April Issue of The Sycamore Leaf

The Sycamore Leaf Fri. April 26, 2013|Volume LIX Issue 9|7400 Cornell Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45242|513.686.1770 ext. 3089|goaves.com

“People always ask me why I run. Usually, my easy response is, ‘so I can eat and drink more.’

Today I know.”

S

tephanie Miller, ’01, had crossed the Boylston St. finish line less than 20 minutes before, when she felt the ground begin to shake. She was still eating at a restaurant when she heard another explosion about 10 seconds later, “and that’s when pandemonium really set in.”

When two explosives ended the Boston Marathon early on Monday, Apr. 15, the nation erupted in response.

Trained first responders, family members, and the people of Boston rushed to the scene quickly in order to help the injured.

Planted within 550 feet of each other, the two blasts killed three people and injured many more. Four individuals suffered fatal injuries, leaving behind suffering and pain for their families. In response, the people of Boston decorated sidewalks and held candlelight vigils with messages of hope.

>> Pray for Boston

continued on pg. 2 Image by Ana Barros and Brenda Shen

2 3.15.2013

>>the sycamore leaf >>goaves.com

‘Pray for Boston’ Ana Barros

print editor-in-chief

Rachael Sun

web editor-in-chief

>> continued from pg. 1 Law enforcement has reported that the bombs were in fact pressure cookers filled with nails, BB-resembling pellets, and the potential to destroy their immediate surroundings. At one point following the explosions, 11 Boston hospitals reported 23 people in critical condition and at least 40 as serious.

More than a marathon

arros

Ana B

Aaron Kaufman, ‘11, was walking back to his dorm at Boston University – about one mile away from the finish line – when

e by

Immediate reactions

Imag

“Marathon Monday is known to be the best day of the year,” said Charlotte Harris, ’12, student at Wellesley College.

Every year, the girls congregate at the 12-13 mile points and form the Wellesley Scream Tunnel – an opportunity to cheer on the marathon runners as they reach the halfway point of the race.

“When we saw the runners go through, it was so inspiring and such an amazing few hours to be a part of,” said Harris.

Two hours later, she woke up from a nap to desperate phone calls from friends and family, and news reports of bombings and subsequent injuries at the finish line.

“It was so crazy to think that I had seen all those runners just two hours before,” she said.

870 miles away in Cincinnati, OH, Allison Klonne, 12, watched the news reports with a sinking heart.

She dreams of one day qualifying in the Boston Marathon herself.

“So much hard work and training and heart goes in to being able to complete something like that, and at the end it is supposed to all be worth it,” she said.

Miller agrees. Having run her fourth Boston Marathon, she reflects on the effects that the bombings now have on her running career.

“When you get to the finish line, you want to feel excited and satisfied,” she said.

“Never in my life did I feel like I would be running toward a finish line and be nervous about reaching it.”

he heard the explosions.

“My reaction to the news was fear – I was afraid in part because of the proximity of my dorm to the site of the attacks. But the main source of my fear was concern for the safety of a number of my friends in the Seven-Year Medical Program who were serving as Red Cross Volunteers at the finish line,” said Kaufman.

When Kathryn Eberhart, 11, heard news of the explosions, she immediately thought of her family in Boston.

“I walked down that exact street [when I lived there],” she said. “It’s hard to hear that something so threatening happened on a street my mom ran on every day before work. It’s just so unbelievably close.”

As the nation learned of the death of a small child and the gruesome injuries suffered by more than 170 runners and spectators, their initial reaction was to retaliate – with hatred, vengeance, and fear.

“Shock, panic, worry, and fear.

We fear that it will happen again, we fear the safety of loved ones, we don’t understand why it happened,” said Klonne. “Those runners dream of crossing that finish line and then embracing their proud families and loved ones. It’s sickening that these moments were replaced by panic and loss.”

Bomber’s legacy

Two weeks later, however, the bombings at the Boston Marathon have become less of a horror story and more of a symbol of solidarity and a beacon to the strength of human relationships.

Amidst the rubble rose not only rescue teams, but civilians who jumped at the opportunity to help the strangers who had been injured.

“In the wake of this tragedy, we can’t

forget the fundamental good of humanity.

The rescue workers and security officials who went straight to work following the explosions are heroes and are not to be forgotten,” said Benjamin Goldschneider, 11.

The events brought the nation together, as tweets with ‘#prayforboston’ sent out messages of hope and recovery.

On Apr. 17, a stadium full of New York Yankees fans stood arm in arm, singing along to “Sweet Caroline,” the Boston Red Sox anthem. All rivalries were forgotten as both cities went into mourning, together.

In a time when shootings and bombings never fully fade from the background of news reports, it is easy to lose perspective of the tragedy that is the loss of innocent life.

However, what the Boston Marathon bombings have shown is that solidarity and hope are still stronger than fear.

“Spiritually it is about putting one foot in front of the other and having the persistence to continue through the hardships… kind of like running a marathon,” said Mr. Chad Husting, chemistry teacher.

The events that took place on Apr. 15 have woven Americans together into one defiant stand against fear, and in the process, have created a coast-to-coast support structure for those affected by the tragedy.

“I keep telling myself that the good outnumbered the bad that day 1000:1,” said Mr. Jim Smanik, biology teacher.

Miller takes this to heart and assures that she will not stop running despite last week’s events.

“In a few weeks I am running the Flying Pig Marathon. I would be lying if I said it will not be without some trepidation,” said Miller. “Yet just like when I run Boston 2014, it will be for all those affected by today as well as the absolute love I have for this amazing sport and the way it can unite the most random people.”

We can choose to hold on to the debris of fear and panic, or we can pray for Boston; Americans have chosen the latter.

Mr. Mike Gutekunst, physics teacher, marathon runner, reacts to events in Boston How does one feel when he or she sees the finish line in a marathon?

How do your goals affect the outcome of your race?

In 2010, I qualified for the Boston Marathon by running a fast enough time in the Flying Pig Marathon here in Cincinnati. The feelings after that race were overwhelming.

Qualifying had been a lifetime goal. I had trained for four months with that single goal in my mind. The weather was harsh, my body was exhausted, and yet there it was – I was a Boston Marathon qualifier! I stepped away from the crowd and sat down on a quiet spot on a curb and let the accomplishment and exhaustion sink in. I started crying. I had done it. What made it more special was that my younger brother had run the last six miles with me. He is a far more talented racer than I am, with a personal best 12th place finish in the 2008 Flying Pig Marathon. My mind was so foggy, I could no longer calculate my pace to see if I was still going to qualify. He did the math and let me know that I would make it.

Racing and running a marathon at any speed requires you to dig down deep within yourself on multiple occasions and find some reason to keep going. I ‘run out my fears’ each race – the marathon breaks through all sense of comfort and brings you to a place where you are very much in touch with your emotions. No one else can make you take the next step or hold a certain pace, or stop you from giving in or giving up. Your destiny is purely your choice. I feel this way whether I have a great race or a terrible race – in the end, the race is the story I chose to tell based on my effort that day.

What are your reactions to the Boston Marathon bombings?

My reactions to the events surrounding the Boston Marathon are mixed. My feelings toward the perpetrators of this

I forced myself to enter another marathon [after having completely missed my goal in previous marathons]. Though poorly trained for that race, I ran nearly the same time because of the adjustment in attitude.

I knew the race would hurt (physically and emotionally), and I looked forward to that. I looked forward to seeing just how far I could push myself, and embraced the fatigue and exhaustion (moderated by the camaraderie of going through the marathon with thousands of other people) when fatigue and exhaustion arrived in the later stages of the race. I thought about what a gift it is to feel so alive and still feel so invincible that I would try to run 26.2 miles at 8.5 miles per hour. The race was like a rebirth. I enjoyed the marathon because it was hard, because it tested me, because it gave me a glimpse of my own strength.

This fall I’ll make another attempt to qualify for the Boston Marathon and finish in the top 100 out of 10,000 entrants in the Columbus Marathon. My overarching goal is to enjoy the rare opportunity in life that running a marathon provides – the opportunity to see just how far we each can push ourselves.

crime are anger, disgust, and confusion.

Why would you choose to harm these people? Why is this group of spectators and runners a target? What are you gaining by sending shrapnel through the lives of innocent people who have worked so hard to be part of the race or those who are being so generous and so loving in their support of an event that brings people together?

As a person who intends to run the Boston Marathon in the future, my resolve to qualify again this year for the Boston Marathon has only been strengthened.

The same strength that I find during any marathon that gets me to the finish line wells up inside me and shouts, “I will not back down!” because of some insane, inhumane terrorist action. I encourage anyone with aspirations of running the Boston Marathon to follow them. I expect, knowing the running community as I do, that you will see a dramatic increase in the number of people qualifying to run Boston.

The city of Boston, and runners in general, will not be intimidated.

For an extended Q&A with Gutekunst on GoAves.com, scan here.

news

This is our house Isaac Harmon

staff writer

After the bombing at the Boston Marathon and all the terrorism the world has recently seen, we now know what the right reaction is: Wash the sidewalk and wipe away the blood.

Let those who did it know that even though they maimed and killed some of our brothers and sisters, they have left no trace on our society.

Terrorists are not strong enough to do that. Only we can do that to ourselves, and we must never accommodate them.

So let’s repair the sidewalk, fix the windows, and leave no shrines, no flowers, and return to normal life as fast as possible.

Let’s defy the terrorists by not allowing them to leave even the smallest scar on our streets, and honor the dead by sanctifying our values, by affirming life, and all those things that make us stronger and bring us together.

Let’s name a playground after the 8-year-old boy who was standing by the finish line. Let’s donate to the favorite charities of the victims, and pitch in to help the injured.

On Boylston Street in Boston, a place normally so full of life, let there be no reminder whatsoever of what President Barack Obama called a “heinous and cowardly act” of terror.

Cave dwelling is for terrorists.

Americans? We run in the open on our streets, men and women, young and old, new immigrants and foreigners, in shorts not armor, with abandon and never fear, eyes always on the prize, never on all those ‘suspicious’ bundles.

In today’s world, sometimes we pay for that American naïveté, because this kind of terrorism attacks the essential thing that keeps a society open: trust. Trust is built into every aspect, building, interaction, and marathon in our society.

Terrorists can steal it for a moment, but we dare not let them fundamentally erode it, and I don’t think we will.

In the video of the bombing aftermath, notice how many people ran toward the blast within seconds to help, even though more bombs could have followed.

Only we can take that away from ourselves, not some terrorist with one spasm of madness. Encourage your peers to start training for the next marathon.

Now that I think of it, maybe we should make this one longer, from Boston to the site of the World Trade Center to the Pentagon, to remind ourselves and anyone else who needs reminding: This is our house, and we are not afraid.

For comments on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com.

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news

>>the sycamore leaf >>goaves.com

4.26.2013

Image by Ana Barros and Brenda Shen

orth Korea’s ticking time bomb: uclear threat strains relations

Isaac Harmon

staff writer

Recent weeks of military escalation have affirmed a harsh truth. North Korea is much closer to putting a nuclear warhead on a missile than Iran and has threatened to strike the U.S. and its allies.

The major powers still have not figured out how to solve it.

The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, took power in late 2011. Since then, North Korea has launched a threestage rocket and tested a nuclear device.

After the United Nations Security Council imposed new sanctions last month for the country’s third nuclear test in February, North Korea’s rhetoric became even more aggressive.

“He’s new and young, so he wants to show he has power,” said Eunsol Kim, 12.

Kim threatened to hit American cities with nuclear-armed ballistic missiles and declared itself to be in a state of war with South Korea.

Washington deployed extra ships and jets and is setting up a land-based defense system in Guam.

South Korea’s president, Park Geun-hye, vowed to strike back quickly if North Korea stages an attack.

“It’s quite peaceful because North Korea threatens us so often, that it has become an every day thing. So South Korea doesn’t really care,” said Jiyoung Seo, 9.

The Obama administration was prudent to bolster its forces in the region.

Many experts assume Kim will not attack the world’s top military power or its allies, but Washington has an obligation to guarantee that if this assumption is wrong, it can defend the homeland.

There are also sound reasons to reassure South Korea and Japan that America’s defense commitments remain firm.

Some politicians in both countries are pushing their governments to develop their own nuclear weapons programs, which would be disastrous and unnecessary.

It is clearly time to find ways to calm the crisis; there is no way to ensure that North Korea, in particular, will not miscalculate and trigger a serious confrontation.

The Obama administration and North Korea have sent mixed messages in this regard.

Secretary of State John Kerry’s declaration that the U.S. would negotiate seriously on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula was helpful.

But it could prove more useful to encourage Park, who has talked of engaging the North, to take the lead.

