April 2015

SPRING INTO SUMMER AS THE WEATHER WARMS UP, THE SUMMER FESTIVALS COME OUT. GET THE INSIDE SCOOP ON SOME NEARBY FESTIVALS , PG. 6

BLACKSMITHING DO YOU EVER JUST GET A HANKERING TO BEAT SOME LEATHER OR MAKE SWORDS? FRESHMAN ALEC RODRIGUEZ DID AND LOOK AT HIM NOW. PG. 11

ON A SERIOUS NOTE...

THE PROS AND CONS OF PORN ARE DEBATED ON PG 21. FORMULATE YOUR OWN OPINION OR TAKE A SIDE.

The Growing Point

LAKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

THE

CRYSTAL The Crystal Volume 77, Issue 5

News

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Table Of Contents NEWS 3. World News - - - - Bailey Gastian

Civil Liberties - - - - Jon Haadsma 4. 13 Minutes - - - - Mike Jones LHS Infastructure - - - - Paige Tobin

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 6. Summer Festivals - - - - Jon Haadsma 7. Leroy Memorial - - - - Julia Miller 8. BC Review - - - - Jessica Hughes Dystopian Books - - - - Taryn Snyder

STUDENT LIFE

9. Q & A with the Dean of Students - - - - Nick Jones 10. Key Club Follow-up - - - - Minya Huang 11. Blacksmith - - - - Meggie Riegle and Haley Kerner 12-13. Share the Shame - - - - Paige Tobin and Taryn Snyder

STUDENT VOICE

14. LHS/LMS - - - - Brady Broderick

HEALTH 16. Immunization Debate - - - - Carli Fettig Senioritis - - - - Addie Pyatte

SPORTS 17. Working out with the Goodman’s - - - - Julia Miller Ride your Bike to School Day - - - - Nate Jones 18. Spring Preview - - - - Meggie Riegle 19. Rugby - - - - Nick Jones

OPINION

20. Extrovert Culture - - - - Haley Kerner Rock Solid Support - - - - Carli Fettig 21. Pro/ Con: Porn - - - - Brady Broderick and Jessica Hughes 22. Ideal Body - - - - Addie Pyatte 23. Girl Scout Cookie Horoscope - - - - Carli Fettig 24. Skyping Mr. Schuitman - - - - Nate Jones

Letter from the Editor There are so many lessons I wish I could impart to all of you, but I don’t have enough time, nor space to do so. As I get closer and closer to my last issue as Editor of The Crystal, I panic as I realize how many other things you need to know. But, in good time you will all learn those lessons on your own, without any help from me. And with that being said, I give you my Words of Wisdom for this month.

Wise Word(s) Numero Cinco: Learn For Real We associate only our experiences in the education system as the only times we will learn in our lives. We believe that once we leave these hallowed halls, we will know all and never need to grow again. We believe that growth stops as soon as those doors open at 2:53 p.m.

The belief that we stop growing after formal education is not only a fallacy, but a misrepresentation of what learning is. Not all learning is bound to textbooks and quizzes. AND THERE ARE NO QUIZZES IN REAL LIFE. Your god(s) will not sit you down with a paper and pen and test you on major decisions. Real learning takes place in everyday experience. And though real learning is available to us in all of these experiences, it is our responsibility to come into any experience with a mindset in place to foster education. This means you must be confident and aware enough to admit, “I made a mistake. I see the consequence. This was good for me.”

Though you’ll go up against stacked odds, it is that way of thinking that will prevail and serve as motivation for the next time you get knocked down. Through respecting experience as our greatest teacher, we open ourselves up to growth and change. We become adults, we mature, we become wise. By utilizing experience, we learn- which is the most valuable experience in and of itself.

So do it. Respect the experience. Ride the roller coaster. Live and let live.

Paige Tobin, Editor-In-Chief

Until next time folks-

April 2015

News

Data Dilemma Jon Haadsma

I

Reporter

n today’s age, everything is digital and technology is taking a tighter grip on our lives each and every day. We have become so reliant on it and use it for just about everything we do without thinking twice about it. But, anything digital produces data, and all this data is stored and used to influence us; to market a product, for terrorism protection, or for the government’s use. There aren’t a lot of restrictions on data collection and as a result, it turns into an open season on our data, especially with how cheap storing data has become.

Even though almost everything we do is surveiled, some people still say, “What are you trying to hide?” or “It’s for our protection,” and they are right; it’s okay to tap someone’s phone who is involved in a crime. But, there comes a point where it becomes too much, where the government is surveilling people who they know are innocent. Privacy is built into our Constitution yet it’s a luxury to have. AT&T offers privacy for $60 a month, a price not even the middle class can afford. Thanks AT&T for trying to help, but we shouldn’t have to buy our freedoms, because with no right to privacy, we don’t have the outlets for freedom of expression and opinion and, therefore, we lose the effectiveness of a democracy.

Both our government and we act like surveillance isn’t there or that it isn’t bad, but we need to start addressing the problem and start to have a thoughtful conversation about it. On June 1, 2015, some sections of the Patriot Act, specifically Section 215 that allows bulk metadata collection, are set to expire. This is a chance for us to win some of our privacies back, but, without our voice, Washington will continue to let it happen. Start to make this a concern of yours, make it part of your agenda, because technology isn’t slowing down, but there are ways to protect ourselves against careless data collection.

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GOING TO COLLEGE FOR FREE Every college-bound student dreams of going to college for free, or with little to no student loan debt.

America’s College Promise, Legacy Scholars and the Kalamazoo Promise can make this dream a reality.

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n January 9, President Obama unveiled his plan to create a program that would give students the chance to take advantage of two years at a community college for free. The program is called America’s College Promise Proposal and it would be available to any student.

With economists predicting that by the year 2030 nearly two thirds of jobs will require some form of college degree, the proposal is an attempt to boost the numbers of Americans with post-high school education and make earning a college degree more feasible for middle and lower class students.

For students who have heard of the President’s proposal, it may sound familiar, Kalamazoo area high schools, as well as Battle Creek Central and Lakeview High School participate in similar programs whose mission is to boost college graduation rates. Since these programs exist, the ability to compare America’s College Promise to our own programs has surfaced. Here is a look at what each program has to offer students.

Bailey Gastian

Legacy

Scholarship 5 Years

to use the scholarship

100% of benefits awarded if student attends districts from 6th grade on

The Legacy Scholarship is a gap filling award

Can only be used at Kellogg Community College

Available to Battle Creek Public and Lakeview School Districts Need Recipents based must take scholarship credits per semester

6

The Crystal

Must live in district to receive

4

year scholarship

Available to any Kalamazoo Public School Student

Promise 10 Years to use the scholarship after their graduation date

America’s

College Promise

Covers mandatory fees and tuition

The Kalamazoo

2.0 GPA must be maintained

100% of benefits awarded if

student attends a KPS school from K-12

A&E Editor

Requires recipient to be at least a part time student

2.5 GPA must be maintained

9

million Americans would be eligible

Covers certificate programs and classes that lead to a higher degree

The scholarship would be available to both recent graduates and nontraditional students

$3800

average amount a student would save per year

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News

Working TIME When the district went over its allotted snow/cold days for the year, it put the high school behind in the required instructional hours. The solution, instead of adding a single day to the calendar, was to add 13 minutes (10 before and three after school) to the school days starting March 9, which has students and staff working overtime.

LakeviewSpartans.org / Courtesy Photo

Monday, March 9, Lakeview High School had the school day extended by 13 minutes (10 minutes before, 3 minutes after). Above is the ‘new’ current schedule, which displays the start and end times of classes. Many students raised in an uproar of nonacceptance when notified, though many now don’t mind it or have gotten used to the new times.

+13 minutes > +1 day

2014/15 snow days < 2013/14

If Lakeview were to go an extra day into the summer, not only would this conflict with staff and students’ vacation plans, but finals would also still be Thursday and Friday. With the extra day on a Monday after finals, there would be no incentive of attending that day for most students. For a school day to be counted as an official day, 75 percent of students must attend their classes that day.

“The 13 minutes isn’t really that big of a deal for me, it’s only a couple minutes more every class,” junior Ashley Joy said.

