January 2011

January 2011

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The Times thanks our patrons: Gold

Saleh & Faten Awadallah Nancy Graves Dr. Wagner & Family

Silver

Claudia & Darryl Chajon Barbara Michel Suzanne Pollack Sherri McEntee & Don Richmond Jim Quigley & Mary Ryan Mark Schroeder Vicki & Dan Smigelski Kefah Suleiman

Bronze

Yakoob Badat Moira Dugan & Charlie Bango Barb Cromer Costo’s Juice Plus John L. Dowling Olivia Hiles Kiley Family Mary Beth Kohl Susan Love Brigid McNeely Walt & Sue Moran Keith Owen Wendy & Dave Robar Bill, Mary, & Ian Schulz Tracy Supinski John & Patti Witri Kari Zimmermann

Front cover by Tessa Newbacher

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The Lakewood Times

Times staff 2010/2011 Co-Editors-in-Chief Fiza Shah Deven Middleton Design & Sports Editor Lisa Kowalski News Editor Sam Cross Opinon Editor Alberto Rodriguez Lakewood Life Editor Julia Houska Copy Editors Melissa Gajewski Gwen Stephen Adviser Karen Ballash

contents

Editorial Board Members Haley McGinty Katy Eberl Grant Graves Andrew O’Connor Meredith Richards Peter Quigley Toby Tobin Lindsey McEntee Grace Coy Juan Amador Tori Chesmar Sabrina Suleiman Wilson Sackett Naseem Shean Paige Smigelski Lily Pollack Matt Majewski

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Vol. 90 Issue 3 January 2011

Members of student council look on admiringly as their fearless leader Jim Slagele gives a speech

Focus 4 Here’s a funny one: student council 6 I’m passionate... for now

News

7 Phoenix rising 8 Singing their way to states

Opinion

10 WikiLeaks is shady 11 We want it, but did we earn it?

12 Why can’t they say ‘I do’ too?

14 Staff editorial Our forgotten war

Lakewood Life

16 Tattoos and broken boards: guess who?

18 Are you a vege-teen too?

20 Not so Coy about fashion 15 Don’t think they can’t keep up 22 The new dimension of movies 23 Ramsey gets the pin

Sports

24 Right-side-up is overrated 26 Don’t be afraid to dive right in 27 Farewell to fair-weather fans 28 Final Word

Times Editorial Policy As preservers of democracy, our schools shall protect, encourage, and enhance free speech and the exchange of ideas as a means of protecting our American way of life. The Times and its staff are protected by, and bound to, the principles of the First Amendment and other protections and limitations afforded by the Constitution and the various court decisions implementing those principles.

It is the mission of The Lakewood Times, the official newsmagazine of Lakewood High School, to serve as a public forum that promotes the gathering and exchange of ideas, and uphold high journalistic standards for the purpose of enriching the lives of our readers.

The Times is established as an open forum for student expression and as a voice in the uninhibited, free and open discussion of issues. The Times will not be reviewed or restrained prior to publication. Content of the Times, therefore, reflections only the views of the student staff or individual students and not school officials. Students may use online media to educate, inform, and entertain their readers. Both the school and the cyber community are entitled to the same protections and subject to the same freedoms and responsibilities, as all other student media outlined in this policy. Online media are forums for self-expression and are similar to traditional media, in their freedoms, responsibilities, and professional obligations. As such they will not be subject to prior review or restraint. Student journalists may use online media to report news and information, to communicate with other students and individuals, to question and consult with experts, and to locate material, to meet their newsgathering and research needs.

The Times, and staff, will strive to avoid publishing any material determined by student editors or the student editorial board to be unprotected, that is, material that is libelous, obscene, materially disruptive of the school process, an unwarranted invasion of privacy, a violation of copyright laws or electronic manipulations changing the essential truth of the photo or illustrations. Other obligations can be found in the handbook available to each student. The Times adviser will not act as a censor.

If questions arise over specific copy as defined within this policy, student journalists will seek the advice of the communications attorney from the Student Press Law Center. The Times editorial board as a whole will be responsible for determining editorial opinions, which represent the opinions of a majority of the editorial board. No single member of the Times can be held responsible for editorial content decisions. The Times is a tool in the learning process of journalism and operates as a learning laboratory. Any student may be a member of the staff, with or without prior journalism experience or enrollment on the staff for credit. As a forum for student expression, the Times will publish all letters to the editor, provided they are 300 words or less and contain the author’s name, house, and address. On occasion, we will publish letters using the “name withheld” providing the Times editor, or a team editor, knows the author’s identity.

We reserve the right to withhold a letter or column and return it for more information if we determine it contains items of unprotected speech as defined by this policy. Letters will be edited for spelling and grammar. Should a letter contain errors in fact, excessive grammatical errors or be too long, it will be returned to the author for re submission. Deadlines for letters and columns will be no later than ten days before the next publication date. The Times may choose to report student, staff, faculty, and alumnus deaths as he editorial board is made aware of them. We reserve the right to decide not to cover a death based on relevance, timeliness and circumstances. In cases where the editorial board decided not to cover death, letters to the editor in regard to that death could be printed.

January 2011

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What ever happened to student council?

The student council congregates at a monthly meeting.

All Photos by Deven Middleton.

How the most important club at LHS fell, and its plan for a comeback

By Deven Middleton

In a school of 1800 students, Lakewood High deals with problems and disagreements every day. As the voice of the student body, the Student Council’s job is not only to plan major events and fundraisers, but bridge the gap between the staff and the students.

Through the years the club has seen a noticeable decline in decision-making and leadership.

“I think Student Council, with lack of time on the advisor’s part and lack of motivation on the students’ part, started slipping through the cracks,” said Co-Student Council Advisor Allison Breckel.

Breckel was the former student body president of her class when she attended LHS. “When I was an officer, our biggest asset was our office,” said Breckel. “The offi-

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cers kept our supplies (paint, paper, etc.) but we also had mailboxes for each officer. We would eat our lunch in the office, meet during study halls and self directs, it was our past time to be in student council.”

After Breckel returned to LHS to teach, she found the club was meeting once a month, the officers once a week, and the once important office had been moved to the L-room. She was alarmed at the changes of the club she once commanded, but knew any number of reasons could have brought about this change.

“The lack of space has hurt us. Though the L-room is great, how often is it quiet enough for the officers to spread out?” said Breckel.

“We have a lack of advisors. The work and

responsibilities teachers have increased, it’s gotten harder for teachers to stand up and say, ‘Yeah, I have free time.’ And the financial situation has affected everyone in Lakewood.”

Breckel also feels the attitude of the school has changed the priorities of LHS students.

“School spirit was more prevalent when I was in high school,” said Breckel. “A lot of students at the high school really didn’t grow up in Lakewood. There’s that disconnect from the Ranger pride some grew up with and others have known only during their high school years.”

Senior class officer Maeve Diffenbacher agrees, citing spirit as a factor that determines the school attitude.

The Lakewood Times

Juniors Jack DeBaltzo and Nick Stadler review community service oppourtunities.

“We do have some pride, but there are a lot of negative attitudes,” said Diffenbacher.

“If we can make kids more excited to be at our school, if we can transform the attitude, then we can help make Student Council more serious.”

Diffenbacher also feels that the administration has taken away certain responsibilities from the club.

“I think [the administration] is afraid to trust our leadership, they’re worried we’ll make bad decisions they’ll have to answer to and it would be taking a risk to give us more responsibility,” said Diffenbacher. “Sometimes they do need to make their own decisions, but our input can always benefit these decisions. The council is always trying to make the school better.”

Senior and Secretary of the senior class Missy Richardson thinks that the club is just that, a club, and not an outlet for student opinion.

“Student Council is more about the events we’re in charge of, we’re not voting on any rules or concerns the student body has,” said Richardson. “We’re more of an eventplanning club than anything.”

Richardson feels that it’s the communication between the students and the advisors, not the administration, that has caused problems.

“The club meetings are basically the advisors telling us what to do,” said Richardson.

“It’d be nice to do more things the students come up with and have the advisors be open to new ideas.”

Kim Bindel, student activities director, understands that the goal of student council is to prepare students to be leaders. She admits that for a little while the advisors took on

January 2011

too much of the work.

“It was sometimes easier to just do things ourselves. Now we’re trying to help guide students instead of doing things for them,” said Bindel. “The advisors want to [give] the student council back to the students, that’s why it’s called ‘Student’ Council.”

“The greatest strength of student council are students who provide leadership and aren’t afraid to give their opinion about student issues,” said Diffenbacher, who hopes that one day, student council can regain its influence throughout the school and continue its progress of volumizing student opinion.

As for Breckel, she knows there is work to be done, but in the mean time would like to push the foundation of the club.

“If you talk to any [Student Council member] from the ‘60s through ‘90s, it really was the voice. Somehow that voice got lost,” said Breckel. “It’d be nice to get the students to have that voice again.”

Junior Mollie Evans gives a speech to her peers.

Up and Coming Events planned by student council

Currently - Silly Band Sales

Show your Ranger pride with either gold or purple Rangerman silly bands, supporting both school spirit and senior prom.

Jan 28 - Spirit Rally

The first of a new breed of “funraisers,” will include a glee preformance and a basketball shootout during 9th period.

Feb 10 - Wheelchair Basketball

Open to students and teachers, competetors expereience a new way of playing basketball.

March - Underclassmen Bake Sales

Supporting upcoming expensises for freshman and sophomores.

TBA - Color Wars

Random fridays will ignite a friendly competition between classes where every class is assigned a color to wear.

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Student protest lacks follow through

By Lindsey McEntee

Compared with the active student protest of the past, this generation’s attempts at instituting change are quite weak. Student protests erupted on high school and college campuses in support for the Anti-War Movement, Civil Rights Movement, labor unions and the Environmental Movement in the 1960s.

