April 2008 Issue of The Sycamore Leaf by Sycamore High School

the

leaf

FRIDAY April 25, 2008 7400 Cornell Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 513 686. 1770 ext. 3089

newsbytes

PTI CHECK OUT PAGE 32, the new sports opinion page, where Jared Kamrass, 11 and Ben Estes, 11, will duke it out over hot topics such as the NFL draft, the NBA playoffs, and local high school sports every month.

Safety stressed as Prom night approaches

Prom, After Prom

Tomorrow, Paul Brown Stadium will host Prom from 9:00 PM until midnight. The high school will transform into the annual After Prom from 1:00 until 5:00 AM. All students must be at After Prom by 2:00 AM and are required to stay until at least 3:00 AM. Visit goaves.org to read up on parking at both events.

Consequences prepared for misconduct NOA BELILLTI

news chief

Senior Issue

Only 24 more days until the Senior Issue of The Leaf goes on sale Tuesday, May 20th for only $1.00. Seniors have priority on the limited edition. Be sure to pick this up for a record of the past four years and to check out your classmates’ wills, Senior Superlatives, college choices and much more.

AP Exams

Check goaves.org for the AP test schedule. Students will be taking AP Exams from May 5 through May 16.

Powder Puff Game

The Powder Puff game is scheduled for Friday, May 9 at 5:00 PM at the JH. Find out what the real story is behind this annual rite of passage on page 2. Do not forget to check out the lacrosse game immediately afterwards at the JH.

Concerts

Band Concert: Tuesday, May 6 from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. Choral Concert: Thursday, May 8 from 7:30 to 9:00 PM. Jazz Band Concert: Monday, May 12 from 7:30 to 9:00 PM. Orchestra Concert : Thursday, May 15 from 7:30 to 9:00 PM.

Award Ceremonies

Spring Sports Awards: Tuesday, May 20 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Underclass Awards: Wednesday, May 21 from 8:00 to 10 AM Senior Sports Awards: Friday, May 23 (seniors’ last day) from 9:00 to 10:30 AM

photo by noa belillti

JOEY BARTL, 12, gets put to the breathalyzer test by Officer Paul Payne (he blew a 0.00). Payne will be of many staff volunteers administering the test at Prom 2008. As many as 250 Prom-goers will be tested randomly as they enter Paul Brown Stadium this weekend.

staff writer

After spending over a decade in Girl Scouts, March 16 was a bittersweet day for seniors Aly Mazzei, 12, and Sarah McCormick, 12. Upon the dedication of their Gold Award Project, these girls earned the highest possible honor and graduated from the organization. The Girl Scouts encourages girls to become contributing members to their community, and the Gold Award embodies this sentiment. In addition to earning badges, Girl Scouts also strive to win various honors, such as the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. The latter is available to girls ages 14 to 18, and is

the culmination of an extensive preparation process. The Gold Award Project must fulfill a need within the community. Ultimately, a plan must be submitted to the Girl Scout council for approval. Mazzei and McCormick chose to build a garden in Blue Ash Nature Park for their Gold Award. They received much support from the city of Blue Ash, one of their biggest monetary donators. Donations from friends and family also helped to fund this project, which was very time consuming. The girls worked on constructing the garden nearly ev-

Students give blood to give back MARISSA GUNNARSSON

staff writer

At the end of May, the club will collect CARE packages for children. If one wishes to participate, contact Meghan Marth, 10 , at meghanmarth@aol.com.

news

inside

ery weekend from September through March. “This was a very challenging project because we had to work mostly in the winter. The final snow was so bad and close to our opening that we had to shovel snow off our garden,” said Mazzei. The project was first approved in the fall, and the girls have been working on it ever since. The garden is now located across from the Blue Ash shelter, and Mazzei and McCormick encourage people to visit. “It was a very good experience and we don’t have any regrets,” said Mazzei.

‘You give, people live’

Unified for UNIFAT

>> PROM NIGHT SAFETY: PAGE 2

KATE MOORE

Senior Picnic

2-3 opinion 4-6 fun&games 7 feature 9-21 a&e 23-28 sports 29-33 calendar 35

rom provokes many pressures. There is finding a date, an outfit, a place for dinner, a group, a ride, tickets – all to be accomplished by Prom night. Getting such a laundry list is a task that well deserves a night of fun; however, parents, staff, and fellow students would like to remind those who take “fun” to unsafe and illegal extremes, to stay sober on Prom night. To ensure that their students stay safe, the staff implemented the breathalyzer program. Teachers have been trained to use four portable breathalyzers ordered through the police department on randomly chosen students. They are required to record the student’s name, result, date, time, and their own name to verify that the student legitimately produced that result. After the dance, Principal Chris Davis sends a “thank you” note to all the students who participated. Staff have been testing students with breathalyzers for two years. Only two students have been caught. The breathalyzers are administered at the door at both Prom and After Prom. “It was a buzz kill to get breathalyzed. I couldn’t find my date because it took so long but I passed,” said Brittany Kindberg, 11.

Seniors receive Gold Awards for distinguished service Girl Scouts give Blue Ash Nature Park new garden, volunteer efforts receive top honor

Senior Picnic will be on Thursday, May 22 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM

spotlight

THE NEW GOAVES.ORG website is up and running. The website will be updated regularly with the latest news, sports schedule, and club updates. Previous issues of The Leaf are also available online.

image courtesy of NECC

THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY Challenge Youth Coalition, with representatives from an ensemble of local high schools pose together after receiving high recognition at the world’s largest youth drug and violence prevention conference. Seniors Anna Habib, Tamir Haddad, Scott Kruger, Jackie Pittman, and Shang Xiang, juniors Rachel Pittman, Rebekah Pittman, Nick Schlie, and Rachel Wolkoff, sophomores Whitney Osbourne and Hannah Seibert along with the rest of the group attended the PRIDE World Drug Prevention Conference from April 2 to 5. There, Jackie presented the group’s peer-to-peer social marketing campaign designed to educate teens about the risks of underage drinking, for which the group was awarded the PRIDE Youth Programs Prevention Group of the Year. The posters they designed will be created and distributed at the four high schools the group represent, all a part of the NECC Coalition’s 2008 Spring Campaign to Reduce Underage Drinking.

Blood. For some, the word means red, circulatory fluid. But for others, the word means opportunity – the opportunity to save lives. “I think donating blood is something everyone who is able to should do. It’s a great way to give back,” said Marybeth Stucker, 12. Every year, students and faculty are presented with this opportunity, and many of those eligible choose to partake—even if blood makes them queasy. “I was nervous to give blood. I don’t like blood or pain. But I know it’s important to someone else, so it’s worth it,” said Kimberly DeLong, 12. This annual event is held by the Hoxworth Blood Center’s High School Blood Program. Over ten percent of Hoxworth’s total

blood collection each year comes from high school blood drives like the one held in the Gregory Center on Wednesday, April 9. There were some concerns that this year would not be as successful as previous years. This concern was largely due to the growing number of students who were sick with the flu (if one is not feeling well or healthy, he or she cannot donate) and the fact that the blood drive had to be rescheduled because of snow days. However, all issues aside, this year was certainly a success. Some students, like Tamir Haddad, 12, even donated double: two pints of blood that could potentially save up to six lives. Not everyone can donate double the amount. Males must

>> BLOOD DRIVE: PAGE 2

2 BREATHALYZERS: STAYING SAFE ON PROM NIGHT CONT. FROM FRONT

BLOOD DRIVE: STUDENTS GIVE BLOOD TO GIVE BACK CONT. FROM FRONT

“There is a secret number, but we’re not going to give it away. We don’t pick that number until we hear what kind of numbers are going to prom. Usually we try to [test] 200 to 250 kids per dance, “said Officer Paul Payne.

be at least 5’1’’ and 130 lbs and females must be at least 5’5’’ and 150 lbs. To give a whole donation, one must be 17 years of age and a minimum of 110 lbs. “Giving blood may seem like such a simple act,” said Ali Shewmon, 12. “But it could save three lives.” And considering the fact that someone somewhere needs blood every two seconds, this simple act is well worth it.

Drug checks

“We have checked [parking] lots at school dances but not at Paul Brown Stadium,” said Payne. “We are not allowed under the jurisdiction of the city of Cincinnati.” However, students should remember that if they violate school rules at a school function, they can, and most likely will, be disciplined under school administration (an automatic suspension of ten days).

Curfew violations

Some students expressed concern when making their transportation arrangements. Officer Payne has educated the Hamilton County Sheriff Office on the festivities, including After Prom. The sheriffs will give leeway to students who would otherwise be violating curfew (12:00 to 5:00 AM), allowing them to travel to and from the all-night events.

news

04.25.08

owder Puff game scheduled

ast year’s controversies cleared up, authorities establish new rules KIM BERNIE

Blood donation stats Someone needs blood every two seconds. One pint of blood can save up to three lives. 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood; less than 10 percent do annually. If all blood donors gave three times a year, blood shortages would be rare (the current average is about two). *according to hoxworth.org

photo by jeremy mcdaniel

Grim Reaper Day:

April

Raising awareness of dangers of underage drinking through somber stories, symbols

This day

DAPHNE HSU

in history

First American receives seeing-eye dog LEAH BURGIN feature chief

In a horrible boxing accident, Morris Frank permanently lost his eyesight when at 16 years old. After spending four years dependent on others to help him with the most basic needs, an independent-minded Frank decided to travel to Switzerland to meet a Ms. Dorothy Eustis – a woman who had been experimenting with training dogs to help guide blind individuals. Eustis had visited a school in Potsdam, Germany that trained German shepherds to guide blind WWI veterans and had written an article in the Saturday Evening Post about the school and her ideas about this training. Frank had heard all of this information and resolutely left the United States with hope for a freer life. On the boat to Europe, Frank’s horrible treatment increased his desire for a guide dog – he had been locked in his room for most of the voyage, as no one wanted to take responsibility for him. When he arrived in Switzerland, on April 25, 1928, Frank was presented with the German shepherd, Buddy – the pioneer guide dog in America. Frank returned to the United States with Buddy, enjoying his greater freedom. A year later, Frank had succeeded in creating the establishment he called The Seeing Eye – a school that since its first year has helped countless blind individuals find freedom in the form of a slobbery, furry, animate, canine pair of glasses.

staff writer

t is that time of year again. Junior and senior girls are preparing for their chance to shine on the football field. Yes, the annual Powder Puff game is nearing, in fact, it is just around the corner. “I hope this year is just as intense as last year minus all of the drama. I am really glad that the game is still on,” said Sara Sadat-Hossieny, 12. Despite conflict in last year’s game, the Powder Puff tradition will continue. However, there will be more rules and regulations to ensure that last year’s conflicts will not recur and put a sour end to a night of . From now on, coaches will not be on the field on game day. The only people besides the players allowed on the field will be supervisors Mr. Chris Kloesz and Ms. Linsey Farroh. Coaches are allowed to instruct players until the day of the game. “Despite the incidents last year, we are still hoping for a good, fair game,” said Avra Joffe, 12. During the game, coaches will be in the press box. They will have handheld radios so they will be able to help their team with plays – from off the field. Juniors are scheduled to practice every Tuesday and Thursday until the game from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. The seniors will practice every Monday and Wednesday from 4:30 to 5:30 PM. Game day will be on Friday, May 9 and is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM. T- shirt ideas for each class will be submitted to the box at the front office. They will be looked over and a design will be chosen for both the junior and senior team. Despite which team claims the victory, this unique tradition – at least for now – is here to stay.

photo courtesy of debbie klemt

ABBEY REEDY, 12, holds up a plate of her award-winning flourless chocolate cake at the Johnson & Wales University Student Chef of the Year Competition. This familyinspired pastry won her a $14,000 which she will use to attend Johnson & Wales University. Visit goaves.org to see how to make Reedy’s special dessert.

Dessert recipe leads to scholarship

Culinary arts student places

fourth in national competition

WILL JOHNSTON associate editor

For Abbey Reedy, 12, dessert is especially sweet. The senior placed fourth in the Johnson & Wales University Student Chef of the Year Competition over the weekend of April 12-13, winning an annual scholarship of $3,500. “I am so proud I cannot put it into words,” said Mrs. Debbie Klemt, the culinary arts teacher. After being selected as one of ten finalists in the pastry category out of over 1,000 mail-in entrees to the contest, Reedy traveled to the University of Miami (Fla.) campus to take part in the competition. “It was very stressful, but I liked the experience of getting to work in a new environment,” said Reedy. Reedy’s entry to the contest

was flourless chocolate cake, served with strawberry compote and topped with pineapple-mango sorbet/ almond cookie. It was made with generous amounts of chocolate and modest amounts of butter sans flour. The recipe was inspired by Reedy’s grandmother, who due to celiac disease can no longer consume wheat products. Reedy cites her as the one who first instructed her in the culinary arts, sparking her initial interest in cooking. Reedy plans to apply her scholarship to Johnson & Wales, which she will begin attending starting this fall. She cites the availability of both a sports and culinary program in the school as a key factor in her decision.

associate editor Since elementary schools, students have been warned of the dangers of drinking and driving through stories and statistics. But sometimes, it is necessary to go a step further to discourage underage drinking, which is exactly what Student Assistance Council members did yesterday during Grim Reaper Day. Two days before Prom, certain classes were visited by Officer Paul Payne and Mrs. Kate Korchok, SAC adviser, who told real life stories about crashes caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Some students at this school were actually impacted by these accidents. SAC members and volunteers were removed from these classes to don black cloaks -the attire of the Grim Reaper.

For the remainder of the day, these students refrained from talking and interacting with other students in order to visually represent the lives lost due to accidents caused by driving under the influence. As grave symbols, SAC intended to make a significant impact on the student body through their actions, which they hoped had spoken louder than statistics. “I hope students understand that there are serious risks if you drink and drive,” said Korchok. “It’s every teacher’s fear if one of their students gets killed in an accident.” SAC holds Grim Reaper Day every other year, rotating it with Arrive Alive, a program held before Prom that impacts juniors and seniors rather than the entire student body.

news 3 History Day: Students excel at regional competition 04.25.08

LEAH BURGIN

feature chief

photo by daphne hsu

GAZING UPON THEIR state-qualifying project, Rashmi Borah, 10, and Andrew Dream, 11, stand in a relieved fashion, with the hectic morning’s stress finally over. They proudly sport the medals they earned. Despite the excessive time and hard work put into the projects, all the voluntary participants agreed that the fruits of their labor was well worth their valuable investments.

fter countless hours of research and preparation, on Saturday April 12 at Muntz Hall in Raymond Walters College, ten students from Mrs. Rosemary Ennis’ AP American History class competed against students from other schools in the regional National History Day Competition. “It takes a lot of research and there’s a lot of effort involved in assembling the project, but it is well worth it in the end,” said Caroline Ibbotson, 11. “History Day is a lot of fun.” After spending an incalculable amount of effort on their projects, some juniors were not even able to participate, as the original competition was rescheduled (due to the snow storm in early March) to the same time and day as one of the ACT testing opportunities. “I was really stressed because I had to take the ACT and then rush over to Raymond Walter’s for the award ceremony,” said

Andrew Dream, 11. “But it was worth it since we’re going on to state.” Despite facing these complications, these amateur historians, who will move on to the statelevel competition on Saturday, April 26 at Columbus State Community College, include Ibbotson for her website; Elizabeth King, 11, and Sarah Perlman, 11, for their individual exhibits; Leah Burgin, 11, and Daphne Hsu, 11, for their group exhibit; Michelle Johnson, 11, and Terhi Reponen, 11, for their group exhibit; Dream and Rashmi Borah, 10, for their group exhibit; and Daniel Boger, 11, for his research paper. “I am so proud of my students. Their projects were well-researched and you could tell the students were passionate about their topics. I was impressed with the caliber of their work because the project was voluntary,” said Ennis. “The state competition will be tough, but I feel that they’re well prepared.”

Environmental Club takes strides

New initiatives to make school green DAPHNE HSU

associate editor

School garden

After helping the environment globally by protecting 15 acres of rainforest in Ecuador (with proceeds from Environmental Awareness Week), Environmental Club has decided to make a difference locally by making the school physically green. On Wednesday, April 23, club members planted two shrub trees and 17 trees planted in honor of Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 25). During the week of May 5, the club will be selling tree seedlings from Marietta Nursery. For 50 cents each, these seedlings can be bought by students during lunch and sent to friends.