If Lakeview were to close for another day, school would be extended 2 days and finals would be pushed to Monday and Tuesday.

“We will always try to add the minimal amount of time needed,” Principal Jeffery Bohl said.

Adding 13 minutes to everyday gives Lakeview the minimum amount of instructional time required in the classroom without conflicting with the end of the school and summer vacation plans for both staff and students “No one wants to work extra time,” Bohl said.

In the previous year Lakeview was on it’s way to extending the school year, but thanks to quick thinking staff and students were able to get out of school for summer break on time.

Lakeview was unable to do that again this year due to a new founded Michigan law. Lakeview exchanged PD hours for class time. The new law prevents schools for using PD hours as educational time in the classroom.

“PD time is a very precious and important time that allows us to communicate with each other and plan ahead,” Bohl said.

Not all of Lakeview is having the day extension applied. Lakeview High School must extend the school day because not all students are in the school all day. This is cause by students leaving school early, dual enrollment, and the centers. Lakeview Middle School extended the end of their day by 3 minutes as well to compensate for the time needed to bus students between the high school and middle school. Elementary schools in Lakeview district have unchanged times.

Lakeview LEAKED gets

T

his past February, Lakeview maintenance crews were called into action as a fire safety water line broke from the chilly February winds. This incident caused partial flooding to the B-Hall, which in turn, rendered some classes inaccessible.

“A sprinkler head froze over the weekend outside of Mrs. Knack’s room and broke. We actually found an icicle growing out of it. But that wasn’t the issue as much as the alarm system not being programmed correctly when the water valve was turned off,” Vice Principal Marty Pessetti said. “The system as a whole is fine, but it was just a programming issue. I mean, I watched the guy who came to fix it just check a box on his computer screen after listening to the alarms ringing in our ears for 25 minutes.”

The cost of fixing the water line break was minimal, but the price tag for future fixes on unrelated issues are massive. Due to a design flaw in sewer piping that causes sewer gases to enter the school, the district will possibly be implementing ventless traps in the piping during the summer April 2015

Michael Jones

Paige Tobin

Reporter

Editor-in-Chief

to eradicate the issue. For the manpower and complexity of installation, it is estimated to cost the district “tens of thousands of dollars” according to superintendent Dave Peterson.

“In all, some things get overlooked in a building this size,” Peterson said.

To offset these costs and to repair other maintenance issues within the district, one main issue being the degradation of the elementaries, the district plans to get a bond issue for a few million dollars. This could mean higher taxes to residents in the near future, but is not confirmed.

“One of two things could happen. The current bond for the high school is 12 years old, we could extend that and no one’s taxes would go up. Or, you could raise it a million or two. We are currently getting the figures for these,” Peterson said.

The district continued an open dialogue on the topic at a community meeting discussing the bond issue on March 23 at the middle school. The purpose of this meeting was to prioritize what internal issues needed the most attention. these upcoming issues are still being determined and the answers for questions posed will be answered in school years to come.

News

The Crystal

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Arts and Entertainment

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Festival T Extravaganza

he popularity of Lollapalooza in Lakeview has exponentially increased over the years.

By now, I’m sure many of you are counting down the days until July 31 and have already created a schedule of your every move for each day.

This will be my third year at Grant Park and it is a blast, but I think we all need to be reminded once in a while that Lollapalooza isn’t the only festival out there.

Below is a list I compiled of festivals that will highlight your summers and also bring a lineup just as good as Lollapalooza’s if not better. Rock on festival fanatics.

July 31- August 2

Headliners: Paul McCartney, Jon Haadsma

June 25-28

Reporter

July 17-19 Electric Forest is a three-day festival starting June 25 and ending on June 29. Hidden away in a forest, this festival is very intimate and will give you “the feels.” With many camping options available, it will take you away from the world and give you the opportunity to live freely with many other passionate music fans.

Headliners: The String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Skrillex, Kaskade, Flume, Big Gigantic.

July 17-18

Eaux Claires is a first year festival located in Bon Iver’s own Justin Vernon’s home, Eau Claire. This is a two-day camping festival on the Chippewa River Valley. This festival was created on the idea to ‘encourage music-genre-walls to melt away. For the barriers between the stage and the audience altered.

Headliners: Bon Iver, The

National, Spoon, The Tallest Man on Earth, Sylvan Esso

This three-day festival in Chicago is located in Union Park. This independently run festival has consistently been highlighting the best in new music and emerging music for the past 10 years. One of their biggest goals is to keep ticket prices low, and this year is no different for the amount of music you get in return.

Headliners: Wico, Chance the Rapper, CHVCHES, Future Island

June 12-14

Spring Awakening is another three day Chicago festival located inside Soldier Field. Geared specifically towards EDM acts, the lineup is stacked and will make any EDM fan drool. Although the lineup is strong, some have complained about the location of the festival being held in such a small area, which causes stages sound to interfere with each other.

Headliners: ZEDD, Afrojack, Diplo, Jack U, Hardwell, Tiesto April 2015

Metallica, Florence and the Machine, Bassnector, The Weekend, Sam Smith

June 5-7 Bunbury Music Festival takes place along the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati. Bunbury has consistently come out with strong lineups and pride themselves on creating an intimate crowd for a great music going experience that will give you a reason to call in sick to work or not to be bored at home.

Headliners: The Black Keys, The Avett Brothers, Snoop Dog, Brand New, Tame Impala, Twenty-one Pilots

June 24- 28 & June 30- July 5

With 11 stages, 11 days and over 800 acts, Summerfest isn’t kidding around when it says “World largest music festival”. Set on the shores of lake Michigan, Summerfest consists of 75 acres that is dedicated to giving you the time of your life. Summerfest provides the backdrop for the music industry’s hottest stars, emerging talent and local favorites.

Headliners: The Rolling Stones, Kings of Leon, Florida Geogia Line, Keith Urban, Linkin Park

Arts and Entertainment

Remembering A Class Act The Class Act is an art show put on each year by the Art Center downtown to present and celebrate the artwork of kids of all ages from many different schools in our community. At the most recent annual Class Act Art Show held this March one dearly loved person was missing. That person was none other than former Lakeview art teacher Marta Leroy. She passed away on February 22 from cancer. To honor her and show appreciation for her involvement in the art world, the Art Center decided to dedicate this year’s Class Act to Marta. “She taught classes here and was a board member for many years,” Art Center Executive Director Linda Holderbaum said.

“She was a longtime friend and a classy lady. What a better way to honor her than with this exhibit.” The Art Center had a tribute on the wall for all those who toured the exhibit to see which read, “Her spirit and love of art lives on through Class Act.”

INSPIRATION

(n) a person, place, experience, etc., that makes someone want to do or create something

Marta Leroy “We hit it off really quickly when I came to our school; she made me feel welcome. We worked really well together, had a lot of fun. Her, Candace (Knack) and I always had a great time working and being together. She came to my wedding in Mexico and took over all the flowers for it. Marta has always been there for me when I needed someone.

The kids all loved her, as we all did. The way she could help students do things that they didn’t think they could do was really amazing. She was always passionate about what she was doing.” ~Becky Pryor, art teacher

1950-2015

The Crystal

“Marta was the type of person that was an artist first, teacher second. She built strong relationships with her students, that was something that was important to her. She was a great artist with a lovable sense of humor that she brought to her job. I hope that I can be half as great as she was, honestly. She’s greatly missed; I can’t think of anyone who didn’t like her. It’s sad to lose someone like that. In a sense, she was like my adopted mom. Being in her classroom now is hard, but I feel like she’s here in spirit. We miss her.“ ~Candace Knack, art teacher

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Arts and Entertainment

8

DYS(DOPE)IA

Society’s Dystopia means a book lover’s Utopia.

Top Ten Dystopian Books 1.) The Hunger Games 6.) The Giver by Lois

by Suzanne Collins Lowry 2.) Divergent by Veronica 7.) Legend by Marie Lu Roth 8.) 1984 by George 3.) Matched by Ally Orwell Condie 9.) Uglies by Scott 4.) Delirium by Lauren Westerfeld Oliver 10.) Fahrenheit 451 by 5.) The Maze Runner by Ray Bradbury James Dashner Taryn Snyder

News Editor

5 Book to movie adaptations Battle Creek, the new show on CBS, has had this town in an uproar. From the moment it was announced back in 2013, people have speculated over whether or not it will be a well-written script, be an accurate representation of Battle Creek, or bad news for the police officers in the area.