In the past at Lakewood High School, groups of up to 400 students have walked out of the building in protest—once in 1982 for the unethical behavior of a teacher towards a large number of students. No protest of this magnitude has been seen in the school for decades.

While a portion, or even a majority, of students today may care more about their hair than issues or their rights, some current students do care enough to make an attempt at change.

Senior Brian Brink began a Facebook group, “Student Protest of the Lakewood High School Rules and Policies.” He precisely stated the rules the student body was angry with as well as posted updates on meetings scheduled with the Board of Education.

Brink strongly opposed the school’s policies and noticed the same reactions in his peers. He believed Facebook would be the best tool to utilize to inform and unite the maximum amount of people. As intended, the group spread rapidly and Brink was called into the office, expecting negative repercussions. However, Brink said, “Dr. Wagner was very accommodating and respectful. He suggested and welcomed the idea of small student focus groups to clear up the misconceptions and constructively find out what the student body was thinking.”

While this is more than most have done, it cannot be claimed that the protests are anywhere near as active as they have been in the past.

On multiple occasions, once again through Facebook, events have been suggested such as

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Want to actually change a rule?

Here’s how the Board of Education will listen, according to board member, Edward Favre.

Art by Danielle Curran

‘Wear a Hoodie to School Day.’ While students often responded ‘yes,’ no significant number, if any, showed up to school in a hoodie and refused to remove it.

Board member Edward Favre said, “The passive attitude of the students is a reflection of society in general. We are passive, uninvolved, self-centered and spoiled. The first ten minutes of the news this morning was dedicated to Howard Stern, Lebron James, and Jim Morrison. It’s entertainment, not news. That’s what we’re concerned with.”

Favre also remarks the atmosphere the students of the ‘60s were residing in is nothing like that of today. Today, the administration and teachers use different tactics of punishment that many students feel are intimidating. For example the dreaded, ‘This is a hall freeze, any student in the hall ways or tardy to class please direct to the nearest house office.’ This method instills more fear so students don’t react as easily. Students tend to want change but aren’t willing to accept the suspension on their record which may result from it.

Sophomore Moira Horn said, “I’m involved in a lot of extracur-

ricular activities and also occupied with keeping my grades where they need to be. It’s not so much that I don’t care about trying to make change happen in the high school, but I just think a clean record for college is more important in the end.”

The dress code regime is the most combative issue at this high school, but other issues such as budget cuts and school closings are major issues effecting students. A 16year old girl from Collinwood High School in Cleveland, Ohio was arrested after refusing to go back inside while protesting lay-offs outside the school. While she did not go peacefully and was charged for that, she was also charged with violating daytime curfew.

Not only are students today instilled with the looming fear of school punishments, but now also with fear of police intervention.

What arises from this is the question, has this generation just truly become lazy or have they been conditioned and scared into silence?

- BE ORGANIZED. Come together, in person, to discuss a specific goal. When these organizational types of meetings are done through email or Facebook, you lose the face. You need the real people for real thoughts. It’s extremely easy to ignore a person online, or fire off a message that was not thought through.

- Non-threateningly present your precise and researched argument to the Board. It must always be based on logic and fact, not emotion. A board meeting can be a very effective place for this discussion. It is essential to remember the board members are elected members of the community and as citizens, all students have a right to contact them individually at any time.

- Never begin your argument with, “I pay your salary,” “I won’t vote for you,” “You work for me,” or end it with “or else.” They all have the same effect as telling a student “I’m older and wiser.”

- Be overly respectful. Even if it’s all “blowing smoke” it will immediately disarm the person from any nasty retort they may have been planning.

- Perseverance. Most people would not be swayed to change an opinion they felt strongly about in one conversation, but if that person continued to come back with their argument it would begin to chip away at the opponent. Essentially, it builds respect. It may take five conversations to get only a fraction of what is wanted, but over time real change can be made.

“My generation isn’t the bunch of ogres that a lot of kids think we are.

Some kids have a problem with approaching strange adults, but they just have to get over that.”

The Lakewood Times

Phoenix plans to rise and shine

Students seek creative outlet

By Gwen Stephen

Strolling the halls of Lakewood High School are talented artists, authors and photographers alike. These creative students seek out forms of self-expression each day, if it’s drawing on the corner of notebooks, taking pictures from peculiar angles or illustrating their ideas with poems and stories.

By getting involved in Creative Writing classes and LHS’ art and literary magazine, the Phoenix, students get a chance to share their individuality, taking what was once just a personal hobby and displaying it to the LHS community.

“I think that literature and the arts are extraordinarily important. I think we tend to overlook them in favor of other disciplines,” said Creative Writing teacher and Phoenix adviser, Charmian Perttu. “I think kids love to express themselves, they really like to have a voice and particularly in the [Creative Writing] class, they really enjoy sharing with each other.”

Junior Lizzy Taucher, a first year member, enjoys the opportunity the Phoenix has given her. “There’s a lot of talent in this school,” she said, the Phoenix “encourages people to share their work. For an artist or writer it’s important to get outside opinions and critique.”

While members take joy in participating in the magazine, it is evident that participation as a whole is lacking. “We need more people to submit art and literature,” said junior Athena Ermidis. She believes the club needs “continuous members.”

“It did die out for a while, probably due to lack of interest from the students,” said Perttu of the publication.

“But for a while it was great, t h e y were

January 2011

beautiful,” she said flipping through an issue from the 1980s.

The word phoenix comes from the ancient Greek myth of rising from the ashes, which is exactly what this literary magazine plans to do. “We hope to have two volumes a year, rather than just one,” said Perttu. The original Phoenix was an annual school publication, but a change is in the works. “We’d like to hopefully expand, the way it used to be, and get more contributions of writing as well as art and photography,” she said.

Taucher agreed, “I hope that we get to print more than two issues—we just need enough submissions.”

Perttu said the club has been trying to promote themselves, “we’ve been putting [advertisements] on the announcements, and putting posters up. The biggest thing is word of mouth — when kids talk to other kids.”

The first volume of the Phoenix, for the 2010-2011 school year is still in the process of becoming a final product. “I’m learning the technology, but again you can give credit to the kids, they know it very well and they are quite comfortable with using it,” Perttu said.

Students are working to layout the submissions and create a full canvas of individuality and imagi-

Art submitted this year by junior Mitch Hamdan.

nation.

Perttu works to get kids involved, especially those from her classes, “I recruit. I say, ‘give me your stuff’ and number of them have, so that’s really where we draw from initially.” She believes that Creative Writing is “a place where they can talk about whatever they think and feel, and not worry about having to do it with rules.”

During a time of planned resurrection and rebirth for the Phoenix, members hope to show the community just what they offer.

While many in the student b o d y can relate to writing poems f o r themselves, constantly taking pictures, and drawing in their free time, the Phoenix g i v e s these students the option to showcase their talents and gain recognition f o r

year and a r t are imthey’re they’re stimulatg i v e s

their work in the creative arts.

Perttu hopes for a successful from the club, believes that and literature portant to the school, “I think n e c e s s a r y, vital, they’re ing, and it kids a voice.”

Kenneth Cran drew this image for an issue of the Phoenix in 1985.

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tudents advance Orchestra and choir members travel to perform.

By Sam Cross

Talented young artists and musicians from five regions in the state have been asked by the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) to join and perform with All-State musicians and conductors at one of the largest State conferences in the country. This year, six Ranger orchestra students (Carter Strong, Andy Peng, Al Rodriguez, Hannah Gallovic, Chelsea Polk and Katie Reading) along with six Ranger choir students (Luke Lemmeier, Kelsey Solarz, Nicole Dashiell, Maeve Diffenbacher, Abby Boland and Annalisa Perez) will be brought together with other young musicians to sing and play music together.

The annual conference, this year housing collectively nearly 9,000 individuals, will take place

Luke Lemmeier Grade 10 Tenor

All-State choir members warm up their voices before a winter choral concert. Photo by Mary Wallace.

in Cincinnati, Ohio, from January 27-29 at the Duke Energy Center.

Before being selected, orchestra teacher Beth Hankins and choir teacher Dr. Lisa Hanson, first submitted the auditions of their students to the northeast Ohio regional orchestra/choir.

Students showing the most talent were then selected to move on to the All-State conference in January. “I feel honored I have made it in this musical group

Annalisa Perez Grade 11 Alto

Individual choir photos by Devin Werner

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Abby Boland Grade 11 Soprano

and I hope it will be a great experience,” said sophomore choir student, Luke Lemmeier.

Once auditions were submitted and results were received by their teachers, remaining preparations were left lying on the backs of those who were accepted.“I’m excited and nervous,” said junior orchestra member, Hannah Gallovic. “I’ll be surrounded by some of the best musicians in Ohio, which is extremely intimidating.”

Nicole Dashiell

Grade 12 Soprano

It’s the students’ responsibility to find their mode of transportation and have the money to stay at the Kings Island Resort for their time in Cincinnati. “All state Choir is going to be an amazing experience,” said senior, Kelsey Solarz. “I want to make sure my voice is in the best condition it can be in before January.”

Starting at a young age is common among OMEA accepted participants. Some have only be-

Kelsey Solarz Grade 12 Soprano

Maeve Diffenbacher Grade 12 Alto

The Lakewood Times

to All-State conference come a part of musical extracurricular activities after starting high school, while others have been involved much earlier. “I’ve been interested in singing my whole life. I grew up with it,” said Solarz.

While being greatly involved in the school choir, Solarz has also been a member of Oberlin Choristers and Singing Angels groups. “Choristers was by far my favorite experience I’ve had-we went on tours [and] sang around the country,” said Solarz.