In May, the club will start planting a garden in the space by the stairs near the front office. “Gardens are a great way to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and purify the air,” said Meena Thatikunta, 11. “It’s good step in the direction of environmental consciousness at our school.” Mrs. Debbie Muskat, landscaper for the garden, has already surveyed the land and is drawing up plans for what to grow there. She has already decided that the garden will feature a dry river bed with vegetation growing around it. Environmental Club members will be approaching local gardening stores like Pipkin’s for plant donations. They will also need help with collecting around 75 bags of mulch for the garden.

Bottle campaign

In March, Alison Kirgis, 12, approached Environmental Club with an idea to cut down on the huge amount of recyclable plastic water bottles going into the trash. Because plastic recycling at school raises issues of sanitation and space, Kirgis proposed, instead, to have environmentallyconscious companies donate reusable water bottles to students . This idea not only provides a solution to the plastic waste issue at school, but also provides students with a healthier way to

drink water: recyclable bottles are designed to be used once, so they degrade with repeated use and their narrow mouths can become a harbor for germs. Currently, Kirgis and other Environmental Club members are in the process of contacting “green” companies – primarily larger corporations like Wal-Mart that have made a public effort to promote environmentally-friendly practices and products – to donate water bottles. “We have to remember that the businesses want to know what’s in it for them, so we could put their slogan on the bottom of the bottles, and remind them of the importance of our cause, and how it will help their business if they aid us in ‘going green,’” said Kirgis. Ultimately, Environmental Club hopes to design and distribute these bottles for free within the student body before the end of the school year under the project name Message in a Bottle. (Each bottle given out to students will contain a pamphlet about plastic waste.) To garner support, the club plans to set up Gatorade coolers around school for the first few days of the campaign. They will also offer free fill ups for those who are sporting their new, reusable plastic bottles.

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Through Environmental Awareness Week in January and paper recycling all year round, Environmental Club has been making a significant impact on the student body in regards to living greener lives. This spring, the club has planned even more projects to promote environmental consciousness. “I hope to think that Environmental Club informs people about the important issues facing the environment and the world today,” said Tyler Palmer, 11. All students interested in taking part in these activities or joining the club can e-mail Environmental Club at enviroclub.aves@ gmail.com.

photo by jeremy mcdaniel

TWO SEE1 VIOLINISTS Joe Macheret, 11, and Wenjun Zhang, 12, perform at a concert that was held earlier this year in February. It showcased the combined talents of both members of the electric orchestra, and two members of the Trans Siberian Orchestra.

EE1 lunch concerts May

avor electric performances again

RASHMI BORAH feature chief

After a successful, sold-out concert in February, SEE1 will be performing once again for the school. On Friday, May 16 during all lunches, SEE1 will be performing some of the pieces from the February concert, as well as three new pieces that members have been working on post-concert. In February, the students performed with Emmy-award winning electric violinist Mark Wood and Trans Siberian Orchestra drummer Jeff Plate. The lunch concerts will only feature the band, and the students will be performing some of Wood and Plate’s solos. For those who missed out on the February concert, this is the perfect opportunity to hear the same songs performed at the concert, along with three previously undisclosed pieces.

“This is one of the best groups we’ve had yet,” said director David Smarelli to the group members at the conclusion of the February concert. In the past, the lunch concerts have been a widely appreciated event that students enjoy. At the concert during the previous school year, students were even seen dancing in front of the band as they performed arrangements of some of the most widely acknowledged classic rock songs. After the lunch concert, there will be auditions for prospective members of SEE1 for the 20082009 school year. There are a number of positions available this year, as many of this year’s members are seniors. Students may also audition for spots currently filled by any underclassman.

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opinion

ace the acts

04.25.08

US should pressure China JEREMY SPIEGEL

opinion chief

n April 9, the Olympic torch entered San Francisco, California, on its way to Beijing China for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Normally, this would be cause for celebration, as people from across cultures join together to commemorate world unity. Unfortunately, these Olympics are starting to be like none in recent memory. Due to China’s communist government and history of mistreating the people of Tibet, 5,000 to 6,000 activists gathered at the Golden Gate Bridge to protest the country’s human rights record. Olympic officials, fearing for the safety of the runners and other officers, were forced to hastily move the closing ceremony from Justin Herman plaza to the San Francisco International Airport. It is time for the United States to lead the western world in putting pressure on China to reform itself in order to have the honor of hosting the Olympic Games. Since 1896, the Olympics have served as a shining beacon for humanity. Every four years, athletes from all over the world would come together and represent their countries in various sporting events. Who can forget the 1936 Berlin Olympics, when Jesse Owens, an African American track star from the United States, went into the heart of Adolf Hitler’s racist empire and emerged with four gold medals? Since then, the Olympics have represented inclusion for everybody. Those Olympics, which Hitler intended to use as propaganda to show the superior might of the German race, instead demonstrated the equality among all citizens. Everyone remembers the 1980 winter games, when a group of young American hockey players defeated the Soviet Union in one of the greatest upsets of all time, in the midst of Cold War tensions? The Olympics have always been more than just a sporting event. By allowing China to host the games, the International Olympic Committee is saying that it is okay to restrict citizens’ rights, occupy another country, and purchase items from a country known to be killing its citizens, as China does with Sudan. By boycotting these games, the United States would be sending a message to the rest of the world, saying that it will not tolerate such activities. The IOC has already made its mistake, allowing China to show itself off to the world. The US cannot make this same mistake. It is time to stand up to tyranny.

the

leaf

image by michela tindera

Letter to the editor

nternet posts cause stir

llusory safety online

Individuals don’t always make good decisions. We sometimes act on impulse. In talking with another person, you might say something that is unspeakable. You could then come to an agreement with that person to keep the statements confidential. The same cannot be said of the internet. There are a few important items to consider before you post anything. First, nothing posted to the internet is private. Once something has been posted, even to a presumably close circle of friends, it will almost certainly end up in places you couldn’t anticipate. When people see something that they like, they want a copy of it. When it comes to digitally available document, obtaining a copy is as easy as copy-and-paste. Where they send their copies of your post cannot be predicted. And, in this way, what you thought was private is now extant in locations you would never even consider. Second, anything you post is permanent. You might believe that removing the questionable information is as simple as using a deletion function. It is true that this will probably remove the posts from the source. But

that’s not enough. Suppose that you manage to convince all the people who have now obtained copies of your material to delete their copies—has the issue now been resolved? Clearly not. There exist automata that trawl the internet, creating archival copies of all data across which they come. It is nigh-impossible to delete data from thee archives; for all practical purposes, data that has been placed on the internet shall remain there forever. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you need to realize that there can be severe longterm consequences for posting libelous, malicious content about others or incriminating information about yourself. Many companies are conducting background checks on potential employees by searching the internet for information that the individuals have posted. It would be rather tragic for you, the perfectly-qualified candidate for the ideal job at a prestigious employer, to be turned away because of an indiscretion posted many years in the past. The key, then for what is appropriate with your posts on the internet (or, for that matter anywhere) is good judgment. There’s no substitute for it. Your best course of action is to post only that which cannot cause harm to you or anyone else and that you are willing to share with the world. What makes my suggestions credible? Recently, I posted something online in an impulsive act that I now deeply regret. Plus, I hope you can use these tips to avoid the hazards of posting that could prove to be harmful to someone else or yourself. Ashvin Srivatsa, 10

Sycamore High School 7400 Cornell Road Cincinnati, OH 45242

Mission Statement: The Sycamore Leaf, the official newspaper of Sycamore High School, serves as an educational tool in the training of student journalists to provide information and editorial leadership concerning school, national, and world issues, to provide a public forum for the exchange of ideas and viewpoints, and to give coverage to newsworthy events directly related to the diverse school population. Editorial Policy: Although students work under the guidance of a professional faculty member, the content is ultimately determined by the student staff and should reflect all areas of student interest, including topics about which there may be dissent and controversy. Students cannot publish material that is obscene, libelous, or will cause “a substantial disruption of the educational process.” Content that may stimulate heated debate or discussion is not included in this definition.

The Sycamore Leaf operates as an open forum for the healthy, robust exchange of ideas. Opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the Sycamore Leaf staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged. All letters must be signed. The letters, not to exceed 300 words, may be edited for clarity, spelling, and grammar. Letters may be placed in Mrs. Jardine’s mailbox, dropped off in Room 115, or e-mailed to: sycamoreleaf@gmail.com The Sycamore Leaf reserves the right to decide not to cover a death based on relevance, timeliness, and circumstances decided on by the editorial board. In cases that the editorial board decides not to cover a death, letters to the editor in regard to that death will be printed. The Sycamore Leaf’s complete editorial policies can be found at http://goaves.sycamoreschools.org

staff editorial Without a doubt, prom is one of the most enjoyable and highly anticipated events in the entire high school year. It is arguably the most memorable single evening in the high school career of seniors, and is, of course, enjoyable for juniors and any underclassmen invited as well. The night is meant to be one of fun for all parties involved. Unfortunately, however, some students choose to make inappropriate decisions every year, putting lives in danger. This, of course, involves drinking and driving. Every year there are incidents across the country on Prom night. No matter how much campaigning is done to the contrary, it seems some students decide to throw caution to the wind annually. The numbers of instances of illegal activity for this high school have been low in recent years, and will hopefully continue to be so this weekend. To participate in any illegal or otherwise unsafe activity on any night is ill-advised, especially on Prom night. Actions such as drinking and driving, using illegal substances, or any other such exploits puts not only one’s life at stake, but the lives of others as well. The consequences of following through with any of these activities would be severe, almost assuredly including a stint in jail. For the sake of all dance-goers, stay safe on Prom night. No one wants to be responsible for an accident, and no parent wants to wake up the victim of a terrible tragedy.

leafing through the masses

“ ““

What do you think of the efforts made to prevent illegal activity on Prom night?

I think that it is very important that everyone is safe on prom night, and if breathalyzers will help make everyone safer, than I am definitely in favor of them. - Jessica Walling, 11

I think it’s a good idea because it is stupid to do dumb things at school events. - Ryan Neville, 12 I think it is a good idea because it prevents students from driving away drunk and makes it a better experience for those who attend prom. However, I do think it is an uncomfortable situation. - Mrs. Rosemary Ennis, history teacher

Editor-in-chief: Mary Ann Jiang Associate editor: Will Johnston Associate editor: Daphne Hsu News Noa Belillti Ellean Zhang Opinion Matthew Mendelsohn Jeremy Spiegel Fun & Games Brittanny Argyriou Feature Leah Burgin Rashmi Borah A&E Gabirose Keeton Michela Tindera Sports Ben Estes Jared Kamrass Calendar Jake Newton Kavya Reddy Spotlight Maria Marballi Emily Mondro Brynn Sharp

Managing editor: Libby Henning Business manager: Gabirose Keeton

Staff Writers Tyler Albl Karen Buenavides Nathan Deemer Catherine Farist Samantha Grubbs Elizabeth Hoopes Molly Johnson Jacob Katz Mandi Kipner Ashleigh Louderback J.D. Macejko Liz Naugher Frank Pan David Pyles Vanessa Roland Evan Romansky Mark Rubeo Matthew Slovin Brandon Sosna Garrett Steinbuch Mini-Mag Editors Ben Dhiman Sam Cleary

Photographer Jeremy McDaniel Adviser Cheralyn Jardine About us Professional memberships: • Columbia Scholastic Press Association. • Great Lakes Interscholastic Press Association. • Journalism Association of Ohio Schools. • Journalism Education Association. • National Scholastic High School Press Association. • Ohio Professional Writers (National Federation of Women Writers). • Quill & Scroll International Journalism Honorary.

opinion 04.25.08

a wrecked car represents one of many hazards of teen drinking. Last year, 3,490 teenagers died in alcohol related accidents. In addition to deaths caused by car accidents, underage drinking can cost you a hefty fine, suspended license, or jail time, as well as the normal negative effects of alcohol. Teens should think twice before drinking, as their decision could result in many unfortunate events.

Underage drinking: MARIA MARBALLI

image courtesy of duihope.org

Examining dangers, life-impacting decision

spotligheditor

id you know purchasing a five dollar can of beer can cost you up to $1,000? Is it worth the risk?

Federal offenses

The first offense for underage drinking is a mandatory fine of $250-$1,000 and possible jail time up to six months. The second offense will get you a fine of $500$1,000, possible jail time, and possible license suspension for up to sixty days. The third offense is a mandatory fine of $500-$1,000 and a definite ninety day license suspension. The jail time can get up to six months with a license suspension until the age of twenty-one and mandatory community service. So using a fake I.D. can land you $1,000 short, without a license, and sitting in prison for six months- Is it worth the risk?

Health Issues

Legal issues are not the only consequences that you can run into. People are not kidding when they say it disrupts your health and learning abilities. It causes slow bone growth, male impotency, and disruption of female hormone cycles. It also damages the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. Is it worth the risk? It has been scientifically proven that drinking increases the risk of mental health problems such as depression and suicidal thoughts. It also strongly affects the judgment area of the brain which is not fully developed until age twenty five. For those who have spent all that effort losing weight, the empty calories in alcohol contribute to unwanted wait gain. Is it worth the risk?

If that is not enough, employers, law enforcement, and colleges check Myspace and Facebook for evidence of underage drinking. This could ruin one’s chances of employment and college admission. “I knew someone once that had postings of underage drinking on their Facebook and got rejected from the company that they wanted to work for,” said Michaela Mondro, 12.

You tell me

Let’s review. For just drinking on weekends with friends, you could be thrown in jail, have your license suspended, be charged with up to $1,000, become alcohol dependent within six months, suffer from brain damage, gain mental health problems, gain weight, and get rejected from colleges and employers. So you tell me, is it worth the risk?

Step back, take look at society

Technology harms communication skills LIBBY HENNING managing editor

If we took a step back and looked at society with a different perspective we might not like what we see. Today we live in a society that relies on technology. We cannot think about letting cell phones or computers out of our sight.

We cannot step back from these things long enough to realize that there are bigger things in life, more important than that text about someone’s new boyfriend. I have seen people texting during in movie theaters, places of worship, libraries, schools, and

even in the car, while driving. Cell phones cause enough car accidents when someone is talking, I cannot imagine the harm it can do while texting. Why is it that people have this new phobia of speaking to one another? Is a conversation not

more personal than an instant message or text? Perhaps someday we will be able to disconnect ourselves enough to understand that there are things we can do to better the world and that would be a much better use of our time.