Since it’s premiere at W.K. Kellogg Auditorium on February 24, the show hasn’t shown much staying power. Many people have commented, saying, the script is dorky, the humor is sub-par and the drama is non-existent.

The biggest complaints have been about the lack of plot and drama in, well, a police drama. I guess I could agree, because if you don’t know Battle Creek like

you know your name, I suppose it would be hard to find the drama in the crimes. Drowning in maple syrup? That doesn’t happen in real life. Unless you live in Battle Creek, where Athens, Vermontville, Union City and Ceresco send maple syrup to distribute.

The show is advertised as a drama and that isn’t the right category. A comedic drama might be a better choice.

The script has been said to be “cheesy” but guess what? Battle Creek is a cheesy city. And I like cheesy. We take a great deal of pride in where we come from, and even after people move away for college, work, whatever, they find themselves missing the smell of Fruit Loops when they wake up in the morning.

Why Battle Creek?

Battle Creek was chosen as a typical, semi-industrial Midwestern city. With Kellogg’s, Post, and the Fort, we were clearly the ideal choice for a town that’s on the upswing of a down economy. We have an interesting sense of humor and we have a little bit of everything.

Binder Park Zoo, a beach, a fun little downtown if you know where to go, and quite of bit of cereal history. Plus, it’s rumored the writer saw our city’s name on box of Fruit Loops.

Why read the book when you can see the movie?

I guess our police officers could be upset about Battle Creek, though. It paints our police force as weak and ill-equipped to handle what the public throws at them.

But from what I have seen and heard via the news, our team of first responders (EMTs, firemen, police officers) can handle more than what Battle Creek gives them credit for.

I like the show Battle Creek. It’s quirky, and the humor is right up my alley.

The acting by Josh Duhamel (Milt Chamberlain) and Dean Winters (Russ Agnew) is strong throughout the majority of the series and the minor characters are great as well. I think it’s well written and the humor is great. But on the same note, I can see why some people wouldn’t enjoy it. I’m proud of my city, though.

Jessica Hughes

April 2015

Reporter

1.) A Clockwork Orange- This 1971 movie originally based on a book of the same name by Anthony Burgess is about a young man in future Britain named Alex DeLarge who is put in jail and volunteers for an experimental aversion therapy developed by the government in an effort to solve society’s crime problem.

2.) Children of Men- Based on P.D. James’ 1992 novel, the movie focuses on the year 2027 when no child had been born for 18 years and science is at loss to explain the reason, African and East European societies collapse and their dwindling populations migrate to England and other wealthy nations.

3.) Battle Royale- The 1999 novel by Koushun Takami about junior high school students who are forced to fight each other to the death in a program run by the authoritarian Japanese government, now known as the Republic of Greater East Asia was made into a movie just a year later in 2000.

4.) The Host- This book by Stephanie Meyer is about the distant future where the human race has been assimilated by extraterrestrial, non-corporeal, psychic parasites called “Souls” that travel to distant planets en masse, in individual capsules, inserting themselves individually into a host body of that planet’s dominant species and was adapted into a movie in 2013.

5.) City of Ember- In the 2003 novel by Jeanne DuPrau, mankind is about to come to an end so a group of scientists decide to create and populate a city deep underground. Over time however, the message is lost and life in Ember is rapidly deteriorating. Their power supply is failing and food is being

rationed. It’s left to two young adults to unearth the secret of Ember and to lead the way out.

Nick Jones

Sports Editor

Shannon Walker Getting to know new Dean of Students

Q & A

Student Life Why did you ultimately choose Lakeview as your destination?

What are your goals as the new Dean of Students?

“I chose Lakeview as my destination because I was excited to work with a strong leadership team and staff to continue growing in my professional career. I’m happy to be able to bring my skill set to LHS and to learn new skills through working with the staff and students here.“

“One of my goals as the new Dean of Students, coming in at the middle of the school year, is to learn the policies and procedures that currently exist in the school. My main goal is to spend time working with and building relationships with both staff and students so that I can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the culture and climate of the school.”

Where did you grow up? Where did you graduate?

“I grew up in Whitehall, Michigan and graduated from Whitehall High School. I attended Muskegon Community College for my associates degree and moved to Kalamazoo to obtain my undergraduate degree at Western Michigan University. I’ve lived in Battle Creek for the past 12 years.”

What do you enjoy to do in your spare time?

“In any spare time I have I enjoy spending it with my family. I have a husband and three children that I devote most or all of my time to outside of work.”

What are some issues at LHS that you have noticed and how can we go about these issues?

“Being so new to LHS this is a difficult question to answer. I think in any educational system the importance of building relationships, whether it be staff-staff, student-student, or staff-student relationships, is key. I look forward to working with both students and staff on building these relationships.”

Empty Bowls Ice Cream Social WHEN: May 12, 4-6 p.m.

WHERE: Lakeview High School Cafeteria WHAT: Students will be selling handmade bowls and ice cream to raise money for the Food Bank of South Central Michigan.

There will also be face painting, cupcakes, pizza and drinks Sponsored by Jet’s Pizza, Bumbleberries cupcakes and McDonald’s The Crystal

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Student Life

10

KEY CLUB Follow Up

Thursday March 5,

“CHARGE” Benefit Dinner

in Lakeview High School Cafeteria.

Minya Huang

(photos from Junior Whitney Hudson)

Reporter

What Will Key Club Continue Doing?

After the benefit dinner, Key Club will still try to raise money from different ways, and they will continue to focus on the “CHARGE Syndrome” dynamic. Key Club will try their best to make more people join taking Charge,;they hope people can use anyway to help them. And Whitney Hudson, Key Club and many other people hope to make a difference in the lives of others affected by CHARGE and improve the quality of life.

(As of March 24, the grand total of the CHARGE Benefit Dinner is $5,070.30)

What Is The Key Club Doing Now? Do you remember the “CHARGE Syndrome”? Mentioned earlier Crystal report was the junior Whitney Hudson about taking the ‘CHARGE’. DECA, Key Club and many other people all tried to help raise money. On March 5, for Key Club the most important was raising money and awareness for disease “Syndrome Charge” benefit dinner. About this benefit dinner, from Kanta Yoshino (key club president), he said “early, our school’s junior Whitney Hudson came to key club and told us about “Syndrome Charge” for deadly disease, it not well-known, and they hope key club can help raising money, awareness this disease.” For this benefit dinner, key club members did a lot hard work. They planned approximately 2 months to organization. The benefit dinner open to public, key club president also worked hard on getting the word out, take flyers but did not get accepted, and contacted radio station and news station and try to spread the word. The benefit dinner invited the charge expert from the Michigan University Department of Human Genetics talk about this disease. By the interview Whitney Hudson, actually not all the people know about “Syndrome Charge”, she said: “ raising money need took times, a lot of no, but a lot of yes, at the end, some groups knows about charge are easier to explain, but some don’t know, so we need explain a lot of things to people before asking question.” After key club and Whitney Hudson’s hard work, fundraise got $4921 from the hospital (from Grand Rapids), and some fundraise from other ways still counting, also still have money coming. “ Keep pushing and raising money, Charge to be cure and no one gets diagonise , overall is to make a difference ” this her end goal, Whitney Hudson said.

April 2015

Student Life crystal staff adviser: Jodi Darland editor-in-chief: Paige Tobin ass’t editor/opinion: Brady Broderick news editor: Taryn Snyder a&e editor: Bailey Gastian feature editor: Julia Miller sports editor: Nick Jones reporters: Carli Fettig Jonathan Haadsma Minya Huang Jessica Hughes Michael Jones Nathan Jones Haley Kerner Addie Pyatte Megan Riegle photographers: Rachel Silverman Sierra Craig Laurena Strohm Samantha Lanko business managers: Carli Fettig administration: Dave Peterson - superintendent Jeffrey Bohl - principal Marty Pessetti - asst. principal Shannon Walker - dean of students editorial policy: The Crystal is a self-funded student publication distributed free of charge to all Lakeview High School students and staff with a total press run of 1000.