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Sophomore debate topic announced Isaac Goldstein feature chief

For one fourth of SHS students, the end of the year signifies a highly anticipated unit: sophomore debates.

Relay for Life:

Striding to give cancer patients more birthdays Anna Zhou

associate editor

relaying,” said Wu. Through the rest of the night, team members take turns walking or running around the track. There must be at least one team member on the track at all times.

To stay awake during the night, team members participate in various family games, activities, and entertainment.

The closing event is the Fight Back Ceremony. All teams take a final lap and pledge to take action by spreading awareness of cancer research, treatment, and prevention.

The Relay For Life events across the globe raise more than $400 million each year.

With every event, the American Cancer Society comes closer to giving cancer patients another birthday.

Image by Taylor Evans

Relay For Life began in Tacoma, Washington in 1987 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, walked and ran around a track for 24 hours, raising $27,000 for the American Cancer Society.

The following year, 340 people joined Klatt in the all night event. Since those early days, the Relay For Life movement has grown.

With over 5,200 events in 20 countries, the movement has raised over $4 billion to fight the disease that has taken too much.

For Priscilla Wu, 9, each Relay For Life event is very special. In 2006, Wu’s sister, Lydia, was diagnosed with brain cancer and lost her life to the horrible disease. Since then, the family has attended the event every year.

The 18 hour long event begins

with the Opening Ceremony, to which all participants are welcomed. Following that, beginning the relay, is the Survivor Lap. This lap is meant to celebrate and recognize those who have won the battle against cancer.

Following that, those who have given care to cancer patients are recognized in the Caregiver Lap. After all relay teams have done their first lap, the Luminaria Ceremony begins.

Luminaria bags and candles are lit and scattered along the track.

All of the lights are turned off, leaving just the glow of the candles to honor loved ones that have passed or are fighting the grueling battle.

“Many people do Relay For Life for fun to spend time with their friends. The Luminaria Ceremony helps remind everyone why they are

“I’ve heard so much about debates from the upperclassmen, and I am so excited,” said Nicholas Frankowski, 10.

The process starts with the selection of debate groups, in which each teacher randomly assign teams within their class.

Students then have five to six weeks to research their topic and prepare for the suspenseful two days in which all the sophomores compete in a series of rounds to decide which team is the best.

But the students are not the only ones anticipating debates.

“I love seeing the students progress from the first day they receive the topic. It is great to watch the frustration and challenges all come together in the end,” said Mrs. Johanna Gordon, English teacher.

The sophomore English teachers put a lot of thought into deciding the topic itself.

Starting in the second quarter, the teachers look at what is going on in the world and the community. They research themselves, and meet sporadically until there is a consensus.

This year they have decided on concussions and the new law that went into effect this week. The law states that athletes showing symptoms of a concussion must be pulled from the game and cannot play again until given clearance from a physician.

About four to six weeks before the anticipated announcement, the topic was decided. The announcement usually results in mixed reviews, but at the conclusion of the whole process, everyone has positive reflections.

“This is always one of my favorite units, and it is one of the best ways to end the year.

Students work, think, and grow until the end, and they are always talking about it long after the last debate,” said Gordon.

4 4.26.2013

>>the sycamore leaf >>goaves.com

news

Breaking down the Stonewall Alexis Corcoran

O

With majority of public support, courts likely to change same sex marriage laws in America

web editor-in-chief

ver the past 10 years, the argument between legalizing gay marriage and preserving traditional marriage has been brewing, and it is now boiling over.

In March, the Supreme Court heard a major same sex marriage case that would overturn Proposition 8, which ruled same sex marriage unconstitutional.

The hearing would also address a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that denies federal benefits to same sex couples.

The American public now favors the

statute of marriage, and in turn, homosexual couples threaten family relations.

This argument is problematic in Washington for a couple of reasons.

First, this definition of marriage leaves many heterosexual couples out, including sterile couples.

Secondly, marriage has never been defined as a means of procreation.

Changing the definition is “a form of discrimination,” said Emily Bazelon, senior editor of Slate, online magazine.

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan quoted a House report that gave another reason for the unconstitutionality of gay marriage.

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legalization, with 60 percent approval. This has changed from about 31 percent only 10 years ago.

“Gay marriage has recently become a very publicized issue, and I think that causes people to contemplate the topic, and it changes people’s minds,” said Ayla Robinson, 11, Sycamore United (formerly known as GayStraight Alliance) member.

From the court hearings, it appears that the Supreme Court will side with the American public.

This is due to discrepancy in the traditional marriage argument.

Traditional marriage defenders argue that procreation is

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percent of incoming college freshmen in 2011 who support gay marriage

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42

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percent of the public that believes entertainment media is including too many gay themes and characters

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THE STONEWALL RIOTS WERE a series of protests by the gay community in New York’s Greenwich Village in 1969. They emerged as a response to police raids in the Stonewall Inn, one of the few public places at the time that welcomed gay people. The riots triggered widespread gay activism across the country.

students, this is not always the case.

“Those who disagree with gay marriage at SHS are generally passive about their opposition, but gay marriage is a tricky thing because it often involves religion,” said Robinson.

The number of regular members in Sycamore United can be counted on one hand, and president Gabriela Godinez, 11 admits that SHS’ student body has not received the group wtih open arms.

“To be honest, there is still a surprising amount of intolerance at SHS. Our signs often get ripped and people steal and hide our banners.

This is a large school; people who surround themselves with tolerant people assume everyone is the same, but that is not the case,” said Godinez.

While same-sex marriage legislation does not equate to social change, gay rights activists consider it an important step.

“America was founded on the fact that people are allowed to have their own position. We need to stop punishing this group 201 that is non-deserving of 0 “Do Tell, ” n discrimination,” said can is repe ’t Ask, a D s with erve in led. Pe on’t Robinson. o

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ROB PORTMAN, (BELOW) U.S. congressman of Ohio, recently announced his support of gay marraige legislation. This change came after his son, Will Portman, came out as being gay. Some gay marriage supporters appreciated the announcement while others believe it should not have taken his own son to change his mind on the issue. “Over the course of our country’s history, the full rights of citizenship have gradually been extended to a broader and broader group of people, something that’s made our society stronger, not weaker,” said Will Portman in the Yale Daily News.

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EDIE WINSDOR (ABOVE) SPOKE in front of the Supreme Court to testify her case for gay marriage.

Windsor lived with her partner, Thea Spyer for more than 40 years, but the couple was never allowed to marry. When Spyer died, Windsor was left with estate taxes of more than $350,000 that would not have existed if the couple had been married. Windsor has emerged as a fighting voice for gay marriage.

All images by Alexis Corcoran

4.26.2013

5

of year quickly approaches Events End Students participate in spring activities

>>goaves.com >>the sycamore leaf

Lauren Glynn managing editor

SHS & District

Madeline Marsh staff writer

Senior Slide Show

What: Slides put together by parents for seniors, from baby pictures to now Date: May 23 Location: Main Auditorium

Distribution of Interims Date: May 3

AP Exams

Senior Picnic

What: Final testing for AP courses Date: May 6-17

What: Seniors party with games and food Date: May 24 Location: Track

Band Awards Ceremony

What: Students in band end the year with family and friends while celebrating success with awards Date: May 13 Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Commons

No School

What: Memorial Day Date: May 27

Senior Recognition Night

What: 12th grade students are honored for their significant achievements Date: May 28 Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Auditorium

Underclass Awards

What: Recognation for students who have earned significant achievements Date: May 17 Time: 8 a.m.

Location: Auditorium

Exams

Date: May 28-31

Choir Concert

What: All SHS choirs perform songs in last concert of the year Date: May 16 Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Main Auditorium

Graduation

Senior Athletic Awards

Last Day of Classes

What: 2013 senior graduation Date: May 30 Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Cintas Center at Xavier University

What: Success is recognized for senior athletes in last seasons Date: May 17 Time: 9 a.m.

Location: Main Auditorium

What: Last day of school for the 2012-2013 school year Date: May 31

Community

Senior Exams

Tunes and Blooms Concert

Date: May 20-22

What: Part of the blooms event; rain or shine Date: May 2 Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Aves Theater Awards

What: Theater performers are recognized for achievements Date: May 22 Time: 7:30 p.m.

News in Brief Global Language Honor Society Shea Lothrop

print editor-in-chief

More honor is flowing through the halls of SHS as the Global Language Honor Society induction was held on Apr. 11.

108 students were inducted.

The requirements were severely less drastic than those of the National Honor Society, which was held in the fall.

In order to be qualified, one must have been in a foreign language class for four years three for American Sign Language (ASL) and maintained an A average beginning in level three, or two for ASL, and up to the time of application.

Students also had to write paragraphs about how their given language has impacted them and how it would benefit them in the future.

Soon after applications

were turned in, teachers gave formal invitations to the inductees.

The ceremony was held in the IMC. After a welcome speech by Mr. Michael Veraldo, Global Language department head, ASL students signed Heal the World. Then, a teacher from each language called their students on stage, gave them certificates, and students lit candles.

After all of the students from a given language were standing with his or her candles, they recited a pledge in the language in which they are learning.

Following the ceremony was a reception with food and drinks to celebrate the newly inducted pupils.

Sophomore Ice Cream Social Elizabeth Rickert forum chief

Following sophomore

ACT and SAT Practice Test What: Hosted by college tutors; all high school students welcome Date: May 4 Time: 8 a.m.

Location: Sylvan Learning

Cincy-Cinco Fiesta

What: Celebrate with authentic food, music, and more Date: May 4 Time: 12 p.m.

Location: Fountain Square

Movies in the Park

What: Circus performers entertain for two hours before movie Date: May 17 Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Smale Riverfront Park

Memorial Day Parade

What: Parade; Grand marshal: veteran John Lewis Date: May 27 Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Evanston Recreation Center

Benefits

Relay for Life

What: Students form groups and stay up all night walking in order to raise money to benefit cancer research Date: May 10-11 Time: 4 p.m.

Location: SHS track

Big Band Concert Series

What: National touring band; benefits WMKV 89.3 FM Date: May 8 Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Blue Ash Golf Course

To submit a story tip for this section, contact The Leaf at SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com. Please include your name, grade, story tip, and any additional details or contact information that can be provided.

debates, all sophomores are invited to go to the sophomore ice cream social.

It costs five dollars and will take place outside by the SHS track.

It will be held on May 21 during sixth bell. Student Council has put this together as a reward for all the hard work done in completing the debates, which will finish earlier that day.

This is a relaxing conclusion to the debates that allows students to get a break from any stress caused by all the work.

Mrs. Mary Palmer Takes Scientist’s Dream Vacation Brooke Landrum staff writer

Mrs. Mary Palmer is a science teacher who is notorious for running an extremely interactive and

enjoyable classroom.

“I have Mrs. Palmer for accelerated biology, and her class is one of my favorite parts of the day,” said Marisa Koster, 9.

Now she has a unique opportunity of her own.

Palmer has been accepted into the School of Rock, a program that is active all over the world.

The School of Rock is a program that sends ocean liners full of science teachers out into the ocean.

While they are on this trip, they take samples from the ocean floor and study the history of the Earth using those samples.

Her voyage was a ten day trip to the New England area. She left on Apr. 1 and returned on Apr. 12.

“There are two researchers on the boat who are in charge of teaching us how to use the equipment. One of them is actually from Ohio State,” said Palmer.

Palmer was one of hundreds to submit their application to this prestigious program, and being chosen is a large honor in the science world.

“It’s a great way to give teachers experience that they can use in the classroom to further their education,” said Palmer.

Now that she has returned from her voyage, she has lots of stories and souvenirs to share with her class. She was even allowed to keep some of a drilling tube that she had used on board.

“I didn’t quite cut the tube straight, but I still got to keep my part of the tube,” said Palmer.

She also returned with lots of new knowledge about sailing, technology, and the Earth’s crust.

Palmer was very excited to share all of her new information with her classes and hopes to excite them about this field of science.

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9.28.12

Steubenville Trials >> Society wrongly expects victims to take blame in rape trial

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Student Editorials

Dart Wars >> Student amusement for end of school year

Forum

>> Opinions from freshman English on overlooked current issues

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The Sycamore Leaf Sycamore High School

7400 Cornell Road Cincinnati, OH 45242

Mission Statement: The 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.