“Some of the choirs even toured internationally to Scotland and Australia.” Solarz has been a choir student for ten years and currently takes private voice lessons every Monday morning for an upcoming Solo and Ensemble contest. “I’m taking my vocal training a little more seriously so I can continue to sing in college,” said Solarz, who isn’t the only one keeping music in mind after stepping out of high school.

Like Solarz, for Lemmeier, acceptance into the All-State conference is one of many musical accomplishments. “I just know I want to do something with music in my life,” said Lemmeier.

While being a member of Singing Angels and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus, Lemmeier has also been a part of plays at

Chelsea Polk Grade 10 Cello

January 2011

All-State orchestra members prepare for a group picture with their class. Not pictured, Katie Reading.

Photo by Mary Wallace

the Beck Center and shows at the Cleveland Playhouse.

“To succeed you have to practice a fair amount of time,” said Lemmeier, who has been receiving private lessons, usually lasting 45 minutes, for several months. Practicing is not only common among Ranger choir students, but orchestra as well.

Chamber orchestra and symphony orchestra member, junior Hannah Gallovic, has been taking private cello lessons for near-

Hannah Gallovic Grade 11 Cello

Katie Reading Grade 11 Harp

ly three years and also plays the viper in the Lakewood Project.

“Having a teacher to help you work on specific things you don’t do in school orchestra really makes a huge difference,” said Gallovic.

Members from both choir and orchestra gather with other AllState individuals from their region to practice before the actual conference. “We’ll be playing some pretty challenging pieces...although it’s a lot of work, i know it will be worth it,” said Gallovic. “By

Andy Peng Grade 11 Violin

the time you get on stage in front of an audience, the hard work and practice is over,” said junior, chamber choir member, Annalisa Perez. Although there was hardly any commotion around the hallways about the success of these individuals, nothing is keeping them from having a great time and playing their best. “It’s all about having fun, not worrying about every note being perfect,” said Perez. “It’s gratifying enough just to have the experience.”

Carter Strong Grade 12 Viola

Al Rodriguez Grade 12 Upright Bass

Individual orchestra photos by Mary Wallace .

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TOP SECRET: Why WikiLeaks is a wasted cause

By Al Rodriguez

Their actions are misguided, but their create transparency in world governments? cause seems proper. They aim to speak the The way I see it, you can’t call yourself a good truth. They’re unpaid volunteers and anony- journalist or journalistic organization if you’re mous political rebels who are searching for too afraid to say who your sources are. truth within evil.

Do the work yourself.

These people are what is known as Freedom of information is a nice idea, but WikiLeaks. In the past month, what they’ve less credible if you know they’re hiding a said (or haven’t said) has taken world media source to avoid jail time. They call this a “new by storm. Even though their name seems model of journalism.” I call it cowardice. Into be everywhere, it’s a complicated thing to f i g u re -Julian Assange, WikiLeaks Founder out what they’re all about. formation is information, nonetheless, but it’s What does WikiLeaks do? They release just not fair to the citizens to hide your sourchundreds of thousands of classified docu- es and collect (most likely) illegally obtained ments to the public. They “open govern- information through a convenient “electronic ments.” They want to bring “important news drop box,” then republish it without doing and information to the public,” according to anything more than computer clicks. their website.

WikiLeaks made headlines recently beThey receive information, and then publish cause of their “CableGate” leaks. These it for the world to see. The information they leaks are over 250,000 U.S state department release covers almost every subject imagin- documents covering everything from secret able, from wars and crime, corporations and wars to crooked governments. They don’t censorship, and much more. In past years seem to see the fine line between revealing they’ve released sensitive information about truth and instigating conflict. WikiLeaks has the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as crossed this line. Some of these things are other telling information from nations all over important for the people to know. Others are the world. completely unnecessary. Some of the over They’re trying to impact the world by pro- 1000+ leaks published so far have been emviding useful information that creates “re- barrassing personal comments or informaduced corruption and stronger democracies tion that isn’t significant at all. I understand in all society’s institutions, including govern- they want to publish everything. One sensiment, corporations, and other organizations,” tive document could send us into a World as they state on their “About” page. They War III, and they’re fine with that. also say that they believe that “a healthy, viSince the CableGate leaks, their founder brant and inquisitive journalistic media plays has been in the news more than their leaks. a vital role in achieving [those] goals,” and The only true “face” of the organization, Asthat “[they] are a part of that media.” sange is wanted for sex crimes in Sweden.

I wholeheartedly agree with their stated The U.S is working to find the illegality of mission and view that good journalism his actions in order to pin him down for the achieves goals. However, the way that leaks. He’s reminding us how much influence WikiLeaks operates barely gives them any one man can have. A hacker turned “activsort of true journalistic credibility. The organi- ist,” he’s given WikiLeaks fame, went on the zation has no headquarters, is run by anony- run from international police, and has inmous volunteers (and a few paid workers), spired hackers and activists all over the world and is directed by Julian Assange, currently to fight for his cause. one of the world’s most infamous men. How Even now, he holds us hostage. An “insurcan they operate in shadows and expect to ance” file has been put onto the WikiLeaks

[

site, and is so heavily encrypted, it could take years to break the code. It could be nothing. It could also be thousands of dangerous, damaging documents. The key to that file is one password, which only Assange and a few others know. If he is persecuted, he’s threatened to release the password. A man in prison is blackmailing the world. If another Julian Assange happens, we’re in trouble.

Laws have been broken, and I hope Assange sits in prison for a long time. But, that won’t happen without a fight. He will defend himself with the First Amendment, which says that there’s a freedom of press and speech for all individuals. There has to be a loophole somewhere that incriminates him, and U.S prosecutors will find it. Making an example out of Assange, however, comes with positives and negatives. I want to see him in prison for his crimes, for his ignorance of true activism. He doesn’t deserve to become a martyr in the name of free speech.

WikiLeaks tries to change the world with information. That was lost in translaton.

What’s become more important to the mass media are their increasingly militant actions and Assange’s legal soap opera. That’s not what’s important. What is important is that we’re not as safe as we think we are. We now know that modern war is changing, and that one secret document could be as lethal as 20,000 bullets fired. We choose who holds the gun.

Even though WikiLeaks’ PR has shown up their own cause, “We the People” have still been shown a side of the world and our own country that we don’t often see. Choose to read the leaks, or choose not to. But, don’t be ignorant and uneducated to a situation that is setting the tone for the future of world conflict. Ignore the smears they publish, and read to find the truth that can be used to help society. If anything, support WikiLeaks’ “mission”, and not what they’re doing. Give to their intellectual fund, not their wallets. Condemn their secrecy, but not all of their secrets. We can use information to change the world, it just depends what kind of knowledge we possess.

“If journalism is good, it is controversial, by its nature”

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]

The Lakewood Times

Student power: do we deserve it?

by Peter Quigley

After months of debate and protest, the school board has announced that they will not be establishing “campus wear” next year.

Superintendent Joseph Madak made it official on November 15, saying, “Given our economy and what we have learned from this work, and given consultation with our middle school and high school principals, I recommend first, that we not pursue the implementation of a campus wear student dress code for the 2011-2012 school year and second, that we continue with our existing student dress code with the expectations that students are to follow it and that staff is to enforce it consistently and in its entirety.”

It’s only natural to assume that the students of LHS were ecstatic when this was announced. After all, they were the ones that complained about campus wear constantly in the beginning of the school year. They were the ones creating Facebook pages protesting the dress code and campus wear. They were the ones who got pulled over in hallways and sent home for tiny dress code infractions.

But instead, it was almost as if none of that had ever happened. When Dr. Madak announced the downfall of campus wear, no one was talking about it. Students had already become consumed by the usual flow of high school life. They had soundly turned their backs on the once redhot topic of campus wear a long time ago, more occupied with things such as tests and gossip.

I was all for students protesting campus wear in the beginning of the year. It was an excellent use

January 2011

of student power and a good way for kids to express their thoughts and ideas, like adults.

Although the actual significance of student protests in this situation is questionable (the costs of supplying uniforms and angry e-mails from parents were probably the key reasons why campus wear didn’t happen) it was good practice for the real world and an excellent display of what students here are made of.

But considering how quickly students dropped their argu-

it’s not being enforced so fervently lately, you can still get written up if you have a small tear in your jeans or if your dress is a millimeter or so too short. Most importantly, the school board hasn’t given any indication of getting rid of those rules.

Not much was really solved.

Yet students still don’t seem to care about the dress code nearly as much as they did before.

Why should school administrators be concerned about student power when students

ment, I’m starting to wonder whether or not student power is a relevant issue at LHS. For one thing, hoodies are still banned in our school. Although

clearly show very little responsibility or attentiveness to their beliefs? A better question may be why do students care about student power when they give

up on their cause after a couple of months?

Martin Luther King was arrested many times and spent many years working to end segregation. He also didn’t just take it easy after his bus boycott was a success. Abraham Lincoln had to go through a tumultuous civil war in order to end slavery. He also didn’t just kick back and relax after the Civil War was over; he instead set up a detailed and revolutionary new set of laws to protect the rights of ex-slaves.

Obviously slavery and segregation are much more serious issues than school uniforms.

But still, if students really want change, they need to follow through in their efforts.

It is important that kids learn this. If they don’t, we will end up living in a world where nothing gets done and people are afraid to voice their opinions.

How is this generation going to go out and vote for a legislature when they don’t seem to care much about rules? How will this generation have politicians if no one is willing to go through the campaigning process? This country needs people to be actively engaged in government for it to truly be self-governed.

School shouldn’t just be a place for people to sit and listen to teachers; it should also be an environment of action and initiative. In the end, the kid who memorizes Shakespeare and studies for tests well is not nearly as significant as an average kid who is hard-working and who can apply the things he learned to real life.