Positioners

Welding Systems

Seamers

Robotic Positioners

Side Beam Systems

Rentals

Manipulators Head & Tail Stocks Turning Rolls

5 Jarod’s Law takes toll Students, teachers upset by rule RASHMI BORAH feature chief

In a few moments, the labs I could do in chemistry class went from handling and mixing reactive chemicals to melting ice and boiling water. Tie-dye day occurred for what may be the last time ever, and AP Chemistry classes were put into a sizeable predicament for this year and years to come. The enforcement of Jarod’s law, which bans food and a large amount of chemicals in science classrooms, has undoubtedly been a hindrance to the science learning process. As some of the most necessary chemicals needed in the classrooms were banned due to a cafeteria-related accident, teachers and students alike have expressed their outrage, and rightly so: high schools statewide have been conducting lab experiments, and any accidents that occur are a result of safety instructions not being followed, rather than their being nonexistent. Further outrage has sparked over the fact that Jarod’s law is in effect in all public universities and institutions in Ohio. In short, chemistry majors at the Ohio State University and other public institutions may no longer handle chemicals such as the ones present in bananas and tea, and their first exposure to chemicals will probably be on the job. This brings up the question: was any of this really necessary? The law was put into action due to the death of a six-year-old student in Lebanon three years ago by an unstable folding table. It does not seem to make sense that the legislation stretched from requiring all tables to be locked in a cafeteria to banning water in any science classroom, regardless about whether or not a lab was in process. Many teachers at the high school, particularly those teaching chemistry, have voiced their disapproval of the law. Those who have been at the high school for years without any severe chemical accident are outraged that the law prohibits them from conducting even the most elementary of labs. In AP Chemistry classes, students currently in the class and those signed up for it next year have expressed concern about the AP Exam, as well as the fate of the class. The AP Chemistry exam has been known to ask questions that need lab experience to answer, and many wonder how much the new law will deter their chances to high grades on the exam. Currently, the law is under revision. Inspectors have been observing the chemistry department at the high school as well as at other schools to determine the practicality of the law given current conditions of various schools. As this process goes underway, many students and teachers will be hoping for the law to be either reduced in severity or repealed and only time will tell if science class in the State of Ohio will ever be the same.

opinion

04.25.08

ani parikh

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MANY STUDENTS FROM school attend summer camp every year. They enjoy many activites from boating on the lake, rock climbing, building fires, making crafts, and hanging around with friends.

photo c

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of mich

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‘It’s a camp thing; you wouldn’t understand’ Bridging gap between camp people, non-camp people MICHELA TINDERA

a&e chief

olor wars, bunkmates, talent shows, and bug juice; all things that are known to go hand in hand with summer camp. All things that I, sadly, seemed to have missed out upon during my many less-than-adventurous summers spent in Cincinnati. Which is why after hearing so many of my friends tell me, “It’s a camp thing, you wouldn’t understand.” Or when they begin their stories with, “This one time at camp…” I decided it was necessary to unlock the secret of summer camp that makes it so no one but those who attend can

comprehend the canyon-wide gap between “camp people” and “non-camp people.” I suppose my interest in going to a summer camp began after seeing the Lindsay Lohan version of The Parent Trap for the first time. The fencing lessons, hiking, and of course the infamous scene where Hallie and Annie face off in poker in the girls’ cabin, everything just looked so…fun. Unfortunately I was never presented the opportunity to go to camp, and now, ten years after seeing The Parent Trap, I am left wondering what that mystical connection is that many campers

feel for their camp. “It’s a home away from home,” said Shivani Parikh, 9. Many feel that the difference between their school friends and their camp friends is that school friends are made through the common activities or classes that you can partake in. For example you have friends from the soccer team and from your history class; you are friends because you have that in common with each other. However, at summer camp you and a random selection of bunkmates are bound together because of a universal love for the camp. “It’s like you’re living with a

family that you actually like,” said Stephanie Post, 11. Another aspect of summer camp’s magic would be that because campers are only together for a few weeks or months out of the year every moment spent is golden. “When you are at camp so much happens, a day in the real time feels like two weeks in camp time,” said Josie McKinnon, 10. Not only is it the people at that make this summer pastime so memorable, but also the unique, and sometimes comical traditions that take place. Some of the classic ones are end of session banquets, color wars, bunk camp

outs, and camp dances. “My favorite tradition at camp is,” said McKinnon. “You can never experience what camp is like unless you actually attend one,” said Leah Goldfarb, 11. “I feel like everyone should have the chance to go a camp to make the sort of friends you make at camp that are like family,” said Michael Natarus, 11. And everybody there will tell you, no one at home understands it. There is a gap between camp and non-camp people that can only be filled when one attends such a sacred place as summer camp.

Letters home: three seasoned campers divulge details of camp life Stephanie Post, 11

Advait Redkar, 9

Kristin Brown, 10

Camp attended:

Years of attendance:

One word to describe camp:

JCC Maccabi Camp Kingswood in Bridgton, Maine

Years of attendance:

Ten years

One word to describe camp:

Family

“We have a tradition where people important to the camp are invited to sign The Log. It is a really big honor, and it shows how appreciated you are by the camp.”

SVTC

Four years Fun

“I love my summer camp because every year we have a cake fight at the end of camp. It is what I look forward to most.”

Camp Arrowhead in Delaware Three years Friends

“My camp friends are great because we all come from different parts of the country and have different backgrounds making for an amazing time at camp.”

fun&games

4.25.08

The adventures of syca-stud and syca-chick

in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Awkward Beautyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

image by brittanny argyriou

Crossword Puzzle 1

ACROSS

Contact Mrs. Cheralyn Jardine or Brittanny Argyriou in Room 115!

When John was six years old he hammered a nail into his favorite tree to mark his height. Ten years later at age sixteen, John returned to see how much higher the nail was. If the tree grew by five centimeters each year, how much higher would the nail be?

Crossword:

Submit your humorous piece of writing and it will be published next issue!

PP UUZZZZLLEE RR

Check answers

1. Nocturnal 2. Panorama 3. Malevolent 4. Levy 5. Outlandish 6. Mimic 7. Investor 8. Magician 9. Batten 10. Audacious

Have a funny cartoon, writing or riddle?

Riddle:

Of or pertaining to the night. A series of large pictures representing a continuous scene. To impose and collect by force or threat of force. Of barbarous, uncouth, and unfamiliar aspect or action. To imitate the speech or actions of.

The nail would be at the same height since trees grow at their tops.

1. 2. 4. 5. 6.

5 6

3. Wishing evil to others. 7. One who invests money. 8. A sorcerer. 9. A narrow strip of wood. 10. Fearless.

DOWN

advertisement 04.25.08

At a crossroads?

Find a career in occupational therapy occupational therapy: helping people regain or develop skills that are meaningful to their lives

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For more information, contact:

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feature

04.25.08

How to:

How well do they know each other?

Successfully History teachers test friendship conduct

interviews MARIA MARBALLI

LEAH BURGIN

HIGHLIGHTS this month in feature

feature chief

Mrs. Valerie Nimeskern Mrs. Laura Miniard on on Mrs. Laura Miniard Mrs. Valerie Nimeskern

spotlight editor

t is getting to be the time when students are searching for jobs. The resume is the first step, but the interview is what gets the job done. With simple key notes, you will be at work in no time. First, dress appropriately for the interview. Usually it is best to dress neatly, conservatively, and casual. Do not try getting away with presenting opinions on clothing like political slogans. While turning down people for jobs because of their appearance is wrong, it is still more common than people think. This means lose the belly ring and facial piercings. Also, try and keep the tattoos covered. “I dress very nice for job interviews and it makes a really good impression,” said Michaela Mondro, 12. Another important tip is to be early. Ten to fifteen minutes will do it - nothing earlier. Showing up too early for an interview can be annoying to the interviewer, but showing up slightly early shows responsibility and willingness. When in the interview room, do not just hop into a chair. Show respect and firmly shake the interviewer’s hand. State your name and thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. Then, take a seat when the interviewer offers it to you. Since you wrote it, make sure you know your resume’s content very well. The worst thing a person can do is sit and read off of their resume when asked a question. Try avoiding life stories. When the interviewer asks a question, keep your answers short, precise, and to the point. In the event that you mishear a question or statement from the interviewer, ask him to please repeat the question instead of a laid back, “what?” Having questions of your own is good. Employers often ask if the person has any questions because it is said to be very telling and is a key component in the decision making process. “No question is a stupid question. I always try to ask about things that I am confused about. It comes across like I am actively listening and comprehending,” said Arjan Hura, 12. Of course availability is good, but lying about it is worse. Do not imply that you are always free when really you have a busy schedule. You may not end up working there very long. Near the end of the interview, ask the interviewer around when they will make their decisions and how you will be notified. Also note that you should ask if they will contact those that they do not accept, or only those that have been accepted. These tips are no guarantee, but they will present you in a good light. Always remember before leaving, to shake the interviewers hand, keep eye contact, and thank him/her sincerely.

Looking for something to do this summer? Page 12 photos by daphne hsu

How many siblings does she have? Three (LeAnn, Maggie, Ben) Real answer: Three What's her favorite color? Lavender Real answer: Lavender Which does she prefer - Books or movies? Books - she loves to read Real answer: Books

What song would she sing for karaoke? “Rocky Top” Real answer: “Eye of the Tiger” What is her favorite TV show? Idol Real answer: American Idol If she was not teaching, what would her ideal career be? Bengals cheerleader Real answer: A cheerleader Which would she choose - time traveling to the future or to the past? Probably future… she is recently married Real answer: Future

What was her first concert? Backstreet Boys Real answer: Steve Miller Band What is her least favorite food? Hot dogs Real answer: Hot dogs When is her birthday? April Real answer: April

Score: 80%

How many siblings does she have? One Real answer: One sister, Vickie What is her favorite color? Purple Real answer: Bright purple Which does she prefer – Books or movies? Movies Real answer: Movies

Which song would she sing for karaoke? “Dancing Queen” Real answer: “I Got Friends in Low Places”

DNA may be linked to voting preferences Page 17

What is her favorite TV show? American Idol or America’s Next Top Model Real answer: Idol or CSI If she was not teaching, what would her ideal career be? Professional dancer Real answer: Dancer Which would she choose – time traveling to the future or to the past? Past Real answer: Past of course. I am a history teacher, and old

Technological takeover: are teens too dependent? Page 19

What was her first concert? Britney Spears Real answer: Donny Osmond and the Osmond Brothers What is her least favorite food? Hot dogs Real answer: Hot dogs When is her birthday? June Real answer: June 8

Score: 80%

Easy steps to becoming great gardener

12 3 MICHELA TINDERA

a&e chief

Choose a location

Be sure the spot receives a good amount of sunlight and start off small. The worst thing for a gardener is to become frustrated because the workload is too large.

Choose what to plant

Before purchasing seeds or starter plants, take a look at what the growing season is for each plant so as to not buy something could need up to ten months to fully grow. Tomatoes, hostas, black-eyed susans, and day lilies are recommended.

Plant

Make sure to space plants evenly with at least 8 inches between each plant. Water plants depending on package instructions. Too little or too much could hurt the little plant.

feature

High 4.25.08

school life Four healthy ways to deal with high school stress levels AP EURPOEAN HISTORY students Rosalie Wei, 10 and Bianca Patel, 10, and Luke Brandenburg, 10 from Anderson High School relax on the Euro Star. The Euro Star travels from London, England to Paris, France underneath the English Channel. Students bonded during quiet moments like these throughout their journey through Europe.

S L

CATHERINE FARIST staff writer

photo courtesy of michela tindera

pring break 2008:

tudents traverse globe, create lasting memories

GABIROSE KEETON

business manager

ondon, Paris, Athens, Rome, Assisi, Florence, Pompeii, Delphi - the cities that represent the epitome of European culture. These places were toured by students in the AP European History class and participants on the Greece and Italy trip during spring break 2008.

AP Euro indulges in Europe

Seventy students began their European adventure on Saturday, March 22. They spent three days in London, three days in Paris, an evening in Florence, one day in Assisi, and ended with a day in Rome. “It was fabuloso. Our tour guides were fabulous, the students were fabulous, Europe was fabulous. It was such a great experience,” said Ms. Marilyn Ray, AP European History teacher. “My favorite part was the view from Duomo. I could see for miles and miles.” Students visited some of Europe’s highlights: the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Coliseum, and Vatican City.

“No night will rival the night I danced with Ms. Ray in a discotheque in Florence,” said Will Kiley, 11. “The European trip was the best week of my life.”

Greece, Italy open eyes

Unlike the AP Euro trip, the Greece and Italy trip was open to any student who was interested. The group was assigned to leave early Thursday morning, March 20, and was set to arrive in Greece on Friday afternoon. Before leaving, the group of sixty was split into chaperone groups. And although most of these chaperone groups made their flights, one was not so lucky. An unseen delay in Cincinnati caused one group to miss their connection in Washington D.C. where they were supposed to meet up with the rest of the group and then fly on to Germany and then Greece. The group was forced to spend a night in Washington D.C. and did not arrive in Greece until about two and a half days later than

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scheduled. However, the group did not let the set back ruin their trip. In Greece, students visited cities such as Athens, Pompeii, and Delphi, and toured sites such as the Acropolis, Pompeii’s lava covered streets, and the site where the first Olympics were held. “I’d have to say that my favorite part was Greek Night. We went to a Greek dinner theater where we danced and ate and just had a really good time enjoying the culture. Pompeii is also a definite highlight because it was ridiculously beautiful. It was just a really cool trip,” said Kelsey Beck, 11. Both of these out-of-the-country trips provided students and chaperones with an unforgettable experience; they will never forget how much gelato they ate in Italy or how breathtaking the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower was. “When I got back from Greece and Italy, I was so lonely. Our group was so close. I will never forget all the memories I created while I was there,” said Caitlin Rettenmaier, 12.

Teenage surgery

Rising trend hits younger ages MANDI KIPNER staff writer

How many of teens look into the mirror, and are not happy with what is looking back? Most likely the answer is a majority. In the world we live in today, we are constantly reminded about appearances and body image by magazines and television. Teens are bombarded by the pressure of looking “skinny” and being beautiful. This pressure is so intense that some people actually take it under the knife to fix. There are two types of plastic surgery: reconstructive and cosmetic. Reconstructive surgery deals with correcting defects on the face or the body. These consist of physical birth defects like cleft lips, palates, and ear deformities, traumatic injuries, and after disease treatments. The other type of surgery is cosmetic. These procedures alter the part of a body that the person is not satisfied with. Some common cosmetic surgeries are breast augmentation or reduction,

40%

rhinoplasty, and liposuction. When it comes to plastic surgery, not everyone is a good candidate; in fact, the challenge for surgeons is picking the right candidate for plastic surgery. Darrick Antell, MD is a plastic surgeon in New York he told WebMD that before he performs most procedures on a teenager he tries to make sure that the concern is consistent. Antell told WebMD “Is it the nose one week, the ears the next, and the breast the following week? We want to be sure it is a consistent complaint." Teenage plastic surgery can be a very controversial issue. Some may argue that the teenage body is not yet done growing which is true and they should not be allowed to get surgery for this reason and more. Others will say that plastic surgery will help teens deal with self consciousness, some teens may feel different for appearances.

of all teenagers aspire to have cosmetic surgery performed according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons

In today's high stress society – especially in the hectic high school world – we find little time for the simple pleasures in life. We tend to compensate our little to no ‘chill time,’ with copious amounts of the chemical concoction we call caffeine. Everyone seems to be hurried, agitated, or just downright grumpy. With a cell phone stuck in one hand and a Starbucks held in the other, it seems that the only way to stop this continuation of ulcers and early heart attacks is to slow down. We should just try to take an old-fashioned look at our hectic lifestyles and relax. I conjured up some useful ideas to help stifle this growing phenomenon. One – slow down and breathe. Pretty simple, right? Now let us try it, take one deep breath in… and out. After practicing this daily, your heart rate will slow down at will and your whole body can be transformed into a place of Zen and tranquility. If simple breathing techniques do not work, try taking up yoga or meditation. For the guys who may find the whole idea of twisting their bodies into intricate positions while listening to natureinspired music is a bit too much for their testosterone to endure, try weight lifting. I am not talking about hardcore body builder style, but just a bit to get those endorphins flowing. We are talking about that feeling of randomly wanting to break out in full-on Grease style song and dance. Three, drink water! Caffeine just sets your nerves on end. Water hydrates you and keeps your body in working order. Or, if you are looking for something a little more sophisticated, you could always drink tea. With the benefits of less amounts of caffeine per serving and the amount of herbs, vitamins, and trillions of other mood boosting ingredients, tea is always a healthier choice. As for my last oh-so-useful tip: listen to PJ Harvey; a seductive British singer and songwriter that has continually changed the sound of female indie rock music. This artist’s soothing, mellow, 60s hippie-sounding voice croons to you in a way like no other. It feels almost like the way a warm bubble bath feels after spending several hours in the cold and rain. Her voice just washes over you, leaving you feeling warm and satiated. High school is tough and can be stressful. But a combination of some of these tips should help to reduce the tension no one wants to have. But then again, stress can never be completely eliminated. Tension, no matter how unwanted, is a part of life.

feature

4.25.08

After Prom 2008: ‘It’s a Jungle Out There’ One of biggest events for juniors, seniors previewed

DAPHNE HSU

O news chief

ne of the most important events of a junior or senior’s high school experience is coming up soon. No, not prom – not even graduation, but After Prom: four hours of games, food, and carnival-like fun. “It was really fun last year and I can’t wait to go this year,” said Sarah Brown, 11. This year, the school will be transformed to fit the After Prom theme “It’s a Jungle Out There” on Sunday, April 27 from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. For $15, students (and for $20, students from other schools) will enjoy elaborate decorations, live entertainment, and many other activities all planned and provided by the school’s Parent Teacher Organization and various other groups. Preparation for this event starts at the end of the previous school year, when the decorating committee thinks up a theme for After Prom. Costing up to $30,000, After Prom relies primarily on the support of the community – especially when it comes to fundraising and donations of food and gift baskets. Proceeds from recycling used ink cartridges (collected at the front office) and smoothie sales also help fund the event. “It is really a community effort!” said Pam McLaughlin, After Prom chairperson. “Businesses, parents, all the Sycamore schools provide a donation to After Prom.” Students must remember that only juniors and seniors can attend and do not have to go to prom beforehand. Underclassmen can only get into After Prom if they went to prom with an upperclassman. Tickets for the event will be sold during fifth bell on Wednesday, April 23 through Friday, April 25. Students may buy tickets for themselves and one guest. A parental waiver form is needed at time of purchase.

