax and just lay down or in the car. His music really does make someone feel happier after a song,” junior Taylor Kring said. Marley brought a reggae style when starting his career. Marley was also a devoted Rastafarian, a practice of religion originating in Jamaica, this is what inspired so much reggae into Marley’s musical career. In 1997, Marley was found to have a type of malignant melanoma located under his toe nail. Later on it was found to be a symptom of an already existing cancer. After his health worsened and treatment to the cancer was without success, Marley decided to fly back to Jamaica to spend his final days. Marley was rushed to the hospital in Miami due to his health worsening and would spend his last hours with family. Marley died September 23, 1980 and his last words were to his son saying, “Money can’t buy life”. Marley not only shaped music of the music played today but still influences many. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who hasn’t listened to him or liked him,” Kring said. “I know so many people right now who are influenced by him everyday.”
Tupac Shakur changed the rap industry in ways that even today his music is continuing to influence the biggest names in the music industry. Shakur entered the entertainment world in the early 90’s. “Tupac is amazing because of the flow of his music. He was one of the coolest rappers and his lyrics still fit in today,” juinor Ricky Lowery said. Shakur is also known for his notorious feud with rapper Biggie Smalls. Both were involved with the known battle of west and east coast producers. “His feud with Biggie made him legendary along with the amount of songs he came out with and how he expressed his views through his music,” Lowery said, “Tupac was at his prime when “Changes” came out and when the east coast verse west coast feud was at it’s worst. Changes is one of my favorite songs along with ‘Dear Mama’ and ‘Keep Your Head Up’. He made it pretty big thanks to Dr. Dre.” Shakur became a legend through his music and personal experiences along with struggles he grew up with. Some claim his music impacted them due to the way it related with the audience. “He didn’t really rap about what a lot of rappers rap today. Tupac rapped about how life was and he made sure his opinion on certain things were out there, that’s what a real rapper should sound like,” Lowery said. Shakur was known for gang violence involvment. When pulling up to a red light a white four door Cadillac pulled next to Shakur’s vehicle and opened fire causing damage to Shakur’s pelvis, chest, right hand and thigh. Shakur died the afternoon of September 13, 1996, cause of death was due to internal bleeding. “If Tupac was still around there wouldn’t be as much non-talented rappers,” Lowery said. “If I could see him collaborate with anyone right now it would be Rick Ross, but Tupac’s a legend and legends never die.”
Reading is something people do everyday. From reading the newspaper, Facebook status or even the menu at a coffee shop. no matter what it is, we read all the time. This month is National Reading month, so students all across the nation are reading.
Style of music: “Top 25. Mainly what ever my children listen to.”
Junior Jacob Casanova: Favorite book/series:“Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell” Favorite genre: Historical fiction How often he reads: one hour a day Currently reading: “Bravo 20” by Andy McNabb What it’s about: It’s about a Special Forces group that gets caught in Iraq. What he likes about reading: “The setting and characters, because I have an active imagination and they give a creative aspect to the story” Casanova said.
English teacher Bruce Kutney:
Fa v o r i t e A u t h o r : E l m o r e L e o n a r d , Montaigne, Andrew Bacevich Favorite genre: Anything Currently reading: “Raylan” by Elmore Leonard What it’s about: It’s about criminals he creates. How often he reads a day: one to two hours What he likes about reading: “One thing I like about reading, is that sometimes it takes you to a better place, and the second, is it’s how you learn,” Kutney said.
Junior Ben Powell:
Favorite Book/series: “Inheritance” Favorite Genre: Science Fiction/ Fantasy How often he reads: 30 minutes a day Currently reading: “Blue Fingers” By: Cheryl Aylward Whitesel What it’s about: It’s about a kid who is taken captive by ninjas, and they train him to be a ninja. What he likes about reading: “The thought of a different world, and picturing it and comparing it to your own,” Powell said.
