January 2015 Leaf

The

Leaf

Sycamore High School Student News Magazine Volume 2 | Issue 6 | January 30, 2015

It’s okay to be

different.

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

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[ inside this issue ] The Leaf

Sycamore High School 7400 Cornell Road Cincinnati, OH 45242 Adviser Cheralyn Jardine Photographer McDaniel’s Photography 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

Staff Writers Jordan Baker Jenna Bao Natalie Brinkman Caroline Bruns Ben BrynjulfsonReardon Emily Chien Adhiti Chundur Hannah Clark Taylor Close Benjamin Cohen William Coleman Meghan DiGiovanna Jake Englander Sydney Evans Max Fritzhand Zachary Fritzhand Meredith Gottliebson Charles Harte Sarah Horne Claire King Riley Kurtz Claire Lefton Beverly Liu Jack Loon Melinda Looney Harsimran Makkad Ellen Martinson Ethan May Zachary Milliken Joshua Patterson Esther Pittinger Anthony Popenoe Madeline Schramm Lauren Shassere Luke Tenbarge Max Torem Emily Tyler Kamaria Walton Leah Wallihan Neil Yejjey Nathan Zhang

[ news ]

[ a&e ] 7 | Aves Theatre puts on ’Catch Me If You Can’

2 | year in [the news] review 2 | silence after thousands of Nigerians killed 3 | National Blood Donor Month; ways to give back

[ opinion ]

[ cover story ] 9-13 | local story ignites national debate

[ feature ]

5 | debunking myths of feminism 6 | ways for teenagers to be well-rested

13 | Cincinnati’s outdoor opportunities 14-15 | bromances between students, teachers

[ fun&games ] 17 | wordles, sudoku, riddle, word scramble

[ sports ] 18 | swim team reaches halfway point in season 19 | Super Bowl XLIX 20 | winter athletes train through the cold

[ spotlight ] 21 | Emily Wise, 10

Retraction: The December issue has the following changes: correct spelling: Jun Nishikawa, page 2; correct identification: Interstate 75, page 2.

The Leaf, the official print news-magazine of Sycamore High School, serves as an educational tool in the training of student journalists. We provide information and editorial leadership concerning school, national and world issues. We also 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. The viewpoints are purely of the staff of The Leaf and not the administration.

editors’ note

Print Editors-in-Chief Atiya Dosani Lauren Saxon Web Editor-in-Chief Kathryn Tenbarge Leaflet Editor-in-Chief Lauren Glynn ASSIGNMENT EDITORS Lila Englander Brenda Shen Associate Editors Joseph Ahn Taylor Evans Madeline Marsh Anna Zhou Managing Editors Abbey Baker Isaac Goldstein Creative Projects Joseph Ahn Hannah Frey Elizabeth Rickert Orion Schlosser Zoe Schlosser Business Manager Caroline Gao Web Master Eli Seidman-Deutsch Broadcast Editor-in-Chief Victoria Swart news Hannah May Sports Alex Wittenbaum Eli Zawatsky FEATURE Hannah Frey Lauren Kurtzer A&E Amy Deng Ben Ruskin Opinion David Wertheim Spotlight Brooke Landrum Fun & Games Rujula Kapoor

The Leelah Alcorn story ignited our student body, starting debates over transgender rights and recognition. With the tragedy occurring so close to SHS, we felt it deserved to be covered.

Most importantly,

as the voice of SHS we chose to carry out Alcorn’s final message by raising awareness of the unequal treatment received by transgender teenagers in today’s society. We also continued this theme of equality by covering racial

equality in our online magazine, The Leaflet.

Our online site www. shsleaf.org is updated daily with news on this matter as well.

We hope we are able to successfully bring light to this issue.

-Atiya Dosani & Lauren Saxon

[ news ]

Media silent as 2,000 killed in Nigeria

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

TONY POPENOE

YEAR IN [the news] REVIEW esther pittinger cartoonist

The 2014 Midterm Election resulted in a Republican majority in the Senate

18 states legalized same sex marriage

The Ebola epidemic, and fear of it, swept across the world. However, according to the CDC, only four infected patients were brought to the US, of which two patients passed away Multiple domestic violence disputes occurred within the NFL drawing media attention.

There has been minimal punishment for these crimes, such as in the case with Ray Rice

Protests rose in Ferguson, Missouri in response to the treatment of African Americans by police forces.

Riots have grown to protest the murder of multiple citizens by police appearing to be racially motivated

Here in SHS, a new rush of spirit has come with a new principal and new interior design. Here’s to this pride continuing into the new year and beyond

Employee of the Week Peter Bernard was selected to be Employee of the Week for the week of Jan. 5. Peter works in the Aves Store selling merchandise & taking inventory.

Peter always has a great attitude at work and greets every patron with a friendly face. Keep up the great work, Peter!

staff writer

The international community has unified in solidarity since the attack at the ‘Charlie Hebdo’ offices in France which left 17 dead. World leaders have joined in condemning the attacks and the event has received heavy news coverage.

Yet, the Hebdo attack was not the only tragedy that occurred that week nor the most fatal. On Jan. 3, Boko Haram began a four-day assault on the Nigerian city of Baga, killing over 2,000 people according to estimates.

The attack began with militants overtaking a base of the Multinational Joint Task Force and followed with the indiscriminate killing of nearby residents. The massacre peaked on Wednesday of that week, marking an unprecedented escalation by terrorist group Boko Haram.