LAST YEAR’S AFTER Prom was a huge success: with the theme of “Hollywood Nights,” students were able to engage in many Hollywood-related activities. This year’s After Prom is supposed to be just as promising, with the theme of “It’s a Jungle Out There!” Activities this year will include laser tag, black-light ping pong, dodge ball, and sumo wrestling, among a large variety of other activities.

images by rashmi borah

Jungle After Prom highlights include new fun, features secrets variety of activities sure to engage attendees Activities

NEW: Soccer shootout NEW: Fast pitch baseball NEW: Video games, including racing games, Ms. Pac-Man, golf; Rock Band, Nintendo Wii, and DDR Rockwall, Jousting, large slide, laser tag, obstacle courses, dodge ball, black light ping pong

Food

Skyline Subway Montgomery Inn Ribs Ice Cream Parlor Planet Smoothie Pizza Tower Starbucks United Dairy Farmers Refreshments supplied by the Sycamore Athletic Boosters

Raffle

PlayStation 3 iPods Nintendo Wii LCD TV/DVD player Over 100 raffle basket: First 500 students receive t-shirts, every student gets a lanyard

Entertainment

NEW: Comedian/hypnotist show at 1:30 AM, 3 AM NEW: Pampered princess room where girls can get a hand massage and touch-up their makeup Three character artists One henna artist, one airbrush artist Casino and carnival

feature

4.25.08

r e m Sum ies r o m me

3 2

THIS SCRAPBOOK PAGE displays students participating in a variety of summer activities. (1) Juniors Chris Lo and Rachel Wolkoff pose for a picture at the Blue Ash Recreation Center, where Lo works as a lifeguard. (2) Megan Taylor, 12, ties a girl’s shoe in Over-the-Rhine, where Taylor volunteers. (3) Vlad Podolsky, 11, goofs around with a friend at the college summer program he attended last summer. (4) Rosalie Wei, 10, stands surrounded by the junior high students she taught during a mission trip to Taiwan. Learn more about these people and what they did as well as what students can do during summer 2008 at the bottom of this page.

4 image by daphne hsu

Three months of opportunity:

Students plan for productive, fulfilling summer vacation DAPHNE HSU

staff writer

uring the weeks following spring break, students will be swamped with homework and preparation for AP tests and final exams. Little else will seem better than summer vacation: the perfect time for students to explore their own areas of interests and gain from new experiences. A wide variety of opportunities are available to high school students as alternatives to getting caught in the lazy lull and ennui of sleeping in and staying at home all summer. Both locally and away from home, students can make the most of their summer.

Get involved in community

Businesses and organizations are always looking for help, whether through employment or volunteering. Summer vacation is an especially opportune time for high school students to get a job or volunteer locally: with three months off, students have the luxury of time and flexibility. Students seeking a job can usually find openings for people at least 16 years old at summer camps, restaurants, and amusement parks. The months before summer vacation begins are the best times to apply for a job to beat competition. Furthermore, with an unpredictable and unstable economy, it is advisable to act fast. Benefits of having a job include a paycheck - no matter how low - and working experience. Student employees learn to be responsible for their actions and develop interpersonal skills while working with fellow employees, their boss, and customers.

Chris Lo, 11, lifeguard

For the past two summers, Lo worked as a lifeguard at the Blue Ash Recreation Center. He initially learned about the job through his friends on the water polo team who were also lifeguards. To prepare for the job, Lo earned lifeguarding and CPR certifications by taking a four week Red Cross Lifeguarding course at the YMCA. He then filled out an application for the job and was later interviewed by the Blue Ash Pool manager. As a lifeguard, Lo not only had the responsibility to see that swimmers were safe, but also the duty to set the pool area up for use. “I’ve made a lot of new friends from other schools and it’s something I look forward to now during the summer,” said Lo.

Vlad Podolsky, 11, college program attendee

For three weeks last summer, Podolsky attended the Educational Program for Gifted Youth at Stanford University. There, he studied cosmology in a non-school setting and made many new friends. Podolsky found out about this program through an e-mail he received as a part of a college mailing list. Two big factors influenced his decision to apply: the fact that Stanford is acknowledged as one of the world’s best universities and the financial aid given to him. “I would definitely encourage people to do some kind of program away from home. These types of programs allow you to meet people that aren’t like the ones at your school/city and allow for self-growth,” said Podolsky.

“I definitely recommend other students to get a summer job because money is always a good thing to have,” said Chris Lo, 11, who worked as a lifeguard over the past two summers. “If you’re sitting around at home most of the time, bored out of your mind, you definitely should get a job.” Volunteering is an equally beneficial way to get involved in the community, and students of any age can participate. Hospitals, public libraries, and other public institutions like soup kitchens are often open to those willing to help. Hours are more flexible than with a job, and having the volunteering experience is beneficial for college applications and for life. Even better, volunteers devote themselves to helping others, which can have a positive impact on the world. “I would recommend volunteering because it always feels good to do something for others and to make others happy,” said Kelsey Drapkin, 9. However, there is always the insecurity of working in an unfamiliar environment. Thus, job seekers and volunteers may want to stick with businesses and organizations they feel comfortable with and know are reputable.

Gain experiences elsewhere

Many colleges and universities offer programs over the summer designed to give high school students a chance to explore their field of interest as well as get “the college experience” through the application process and living on campus away from home. Vlad Podolsky, 11, cited the benefits of attending a col-

Megan Taylor, 12, volunteer

Every Sunday, Taylor travels down with a group of people to Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine where she hands out sandwiches to residents and establishes relationships with those she meets. Taylor first got involved with this group when one of her best friends told Taylor about it. Through spending time with people who are either homeless or living below the poverty level, Taylor and the rest of the group have learned more about poverty conditions in Cincinnati. “I would definitely recommend any kind of volunteering to everyone. It gives one a really great opportunity to learn a lot of things,” said Taylor. “I think that serving the poor has been really beneficial to learning about myself and society.”

Lizzy Wei, 12, and Rosalie Wei, 10, overseas program attendees

During a week last summer, the Wei sisters devoted their time to teaching English and their faith to junior high students in Taiwan. Lizzy and Rosalie found out about this mission trip through the church they attend. Before the actual mission trip, hours of planning, organizing, and bonding among trip participants went into preparing for their week of volunteering overseas. “[I wouldn’t recommend this] to everyone because there is a lot of work and preparation involved,” said Lizzy. “But this is my second mission trip now and I love them more than vacations because they’re so rewarding. You become very close with the other team members as you all work together, too. “

lege program as meeting and developing friendships with new people, learning more about himself, and increasing his knowledge in a subject he is passionate about “without the pressure of grades.” The College and Career Center has resources for those interested in applying for college programs, some of which are in state at schools like the Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati. Students can also look into overseas programs. Mission trips with church groups typically involve doing volunteer projects for the community of interest, including building infrastructure and teaching children English. Other overseas programs include studying abroad and volunteering at summer camps or with humanitarian organizations. These programs can be found by searching www.studyabroad.com. “I would recommend programs such as mission trips or similar ones like volunteering because you really find time to get the focus away from yourself and reach out and help others, and at the same time you find yourself learning a lot, too,” said Rosalie Wei, 10, who went on a mission trip to Taiwan. Students interested in participating in any type of activity over the summer should apply as soon as possible to meet deadlines, which can be as early as the end of March and as late as the end of April. Whatever the job, activity, or program, students should take advantage of their time off school to expand their experiences, learn about themselves, and grow as individuals. It would be a shame to let three free months go to waste.

Summer 2008 How, where to get involved locally Find a job at...

- an amusement park (Kings Island, The Beach Waterpark, Coney Island) - the nearby strip mall (fast food and other food service establishments, retail stores) - a camp (YMCA, Camp Ernst) - the pool (Montgomery Pool, Harper’s Point, Blue Ash Recreation Center)

Look for volunteering opportunities at... - the hospital (Bethesda North) - the local library - a soup kitchen (Walnut Hills, downtown) - Over-the-Rhine with helpOTR (for more information, search Facebook for “Help Overthe-Rhine” or visit myspace.com/helpotr)

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04.25.08

Many cutters begin this destructive habit as teenagers. Cutting is a form of self-injury and is a serious problem in today’s society. It is important for friends and family of cutters to help in any way they can.

Cutting: secrets, scars revealed

image by vanessa roland

Truth about self-harm, how to help a friend in need

VANESSA ROLAND

staff writer

typical cutter would be a woman in her mid to late 20’s, middle to upper class, and well educated. Most likely she has been cutting since her teens and comes from an abusive home. Cutting, however, is not typical and the reasons, experiences, and characteristics vary from person to person. “I was just a kid. I was like 13, I understand that it is a cry for help,” said Angelina Jolie in a 2002 Access Hollywood interview.

What is cutting?

harmers and are frowned upon by cutters in recovery. When someone cuts themselves, endorphins are released. This instant gratification can develop into either addiction or repulsiveness.

How do I help?

The first step to helping a cutter is to realize that no one is at fault. An understanding friend may also be helpful. “I met an amazing friend that helped me get through it,” said Lilly Smith, 10.* When someone else ignores the problem and pretends nothAdults have said that it’s ing happened it a way for people to ex- is damaging to press their emotions when the cutter. When they can accept they don’t know how to the truth, despite deal with the way that being uncomfortable, they will they’re feeling. provide a stepping - Liora Bachrach, 9 stone to recovery for the friend.

“

The definition of cutting is different based on experience. Cutting is a type of self-injury. According to www.palace. net, self-injury is any purposeful mutilation of the body, in which the injurer is not intending to commit suicide but is utilizing a negative coping skill as an emotional escape. It is also a survival tool for those who have so much anger that the only way to get through without hurting someone would be to hurt themselves. It has become something that is talked about as casually as the latest trend, but it is very serious. The dangers of cutting go beyond the obvious. Accidental suicide is a possibility, but there are also medical issues that could arise. Dirty blades or any object will damage the skin but can also cause blood poisoning.

Why do people cut?

Those who cut themselves have mentally decided that cutting makes sense and it is the only way of escape. Those who cut themselves for attention or to belong to a certain group are not considered self-

get help?

How can I

Releasing this dark secret is the first way to start. Telling a trusted relative may be a good step. For parents, hearing that their child injures themselves on purpose will be distressing. Coping with that may be one of the hardest challenges of a parent’s life. The best way to avoid cutting is to stay busy. Not all methods work for everyone, so finding what works best can be a challenge. The most important choice to make in self-recovery is admitting that he has selfharmed. There may be relapses for a self-harmer but using coping skills and remembering to live life to the fullest can help him succeed. A cutter who makes the decision to move on and to leave mistakes behind him can make successful strides to becoming cut free.

How to help a cutter heal Suggestions to the family and friends of self-injurers

• Accept your friend/child even though you do not accept his/ her behavior. • LISTEN! Keep communication open by talking about things that would interest him/her even if it does not interest you. • Make your home a “safe place” by removing anything that could be used as a tool for selfinjury. • Discover what his/her personal strengths are and encourage them to use those strengths during difficult times.

DON’T

• Say or do anything to cause guilt or shame. (e.g., “Why would you do such a thing?” “How could you?”) • Talk about his/her self-injury in front of friends or with other relatives. • Use punishment or negative consequences when he/she self-injures. (Possibly the reason he/she feels they need to self-injure). • Blame yourself for the behavior that was out of your control.

Where to go for help: Student Assistance Office, a trusted teacher or a good friend. Visit any of these places or people for emotional support.

Q&A with Lilly Smith, 10* - Former cutter Q. What caused you to resort to cutting? A. No guys liked me, people spit in my hair, tripped me, pushed me, and sang mean songs about me. Nobody wanted me.

Q. How has cutting helped and hurt you? A. The scars are like a part of me; I hate them, but I’m learning to accept them. I’m a happier person now.

Q. How do you feel about stopping your self-harm? A. There’s so much to live for, so much to be thankful for and to be happy about. People still see the marks. Some ask about them, and others don’t. I move on. *Name has been changed for privacy purposes

feature Random Acts of Kindness spread

04.25.08

nation-wide organization goes unkown MANDI KIPNER

staff writer

ften times, the Random Acts of Kindness Club goes unknown. Because the clubs personal mission is to spread the act of kindness without getting recognition for what they do, they do not get much exposure. Not only is Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) a club at our school but it is a nationwide movement. RAK started in 1995 as a nonprofit organization called The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. It was and is a resource for people who are committed and passionate about spreading kindness. The RAK foundation is focused on providing free materials, resource ideas, lesson plans, and project plans to educators, students, community members, faith groups, and more. The RAK foundation is privately held and funded. RAK is a picture of unity, the goal being to bring everyone together in a cooperative, caring way. RAK strives to spread kindness as an act that comes from the heart rather than being told to do so. The Random Acts of Kindness foundation is the United States delegate to the world kindness movement. This is an organization that includes various nations. People in these countries promote kindness within their countries’ borders and are creating a global network of kindness and compassion. “RAKC supports all those who need support and all those who believe in the greater good,” said by Nick White, 12.

RAK nation wide

Even though the RAK movement has not been around for that long, it is still very active among the United States. Schools across the states are getting involved and doing their share to help the community. According to actsofkindness.org a school from New Jersey wanted to help make their school a better place. To do this they planted flowers around the school’s exterior. Clubs are not only making an effort to help out their school but they are doing other volunteer projects as well. A club in North Carolina made dog biscuits, and arranged to give them to an animal shelter. The club fed the dogs; they also walked them, played with them, and brushed them.

RAK at our school

With Mr. Randy Lothrop as the teacher sponsor, RAK at our school has been a club for 5 years. He comments that RAK club has been completely student led all 5 years. Although Random Acts of Kindness club has been a club at our school for 5 years it has only been active this year. The current Presidents are Mandi Kipner, 11, Nancy Blanks, 12, and Karen Vorholt, 12. With these 3 new presidents RAK club has done two big projects. The first was kindness week; RAK challenged our school by trying to perform one act of kindness each day. Matt Teegarden, 12, filmed the video which played on announcements advertising the project. With the help of other officers, Chelsae Plagemen, 12, Rijutha Vaidyalingam, 11, Abby Evans, 11, Bridget Handkins, 11, Nick White, 12, Lauren Cohen, 10, and Lindsey Harris, 10, RAK successfully did holiday cards, along with the first project of RAK week. With the help of the entire student body and RAK holiday cards were sent to patients at Bethesda Hospital. The cards were distributed before winter break. With the help of the Random Acts of Kindness officers and the rest of the club RAK had their second successful project. Random Acts of Kindness can only be successful if people show interest. “When people show an interest in being kind and showing love to others, it makes the world a better, happier place,” said Blanks.

image by molly johnson

RANDOM ACTS OF Kindness is a picture of unity. People are brought together by being kind and doing nice things. The idea of RAK is to spread kindness from the heart, rather than being told to do so. RAK is a nationwide movement as well as clubs at schools across the country. For more information you can go to actsofkindness.org.

4 ways to get involved 1. Join the club

Talk to the current presidents of Random Acts of Kindness club at our school; Karen Vorholt, 12, Nancy Blanks, 12, and Mandi Kipner, 11.

2. Start out small

Get more involved in the movement by doing little things like; holding the door open for people, saying hi to someone new, or giving a compliment.

3. Stepping up

Give back to the community by volunteering, or giving donations; food, clothes, or books. You never know, a little can go a long way.

4. Get someone else involved

Ask someone you know to get involved as well. This will help RAK club grow bigger and stronger

Students speak about club, kindness

“ “ “ “

I like how they do things for no reason. - Brandon Gardner, 9

I like how people are doing something for other people that they don’t even know. - Anna Albain, 11

One kind thing I do is I try to help someone if they don’t understand something. - Nick Cianciolo, 11 RAKC supports all those who need support and all those who believe in the greater good. - Nick White, 12

feature

Financial feud: 04.25.08

teenagers targeted for credit scandals

RASHMI BORAH & JD MACEJKO & KYE ISAAC & feature chief

webmaster

staff writer

FRANK PAN & MATT MENDELSOHN staff writer

staff writer

image by rashmi borah

redit cards: the palm-sized piece of plastic that shouts “financial freedom!” to many teenagers and young adults. This same piece of palmsized plastic has also resulted in an average debt of $1,585 per student before entering his or her freshman year of college. To many high school students, the concept of using credit cards may be far off, but more high school and college students –a national average of 31%–have turned to plastic for their spending purposes. While some are able to use a credit card responsibly, the amount of debt that minors can accumulate has grown tremendously, as have credit card offers to this age group.