Favorite book/series: “An egg on three sticks” by Jackie Moyer Fischer Fa v o r i t e g e n r e : H i s t o r i c a l f i c t i o n / Biographies Currently reading: “A Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley What it’s about: It’s about a future society, like ours. It talks about what it means to be human and happy. How often she reads: 30 minutes a day What she likes about reading: “It’s fun, you get to learn about different things while being entertained,” Harmer said.
“I like how powerful her voice is and her songs are catchy and they stay in my head.” Jason Mraz “Very laid back and makes me think of vacation.” Glee “They do remakes of songs that were popular when I was younger. It’s nice to see a new spin on old songs .” Dixie Chicks “Strong female voices that have that have catchy songs and they have a sassiness.” Coldplay “Their music is very mellow.”
Junior Jessica Hamilton:
Favorite book/series: “Twilight” Favorite Genre: Fiction Currently reading: “13 Reasons why” by Jay Asher What it’s about: It’s about a girl who writes tapes for people to listen to about why she committed suicide. How often she reads: Usually a book a week What she likes about reading: “I like reading because I like learning about different things,” Hamilton said.
Sophomore Katie Harmer:
Adele
What’s stuck in senior Nick Payne’s head?
Senior Gaelen McIntee:
Fa v o r i t e b o o k / S e r i e s : “ B r i z i n g e r ” b y Christopher Paolini Favorite genre: Science Fiction/ Fantasy How often he reads: 15 Minutes a night Currently reading: “Eragon” by Christopher Paolini What it’s about: It’s about dragons. Eragon went off on a mission by himself and has to get back. What he likes about reading: “It’s cool to image a place where anything could happen,” McIntee said.
Style of music: “I listen to anything but mostly alternative rock.” “Make Me Proud” by Drake “I like his music.” “Ten Years Gone” by Led Zeppelin “Good music to listen to.” “After Midnight” by Blink 182 “When I Come Around” by Green Day “I like to chill while listening to them.” 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
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March 2012
The Press Box Boys golf
record: N/A league standing: N/A season highlight: ““We want to win leagues and districts and beat the crap out of Grand Ledge and Jackson,” senior Jared Kinne said. in their words: “I’m looking forward to hopefully getting to states and competing well in districts and regionals,” junior Brennan Sanford said.
BOYS TRACK
record: N/A league standing: N/A season highlight: “I hope we do a lot better this year even though we have a young team, we have talent,” senior Chris Roberts said. in their words: “I’m looking forward to a good season and breaking some records,” sophomore Ian Valasquez said.
BOYS BASEBALL
record: N/A league standing: N/A season highlight: “First of all, I want to beat Grand Ledge. I want to win districts, the diamond classic, and make it to states,” senior Travis Potter said. In their words: “I’m looking forward to a very successful season. It’s going to be exiting, fun, passionate, sweaty and delicious,” senior Justin Alleman said.
GIRLS TRACK
record: N/A league standing: N/A season highlight: “My goals are to beat Grand Ledge and East Lansing and continue to work hard as a team so we can do well during meets,” senior Jessie Golden said. in their words: “I’m looking forward to breaking the 100 and 200 record,” senior Shaleen Williams said.
GIRLS LACROSSE
record: N/A league standing: N/A season highlight: “We want o improve our record. We have a strong senior class and we want to reach our potential,” senior Jenna Payne said. in their words: “I’m looking forward to having a winning season and the team bonding,” senior Amy Carr said.