Despite their magnitude, the attacks went greatly underreported by major media outlets. Even Nigeria’s own president, Goodluck Jonathan, who expressed sympathies over the killings in Paris, gave no mention of Baga.

Nigerian officials have been unsuccessful in their attempts to stop Boko Haram in the past and have been known to downplay or outright deny attacks, with the pro-government newspaper ‘News Express’ claiming militants suffered a “heavy defeat” in the recent massacre.

The killing represents not only worsening conditions in Nigeria, but also a failure by journalists across the globe.

“It may be the 21st century, but African lives are still deemed less newsworthy – and, by implication, less valuable – than western lives,” Africa correspondent Simon Allison said in ‘Daily Maverick’.

Photo courtesy of MCT Campus

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Attack spurs conversation CLAIRE LEFTON staff writer

TONY POPENOE staff writer

O

n Jan. 7, the massacre of 12 journalists took place in the offices of the French publication, “Charlie Hebdo”. The event was spurred by the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in several cartoons.

“Charlie Hebdo” is a satirical magazine that has been known for printing controversial and sometimes offensive material. In 2006, they were subject to a lawsuit arguing that their cartoons were racist.

In 2011, the first act of violence against the magazine was taken with a fire bomb detonating in the offices and a hacking of the website.

In this most recent attack, the first victim was a patrolling Muslim police officer, Ahmed Merabet.

The attackers then proceeded into the building, killing all of the cartoonists and other staff members.

The attack has created international outrage as people

across the world declare “Je suis Charlie” which translates to “I am Charlie” in solidarity with the victims. The attack is being considered an affront to free speech.

Prominent world leaders and supporters came together in Paris for a unity march. The march was organized by the victims’ families with over 1.6 million people in attendance.

Not all French citizens are rallying for peace as anti-Muslim attacks have been on the rise since the Hebdo shooting. Mosques have been firebombed and pelted with pig heads.

“Charlie Hebdo” has been called out for including offensive material in the past, but many people worldwide have expressed that violence was not a reasonable response. The same was said for the Islamaphobic attacks.

The shooting was a tragedy for the French people and the international journalist community. The issues brought to the public eye have provoked serious discussion and promoted understanding in the future.

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Give life to others: One pint goes long way Harsimran Makkad staff writer

Every day, approximately 38,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency centers across the U.S. to treat patients with cancer and other diseases, organ transplant recipients, and accident victims.

However, during the winter months, blood is usually in short supply due to the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather, and seasonal illness. For this reason, January has been recognized as National Blood Donor Month.

Medical officials say that blood has a shelf life of 42 days, so patients rely on blood donors to keep the supply stocked. Blood can be donated safely every 56 days.

In order to meet the rising demand, the Central Blood Bank needs to collect 500-550 units of blood each day. Less than five percent of the population donates blood even though 60 percent are eligible.

To put the necessity of blood donations into proportion, the American Red Cross says that every two seconds, someone in the country needs blood.

Approximately 90 percent of us will need blood by the time we reach 75 years of age.

Giving blood is a great way to make a difference. Donors must be in good health, at least 17 years old, or 16-year-olds with parental consent, and weigh at least 110 pounds.

Students can also help by organizing or volunteering at a blood drive. There is a Senior Blood Drive run by Student Council.

“I believe Sycamore should contribute to the blood drive, and I will certainly donate blood when I turn 16,” sophomore Brooke Baker said.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, call 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.

[ opinion ] THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Staff Editorial

Leafing through the masses: How has SHS made you feel accepted?

these people are no different.

Incidents such as the one where InTouch Magazine claimed Bruce Jenner was a transgender are absolutely disheartening.

He is not a transgender as far as we know.

Also, the whole rumor is an insult to the transgender community because the magazine was allegedly trying to embarrass him.

Everyone deserves to be able to express who they want to be without feeling judged.

No one should feel uncomfortable in their own skin and if that means that a boy wants to be a girl or viceCartoon by Esther Pittinger versa, then society should here is no reason why respect that. a human being should People who have the ever feel the need to courage to change who they end his or her life. The are to make themselves happy tragic story of Leelah Alcorn deserve endless happiness. ignited the sudden dispute Rest In Power Leelah over being transgender.

Alcorn, your death will not Individuals use the term be overlooked, but instead a transgender so loosely in a turning point for transgender negative way when in reality, people and society.

T

I feel accepted by the school since I’ve been going here for 13 years.

Some clubs have had some problems in the past though.

Steven Wessinger, 12

Everyone is respectful and there are not too many problems relative to other schools.

Connor Elllingson, 10 I’ve made a lot of friends in theater.

We have a great sense of community, commitment, and excellence.

Corinne Gause, 11

Bullying awareness assemblies in junior high inspired people to be accepting and made it easier to be friends with people.

Connie Karensky, 9

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

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Gender equality advances cause Emily Chien staff writer

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t first, the goal of feminism was to bring women the rights that men have had for centuries. After attaining fundamental legal equality, the movement developed into something more.

It has become a movement that pushes equality between men and women in opportunities and respect. Also, it is against rape culture, and the view of women as objects.

“Some people think gender inequality is gone, but I know that is so not true.” freshman Kiri Wang said, “It is getting better in America, but what about other countries too?”