Prime Targets

It came as a surprise to some when Capital One, one of the nations leading credit card issuers, put forth a new credit card offer– to high schoolers. 15-year-olds can get credit cards under their name, cosigned with their parents, with monthly limits ranging from $200-$1,000. The parents are legally responsible for the account, but the name on the card–and the bill–goes to the child. “We’ve had the program for a long time and it’s done really, really well,” said Diana Don, Capital One spokeswoman, to Bankreport.com. “A lot of people in this age range already have an income and a credit bureau report.” Credit card offers from Capital One and credit card issuers, have been sent to children as young as 12. While debt can be managed, some college students have come up with debts at the annual-salary level. MSN Money did an extensive report on “Teens in the Red,” the newest generation of debt-carrying young adults. 19-year old Andrea Alba was one of many who were fresh out of high school and carried an extensive debt. Working three jobs and paying for her college tuition and some utilities at home, Alba’s first credit card signing seemed like such a relief. “It was fine at first,” Alba said to MSN Money. But within about a year, she was $2,500 in debt, which added to her burden of finances at home and from school Talk show host David Ramsey speaks out against the use of credit cards by teens and college students. Ramsey’s report states that 19% of those filing for bankruptcy are college students– in other words, almost one in five of those who are filing for bankruptcy have not even finished school. Ramsey also states that roughly 80% of college seniors have credit card debt before graduating. Some have called his show to lament debts up to $42,000 from credit cards. When this is added to student loans, it is quite possible for a college graduate to have a six-digit debt. In one extreme case, Ramsey’s reports have included two Oklahoma college students who committed suicide after giving up on astronomical debt levels.

students are acquiring credit cards like movie ticket stubs. Here, a student shows his numerous credit cards, which is not uncommon for an average student. Credit card debt has become a major problem for high school and college students.

They were found with the bills lying next to them.

Financial Literacy

Credit card issuers generally are not very concerned about whether their young consumers are financially literate–a slight concern, seeing as the average score of high school seniors on a Jump$tart financial literacy test was 52.4–a failing grade. Without understanding the nuances of the credit system, it is very easy for pre-college students to be pulled into a debt before graduating from high school. Credit cards have often been seen as “free money,” and when one has a card with $1,000 to use per month, it is easy to forget that at the end of the month, that amount must be paid. Occasionally, the blame is placed on parents. As cosigners of the cards, many experts believe it is their duty to provide the financial knowledge to their teenagers before allowing them to have a credit card. Others blame schools for not providing information about credit. While a good number of schools have finance or economics classes, very few require it of their students, and even fewer take the classes. Adam Wehr was another victim of out-ofcontrol credit spending and financial illiteracy. His first card went well, but within about two years of graduation from high school, he had accumulated a debt of $10,000 from eight different cards. “I was really good for the first six months, and then [things] got out of control. I was fooled by the minimum payment thing...I had no idea [about the terminology.] I was completely oblivious to all that stuff,” Wehr said to MSN Money. No matter who the blame falls on, it is evident that few teens understand how credit works. Terms such as “compound interest,””minimum payments,”and “revolving credit” are foreign to young consumers. Regardless of outcries, credit card offers sent to minors will continue to happen. It is ultimately this generation that will have to be credit-cautious to remain debt-free.

By the numbers 63.5 37 57 4 3-7

percent of young adults are in debt percent of public college graduates who leave with unmanageable debt percent of private college graduates leave with unmanageable debt credit cards is the average amount for a high school student thousand dollars is the average amount of credit card debt for undergraduates

percent of college students owe more than $7000

percent of college students have at least one credit card

percent of colleges reported accepting credit cards for payment of tuition

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barack obama, john McCain, and Hillary Clinton speak to college students at recent political rallies. With the presidential race wide open, all candidates have stepped up their recruitment

of younger voters. As more students have started to vote in recent years, advertisements have appeared on popular websites such as Facebook and MySpace. Many high schoolers have already been called

image by huntington post

image by kathy willes/ ap

image by alison fitzgerald

04.25.08

several times by all three candidates. As the presidential election approaches, expect to see the amount of adevertisements increase even more dramatically.

Candidates appeal to young voters high schoolers decide nation’s leaders JEREMY SPIEGEL

W opinion chief

ith the upcoming presidential election this November, the remaining candidates are at full force in their solicitations, trying to rally up supporters one final time. For many high schoolers, this means that the candidates are trying to appeal to them to ensure victory in the election, recognizing the unprecedented political power eighteen year olds hold “I am excited to be able to serve my country and vote for the first time,” said Aaron Fried, 12. With the ability to determine the future of the United States, teenagers across the country have turned off the sports and drama shows to watch the political debates and speeches. After the election of 2004, when record numbers of teenage voters turned out to the polls, candidates have started to recognize the importance of younger generations of voters.

Barack Obama advertises youthful image

“In this election, it’s our turn. It’s your generation’s turn. Let’s bring a new generation of leadership to America,” said Barack Obama to students at the University of South Carolina. Obama leads all candidates in his approval to the younger voters. These voters, who can only remember the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George Bush, are sick of the scandals and ineffectiveness of the federal government. To them, Obama offers a fresh

face in American politics. In a Facebook poll of voters under 24 years old, Obama won an astonishing 44 percent of the vote. Students who voted for Obama cite his optimism and enthusiasm for making this country better. “I like Obama because he doesn’t have a cloud of lies and deceit around him, and he is more open about what he thinks,” said Tim Fenstermaker, 12. “Barack Obama has stepped above the political party system in uniting many high school voters behind one candidate,” said Kevin Sheff, 11.

Hillary Clinton fights back

Not to be outdone, Democratic rival Hillary Clinton has tried to fight back in the polls by speaking to the younger voters. “Hillary Clinton has already called me many times,” said Michelle Poliner, 12. “I guess she realized that she needs more support from younger voters.” Recognizing Obama’s support from this area, Clinton has stepped up her attacks by calling out Obama’s inexperience and arguing that she would provide the best future for the American youth. Clinton appeals particularly to recent college graduates entering the workforce for the first time. In the majority of the Democratic primaries. Clinton has a comfortable margin in the 25-29 year old group. These voters favor Clinton’s policy towards health insurance and other benefits for the working class. Although the majority of high school voters favor Obama, there are a few who believe that Clinton’s familiarity makes her a better

presidential candidate than Obama.

McCain shows strong support in primary victory

On the Republican side of the primary, John McCain coasted to an easy victory. In doing so, he was able to win support from all ages and demographics. However, now that he has secured the Republican nomination, McCain will have to turn his attention to the national stage. In the last two major elections, 2004 and 2006, young voters have voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Democrats, the latter election giving the party a majority in Congress. “John McCain is a good candidate, but I don’t think he will get enough support from 18-year-olds,” said Sheff. “Barack Obama is much more popular, and it will be hard to beat him in that age group.”

Groups support teen votes

Regardless of affiliation, groups across the country are promoting teenagers to vote. In such a key election, every vote will count in determining the future of the United States. “We need to provide for our futures by choosing our leaders,” said Michael Evers, 12. Websites such as Rock the Vote teach new voters how to register and about the voting process. Popular websites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Youtube advertise to millions of teenagers, giving them information on the candidates and telling them why they should vote. So Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, get out there and vote!

By the

Numbers Who would students like to see elected as president?

40%

Barack Obama

24%

Hillary Clinton

31% 5%

John McCain Undecided

Poll of 100 random 18 year old students

easy steps to register to vote In 2004, a record number of 18 and 19 year olds showed up to vote in the presidential election. However, there were far more teenagers who stayed home on election day. Many people have blamed these absences on the lack of knowledge of the voting process. Here are three easy steps to apply to vote in this year’s election.

Pick up a voter registration form. These are available online at www.sos.state.oh.us. In addition, they can be obtained at the Bureau of Motor Vehicle or any public library. In addition, many social studies teachers have them available here at the high school.

2. Fill out the reg-

istration form. When finished, send it by mail to the Ohio Secretary of State office or the county treasurer. Be sure to send in the form at least 30 days before the election in order to vote. To register in person, deliver the form to the county board of elections.

3. If the registration

form is accepted, the Board of Elections will register the applicant to vote within 20 days. The Board will then mail the applicant, confirming the voting registration and the voting location. If the application is not accepted, the board will provide an oppurtunity to make corrections.

feature

04.25.08

Unraveling DNA

Research reveals connection between DNA, voting BEN DHIMAN

mini-mag editor

roundbreaking research in genetics has revealed deep insights into the most opinionated aspects of life. Most recent is the research into how genetics play a role into voting. “I think it would not be that surprising if my DNA affected my political ideas, but it would be really strange too because it would mean that our internal thoughts were determined by our parents,” said Matt Hill, 9. Significant evidence has shown that choosing the Democratic or Republican candidate has been predetermined and is embedded in our genetic code. The debate over whether our vote is based off our environment or whether we have already chosen the candidates at a subconscious level has begun to shift towards the subconscious mind. “It is very possible that DNA affects voting because if you look at it; people that undergo the same life experiences come out with completely different outlooks on human nature,” said Mr. Kevin Wittman, AP Government teacher. Our genetic code spells out every dynamic of our physical and our internal appearance. It becomes our identity from the inside, out. It is conceivable that genetics control the process in which we think, but it is difficult to obtain information that inexplicably proves this point. But, if genetics can be proved to directly affect the manner in which we think, and thoughts determine beliefs, it is imaginable that it affects our political views.

Three years ago, a Rice University study examined the political similarities between identical twins, who have an identical genetic blueprint versus fraternal twins. The study showed that identical twins have more political views in common than fraternal twins. It is doubtful that there remains a single gene that distinguishes between Democrat and Republican, but it is possible that political affiliations are more indirectly looped to genetics. A study done between self proclaimed liberals and conservatives demonstrated compelling differences between the two. Due to the fact that a specific portion of the brain is used when a person is confronted with information contrary to his or her beliefs, the study would enable researchers to differentiate between the two groups. The liberals use of that portion of the brain was higher than that of the conservatives, suggesting that liberals are more responsive to different ideas, and that liberals are able to observe the pros and cons of a situation. On the opposite side of the spectrum the study suggests that conservatives focus on one side of the story, and tend to stick to their beliefs. “Liberals tend to be more accepting and trusting of human nature, where as conservatives tend to be more critical and paranoid about human nature. ,” said Wittman. This unveils that the way in which the brain reacts could be attributed to the fashion in which it was built, and the instructions for it’s formation is based off the DNA in every

32%

single human being. Genetically speaking, our vote is indirectly affected in some way by our genetic code. The ability for modern age candidates to draw upon this research could be an upcoming feature in a candidate’s strategy. It makes many of the students who will be 18 in time for the 2008 presidential election wonder if their genetics will cause them to elect a particular candidate instead of another. These students will be walking into the voting booth and could end up handing in their ballot with uncertainty as to how their decision was made, instead of the common steadfast sureness that is felt by most voters. This could potentially become a popular issue as the common trait of curiosity rings clear in every human’s head might influence people to search answers to their questions through DNA. “I do see how specific life experiences or influential people could be very powerful in a person’s political beliefs,” said Wittman. As the coils of the DNA molecule are unraveled it becomes more and more evident that human beings are less super-natural and sophisticated than we believe. Our long-lasting arrogance and self-imposed superiority is slowly creeping down the scale as scientific research in the field of genetics are proving that we are ghastly similar to each other, and even more surprisingly similar to the other creatures living on Earth.

68%

of students feel DNA does affect voting

“ “ “ “ I don’t think so because I think it has to do with life experiences, and what my parents say. - Daniel Castillo, 10

of students feel I think my beliefs DNA does not come from possibly a affect voting combination of DNA and

*Poll out of 78 students

all images by ben dhiman

life experiences. - Lindsey Harris, 10

I think it does because I can see how kids tend to have the same views as their parents. - Schafer Alison, 11 I really don’t care how my views are decided because I think they are right no matter what anyone says. - Champman Bundy, 10

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How mobile devices work eart of cell phones

04.25.08

Speaker

Speakers allow one to hear the person on the other end of the call, or even hear the sound from the game he or she is playing on their phone. Speakers are easily compared to ears. Located in the ear is a thin piece of skin called an eardrum which senses vibrations, therefore, translating into sound. Speakers simply use a system of vibrations in order to create a voice, song, or any sound.

LCD Screen The liquid crystal display (LCD) screen is, in short, what allows users to see what they are doing. If the LCD screen was not there then one would not be able to read a text message or see what phone number he or she dialed. Because of the screen, one is able to play games and see what they are doing on their phone.

Circuit Board Many devices contain circuit boards. A circuit board is something like a brain to the phone. It contains many chips which control many functions of the phone, such as memory, phone signal, and power management/recharging.

Popular services among students

SIM Card The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card provides the phone with the identity of its user/subscriber. The SIM card allows users to change phones by simply removing the card from one mobile phone and inserting it into another cell phone or something that takes this small card.

Microphone

Other

AT&T/Cingular

Cincinnati Bell

Verizon Wireless

12%

15%

35%

38%

There are a large variety of cell phone services in the world, the popularity of major carriers are shown below.

Survey out of 100 students

all graphics by jake newton

The microphone and the speaker might as well be best friends. The microphone allows one’s voice to be transmitted to another phone while the speaker actually allows for the voice to be heard. The microphone is something very tiny on the phone but in many ways, makes the cell phone a cell phone.

“

‘I truly have no clue as to how these small pieces of plastic work’

Students realize modern technology unappreciated JAKE NEWTON

staff writer

ell phones act as life savers for many students. These portable devices provide a way for calling friends to hang out, calling parents to inform them of one’s current location or future destinations, or even something to do while bored on the bus. “I don’t think I would be able to function without my phone, it’s like my lifeline,” said Jackie Orent, 10. To some students, cell phones are mere accessories, but, to

others they are considered connected to the students being. They are unable to be parted with during the school day and such. But do students know how these tiny gizmos truly work?

How do they do it?

Often, students look at cell phones as something simple. One dials a number and then talks to the person whom that number belongs to. “When you talk into the microphone they hear your voice from

their speaker. Also, depending on what service you have, that dictates how clear you can hear them,” said Jose Cerdae, 9. Cerdae hits on something crucial: are the microphone and speaker the only parts to a functioning cell phone? The answer to this mind boggling question is, of course, no. A cell phone, like humans, consists of many vital organs. For example, the circuit board, acts like a human brain for the phone, controlling all of the functions of the phone, such as power man-

agement and phone signal. “I truly have no clue as to how these small pieces of plastic work, but I really don’t mind, as long as I am getting a hold of who I need to,” said Kaitlin Burt, 10. All in all, cell phones bring the technologically inclined students and the “popular” kids together, showing them that cell phones are complex enough to leave a grown man in question yet simple enough for a six year old to call their mother.

Technology is so crazy. I had an old phone and didn’t know about half the features that were on there until I got my new phone. - Alison Barbro, 11

feature

04.25.08

Trapped by technology?