The publication is an open forum for expression and a two-way communication for both the school and community. The editor-in-chief and staff are solely responsible for the content.

Opinions expressed in the newspaper are not necessarily those of the staff or the administration of Lakeview High School. Editors and reporters make every effort to provide balanced and fair coverage of the news and its significance. Businesses are encouraged to advertise in The Crystal when their ads adhere to the specified guidelines available in the publications room. Members of The Crystal staff can be contacted by calling the publications room phone at 269-565-3731 or emailing at thecrystal@lakeviewspartans.org.

To view The Crystal in full color, visit: issuu.com/thecrystalLHS

The Crystal is printed by: The Argus-Press Company 201 E. Exchange St. Owosso, MI 48867 The Crystal is a member of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association. The 2004-2005, 2005-2006 and 2013-2014 Crystal won a MIPA Spartan award.

Lakeview High School 15060 Helmer Road South Battle Creek, Mich. 49015 269-565-3700 lakeviewspartans.org

11

Tyler, The Blacksmith Even though blacksmithing is not a common, modern hobby, freshman Tyler Rodriguez practices the century-old art regularly. Not taking advantage of any of the technological advancements made in the field, he considers himself a purist when it comes to his craft.

B

lacksmithing, the art of heating metal to transform it into various shapes and sizes, started around 1500 B.C. With the evolution of technology, it has completely transformed. What used to take a blacksmith hours of hard labor can now be done much easier with power tools. Many blacksmiths have strayed from traditional methods and evolved with the times, but not freshman Tyler Rodriguez.

“I don’t like using power tools. I like being a purist, so I’m back to hand files and grindstone,” Rodriguez said.

Blacksmithing is the process of heating metal and then shaping it into anything you can think of. The metal is heated in what is called a forge, which reaches a maximum of 3000 degrees. It is then shaped by hand files and a grindstone to create many different things.

“If you wanted to sum up blacksmithing, it is like really creative and dangerous recycling,” Rodriguez said.

At the age of 12, Rodriguez became interested in the art of blacksmithing. He began to work in his garage, which he calls “his shop”, on and off until recently, when he became more serious about it.

“I’m hoping to turn it into a job later with something like wood and leather working,” Rodriguez said.

Even though some find blacksmithing a very tedious activity, Rodriguez sees the worth in a handcrafted final project no matter how long it takes.

“To make one knife, it would take me 8 to 12 hours, if I’m doing it all traditionally without power tools,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez is most proud of the rail spike knife he made. A rail spike knife is a large nail used in railroad tracks, heated and transformed into a knife. Traditional blacksmithing is growing in popularity and there is now a higher demand for handcrafted tools such as the ones Rodriguez makes and occasionally sells.

“Aside from blacksmithing, I like to do wood and leather working. I like the traditional crafts,” Rodriguez said.

He has made many knife sheaths out of wood and is even helping make some props for the upcoming play, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. With new technology, blacksmithing is evolving rapidly, but Rodriguez prefers creating handcrafted pieces, remaining a purist and a traditional blacksmith.

Meggie Riegle & Haley Kerner Reporters

The Crystal

This bag is made from leather and fur. In addition to blacksmithing, Rodriguez also works with leather.

Samantha Lanko / Crystal Staff

In addition to making tools, Rodriguez makes rings out of steel.

This necklace is made out of deer antler from a deer he shot.

The engravings are values that Rodriguez holds himself.

Student Life

12

BRANDON ROSE, SENIOR “So from what I can remember, I let

THEN

my sister do my hair and my mom said if I could go to the zoo and keep that hair all day, she’d give me $5,” Rose said. “But when we got there she was too embarassed by it and made me take it all out and paid me the $5.”

Looking back on that experience, Rose laughs about his immaturity and “bold” attitude.

“Now I’m mature when I need to be mature, like with sports,” Rose said. “But when I’m with friends I’ll do anything.”

Rose isn’t looking to continue with sports as he moves onto college, but has set his sights on one day working at the Federal Center right here in Battle Creek.

“My dad works at the Federal Center and I’m trying to get an internship there this summer,” Rose said. “One day I’d like to lead a group of people, not just be a part of a group.”

NOW

VS Sam Lanko / Crystal Staff

SHARE THE SHAME Paige Tobin, Taryn Snyder Editor-in-Chief, News Editor

PATRICK HUMPHREY, JUNIOR “I have been a different person

every year of high school,” Humphrey said. “I’m really happy with who I am now. I’m a lot more social.”

Humphrey describes himself as a thoughtful person and a good friend. In the past, these qualities served him well when helping others with their own problems.

“People often come to me for advice and have told me that I’ve helped them a lot. That defines for me what I could grow up to do.” Humphrey said. “I really want to become a therapist and help people with their problems on the inside.”

Humphrey personally identifies with the same issues as his friends and feels as though it allows him to relate to them in order to help them more effectively.

“It’s the way I think and view certian issues and I guess they think that’s right,” Humphrey said.

THEN

RACHAEL DUGAN, JUNIOR “I used to be really mean in middle school. I was a bully,” Dugan said.

Dugan regrets being such a mean person as a kid and is happy with how she has grown up.

“Now I’m friendly and happy and more outgoing and less of a horrible person. I think I have become 300 times happier since then,” Dugan said.

As Dugan gets ready to spend her senior year in Taiwan, she wants to continue to be an outgoing person and make new friends all around the world.

NOW

VS Sam Lanko / Crystal Staff

THEN

NOW

VS Sam Lanko / Crystal Staff

Joe Galloway, Patrick Humphrey, Brandon Rose, Rachel Dugan, Megan Woodworth, Ben Harms / Courtesy Photos

April 2015

Student Life

THEN

NOW

VS

13

BEN HARMS, FRESHMAN “My parents have definitely helped me get through a lot,” Harms said.

Harms is greatly influenced by his parents who have helped him out through school and life. He credits them for influencing him to be who he is today.

“I’m just going to try to keep that smile by playing baseball and doing the things I wanna do in life,” Harms said.

Harms believes that the choices you make in life shape you into the person you are in the future and he hopes to make all of the good choices in life so he can be the best person possible.

Sam Lanko / Crystal Staff

THEN

NOW

VS Sam Lanko / Crystal Staff

MEGAN WOODWORTH, SENIOR “In this picture I was pretty

much just being myself. My mom likes to describe me as curious and sassy,” Woodworth said.

Woodworth says that now she has simmered down quite a bit and is not as loud as she used to be. Now, she describes herself as really family oriented, and always striving to be a better person.

“My experiences with band have really formed my personality,” Woodworth said. “The band has made me become more family oriented and made me more picky with myself and make myself even better than how I am.”

Woodworth is not planning to continue professionally with music but is looking to get a career in the sciences.

“I want to become a biomedical researcher,” Woodworth said. “I’ll be looking at blood samples and such to decipher diseases.”

We’ve all suffered through it. We all had that phase where we thought the tamgotchis were cool and celebrated the pumped up kicks. As we aged, and some of us matured, we began to change our perception of the world around us. Some perceptions of the world are mired in our experiences, and others by what the people around us think. For these students featured, they share with us what made them into who we see to today, what experiences, what challeneges they faced in order to be SPARTANS.

THEN

NOW

VS Sam Lanko / Crystal Staff

The Crystal

JOE GALLOWAY, SOPHOMORE “I was a nice kid, but stuff happens and people change. I have a lot of family problems and a lot of good friends moved away,” Galloway said.

Although Galloway has had a rough life at home, he is able to find support in his friends. He has made many new friends this year that have made him a happier person.

“They’re not my friends. They’re more like family.

They’re the reason I wake up and come to school. It’s just to see them,” Galloway said.

Through his family struggles, he is able to find the light at the end of the tunnel with the love of his friends, making him into the person he is today.