Sports
Holt High School Ramparts
Players under the radar get noticed Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow shock the sports world with their success
Holt High School Ramparts
Rams and Chieftans make Gladiators Combined rugby team starts new season opinion editor
sports editor
Photo by: David Santiago/El Nuevo Herald/MCT
Photo by: David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/MCT
Jeremy Lin (left) is the starting point guard for the New York Knicks and is trying to lead his team to lock in a spot in the playoffs. Tim Tebow (right) was the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, but recently was traded to the New York Jets after the team signed quarterback star Peyton Manning. “Linvinceable”, and “Linderella.” These nicknames became a hit and the world soon began to experience what “Linsanity” could bring onto the court. In his 12 starts before the All-Star break, Lin averaged 22.5 points and 8.7 assists, and New York had a 9-3 record. “He shows that anything is possible and he’s an inspiration to many people because two months ago, no one knew who he was and now, he’s on top,” junior Cameron Elliers said. Tim Tebow is another player who went through scrutiny and broke out as one of the most competitive quarterbacks in the NFL. He played four seasons with the University of Florida and became known for his running capabilities and the ability to lead his team. Tebow was awarded the Heisman Trophy award in 2007, finishing the regular season with 32 passing touchdowns and 23 rushing touchdowns. Heading into the NFL draft and the combine (where teams can scout players), Tebow was projected to be selected early in the first round. After his performances in the combine, many scouts were worried about his ability to throw the ball. Many teams felt he couldn’t perform as well in the NFL so he ended up being the 25th pick in the first round by the Denver Broncos. In the 2011 season, his second year in the league, Tebow had a chance to start after the Broncos went 1-5 to start the season. His performances were impressive and he led his team to come back from fourth quarter deficits. He compiled a six-game win streak from weeks 9–14.
“It seemed like he had many expectations so he that’s why he was so successful. His teammates supported him and he worked hard because he wanted to win badly,” sophomore Emma Sluiter said. The media couldn’t get enough of Tebow and the way he displayed himself on the field. The phenomenon of “Tebowing” (which consists of Tebow kneeling and putting his fist on his forehead to pray before and after games and after certain plays) gained popularity. “I think Tim is more overrated than Jeremy because he’s more lucky than Andrew Luck. He can’t even throw a spiral,” senior Clayton Chronister said. Tebow stepped into the spotlight and through his criticism of being an unconventional quarterback that couldn’t throw, he led the Broncos into the playoffs. During the first round, he beat the favored Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime by throwing a playoff-record 80-yard touchdown pass in overtime. He finished the game with a season-high 316 yards passing. “Tebow is the most passionate player in the game and pumps every one up, even me. He’s also reppin’ the Florida Gators,” Elliers said. Both Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow have changed the sports world within the last year and dispute their critics, they have led their teams to success. Although many people believe that these breakout stars are overrated, they were underdogs who brought their game to the next level.
Although rugby is not a sport ran through Holt, that does not stop many of our students from participating. Holt and Okemos High School have combined to create a boys rugby team that competes and practices on their home field, at Okemos Middle School. The team’s mascot is the Gladiator, and the teams’ colors are maroon, gold and blue. Last year was the first season of playing for the boys and they proved to be a well put together team with a record of 4 wins and 3 losses. The team looks forward to another good season this year. “Rugby is an awesome, fun sport and I look forward to having a great season. Our team is working hard to represent the great sport of rugby in the Lansing area,” senior Chris Mee said. Although the sport is as rough as football, rugby players use much less equipment. Only a mouth guard and cleats make up the protection for the players. “It is violent. There is a lot of elbowing and thrown punches when the refs aren’t looking,” senior Dalton Litwiller said. Litwiller said that rugby takes a lot of speed, endurance and strength. Some players received injuries last year as a result of the sport, but they all look forward to a new start this season. “I like how physical of a sport it is. It pushes you to your fullest and hardest potential,” senior Tyler Gidley said. “You have to be very conditioned. You have to be physically and also mentally strong to
Tori Frailey opinion editor Water polo is a sport of much strength and endurance. The ability to swim is vital and the game is also mentally harsh. The general idea of the sport is to pass a ball around the pool, competing against another team and score by making a goal. Doing all of this, while staying above water. There are seven players for each team in the pool at one time, including one goalie. Holt has a girls water polo team, as well as a boys team. The boys water polo team is combined with Holt and East Lansing. Practice for the boys starts at the end of August. For the girls team, the
March 2012
The Press Box GIRLS SOFTBALL
GIRLS TENNIS record: N/A league standing: N/A season highlight: “My goal is to have a team that’s like a family and after losing many seniors, I want the team to finish at least third in the conference,” senior Haley Powers said. in their words: “I’m looking forward to making new friendships with my teammates and placing at least third in conferences,” senior Lizzie Mckerr said. Photo by Patti Whiting. Used with permission.