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Executive Editor-in-Chief: Michael Saxon Print Editors-in-Chief: Ana Barros, Shea Lothrop, Sanika Vaidya Associate Editors: Alexis Corcoran, Lila Englander, Taylor Evans, Ellen Martinson, Kathryn Tenbarge, Anna Zhou Managing Editors: Krittika Chatterjee, Lauren Glynn, Brenda Shen Business Manager: Atiya Dosani Web Editors-in-Chief: Alexis Corcoran, Rachael Sun Broadcast Editors-in-Chief: Tori Swart, Ben Young News Atiya Dosani Ana Barros Brenda Shen Taylor Evans Forum Alexis Corcoran Elizabeth Rickert Feature Joseph Ahn Caroline Gao Isaac Goldstein A&E Krittika Chatterjee Ethan May Sports Lauren Saxon Spotlight Emma Burge Camila Cardenas Brooke Landrum Jacqueline Lazar Kathryn Tenbarge Cartoonist Joseph Ahn Web Master Ruochen Tang Staff Writers Romina Belez Sarah Birckhead Hope Bundy Emma Burge Astrid Cabello Andres Cardenas Gian Carlo Valli Max Fritzhand Zachary Fritzhand Andrea Goldstein

Melissa Goodman Jenny Ham Isaac Harmon Madeline Marsh Julia Mattis Anna Moreno Nakul Narendran Ali Richter Orion Schlosser Zoe Schlosser Eli Seidman-Deutsch Lauren Shassere Brenda Shen Megan Shindler Joseph Slovin Scott Stefani Peter Tosh Eli Zawatsky Photographer McDaniel’s Photography Adviser Cheralyn Jardine About us Professional memberships: • Columbia Scholastic Press Association • Journalism Education Association • National Scholastic High School Press Association • Ohio Scholastic Media Association • Ohio Professional Writers (National Federation of Women Writers) • Quill & Scroll International Journalism Honorary

Increasing chance of rejection Alexis Corcoran web editor-in-chief

Cartoon by Joseph Ahn

Staff Editorial

Hearing about the bombing at the finish line of the Boston marathon was shocking, yet disturbingly familiar.

This year’s headlines have been filled with violent massacres. The world we live in isn’t the same as it was 20 years ago, when the fear of elementary school shootings was negligible, and terrorist attack on our soil were practically unheard of.

After every tragedy, there is a period of time when a collective sigh of regret and sadness passes through our society. We post prayers on social media websites, attend candlelight vigils, and vow to make a change.

Not all of these efforts are in vain.

Human kindness has been extended to those who suffer all across the world, and many individuals have made startling differences.

Unfortunately, while our good intentions are sincere, these disasters keep happening. Is it possible

that we’ve become immune to the violence? That, after an allotted amount of time, we choose to turn off the television and continue on with our lives as if nothing had happened?

For change to really take place, we have to fight back against violence and hatred, every single one of us. We have to accept each other as fellow human beings and stop holding prejudices. We have to value every life.

Remember Aurora. Remember Newtown. Remember Boston, and every town that has been violated by hate. Remember them, and remember the unity we as a society felt after these events. Don’t let the moments of peace become the calm before the storm.

If each person puts forth an effort, from random acts of kindness to passing proactive legislation, we can move forward. We can learn from our experiences, and we can advance.

leafing through the masses

How has your perspective on violence changed in the last year?

I am definitely more aware in public areas, especially crowded places. The Boston bombing was in a very busy area, and it was so unexpected.

Jonathan Lucken, 10

My perspective has not really changed. I believe that if people have a problem, they should not use violence.

Brent Hamre, 11

When circumstances like this are brought to our attention, it makes you more aware, and you become more driven to eradicate violence.

Hanna Peterson, 12

The ‘thin letter crisis’ is what the media calls the growing percent of college rejection letters across America. High school students can all relate to these worries when they see numbers like Harvard’s 5.8 percent acceptance rate for their class of 2016.

It is not just the elite schools. The Ohio State University’s current ACT middle 50 percent is 2530; only ten years ago, the number was 23-28.

Some state universities in America are even accepting more out-of-state students in order to increase tuition payment, and thus, basically, make the schools richer.

This is irrational. State schools are the closest thing we have to governmentfunded education (legislation for which I am in favor.)

Their purpose is to offer education, especially those who cannot afford to pay out-of-state tuition.

Race is also a factor in this issue. White students have often felt at a disadvantage when applying to schools.

Affirmative Action was created to give colleges the opportunity to consider race in college applications so that African Americans received equal opportunity.

Many Caucasian students feel that this has given minorities an advantage in the college process. However, in the last few years one minority group has been more negatively affected

by Affirmative Action than white students ever were: Asian-Americans.

A recent article in TIME Magazine revealed that Asian-Americans had to score 140 points higher on the SAT to be considered equal to their white counterparts.

It is disheartening to hear that a program with as good of intentions as Affirmative Action is now reducing opportunity for minorities.

With so many factors – athletic recruits, socioeconomic status, race, and past adversity – there is increasingly little room at college for simply smart students.

For comments on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com.

forum>>the sycamore leaf

>>goaves.com

4.26.2013 authoritative positions around minors.

These adults effectively told the victim that she didn’t matter.

That the psychological pain she felt was meaningless. That the fact that these people had stripped her of her dignity and paraded her around town was, to them, perfectly fine.

No wonder it took her so long to come forward. However, the football team’s desire to keep the situation under wraps was not the only reason that the case was kept quiet for so long.

S

Flip side

Because the act in this case was not rape in its most conventional definition, but instead consisted of digital penetration, the victim was not even aware that the crime committed against her constituted as rape.

This, combined with the fact All images by Elizabeth Rickert that bystanders didn’t think the situation could be defined as vulnerable, she never would have been rape, because it was not violent- she was raped and found herself in this situation. not struggling, screaming, or giving any Yes, there is a lesson to be learnedindication of protest- stopped her from drinking to the point of being near coming forward with a rape charge as comatose is not the most intelligent thing soon as she started to realize what had to do. But when we make our own choices, happened. it should not be our responsibility to have No wonder rape victims find it so hard to to worry about the possibility that those come forward and testify. When situations around us are capable of outright cruelty. like these occur, of course, they wonder if The victim’s mistake was teenage folly; they should speak up; they wonder if their what she did was a mistake. Her attackers, attackers truly are monsters, if they really on the other hand, were committing a belong behind bars. crime against her.

In reality, absolutely no one has the right Common sense to strip another individual of his or her When it comes down to it, Richmond and dignity in a manner such as rape. Rape is Mays should have known better. If they are not limited to its conventional definition old enough to commit rape, then they are anymore; ‘no means no’ only applies when old enough to exhibit common sense. a victim is conscious and capable of saying Common sense: When you are in a no. Obviously, it is a little hard to say ‘no’ situation in which you are confronted with while unconscious after overindulging in a teenage girl unconscious from drinking alcohol. too much, you drive her home.

And possible victims, while coming You do not rape her. You do not relieve forward, should be made comfortable, and yourself on her. You absolutely do not post given the means to tell the truth. Because videos and/or pictures of yourself joking what if the roles are reversed? about raping her on the Internet.

Male rape victims exist. Female sex Richmond and Mays stole the victim’s offenders exist. If two football-playing, dignity, her pride, and the future she masculine individuals are being would have had if they had not changed it sympathized with by CNN while their for her. victim is being shamed for putting them And they had the audacity to attempt behind bars, of course any male rape victim to continue playing football, as if they had would be ridiculed if he tried to name done nothing wrong. another male or female as a rapist.

If there truly was a cover-up, if there The recent actions of those surrounding really were adults who knowingly allowed the Steubenville case can only further rapists- monsters- to walk freely for heighten any future victims’ embarrassment and quash desires to seek justice. months because they didn’t want to risk a season of high school sports, then I do not believe these adults are fit to hold

teubenville rape trial

ociety turns blind eye

Sanika Vaidya

T

print editor-in-chief

here are few things in this world that inspire complete consensus among general populations.

Until recently, I had assumed one such consensus was that rapists fell into the same category of villainous beings undeserving of sympathy.

However, over the past few months, it has become apparent that in some cases, communities will find it prudent to sympathize with and defend rapists.

Two teenagers, Ma’Lik Richmond and Trent Mays, from Steubenville, OH, have recently been charged with repeatedly raping a 16-year-old girl while she was unconscious. They did this while driving her around to different party locations for various reasons, making lewd comments online, and posting pictures and videos all the while.

When the online hacker group Anonymous brought this to national attention, members of the online community sprung up in support of the victim; however, a sizeable group expressed sympathy for the individuals who were convicted of the sexual assault, some even blaming the victim.

Misplaced blame

One argument that does not completely assign blame to the two offenders claims that the victim is equally at fault for getting drunk in the first place.

Proponents of this argument claim that the victim needs to accept guilt for getting intoxicated and falling unconscious.

They say that if she had not made herself

‘It’s the most entertaining thing you can do as a high schooler’

Dart Wars invokes heated competition Isaac Harmon

staff writer

Dressed in camouflage, their skin smeared with dark paint, the young warriors lie in wait behind bushes for hours before dawn to ambush an opponent leaving for school.

“It’s all about attention to detail. You would be amazed at the little things you notice when you think your opponent is around every corner. It’s a fun experience, even if you are up against veterans of the game,” said Hunter Tumulty, 10.

They track one another at work, games, even church youth gatherings, looking for a ‘kill.’

They hire informants to spy, and friends and siblings are paid to set up adversaries for ambushes.

“I played ‘Dart Wars’ for two years.

The first year, ‘Jew Crew Plus 2’ made Dart Wars history, and should have been enough to start the hall of shame. We all lasted 17 hours. Then we were reborn as ‘Zero Dark Dirty’ and should have won.

Both years were really fun though,” said Jill Tochtermann, 12.

They chase one another in cars. Both boys and girls run through their neighborhoods stripped down to mere thongs, invoking a rule that renders them “invisible” to their enemy.

Their feats in ‘Dart Wars’ are the stuff of legend among SHS students. The rite of spring, using Nerf dart guns as weapons, has been going on for almost two decades, and students look forward to what they describe as harmless, challenging fun.

The elaborate Rambo-style game of tag has become so popular that it dominates the lives of about 100 student players and is the daily talk of the school.

For players, Dart Wars offers the chance to turn a $5 entry fee into $200 or more.

But the jackpot isn’t the only draw.

“If you have the time and energy to do it, it’s the most entertaining thing you can do as a high schooler. Nobody does Dart Wars and complains about it not being fun,” said Ryan Rugani, 12.

Versions of Dart Wars have been waged by students at other high schools through the years. Norwood played it briefly in 1985, and a mini-game has surfaced among Loveland and many other high schools. But no one does it as Sycamore does.

7

Our nationally acclaimed neighbors Lila Englander

associate editor

Fifteen minutes south of SHS lays the real Cincinnati. But how much do we really know about our counterparts in the Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) district?

Understanding and assessing urban school districts is complex, so much so that with each new presidential administration, the country starts over entirely with a new national policy. CPS is especially complex. We have some of the most concentrated pockets of poverty in any city in the United States, and just five years ago, CPS was in academic emergency status.

However, very few Cincinnatians know that CPS has developed some models that are more innovative even than those of districts as famous as New York City.

“Children need to be ready to learn. Cincinnati got it,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York during an education reform hearing.

Elementary Initiative (EI), the program Cuomo is referring to, was launched five years ago to improve CPS’ 16 most struggling elementary schools.

EI’s tactics ranged from redistributing resources to maximize impact on individuals to adding a “Fifth Quarter” month-long summer program.

CPS also realized that you can keep pumping money into a school, but even a great teacher can’t save a student who isn’t able to focus on schoolwork because of more critical concerns at home. CPS’s solution was to develop a blended model that partnered the public and private sectors to offer students not only academics, but also social and economic services to benefit the broader community.

At the Oyler School in Cincinnati (one of the sixteen targeted schools), the partnership led to the creation of mentoring, jobs, and collegereadiness programs. Local businesses and nonprofits provided services that turned the school into a gathering place for the community.

The blended model wasn’t invented in Cincinnati.

What made CPS successful was that the businesses and organizations involved came together and decided on common goals. They collaborated so that everyone won.

As Karen Alford, Vice President of United Federation of Teachers, said when describing the difference between CPS and NYC, “we’re doing a lot of what they’re doing —clinics, tutoring—but each is a separate program.”

For comments and suggestions on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com.

8

>>the sycamore leaf >>goaves.com forum

4.26.2013

Varying viewpoints: Freshmen write about social issues that need attention now

What needs to be disturbed in our universe? What is the best way to create a disruption that will bring about important changes in our world? During third quarter freshmen students researched local, national, or world issues that concern them most. They created Op-Ed pieces that defined pressing social issue as well as the best solutions to bring about change. The following writings are awardwinning Op-Ed articles from the freshman class.

How to make peace: Word of advice on global relations Meagan Haupt

guest columnist

In the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a nation to dissolve the bonds that tie them to another nation.