“Generation Tech” straddles fine line between obsession, usefulness KAREN BUENEVIDES & MELODIE JENG & MOLLY JOHNSON & CASEY MANNING & ADAM MERZ staff writer staff writer staff writer staff writer staff writer

graphic by adam merz

SO DEPENDENT IS our generation on technology that sometimes, teenagers can feel as if they are trapped by their devices, as is David Borgz, 12., in this picture. Laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players are necessary accessories to everyday life in the world of someone belonging to “Generation Technology.” More than ever, children are spending more of their time in front of screens and less time interacting face-to-face.

f Facebook says so, it must be true.” Nowadays, this is not an uncommon phrase to be heard in everyday conversation. In the days of yore, gossip was only passed along through whispers in the halls, but now, it is easy for one’s private information to be public knowledge via the internet, text messages, and instant messaging. “It’s amazing how much technology has changed over the years,” said Ronald Rubin, 11, “I feel so dependent on Facebook, my iPod and my cell phone.” Are we being trapped by our own technology? Reports have stated that physical activity among those under the age of 18 has diminished since the introduction of the internet into modern society. Some claim that language development among adolescents has been stunted because of instant messenger “speak,” with teachers having reported seeing mistakes such as “lyk” and “bc.” We, as a generation, are inseparably wired. Without cell phones, MP3 players, GPS navigation, and social networking websites, many teenagers would feel isolated from the rest of the world. “My phone’s really not that important in my life,” said Michelle Grosser, 10, “I prefer talking to people face to face.” Nine out of ten teens reportedly are Internet users— half of them venturing onto the world wide web at least once a day. According to a CBSNews.com poll, the average teenager spends three hours a day on the computer. “I use the internet for everything,” said Anna Habib, 12, “From homework to projects to playing and talking to my friends, the internet is an essential part of my everyday life.” But is all of the technology that has permeated our every waking hour such a bad thing? “Technology is deeply entrenched in most teens’ lives,” said Melissa McNamara in an article for CBSNews.com. But, “this may also mean that today’s GenTechs may be tomorrow’s technological leaders, pushing the country toward innovation.” Each generation has its defining features. The children of the fifties had their sock hops; the sixties, their flower power; the seventies, their demonstrations; the eighties, their big hair; the nineties, their grunge movement. Maybe being permanently attached to our cell phones/ mp3 players/laptops is to be our defining feature. But it is safe to say, unlike poodle skirts and glam rock, technology, and our dependence on it, is here to stay.

Devoted to devices: Students polled what they cannot live without Teenagers, as is demonstrated by countless studies and research, are dependent on technology. Fifty students were asked what device they felt they were most dependent on. Whether it be via their computers, cell phones, MP3 players, or any other device, students responded overwhelmingly that their lives would not be the same without their favorite devices. The majority of students polled responded that they could not live without their computers or cell phones. MP3 players were a distant third, while those who said they were not dependent on anything were few and far between.

Computer [26] Cell phone [20] MP3 player [8] Not dependant [1]

graphic by casey manning

feature

Get groovy, fly boys 4.25.08

Popular words, phrases people love to use

ELLEAN ZHANG

W news chief

ords. They are the preferable mode of modern communication. And through the words that are spoken, people are able to understand (or misinterpret for that matter) what they hear. As times progresses and the teens of one decade are replaced with the next generation of America’s youth, the “hip lingo” of the day will also find itself in the process of metamorphosis. “‘That’s groovy’ was the big thing we used to say back in the day,” said Mr. Bill Ignatz, chemistry teacher, “but now, I’m all about the ‘yo dawg.’” The words that flow from lips today are relevant to the moment. They are reflective of the

current issues, ideas, and events faced by the people who use them as a means of expression. However strange these words may be, they just seem to fit right in with the rest. Whether these words are loved for the way they roll off the tongue, or for the “cool factor” they have gradually adopted, they are indelibly ingrained in the records of popular culture.

Three Decades

Defining characteristics of the 1920s, 1960s, and those of today are what make the colloquial terms of these time periods unique of one another. When your grandmother tells you to “get a wiggle on” down at the grocery store, you may very well find yourself taking on a rosy tinge as you steal away.

Lingo of the day 1920s

However, in the 1920s (believe it or not), what she said would have been completely acceptable—possibly even cool. This period’s slang is especially distinguished by its interesting use of ordinary, everyday objects. Continuing on, the lingo of the 1960s is more laid back, with a few seemingly nonsensical terms. And since this was the decade of classic model cars and liberal movements, much of the slang is closely tied in with those themes. Today, the popular speak of teens is dramatically different than that of both the 1920s and 1960s. In a world where teens seem to care excessively about self-appearance, where double consonants and saying normal words in a hip new way is in, the slang is a mix of all sorts. Nonetheless, there are some “oldies

1960s

but goodies” that are still actively used. “I know it’s a bit old fashioned, but I really like to say ‘oh shucks’ a lot,” said Sarah Hammer, 9.

Language Legacy

Not unlike everything else in the world, language is always undergoing constant change— even if it is not always blatantly obvious. Every moment is a chance for sudden inspiration to strike in the creation of a new sound to make a new word that can be used to communicate in a new way. As teens in America, we are the only ones who can control what we say and how we say it. Small (larger for some), but powerful, our words have the ability to make a positive impact if we so desire it. Because the words we speak will be remembered, this is

“ “

our time to leave a legacy representative of our generation. The only question that remains: How do we want to be remembered?

I love the word ‘sweet’; it’s an extremely versatile adjective. And come on, everyone likes sweet things. - Sukhada Kulkarni, 10 ‘Fantabulous’ is my favorite because fantastic and fabulous are better as one. - Vlad Podolsky, 11

21st century

Applesauce- an interjectory Ball- to party A’ight- all right expression Bench racing- speculating Ballin’- flaunting money or wealth Big cheese- the most important how one’s car would fare Beast- someone who dominates person; hot shot against another in a race (originally in basketball) Bimbo- tough guy Boss- a great/cool thing Braw- a friend or close Check- kiss me later Cherry- in pristine condition acquaintance Drugstore cowboy- one who Dig- do you understand? Burn- to mortify and leave one hangs around street corners Funky- cool or gone bad without comeback trying to pick up girls Fab- fantastic Bunk- aggravating; something Fire extinguisher- chaperone Fink- tattle tale incorrect Fly boy- glamorous name Five finger discount- theft Cheezin- smiling; “cheezin so big” for an aviator Fuzz- the police Dis- to insult Handcuff-engagement ring Gimme some skin- to D.L. (down low)- to keep as a secret Heebie-jeebies- chills or shake hands Feel- to understand; “I feel you” jitters Gnarly- anything large or Fizzle- a way to call one a fool Jake- O.K. ; “Everything is difficult; voice of approval Flossin’- to flaunt wealth (usually a Jake around here.” Go ape- become wildly vehicle) Jane- any girl irate Fo rizzle- for real Joe- coffee Groovy- nice, cool Holla – to contact someone Orchid- a pricey item Hunk- a good-looking guy Home skillet- a friend Ritzy- elegant (derived Kibosh- to put a Phatty bom batty- adj. for quite possibly from the hotel) stop to quickly the coolest thing you’ve ever seen Spiffy- an elegant apKissee- combination of a Pimp juice- personal charisma that is atpearance kiss-up and a sissy tractive to the opposite gender Swell- awesome Lip flappin’- talking about Props- congratulations for achievement What’s eating you?trivial matters Salty- feeling shame from embarrassment What’s wrong? Melvin- a wedgie Stoked- utmost excitement You slay me- that is Tooling- driving around Tight- expression of friendship; cool funny aimlessly True dat- expression of agreement Word- I concur Yo- hey there

image by ellean zhang

feature

04.25.08

‘The Leaf has been like a second family to me, and room 115 like a second home.’

Seniors leave Leaf, admiring behind MARY ANN JIANG

other activities to make sure we committed sufficient time to being business managers. When we returned the question, Alexa began, “This is our

life...” and I have held onto that quote. The commitment they had, the drive which surpassed weariness and stress, the love which drew untold hours out of

their days and nights... The company and example of other dedicated and more seasoned staffers makes all the difference in between feeling de-

Spinning tunes

Finding future, friends

Experience worthwhile because...

Starting high school I had absolutely no idea that I would end up majoring in journalism. Also, I never knew that I would make so many friends on The Leaf and that it would be such a large influence on my life. Our last deadline was really emotional which just speaks to how close we have all become.

Next: Next year I am majoring in print journalism at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Even if I didn’t want anything more than to go home and sleep at the time, those deadlines that went until 9 p.m. were definitely unforgettable. There were so many hilarious moments that sprang from those tired, overworked hours spent in room 115--the most memorable probably being spending the last hour after an especially rough deadline making up newspaper-related lyrics to go with every broadway song imaginable. “You can’t stop the beat(s)...” I joined newspaper sophomore year because I loved to write...what I’m left with, even though I feel kind of burnt out writing-wise senior year, are amazing friends.

Next: I’m not going to study journalism in college, but at the University of Vermont they don’t have an intense newspaper staff, so I’m hoping to join that and just do it for fun.

Occasional pressure builder

It was really stressful sometimes, and there were many times when I was so stressed, I almost forgot why I was doing The Leaf. Nothing drove me to the point of wanting to quit, although there were instances when I did have to remind myself I was doing what I loved. Then I realized it was all worth it.

One final deadline...

The very last one that the seniors were a part of was full of anticipation, excitement, and definitely some sadness. It was really memorable and a bit surreal. Next: I couldn’t imagine not working on a newspaper. Right now I’m planning to major in print journalism and become really involved on the college newspaper at USC.

I would relive my first day ever in journalism. I was so impressed with all these older people who wrote on the newspaper. Not that I shouldn't have been impressed, but it just feels like 100 years ago!

“It’s been really fun”

I just signed up to have an elective, but it literally became my life. Which is a good thing, because it's really done so much for me, in terms of college and personal growth.

Ugly jobs with Katie Brown

One of my [least] favorite experiences was selling ads freshman year. Katie Brown, now attending Seven Hills High School, and I tried for like four hours to sell an ad, and we thought we hit the jackpot at one place. The owner talked to us for nearly an hour about taxes, his son, and staying in school. We were so polite and understanding because we thought it would really pay off. But then he said he wasn't interested. We were slightly annoyed. Slightly. Next: I will definitely write for college publications wherever I go. If I end up at Washington and Lee, I’ll major in journalism.

On April deadline night in 2007...

It was our first without the seniors (which kind of made us the “seniors”), Jen, Alexa, and I stayed really late. We thought we were the only people in the whole school, but then we heard something outside the room and got scared, we were probably really delirious, but we closed the door. It was just the janitors, and they were really nice but I don’t think we ever told anyone how late we stayed that night…

Legacy of Leaf staffers

The Leaf has been like a second family to me, and room 115 like a second home. I just hope future staffers can find the same passion that we found and that the tradition continues. Next: As much as I loved working on the paper, I think my time with journalism is over. I would love to continue with it, but I’m going to focus on my life, and the direction that it’s going in is towards medicine, not newspaper. So I guess this is like my farewell to journalism.

all images by mary ann jiang

Jill Cohen, the“it” girl

I found something that I truly just loved to do. Before newspaper, I dabbled in a bunch of other sports and activities and I didn’t really vibe with any of them. Newspaper was different-I actually enjoyed writing articles, designing pages, learning the software, and getting as involved as possible.

Kate Moore, “go to girl”

Jen Lee, the “voice”

Right fit

Of all the memories...

Nadia Khan, sports enthusiast

Remembering the times...

1. My experiences at journalism camps have been amazing. At Ball State University; it was the first moment when I realized this could be something that I could end up doing all my life. This past summer I went to Northwestern and met people who were all extremely passionate about journalism. 2. December deadline was during Hanukah, so we decided to have a party with latkes and Hanukah music, and Stephanie Post, 11, brought cake (for which we are forever grateful).

feated and staying afloat. This is a tribute to a handful of seniors, some of the most committed and talented people I have ever met. This is my goodbye.

Casey Manning, design dream

Alexa Fogler, the research buff

editor-in-chief

remember the first day Jen Lee, 12, and Alexa Fogler, 12, showed Gabirose Keeton, 11, and I how to make ads. They asked about our

As an unexpected outcome...

I’ve started to notice clever or well-designed advertisements. My favorite right now is at Caribou Coffee for their orange drinks. It’s very simple, with light blue on brown and an orange stripe… it’s so pretty! You spend so much time trying to make something visually appealing that you really appreciate how much effort and imagination it takes for professionals.

“We hit crazy at that point”

One deadline, while everyone was waiting for the last few pages to be pasted down, we began brainstorming what the soundtrack to newspaper would be. Some of the highlights: 1. Imma Put You To Bed 2. Dreamweaver 3. You Can’t Stop the Beats (For those unaware of newspaper lingo: being “put to bed” refers to sending the paper to press, Dreamweaver is the software used to create GoAves.org, and beats are seemingly never-ending assignments we write weekly.) Next: Heads it’s Duke, tails it’s Dartmouth…

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a&e

04.25.08

arts and entertainment

ichela’s musings

Teen Vogue losing style Popular teenage magazine’s decreasing quality persists

MICHELA TINDERA

a&e chief

Upon receiving my April issue of Teen Vogue in the mail last weekend, I eagerly tore off the plastic wrapping and flipped open the glossy cover, eager to fill up on high fashion and beauty tips just like I always do, when I realized there was something very suspicious going on. As I skimmed through the thinner-than-usual issue (only 146 pages) I felt as if I had just hit my head on a slab of concrete and was now suffering from severe symptoms of déjà vu. The articles, fashion spreads, even interviews, all made me feel as if I had read them before. Does the “My Mom is Prettier than Me So Now I Don’t Have Any Friends” story ring any bells? Or how about coverage on cyber-bullying? Because these topics, or something very similar to, have been published at least twice within the past two years. And perhaps in the process of hitting my head on that concrete I had also taken some kind of Alice in Wonderland potion causing everything within the magazine to shrink, most notably the size and quantity of articles included. Where there had once been three to four in-depth coverage stories spread throughout the issue, now there were only two, in the very back, given only a page of face time until shunned to the “continued on page…” section that no one ever actually turns to. And then I came to the, painful conclusion that Teen Vogue has lost it’s magic touch. However much I appreciate the fact that Teen Vogue stays above the catty celebrity gossip revolving around Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and the like, I feel that I could exchange a few pages of gossip for an article on a topic that has not been beaten to death one hundred times over. Is it that the publishers think that the audience to whom they cater towards is so dull that they will not catch on to this ploy? I certainly hope not considering the fact that I have always considered Teen Vogue to be in the upper echelon of teen magazines. Perhaps my judgment was incorrect. Not only have I found the quality of this publication to be decreasing, but also the sheer size of each issue. When I first purchased subscription in March 2003, my issue was 334 pages, and now, a measly 146 pages. Why the change I ask? Is it too difficult to fill the other 200 pages with frolicking doe-eyed models in Marc by Marc Jacobs and Burberry? After consistently subscribing to the magazine since I was in sixth grade (2003) I finally felt it was time to break away from the monotony and the slow degradation of a once bible-like publication. A few days ago I canceled my subscription and signed up for Seventeen instead.

IN WEST SIDE story, a modern day Romeo and Juliet, two gangs, the Sharks and the Jets face off against one another with two young lovers, Tony and Maria, caught in the mix.

photos courtesy of jeremy mcdaniel

West Side Story wows audiences Despite some plot dissapointment, performance exceeds expectations

JILL COHEN

staff writer

he timeless story of forbidden love reared its ugly head once again when Aves Theater put on West Side Story for its spring musical. The show was the culmination of their season and, for some, of four years’ worth of late nights, sore throats, and unwavering dedication. As with most of the company’s spring musicals, West Side appealed to all facets of the community. The plot follows the rivalry between the American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks and a romance formed across enemy lines. Familiar songs such as “America” and “I Feel Pretty” constitute the classic soundtrack. “High school kids are pumped up about it because it’s about high school kids. Adults and senior citizens like it becuase it’s been around for 50 years,” said Mr. John Whapham, director. The story was particularly familiar to this community because it is based on Romeo and Juliet, the school’s fall play. “This was not a coincidence,” said

Whapham, “I chose to do the shows together in the same season becuase they have some important differences in terms of plot and character. By doing them both together, not only the cast but the audience can have a greater appreciation of both pieces.” However, the decision to juxtapose the two pieces did not go over as well as hoped. Some of the audience felt that they were watching the same play twice - though one was thankfully much easier to understand. “I was a bit bored by West Side Story,” said Allie Coleman, 12. “It’s disappointing, because the talent was unbelievable, and I know I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I hadn’t seen Romeo and Juliet so soon before.” Indeed, any dissatisfaction with the show did not come from the actual performances, which were nearly flawless. As always, the musical showcased voices that few would expect a high school student to produce: not only was the audience awed by vocal talents of leads Ben Rosen and Laura Wacksman (it cannot be said enough), but

Lindsay Hill, 12 (Anita) and Christine Linz, 12 (“Somewhere” soloist) amazed as well. The main hurdle for cast members was not honing the techniques they usually employ in theater, but newly-acquired skills in dance. This required a good number of men who could complete the “trifecta:” sing, act, and dance. “We took our boys who could sing and act and taught them to dance,” said Whapham. And it paid off. It was evident from scenes such as “Officer Krumpke” that the boys had spent hours on their routines. Their performances were polished, strong, and full of energy - characteristics crucial to the success of a dance number. Not to mention the flawless dance sequence of Camille Lesar, 12 and Will Kiley, 11. As with all previous performances produced by the company, West Side Story surely seems hard to top; however, community members can continue to expect great things from the student performers.

look ahead:

this month in a&e

Missed the MusicNOW 2008 festival? Turn to pg. 24 for a review of the bands and musicians that rocked Memorial Hall in early April.