Student Life

14

Out With The Old, In With The New Brady Broderick

Assistant Editor

If you could talk to your freshman self, what would you say? Would you warn them of the dangers of parking lot traffic? The risks of dating seniors? The importance of sweatpants to ACT success? How Google will always truly be your Calculus teacher?

Would you laugh over the things you thought were big deals, or sigh at the friends you had lost since leaving middle school? We at The Crystal do not have a time machine, but that didn’t keep us from finding the answers to these questions. Below is a group of outgoing seniors and future freshmen, tackling how much can really change, or stay the same, in four years at Lakeview.

Every cliche high school movie is book-ended by two shots, and they often never provide anything helpful for the real students watching the films. The first always opens with a freshman or new student trying to walk through the hall against the current of upperclassmen and the second is always the closing shot of new graduates hugging their friends goodbye while that Green Day song plays in the background. In between, something usually keeps the characters from reaching that ultimate goal of graduation, a fact that senior Chika Manu claims is important for all future freshmen to know.

“Be determined, and don’t be distracted,” Manu said,

“either by too much social pressure or things that will get you off track to graduate, because that’s what’s important.”

The social obstacles that exist are among the few worries that excited eighth graders think about before coming to Lakeview High School.

“I’m worried that I won’t really be accepted, that my clothes may not be in style or that people won’t really like me,” eighth grader Hannah Snyder said while touring the high school.

The majority of incoming freshmen look to make the most of their four years at Lakeview. Working hard and expanding horizons is seen as the highest priority, taking advantage of opportunities not available at the middle school.

“I’m looking forward to more freedom, choosing my own electives rather than being told I have to choose either art, band or choir”, Snyder said. “ I hope to accomplish getting all my credits, graduating and getting in to a really good college.”

The belief that Lakeview High School is a place where one can achieve things that have a positive and lasting impact on a life resonates with many of the incoming class.

“I hope to get a good education here, just to work a lot harder than at the middle school,” eighth grader Luis Torres said. “I think that I will start to talk to different kinds of other people, no matter who they are or what they are.”

In a last piece of advice to the class of 2020, senior Tina Taoy encourages following the wise words that often get shared by students at this point in their high school careers.

“Be yourself, and don’t be afraid to talk to people, making friends is important so you won’t have to be alone,” Taoy said. ”High school is not as hard as it’s made out to seem; it is only as hard as you make it.”

Pictured: Clockwise from top-left, Hannah Snyder, Chika Manu, Luis Torres, Tina Taoy

Photos By // Sierra Craig April 2015

Ads

The Crystal

15

Health

16

EGGS AND BACON YOU’RE MIST AKEN: THE TRUTH ON IMMUNIZATIONS

W

ith the recent outbreak of Polio and Measles, the controversy of whether or not to vaccinate your child has, yet again, become a national issue.

On Sept. 2, 2014, 11 gallons of concentrated live Polio virus solution was accidentally released by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline in Belgium. It is possible that the accidental release of the live virus made its way to the United States, but that’s grasping at straws.

One of the main platforms for the anti-vaccine groups is the fact that there is Thimerosal, a solution containing mercury. The purpose of Thimerosal is to act as a preservative in the flu shot.

There is also aluminum in nonlive viral vaccines. The purpose of the aluminum is to act as a catalyst for the immune system’s response.

“During the first 6 months of life, infants could receive about 4 milligrams of aluminum from vaccines...During the same period, babies will also receive about 10 milligrams of aluminum in breast milk about 40 milligrams in infant formula, or about 120 milligrams in soy-based formula,” according

to the Vaccine Education Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

However, the amount in a vaccine may seem insignificant compared to the amount being digested in other ways.

The aluminum is still perceived as safe by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) because it’s such a small amount that it has no effect on the body. And if you choose not to immunize your child with vaccines such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, or Human Papillomavirus (HPV), all containing aluminum, then you can potentially have severe liver problems or genital warts, which are just a few possible side effects. egardless of these claims, parents often put more stock in the loudest opinions, no matter who the source is. Celebrities have a larger overshadowing grasp on culture, and more importantly cultural change.

Celebrity Jenny McCarthy’s stand on vaccines is the most known to the public but has been spun into a web of confusion and misunderstanding over the years.

On Sept. 26, 2007, McCarty said to CNN that “moms and

R

Carli Fettig

Reporter

pregnant women are coming up to me on the street going, I don’t know what to do... And I don’t know what to tell them, because I am surely not going to tell anyone to vaccinate. But if I had another child, there’s no way in hell.”

But on April 1, 2009, McCarthy said to TIME Magazine, “I do believe sadly it’s going to take some diseases coming back to realize that we need to change and develop vaccines that are safe. If the vaccine companies are not listening to us, it’s their fault that the diseases are coming back. They’re making a product that’s crap. If you give us a safe vaccine, we’ll use it. It shouldn’t be polio versus autism.”

As mangled and molded McCarthy’s actual stand on vaccines was still a gray area. McCarthy’s main infrastructure for her belief of safer vaccines is the naturality and scheduling of them.

When Polio was at its peak it was eradicated by the vaccine in 1979, the virus was no longer worried about like it was in the 1940s and 1950s when parents were worried about even letting their children go outside in fear of contracting the virus.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

When you were in middle school one of your pediatrician visits included a conversation about HPV and the vaccination you can receive. HPV is different than HIV and HSV (herpes). The vaccine is safe and effective, making your body immune to the infection, according to the CDC. This is a vaccine that you could’ve received around the ages of 11 or 12. But if you did not receive the vaccine as an adolescent you can get it up to the age of 21 if you’re a male and 26 if you’re a female. HPV’s major side effects are cervical cancer and genital warts. “About 360,000 people in the United States get genital warts each year,” according to the CDC. “More than 11,000 women in the United States get cervical cancer each year.”

ATTENTION! PLEASE READ: Wash your hands. Cover your mouth when you sneeze. And drink lots of fluids because SENIORITIS is spreading and it is extremely contagious. Underclassmen, you are not the exception. Senioritis can start right out of the womb.

Symptoms include sleeping, fatigue, excessive daydreaming, wearing sweatpants too often and doing the bare minimum. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, PLEASE immediately complain to your friends and on Twitter.

We are weeks away from graduation, aren’t we exempt from all homework? Just let us sit here and daydream about how different our lives will be in less than a month. Let us daydream about daydreaming in our first college lecture next fall.

Summer is so close. Summer. I wish it was summer already. Then it would be hot enough to go get some ice cream. Mmm, ice cream. Sprinkles. Chocolate fudggggge. Chocolate. I would eat a chocolate bar right now. Wait, I’m still at school. Stop it, Addie.

It’s taking a toll on all of us, and it’s getting harder and harder to stay focused. However, we’re not quite done yet. We have less than two months of school left. I REPEAT: WE HAVE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS. In less than two months, we will leave this place that we’ve been for four years and never come back again! Well, except for graduation. May 22 could not come soon enough.

Anyway, our last senior walk around the school will definitely be bittersweet. Well, for most of us it’ll just be sweet.

Actually, I can’t even finish this article because of senioritis. I am literally sitting here and struggling to type these words...

The Most Common Sexually Transmitted Infection

April 2015

Addie Pyatte

Reporter

Sports

17

WORKING OUT WITH THE

GOODMANS

Looking for a fitness role model? Look no further than teachers Lonnie and Dawn Goodman.

“Protein shakes, chicken, eggs, cottage cheese and water. And maybe two Monsters a week.” ~Lonnie Goodman, math teacher

Julia Miller

Feature Editor

What are your typical workouts like?

MR: Weight training. I’ll alternate every other day, like back, chest and arms one day. Then legs, cardio and core the next. Back day is my favorite.

MRS: Right now we’re lifting a lot, more muscle building workouts. I used to run a lot, but after a hip injury I’ve been switching it up.

What is your workout schedule like?

MR: 7 days, an hour and a half per day.

MRS: We work out every day. It’s not, “Are we going to work out today?” It’s, “When are we going to workout today?” Sometimes we can go together but we’ve got two boys to chase around so sometimes we have to go separately.

How do you keep a healthy diet with such a busy schedule?

MR: Eggs for breakfast, chicken for lunch, protein shake for dinner or some steak.