Although this has been the case most recently, it is more important than ever for the world’s nations to declare their interdependence, people or groups working together, to help solve many of the larger problems that plague our society.

If all countries work together, then we will be able to reach new heights and solve problems that cannot be solved by one country alone.

Although many may think that they have no impact on the world, a war isn’t ever won with one soldier; each individual soldier plays a crucial part in every battle, and a combination of battles wins a war.

These soldiers are the people of the world; the battles, people coming together for a cause. The winning of the war is the solving of international problems as a global community that has power and influence unequal to any other force in existence.

One way to prepare is to become educated and prepared to join the interdependence movement.

Students should push for more interdependent curriculum that educates and prepares them for the world they will face.

The main idea of the curriculum would be to educate youth of the issues of the world so that they may be better prepared to face and change it. The idea of Global Education is the epitome for the sort of education that is necessary in our schools.

Organ trafficking new international problem Marisa Koster

guest columnist

Sarah Lee

guest columnist

The number of hits on Google for organ trafficking is 1,720,000, which is about 1/26th of the number of results for sex trafficking, which has 45,400,000 hits. These statistics show how little people are aware of this problem.

The majority of people probably have no idea that innocent Chinese prisoners are being executed, men kidnapped and shot by the dozen, and women in third world countries are resorting to selling their newborns for the organ demand.

Shockingly, these are not one time cases. In China, it is affecting 3,000 people per year. The reported killings have shown up in over 17 different countries in the last ten years and have occurred so often, that it has become common practice.

If the students learn about how to help other countries, they will be more likely to promote the joining together of countries for the greater good.

Students may also prepare to face and influence the world through studying abroad.

This experience resulted in higher levels of international political concern and cross-cultural interest. Since students develop greater cultural understanding and perspective, they may be more inclined to reconnect globally and make a change.

Studying abroad programs also provide experiences that just reading cannot; the student forms a personal and emotional connection to the area and people they interact with. The student can use that connection to fuel his or her desire to solve problems that occur not only in his or her part of the world, but problems that he or she has also experienced firsthand elsewhere.

A lack of interdependence is a serious issue in our modern day world. However, some think that it’s better to be independent and strive to reach our own, different goals and solve our own problems.

A great counter example is the creation of a UNITED States of America, or the creation of the League of Nations. These both symbolize the great effects that can come out of working together and cooperating.

Students can make an impact on the issue of interdependence through promoting interdependent curriculum and studying abroad.

Many students struggle with the feeling of unimportance in the world, but they must remember that they are soldiers in a battle, in a war, and they have the capability to change the world.

In South America, financially desperate mothers murder or sell their own babies for organs, hoping that they will be able to live off of the profit they gain.

In addition, the number of participants who are able to escape from prosecution in these cases is appalling. There are usually four people involved in each case; the trafficker, the donor, the doctor, and the organ acceptor. Two out of these four people avoid legal punishment a vast majority of the time- the doctors and the organ acceptors.

Because the operations are held in secret locations, once the two leave, they often can’t be found again or traced.

Victims are selling their organs because they believe it is the only way to climb out of the financial depression they are in. The amount made is usually hardly enough to escape the poverty.

Furthermore, the money will often have to be spent on the after effects of the unsanitary operations and medical complications. Often, a decrease in health will follow the operation, and this can have a devastating effect on patients’ lives.

Additionally, the patient survival rates of illegal organ

operations are significantly low.

There are heightened risks of medical complications and donor transmitted diseases.

And after all this, there are only a few organizations that are actually working to put an end to organ trafficking. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system and their goal is to create more donor laws and open more organ donation sites around the world.

However, advocacy and support is costly and the only way they can continue their campaign is with sufficient funding. Although they have already affected numerous lives, there are still many more to save. All students have to do is log onto www.who.org and donate any amount of money; every cent counts.

Another way to support this cause is to become an organ donor. The main reason for organ trafficking is the international shortage of organs. A single donor can potentially save eight lives because of one selfless decision. You simply sign up to be an organ donor at your state registry and support the end of organ trafficking.

No easy, simple gun solution Alex Mitrakas

guest columnist

With recent shootings in the U.S. resulting in many lives lost, a massive debate over gun control has begun. Our government wants to restrict gun laws, but restricting gun laws will not solve the issues at hand. Most young people believe that we can’t do anything to stop our government from enforcing these laws. But did you know that we can?

Statistics show that there is no reason to add or change laws that involve gun restrictions. According to FactCheck.org, a credible source with a purpose to increase public knowledge and understanding of U.S. politics, rates relating to gun murders have been decreasing since 2011, even though U.S. gun manufacturing rates have been increasing since 2007.

So what would happen if the American government did ban all guns? How would it affect crime rates? We can find the answers to these questions by looking at our neighbor, Mexico.

As many people have heard, Mexico has banned all gun possession rights. They have very high gun related crime rates and some of the most dangerous cities throughout the whole world.

This is because of criminal thugs, and their ability to overpower defenseless citizens. Banning guns in America would not help decrease gun crime rates, but may even increase them.

According to UTSandiego.com, the rate of gun purchases in the United States has risen significantly since our government has been trying to enforce stricter gun laws and background checks. There have been many gun law protests throughout the country, and more people are standing up to these unconstitutional laws contradicting the second amendment.

Many people assume that the second amendment was written in our constitution for reasons such as hunting and fishing.

However, the main reason the second amendment is in our Bill of Rights is so American citizens have the ability to defend themselves if our government tries to enforce tyrannical rule.

According to InfoWars.com, our forefathers warned us about these ruling political figures and included the second amendment into our constitution so that our government wouldn’t be able to become oppressive. We need to stop letting these laws be enforced and allowing our government to turn into a dictatorship.

Many dictators, such as Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler, took away the right to bear arms from citizens. Even the former Philippines dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, gave the people of the Philippines two weeks to turn in all their guns or be sentenced to the death penalty.

Why did all these dictators want their people to turn in all their guns? Simply so that the citizens would have no way to defend themselves against their oppressive government.

Laws have been passed saying that any political figure is able to conceal heavy firearms, but the citizens cannot. These laws are absurd and unfair.

Restricting guns laws is a foolish solution to stop these tragic accidents from happening.

If these criminals have the mindset of going out and shooting people, they’re going to do it whether guns are illegal or not.

Banning guns just because there are people with mental problems out there able to get control of guns and commit crimes, is like banning the use of automobiles because drunk drivers can get themselves, or others, killed.

There are ways to prevent our government from enforcing these laws. You can write to your governor or mayor telling them to stop the enforcement of these unconstitutional laws, and leave gun laws the way they are.

You can even go out and purchase a gun yourself, come together as a community, and stand up to law enforcers trying to take away our guns, before it’s too late.

4.26.2013

Fun &

Kathryn Tenbarge

Games

associate editor

What goes up and down without moving?

Anna Zhou

>>the sycamore leaf >>goaves.com

associate editor

1 3 5 1 8 2 1 3

3 7 What is the weirdest dream you have ever had?

2

8

Answer: Stairs

7 9

Have a comic, game, or poem you want to appear in the next issue? Contact The Leaf at SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com.

61

8 9 5 7 6 5 2 9 9 6

I was on a ship with Captain Hook and he was chasing me. He kept on telling me he had killed my parents.

Gwen Constand, 9

4 6

The first person to submit the right answer to room 115 will win an out-to-lunch pass.

I was in Antarctica with penguins and then all of a sudden, a meteor came down and the whole world was devastated. I arose from the rubble.

Benjamin Boughton, 10

One time I was running from this crocodile and I was on a map and it went “bzoop bzoop bzoop.�

Lauren Thompson, 11

Where in the school is this?

Mind Game: Sudoku

7 4

Riddle of the Month

9

Mr. [Jim] Smanik was yelling at me about not doing my homework.

Then, the entire class bullied me about it.

Nayan Mandan, 12

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10 4.26.2013 Fashion for the Cure >>Student-run fashion show raises money for charity

13

Kenzie’s Closet >>Local nonprofit gives girls full prom experience

12

Feature >>the sycamore leaf >>goaves.com

Chris Montero does not exist acebook infiltrates SHS ranks Student-created identity on Rachael Sun

I

web editor-in-chief

have a confession to make. I tried lying to students from school. Told them a straight up falsity, hoped to make them believe in something that I knew clearly not to be true.

And while I was at first a bit disappointed, in retrospect I am proud to say that a large majority of my peers did not fall for the façade.

A little more than a month ago, I created a fake Facebook personality and distributed his influence within the online student body. I lovingly gave him a birthday that was publicly visible to others, a few interests that represented what I thought the average guy would enjoy (read: sports and rap music,) and most importantly, a high school to associate with: SHS. These glimpses into the life of Chris Montero, as I christened him, were made completely visible to anyone on the internet, even to those whom he was not ‘friends’ with.

And in this way my experiment began. Through randomly selecting members of our student community, I had Chris ‘friend request’ seven boys and girls from each grade level.

The first few weeks were tough. Actually, I nearly gave up the project because after a total of seven days, the number of people who had accepted our friend request was – you guessed it – zero. Goose egg. No one took the bait.

And while that may seem like a short period of time,

for Facebook addicts like myself, it felt like an eternity.

I think what made it so hard for people to accept poor Chris’ friend request was the fact that they had zero friends in common. Because, after all, the poor guy had no friends in the first place. Because he didn’t exist, you see.

Finally the first “[Jane Doe] has accepted your friend request” notification came through to me in the middle of the school day. I was enthralled.

After that, Chris gained friends slowly but steadily. His arsenal of association, not just by educational background but also by acquaintances, grew to nine friends in total at the end of the four week period.

I omit the 10th person who friended Chris because they unfriended him less than a day later. From this, I assume that they had the foresight to check into Chris’ profile later on and discover that they had friended someone they did not actually know.

So here it is: of the 56 people I had Chris ‘approach,’ 10 originally accepted his friendship. That approximates to 17.86 percent of the student body, or around one out of six people.

To break it down even further, of the three freshmen who friended Chris, all of them were girls. The same applies to the lone senior who accepted his request.

I was surprised by the fact that, the fact that more freshmen students associated with my

f

Image by Joseph Ahn

fake identity than seniors did.

I had intentionally set Chris’ birthday as one that would clearly identify him as a junior: April 13, 1996. Why did students farther away from his age level still identify with him more?

In contrast, the juniors who accepted Chris’ friend request were all male.

Looking back at the experience, I can see why 17.86 percent can be a startling number. If one in every six students gives a random stranger access to their personal information and connections, who knows what will happen?

On the flip side, my study definitely does not represent the entirety of our school, nor is it anywhere close to being

accurate. I needed a control group, a larger study size, and multiple variables – everything we learned in science class.

All I am trying to get across is that we need to look before we act. Or in the case of the one very smart student who denied Chris’ love and attention, to look after we act. Because in truth, there have been far too many catfishing scandals this year, far too many Manti T’eos and poor

Student Council prepares for Prom

matched what we had been paying for the Oasis.”

Along with reserving a place for the event to be held, Student Council has been creating decorations since Between adjusting back from spring break and the beginning of the year. preparing for graduation comes an event that brings “We have been working on Prom for a long time upperclassmen, and a sort of lucky underclassmen, and we are very excited for everyone to see all of the together. decorations and hard work come together. There are Prom will be held on Sat. Apr. 27 as students ‘Keep it also a few surprises that await the students who go to Classy’ at the elegant evening the dance,” said Carly Lefton, themed dance.

11, junior class secretary.

The meaningful night, Tickets are sold Apr. 23-26 We have been working on Prom however, would not be in the Commons, and yellow possible without the for a long time and we are very fee forms and guest forms are dedication of Student in order to make a excited for everyone to see all of required Council. purchase. They sell at $35 for Their planning began last the decorations and hard work one or $60 for two. Tickets spring, since booking an will not be sold after 2:20 p.m. come together. adequate venue requires on that Friday. notice a year in advance. This If an underclassman year’s event has a change in is accompanying an location. Students will flock upperclassman, the latter to the Savannah Center rather must be the one to buy the tickets. than the Oasis, where Prom has taken place in years Following Prom, students will travel to ‘A Night in past.

Paris’ at SHS’s After Prom. Tickets for this are sold for “The biggest difference in Prom this year from last $20 per person, and flyers must be filled out in order year is the venue. The Savannah Center is much nicer for students to acquire them. than the Oasis and the atmosphere is a lot better,” said Tiredness may be inevitable for the Sunday that Sara Constand, 11, junior class president. follows, but the time put in by Student Council and the “The only way we were able to get the Savannah PTO will add up to a fun night for all who attend.