Feminism is still as important as ever. Around the world, male preference is common, and physical and sexual abuse is a serious concern. Even in the United States, women make 77 percent of what men do, and many juggle two jobs, one at home and one in an office.

“I am a feminist because I believe that women and men deserve an equal amount of rights and respect,” Wang said, “When I am older, I definitely want to do some work for the cause.”

Organizations such as the Feminist Majority Foundation, Women’s Working Foundation, and

For more information about gender equality, scan here.

more work towards feminist goals through research and education.

Modern feminism is often stereotyped negatively, and the amount of anti-feminists has drastically increased in recent years. Those against the movement argue that feminists hate the male gender, portray women as victims, and create even more segregation between men and women.

“It is definitely misunderstood.

I wish people did more research Taylor Swift: The singer-songwriter, before jumping to conclusions, but having said before that she was not a what can you do?” Wang said. feminist, claims she has re-evaluated A popular Tumblr account feminism, and really was a believer her even started “Women against entire life. feminism”, a page displaying women holding signs describing why they don’t need feminism. The page disregards the entire meaning of the word, with lack of research apparent.

When feminism is stripped to its core meaning, it is simply about equality, not putting women over Joseph Gordon-Levitt: The actor men. Often, feminism’s concept is made a video, “RE: Feminism,” stating taken the wrong way. that he is a feminist and explores the Through better education on the interpretations of the word feminism. topic of feminism, it could become less debated, and help put its ideas into action.

“Malala Yousafzai is an inspiring character to research who won the Nobel Peace Prize.

She has a really refreshing view on women’s rights to an education. I recommend reading her book, I Am Beyoncé: The singer strongly believes Malala.” Wang said. in the empowerment of women, as displayed in a few of her songs, such as Single Ladies and Flawless.

famous feminists

The path to equality 1792: Mary Wollstonecraft advocated initial advancements in gender equality.

1850: The first National Women’s Rights Convention is held.

1920: The 19th amendment gives women the right to vote.

1963: Equal pay between genders becomes law.

Tina Fey: The actress and comedian uses her own comedic spin on the subject to support and show her viewpoint on feminism.

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THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Teens tired of being tired

‘Get in the habit of going to bed early and waking up early’ MAX FRITZHAND

staff writer

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very high school student should be getting at least eight hours of sleep a night.

This is hard to do for some.

Being a teenager involves a lot of juggling. After school, students may be involved in many activities.

These may include clubs, sports, or even a job or two. On top of that they also have to worry about homework. This can add up to a great deal of stress if you ask me.

With the proper planning, the stress can be reduced.

Great news is you can accomplish all of it and get at least eight hours of sleep. Remember as young adults we need as much sleep as we can get; students are still growing.

Eating healthy and getting enough sleep is crucial to being able to succeed as a high school student.

As evening approaches, students

[

28%

of all teenagers say they are too tired to do any type of physical exercise

]

should try turning off all electronics and limit all distractions.

Avoid LEDs right before you sleep; this can block your serotonin level, which will lower your melatonin levels. If you are still not able to get eight hours, you should manage your time and cut down on activities that take up too much of your time.

Do not spend three hours lying on the couch. Instead budget your time, and use that time to be more productive. It is okay to relax while at home, but plan your time each day.

Think about your entire day in the morning. See yourself at each point

30%

of high schoolers fall asleep while at school once a week or more

in the day and what you would like to do at each point. With managing your daily schedule, you can cut down on tasks later in the day that you forgot about. This will lower your stress.

Get in the habit of going to bed early and waking up early. It is a life long rule to live by. All it takes is one night of a good sleep, and you will be refreshed for the next day.

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[ a&e ]

[ column ]

‘The Interview’ asks all the wrong questions

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

‘Live in living color’:

Aves Theatre makes ‘butter outta cream’ tori swart

broadcast editor

C

on artists. Always the first words when thinking of a subject for a Broadway musical, right? However uncommon they are as characters, a newly debuted Broadway show, “Catch Me If You Can,” stars one.

The musical follows Frank Abagnale, Jr., who ran away from home at age 19 to become a con artist. Through check fraud, he stole millions while posing under the disguises of a pilot, a doctor, and parish practitioner.

The musical is based off of a true story. Adagnale went to see the Broadway debut himself in 2011.

As for Aves Theatre, “Catch Me” has become the headline for the winter musical. Abagnale will be played by senior Paul Philips.

“Abagnale just wants to get away from his problems and be completely free to do whatever he wants, which is a mindset I can definitely relate to. He also wants his life to be like a show, as I do,” Philips said.

“I think that’s a big part of why I was cast as him because, while I can surely sing the part, Abagnale and I are very similar people.”

As Abagnale travels the world, he is being chased by FBI agent Carl Hanratty, who Abagnale eventually becomes friends and partner agents with after he is caught. Sophomore

Mason Taylor has been cast as the agent.

“I researched by watching old movies about cops because I wanted to see how they move, how they speak, how they act, even how they hold their guns,” Taylor said.

“Hanratty is a quirky, awkward guy, which is really fun to play.

I get to move with more jerky movements, and when I dance, I don’t have to focus so much on making it smooth as making it goofy.”

The two other lead characters are Frank Abagnale, Sr., played by senior Timothy Leonard, and Brenda Strong, Abagnale’s love interest, played by junior Amara Clough.

“My character is pretty complex: he’s the main character’s father and- sometimes- best friend, but he’s also an alcoholic and sometimes dips into insanity. It took a lot of searching for inspiration,” Leonard said.