I really want students to have more power. But if they don’t actually want it, why should they have it?

opinion 11

Gay Marriage ban is not just unconstitutional: Art by Miles Tucker

By Fiza Shah

I am afraid that 30 years from now, my children will ask why homosexuals were denied the right to join a person they love in the union of marriage?

How will I explain the idea of partisanship, where it doesn’t matter what rights are denied to American citizens, so long as the politicians in Washington stick with the views of their party? That instead of voting for the people they represent, they are voting for their either blue or red. How do I explain that we live in a country that encourages people to follow their own beliefs, so long as those beliefs don’t contradict the Christian values this country was based on?

Values this country is based on. I wouldn’t know where to begin.

From childhood, we are taught that we should be tolerant of others and continue to ex-

12 opinion

p a n d and protect the values that the United States was founded upon. Values that are outlined in the United States Constitution.

The constitution guarantees equal protection of all people living in the United States.

When African Americans fought for civil rights, they were really fighting to be treated with the same respect as their white counterparts. Looking back, we ask how anyone could deny these people such basic rights as being treated equally in the eyes of the law.

But, we need to look in the mirror when we

say this. It’s easy to look in the past and point out the wrongdoing of those before us. It’s much harder, however, to admit that today we are wrong.

I might not be making any friends by saying this but most religions, including mine, don’t accept homosexuality. I am a pretty religious individual, and have faith in the word of God. You might be thinking I’m a hypocrite. Why am I writing to defend homosexual marriage?

I am writing this as an American citizen.

Someone who understands what the rights afforded to people in this country mean.

Why should we give rapists and murderers the right to due process of law, but discriminate against the upstanding citizens of this country. There is something DEEPLY wrong with that.

Still, those who oppose gay marriage say that marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman with God as witness.

Therefore, to allow for gays to marry is to contradict the religious definition of marriage.

In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Union Act (DOMA) into law.

Through this law, the government was able to define marriage as, “only a legal union be-

The Lakewood Times

it’s inhumane tween one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word “spouse” refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife” (DOMA Section 1).

But, what is the reason behind these individuals not being given the civil rights every person should be given, regardless of such definitions.

The constitution guarantees all people due process of law and equal protection. However, supporters of gay marriage say laws like Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage, are unconstitutional.

The implication of this law is not just a sentimental one. Married couples are given benefits in the tax, health insurance, and social security areas. While married couples are able to transfer money and other assets to their partner without any tax penalty, those under a civil union do so while being “liable for estate and gift taxes on such transfers,” according to factcheck.org. Widowers from a homosexual relationship are unable to receive the pension or social security checks from their partner. Moreover, if a partner is in the hospital, in most cases they are not allowed to visit and comfort their loved one because they are not legally related.

Because of DOMA, even if a state recognizes a gay marriage, the federal government doesn’t. So, if a gay couple lives in California, they must file their state tax returns as a married couple, and their federal tax returns as a single payer. This often costs them even more money and makes the process confusing.

Ohio, however, doesn’t even recognize civil unions, let alone gay marriage. In 2004, Ohio State Issue 1 was passed with a 62% majority, banning same-sex marriage and civil unions. Because of this law, charges of domestic abuse within a same-sex relationship are disregarded.

How can the government define marriage in such a way? What is so bad about gay marriage that we’d rather take away their rights than to allow them to marry?

[

In April 2010, Mike Huckabee told college journalists that homosexual couples should not be allowed to adopt saying, “children are not puppies.”

I partially agree with Huckabee in regards to this point. Children are not puppies. But, I would also add that homosexuals are not ignorant, criminal, or degenerate members of society. They are citizens like you and me.

According to the American Psychological Association, homosexuals can be just as good parents as heterosexuals. “Studies comparing groups of children raised by homosexual and by heterosexual parents find no developmental differences between the two groups of children in four critical areas: their intelligence, psychological adjustment, social adjustment, and popularity with friends. It is also important to realize that a parent’s sexual orientation does not indicate their children’s.”

APA goes on to say that there is no corre-

So, explain to me again why homosexuals can’t marry? I mean, they seem to be among the few still interested in the idea!

The Republican view on this issue is an interesting one, considering the party continuously strives for less government involvement. Huckabee even said that he doesn’t believe that government should be involved in the private lives of citizens. If this is true, then how can government say who can marry and who cannot?

What foreseeable problems are associated with homosexuals being given the right to visit one another in the hospital, be under the same insurance plan, etc.

Some people claim that marriage is a religious term. If this is true, how can the government interfere while claiming they are still maintaining the separation of church and state? It should then be left up to the churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc. to deny who they want.

But, perhaps these are not the right questions. Perhaps, we need to look at this issue the same way we now view the Civil Rights Movement or how the Gay Rights Movement will be viewed 20 years from now. Perhaps we need to determine the definition of a citizen? Of a human?

And if we choose to stick with our current definitions, we must then change the definition of this country. Instead of the ‘land of the free,’ we should be called ‘the land of contradiction.’

Because in the land of the free, we are all bound and enslaved by the prejudices we each carry. We can never be free while being governed by a shadow of democracy, instead of the real thing.

]

Because in the land of the free, we are all bound and enslaved by the prejudices we each carry. We can never be free while being governed by a shadow of democracy, instead of the real thing.

January 2011

lation between sexuality of men and the likelihood that they’ll molest children.

“I don’t have to prove that marriage is a man and a woman in a relationship for life.

They have to prove that two men can have an equally definable relationship called marriage, and somehow that that can mean the same thing,” Huckabee said in the same interview.

Gay couples have, over and over again, proven that they are just as committed to their relationships as heterosexual couples are. But opponents to gay marriage disregard this, saying it’s unnatural.

Perhaps the problem is that this country is trying to maintain the sanctity of something that has become meaningless. Young heterosexual couples are now choosing to live together rather than to marry. Teens are no longer waiting for marriage to have sex, and adult divorce rates are way up.

opinion 13

Times Staff Editorial Thank you, for shutting us up

If you don’t know already, LHS students will not be subject to “Campus Wear” in the upcoming school year. Back in November, the board announced that a uniform policy would be too costly and that the idea would be put to rest. They pledged to continue their strict enforcement of the student dress code, and left it at that.

The Times would like to think we’re all grateful. If not, we should be. The victory that the student body wanted so badly is now ours.

For one year, at the very least, we have the freedom of expression to be a little different and be ourselves. What’s almost as good as the freedom of expression is the freedom from the talk, comments, and uprisings that took place just a few months ago. That in itself is a gift that keeps on giving.

However, if we want to continue to receive this gift, it’s best not to push our limits or abuse the leniency we’re given. For next year, the budget was the reason we didn’t have uniforms. For the year after,

lets make our good behavior the reason. Just follow the rules we have in place, and let this issue be buried once and for all.

A change came, and the Times feels it had a part in it. We did our homework and presented the Board with a well thought out production of fact and student opinion. As student journalists, we wanted change just as much as everyone else did. However, it’s worth noting that if we did help create change, we did it with integrity. If another issue as important to the students arises, we’ll cover it with integrity again, and aim for a change through well-placed words. If you have opinions, share them with us. The Times is the voice of the student body, and your words give us our voice.

To the students: thank you for speaking up, and to the Board: thank you for finally ending this. There wont be any change of policy, but that doesn’t mean we, as students, can’t change our attitude and learn to finally deal with the dress code that we love to hate.

Ignorance is bliss: Middle East on the back burner

By Julia Houska

For the last seven years America fought long and hard in Iraq.

On March 19, 2003 George W. Bush launched the invasion of Iraq. With the aim of removing Saddam Hussein from power, the United States took a leap into an unforgettable war.

In 2003 we saw Bush declare an end to the Iraq war. But that was far from the truth.

In December, 2003 it was announced that Saddam was captured, and then in January ‘04 it was reported that only 500 US personnel were killed.

In 2005 the WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) search in Iraq was declared over.

Then in ‘06 Bush proclaimed complete victory, and number of troops killed rose to 2,500.

This war surpassed the length of WWII. People referred to it as a civil war. Over 9 billion dollars went to Iraq in 2004 alone. This war has created a new meaning for combat overseas. Thousands upon thousands have died, billions of dollars have been spent and yet the average American doesn’t really even know what is going on. Americans seem to throw this war into the back of their minds like its old news.

Does a child’s mother, father, brother, uncle, sister, aunt, best friend, or neighbor dying get old. No. A day does not go by without

14 opinion

someone losing their life for the greater good of this country and the world.

A big reason for the ignorance of the average person on this war is because of the media. My brother, Steven Houska, a future member of the Army, believes that war we are involved in isn’t being reported correctly.

“Vietnam showed the Vietnam War, now the most you get is some fire-fighting and interviews.”

The people in this country only have the media to rely on, unless they know someone in Afghanistan. So, when the media does a terrible job of keeping us informed we become ignorant to the issues.

America has been fighting in Iraq for seven years and on August 31, 2010 President Barack Obama declared an end to combat in Iraq, it’s finally over.

Yet how many people actually knew?

“When WWII ended everyone and their mother knew. When Iraq ended everyone was like, okay..” Houska said.

For seven years this country has been through hell and back, round trip, several times and the end to this seemed quiet and held back. As more and more troops are being pulled out of Iraq, more and more are being put into Afghanistan.

We, as Americans can finally celebrate that our efforts and time in Iraq maybe have

meant something. But as one war ends, another escalates.

Coming from the reserved office training corps (ROTC) Houska states that because their “branch” of the army doesn’t go overseas, they don’t have first hand knowledge.

But personally, he thinks we “need to be tougher.” Afghanistan is harder to control than Iraq and has been going on longer. Operation Enduring Freedom started October 7, 2001 and is still going on today.