It’s easy to do if you stay dedicated and know what you want to get out of it. I stay away from cheat day, but I’ll have a Monster once in awhile.

MRS: We don’t keep a lot of junk in the house. We don’t eat sugar. We try to stay away from white flour, white sugar, potatoes and white rice.

What motivates you to stay in shape?

MR: Mrs. Goodman does and just trying to be healthy. I stick with a healthy lifestyle for myself and family.

MRS: Two young boys (11 and 12). We had kids when we were a little older so we have to stay healthy.

Do you ever combine your workouts together?

MR: She can’t spot me and I’m more of a heavier lifter and she’s more high reps.

But she’s starting to workout a lot more like me. She’s finally listening to me.

MRS: He likes to work out with people and I don’t. Sometimes we’ll share a machine, but we usually do our own thing.

Do you ever feel in competition with each other?

MR: No, we kind of just compliment each other. There’s been days where I haven’t wanted to go (to the gym) and she’s like, “Let’s just go!” She motivates me. If she wasn’t doing all this, I would probably only go 3-4 times a week instead of seven.

But I feel great, I feel 10-15 years younger.

MRS: Yes, all the time. [laughs] We always compare our muscles.

Photos by //

Rachel Silve

rman

Pedal with a Purpose

-Listen to the announcements for more information.

“(I would ride my bike to school) because I can see the high school from my house, and it’s good for the environment,” sophomore Harman Deol said.

Nate Jones

Reporter

-Special outside lunch will be provided for both lunches.

-Donuts will be available upon arrival.

Earth Day is a day where we appreciate our earth by doing good environmental actions such as planting trees, picking up litter, and riding your bike to school. Join us on April 22, by riding your bike to school in the morning.

The Crystal

“(I would not ride my bike to school) because I can barely make it in a car,” junior Jalen Austin said

Sports

18

Spring Sports Preview Meggie Riegle

BASEBALL Baseball

Softball Golf GOLF SOFTBALL

“This season we want to win our conference and make it past regionals. We are trying to better prepare this season so we can finish what we started last season. We are aiming for states,” senior Tyler Horan said.

TENNIS Tennis “We want to try and make it to states this year. Even though we lost some seniors we are going to work hard as a team rather than individuals to make it to state,” junior Ellie Denison said.

“This season we work to bring down our team scoring average.

If we can improve this then we have a good chance at winning the state championship, which is our big goal for this season,” junior Andrew Walker said.

“During the off season we have been working hard in order to run well this year. We want to win the city meet and conference meet this season,” junior Brandon VanOosten said.

“This year we have a tougher schedule so we are going to try and use our regular games to prepare for districts. We want to grow as a team and see how far we can get,” junior Kayla Callaway said.

Soccer SOCCER LACROSSE Boys Lacrosse “I want us to all have fun as a team and work together. Everyone has such good skills that if we work together we can make every game a success,” senior Rachel Prell said.

TRACK & FIELD

Boys Track and Field

Reporter

Girls Track and Field “This season we want to get as many runners as possible to qualify for the state championship. We want to represent the Lakeview track program and all the hard work we have done in the off season to make it,” senior Lily Steinecke said.

Rachel Silverman / Crystal Staff

April 2015

“This year we look to make playoffs, make it to league championship and past first round state. I’m excited to get out and play with the team this year, we’re going to be good,” senior PJ Brady said.

Girls Lacrosse LACROSSE “We are working on our lacrosse IQ and just working more on the art of the game. We are really trying to own our draw and make quick decisions off the whistle. We are hoping to be able to defeat Mattawan by the end of the season,” senior Isabel Stich said.

Sports

19

RUGBY: REVOLUTIONIZING THE GAME Couresy Photo / / Kyle Brown

The Battle Creek Mercenaries 18 and Under Team

IN BATTLE CREEK AND IN AMERICA W

hen people hear the word rugby, the first thing that comes to mind is that it is simply football without pads. Yes, it is very true that the game of rugby is significantly similar to the game of football. Like football, rugby is played on a similar-sized field, having 100 meters in length and 70 meters in width. Also in rugby, scoring is very similar to football. For example, a try is scored when a rugby player touches the ball to the ground on the opponent’s end goal, just like a touchdown would be scored in football. Although many regulations are similar between the two sports, rugby is a game of its own.

Just as football has grown to be popular in the United States, the game of rugby has drawn much interest around the world. In fact, according to www. thespectrum.com, at the end of 2014, there were 1.2 million rugby participants in the United States.

One of the many players who have taken up the rugby challenge is Lakeview’ junior Kyle Brown. This is Brown’s first year playing for the local Battle Creek Mercenaries high school rugby team.

“The team has been around for a very long time. There is an adult team that is 18 and older, and 18 and under is the high school league,” Brown said. “Most of the kids on the team are from Marshall, I’d say about 90 percent of them.”

The Mercenaries held their first practice on March 6 at the Minges Creek Athletic Club with goals to set off the season on the right foot.

“In practice we work on ball-handling skills, sprints, rucking and the basics of rugby,” Brown said. The team practices two to three times per week.

Many players in the area, including Brown, have more intentions than simply having fun while playing the sport. They are aiming to put rugby on the map in southwest Michigan.

“My favorite team is the New Zealand All-Blacks because they are the best team in rugby and they have been for a long time. I want to bring that legacy to Battle Creek too and get (the Mercenaries) more known,” Brown said.

In attempting to get Battle Creek rugby on the map, there are many requirements that must be met in order to be successful at the sport. These requirements are not only physical but emotional as well.

“A rugby player really has to be hardworking. You really have to have a mentality of brothership because it is a battle out there,” Brown said.

Since rugby is still considered a foreign sport to the United States, there are many assumptions made about the sport.

“A big thing that people don’t know about rugby is the rules because it is still more of a foreign game,” Brown said. “People have grown up watching football, knowing football or knowing baseball, but if I wanted a person to know anything about rugby, it is that anyone can do it. You just have to have the heart.”

The Crystal

Nick Jones

Sports Editor

20

Opinion

Are you an extrovert, introvert, or ambivert?

Contrary to popular belief, extroversion and introversion does not deal with whether you’re shy or outgoing. It actually deals with where you “recharge”. And just because a person may show extroverted traits, that doesn’t mean that they don’t also show introverted tendencies. It is more of a spectrum (see below), and each person has a unique place on it. Most people fall in between, also known as ambiversion.

Haley Kerner Reporter

Take this quiz to find out!

If you said mostly A’s, you’re probably an extrovert

1. On a Friday night, I can be found... a) With my face painted in the student section

b) Watching Netflix with my cat

c) With a few of my best friends

b) The worst

c) Depends

If you said mostly C’s, you’re probably an ambivert

If you said mostly B’s, you’re probably an introvert

2. Group projects are... a) The best

3. Being the center of attention... a) Yes please!

b) I’d rather not

c) Every once in a while

4. I feel the most energized after... a) Being around people

b) Being my myself

c) Some interaction is good, but I need my alone time

5. When talking to people, I tend to... a) Speak spontaneously

b) Plan out what I say before I say it

c) Speak freely, but monitor it to some degree

6. My ideal vacation includes... a) Panama City Beach

b) Relaxing on a quiet beach with a good book

c) Florida, with a few of my close friends

You are someone who gains energy from other people.

Extroverts actually find their energy is sapped when they spend too much time alone. You recharge by being social.

You are a person whose personality has a balance of extrovert and introvert features. You don’t really have a preference of whether you’re with people or alone.

You are someone who tends to recharge by spending time alone.

Introverts lose energy from being around people for long periods of time, particularly large crowds.

Rock Solid Support

Carli Fettig

M

Position

T

he United States has experienced Silicon Valley and the War on Terror at the forefront of every news media outlet, but, in the shadows of a technological revolution and a substantial military change in point of view, a social revolution has been forming as well. We are in 2015. The baby boomers are retired, Generation X is middle aged, and us (Generation Y) are trying to remold and solidify human rights in our country.