Center was because they lowered their price and Shea Lothrop

print editor-in-chief

Carly Lefton, 11

decisions.

So thank you to those who unknowingly put up with my persona’s pestering. Thank you to that one kid who knew better than to blindly click the mouse button, and thank you SHS for proving to me that I reside in a community of smart and reliable peers I can count on.

I deactivated Chris Montero’s account before beginning this article. Do not look for him.

513.754.2240 www.leapprogram.com info@leapprogram.com

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4.26.2013

11

DREAM ers [dree-mers] (noun):

Undocumented immigrants redefine search for education, citizenship Ana Barros

print editor-in-chief

I

DREAMERS LIKE BERNARD PASTOR have adopted an image of a ragged cap and gown to symbolize their search for citizenship through education. Over time, it has become the symbol of DREAM Act supporters.

t was just a fender-bender.

But it would change his life forever.

On Nov. 16, 2010, Bernard Pastor, then-senior at Reading High School, was driving to his part-time job at Chick-fil-A when he rearended the car in front of him.

For anyone else, calling the cops was just a part of the process. But for Pastor, it meant shedding light on a secret he had kept for years: he had no driver’s license, and no documents proving his legal citizenship in the U.S. The Pastor family had immigrated to the U.S. illegally from Guatemala due to religious persecution when Pastor was three years old.

He had been living in Reading, OH since 2004 and would graduate in the top five of his class that year.

Bernard played soccer at his school, was active around the community, and had been crowned Homecoming king that fall.

But on Nov. 16, none of that mattered; what mattered was that he was an illegal immigrant, and he was going to be deported.

Word of Pastor’s arrest spread swiftly. Friends, family, and even those who had never met him were seen parading

signs outside the Butler County Jail in Hamilton, begging for his release.

But Pastor found that his arrest was less of an issue than what met him outside his prison bars; at the age of 18, he had become the national figure in the debate over immigration reform.

DREAM Act

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act was revived in 2009 by Senator Orin Hatch (R-UT) and Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) in an effort to give an opportunity to young individuals who had illegally entered the U.S. at a young age, but had gotten an education and were active members of society, like Bernard Pastor.

The DREAM Act would provide conditional permanent residency for those immigrants who met the requirements.

The requirements are few, but severely cut down the eligible population: DREAMers (as undocumented students like Pastor began to call themselves) must have been 15 or under when they entered the U.S. and have lived in the country for five continuous years to qualify for the status.

This status would put them on a six-year conditional path to residency provided that they complete at least two years of college or military service.

Pastor was released on Dec. 10, 2010, and went straight to Washington, DC to speak in the Senate hearing of the DREAM Act. It had already passed the House of Representatives, despite 12 out of 18 Ohio representatives voting against the legislation.

“You’ve seen who I am. You know who I am.

With all due respect, this is as much my

Source: immigrationpolicy.org

30,000 100,000

Opposition

The 1830s marked the beginning the US’ battle with immigration – one that has survived to this day.

With an estimated 16 million illegal immigrants currently living in the US – enough to populate Ohio – the subject of immigration has reached the forefront of political debate.

Marco Rubio, senator (RFL), leads the opposition. Son of illegal Cuban immigrants himself, he has ironically “vowed to oppose any bill that rewards [illegal immigrants] for breaking the law,” according to TIME magazine.

Advocates for Rubio’s proposed plan oppose the DREAM Act because they believe it encourages and rewards immigration, and will bring an economic and social burden because it will decrease the quality of public education and the availability of lowskilled jobs.

Furthermore, part of the eligibility requirement of the DREAM Act includes having “good moral character” – a term that has taken on many vague definitions and makes it hard to come to a consensus.

Future for DREAMers

In 2011, Pastor began his freshman year at Xavier University.

He gained legal footing with the pro bono help of his lawyer, and maintains a conditional temporary citizenship status that requires him to check in with federal immigration officials every three months.

He has gone back to being a normal 20 year old, no longer having to hide his background.

However, there are about 16 million people in the US who, just like he was in 2010, hide their illegal status and face the threat of deportation every time they drive a car without a license or fly on an airplane without a visa.

In 2012, President Barack Obama stopped deporting young illegal aliens who fit the conditions proposed by the DREAM Act, initiating his own deferred action initiative, called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

This initiative will potentially affect nearly 1.4 million individuals, 8 thousand of which are from Ohio.

Until this gains a foothold, however, the 65,000 DREAMers that graduate high school every year will continue to fight for their cause and hope for someone like Pastor who will offer them a small shred of hope for the future.

Because there is no worse feeling than knowing that the country whose flag you have pledged your allegiance to your whole life no longer has room for you.

How they compare:

DREAMers: Where are they now? > 100,000

country as it is yours,” he said.

Despite the hundreds of DREAMers who waited outside the chambers with Pastor holding their breath as the senators yelled out their “Yea”s and “Nay”s, the act failed to pass by five votes.

10,000 30,000

< 10,000

>> total: 1.4 million

Allows Americans to Has a program to Increases sponsor visas for hire more foreign border security same sex partners workers for lowand verification of skilled jobs workers’ immigration status Immigrants must give “biometric” information Provides automatic Requires that and should show an green cards for highly secure borders “understanding of the skilled immigrants and employment history and verification have a government of the Reduces waiting higher priority f United States” lists

in order to

receive citizenship

Barack Obama’s plan (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)

Marco Rubio’s* plan *Senator, R-FL

All images by Ana Barros

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feature

ummer scholars travel abroad chool never ends for SHS students

Caroline Gao

W

feature chief

ith warmer weather and the end of the school year rapidly approaching, students have one focus in mind: summer vacation. Whether they decide to remain in the state or travel across the globe, they all have exciting plans.

“I’m hoping to go to Beirut, Lebanon, which is where my dad is from. We will go depending on the country’s stability. I’ll visit my mom’s family in Wisconsin if we decide not to go to Lebanon,” said Sabrina Eddine, 11.

Ever since the month of January, students have been buzzing about summer plans. Some have jam-packed schedules while others decided to have relaxing ones.

“My whole family is planning a great big reunion. With all my relatives spread around the world, it is rare that we have seen every single person there.

I’m really looking forward to catching up with them,” said Asha Sethuraman, 9.

For most, even though there are no more early mornings, students are still held responsible for completing their assigned summer homework.

“I think it’s good to try to keep information from school in our memories, but since almost everyone procrastinates until the end of summer, people have mostly forgotten by then anyway,” said Bradley Kirkendall, 12.

In addition to the summer homework, other students are also taking summer courses here at SHS. Taking courses during the summer is a way for students to earn credits without taking up another bell slot during the school year.

“I will be taking an Algebra II course over the summer so I can take Precalculus my sophomore year. It seems like a lot of work but it is a great way to get ahead,” said Sethuraman.

Summer is also a time for students to train. Many are preparing for sports tryouts in the fall.

“I usually make the most progress in water polo during the summer. I participate in the summer swim team and attend the lifting and school conditionings. The training really pays off during the season,” said Jessica Wei, 9.

Wherever they choose to spend their time, students are thrilled for summer and the end of the school year.

Image by Lauren Glynn and Jacqueline Lazar

Kenzie’s Closet gives girls opportunity of lifetime Prom dresses, shoes donated to less fortunate Elizabeth Rickert

opinion chief

Prom is often the social highlight of junior and senior year. Students spend all four years of high school dreaming of their Prom night, but for some girls it is not a financial reality.

For these girls, Kenzie’s Closet was created. It is an organization that provides a dress, two pieces of jewelry, a wrap, a pair of shoes, and a purse for girls who cannot afford these items on their own.

Last year, Kenzie’s Closet dressed 400 girls including one who drove four hours just to receive this opportunity.

When the girls are finished shopping, they receive a rose and a picture.

Brynne Coletti founded this organization when her daughter’s friend was not able to go to Prom because she could not purchase a dress. The Colettis bought the dress for her and were then inspired to start Kenzie’s Closet.

The name of the charity comes from a family friend the Colettis, Makenna Comisar, nicknamed Kenzie, who died in a car crash shortly before her Prom.

To go to Kenzie’s Closet, you must have a referral from a counselor, principal, social

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513-671-2144 10756 MONTGOMERY ROAD CINCINNATI OHIO 45242

513-429-5612 HOURS MON. - FRI.

SAT.

SUN.

9:00AM - 6:00PM

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WWW.ALTERATIONSCINCINNATI.COM

worker, or teacher.

“If we become aware of students who cannot attend Prom, we approach them about Kenzie’s Closet or we have them approach us,” said Mrs. Brenda Fisher, counselor.

Students can help out with the charity by volunteering or putting on a dress drive.

A high school volunteer would either put away dresses, work the jewelry counter, or work the shoe counter.

An adult volunteer would work one on one with the girls, helping them decide on their dress, shoes, jewelry, and purse.

A high school volunteer signs up through ugive.org. Adult’s sign up online on the website.

The volunteer days start in September and go through the end of April.

“The best part about Kenzie’s Closet is the shopping days, when the girls come in and get their dresses they are so excited and have such big smiles on their faces once they find the perfect dress,” said Coletti.

These dress drives consist of having girls drop off gently used dresses and accessories to be donated to Kenzie’s Closet.

A dress drive is up to the girl or company to execute and can be done during any

time of the year. All colors and sizes are wanted.

“How many girls have dresses in their closet that they have worn only once that could be really appreciated?” said Fisher.

Many of the other dresses, especially plus size, must be bought with donated money or are obtained through contracts that Kenzie’s Closet has with different companies. Local partnerships allow Kenzie’s to have free roses and free dry cleaning.

One of the problems for SHS students is that Kenzie’s Closet is so popular that the shopping days fill up advance.

While it is too late to get a dress from Kenzie’s Closet this year, students looking for dresses for next year’s prom should keep this organization in mind.

MANY GIRLS HAVE GONE to their Proms thanks to Kenzie’s Closet, which is a non-profit organization accepting donations and gently worn prom dresses. It supplies girls with a dress, shoes, and jewelry.

Each year Kenzie’s Closet has a fundraiser to keep the organization going.

Image by Isaac Goldstein

CLOSET

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All photos courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography

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Flaunting fashion Students strut in their own designs Caroline Gao

feature chief

1. Ciarra Webb, 10, Soo Yeon Ryu, 11, and Emily Willis, 10, all created pieces that were shown on the runway. Their creations earned them cash prizes from Bridal and Formal. When Soo Yeon, middle, heard that Fashion for the Cure was giving its money to ProKids, she wanted to make her dress unique. She decided to design the dress for her sister, Seung Yeon Ryu, who is on stage to her right. Soo Yeon spoke to her about ideas and they planned a very colorful, fairylike dress. Soo Yeon thought a child’s imagination was a great inspiration and perfect for ProKids. 2. Amelia Wells, 12, poses as she shows off her dress. She had an idea in her head for designing it but had no idea it would take so long. She used around three pounds of rhinestones for the dress. 3. Zachary Groneman, 12, displays the outfit he designed for the show. In addition to being the only male designer, he was the second designer at SHS to ever do menswear. “It was probably a bit strange to see a giant line of dresses with a weird looking tux thrown in the middle, but it was definitely a lot of fun,” said Groneman. 4. The audience was wowed when Joelle Davidson, 12, modeled her dress. She entered her dress into a scholarship competition, “Stuck at Prom.” Her design was inspired by a webcomic called Homestuck. 5. The fashion classes put together multiple baskets to be raffled off before the show, each with a specific theme. Some families left with as many as five baskets.

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feature

nations represented

by SHS students ‘ birthplaces

‘You are surrounded by diversity’ Atiya Dosani business manager

Lila Englander

T

associate editor

he vast number of nationalities present at SHS is an incredible attribute that is often overlooked.

“My high school was extremely homogeneous. You guys don’t know anything else so you don’t realize how lucky you are. You are surrounded by diversity all the time,” said Mrs. Melissa Sullivan, English teacher.

Many SHS students who came to the U.S. recently were even surprised by the difference between SHS and high schools nearby.

“When I visited Mason High School, people were staring at me and I was like ‘what are you looking at?’ and they were like ‘you,’” said Janiel Combs, 11, who moved from Nicaragua two and a half years ago.

SHS seems to have built a reputation for having a student body with accepting attitudes toward immigrants.

“I used to live in Kentucky and I was the only one from another country. Some of my friends went to Sycamore and they told me this school is great. My dad got a job in Cincinnati and we moved here for both reasons,” said David Thang, 11, who moved from Myanmar (Burma) five years ago.

Although SHS is a relatively welcoming environment, transitioning is still difficult.