In spring and summer of 2008, the violence in Afghanistan claimed more foreign troops than the Iraq war. This was started mainly because of the tragic events that happened on September 11, 2001. On the one year anniversary of the start of this war, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfled told CNN that the Taliban and Al Queda were gone, but almost a decade later here we are still fighting.

With these two significant wars weighing down the United States, it surprises me how many people aren’t informed and educated on the subject. Our troops overseas need our knowledge and support to keep going everyday. We need to realize we are still in this 100%. Even though there were so many “ends” to the wars in the middle east, we still need to fight. For us civilians at home that means becoming educated.

Photo by Gwen Stephen

The Lakewood Times

Students with ADD and ADHD face Special Unfocused

Unique Slow

Dumb

A LIFE OF

Labels

By Naseem Shean

The classroom environment can be a challenging place for a student with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD.) The very tasks these students find the most difficult—sitting still, listening quietly, and concentrating—are the ones they are required to do all day long.

Do you know someone with ADD or ADHD? It’s likely you do. ADD and ADHD are common disorders shared by high school students everywhere. .

These disorders make common tasks like focusing, reading, comprehending material and controlling behavior more challenging for students. “I get distracted a lot,” said junior Zachary Hogya.

“I always catch myself reading things over again, not remembering what I had read before.” Lexi Getz, junior, said.

Many students at LHS have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD and have to overcome it everyday.

“I found out I had ADHD in the summer of ‘O7,” said junior Joe Ritter.

“When I found out I had ADD, I didn’t know what it was so I didn’t care,” said Hogya.

For Hogya and Getz, having ADD effected

January 2011

Different

Strong

Medicated

Junior Joe Ritter during his Chemistry class. Photo by Kathy Gabriel

their schoolwork. “I never feel like doing work or taking notes in class,” said Hogya.

“I’m always thinking of something else when the teacher is talking,” said Getz.

Junior Lorin Murray thinks having ADHD doesn’t effect her schoolwork much at all, “I learn really well, only I learn in a different way.”

“It doesn’t effect the rate I learn, but it sometimes effects my grades because I can’t focus.” Ritter said.

Ridicule from other students about ADD and ADHD has become the norm for these four juniors. “I can’t help if people make fun of kids with ADD,” said Getz. Most of the time it’s a friend making a “harmless” joke about another friend, not realizing that it could be a sensitive topic.

“The worst thing is being called retarded,” said Ritter. “If I do get teased, I don’t notice or tend to ignore it.”

“It sometimes bothers me, depending on how bad the insult is,” said Murray.

People with ADD or ADHD cannot be distinguished from people who don’t have them.

“The only thing that’s different about me then a person without ADHD is the way I learn.”

said Ritter. Kids who have these disorders have taught themselves to learn differently than kids without it.

“I don’t think of ADHD as a disorder, I think of it as an opportunity to learn in different ways.” said Murray.

The symptoms of these disorders are extensive talking, losing focus, not being able to concentrate and, for those with ADHD, being over-energized. Most of these symptoms are controllable to an extent with medication.

“I take my medication everyday at 4 P.M,” said Getz.

“I refuse to take my ADHD pills because they make me mindless and depressed,” said Ritter.

Hogya’s medications give him similar feelings, “When I take them, I’m never happy and I don’t talk as much. The only thing they really do is help me concentrate.”

Having ADD or ADHD does not effect a person’s intelligence.

“Don’t judge anyone with these disorders because they can’t help it,” said Getz.

“Having ADHD doesn’t make me any less of a person,” said Ritter.

lkwd life 15

The man behind the suit

By Fiza Shah

For more, go to www.lakewoodtimes.net

“It’s about having pride, continuous improvement, getting better, staying focused.”

Dr. Wagner gets work done in his office.

It’s difficult to imagine Dr. Wagner as anything other than principal of LHS. But, there are many sides to this administrator. His path to becoming principal wasn’t as straightforward as simply applying for the position and getting an acceptance call.

Before becoming principal, Wagner wanted to become a choir director. He then wanted to become an electrical engineer after graduating from Ohio University. Next, he wanted to become a veterinarian, but after discouraging words from his counselor, he decided to go back to school for teaching.

What he didn’t know, however, is that teaching was in his blood. “I learned after I had become a teacher that my father, prior to working at Lorain Steel plant, taught engineering courses at Lorain Technical College. I thought that was kind of interesting.”

After teaching for several years, Wagner got his administrator’s certificate, but came back to a newly-closed school.

Wagner had just packd his van to go to Oberlin High School to teach chemistry and physics. He had the keys in his hands and was walking out of the house when the

16 lkwd life

Teenage years Wagner was the youngest of four kids, and grew up in a middle class family. Being the youngest, Wagner says he had a tendency to be shy.

However, he admits, “my definition of shy might not be what other people’s definition is,” as he was highly involved in extracurricular activities in high school. He was part of student council for four years, was the freshmen class choir president, and a State representative for Ohio on the Association for Student Council. Not only this, but he was also a part of the Ski Club, a varsity football player, and took honors classes.

“I wasn’t exceptionally shy, but I have a tendency to get to know people slowly, and once I get to know them, that relationship tends to stick.”

Throughout his high school career, Wagner was a part of the football team, and was a varsity starter his senior year. “But I wasn’t in with the jock crowd. I was a choir and band person. I hung with that crowd more than anything else. That’s how I met my wife.

I’ve known her since the fourth grade.”

In the neighborhood he grew up in, there

were around 12 kids on the block in close proximity. So, they would play football in the streets or go down to the local park. During the summer, he and eight of his friends would get up at six in the morning to go to Lakeview Park in Lorain. They would play ball tag in the jungle gym area, watch the sun rise, and then go home.

“That was our routine for about three weeks in the summer [until] we thought, why are we getting up at six o’clock in the morning?”

Another summer, Wagner and several friends decided to take juggling at the Palace Civics Center in Lorain where classes were being taught by a master juggler.

“We were the only ones who showed up, but we showed up every week. So, that summer, we learned how to juggle.”

Wagner juggled lacrosse balls, while others juggled rings or clubs. However, Wagner admits he’s “not very good anymore.”

“The funniest thing is that the other day, we’re all outside in the snow. We were all packing snow balls and my youngest son says, ‘Dad, watch this,’ and he starts juggling. I thought that was interesting because I probably showed him once a couple of years ago, but didn’t really teach him anything.

And, he juggles better than I do.”

While his summers as an adolescent were filled with such enjoyment, Wagner was a studious teenager. While his parents never directed him into one specific career, it was never a question he would go to a four year college.

However, this was not a trait all of his siblings shared.

“Like most families, all of the kids have a tendency to be kind of different. My own children are completely different. Every single one of them.”

His brother didn’t like school that much, and was more into the partying scene. Now, he is a world ranked archer. He started a business of making bows, and ships them all over the country.

The Lakewood Times

His sister, however, was very similar to Wagner in that she, too, was very studious.

She went to college to become a medical lab technician. She later went back to school to become a teacher.

His other sister became a bartender and a manager. “She was exceptionally good at it.

She knew how to deal with people [and] she knew how to run a business.”

As a teenager and young adult, Wagner says his parents had a huge influence in shaping the person he is today.

His father, who worked as an electrical engineer, taught him how to manage money well. “[I was taught] people are always more important than things.”

Wagner describes his mother, who passed away in 2009 from leukemia, as the matriarch of the family. He says she was the glue that kept the family together as his father worked a lot. She was a stay at home mother, who later worked at a flower shop in the community.

“I learned very quickly as a kid that mom was always right. I fought with her all the time.

I argued with her. Even as an adult, when I would discuss things with her, whether I liked it or not, whether I liked what [she] told me or agreed with her, mom was always right.”

“The Karate Kid” sparks rumors in Dr. Wagner’s life What started as a science class lesson ended up as a rumor even Wagner doesn’t want to end. It all started when the original “Karate Kid” movie was released.

“When the original “Karate Kid came out, part of that movie was breaking of” ice blocks and I thought that was really cool. So, I wanted to teach my classes the physics behind breaking stuff like that.”

A friend was training to get a black belt in Judo, so Wagner asked if he could be introduced to his sensei. However, his friend refused, saying Wagner would have to go through classes to learn. So, Wagner took the classes—not enough for a black belt, but sufficient enough to break bricks. He incorporated what he learned into a physics lesson.

Since then, it has become a sort of tradition, at the beginning of the year, to break a stack of cinder blocks.

January 2011

Tattoos

While he admits he “can’t break as many as [he] used to be able to,” it still is a powerful image to help reinforce why he does the activity in the first place. “Every time I’ve done the bricks at Clearview or here, it’s about having pride, continuous improvement, getWagner has three tattoos, one on his left ting better, staying focused, the four expec- shoulder, one on the right shoulder, and one tations we have this year. It’s been all along on his ankle. the lines of positive messages.”

On his ankle, he has a tattoo of ...

However, admitting this isn’t easy. “I hesitate to even share that because I think the Oops, Spoiler Alert... myth is kind of funny.”

To read more, go to www.lakewoodtimes.net

The Few. The Proud.

The pride and focus message Wagner sends to Lakewood students must have also been passed to his son, Jack Wagner.

Wagner’s son joined the Marines after graduating from high school. However, the road to that decision is one that Wagner remembers to this day. Every year in high school, his son would come to tell Wagner what he wanted to be after high school. And, every time he did, Wagner challenged the idea, playing devil’s advocate for whatever he suggested. Within the overabundance of career options open for discussion, one was repeated several times—the military.

“And of course I would challenge him. But that was one that always reoccurred. So, when he became a senior and he says I think I want to go in the military, I said, ‘I know.’”

In the end, his son decided to join the Marines. For now he is home on the GI bill, but he has seen action on the battlefield in Iraq as well.

“He gave me a phone call very soon after he went into Paris Island and it was one of the few opportunities he had to make a phone call. And he says, ‘Dad, I get you.’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ and he says, now I understand why you harped on me all through high school. He said, ‘you’re just like my drill sargeant.’”