Revamped website goes live

See new Goaves.com for news, schedules, more TYLER ALBL staff writer

Ever wondered what really goes on backstage? Turn to pg. 27 to learn the in’s and out’s of being a crew member for Aves Theater.

Goaves.com has been overhauled, redesigned, and completely refashioned. The new layout has already built upon its predecessor; however, there are still more features on the way. Podcasts. Yes, podcasts that detail school news are expected to be released later this year. All the content and technical materials will be student generated. Look out for podcasts in the future.

a&e

Invasion of Disn Artists, shows attrac 04.25.08

ELIZABETH HOOPES & BRYNN SHARP

staff writer

uddenly, top 40 stations are taking a new turn and making room for music like Miley Cyrus’ “See You Again” and the Jonas Brothers’ “When You Look Me in the Eyes,” even if it is only closet space. Whether or not the change is welcomed depends on a person’s taste in music. Some are seeing the change as an improvement from hearing the same songs over and over again, while others have marked the new music as “lame” and “childish.” “I think it is okay for Disney songs to be on the radio as long as it isn’t all of the time,” said Anna Reis, 12. Are people taking a negative viewpoint on these new songs just because they are played on Disney Channel, when in fact, many of them started out their music careers long before starting a venture with Disney? Or, are these Disney artists overrated and not quite as talented as people make them seem? Many years ago, brothers Kevin, 21, Joe, 19, and Nick Jonas, 15, started their career as the band the Jonas Brothers. Nick was actually first discovered while getting his hair cut and his brothers later joined him. Today they work with Disney, are signed with Hollywood Records, and are on an international tour which will be coming to Riverbend this summer. The Jonas Brothers are not just a Disney Band. They also do work with Disney on many projects, such as an upcoming movie, Camp Rock, and TV show, J.O.N.A.S. “I think they are decent singers but if [their TV show] turns out anything like The Naked Brothers Band, I’ll smash my T.V. or at least go back to cartoons,” said Nathan Gruebmeyer, 11. The Disney component is just one piece of their career. In fact, most of their fans became fans before the Jonas Brothers began working with Disney. The Jonas Brothers are also starring in their own reality show, Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream. It is said to air later this spring. Some people mark bands like this as “lame” but is it only because they are connected to Disney? Most people would sign a contract with Disney if they got the opportunity, and the Jonas Brothers took that opportunity. Miley Cyrus has a somewhat different story. She grew up with a famous father, so she had a little glimpse of stardom in her early years. It was not until her Hannah Montana deal that her acting and singing career took off, and in a huge way, too. “I think Miley is really brave for singing at such a young age,” said Hannah Desando, 11. Despite having a famous dad, Cyrus went through all the hardships and rejections that anyone in the entertainment industry goes through and had to work hard to get where she is today. “I like Miley and the Jonas Brothers. Their songs have great messages,” said Kayla Murray, 11. There is still the question of whether or not artists like these should be heard on top 40 radio stations. After all, there are specific radio stations such as Radio Disney that are aimed at younger children and tweens. Maybe it is just a change in people’s music preferences that is landing these artists on the top 40 list. If the artists are making the top 40 request list, then do they not deserve to be played on those stations? “The Jonas Brothers are a good band, but boy bands are overrated,” said Elyse Flaig, 11. As for Disney pop/rock lovers, well, enjoy the time that you can hear these songs on the radio. More Disney artists may begin to climb up the top 40 list, or the typical top 40 songs could retake their title; only time will tell.

“

I don’t think [Miley] is a great singer, but she’s in the industry where it’s all about image. - Rachel Dick, 10

photo courtesy of lauren friezo

THE JONAS BROTHERS perform at a concert during their When You Look Me in the Eyes Tour. The tour did not stop in Cincinnati but anyone interested in the Jonas Brothers can check them out this summer at Riverbend. The last time the Jonas Brothers came to Cincinnati was during Miley Cyrus’ Best of Both Worlds Tour, where

Percent of students who like hearing Disney songs on the radio

Do not like

Percent of students who watch Disney Channel Do not watch

46% 54%

they stopped at US Bank Arena. Many students attended the concert. The brothers are Nick (top left), who plays guitar, piano, and drums; Kevin (top right), who plays guitar; and Joe (bottom), who does lead vocals but can sometimes be seen playing other instruments during concerts.

24% Like

Watch

76% * all surveys based of a poll of 100 random students

a&e

ey Channel stars ting older age group 04.25.08

image by elizabeth hoopes

THESE TEENAGE TWINS, played by Dylan and Cole Sprouse, are always getting into trouble at the hotel they live in. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody is a sitcom on Disney Channel that can be enjoyed by all ages. The show also stars Ashley Tisdale, as Maddie, the candy counter girl, and Brenda Song as London Tipton, the rich heiress to the hotel’s

Top

Disney Shows 3 2

You may be surprised to know that many high school students like to sneak in a little Disney Channel time. Of course, their are people who never watch it, but you might be shockedby the numbers that actually do. We surveyed students to see if they watch Disney and what their favorite show is, and came up with this list of the top five Disney shows. We got students who’s favorite shows range from Phineas and Ferb, a comical cartoon, to classic shows like That’s So Raven.

Suite Life of Zack and Cody

That’s so Raven

That’s so Raven is one of the older Disney Channel shows, and many students probably remember watching it when they were younger. Raven Baxter is an average teenage girl with psychic powers. However, this 6th sense always gets Raven into unusual situations. The only people who know about her power are her parents, little brother Cory, and her two best friends Chelsea and Eddie. The new Disney Channel series Cory in the House is a spinoff of That’s so Raven.

Wizards of Waverly Place

Wizards of Waverly Place is one of the newer Disney Channel shows. This show features three teenage siblings who are wizards in training. Alex, Justin, and Max are preparing for a test of their magic skills that determines which of the three will be able to keep their powers. Selena Gomez, who plays Alex, was also featured in Disney’s Hannah Montana and sings in the new movie 101 Dalmatians: Platinum Edition.

Zack and Cody are two twins with opposite personalities living at the Tipton Hotel in Boston. Mr. Mosby, the Tipton manager, always seems to catch these twins getting into some sort of trouble. These two boys are played by Colan and Dylan Sprouse. Maddy, the candy-counter girl, is played by actress Ashley Tisdale who also starred in Disney’s High School Musical and High School Musical II. The show also will often feature special guests such as Tony Hawk and Jesse McCartney.

Hannah Montana This pop star is living the best of both worlds. 15 year old Miley Stewart disguises as superstar Hannah Montana so she can live a normal teenage life. Best friends Lily and Oliver help Miley keep her celebrity life a secret while they face everyday teenage struggles. Students agree that Hannah Montana is the number one show on Disney channel. When her concert tour came to Cincinnati last December, tickets were sold out, and it was a big hit.

owner. Tisdale was also a star in High School Musical, the popular movie enjoyed by those who have yet to enter high school, and those currently enrolled. Song was the main actress in Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, another Disney production.

Life With Derek

Life with Derek features Casey and Derek, two stepsiblings who are forced to live with each other when their parents get married. Derek always finds a way to make Casey’s life miserable and will do anything to succeed at that task. Not only does Casey have to get used to her new brother, but she also has 2 more new siblings, a new father, a new school, and new friends. Some may even be surprised to know that this show is produced in Canada.

a&e

04.25.08

MusicNOW 2008 Various musicians rock local festival LEAH BURGIN

feature chief

here is something unique about Memorial Hall. Located in Overthe-Rhine and situated next to Music Hall, this area is one of the few places where the contemporary can coexist with the classical – perfect for Cincinnati's MusicNOW festival. MusicNOW 2008, a continuation of Bryce Dessner's brainchild, MusicNOW 2006, boasted a wide variety of performances that were all up to par with those from years past. The four day festival, from Wednesday, April 2 to Saturday, April 5, was exciting and enjoyable: although I was not quite sure what to expect, I was pleased with the overall quality of the festival. One of this year’s innovations was to combine music and film for a night. Guest performers, including Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry, Aaron Dessner, twin brother to Bryce Dessner, and surprise guest star Sufjan Stevens, played along to contemporary films from as early as the 1940s. The most creative films of the evening included an experimental animation titled "LMNO" (1978) by Robert Breer and a more recent animation from Jeff Scher called "Garden of Regrets" (1994). Musical highlights included the Dessners’ guitar duet entitled "Jumeaux" and Parry's "Untitled for Stethoscope, Heartbeat and Breath" where he played piano to the tempo of his heartbeat while violinist Nadia Sirota played to the pattern of her breath. The film and song combination that won the hearts of the audience was Stevens' footage of his

four year old nephew on a beach in Japan. The film was coupled with an original composition by Stevens. However, the finale on Wednesday, where those who participated throughout the night combined to play Bryce Dessner's original composition "Raphael" to a Mathew Ritchie film by the same name, was slightly over-hyped. The musical composition was lacking the brilliance that I had expected many musical minds on one stage to produce. The film, though comprised of beautiful images, did not seem to completely gel with the mood the music produced. On Thursday, the festival's atmosphere lightened with charismatic guitarist Ben Verdery, the Dessner brothers' guitar teacher from eons ago. Verdery played a wide variety of pieces, but all with exceptional skill. Also performing Thursday night was Ben Frisell's 858 Quartet. While the four members of the quartet were extremely talented, their musical selections lacked variety. The quartet's music would be better received as ambiance for another occasion – not as the sole focus for an hour-long concert. Similar to the 858 Quartet was Bang on a Can, who played on Friday. Their best songs were two pieces composed by WILCO member Glenn Kotche. His pieces highlighted the talent of the musicians in Bang on a Can. Also performing Friday was the indie-rock band the Dirty Projectors. Even though group members Amber Coffman and Angel Deradoorian were sick, the Dirty Projectors did not disappoint the audience.

90’s Nails & Spa “Come to see the arts of beauty”

Kim Nguyen Manicurist

image by gabirose keeton

ON SATURDAY EVENING of the Music NOW 2008 festival, solo artist Andrew Bird, and Grizzly Bear members Edward

Saturday evening was the festival's high point. The house was sold out for the indie group Grizzly Bear and notorious wordsmith Andrew Bird. Memorial Hall was the perfect venue for Grizzly Bear, as their haunting melodies and vocals resounded throughout. Their music enveloped the audience in spite of some mishaps (singer and guitarist Daniel Rossen's guitar string snapped and drummer Chris Bear's Hi-hat broke). Their performance was the best live show I have ever seen. Bird, though his performance was slightly unpolished, was nevertheless endearing. He was entertaining song requests while still sticking to recently recorded music, expressing that it was "what was in his head." Bird was the perfect end to the 2008 MusicNOW festival, as he was a combination of what the festival represented – wit, talent, creativity, and of course, musical genius.

Over the Rhine. Bird, Droste, and Taylor were only a small portion of the musical talent that was featured at the festival.

Droste and Chris Taylor performed. The festival was held at Memorial Hall, a historic building located downtown in

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a&e

04.25.08

‘Without them, shows would quite simply not go on’ Out of sight, stage crew powers theater productions KIM BERNIE & DAPHNE HSU & WILL JOHNSTON & ASHLEIGH LOUDERBACK & MARK RUBEO

staff writer

associate editor

ard work, dedication, and skill. Not to mention, countless hours after school. That is what it takes to be able to put on any stage production. After the final curtain fell once Aves Theatre’s spring production West Side Story finished its last scene, the acting company took a bow. However, actors are not the only individuals who deserve recognition for their efforts in producing the show. The stage crew too is a group deserving of as much acknowledgment for their labor. Light flickering aside, the stage crew often goes unrecognized, but deserves commendmant for, not only its part in producing West Side Story, but all of the of the shows that theater puts on. “I think the backstage crew is amazing. The actors in Aves Theatre are absolutely awesome, but you have to have a stable crew to make the show work! Luckily, Aves Theatre has a great program with tons of kids involved with crew and the shows turn out great,” said Laura Birckhead, 9.

Crew positions

The crew is home to a number of dedicated individuals who are in charge of numerous tasks as well as positions essential to the success of any play. Crew is headed by the Student Technical Director, who oversees all aspects of the crew and sometimes running a section of his or her own. The Student Technical Director is aided by the Technical Co-Director, who helps perform the main director’s duties in addition to providing a link between the company, crew, and main director. There are a number of different duties that the crew must perform. For example, for one show, the light crew must make light plots, hang and focus the lights, write the light cues, and make a script of cues. “The entire crew is a well-oiled machine. We have control over most anything that you, as an audience member, sees. We cannot make mistakes,” said Bear Wilfong, 12. Lighting, however, is far from the only task for which the crew is responsible. The sound crew is accountable for helping with calling cues, as well as arranging and managing microphones on set. The costume crew helps design and create outfits for every member of the cast. The set crew undergoes the arduous task of creating all scenery used in plays, and the shift crew is responsible for making scene changes and drawing curtains. In addition, there is a crew for makeup, as well as another for prop creation and management. Besides these specific positions, the crew always contains a few “problem solvers.” “Although unmentioned in a program, each show will have a few problem solvers who know many pieces of many fields in great detail. These are the people who fix anything that goes wrong,” said Blake Dewey, 11.

Acknowledging their work

The responsibilities of the crew are vast and varying, and the crew members are well respected by their coworkers for their efforts. “Without the backstage crew, the plays at Sycamore High School would not be as good as they are. The teamwork that is necessary for the productions is half cast, half crew,” said Corrine Murphy, 9. “The whole backstage crew puts as much work into the show as the cast. It’s really exciting to all be a part of a show where everyone works very hard in order to have a tremendous show,” said Sara Lindsay, 9. “I know we have some very talented people on stage and backstage.” Although commonly out of sight and out of mind, the crew undeniably plays a critical role to the success of every production made by the theater. It is the efforts of these individuals, as well as the actors, that enable the theater to perform to the caliber it does.

staff writer

(1) DIRECTOR JOHN WHAPHAM advises Austin Sirkin, 9, and Sam Perryman, 9, on how the set should be arranged. (2) Christine Linz, 12, and Sarah Woolhiser, 9, write down the various stage cues. (3) Meanwhile, Matt Adams, 9, Phil Broderick, 12, and Andy Coddington, 9, make adjustments on the soundboard to equalize the vocal pitches throughout the theater. (4) Kelsey Malof, 9, directs one of the light fixtures located on the catwalk to illuminate the stage. Tasks such as these, amongst many others, are some of the duties that the crew performs. Without the help of these dedicated workers, Aves Theatre would not be able to put on the high quality level of productions that it has become renowned for.