Senior Dalton Litwiller, a member of the club rugby team, steals the ball away from the opponent in a rough game during the 2011 season. The Okemos and Holt players have a lot to look forward to this year. deal with all the rough play.” The team had a scrimmage on Thursday, March 22 to open into the season but the boys’ first game will take place in mid-April. Much support from the student body is encouraged. Rugby is a more less
known sport and the players would appreciate as many fans as possible to come out and cheer on their gladiators. “Go Capital Area Gladiators,” senior Chris Mee said.
Girls water polo team breaks away Team is no longer combined with East Lansing teammates
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record: N/A league standing: N/A season highlight: “We want to win leagues and districts and beat the crap out of Grand Ledge and Jackson,” Haley MacFarland said. in their words: “I’m looking forward to hopefully beating Grand Ledge and having a good season,” junior Erin Chapman said.
Tori Frailey
Michael Hua
There’s a misconception that if college players get drafted early in their respective sports then they will become great players. These players might have led their college programs to success and winning records, but how will they compete on the next level? Professional sports in general have the best of the best and many players coming out of college are still young and aren’t ready for fame and fortune. Sometimes, rare cases come up where players are overlooked through college and into their professional sport. Once they become break out stars, every news headline is about their “Cinderella” story. Jeremy Lin knows a thing or two about going from living on a couch to being on top of New York City. Lin had a successful career at Harvard averaging 16.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.1 blocks his senior year. He went undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft, which meant that he could attend summer camps and head into the D-League (development league) to get noticed. Lin was singed by the Golden State Warriors in July, 2010 and released later in 2011. The Houston Rockets signed him right after and he was again released the same month. He eventually landed in New York to play for the Knicks on July 21, 2011. He stayed on his teammates couch in New York at this point of his career. There were many injuries that his teammates suffered, so Lin was given a chance to play. He shocked the world by having 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists his debut game against the New Jersey Nets that had NBA All-Star Deron Williams leading his team on February 4, 2012. Lin became the talk of the world because no one has ever seen a Harvard graduate with an Asian-American ethnicity. “Lin affects the NBA culture because he adds a lot of diversity and was only the second player to come out of Harvard,” senior Thomas Stavischeck said. Many critics didn’t believe that Lin could put up the same performance against the Utah Jazz on Feb 6. Unexpectedly, Lin scored 28 points and had eight assists in the Knicks’ 99-88 win. Lin outplayed the veteran players and people started witnessing his talents and were excited to watch him play. “I think he’s a good player but overrated because there’s nothing to talk about right now. People should talk more about better point guards like Russel Westbrook,” senior Clayton Chronister said. Lin’s fan base grew and many Chinese people began to secure their seats at Madison Square Garden as a sign of support. People began holding up signs saying “Linsanity”, “Lin-tendo”,
Sports
season is during spring and starts in March. Last year, the girl’s were a combined club team with East Lansing. A club team is a team that is made up of players from different schools. It is not considered a sport through one specific school, but rather multiple ones combined. This year however, they are breaking away and becoming an independent team. “We were a combined club team with East Lansing and this year we are separate from them, so I look forward to seeing what this season will bring,” senior Dharbi Hicok said. “I also look forward to playing East Lansing because they are part of our old team.” Breaking away from the club team aspect, the next upcoming weeks of practice are important and will determine the season for the Holt girls. To be successful in water polo, teams need good ball handling skills, swimming skills, as well as cardio and core strength. Having the aggressiveness that it does, water polo is not easy. During games, you are not allowed
to touch the walls or bottom of the pool at any point in time. The players must remain strictly swimming or treading throughout. “It’s not easy by any means and because it’s so physical there are girls basically trying to drown you during a game,” Hicok said. “If you don’t have the right mentality or heart you will defeat yourself before any other team does. It is a very hard sport.” The teams consist of a junior varsity and a varsity team depending on the year and when there are enough girls to field two teams. The girl’s say that their biggest rivalry is Grand Ledge but they also look forward to playing in their game against East Lansing to face their old teammates. They agree that this year will bring much change from their old combined team, and lots of new goals for the upcoming season. “I look forward to having our own Holt team and seeing how far we can come as a new team this year,” senior Madeline Curl said.