He was glad that his son understood that, just like his drill sergeant, Wagner, too, was trying to make him a better person.

“Wow. What more could a parent ask for?”

lkwd life 17

Teens and their struggles with

vegetarianism

By Lily Pollack

With the rising popularity of teen vegetarianism, more and more teens are discovering the unexpected struggles involved with their decision.

The constant pestering from friends, family and doctors comes along with the choice.

Teens cite a multitude of reasons for becoming a vegetarian, such as concern over the treatment of animals, health reasons and a lot of unsavory information about the meat industry that has been revealed.

“I didn’t really like meat. I didn’t eat chicken anyway, so why not go all the way?” said sophomore George McClellan, a vegetarian since the 8th grade.

Junior Mollie Evans explains how she found a red spot in her deli turkey one day in third grade and asked her mother what it was. Not being pleased with the answer, she’s been a vegetarian since.

“I just remember seeing this one really gross ad online… and then I knew I wanted to go vegetarian,” said sophomore Rob Moore.

“I think that if more people knew about the treatment of animals, they probably wouldn’t eat meat,” said sophomore Giorgi DeVito.

But regardless of a teen’s personal decisions, some family members and even doctors have urged these vegetarians to continue eating meat.

DeVito explained the concern her parents had. “When I first became a vegetarian, they were like ‘well that’s cool’ and supported me. But when I became a vegan, they weren’t happy at all.”

18 lkwd life

This isn’t uncommon, as some parents aren’t willing to spend the time and money making a special dinner for the vegetarian or vegan in the family.

“My dad gets mad because vegan food is a lot more expensive,” said DeVito.

“Sometimes I have to make dinner, but I won’t cook meat.

So when I make dinner, I don’t cook meat for my dad and that annoys him,” said McClellan.

“At Thanksgiving, my grandma had a fit because I couldn’t eat the actual turkey dinner,” said DeVito.

Evans explains how her friends and family taunt her because of her vegetarianism.

“My dad will be like ‘I made this good turkey. Too bad you don’t eat meat anymore.’”

There is also frustration involved with people not understanding vegetarianism and assuming

things, particularly among friends. Misconceptions and misunderstanding get annoying after a while, according to these LHS vegetarians.

“You can just pick the pepperoni off. But I don’t want to do that,” said Evans. “There’s also that one really annoying person who decides to wave meat around in your face. It gets old.”

“I think a lot of people [assume things] when someone says ‘Oh, I don’t eat meat,’ they take it like we’re pretentious.

That bothers me,” said DeVito.

The taunting done by a friend or classmate is either intended to be lighthearted or takes a hard stance against a vegetarian’s personal decision. But often times it seems as if people are telling vegetarians that they are doing something wrong, and that their

decision doesn’t make any sense.

Moore explained how his friends just make fun of him, while Evans says that it depends on the friends.

“Some think it’s cool.

Some are mean about it.”

Another issue involved with teen vegetarianism is nutrition.

A lot of people think that teen vegetarians don’t get enough protein, or vital nutrients to help them grow. But a lot of LHS vegetarians agree that they feel healthier after giving up meat.

However, vegetarians do suffer from losses in protein, iron and other vital nutrients if they aren’t watching what they eat carefully enough. Research and a little bit of reformation in a diet is the trick, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that doctors won’t be on teen vegetarian’s backs.

“Whenever you go to the doctor

The Lakewood Times

Different Types of Vegetarianism Flexitarian

Those who like vegetarian food and eat most of it, only eating meat occasionally.

Lacto-Vegetarian No eggs, but they still eat dairy.

Pescatarian

No meat, except for fish.

This is a stepping stone to being a full vegetarian.

Ovo- Vegetarian

No dairy, but they still eat eggs.

Raw Vegan

Freegan

Lacto-Ovo

Vegan

No meat except for eggs and dairy.

No meat, dairy, eggs or processed food with these products.

Fruitarian

Semi-Vegetarian

Unprocessed vegan foods Growing their own food that have not been heated and eating food that others above 115 degrees F. have thrown out.

Only eat fruit, nuts and seeds. They refuse to kill a plant.

Diet consists largely of vegetarian foods, but may include fish or poultry.

Compare and Contrast

Major protein sources for both vegetarians and meat-eaters differ in calories, grams of protein and grams of fat.

Vegetarian Meal Options One cup of Pinto Beans- 235 Calories -15.8 Grams of protein- .10 grams of fat Serving of Barilla Protein Plus Pasta-

210 calories- 17 grams of protein- 3.5 \\\ grams of fat

One cup of Lentils- 325 calories-

17.8 grams of protein - .8 grams of fat

with a problem, they automatically think it’s because you’re vegetarian,” said senior Taylor Graham.

“I usually worry about teen vegetarians getting enough nutrients,” said LHS school nurse Kris Purdy. “When they delete the meat, they don’t add the protein to make up for it. It takes a lot of thought and effort to put together nonmeat foods to get the protein.”

“A lot of people think ‘oh, no protein. You’re gonna die.’

But there are actually health problems with too much protein. I get perfectly normal amounts of protein as a vegan.

I drink protein shakes and eat lots of almonds,” said DeVito.

An appropriately planned vegetarian diet seems to be the key, balanced with everything and substituted with other protein sources. As long as it’s planned

January 2011

correctly and the key nutrients are included, being a vegetarian might just be healthier for a teen’s lifestyle, and could potentially prevent future diseases, according to the ADA (American Dietetic Association.)

“With the proper guidance, [teen vegetarianism] can lead to a healthy lifestyle. It takes a team. I strongly recommend a nutritionist,” said Purdy.

“I feel significantly healthier. I lost weight. I’m a lot lighter on my feet, and my skin is way clearer now. I know I’m eating healthier on a daily basis,” said DeVito.

“Going vegetarian definitely improved my self-esteem. It’s impossible to feel worthless when you’re doing something good,” said DeVito. “Every vegetarian saves roughly 100 animals each year, and I feel like I’m doing a great thing on a daily basis.”

Meat- Eater Meal Options Your Typical Hamburger with condiments- 279

calories-12.9 grams of protein- 13.5 grams of fat

Skinless Roasted Chicken Breast-120 calories-

24 grams of protein- 11 grams of fat

Ground Beef (90% lean)-21 grams of

protein-10 grams of fat

lkwd life 19

Extreme Makeover: 1

By Grace Coy

Stephanie Saed seems to have a typical wardrobe for most teenage girls. T-shirt, jeans, and Uggs are her staples. “My style is all about comfort, I’m all about sweatshirts and loose fitting clothing,” Saed said.

Shown left, a typical everyday outfit for Saed is a long sleeved T-shirt, jeans and her always-present Uggs. Saed’s confidence is lost behind her plain clothes.

Saed hides her figure in baggy clothes that look incomplete. For this makeover the goal is to bring out her inner fashionista and put her in more stylish clothing while keeping her personality involved. The goal is for Saed is to flatter her shape and add more trendy pieces to her everyday wardrobe.

As soon as Saed tried on the new clothing chosen especially for her, you could see the transformation right on her face. “The makeover was good for me because it got me out of my comfort zone,” said Saed.

Saed’s new style is a mix of super girly with a rock and roll edge. She learned that it’s okay to dress up even just for a typical

school day.

Saed shines in this cute black skirt with a shrunken gray sweater (photo 4). This look exudes confidence and a little bit of sass.

The black skirt has little zipper details on the side giving it a cool edge. The gray sweater has little sparkles down the shoulder. This sweater adds a hint of sparkle to any outfit.

For the everyday looks Saed wore jeans with a flounce top with a long cardigans. The cardigan is buttoned up to show off her waist (photo 2). It’s a simple outfit but showcases how wearing a little fancier top can pull a whole outfit together and give it a more polished look.

This look is very similar to the before outfit but the fit of the sweater makes the outfit so much better (photo 3). Saed learned that how her clothes fit makes a big difference.

Also the little metal accents on the shoulders add some personality to her outfit.

Saed discovered her stylish side and how to put together an outfit that looks good. The lesson learned was that you don’t have to be fancy to look super cute and classy!

BEFORE

AFTER

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The Lakewood Times

LHS Edition Bob Zimmerman has the style of most high school boys (photo 5). “My style consists of nothing more than jeans and T-shirts as well as the occasional flannel.” The purpose of the makeover was for Zimmerman to recognize that being comfortable and looking put together, go hand in hand.

The transformation was very apparent.

From the moment Zimmerman started posing in his new looks, his confidence skyrocketed. Zimmerman explains, “ I felt like a new man with better clothes and a fresh new outlook on life.

This significant change is so easy to accomplish. All Zimmerman has to do is take a little bit more time picking out his outfit.

Bob stepped out of his ever-present plaid for a more polished look. In a dark washed jeans and a striped sweater, he is both comfortable and stylish.

For this look Zimmerman comes off studious in his checkered button down and cozy sweater layered over it. He

looks well put together without trying too hard.

Also the layering keeps him warm in the cold classrooms and the sweater on top can easily be taken off while still looking classy in the checkered button down underneath.

White button-down and gray khakis are the perfect outfit for any day at Lakewood High.

Bob now exudes more confidence and iooks ready for anything. This classic look is easy to throw on before school and looks way better than just a T-shirt and jeans.

“It was nice to have someone else pick out my clothes for a change. I only wish it happened more often,” said Zimmerman.

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BEFORE

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January 2011

Photos by Grace Coy & Deven Middleton.

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lkwd life 21

The Future of movies is in three dimensions

By Melissa Gajewski

Movies are constantly changing. They’ve gone from choppy silence to black-andwhite noise, to Technicolor, to claymation, to CGI, to Avatar. And with every new silver screen advancement, there comes a boxoffice boom.