SCAN HERE for the rest of the article Photo courtesy of William Hobart

Ben Cohen staff writer

Stupid movies plague our cinemas all the time, but rarely does one spark such controversy… unless of course the movie is about the assassination of the leader of North Korea.

“The Interview” does just that, but if Kim Jong-Un had actually seen the film he might have thought differently about making such a big hullabaloo about it.

That hullabaloo, of course, being anonymous hackers threatening to blow up theaters that showed this film.

These hacks against the film’s distributor, Sony, had been accumulating since late Nov. including leaks of personal emails and now violent threats. North Korea has denied involvement, but nothing is for sure.

This was all ultimately resolved when Sony pulled “The Interview” from theaters and instead made it available online for viewing.

I had the “pleasure” of watching the movie on line.

Now, to put it nicely, “The Interview” is a horrible film. Trading smart and clever humor for pure shock value and gross out humor, it fails to make sense why anyone would take a movie like this as a serious threat, which leads to the conspiracy theories regarding the Sony hacks.

Is it possible the hacks were done as an inside job, possibly a spurned exemployee? Or better yet, what if it was all just a huge publicity stunt? Sony could have known the movie would be a horrible flop and organized these hacks to create more buzz about the film.

Or finally, maybe someone saw the film and realized how bad it was so as a way to save people from having to pay $10.75 to see it; they planned to save the day by blowing up theaters that attempted to show the film.

That is probably a bit of a stretch, but you get my point.

When people learn to get a sense of humor and do not get upset over the tiniest thing, the world will be a better place… or at least slightly better.

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THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Unknown trombones stay in tone [ column ] Pep band uses new instruments made of plastic CHARLES HARTE

B

staff writer

efore most basketball games, the pep band can be found inside the band room practicing. Among the crowd of players, some musicians will be playing trombones. These trombones are special, however.

They are all made of plastic.

Also known as pBones, these instruments are made primarily out of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, the same material as LEGOs. Compared to regular trombones, they are significantly lighter and more durable. In addition, they exist in all colors of the rainbow. pBones were originally invented for younger children who could

not lift traditional trombones, but were soon adapted by professional musicians as well, to add a creative twist to their music.

The trombonists all had various reasons for buying a pBone. “[I got a pBone] to get all the ladies,” senior Jonathan Rollins said.

An important benefit of the pBones is convenience.

“I don’t want to bring my f-attachment trombone to pep band, so I can use my pBone,” sophomore Mitch Radakovich said. “Also, the trombone can get cold and make you out of tune. My pBone does not.”

To see the pBones, look above the home stands at the next basketball game.

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Screening with Ben

Ben Ruskin

a&e chief

“They hate us ‘cuz they ain’t us,” the famous line said by James Franco in the new comedy movie “The Interview.” Although the movie received controversy for the touchy subject of the assassination of North Korea’s leader, fans found the movie to be hilarious.

The Esquire theatre in Cincinnati was one of only a handful of movie theaters that would show “The Interview.” Starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, the movie revolves around a news team on a mission to assassinate Kim Jong Un. At first, Sony pulled the movie from its original release date, Dec. 25, from theaters all over the nation. “The Interview” has since been released on iTunes, YouTube, Amazon, and other platforms created for viewers to safely watch this comedy.

For Netflix, it has been a couple busy weeks as they released the show “Friends” for streaming.

“Friends” follows six friends and their adventures in New York, and it has been off the air for nine years now.

The new release of “Friends” on Netflix has sparked a new interest in the show, as you can watch all ten seasons of the show whenever you would like.

Although “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” is not nearly as good as its predecessors, it is still a quality movie. It is fun to see the old characters from previous movies, and how they have changed.

Also, if you are looking for an amazing thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, watch “Unbroken.” I do not want to give too much away about the movie, but it will keep you engaged; it will undoubtedly inspire you.

Whether you’re on Netflix, at the theaters, or just on your TV, enjoy watching.

[ cover story ] THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

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THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

TRANS · PARENCY Gender issues find home in Cincinnati KATHRYN TENBARGE web editor-in-chief

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incinnati is known for Skyline chili, Kings Island and for the Reds baseball team. But ever since Leelah Alcorn, a 17-year-old transgender girl, committed suicide on Interstate 71, Cincinnati has been known as something more: a hotspot for gender issues.

Alcorn posted on Tumblr before her death that she faced discrimination in her daily life because of her gender and sexual orientation. Her parents refused to accept her as a woman and most of her life was shrouded in secrecy.

“The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was, they’re treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights. Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something,” said Alcorn, in her original Tumblr post, which has since been taken down by her parents.

Shortly after her death was announced, people and organizations all over the world made their support of Alcorn public. #LeelahAlcorn trended on Twitter.

While Alcorn attended Kings High School, SHS responded to the tragedy and overall issue of transgender acceptance in its own way.

The Gay-Straight-Transgender Alliance (GSTA) is a club that meets after school every Tuesday to promote gender and sexuality awareness and celebrate diversity.

The counseling department also provides help and services for students struggling with their identity, and other staff members are always willing to help.

“Teachers with safe space stickers in their classroom have gone through training to be open-minded and have a safe and welcoming environment,” said the GSTA teacher advisor Ms. Meredith Blackmore.

Even after a transgender student leaves the school building, they still face discrimination and may require an additional support system.