The freedom to marry has passed in 37 states; this shows progress and change in long underlying prejudices. According to a study conducted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the UCLA School of Law and the Williams Institute, 41 percent of transgenders have attempted suicide. If you believe that it is wrong to be a transgender person then ask yourself how it n response to the situation in Marshall, Lakeview students supported their cause by painting our rock. directly affects you. What kind of a role model was this Marshall parent being? One who has a standard A photo of our rock tweeted by senior Julia Miller of bigotry and hate, regardless of the possible outwas included in the MTV news article. The support come. Are we seriously not to the point in our society and class our peers exhibited is very gratifying and that we can just let people be who they are? should make everyone proud to be a Spartan. arshall’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) was promised a showcase for two weeks to highlight International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 30. The purpose of this day of recognition is to raise awareness of discrimination towards transgenders.

According to MTV.com’s news article, a Marshall parent was outraged over the showcase content, and, after she vented her opinion on Facebook, the showcase was removed.

GSA took their frustration with the situation as an opportunity to use the traditional school rock as a new medium for their message. Fifty students, teachers and members of the community gathered and painted the rock light blue, pink, and white the color of the transgender flag.

I

April 2015

SHOWCASING SUPPORT Marshall High School’s Transgender Transparency Day Showcase displays informational and encouraging statements. However, the display was removed because of a parent’s complaints. “[This parent] thought it was promoting students to be LGBTQ and it didn’t uphold Christian values and thought it was very inappropriate for the school setting,” Marshall GSA leader senior Kate Samra explained to MTV News.

PRO/ CON

PORN A Public Look at Private Matters

Opinion

21

XXX

Pornography should be available to the public

There is a certain school of debates that, many believe, will never sway because the views are so deeply rooted in personal belief. Porn (that got your attention) often falls in this camp, in that those either are strongly for or against it without many facts to back up either side. Personally, I think the debate should happen anyway, because it’s my belief that anything enjoyed by 30,000 people around the world every second shouldn’t be so extremely stigmatized.

The most popular argument for eliminating porn is that it harms those involved, promotes crime and weakens marriages. Many shocking facts appear when you do the research, but if one were to merely read the byline, some truth can be revealed. The most visited studies Online are often published by institutes like the Marriage and Religion Research Institute or the Catholic Family Research Council, “scientific” organizations that publish their anti-porn studies alongside iron-clad proof that evolution never happened and that watching Ellen will turn your daughter into a lesbian. In truth, a thorough survey by the government on this subject has never been conducted; it’s as though politicians aren’t quick to spend tax dollars on finding out where Americans get their freak nasty on.

The University of Arizona did, however, conduct a study in response to the claim that porn harms morals. In it, they found that subjects who watched porn regularly, no matter what kind, had more approving attitudes toward same-sex and inter-racial marriages and showed no correlation to abusive or criminal personalities.

I get the hubbub, some porn leaves a sick feeling in the stomach. Any observer can see that the industry is plagued by misogyny and a false sense of reality, but that is not harmful to someone who is smart enough (ie: everyone over the age of nine) to know what they see Online isn’t necessarily real. But one could get the same sick feeling, not from porn, but from most social media, Hollywood movies, music videos, or organized religion, where misogyny and false realities are rampant. Dissatisfaction in life and marriages, studies by psychologists show, correlate more with education than with porn consumption.

My final thought is what I hope gets understood: porn can be bad but stigma makes it worse. The world of porn suffers from exploitation, child pornography and addiction, but banning or shaming people for enjoying their sexuality will not help combat this. The only thing that can is a free mind. As with anything: be safe, be wise and enjoy.

BRADY BRODER ICK

PRO

JESSICA HUGHES

CON

The Crystal

I hate pornography.

Not the people involved as they are lonely people looking for acceptance and love, and they’re involved in an industry where they will never find that. But I hate the idea of people making money on others’...*ahem* private matters.

More than that is the incredible amount of human trafficking and physical abuse that is suffered by those involved in the porn industry. An estimated 40%–80% of consumers of child porn abuse and molest a child, according to citizenlink.com. Depression, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, physical abuse including rape all have a place in the lives of those who are heavily involved in the making and selling of videos/pictures of people “enjoying” some BDSM. Man beating a woman in public? Shame on him! Man borderline abusing a woman while having sex? It’s a “video” about love with a bit of raunchy material. Why is this legal, again? Oh that’s right, it’s not, but it’s certainly not regulated very well.

Pornography paints women as objects- just a toy ready to be used whenever a man feels like it. Typically, I try to stay out of the feminism battle, but porn is not empowering. Porn is not liberating.

Pornography, in no way, is good for women.

Having porn readily available is another thing I have a major problem with. Elementary aged kids go Online and open up the Internet, probably looking for information on the solar system or for information on a favorite author and find, yep, Mom has been looking at some hardcore porn. Some things cannot be unseen, and those children could suffer for the rest of their lives.

Speaking of family, those in close contact with those watching porn are hurt significantly. In fact, many who are addicted (yes, it can become an addiction. Dopamine makes you feel good and it is released when you watch porn) begin to have symptoms of depression and are less and less satisfied when they have sex with their partner. Actually, individuals who watch porn 3-5 times a week scored three times higher than the general public on a depression scale in a study done by licensed marriage and family therapist Dr. Kevin Skinner, Ph.D. Basically though, porn is a disaster for everyone involved. For the one watching it, the partner of the one watching it, the children of the one watching it and, the worst, the ones making it. The sad thing is, there is no way to undo the damage that pornography has already done. What I’m trying to say is that porn puts so much harm in people’s lives, even the ones who don’t ask for it. Can we make porn illegal? I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer. But can we come to the general conclusion that porn should not ever be an acceptable practice? Yes. Yes we can.

22

Opinion

Fitting The “IT” Girl Looking in the mirror, I see that maybe I have gotten thinner. I see that maybe I have gained more muscle. But then the voice in my head takes over. I see that my hips are too wide. I have love handles.

My thighs are huge. I have a muffin top. I wish I were much thinner.

Some girls have it a lot worse than me. Some girls hate everything they see in the mirror.

Through the decades, many women’s body images, including my own, have been heavily influenced by celebrities and the media. Women are constantly pressured to look like someone else rather than love their bodies. We all know that it is unrealistic for every woman to have the butt of a Kardashian and the legs of Beyoncé. It’s insane to think that how women see their bodies is directly affected by movies, television and music.

Ideal body types for women go in and out like fads so it is pointless to make yourself look like someone else when there will be a new “It” Girl in a few years.

Everyone is different and we should all be able to love ourselves and stop comparing our bodies to other Age of the Flapper women and unrealistic standards.

1920s & 1930s

Starting in the 1920s-1930s, women were very thin. During the 1920s, the decade of Flappers, women felt empowered by the women’s rights movement. Women chopped their hair off to a bob and had very thin, flat-chested bodies. The 1930s were slightly different in which the ideal body started to look more feminine and hourglass like. Women were still thin, but the glam of Hollywood had brought a new standard for women. Loretta Young, an actress of the 1930s, had a thin body and a slightly more hourglass figure. This lead into the curves of the 1940s-1950s.

Hollywood Curves

1940s & 1950s

As most of you know, Marilyn Monroe was a huge influence in body type in the 1940s-1960s.

Marilyn had become one of the first major sex symbols but was also setting guidelines for women at the time. There was a big push on gaining weight during the time, so if you were thin during these years you were probably feeling loads of pressure to gain weight. Although a lot of people have criticized Marilyn for being a size 14 (this is now considered plus size), and an unhealthy role model for women, times were different then and being a bit more filled-out was sought after.

Making the Runway

1960s & 1970s

In the 1960s-1970s, an English supermodel known as Twiggy stole the scene. As obvious from her name, Twiggy was tall and extremely thin with high cheekbones. This put a completely different pressure on women to be as thin as a rail. Many people criticized the 92 lb.

Twiggy for being much too thin and causing an increase in anorexia, but many applauded her for her modeling career and changing the modeling scene.

Let’s Get Physical

1980s

Reporter

Information provided by https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201112/history-eating-disorders

Dying to Be Thin

1990s

The grunge of the 1990s brought another skinny, model-type body type for women. Another English supermodel, Kate Moss, had superb cheekbones and thin limbs which put yet another pressure on girls to be thin.