“I was afraid of making friends at first because I didn’t know what they would think about where I came from. This year though I have so many friends, it’s unbelievable,” said Combs.

“The cool thing about it is you realize that you aren’t the only person in this school that is a foreigner. In this high school you walk in the hall and they treat you like another American. It’s normal.”

Equal treatment is a good thing, but recognizing and celebrating these differences is a crucial step in increasing understanding.

by the numbers:

Ethnic demographics 72% White

10% Asian 9% African American 4% Hispanic/Latino 5% Multiracial

SHS

81% White

2% Asian

African

12% American

Hispanic 3% /Latino 2% Multiracial

Ohio OVER ONE MILLION PEOPLE come to the U.S. each year. Many SHS students can recall their own immigration. “When I came here, the only hard thing was you have no idea what’s going on because you don’t know the language at all,” said Zarmina Karimova, 9, who moved from Uzbekistan four years ago.

Source: National Census

English for Speakers of Other Languages Coming to Cincinnati: (ESOL) students share their stories Yana Udaltsova, 10

New diet: Everyone in Russia told me I would gain weight because of American food, but I told them I wouldn’t. My dad is obsessed with me being perfect. He has Moved a job in Russia so he goes back and forth. from When he came back to the U.S. I had gained Russia less than weight and he was so mad. He told me he would take me back to Russia if I didn’t lose 1 year weight and made me work out everyday. ago Clothes and compliments: People here smile and tell you ‘oh I love your hair, I love this, I love that.’ In Russia no one would say that to you. They would be jealous. In Russia you have to dress for school like you are going to a job. No jeans. Black, white, maybe gray. Also all the girls wear high heels everyday. Here I wore high heels on my first day and it was way too much.

Social life: It is so much easier for me to talk to people who know my situation.

Americans are different. It seems like they have too many best friends. Like when you go on Facebook and Instagram, every picture has ‘best friend’ written on it.

David Thang, 11

Dangerous journey: We came to the U.S. to find freedom and a better life. Before I came, we had to illegally go to Malaysia. We took a 14 hour car ride. 15 people in a small Moved car. I was 12. My family had to hide and find from Myanmar work illegally. My brother was arrested and (Burma) put in jail for six months. After waiting a 5 years year and a half, we came to America.

Preserving culture: Before I came to ago America, people warned me not to forget our language and culture. My parents don’t want me to forget my language. After I came to the U.S. they argued with the way I dress, the way I do my hair, the way I act. They don’t let me speak English in my house or I get in trouble.

Teacher violence: In Myanmar the teachers hit you if you didn’t do your homework or you misbehave. They grab their rulers and hit any part of your body. Every teacher does it. When I was 10 years old, I was sick and I forgot to write a letter. When I came to school they hit me 18 times on my feet. I couldn’t stand up or walk.

Janiel Combs, 11

Perspective: In my country, we were told that Americans are killers. When I came here it was totally different than I thought.

Moved from Nicaragua 2.5 years ago

Food: When we first moved here my dad took me to a drive-through. When we got there I said, ‘Miss are you inside that machine?’ She said, ‘no sir, I am in the window.’ I was so confused.

Karina Ulanova, 12

Trouble adjusting: I hated my first month here. In Kyrgyzstan I was a straight-A student. When I came here, I didn’t really Moved know what was going on in class. No from Kyr- friends, no language, no nothing. As time gyzstan went on, I found girls who spoke Russian 3 years and helped me.

Consequences: In my country if a teacher ago sees you cheating on a test she’ll say something but you wouldn’t get a zero or anything. When I just came here I was in math sitting next to a Chinese girl. I was looking at her paper because I didn’t know how to do the problem and I got a zero on my second day of school.

All images by Lila Englander and Atiya Dosani

4.26.2013

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The 20/20 Experience

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‘I have never done a musical that has such an abstract theme’

Aves Theatre puts finishing touches on show Ana Barros

C

print editor-in-chief

oming-of-age stories are a classic theme in the arts. But in true SHS fashion, Aves Theatre has put a new spin on the ultimate initiation story, “Pippin.”

After over 150 hours of preparation and rehearsal, the show premiered on Apr. 17, with two more shows on Apr. 18 and 19.

50 students - about 40 cast members and 10 crew members - assisted Mr. John Whapham and Ms. Sarah Garvey in “Pippin’s” production.

“Pippin” tells the story of a young prince ,played by Alex Montchai, 9, who spends his days searching for meaning in his life.

He experiments with war, politics, and sex – symbolically, of course – while attempting to find his “corner of the sky.”

The prince is led by the Leading Player played by Emily Kissela, 12, a mysterious figure who attempts to guide him through his story. She clearly has an ulterior motive, but it only becomes apparent in the second act, when she attempts to push him into the “Finale,” during which the entire cast lures him into drinking a foaming mysterious drink.

My first reaction to the play was confusion: confusion about the Leading Player’s role in the story, and about the overall purpose of the play, and how it would come together.

The show opened with a song sung too fast to be understood and the introduction of the main characters without being clear about their roles.

When he falls in love with Catherine played by Rachel Handkins, 12, the audience wants him to realize that he has everything he needs. However, he leaves them for his eternal goal of finding his “corner of the sky.”

As the musical progressed, it became clear that Pippin is simply a symbol of humans’ search for meaning and, further,

the American Dream.

By curtain call, I was far less confused as I realized that the Leading Player symbolized that nagging yearn for realization of an impossible dream.

The last song, when the cast sings “we’re right inside your heads” implies that the whole show is Pippin’s imagination, and now that he has found his dream – Catherine and her adorable son, Theo – he no longer needs someone to guide him.

“Pippin” is one of those underrated shows that I am grateful have made it to SHS’ main stage. I appreciated the more mature humor and the deeper meaning that it conveyed.

However, for SHS’ main musical, I must admit that I was disappointed with the costumes and the set.

Although the staircases on wheels provided the mobility necessary for the fast pace of the show, its duct tape decorations and simplistic build took away from the magic that the show portrayed.

Speaking of duct tape, I was surprised to see the costumes made of the cheap material. Whereas the costumes in “You Can’t Take it With You” and last year’s “Into the Woods” were phenomenal and coordinated, “Pippin’s” were, once again, too simplistic for the intricate and enchanted feel of the rest of the show.

On a more positive note, the soundtrack was exceptional.

Whapham worked with a local composer to modernize the music and make it more techno than the original. The live band also interacted with the cast, making it seem like the music was telling its own story.

Overall, I was very much amused by the dry humor and appreciated the fact that its confusing nature made the audience think.

I also enjoyed the fact that I could relate to Pippin’s despair - as a teenager, all I need is a guide to point me in the right direction, but how will I know when the right guide has come along?

U4U Benefit Concert Fri., May 3 @ 7:00 pm tickets are FREE

SHS acts:

Shep and Ian Bright Eyed Youth SEE1 Samantha Furtwengler Devin Arbenz Krittika Chatterjee Christina Shehata Lydia Sloan SWEET

Krittika Chatterjee

All photos courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography

managing editor

1

2

3 TOP TO BOTTOM: 1. Grace Keeton, 12, and Micaha Underwood, 9, open the show. 2.

Elizabeth Rosenberg, 11, plays the role of Fastrada, Pippin’s evil stepmother. 3. The cast and crew of “Pippin” come together for one last pep talk before opening night on Apr. 17.

Q&A with Emily Callaway, 11 How long have you been acting?

I have been acting ever since I can remember. Whether it be performing in front of my family, “acting” like I was someone else, or doing actual shows, acting has always been a part of me. My early acting experiences included acting summer camps where we would put on a show by the end of one week, and then all the theater shows at the Junior High.

What is your process for getting into character? How do you get into the mindset of the character you are playing?

Getting into character is very simple for me. I just kind of close my eyes and I’m there. My main thing is to just put myself in my character’s shoes. When I am acting as a part, I am not Emily Callaway anymore- I am that character instead. I am creating little things that make my character who she is, and then I simply am that person.

What was your first reaction when you stepped onto the set of “Perks”?

My first reaction when I stepped onto the set of ‘Perks’ was...”Umm...is this real?” I couldn’t believe that I was really there.

Standing on a movie set with Logan Lerman and Paul Rudd… it was so surreal that sometimes, I still don’t believe it. It was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had though.

Funds will go directly to UNIFAT school in Uganda to help improve learning conditions Image by Ana Barros

Image by Krittika Chatterjee

Women have shattered the glass ceiling of pop music.

In what I call “the age of Beyonce,” presumed prejudices that would stop a female act from being successful on the radio have long since been banished.

The population competing for Billboard spots primarily consists of the likes of Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Ke$ha.

But in almost every other genre, from adult alternative to punk, women are frequently overlooked. Bon Iver and Mumford & Sons have had the most staying power.

For the entire segment of music that usually goes unplayed on Kiss 107, we need to salute the women that put their face on genres (that often bear men’s names) to get their airtime.

Florence + the Machine owns a style that can’t be classified, and its certainly paid off.

“Shake it Out” was covered on “Glee,” and their songs have been used in multiple movie trailers; most recently, “The Great Gatsby.”

Fronted by Florence Welch, Florence + the Machine has never tried to hide Welch’s feminine power: Her image is iconic, and so the band bears her name.

Laura Marling. It seemed as though Mumford & Sons had indie folk on lock until Marling.

She’s been the sweetheart of the scene in England, playing on television shows when she was only 16.

After a brief stint of dating Marcus Mumford, obvious frontman of Mumford & Sons, she’s released two more albums that have done comparably well on English charts to her ex’s.

Marina & the Diamonds: Contrary to usual form, “diamonds” doesn’t refer to Marina Diamandis’ band, but rather, her fans. And they deserve to be recognized: The diamonds have created a cult following like a small-scale Lana Del Rey. Her rise to fame will probably be similar, as Diamandis’ “How to be a Heartbreaker” was also recently covered on “Glee.”

Her music is slightly more radio-friendly, but Diamandis has never been hesitant to attack controversial topics with bubblegum pop lyrics.

All the music left out of the typical rotation can’t be classified as a whole; there’s just too much variety. But where women have finally taken control of the airwaves, there is room for the female voice of the underground to rise up.

For comments and suggestions on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com.

16

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4.26.2013

Video game hunts for fan base

‘Monster Hunter’ fails to receive attention Ben Young

T

broadcast editor-in-chief

he “Monster Hunter” franchise has been around for almost 10 years, and in that time, it has sold millions of copies and has entertained players with its deep and complex gameplay, at least in Japan.

The series has not received as strong of a following stateside, or in any other country, for that matter. But the series’ developer, Capcom, intends to change all of this with the latest installment in the franchise, “Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.”

In short, “Monster Hunter” is a game where you go on a variety of quests and missions in which you hunt monsters.

Along the way, you will mine for ore, farm plants, herbs, and the like, and gather resources from the monsters you have slain.

While many classify the game to a role playing game, it is really an actionadventure game, with a few role playing elements mixed in, i.e. gathering resources for upgrades. There are no experience points or leveling, all progress is represented by your increase in skill.

And this is one of the great draws to the series.

Throughout your quest, you feel as though you are actually getting stronger through playing, not just by gaining more experience points. If you want to beat a monster, you cannot just wail on weaker enemies, get the experience, and hope for the best.

In this game, you have to actually develop skill, wit, and cunning. And this only serves to make every victory even sweeter. The satisfaction of defeating a monster after many attempts and failures is great.

As for the game’s structure,

All images by Ethan May

“MONSTER HUNTER 3 ULTIMATE” was released Mar. 22 in North America. It was previously seen in Japan were it was released on Dec. 10, almost two years before the game was released here. In Japan the game has built up a pretty big fan base and where as it has yet to gain the amount of fans that many think it deserves in North America.

you are assigned quests by villagers. You start off hunting small monsters, such as the raptor-like ‘Jaggi.’

Then you move up to even bigger monsters, like the serpentine ‘Royal Ludroth,’ or the ‘Lagombi,’ who can be described as an eight foot tall mixture of a polar bear, koala, and a bunny rabbit.

And from there, the monsters only get bigger and stronger.

Expect to use the full quest time limit of 50 minutes when fighting later monsters. From all monsters, you can gather bones and hide that are used to upgrade equipment.

The combat, while you are fighting monsters, can be very complicated. The monsters do not act like mindless bosses that many are accustomed to. They act and behave not unlike real animals.

Over time, as you attack them, they are slowly weakened, stumbling over their own attacks, and attempting to flee from their assailant to rest and recover.

Not only this, but while the game may appear so, it is not some sort of hack and slash game. If you simply try to wail on your enemy with your sword, you will probably fail.

You must learn to actually use potions, bombs, etc.