"Since I'm not transgender, I can't say exactly what someone like a teen going through that situation feels.

With Leelah, I'm sure that she had to be very careful around certain people, constantly thinking about if she could be herself or have to lie and pretend she was a boy," said senior Katherine Amster, who leads GSTA along with senior Neha Srivatsa.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Protection, transgender students are 61.1 percent more likely than cisgender students to feel unsafe or uncomfortable as a result of their gender orientation.

"It’s very unfortunate when anyone feels that they aren’t accepted and I hope that at some point as a country and as a culture, we can evolve to a place where differences don’t matter and we can all have the same worth," said Blackmore.

Vocab cisgender: people who identify as the gender they were assigned at birth

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

11

meanings of Gender fluidity: Defining different sexualities

KAMARIA WALTON staff writer

There is a difference between sex and gender. Gender is defined as what one identifies as or as society’s perception of masculine and feminine. Sex is defined by biology, whether one’s chromosomes read XX or XY. The best way to describe gender is using the donut model. On one side it reads male and is shaded blue and on the other it says female and is shaded pink. On the top and bottom there is a different shade of purple: the one closer to female is pinker and the one closer to male is more blue.

One that identifies as gender fluid but slants more toward being male at times may be in the purple range, closer to the blue. A more feminine identity would be purple with a little more of a pink tint. This is the

male

female

best way to explain how fluid gender can be beyond the regular titles of ‘male’ or ‘female.’

Gender is a spectrum just as sexual orientation is, and many terms can be used to describe

different types of gender.

There is also a difference between sexual and romantic orientations, where romantic orientation tends to describe someone who does not experience sexual attraction.

Two extremes are the boundaries of the scale - homosexuality and heterosexuality. Homosexuality is attraction to the same gender and heterosexuality is attraction to the opposite gender. However, like most rules, there are some exceptions, in the form of bisexuality and pansexuality.

Pansexuality means that one’s attraction is not based on gender and it falls outside of the spectrum.

The middle of the spectrum is often identified as bisexuality which is the attraction to two (or more) genders.

Kinsey Scale While many 'tests' for determining gender and sexuality have been created over the years, the most well-known and scientifically reliable one is the Kinsey Scale.

Alfred Kinsey published the scale in 1948 and made changes in the decades following as he gathered new information.

However, his scale is missing many modern sexual identities and also ignores the concept of fluidity, where someone's identity could be different at different stages of their life.

A modern-day version of the scale does not exist, but similar tests can be used to discern gender identity, as long as one keeps in mind that the test is not foolproof.

Image by Kathryn Tenbarge

Rating

Description

0

Exclusively

1

Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual

2

Predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual

3

Equally heterosexual and homosexual

4

Predominantly homosexual but more than incidentally heterosexual

5

Predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual

6

Exclusively homosexual

X

Non-sexual

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THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

What does transgender mean?

Sex versus Gender An individual’s sex refers primarily to their XX or XY chromosomes. Some people are born with both male and female sex traits, which is known as the intersex identify. However, sex traits and chromosomes do not determine gender.

Gender indicates the concept of ‘girl’ and ‘boy.’

A person’s gender can match their sex for a cisgender identity. When the two are different, a person is considered transgender. Nonbinary genders go beyond ‘boy’ and ‘girl’ labels.

Nonbinary terms Gender fluid individuals switch between gender identities, including ‘girl’ and ‘boy.’ Bigender people identify as multiple genders at once. The agender identity refers to an absence of gender. Like sexuality, gender is fluid and occurs on a spectrum, so labels exist to support people’s gender identifies, but they are not binding.

How to be respectful People who identify as transgender have a valid gender identity, just as cisgender individuals do. It is imperative to use the correct pronouns when talking to or about someone. While many people wish to be referred to as her/she or him/ he, others identify as they/them or other pronouns. When possible, refrain from asking someone’s gender or sexual identity- just ask their preferred pronouns.

doubt, n i n e h W just ask.

Other Resources Gay Straight Transgender Alliance Club Safe Space classrooms Counseling department GLSEN

LGBT National Helpline: 1-888-843-4564 The Trevor Project Helpline: 866-488-7386 GLAAD PFLAG

All images by Kathryn Tenbarge

Photo courtesy of Camp Green Cove

[ feature ] THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Outdoor opportunities arise across Cincinnati

R

into the great outdoors here in the Tri-State region, the idea was born to create a one-stop-shop website,” Chair of the Meet Me Outdoors action team Amy Thompson said.

The Meet Me Outdoors group meets monthly with the focus to put Cincinnati on the map as a great place to live work and play because of our wonderful outdoor resources. All are welcome to join this group at 8:30 am first Thursdays of the month at REI. “The resources are here, we just need to make people aware. Cincinnati has more canoe liveries and more rivers within 30 miles of downtown that any other major city in the United States,” Rhodes said.

Former Cincinnati Public School teacher Denny McFadden started a

program three years ago to connect inner city teens to the outdoors. Through the tireless efforts of Green Umbrella and McFadden, the program “Outdoor Adventure Clubs,” run through the YMCA, hopes to serve over 3000 teens by August 2015.

“My past experiences encouraged me to devote my retirement years to helping students gain confidence and build relationships through outdoor adventures” McFadden said.

Opportunities exist year round. The biggest conglomerate of events occurs during a designated weekend in September.