Take Avatar (2010) for example. It’s opening weekend, it was #32 on the all-time, firstweekend box office list, making $77,025,481 in three days. That miniscule number was only 10.3% of its entire profit. When the movie closed, it had grossed in $749,766,139 from the United States alone, surpassing The Titanic (1997) with its lowly $600,788,188 (U.S.) Worldwide, Avatar grossed $2,781,505,847 by closing. For you English lovers who have trouble with numbers, that’s two-billion, seven-hundred-eighty-one-million, five-hundred-and-five-thousand, eight-hundred-and-forty-seven.

How in the world can one movie generate that kind of cash? What draws the crowd? In Avatar’s case, it wasn’t the thrilling plot or deepreaching message (though some found it both thrilling and deep.) It’s technology, the insane, 3-D, performance-action CGI. James Cameron, the affluent director of both avatar and The Titanic, has been developing the technology put into Avatar since his first 3-D affair over a decade ago.

Then, the 3-D cameras weighed 450 pounds and were as transportable as the Taj Mahal. The touchy, immobile equipment cost a fortune and was hardly worth the hassle.

You can’t help but be impressed while looking back at the astronomical price and the low workability of 3-D cameras in comparison to today’s new models. Cameras then required rigging systems and multi-man crews, not to mention they were limited to filming under only certain levels of high lighting. Today, they’re lightweight (practically hand-held,) and can shoot nearly anywhere.

The quality of 3-d cinema has gone from Spy Kids 3-D, with a character or scene popping out here and there, to Avatar, with an entire imaginary world flashing on the screen in the third dimension.

When Cameron created the alien world of Pandora, he used his own Fusion Camera System (FCS.) Cameron’s goal with his

22 lkwd life

design was so that the moviegoers could not watch the film as a film, 2-D and on a screen, but rather see it as looking through a window, a world behind glass (or, in Avatar’s case, behind 3-d glasses.) Cameron wanted it to be a viewer’s second reality.

FCS employs HDCAMs, which are simply cameras that record video not on film but in a high-definition, digital format. These HDCAMs record dually: two cameras spaced exactly eye-distance apart from one another to give depth perception to the final film outcome.

This twocameras sys-

tem works exactly as the human eye works together, giving two slightly different views of the same object.

Try it by holding a pen in front of your nose and closing then opening one eye at a time.

The position of the pen in front of you jumps according to which eye is open.

By spacing the camera lenses apart to approximately the distance human eyes are spaced, Cameron was able to more accurately record and process video as humans record and process the world around them.

In older models of the 3-D cameras, the two lenses could not be put so closely together due to the fact they still used film.

Think of the lenses as the eyes and the film as the brain for a moment: the eyes see the world, and the brain processes it. The way film cameras work is that the brain must be right up next to the eyes, or else the image is distorted. With digital cameras, you can push back the brain, because as long as the eyes

and brain are properly connected, distance is meaningless.

Cameron and his crew stole another idea from the human eye as well, and that is our focus. Hold the pen in front of you again, but look at an object somewhere behind it. Then transition your focus from that object to the pen. When you do that, your eyes move inward, like your going cross-eyed.

That’s what Cameron designed his cameras to do. After selecting an object to focus on, the lenses move inward or outward according to the movement of the object, like eyes.

During filming, Cameron could look through a special screen on the cameras and see his actors as the 9-foot-tall, blue aliens they were portraying. Every movement Sam Worthington or Zoë Saldana made was transformed into a movement made by Jake Sulley or Neytiri in real time with the rainforest of Pandora surrounding them, It seems that there is no limit when it comes to movies anymore. We have sound, we have color and now we have 3-D CGI so realistic you’d swear you’re not in a movie theater, but rather on a strange, glowing alien planet.

Movies like Avatar are the future of film. Just look at the box office now. How many movies out there are in 3-D? Pretty much all of them.

You can probably expect more mindboggling CGI. Now that it is known such a thing can be done and that the moviegoing public responds extremely well to fantastical images, who wouldn’t jump on board? The field is open for the next Avatar-esque movie sensation. All a director needs is a bright idea and a drive like Cameron’s and they too may have the highest grossing movie of all time.

Movies have changed. We’re not in Kansas anymore, We still have our classics, even though, most don’t give a damn about them, Hasta la vista to the ways of old, because where we’re going, we don’t need a road to get to 88 mph in our tricked-out Deloreans, just a green screen and an idea.

Art by Casey Miller

The Lakewood Times

Pinned to wrestling One student’s journey on and off the mat

By Haley McGinty

Senior Nick Ramsey began wrestling in the 7th grade. His father had wrestled, and bored with not having any after school activities, Ramsey took up the sport. He started out just like all the other kids. Middle school wrestling was never the challenge it ended up being in high school.

Over the past four years, Ramsey has received many different awards. After his first three years in high school wrestling, Ramsey received all conference NOC athlete. His sophomore year, Ramsey won his first MVP

award at a tournament in Avon Lake. “I was so proud,” says Ramsey. That same season, Ramsey was injured, which “really messed up the season.”

Nonetheless, Ramsey came back in his junior year with more titles and winnings. During the 2009-2010 wrestling season Ramsey became a state qualifier for his team. “There was really nothing different [between the two years],” says Ramsey. “I was just healthier my junior year. I could fight longer.”

When senior year finally began, Ramsey had made the decision not to wrestle. “There were a few reasons I [began disliking] the sport,” says Ramsey. He had other plans in mind for his senior year in high school. “I just wanted to work, and get ready for life after high school.”

When the season conditioning began, Ramsey found himself changing his mind, and decided to go back to the team.

“It really was all about the team.

We needed points, and I knew I could help the team,” says Ramsey.

“Plus, I’ve been doing it since 7th grade, why stop now?”

During the season, wrestlers have to “make weight” in order to compete. This includes drastically gain• High school wrestling is also known as ing and losing pounds every week.

“Scholastic wrestling” or “Folkstyle wrestling,” “Cutting weight is the hardest part and is only practiced in 49 of the 50 states! of the week. By Wednesday, I begin eating just celery and grapes,” • Weekday meets are known as “Dual said Ramsey. “After a meet I usually Meets.” while weekend meets are known as “tournaments.”

binge. I’ll gain back all 10 pounds I had lost [that week].”

As far as the challenges this sport may take Ramsey, he has grown to love them. “I like the competitive aspect of this sport,” he said. “But also how it’s one-on-one.”

Unlike most other team sports, wrestlers compete for individual points, also bringing the team points. When a wrestler wins a match for himself, he earns the team more points as well. “In this sport, there is no one to blame but yourself,” says Ramsey. Although this isn’t the only sport Ramsey has ever played, it is his favorite nevertheless.

“This isn’t an easy sport, it really is tough to do.”

Ramsey has high hopes for this season.

After competing at states last year, he hopes for the same result this season. “Last year we had just gotten a new coach. He really got us into shape,” says Ramsey. “I’m mostly training and working on my technique [to prepare] for states this year.” As much as Ramsey wants to place in states a second time, he also has another ultimate goal of “staying healthy” until the end of the season.

With the titles of MVP, all NOC’s, athlete of the week, state qualifier, and many more winnings under his belt, Ramsey does not feel that he will move on to wrestle in college.

“As of now, I think I’m going to boot camp,” says Ramsey. “I want to be in the National Guard.” Although for him, this decision is not yet final. “I have been scouted [by colleges],” says Ramsey. “It’s still an option.”

• During a dual meet, junior varsity and varsity both compete. During a tournament, only varsity competes.

• Points are given to wrestlers for moves such as a takedown, an escape, a reversal, and a near fall or exposure.

•Weight loss is crucial in wrestling. Its purpose is to make the wrestler stronger in a lower weight class. Making the competition less of a struggle.

Nick struggles to pin his opponent. Photo by Frank Szekely

January 2011

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Kelly Zandy

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The Lakewood Times

Left: Zandy performs a parallel bars routine. Right: Zandy performs a balance beam routine. Photos courtesy of Kelly Zandy

By Paige Smigelski

When senior Kelly Zandy was a baby, she used to climb the bars of her crib. Her acrobatics continued when her dad taught her new moves out in the yard.

Zandy’s mom noticed this and decided to sign her up for gymnastics when she was nine years old and she has continued ever since.

At first, she only practiced once a week. But once Zandy was put on a team “It pretty much took over,” she said.

Zandy believes most people don’t know how much time and effort is required to be a gymnast.

For her, “it’s not just a sport, it’s more of a way of life.”

Gymnastics, to say the least, takes up a lot of Zandy’s time. In the fall, she spends 13 hours a week participating and five hours teaching younger gymnasts. In the summer, Zandy dedicates 16 hours a week to the sport. All of the time spent practicing makes it hard for her to “be able to do [her] best everyday, because working out so much leaves [her] with no energy.”

Zandy admits that it is sometimes hard for her to get up and go to practice, but she says once she’s there she has a great time.

She motivates herself by trying to be the best that she can be, every day.

“I don’t want to be a slacker because that is not who I am,” Zandy said.

“My dad is my hero because he was in gymnastics his entire life and he was really good. So he is a big inspiration to me,” said Zandy.

Her dad competed at Ohio State and is now one of Zandy’s main coaches and supporters. “My dad has helped me so much with everything.

He is one of my favorite coaches because I can go to him whenever I need to.”

Zandy’s dad, Scott Zandy, said, “I have been working with Kelly for ten years and she is truly a natural gymnast.”

Zandy has earned a three-year letter award for the Lakewood High Gymnastics team. While she spends a lot of her time with LHS, she is also a part of North Olmsted Gymnastics, a private gymnastics facility.

Lakewood’s Gymnastic coach of two years, Fatima AbuZahrieh, said, “Kelly is a great leader and I can count on her for anything as a captain.”