But for how complicated the gameplay is, my real complaint is that the game does not do the best job teaching you how to play.

You are given access to the base forms of all weapon types at the beginning of the game, along with a suit of leather armor with some useful skills attached to it.

However, combat itself is

Perfect vision:

Justin Timberlake releases new album, Alexis Corcoran

web editor-in-chief

Justin Timberlake’s new album, “20/20 Experience” is much like a long road trip: it starts out thrilling, filled with hope, but then, after hours of monotony, it becomes too long and very redundant.

No song better represents this than the opening track, “Pusher Love Girl.” The song is eight minutes long...enough said.

Out of the 10 songs on the album, seven are longer than seven minutes. Queen is the only band ever, in the world, that is allowed to make seven minute songs.

Not only are the songs extremely long, but the instrumentals repeat themselves too often. “Blue Ocean Floor” features the same wave sounding harmony for the entire song.

There are definitely things I love about this album. “Pusher Love Girl” has a fantastic opening; I enjoyed most of the opening instrumentals.

There are few things I love in pop music more than really good string instrument usage, and “Pusher Love Girl” begins with about 30 seconds of amazing violin runs.

Next is the album’s first single, “Suit and Tie.” As with

not explained beyond the basics, and I would say there is no shame in looking up a walkthrough, or getting help from a friend.

Speaking of friends, you can play the game with up to four people through online co-op. As rewarding as combat already is, it is substantially more satisfying when you get to crush the monsters with your friends. Unfortunately, if you have the handheld version, on the Nintendo 3DS, you will be restricted to local multiplayer.

In conclusion, “Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate”, while slightly flawed in some of its execution, is a fun but difficult game that will offer you hundreds of hours of enjoyment. That is, if you are willing to put in the time needed to learn its nuances and get past the flawed introduction and tutorials.

20/20

the rest of the soundtrack, Timberlake uses too much falsetto.

I love JT’s falsetto as much as the next person, but it is most effective he uses it more sparingly than in 20/20.

Some songs, such as “Strawberry Bubblegum” were sung primarily in falsetto, and eight minutes of falsetto is hard to take. He even begins the song “Spaceship Coup” by saying, “I wrote this song for you,” in his falsetto.

As a fan of Timberlake’s 2004 album, “FutureSex/ LoveSounds,” I would be lying if I did not say this album was mildly disappointing.

With the exception of “Let the Groove Get In,” my favorite song on the album, we saw none of the up-tempo “What Goes Around,” type sounds that make JT who he is.

a&e

Guest Column Claire Lefton

guest columnist

Fox’s hit musical show, “Glee,” has affected millions in many ways. From touching storylines about gay relationships with characters like Kurt and Blaine and tearing down gender boundaries and expectations with Unique, to storylines like the Rachel pregnancy scare, there is no doubt that “Glee” is a powerful platform for reaching today’s youth.

Apr. 11, 2013 at 9:00 p.m., approximately 6.67 million people tuned in to the hit show to watch peppy high school kids sing about love and last chances. But out of seemingly nowhere came what was easily one of the most sensitive and emotionally heavy topics “Glee” has ever touched.

The Glee club was gathering in the choir room, nothing out of the ordinary, Friends were giggling with friends, Mr. Shue was preparing the day’s lesson and getting the set list for regionals together. Then, BOOM. Everyone froze. Not just the Glee club members, but the viewers. A gunshot had been fired. Then another. The kids scrambled for cover while the teachers locked the doors.

It was in that moment that Glee reignited the conversation on school shootings.

There were several takes on how Glee handled the storyline.

The general consensus is that they handled the story in a very moving and realistic way. The sudden panic on the kids’ faces felt very real.

The image of Brittany hiding in the bathroom was one of the most emotional things in the episode.

She was horrified, but she was using all of her will to stay silent. The story was wrapped up beautifully when Artie took out his camera so the kids could say their last words.

All of the confessions and goodbyes felt really natural and moving with the glee club singing John Mayer’s “Say What You Need to Say” under them.

Other people have an opposite opinion. They thought “Glee” handled the school shooting offensively and messily. Many thought the club didn’t handle the situation safely; what with them running around the room panicking with their friends loud enough for a shooter to hear.

Another major complaint is the reveal of the shooter was not fulfilling enough for the heaviness of the rest of the plot.

I will admit, an accidental firing of a gun a scared girl brought to school, to possibly commit suicide, is not what I expected or felt worked. For a better example, watch Ryan Murphy’s other show.

Whether or not you agreed with how “Glee” handled the plot of a school shooting, it is agreed that this is a way to get the conversation started.

For comments and suggestions on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com.

4.26.2013

Sports >>the sycamore leaf >>goaves.com

Softball Opinion 4 >> Q & A with Hannah Melvin, 11, on new season

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Boys tennis Opinion Opinion 4 Track 4 >> Athletes discuss >> All teams start season strong, tough mental aspect behind competing opponents ahead

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Upcoming SHS Sporting Events Apr. 27 Baseball vs. Centerville 12:00 p.m.

Michael Saxon

executive editor-in-chief

Bullying nature of coaches closer to home than we think

Apr. 27 Girls JV Lacrosse tournament 8:00 a.m.

Apr. 29 Boys tennis vs. Lakota East 4:30 p.m.

Apr. 29 Track Jr. Meet Day @ Sycamore Jr. High 4:30 p.m.

Apr. 29 Boys JV volleyball vs. Holy Cross 5:30 p.m..

Apr. 29 Boys varsity volleyball vs.

Holy Cross 5:30 p.m..

Apr. 30 Girls Lacrosse vs. MND 7:30 p.m..

Apr. 30 Boys tennis vs. Mason 4:30 p.m.

Apr. 30 Softball vs. Princeton 5:00 p.m..

May 1 Boys lacrosse vs. St. X 5:30/7:30 p.m.

May 1 Tennis vs. Centerville 4:30 p.m.

May 2 Boys lacrosse vs. Elder 5:30 p.m..

May 7 Girls lacrosse vs. Anderson 6:00 p.m.

Events according to GMC Sports site or respective online schedules

Images by Michael Saxon

‘We have truly become a team’

Girls relay blows away opponents Julia Mattis

U

staff writer

ndefeated in the indoor track season, the winter track state champion 4x400 (4x4) team consisting of Anna Bailes, Allison Klonne, Sydney Larkin, and Bianca Rhodenbaugh, all seniors, have continued their streak into the spring season.

At every meet thus far, the girls 4x4 team has defeated all of its competition and won every race by a considerable margin.

“It is hard to take a video of the girls 4x4 race because I can never fit the second place runner in the screen, even when fully zoomed out,” said Kelly McDonald, 12.

This relay team has broken the school record for the 4x4 and each member continues to push themselves to improve.

In order to get to where they are today, each girl has put in multiple hours of practice every day after school.

Larkin, Rhodenbaugh, and Klonne have practiced together every day since the beginning of the fall sports season in cross country, winter track, and currently, spring track. Bailes played soccer in the fall, then joined her teammates for training during winter track.

Each girl on the team is crucial and the girls 4x4 team has become something special, however each girl attributes some of their success to their coach, Mr. Hank Ray. “You create a special bond with your teammates because during workouts you push each other and encourage each other, and at the end you realize that you accomplished something together,” said Rhodenbaugh.

Q&A with Bianca Rhodenbaugh, 12 What makes your relay team special?

We are all seniors and have been running together for three years and have become close friends. Each person’s weakness is made up for by another’s strength; we have truly become a team.

When did you know things “clicked” between you guys?

I never remember being good last year, even though we were respectable. It was not until we started to get huge leads in winter track this year that I remember believing that we are good.

How have you worked as a team?

We all rely on each other and we push each other. Although running may be considered an individual sport, the 4x400 is not individual; the handoff is not individual. If the handoff is weak then the relay is weaker.

What obstacle did you or someone on your team overcome?

Allison was injured all last year and she has come back from her injury for a successful winter track season and hopefully a very successful spring track season.

Why are the hours of practice worth it?

The feeling of doing well is like no other feeling in the world and I love it, but the hours of training are necessary because in order to be good at something you have to devote quality time to practice. After a race, I feel proud of myself, proud of the team and proud of my abilities and training. *For more information on track, please visit www.goaves.com

ANNA BAILES, 12, HAS been the first leg of the girl’s 4x400 meter relay during both the winter and spring seasons. The relay team won the Winter Track State Championship, and is undefeated so far in the spring. Bailes is also the team’s best hurdler, posting the fourth fastest time in the GMC. Photo courtesy of McDaniels Photography

As I watched the footage of Mike Rice, the former Rutgers basketball coach who threw balls at the heads of his players, I was appalled. Who wouldn’t be?

Bobby Knight was the first coach to introduce us to this volatile coaching style. Since then, it has permeated to other levels of coaching, and unfortunately, has only become more acceptable.

It’s something that I’ve experienced personally while playing in the SAC league in fourth grade to playing on the school team until eighth grade.

That’s not to say I was getting balls chucked at my face every five seconds, but I definitely endured the same belittling nature Rice displayed, which included being called derogatory names.

While I have never had a coach at the high school with this kind of attitude, I know this is not the case for other SHS athletes.

No matter what sex, no matter what sport, athletes at SHS continue to experience the same type of abuse with some of their coaches who feel the only way to motivate their players to win is by humiliating them.

This needs to stop. If stories of coaching abuse reported by students are determined to be true (which I believe them to be), it’s up to the athletic department to put an end to these practices.

Instead of turning a blind eye to the problem, the athletic department needs to first sit down with the coach and discuss the allegations. If it appears there is a problem, the department then needs to take steps to help the coach, perhaps by offering some kind of coaching clinic.

Should the complaints continue, further disciplinary action might be warranted.

If we have a zero tolerance policy for bullying in school, why is it acceptable for athletes to be bullied on the field or on the court?

At SHS, we tend to think our school is flawless. We drive home in our cars with our parking passes hanging from the mirrors and think just because we live in a privileged suburban area, everything is perfect.

I think many of you know, or have at least heard of, the coaches at SHS who I’m talking about. It’s time for them to change their approach. With the number of bullying coaches on the rise, it’s imperative that we address this issue and change the culture. We can’t have SHS turning into another Rutgers.

For comments on this column, please email to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com

18 4.26.2013

>>the sycamore leaf >>goaves.com sports

Tennis program performs strongly on all levels Alexander Wittenbaum staff writer

T

he SHS tennis program is off to a great start in their 2013 campaign.

All three teams have lost a total of three matches, and the Varsity Green team is undefeated.

“I am so happy that all three teams are off to a good start.

It gives us confidence going forward in the season,” said Elliot Levy, 10.

Varsity Gold

The Varsity Gold team, led by Mike Teets, head coach, is off to a 4-2 start. The team notched together two impressive wins against Walsh Jesuit High School and Columbus Academy (CA) to begin the season.

“Our two wins over Walsh and CA were huge for building early team confidence and establishing ourselves as one of the best teams in Ohio,” said Dylan Stern, 12.

Next, the squad took on Greater Miami Conference (GMC) rivals, Mason High School. The match was close throughout, but Mason ended

up prevailing in the end.

The team followed up the loss with wins over Fairfield High School and defending state champion, Upper Arlington High School at Queen City Racket Club, a neutral site for both teams.

A tough 3-2 loss at Cincinnati Country Day (CCDS) School follwed that, but CCDS had the State finalists from 2012 playing.

GMC play will continue for SHS, with notable matches against Lakota East and Princeton High School. The team will also compete against out of conference schools such as St. Xavier and Springboro High Schools.

Varsity Green

The Varsity Green team is off to an 8-0 start. This marks the second year in a row that the team has begun the season undefeated.

Wins for SHS, led by Tanya Holland, coach, are Loveland High School, Anderson High School, and Upper Arlington Varsity B. “Going to Upper Arlington and coming out with the 5-0 win was huge for us. Each court

was presented with a huge challenge, but we all kept our nerve, and played great tennis,” said Sam Levitt, 11.

The team will continue its 20-match season with matches against Turpin, St. Xavier, and Bellbrook High School.

They will also compete

We are one of the hardest working teams in the area.

Naveen Viswanath,10 against the top ranked teams around the city in the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Coaches Association (GCTCA) Coaches’ Classic tournament.

“It’s been a good season so far but we have got some big matches coming up. Turpin will be huge, and going to Bellbrook will test our real strengths,” said Nikith Reddy, 12.

Junior Varsity

After five matches played, the JV team has a total of four wins, and only one loss.

“I am proud of my team for such a good start to the season.

We are really coming together to produce wins,” said Ajay Qi, 9.

Their one loss came at the hands of Mason High School.