Known as the “Great Outdoor Weekend,” in 2014 over 120 free outdoor events were held that spanned eight counties in and around Greater Cincinnati.

Local Parks

by the numbers

12,000

acres of land in the Hamilton County parks

100 +

parks in the Cincinnati Parks District

5,000

acres comprise the Cincinnati Parks

Image by Isaac Goldstein

Isaac goldstein

managing editor ecently ranked first for the Best Cities for Recreation in the U.S., Cincinnati’s hidden outdoor resources are abundant. One organization, Green Umbrella, has been fundamental in exposing these available resources and creating new ways to pull the population outdoors.

Green Umbrella is a nonprofit organization that was repurposed in 2011 to work directly to promote economic vitality and improved quality of life in Greater Cincinnati.

That is when Brewster Rhodes, who is the current director, came onto the scene.

“I saw this as an opportunity to make something big happen by getting everyone who shares a common vision to collaborate, whether you are businesses, nonprofits, local governmental entities, or even schools and universities,” Rhodes said.

In 2013, Green Umbrella launched MeetMeOutdoors. com a place for people to find a comprehensive list of all the outdoor events, resources, trails, and opportunities to become active across Greater Cincinnati.

“Many times a movement starts with one small thought and that is exactly what happened with Meet Me Outdoors. With the ultimate goal to help get more people

14

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Bros before... everything

Platonic male friends engage in romantic behavior Joseph Ahn associate editor

nathan Zhang staff writer

T

he Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a bromance as a “close, nonsexual relationship between two men.”

However, in the eyes of many new age thinkers, the sacred bromance transcends such a perfunctory definition.

Epitomized by Achilles and Patroclus, developed by Lewis and Clark, and fine-tuned by Damon and Affleck, the bromance is any close relationship between two platonic “bros” that stimulates intimate and bromantic emotions, which often yield momentous results.

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An example that is considered, by numerous bronnoiseurs, to be a topnotch bromance, is the bromantic relationship between Barney Stinson, Ted Mosby, and Marshall Eriksen.

The power of the bromance is considered to equal, even surpass the love between a male and female, and bromantic emotion is thought, by some, to make up the fourth dimension.

But regardless of one’s personal beliefs, examples of strong fraternal bonds can be observed in countless places of today’s society, be it business partnerships, sports teams, or school friendships.

Bromances have won state championships, erected nations, and helped win intergalactic “Star Wars.”

The following is your guide to bromances and the miraculous signs and wonders that they embody.

“We play a lot of Fifa and enjoy each others’ company.”

Deepak Indrakanti, 12

Caught in a Bad Bromance?

SYMPTOMS:

People ask where the other guy is when you don’t arrive together at parties.

BAND-AID

You have caused each other to bleed multiple times.

You wear each other’s clothes.

Tuesday

9

You know each other’s plans and schedules all of the time.

You know each other’s phone number off the top of your head.

FIFA

}

You keep the score of something that you believe you are both good at (ie. Fifa).

You have a song that you sing together in the car (ie. I’ll Make a Man Out of You).

Brom a

le ab r no

Q&A with

ions Ment

David muskal & deepak indrakanti, 12

nc eH o

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Han Solo & Chewbacca Harry Potter & Ron Weasley Ted Mosby & Marshall Eriksen

George Clooney & Brad Pitt

Andy Samberg & Justin Timberlake

Owen Wilson & Ben Stiller

Q: Would the word “bromance” accurately describe your relationship?

A - Indrakanti: Yes. This is certainly an accurate depiction of our relationship. We play a lot of Fifa and enjoy each others’ company.

A - Muskal: It’s pretty accurate; It’s like we’re brothers.

Q: When did you realize that he was the bro for you?

A - Indrakanti: We started playing Fifa and it was pretty much instant.

A - Muskal: It happened summer of 2k14 on a basketball court.

Q: How many bullets would you take for him?

A - Indrakanti: Zero. Actually, I think like 25.

A - Muskal: About 300.

Q: Describe your relationship in 6 words.

A - Indrakanti: Merciless. Relentless. Ruthless. Fifa.

2Juiced. Bros.

A - Muskal: Brotherhood. Money. 2Juiced. Shake-up.

Fifa. Fifa.

Q: What are three traits you love most in him?

A - Indrakanti: He makes me laugh, he’s there for me, his Fifa skills are respectable.

A - Muskal: He’s trustworthy, he’s not fake, and he’s just a bro’s bro.

Q&A with

All Images by Joseph Ahn and Nathan Zhang

Breen Reardon & tom gaffigan, TEACHERS Q: Would the word “bromance” accurately describe your relationship?

A - Reardon: I understand that it is a word, but I reject it as well as a concept. I think it’s a silly word. A friendship would be an accurate depiction.

A - Gaff: I reject the concept. It’s a mature professional friendship. Bros has a connotation of meathead frat boys acting stupid and we don’t do that. It’s called a friendship.

Q: What are three traits that you appreciate most in each other?

A - Reardon: He’s a good golfer, he tolerates my bad golf, he’s well read.

A - Gaff: He’s intelligent, dedicated to teaching, and humorous.

Q: Describe your relationship in 6 words.

A - Reardon: Respectful friendship with a smart guy.

A - Gaff: Professional as the day is long.