Recently, Zandy broke her finger while participating in club gymnastics. She had two pins put in to help it heal. This is leaving her unable to compete for

[

a few weeks until the pins are removed. Teammate Kelly McKee says, “She plays a pretty big role on our team and her injury is holding us back. We can’t wait until she is able to compete with us again.”

Zandy’s finger injury was not

her in,” and she hopes to be able to compete.

Her family has been very supportive of all the decisions she makes.

“My dad obviously wants me to keep doing it because he loves to teach me. But my family

“It’s not just a sport, it’s more of a way of life.”

- Kelly Zandy

her first while involved in the sport. Zandy had a back injury that started about a year and a half ago. This left her unable to compete for the past year.

All of Zandy’s life, her plan was to get a college scholarship for gymnastics but these plans have changed due to these injuries.

“Since I have lost so much time with my injuries, it would be hard to compete at the college level,” said Zandy.

AbuZahrieh said, “She works as hard as her physical injuries let her.”

Because of her back injury, Zandy did not qualify for states on her club team. Her coaches are trying “to petition

]

is really supportive and they always tell me if I ever want to quit, they would be okay with it,” said Zandy.

“The team wouldn’t be the same without her,” said AbuZahrieh. Teammate McKee said, “She helps me become a better gymnast each day, she is a great coach.”

Zandy hopes that gymnastics will always be a part of her life in some way, whether it be coaching or competing. “I just love it, and that’s all I can say.”

Events

Each of the gymnastics events requires conditioning for stamina and endurance, strength, power, flexibility, intense focus, spatial awareness, rhythm and timing. The art of women’s gymnastics is elegance, beauty, poise, confidence, dedication and focus.

Vault

Gymnast sprint down a 25 meter runway, jump off a springboard onto a platform and land on both feet.

Balance Beam

Gymnast performs a choreographed routine on a balance beam for up to 90 seconds.

Uneven Parallel Bars Floor Exercise Gymnast performs a routine on two parallel bars that are different heights.

January 2011

Gymnast performs a choreographed routine, using music, consisting of jumps, tumbles and dance.

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Are you a guppy or a shark? the basics of staying afloat for any swimming level

By Lisa Kowalski

The act of swimming has been around for a long time. At first, swimming was created as a way to not drown. But since it became an Olympic sport in 1896, swimming has become extremely popular. Swimming is also regarded as one of the best aerobic exercises, because it utilizes all parts of the body without putting stress on the joints.

Different people swim for different reasons. Some swim to stay in shape, some swim just for fun, and some swim because they like to compete. Senior swim team captain Brian Brink does it because “it is hard, yet very rewarding.” Senior Missy Richardson swims to “recover from hard outdoor training.” Emmalee Rinehart, also a senior,

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simply likes swimming for the fun of it.

Swimming is different from many other sports because of the different ranges of body motions that are involved. Each stroke has a different set of motions that one has to perform in order to move efficiently through the water. For this reason, the sport is opened up to many people who typically would not be good at other sports like running or volleyball.

In competitive swimming there are four strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Each one requires a different set of motions. It is essential to have a good stroke style in order to swim well.

Whichever stroke you swim, it

is important to remember these five key points: Body position- This affects the entire stroke, so you should work on having correct body position before anything else. Aim to stay as streamlined as possible.

Leg action- Having good leg action is important for good body position. You need to have a strong kick in order to stay as horizontal as possible.

Arm action- With the exception of breaststroke, most of the power in your stroke comes from your arms, but your arms can only work properly if you have the right body position.

Breathing- Many people encounter stroke problems because they breathe at the wrong time. Make sure that your breath

is a fluent action, so that it does not interrupt the leg and arm action.

Timing- It is very important to have correct timing, because that is how all of the elements fit together to form the complete stroke.

Using a float can also help you work on different aspects of your stroke. Don’t try to swim fast until you know how to perform the stroke correctly, because you will not be able to move efficiently without the right motions. Get the stroke right first, and then work on how far you can swim so you can improve your stamina.

Above: senior Ernie Boland practices his butterfly. Photo by Devin Werner

The Lakewood Times

Don’t Give Up on These Cavs Yet A sports opinion by Toby Tobin

Recently, the Cleveland Cavaliers have stunk. They have been painful to watch, and many believe they have let the fan base down, at least what’s left of it.

After a summer of heartache and drama, the Cavs went from championship contender to doormat of the NBA. Following a season which was supposed to end in a championship, the team is now starting inexperienced rookies and giving time to players most fans have never heard of. Everybody seems to want to quit on this team, but you shouldn’t.

Things seemed great last year, the Cavs were winning big every other night, and had, arguably, the best player in the world.

Nearly everybody in this school and community was behind the Cavs, though many had joined only recently because the team was winning. If everyone was willing to follow the team then, why must everyone leave now, because the team isn’t as good and doesn’t have anyone to lead it? Don’t leave this team and take the easy way out, like their former leader infamously did.

Recently, the Cavs held what can be seen as their championship game, when they hosted the hated Miami Heat. Since playoff hopes are relatively slim, this game meant everything to the fans. The atmosphere was electric, inspired by the homecoming of a not-so-popular nemesis. People paid hundreds of dollars for mediocre seats to watch this game, and what happened? The team flopped. The Cavs didn’t even put up a fight in the most meaningful game of their season. They followed that up with a 33-point loss to Minnesota, and had lost 15 of their last 16 games before the New Year.

You may see this as a great time to give up on the team, but doing that will only make the problem worse.

It appears things may not get better this year, or maybe even next year. Until the Cavs find

January 2011

J.J. Hickson could be a key contributor for the Cavs for years to come. Photo courtesy of www.hickson21.com

Daniel GIbson has been one of the few positives in a tumultuous season. Photo courtesy of www.boobiefor3.com

their next superstar, they may remain in the cellar of the league.

This could be as soon as next year, or it could take many more years. Though this is important, it should not cause people to quit on the team. Cleveland fans have endured losing for decades, and should be able to put up with it a little bit longer.

Things will get better, believe it or not. Cleveland has a few younger players that should prove helpful for many seasons to come, as well as an owner that has proven his desire to win, even if that means burning a hole in his wallet. Third year forward J.J. Hickson, while inconsistent, has shown star potential and could be a future leader of this team. Point guard Mo Williams

and center Anderson Varejao are also young players that can be positive members of the team for years to come.

In addition, the recent emergence of guard Anderson Varejao looks for a pass against the Grizzlies. Photo courtesy of Daniel Gibson has been www.nba.com/cavaliers a bright spot in an otherwise dreary season. Draft picks will also accumulate, and help build every single game, just do what this team, should they be used you can. Make it a priority to watch, or even attend some wisely.

The fact of the matter is, there games, as long as you support will be brighter days in Cleveland, the team and don’t give up on and if you give up on the team them. Sticking by their side will now, you don’t deserve to be be rewarding, even if that reward there for the good times. Going doesn’t come for years. Hang in through rough patches like these there, there will be brighter days. will make that eventual championship even better.

I’m not asking you to take in

sports 27

Final Word

Time for student power is now

By Deven Middleton

“With great power comes, great responsibility,” is one of the most clichéd quotes of our generation, but also one of the most important.

When you are deemed mature you inherit responsibility, and with this responsibility comes power. This rule can be applied all around the world, but I have never seen it applied around the halls of my own high school.

What I do hear around the halls of Lakewood High is a lot of complaining. Complaining that the dress code is too strict, the security guards are unfair, that the entire rule book we follow is written in cement, and there’s nothing any of us can do about it. I listen to false threats and hopeless aggravation e v e r y day and I wonder what kind of people my fellow students and I really are.

What first made me take notice of this attitude was through the changes in the rules and guidelines. After every alteration to the dress code this year (winter jackets with hoods, jeggings, etc.), people complained.

But no one tried to convince any administrator otherwise. (Or, at least not in a way that would actually get change, instead of in a way that sent a few to detention). My awareness grew as I became more involved in clubs. We realized many club advisors had taken control, planning events, organizing money, pretty much running the show. The student’s role? Giving a “yes” or ”no” vote on general decisions that barely affected the club. The question isn’t why the advisors are in command, but why the students haven’t tried to take it back.

I cannot grasp the concept that few of my peers have the drive to take control and be leaders. Instead I see students who’d rather be bit players, never once standing up above the crowd.

When the senior prom was given an unpopular date and location, what did we really do about it? Yes, we wrote a petition and gave plans, but ultimately we let the administration make the decisions. We let them win.

But why would students rather lead a life without power, when the rest of the world deems it so important? The answer presents itself simply: people want the power, but no one

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wants the responsibility.

Throughout Lakewood High, I see plenty of people in powerful roles, yet many are doing slim to none to get their position.

And they exert the same amount of poor effort once in their “power.” In a world where the maturation process is taking a longer and longer time to finish, our generation has become afraid of responsibility.

We, as a student body, want change, but we neglect to take the responsibility that comes with this change. To put it simply, if we don’t buck up, nothing we want will ever get done.

Although we do need to take credit for our “whatever” attitude, we cannot go without blaming the administration a little bit.

Compliance is a word we at LHS hear every day, yet how is it really affecting us? The administration, those who are supposed to be shaping us for the real world, have done no more than made us polite, yet quiet and gutless individuals. The procedure at school is easy: obey every rule, and if you have a problem, too bad. Stand up and be punished.

What we need to realize is that we have the most potential power of any group in the school, if only we could figure out how to turn that potential into action. The answer seems obvious, but most are taking a long time to figure it out. We need to mature, and we need to become more responsible. Now. So may I add to the quote SpiderMan made famous, “With great power, comes great responsibility – but it isn’t easy.”

Art by Tessa Newbacher

The Lakewood Times