Each court was close in score, but the team could not pull out the victory, losing 4-1.

Wins have come over Fairfield, Anderson, Hamilton, and Centerville High School. The team also came together to emerge as the victors of the Centerville Doubles Tournament, sweeping the competition.

Notable matches to round out the season include St. Xavier, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, and Loveland High Schools.

“I hope we can keep playing our best, so we can win the rest of our matches. We are one of the hardest working teams in the area. I look forward to playing schools in the Coaches’ Classic, especially Mason, so we can get our revenge,” said Naveen Viswanath, 10.

YURI KAREV, 12 HITS a followup shot in the team’s first home match against Mason. Karev is currently ranked one of the top ten players in varsity second singles in the GMC. SHS boys tennis takes on Lakota east at home on Apr. 29

Image by Lauren Saxon

Softball team takes steps forward Q&A with Hannah Melvin, 12 How has the season been so far compared to last season? Is the competition any better?

So far, the season has been a lot better, and our team is a lot closer this year. Some of the teams have improved, but some have lost key players. Overall, the competition is still very tough.

What are some of your goals for the season?

Some of our goals are to continue to improve individually and as a team, and to win more games.

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How are you hoping to improve individually?

Personally, I hope to improve by raising my batting average by the end of the season.

Has this season been more difficult with your stroke?

Right after it happened, my whole left side was very weak and I couldn’t control it as well. I went to physical therapy for a while, and now it’s basically back to normal. I don’t think it has influenced my playing very much. *For more information on girls softball visit http://www.goaves.com/

42 proves to be a must see Nakul Narendran staff writer

It was the day before we were going to play the defending state champions, Upper Arlington. (UA) We had spent the day at the Junior High, inspiring and playing with the boys on the tennis team. Program Day happens to be one of my favorite days of our season.

Following an hour filled with hitting with the next crop of SHS tennis players, we decided to have a bonding night as a team. And what did we choose to do?

Watch the most inspiring movie I have seen in a very long time: ”42”.

We had come off a tough loss to Mason, and I know I wasn’t the only one really wanting the win against UA. After Brian Goodman, 12, convinced the team that “42” was the movie to watch, we went out for dinner and arrived plenty early to get good seats.

For those of you who may not know, “42” is a movie about the man who changed baseball in the United States; “42” is about Jack (Jackie) Roosevelt Robinson.

Jackie was the first AfricanAmerican to play Major League Baseball, as he broke the baseball color line, beginning his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers in May, 1947.

In a time that Americans look back upon with embarrassment, Jackie opposed the social norm and took a step toward humanity.

Jackie changed the world forever, starting on the field.

Jackie Robinson had one of the greatest careers of all time, playing 10 seasons and making the World Series in six of them.

He also became the only player to have his jersey retired for the entire league.

“42” illustrates Jackie’s struggles through the racial segregation and prejudice, and how he fought to maintain his pride and liberty. It shows him to be one of the most courageous men in history, let alone his other countless, positive traits.

I usually do not enjoy sitting through a movie that lasts over two hours, but this was one of a kind. I learned so much about a man I never knew; it was almost as if I did.

Not to be corny, but it seems as if we were really inspired after watching “42” We managed to come out extremely motivated, and knocked off last year’s state champs.

It was a weekend to remember.

For comments on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com.

sports >>the sycamore leaf >>goaves.com

Mind games:

4.26.2013

Track athletes discuss mental portion of competition

we were much more mentally ready than we were at the Golden Batons,” said Gonda.

Victoria Swart

broacast editor-in-chief

A

Bearcat Business

Race routines

s spectators watch Even with the more relaxed athletes in their environment, the athletes went games, matches, or through their pre-race routines, competitions, they which ranged from listening often marvel at the physical to music to even talking to ability that is displayed before themselves. their eyes. Phrases like “Did “Music both relaxes me and you see that?” and “Look at pumps me up when I am about him go!” are constantly heard to compete. It helps me focus at large competitions. on what I These am about to compliments When I have a good mentality, do, and zone of physical in on my I tend to do better because I strength and competition,” am not worrying about what agility can said Ronnie I am doing wrong, but rather sometimes Williams, 11. focusing on what I am doing neglect one Nathan of the most right.

Gregg, 11, important fell when Nathan Gregg, pole vaulter factors in attempting any sort of to hand competition: the strength of the off a baton to the last leg of mind. the 800 meter relay. Despite “What makes the difference this, he found that he was in a is what happens between good mood, especially when your ears, from the neck up. he learned that his team had I’ve seen so many athletes, qualified nonetheless. including myself, that have “When I have a good talked themselves out of racing. mentality, I tend to do better I do my best to teach my because I am not worrying athletes to trust themselves and about what I am doing wrong, acknowledge that they have but rather focusing on what I done the work, that they are am doing right,” said Gregg. prepared for competition,” said Final standings Mrs. Elizabeth Gonda, hurdle 23 individuals and five relays and sprint coach. competed in the finals on Apr. State of mind 12 at Winton Woods.

Gonda, along with six others, Highlights include Sydney coach the track and field team Larkin, 12, taking second in made up of over 100 athletes. the 400 meter dash, Samantha On Apr. 6, they held their first Siler, 12, placing second in the home meet: the Golden Batons.

1600 meter run, Victoria Swart, Though some were excited 10, placing second in the pole for the meet to start, most vault, and Angela Harris, 12, surprisingly felt they were placing third in the long jump. competing in a stressful The girls 400 meter relay atmosphere. placed third, while the girls “We were just getting into 1600 meter relay placed first. the meet season and testing For the boys, highlights the waters. Also, we were out include John Vuotto, 11, in front of our friends and placing sixth in the 300 meter family, which can put on a lot hurdles, Gregg placing seventh of pressure on all of us” said in the pole vault, and Todd Molly Gearin, 10.

Lewis, 12, placing first in the The Varsity team found the shot put. The boys 400 meter opposite when they traveled to relay also placed third.

Ross High School to compete in The stakes were much the preliminary competitions of higher as the finalists of four the Coaches’ Classic on Apr. 10. meets converged into one “I think everybody was in competition. As a famous SHS a better frame of mind at the motto and Juma Ikangaa quote Coaches’ Classic because we states: “the will to win means knew that we already had our nothing without the will to first meet under our belt. Even prepare.” though it was hot and windy,

Joey Slovin

staff writer

Photo Courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography

BEFORE TAKING OFF IN his race, Nathan Cole, 9, mentally prepares himself for the competition. The boys track team is currently ranked in the top ten in almost every event, and will take on the Mason Comets on May 6 and May 10.

Reality Check Should Kobe call it quits after his injury?

Lauren Saxon

sports chief

Despite the successful surgery on Kobe Bryant’s Achilles, the injury is a red flag signaling the end of Bryant’s career. At his age, it would be extremely difficult to come back from such a serious injury, and after 6 to 9 months out of basketball, his abilities next season are questionable. His passion for the game is evident. For years, we have watched Bryant play his heart out every game. He has distinguished himself as one of best and most decorated players in the NBA, but it is time for Bryant to listen to his body and take himself out of the game.

Nakul Narendran sports chief

I think this season was a fair representation of what is to come for Kobe’s future. As one of the greatest to ever play the sport of basketball, I think that this should be Kobe’s last season as a professional athlete. He has proven to everyone his greatness, and his aging body should not have to take the risk of further injuries. It is always better to go out on a peak, not on the downhill. I hate to say it, but it’s time for the “Black Mamba” to retire.

For more information and stats on the SHS track team, scan here.

Eli Zawatsky

staff writer

Kobe Bryant is a legend. 17 years playing on one of the best teams in basketball. But 17 years is a lot.

Once you hit your 30’s it is difficult to return from an injury. Many stars want to finish their careers in the best way possible –winning a championship. Ray Lewis did just this, winning the super bowl at the end of his 17 year career. I understand that it is not glamorous for a star to finish his career with an injury, but Kobe Bryant has had outstanding careers; he should quit while he is on top.

Isaac Harmon associate editor

Next year? Kobe will be back and better. He’s the NBA player most likely to spend an offseason, killing himself in some lab, fueling every workout with imaginary doubters until he comes back healthier and stronger. Kobe’s radioactive relationship with reality and his own limits have pushed him and the Lakers. The same psychotic approach that pushed him to the breaking point this year allowed him to fight back, defying expectations and blowing our minds for the past decade.

For suggestions on what should be debated in the next Reality Check, email SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com

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The University of Cincinnati (UC) does not have the best athletic facilities in the country. It does not have the nicest campus, the best professors, and Clifton certainly is not the best area to live in. But somehow, when Gunner Kiel stepped foot onto the campus of UC, he finally felt at home, after a long process of searching for the right college.

Gunner, a 6 foot 4 inch, 210 pound quarterback from Indiana, was an extremely highly rated recruit out of high school. Football runs in the blood of the Kiel family. His uncle, Blaire Kiel, also played quarterback in college.

And his brother, Dusty Kiel, recently finished his tenure at the helm of the Indiana Hoosier offense.

Gunner, however, had a long road to Cincinnati. Coming out of high school, Kiel was rated the number one quarterback in the state of Indiana. To all college football fans surprise, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his older brother and commit to the Indiana University.

However, something about the campus that SHS students love so much must have spooked Kiel, and he soon de-committed from IU. I suppose Kiel wanted to get as far away as possible from the Midwest. So, Kiel found his home at the Louisiana State University, a football powerhouse, and 850 miles from the Hoosier state.

Again, his commitment was cut short, and Kiel found himself back to the drawing board.

Finally, he decided on another school with a strong football reputation, Notre Dame.

Kiel lost the starting job, however this is mostly due to his inability to mesh with the coaches at ND. After spending a year at ND, Kiel’s relationship with the quarterbacks coach at UC helped garner talks between Kiel and UC about a possible transfer opportunity.

While Kiel hopes to make an immediate impact here, he will have to wait for next season to compete for the starting position, because of eligibility issues.

Personally, I can not wait for Kiel to take the field.

He has a strong, accurate arm, and an ability to read the defense that former Bearcats quarterback Munchie Legaux seems to have lacked. He might just become the most electric player to ever wear the red and black.

For comments on this column, please email to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com

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20 4.26.2013

On track to Michigan State Spotlight Paul Salach, 12, reminisces about SHS experience associate editor

f Salach wanted to sum up his senior year in one word, it would be dynamic.

“There have been ups and downs, but overall this has been my favorite year as a student,” said Salach.

Salach divides a lot of his time between piano, homework, and cross country, which he has been participating in for six years.

“My favorite memories are of pasta parties and the camping trip, and just hanging out with the team in general,” said Salach.

He enjoys the fact that the team is inclusive, and allows for interaction between upperclassmen and younger students. Salach’s advice for underclassmen is to take advantage of all the different events SHS has to offer.

“Try to go to all of the different fundraisers, performances, and sports to appreciate SHS’ diversity,” said Salach.

Personally, Salach enjoys hanging out with friends, and attending track and cross country meets.

He considers himself to be quiet and laid back, but he strives to be the best individual he can be.

“One word to describe myself would be dedicated,” said Salach.

Next year, he will be attending Michigan State University to study Engineering.

“I have family in Kalamazoo, and we go up there about ten times a year, so it will be nice to be closer to them,” said Salach.

When looking back at his high school experience, Salach is satisfied.

“What stands out the most about high school is how fast it goes and how long you have known your classmates and friends. If I had to do it all again, honestly, I don’t think I would change much,” said Salach.

“MY DESIRE TO IMPROVE my personal bests and be the best runner I can be draws me to the sport [cross country],” said Salach. Below, Salach prepares to attend homecoming with Paige Berling, 12 (bottom middle). When it comes to managing running and homework, Salach tries to be as efficient with his time and classwork as he can, since sufficient sleep is a major part of training. He makes sure he is always doing something productive whenever he is at home. Salach runs during a cross country meet (right, bottom right). Salach also played basketball at SHS for three years, and takes piano.

Photo courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography

Image by Kathryn Tenbarge

I

Kathryn Tenbarge

>>the sycamore leaf >>goaves.com

Photos courtesy of Paul Salach

5/31/13 6/31/12 Not valid with any other offers.

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Near BW3’s and Subway at Harper’s Station

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Melting Pot Prom Package Hundreds of students enjoy our annual prom specials. Our four-course meal package is designed especially for young adult tastes and is $74.95 per couple. Price includes meal, soft beverage, tax, and tip. This all inclusive package is helpful for students to budget their night appropriately.

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Restrictions apply. Valid at the Cincinnati location only. Not valid with any other special offers or on certain holidays. Offer is subject to vary or change. Must present this offer to your server. Offer good until May 31.