15

16

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

creative projects editor

zoe schlosser

50 staff writer

12.5 million

paid subscribers

20,000,000 songs

Can choose songs

million

users

20,000

songs added

Pandora

a day

Can skip songs, no limits Can create custom playlist

80 3.9 million

users billion hours streamed 20,000 featured

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Spotify

orion schlosser

1,000,000+ songs

Cannot choose songs

Can skip songs, with limits

Cannot create custom playlist Images By Zoe and Orion Schlosser

[ fun&games ]

RUJULA KAPOOR fun & games chief

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Wordles no x qqqq u

At

If a blue house is made out of blue bricks, a yellow house is made out of yellow bricks and a pink house is made out of pink bricks, what is a green house made of?

Birth

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Answers: No Excuses. Separated At Birth. Sunrise. I’m Bigger Than You.

Sudoku 8 4 1 6 5 8 2 4 5

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Word Scramble

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6. eic ihgnfis Answers: earmuffs, freezing rain, hypothermia, flannel, turtleneck, and ice fishing

Puzzle

Use digits 1-9 to complete the puzzle.

+

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x

x

= 50

[ sports ]

[ column ]

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Keeping Up with Kurtzer LAUREN KURTZER

feature chief

Swim it to win it

ETHAN MAY

staff writer

T

he boys Varsity swim team traveled two hours to Louisville on Dec. 6, accompanied by some Junior Varsity swimmers, to compete in an invitational. While the competition was not too stiff it was a good first meet for the team.

The meet began with the boys winning the 200 yard Medley relay.

The relay team of sophomore JiHo Choi, senior Rick Niu, junior Christopher Seger and senior Ethan May, started off the meet with a bang.

“Winning that first relay got me really excited, I feel like that had a lot to do with how well I performed in the meet,” said Choi.

Overall, the boys won first place at the invitational, putting out a strong performance. Although the boys lost key swimmers to graduation last year, they still look to be a strong team.

Comparing your times from the first meet of the current year to your first meet of the previous year can be very indicative of what times you can expect to go later in the season.

Surpassing winter break means the team is about halfway through the season. During the break, they

practice two times a day, once in the morning and another in the afternoon. This prepares the swimmers bodies for taper, where they lower the yardage, allowing their muscles to rebuild. This lets them swim faster in championship meets.

Now that the team is halfway through the season, they are looking back at that first meet to see how they have improved and setting goals for themselves.

"My goal for this season is to make state in the 200 yard I.M. Based off of my times from last season and what I have been going this year, I feel this is very possible," said Niu. The next big meet for the team is Classics. In this meet teams from all over Cincinnati come to compete at a very high level meet. The boys are expected to put in their best effort and attempt to make finals.

With the addition of a new assistant coach, practices have been run a bit differently than in previous years. Swimmers are curious to see how this will affect their swimming.

“I think we have a strong team this year despite losing seniors.

Hopefully we will qualify a few relays for States,” junior Lucas McCutcheon said.

Over winter break I had the pleasure of going on a cruise with my family where I saw and made a startling revelation.

Although, my parents noticed that as I talked about my dislike and distrust for Andy Dalton and his team, the men that we were discussing with did not really listened. They disregarded my comments most likely because I am a girl.

That observation I took offense to. For years I have been a sports fan and lover, each game I watch I learn more and more, I confidently say that I know sports, just as much or maybe more than the Peyton Manning jersey wearing (band-wagoners) guys I was talking to.

The sad thing is that sexism in sports still exists. Guys probably still think that girls should not be involved in sports. Wake up, turn on ESPN most likely there will be a woman reporting on your “man’s game.”

I get asked if the only reason I like Jay Bruce is because he is ‘cute.’

No. The reason he is my favorite Reds player is that I see him as being a clutch player (ala Sept. 28 2010 and his multiple walk-off victories) and a power hitter in the middle of the Reds’ lineup.

While there will always be people who believe that women should not be involved in sports and do not know what they are talking about; the best thing we can do as women is ignore those who are sexist toward women in sports and talk to the people who do believe in us.

Truth is, the one who sits down every Saturday to watch her Buckeyes, every Sunday to watch the Bengals and stays up late to watch the Reds know what she is talking about so shut up and listen, you may be surprised.

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

19

1

2

Big, bigger, biggest Super Bowl XLIX continues trend of NFL growth will coleman staff writer

david wertheim opinion chief

T

he Super Bowl tests how two teams, one from each conference, play under the most extreme pressure. This year, the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks will meet in Phoenix, Arizona to decide who is the champion of the NFL.

Location

While last year’s game featured a chilly New York City climate, this year, the teams will be playing under the starry sky of Phoenix, Arizona.

Even though University of Phoenix Stadium features a retractable roof, Farmer’s Almanac predicts a crisp 53 degree temperature for February. The stadium seats 63,400, but can hold 72,200 with standing room tickets and other accessories.

The 2011 BCS National Championship Game brought in over $140 million for the Arizona economy, and this year’s game is expected to surpass that even more.

Advertising

As everyone knows, advertising tends to be the biggest part of the Super Bowl.

Doritos, Budwieser, and GoDaddy.com consistently amuse viewers with their creative ideas and amusing commercials.

“Every year I look forward to the Doritos

commercials because they are funny and creative,” said sophomore James Fields.

Despite its high price, the 30-second ads worth $4.5 million are basically sold out.

Even though there are many returning advertisers, new companies are starting in on this high-profile stage also. Skittles, Carnival Cruiselines, and Wix.com are just a couple of the many new advertisers for this year’s game.