4 West Side Story crew

TOP: JESSICA WALLING, 11, helps Laura Friedmann, 12, into costume by styling her hair. Bottom: Blake Dewey, 11, Austin Sirkin, 9, and Chris Lerner, 9, operate the flies to raise the curtains of the stage. Such tasks are examples of the behindthe-scenes jobs that the crew performs, each of which is essential to every show. While members of the crew go unseen in productions, their contributions to each show are visible throughout every show.

photos by daphne hsu and ashleigh louderback

Matt Adams, 9 Kelsey Malof, 9 Light Board Operator Spotlight Operator Laura Birckhead, 9 Niko Nazarovech, 11 Assistant Stage ManCrew ager Candice Nemoff, 11 Phil Brodrick, 12 Assistant Stage ManStudent Tech Director ag er Boris Charney, 10 Kat Pensyl, 10 Shift Crew Spotlight Operator Andy Coddington, 9 Sam Perryman, 9 Sound Fog Crew Susan Dicken, 11 Noel Rippberger, 10 Fog Manager Costumes Head Josh Goldman, 10 Ben Sirkin, 12 Publicity Crew Bridget Handkins, 11 Erinn Sonntag, 10 Fog Crew Assistant Stage and Hailey Hess, 9 Props Manager Costume Crew Jill Streck, 9 Ross Johnstal, 8 Costume Crew Sound Jessica Walling, 11 Corbin Lay, 11 Costume Crew and Crew Ma keup Head Lizy LeBlonde, 11 Aliza Weinberger, 11 Stage Manager Spotlight Operator Chris Lerner, 9 Bear Wilfong, 12 Fog Crew Lighting Crew Head Danielle Linz, 10 Sarah Woolhiser, 9 Stage Manager Crew

image by will johnston

a&e

04.25.08

Began: 1990 in Stockholm, Sweden Genre: Rock Style(s): Progressive Death Metal Sounds Like: Music so beautifully ugly it can’t be described with words Why they should be known: Combining the dead style of Prog rock with the (ironically) dying Death Metal doesn’t look at first glance like a recipe for a band alive with a unique and original sound, but that’s exactly what it produced in Opeth. Intricate, almost neoclassical arrangements are liable to be interrupted with death metal fury at any time, and the fury can just as quickly become mellow and introspective. This blatant defiance of the traditional stylistic boundaries gives Opeth a sound unlike any other band today, and is something one must hear to believe. Why they aren’t: Progressive rock hasn’t been popular since the mid ‘70s, and “mainstream death metal band” is an oxymoron. If Opeth wanted mainstream commercial success, combining the styles was not the way to go. The fact that they even make the charts shows how huge they are in the metal scene, but the extreme nature of their death metal side means they likely will never have mainstream appeal.

photo courtesy of http://www.opeth.com/

CO-HEADLINING WITH PROGRESSIVE metal giants Dream Theater, Opeth will tour the US this May under the Progressive Nation Tour. The tour comes to Columbus May 16, and Cleveland the day after.

‘Who are those guys?’

The other side of popular music MARK RUBEO Began: 1994 in Connecticut Genre: Hip Hop/Rap Style(s): Alternative Rap Sounds Like: Jay-Z (before he sold out) thrown into a food processor with the modern alternative rap scene. Why he should be known: At its core, rap is about two things: the beat and the lyrics. Apathy is years ahead of the mainstream in both areas. Lyrics range from traditional (girls, city life) to the obscure (winter weather, chess). His talent for freestyle rap is unmatched in many more well known rappers, and his old-school beats are strong enough to get even non-dancers on their feet. He is unofficial leader of the Demogodz crew and member of the Army of the Pharohs (an underground rap supergroup). Why he isn’t: While it is beginning its decline, Gangsta rap is still dominating the mainstream rap scene, which means other styles have less of a following. He also chose to move back an independent label, which means less promotion and less album availability (though greater musical freedom). While he does have a strong following in the east coast underground, Right now he is all but unknown outside of this community. photo courtesy of Last.fm

staff writer

here’s something fun about being ahead of trends. Whether it’s following a movie before previews even begin to hit theaters or being the first one to know about the next Guitar Hero, there’s a weird satisfaction when you get to tell your friends “Yeah, I heard about that ages ago.” With fans of underground music, this mentality is even more present than normal, and with good reason. Nearly every style of popular music since the blues began with a cult following, from classic jazz to current punk rock.

The appeal of the unknown

These days, artists with a truly original sound are few and far between. Modern popular music is in the middle of a copycat band epidemic, facilitated by record companies afraid to take risks on a new or different sound and “artists” that care more about their wallets than their music. While many unknown artists are no different, other groups and individuals have amassed small to medium sized fanbase on the quality of their music alone, with little to no promotion or advertisement. These artists tend to display incredible talent, rivaling and very often surpassing that of the average chart-topper. Amazingly, this talent is found across the board in nearly all styles. Whether it’s a rock guitarist playing impossible licks or a techno DJ producing something that is both danceable and listenable, it seems at times like big labels must be deaf to miss them.

The Artists’ Dilema

With all this supposed talent, one may wonder why these artists aren’t more well-known. It makes sense that record companies would publish the most talented bands out there, right? Wrong. The music industry is just that, an industry. Major record companies exist for the same reason any other company does: to make money. If yet another pop princess or some me-too emo group is selling millions of records, why bother with something

Born to teenage, working class parents, Apathy first discovered hip-hop at age 5 when his uncle introduced him to the genre with a hip-hop cover of the Prince song “I feel for you.” Since that day he has listened to and written rap almost incessantly.

Name: The Pigeon Detectives Began: 2002 Genre: Rock Style(s): Indie Sounds Like: The Beatles with noticeable punk rock influences. Why they should be known: For the past two years they have played at the Reading and Leeds festivals, an English festival co-headlined this year by Rage Against The Machine, the Killers, and Metallica. They top indie rock charts in England, and have received almost entirely favorable review by critics. Why they aren’t: They’re a veddy, veddy British band under an independent label. Their US advertising budget is $0. They’re just beginning to get big in England. Fill in the blanks.

unfamiliar that the public may or may not buy into? Even independent labels suffer the same fate, though to a lesser extent, since many of these labels were founded or are owned by musicians. The fact that copycat band often need exorbitant advertising budgets to be successful doesn’t hurt, either. On top of this, some styles are just too abrasive to have mainstream appeal. One example of such a style, Black Metal, combines growling vocals, frequent use of chromatics, double base drumming, unconventional song structures, and high levels of distortion to create an incredibly dark sound that is intentionally unlikely to gain mainstream popularity. In this case, the artist has no desire to gain a huge fanbase, preferring their cult following to widespread appeal. A final reason for an artist’s obscurity is that they may just not have been discovered yet. Metallica, for example, was relatively unknown for the first five or so years after their debut album. Many of the band’s songs from that period (Battery, for one) have since become hard rock/ metal radio mainstays, even though the singles never charted.

Eyes on the prize

Despite these challenges, many groups do eventually achieve commercial success. The Progressive Metal band Dream Theater is one example. In 1992, the band’s track “Pull Me Under” broke the Billboard Top 10 Mainstream Rock Tracks, despite the song’s definitely-not-radio-friendly 8:11 running time. A shortened (4:48) video version of the song was shown on MTV for some time after the release. Word of mouth is the main way underground artists gain a following, though these days word of mouth doesn’t actually have to be face to face. Music-oriented social networking sites, such as Last.fm, allow people to communicate with others of similar music tastes across the world, and have become one of the main ways these artists promote their music.

photo courtesy of Last.fm

While they are getting bigger in Brittan, The Pigeon Detectives have yet to make inroads in the US.

sports

04.25.08

View from the Stands Young aces supply excitement, hope BEN ESTES sports chief

all photos by jeremy mcdaniel

FROM LEFT TO right: Joe McLaughlin, 11, Mike Caligaris, 12, and Alden Olverson, 12 in action earlier this month against Indian Hill. The team fought back from a halftime deficit to earn a hard-fought 10-9 victory. At press time, the squad was an undefeated 8-0 .

Many wins denote early part of 2008

en’s varsity lacrosse team starts quickly

BEN ESTES

sports chief

he men’s varsity lacrosse team entered the 2008 season determined to erase bad memories. Last year saw a disappointing campaign, as the squad finished 7-9, with a five game losing streak to close out the season and a first-round exit from the state tournament. If the first few games are any indication, however, it is certainly a new year. A strong senior class has led the way to an undefeated 6-0 start to the season, rendering a goal of the state championship anything but a dream. “Right now, we really feel like we can compete with anyone,” said Ron Lutterbie, 11. The first six games have seen little fight put up by the opposition. The Aviators opened their season with a 13-4 victory over suburban Detroit power Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and quickly followed it up with a 17-5 victory

over Louisville Ballard. Another Louisville opponent, Collegiate School, fell 14-1, setting up the first match-up of the year with nemesis Lakota West. The two teams are not very friendly to say the least, especially for varsity, who had to endure three losses to the Firebirds last season. “It’s no secret that we basically hate each other. I love playing them because it’s so satisfying to knock out their cocky players,” said Michael Guthrie, 11. The Aves got their revenge this time, destroying West 18-3 in front of a large home crowd. A pair of games against Columbus teams followed, as did victories for Varsity, who prevailed 13-4 at Hilliard Davidson and 9-6 versus Hilliard Darby. The latter was a sloppy affair, and certainly the team’s worst performance of the young season.

“We played pretty bad against [Hilliard] Darby, but it was probably good for us to have that happen, because now we know we can overcome adversity,” said Timmy Andrews, 10. Top performers include leading goal scorer Gannon Kast, 12, and Benny Krienik, 12, at attack, as well as Mike Caligaris, 12, at midfield and Adrian Cone, 12, at defense, with goalie Kyle Papia, 12, providing steady play between the pipes. It is no coincidence that the group’s best players are seniors. “We’re the hardest-working senior class Sycamore has ever seen,” said Aaron Cain, 12. With the intense work ethic and leadership exhibited thus far, it certainly would be no surprise to see the team led all the way to Columbus for the state championship. The team is doubtlessly resolute in this ambition.

JV lacrosse prepares for successful year Team looks to emulate success of varsity BEN ESTES sports chief

Take a look at what is

coming up in sports.

The JV level in high school athletics is normally meant to serve as a tool to simply develop participating players, with a decreased emphasis on actual wins and losses. Do not tell that to the JV men’s lacrosse teams. The higher-level Gold team and lower-level Green team have combined for a 4-0 start to the young season, and show no desire to slow down. The Gold team has defeated Hilliard Davidson, Hilliard Darby, and Indian Hill by scores of 4-3, 12-0, and 5-4, respectively. Meanwhile, the Green team has won their only match-up, prevailing 4-0 over the St. Xavier Blue team. When combined with the varsity’s scorching 6-0 beginning to the season, the entire men’s lacrosse program is undefeated at press time, sitting at 10-0.

on deck

Ty Howington. Chris Gruler. C. J. Nitkowski. Ryan Wagner. Richie Gardner. Jeremy Sowers. Thomas Pauly. Bobby Basham. The list of pitching prospect failures for the Cincinnati Reds is deep, disheartening, and depressing. Awful alliteration aside, it seriously is a point of woe for all fans of the hometown club, this writer included. For years, it seems, the problem with the ball club has been a subpar (sometimes downright awful) pitching staff. This issue has been compounded by a startling inability to develop homegrown hurler talent. Various general managers and scouting directors have come and gone from the organization in recent years, each failing to deliver on the promise of improving the Reds’ pitching development. Even the arrival of hotshot Texas fireballer Homer Bailey last season, which brought an incredible level of excitement to an otherwise miserable year, has already lost its luster, with the 22-year-old languishing in Triple-A, attempting to improve his control. Enter the dandy Dominican duo of Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez. The pair of pitchers electrified the Grapefruit League in Spring Training with several astounding performances, and followed it up in the regular season with a combined 12 1/3 innings of two-run baseball, 18 strikeouts in the first start for each. They got here via different paths (Cueto was signed out of the Dominican Republic, while Volquez was acquired in the trade for Josh Hamilton in the offseason), but the combination of the two aces-in-the-making is a breath of fresh air for an organization that recently has only known failure. For the first time in what seems like ever, the Reds have a pitching prospect(s) who not only is highly touted but has actually performed to expectations in the big leagues, where it really matters. The team otherwise underwent few changes from last year, but Cueto’s and Volquez’s presence alone provides an optimistic outlook for the season, and realistically makes Cincinnati a contender for the National League Central Division title in the least. The two essentially symbolize hope. Hope that the Reds will finally be able to develop young pitching with any sort of consistency. Hope that Cincinnati will make the playoffs this year for the first time since 1995. But most of all, hope that the local baseball club will finally return to the glory days of the past, when it was regarded as a power team. It’s plain to see that the frustrated fans of this historic franchise deserve nothing less.

For the Green team, standouts so far have included Steve Froh, 9, Anders Miller, 10, and Jacob Schwarberg, 10; they comprise the goal-scorers for the team’s victory, with Froh putting in two. The Gold team is helped out by the senior presence of Parker Baldwin and Allen Streck, with a host of juniors providing upperclassman leadership as well. “We really have good chemistry with each other. Everyone is determined to go all-out, every game,” said Dan Garfield, 11. Though they have a long season ahead of them, the two teams believe that their success won’t stop, hopefully culminating in a city tournament championship. “As long as we keep our focus and keep working hard, the winning should keep on rolling,” said Sam Newland, 11.

Flip over to page 32 to check out the sports staff’s opinions on sports issues at home and around the nation.

PLAYING AGAINST TURPIN last season, Omar Refaei, 11, runs down the field. Refaei returns to the Gold team this year. He and the other players are ready to win as many games as possible this season.

Jump ahead to page 30 and learn all about the success and optimism surrounding varsity baseball.

Check out page 33 to recap all of the fun and excitement from this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

sports

04.25.08

Varsity baseball starts season strong Tournament victory has team riding high MATT MENDELSOHN

SCOTT ANDERS, 12, PITCHES the ball towards home plate against the Princeton Vikings. The team has a deep pitching roster and hopes to use this as an advantage for their tough GMC shcedule.

all photos by jeremy mcdaniel

opinion chief

fter the long offseason and several weeks of tryouts, the varsity baseball team was excited to take the field. The past several seasons have not been kind to the team, including three straight seasons at the bottom of the conference. However, with the improved depth of the pitching staff and nine seniors to look for leadership, this year’s squad seems to have a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with the team over the first few days of the season, as opening day was delayed for two days. When they finally took the field, it was against the Oak Hills Highlanders, who defeated the squad in both games last year and finished 4th in the GMC. 2008 is a new season for the new-look team, who add eight newcomers this season. They got off to a solid start, winning on opening day 8-7. After a shaky start by starter Nate Kroell, 12, Scott Anders, 12, came in and shut down the Highlanders for the last three innings. The offense came to life, led by Andrew Haunert’s, 11, three RBIs and the

team opened the season with an exciting first victory As high scoring the last game was, the next game against Oak Hills was a pitcher’s duel, led by a complete game, three-hitter by junior Gary Banks. Unfortunately for him, one of the hits was a two run home run and Varsity was only able to muster one run against the Oak Hills pitcher, losing their first game of the season 2-1. However, the best was yet to come for the first stretch of the season. The team entered the four team, Mason tournament, drawing a first round matchup with CHCA. After the score was 4-3 going into the bottom of the sixth, varsity’s bats exploded with a nine run inning, going through 14 batters during the inning and clinched a win by mercy rule with a bases loaded walk by Matt Phipps, 11, to end the game. Great pitching was turned in by Casey MacClean, 11, and Brien Gearin, 11. The offense pounded out 14 hits, highlighted by a solo home run by Scott Anders. This victory gave the team the right to play Mason in the finals. Though the team would be facing their GMC rival later in the season, an early win could give them some early momentum and a nice trophy to begin the season. A gutsy perfor-

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mance by Kyle Dolan, 12, kept the team in the game and left with a 2-1 lead. After a two run homer off of Marty Jones, 11, varsity came back in the top of the seventh down by one. That deficit did not last for long after Trevor Lothrop, 12, who was later named tournament MVP, hit a game-tying double and was then followed by an RBI single by Bryce Lindsay, 12, to take the lead. Jones came back in the seventh and sent the Comets down 1-2-3 to clinch the tourney victory and bring some nice hardware home. Despite some inconsistent performances, the team has an early 6th place hold in the GMC. With powerful bats and successful pitching, look for this team to continue to advance up the ranks of the GMC this season.

JV baseball strives for success JV Baseball

Upcoming Schedule

DAVID PYLES

staff writer

The JV baseball team is off to a strong start this spring. Head coach Brien Miller has the team prepared for their tough GMC schedule along with several challenging non-conference games. The team’s record is currently 3-4 in the GMC and 4-5 overall. “We have a great team and will probably do well this year,” said Keith Diederich, 10. At the start of the season JV was swept by Oak Hills, losing 6-5 and 8-5. Both games came down to the last several innings, however they unfortunately could not pull away with the victories. Although these two losses were not what the team was looking for, they rebounded quickly for their match up against Princeton. The team swept the Vikings

with an impressive 13-10 victory and a striking 20-1 win. All around the team hit phenomenally applying great run support for the stellar pitching performances. “We came out ready to play against Princeton,” said Jordan Kolb, 10. Going from there, their season has gone up and down, splitting with Lakota West and Milford. They beat West 16-6 in their first game and the next day lost 8-4. When playing Milford the team had an outstanding game, winning 13-2. But, Milford came back and defeated the Aviators 12-2 in the second game of the double header. This team has great potential this season and will most likely finish high up in the GMC standings.

4/25

@Hamilton