BOYS LACROSSE
record: N/A league standing: N/A season highlight: “My expectations are to win our league and be the first team to win the regional championship. I want to make it to states and hopefully win states,” senior Tobin Egger said. in their words: “I’m looking forward to winning a lot of games, winning regionals for the first time and eventually making it to states,” senior Stevie Mckee said.
GIRLS SOCCER
record: N/A league standing: N/A season highlight: “My goals are to win the gold cup, win districts and beat our rivals Okemos,” senior Skylen Powell said. in their words: “As a younger player, I’m looking forward to winning, going to districts and getting to know the other players on the team,” sophomore Megan Kelly said.
Sports
16
March 2012
Holt High School Ramparts
Gymnastics jumps ahead of the competition
Team ends the season with strong finish and highest score in years
Ana Moncao
staff writer “Winter has been great for the HHS gymnastics team,” coach Kristyn Stierley said. Their last competition was the state meet on March 10, in Grand Rapids. Junior Taylor Hull and senior Alyssa Furney were the two gymnasts who made it to that meet. Hull performed the vault, an event that involves hurdling on a springboard and springing on the vault with their hands while Furney perfomed on the uneven bars. “We did really good because we worked hard for it, I took ninth place, which is great because now I’m in the top ten between all the gymnasts in the state,” Furney said. Their most challenging meet was against Fowlerville, which they lost by one point. But at the CAAC (Capital Area Activity Conference) they scored the highest team score in years beating them and taking third place between the others schools that are in the same league. Their great placement made their coach very proud. She was also looking forward to the regional meet and hoping they would do better than last year due their performance this season. They also won all of their home meets. All that glory did not come easy, the girls on the team have worked really hard to reach their individual and team goals for the season. “We started with a pre-season conditioning so they can be ready when the season starts, some of the girls practiced off season at clubs too,” Stierley said. She has been coaching the high school team for five years.
Photo by Chloe Henley
Performing a wolf jump, junior Taylor Hull competes on the floor at the Regional competition at Haslett High School on March 3. Hull also competed at the State meet for the HHS gymnastics team on March 10 in Grand Rapids, performing on the Vault. Some members of the team stand-out like junior Teryn Henderson, senior Christie Lueder, junior Taylor Hull, sophomore Sam Sarata, senior Emily Peltier, junior Madison Starr, junior Jenny McKee and junior Katelyn Danford. They are recognized by their teammates because of their accomplishments and great skills. “One of the most talented gymnasts is Hull because she’s always willing to try new and bigger skills for important meets,” Henderson said. This is her first year in gymnastics. Hull said the most talented gymnast is Sarata because of her commitment to the team and her hard work.
Don’t Miss This Girls Soccer April 9
Girls varsity Soccer play at home against Dewitt High School at 6:30 p.m.
Girls Softball April 10
Girls varsity Softball have their first game at home against Waverly High School at 4 p.m.
Girls Tennis April 10
Girls varsity Tennis play at home against St. Johns High School at 4 p.m.
Boys Baseball April 11
Boys varsity Baseball goes up at home against Waverly High school at 4 p.m.
The team members get along well together, even though it is really hard since they are a group of 20. They’re always supporting and encouraging each other to do better at every meet. “We do team sleepovers and dinners, and we spend a lot of time together because gymnastics is time consuming,” Hull said. The team has reached their goals this year by getting good scores at their competitions. For next year they think that if they start practicing earlier in the off season, they will be able to become more consistent, set and reach for an even higher score.