Many celebrities will appear in ads as well. Danica Patrick will return as a spokeswoman for GoDaddy, and Pierce Brosnan will star in a Kia ad.

Pop star Katy Perry will perform the Pepsi Halftime show, which cost them upwards of $7 million. Drink rival Coca Cola will also air a 30-second ad. Carnival is even letting viewers pick which ad gets shown by voting online. Needless to say, not only is the game won off the field but in the living room as well.

1. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll hoists the Lombardi Trophy after his team won Super Bowl XLVII last season. The Seahawks had success once again this year, finishing the regular season with the best record in the NFC. 2. Star cornerback Richard Sherman raises the trophy.

Sherman is best known for his rant after the NFC Championship when he stated, “I’m the best corner in the game. Don’t you ever talk about me!”

Advertisers for Super Bowl XLIX • Anheuser-Busch • Axe Bodyspray • Coca-Cola • Doritos • Dove

• Kia • GoDaddy • McDonalds • Skittles

All photos courtesy of MCT photo

20

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

‘They’ve got ice in their veins’

Athletes train through winter season

Seventh Inning Stretch DAVID WERTHEIM

spending money going out to a gym. For example, running up and down stairs in your house can give you a good workout.

“I believe that staying active during the off season is crucial. The time spent during the off season is where you improve as an athlete,” senior Jon Lucken said.

By doing simple exercises or eating healthy, your body stays more in shape and can help you for the start of your next season.

“I motivate myself by making some goals for the sport I am playing and then trying to work hard to reach them either before or during the season,” freshman Oliver Garrett said.

TAYLOR CLOSE

A

staff writer

Photo courtesy of MCT Photo

thletes always have to be in shape to stay in the game during season, but what about out of season?

Many athletes have fall and spring sports, but not a winter sport.

This could become a problem if the athlete does not stay in shape during the off season in winter.

While cold weather can ward off outdoor running, there are other ways to stay in shape.

“As a cross country team, we can go running on Mondays and Wednesdays as a team, which helps me because there are other people running with you who help motivate you,” freshman Lily Martinson said.

While a gym membership is always a good idea to help get into the weight room or on the treadmill, there are other ways to stay active while everyone else is hibernating.

There are exercises in everyday places that Running and biking are two common methods to stay in shape during the winter. There are different types of wheels that can help you can do without the bikes gain traction in the snow. Warm clothes and waterproof shoes are essential to prevent frostbite in the harsh winter.

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

Donna’s gourmet cookies cookies, brownies, cupcakes & granola

donnasgourmetcookies.com 10796 Montgomery Rd Cincinnati, Oh 45242 513.489.9600

[ column ] opinion chief

Well, it finally happened. I finally got the championship I had been longing for. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks in the first ever College Football Playoff and won the first championship for OSU since 2002.

It has been a long time comingthe Bengals nor the Reds have won a playoff series since 1990.

Before this year the Buckeyes hadn’t won a championship since I have started paying attention to sports in 2005.

While I saw large fan bases such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia win countless championships, I had yet to see one of my teams finish off a season as #1. The Buckeyes achieved something special this year.

With injuries to star QB’s JT Barrett and Braxton Miller along with the death of walk-on lineman Kosta Karageorge, the Buckeyes had to pull through an awful lot of controversy.

Starting with the early loss to Virginia Tech, this Buckeyes were faced with an almost impossible mountain to climb.

But, they climbed it. They climbed it about 10 times higher than anyone thought they would.

And they delivered what a starving fan base had been craving for over 12 years: a championship.

Coach Urban Meyer has not only set up this team for this year, but has them loaded for next season as well. If we are lucky, Ohio State football will soon be the powerhouse that fans had been accustomed to for years.

If we are lucky, Ohio State fans will become as spoiled as New York and Boston fans for years to come.

[ spotlight ] THE LEAF | FRIDAY, JAN. 30 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Teamwork makes the dream work BROOKE LANDRUM

spotlight chief

S

ports in elementary school are characterized by nonstrategic play and frantic running about, especially when learning complicated sports. This was not the case for sophomore Emily Wise. In third grade, Wise began playing lacrosse on a team for sixth graders.

“My dad was coaching my sister playing lacrosse and I thought it was fun and they needed more people on my sister’s team,” Wise said.

Since then, she has built a community of friends and supporters on the teams she has played on. She has used her love for lacrosse to make friends with people she would not have become friends with otherwise.

“Some of my current best friends came from different schools. I met one on a younger rec team and now she goes to Sycamore instead of Mason,” Wise said.

She believes that teamwork and team relationships are key to a successful team. Relationships allow you to get more done on the field and to create a better atmosphere.

Beyond the relationship between teammates, it is equally as important to have a relationship with the coach. Wise believes that lacrosse coach Eddie Clark does a great job of bonding with the girls on the team.

“I think he gets on a personal level because we’ll see him in the hallways and we say hi and he asks how things are going and he’ll ask us for help. You can also go to his classroom if you need anything,” Wise said.

Playing for both Varsity and the JV team, Wise feels that she has created a good relationship with girls on both teams. These relationships allow her to better her game as well as enhance her love for the sport.

Player Bio: Emily Wise

Number: 26 and 16 Position: Low Attack Grade: Sophomore Specialties: Feeding the ball Years of experience: 7

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