Her photos were simple but their impact was huge on the ideal woman’s body shape. Her gaunt Calvin Klein shoots were very popular in the 1990s and seemingly encouraged anorexia.

Abtastic

2000s

In the 2000s, we saw women like Brittney Spears and Jennifer Lopez be the idols young women. Flat abs and being tan we’re all the rage. It is also noted that during this time that big butts on women were becoming more desirable.

Bootylicious

2010s

The 2010s are all about big bootys and curves. Hourglass figures as portrayed by Beyoncé and Scarlett Johansson are very popular among women these days. Music and movies have encouraged this thought by showing women with an hourglass figure as the ideal woman or “love interest” in the movie/song. Because of this, women feel pressured to have an hourglass, curvy figure.

Remember that not everyone has the same body type. Some women actually struggle to put on weight and are just naturally thin. For others, it is a constant battle to be thinner. It is a shame that women are taught to think that they should try to look like a stranger. If you feel good, then that should be enough and you should love your body. If you don’t feel good, then change it, but don’t go out of your way to look like someone else just to please the rest of the world. Don’t compare yourself to others because no one can compare to you. We are all different and unique and beautiful forms of women. Let’s stop competing and instead let’s encourage each other to love our bodies

The fitness craze hit the 1980s hard and it is very telling through the fit supermodels and aerobic instructors. Women such as Jane Fonda and Elle Macpherson were at the top of the chain for ideal bodies. Women wanted to look like the supermodels with lean legs and flat abs. Jane Fonda, an exercise guru in the 1980s, had also heavily influenced women of the 1980s to be non-stop working out machines. There was a significant increase in eating disorders in the 1970s and 1980s.

Addie Pyatte

SHAPE

April 2015

Opinion

Girl scout cookie

horoscope

Just as the signs of the zodiac, Girl Scout cookies can be determining factors in the world of luck and misfortune. Find out here how the remainder of third trimester will go for you.

Carli Fettig

Reporter

Capricorn

aries

cancer

libra

Aquarius

taurus

leo

Scorpio

pisces

gemini

virgo

Sagittarius

December 22 - January 19 Your spirit cookie is the Thin Mint.

You’re a crystal wave of a spearmint breeze after you take a drink of water while chewing gum. You’re more than likely too kind to others when you truly need a hard exterior. But like the Thin Mint, you’re left with a soft shell that peers tear through. Today you’ll encounter intense auras from other Pisces because you share the same vibes, man.

January 20 - February 18 You can only eat a certain, bearable amount of Samoas before getting sick and needing a break. And because you are an Aquarius you are feeling rebellious; your mom has probably just grounded you for the several smart remarks you strung together in perfect harmony. You feel the inner hunger to go do hoodrat things with your friends and just need to live a little because you’re practically an adult. Just like eating Samoas, the resemblance is uncanny.

February 19 - March 20 Two Tagalongs are always better than one, just like the two fish of Pisces. If your intuition has been off lately, don’t worry because the stars are aligned for you. It’s your time to shine. Thin Mints have been in the spotlight too long, it’s time for Tagalongs to start the uprising and stop being so pessimistic, step up and take their place as number one.

March 21 - April 19 Being an Aries you’re so positive sometimes it’s repelling, just like the Do-si-do to the person with the peanut allergy. Your arrogance and stubbornness is concealed just like the peanut butter inside the oatmeal crust, but once you break it all comes spilling out with only your compulsiveness to blame.

April 20 - May 20 On occasion your down to earthness is sometimes nauseating. Just like the occasional nautiousness from too many Trefoils, which comes from too much self indulgence mixed with the incomparable amount of laziness. Your possessiveness shows when your fellow Leo asked for a Trefoil and you hid the box.

May 21 - June 20 It can be tough to be a Gemini because you most likely need a companion, the better if they have the same first initial as you. Just like Cranberry Citrus Crisps, because just cranberry isn’t going to cut it; you need citrus also to be complete. Even though you’re soft spoken when you find that perfect friend or significant other, you’re complete.

Because what’s cranberry without citrus?

June 21 - July 22 It’s hard to be caring when you’re such a self absorbed Lemonade. But it’s hard to make a good lemon cookie without sugar too. Even though your dependability is admirable you can be very sensitive. Just remember don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.

July 23 - August 22 Unfortunately since you’re a Leo you will never win an Oscar, just like the Rah Rah Raisins will never overcome the Samoa. As musically or theatrically inclined as you are you won’t win the award you’ve always had your eyes on, but many accolades and fans will follow.

You just have to indulge in your strength of confidence and ambition.

August 23 - September 22 Virgos are Savannah Smiles because it takes the precise perfect amount of powdered sugar to make you smile.

As helpful as you are you will soon be rewarded for it because making everyone smile will be proven fruitful for your bank account.

The Crystal

23

September 23 - October 22 Libras, the kings and queens of sarcasm, are the people who always tactfully manage to sound condescending but charming saying thank you. Thus, why Libra’s are Thanks-A-Lot cookies because no matter how many times you say “thanks a lot” you cannot say it without condescension.

October 23 - November 21 Scorpio’s are always focused and dialed in on whomever wronged them or whomever acquired their jealousy. Even though they are always faithful to those they’re close with one wrong move will initiate an attack of which their bravery will not stop them. Scorpio’s spirit cookie is the Toffee Tastic because they have the perfect balance of toffee and shortbread.

November 22 - December 23 The Sagittarius and the Trios are each other’s pairing because Sagittariusi have large hearts just like when you eat too many Trios. Sagittariusi are careless; being careless leads to eating too many Trios, which leads a stomach ache, which leads to a slow death by food coma.

CHUITMAN in

HANGHAI

Last summer, math teacher Jeremy Schuitman, his wife and three daughters traveled 7,076 miles from Battle Creek all the way to Shanghai, China. Schuitman is just finishing his first of three years teaching at an English-speaking school in Shanghai. This year he taught Honors Algebra 2 and Honors Physics.

He is living with his family in a condo, but his real home is in Battle Creek, to which the Schuitmans will be returning in July for a visit. Despite the 12-hour time difference, we were able to catch up with the Schuitmans over Facetime.

School Schools in Shanghai have many similarities to American schools as well as many differences.

The biggest difference in Shanghai is the scheduling. Students there take eight classes but only six per day, meaning they have four different schedules througout the week.

“It is crazy and I still do not fully understand it, but I have only missed one of my classes,” Schuitman said.

The class size in his school is about 15 students per class. Schuitman said this allows him to get to know every kid and help them with their individual academic needs.

Culture/Leisure

Food

Like America, Shanghai is a diverse area. The Schuitmans have friends in Shanghai from many different places, such as Korea, Italy, China and also America. With a population of about 24 million, Shanghai has pollution days, where there’s so much pollution that they have to stay inside.

“We treat it just like a a snow and cold day,” Schuitman said.

During their freetime, they enjoy biking, rollerblading and swimming. The Schuitmans traveled to many other countries as well.

“We enjoy the adventure and the new kids,” Schuitman said.

Food has a different twist in China. There is a traditional type of Chinese food, and then there’s a Western Chinese food, which is what we typically eat in America.

“We want to get to the areas that are not Western,” Schuitman said.

The Schuitmans want to stay as local and traditional as possible in China. The more Western the food is the more expensive it is, and the more local the food is the cheaper it is.

“The biggest thing I miss in America is frozen pizza,” Schuitman said.

Nate Jones

Jeremy Schuitman / Courtesy Photo

Jeremy Schuitman / Courtesy Photo

ADVENTURE TIME Schuitman and his family are on an adventure in China. The Schuitmans will be back for a visit in July this year. “It’s hard for the girls when they can’t see their family,”Schuitman said.

hanghai, China Shanghai has a population of about 24 million Language: Mandarin Chinese Average spring temperature: 65(F) 14 hour plane ride to Shanghai, China

HOME AWAY FROM HOME The Schuitman girls check out a map before their adventure through the zoo. In Battle Creek, Schuitman knows everyone and where eveything is, but when he’s in China, he feels lost, and doesn’t know many people. “I’m addicted to adventure and living overseas,” Schuitman said.

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