leaf
AS COLD WINTER continues to plague early-risers, The Leaf investigates what gives local coffee shops their haven-like charm. See pages 18 and 19, for recommendations and student favorites.
the
A FRACTION OF high school sports players get opportunities, let alone offers to continue play on the collegiate level. However, some do. Read about these SHS athletes on page 33.
FRIDAY January 30, 2009 | Volume LV Issue VI | 7400 Cornell Road | Cincinnati, OH 45242 | (513) 686-1770 ext. 3089 | www.goaves.com
newsbriefs
‘Who knows what the next big language to take off will be?’
Changes in course options impact district
“Circus” winter dance
Attend “The Greatest Show on Earth” tomorrow at SHS beginning at 9 p.m. and ending at midnight. Today is the last day to purchase tickets for this Sadie Hawkins style dance. Buy single order purchases for $15 and couples tickets for $25 at lunch.
Tickets for “Parade” show
The spring musical opens on Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, the shows will begin at 2 p.m. Be sure to buy tickets early as desirable seating sells out quickly for each day. Read more about the production on page 23.
Interim reports distributed
Mid-quarter grade sheets for third quarter will be passed out in second bell classes today.
Tickets for Odd Couples Ball
Ticket order forms for the “Swashbucklers’ Bash” are available at the front desk. Those wishing to go should organize groups of ten (five students, five parents) for one table. Forms can be turned in on only one day: Tuesday, Feb. 3.
“The Log” order forms due
In order to have a 2008-2009 yearbook, forms must be turned in at the main office or in room 115 in the lower English department no later than March 19. Find an order form and confirmation list on www.goaves.com. Also read the FAQ interview with Mrs. Cheralyn Jardine, adviser, on the website for alternate methods of ordering The Log. There are also previews of pages posted weekly.
Poll: Superbowl XLIII
Cast your vote for who will win the Superbowl on Sunday, Feb. 1 at www.goaves.com. Compare your predictions with The Leaf’s staff in this month’s Five-on-One column on page 32.
Pep rally
Teachers and students square off today in an annual student-faculty basketball game today. The school day will run on an early release schedule, with the pep rally preceding seventh bell.
inside
2-3 4-8 9 feature 10-22 a&e 23-26 sports 27-33 calendar 34 advertisement 35 spotlight 36 news opinion fun&games
will JOHNSTON associate editor
L
said Mimi Zakem, 10. The majority of the Ohio Core bills – standardized high school graduation requirements that every state has – passed Ohio state legislature last spring. In response, administrators met to decide on proper alterations in the course schedule. “Part of the addition of Mandarin has to do with keeping up with global society and economy,” said Mr. Kevin Mays, vice principal. “I think you will also continue to see the global languages change as society changes. Who knows what the next big language to take off will be?” Two levels of Mandarin will be available: level one for students new to the language, and level three for “heritage students” who are already familiar with the language. An instructor has not yet been hired. However, administrators are leaning towards recruiting a teacher image by mary ann jiang from an Ohio State University program HEBREW STUDENT JOSH Goldman, 11, anticipates the end of this school year that trains individuals as it marks the conclusion of the Hebrew class. Both Hebrew and German will be ’hitract ivrit, ni hao zhong wen ke.* In accordance with new Ohio Core legislation, changes will be made to the course schedule beginning in August. Most noticeably, Hebrew and German will be completely unavailable at the high school (after having been phased out the last several years due to a lack of enrollment), and Mandarin Chinese will become an option. “I love Hebrew, and it’s sad that other people won’t get to study it,”
eliminated as Mandarin Chinese is introduced into the curriculum.
raised in China. “I think it will be really useful and good to have. It would be cool to take it and see how much I know since I’m Chinese,” said Ellen Wang, 9. Start-up costs for the program project to be lower than $80,000, and are not expected to have any long-term impact on the district budget. Aside from the alterations to the global language department, a number of other changes have been made. A fourth year of standards level mathematics will become available at the high school, while opportunities for students at the junior high to do high school coursework will increase. “Students at the junior high will be able to get high school credit not now available,” said Mays. Introductory level global languages will be eliminated, likely to be taught instead at the E.H. Greene School. Level two classes in every language will shift down from the high school to the junior high along with several other high school courses. These courses, such as Art I, will enable students to get a head start in credits. All of these changes will be in effect at the start of the next school year. *Hebrew for “Goodbye Hebrew,” Chinese for “Hello Chinese class”
Leukemia’s outcome: ‘Love for Liz’ continues
Series of fundraisers aim to support Lothrop family mary ann JIANG editor-in-chief
Four months ago, Mr. Randy Lothrop, math teacher, and his family were told by Children’s Hospital doctors that their daughter, Liz Lothrop, had Acute B Precursor Limphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a cancer in the bone marrow which produces too many immature white blood cells. Since that diagnosis, zLiz’s weekly chemotherapy treatments have been accompanied by a vast collection of cards, gifts, personal visits, and special events held in her honor. These include the upcoming boys’ basketball game on Feb. 6 against Lakota East, called Lay-ups for Liz. Shirts to wear for entrance to the game will be sold for $10 beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 28 in the commons. At this event being hosted by the Sycamore Athletic Leadership Team (SALT), orange wristbands and pins will be sold, two raffles will be held for two signed basketballs by the University of Cincinnati women’s and men’s teams, and a lay-up contest will be held for volunteers during half-time. During the week, a bake sale and voluntarily lunch competition will be held. All second bell classes are also invited to raise money for the fund, with the incentive of a pizza party for the winner. All proceeds go towards the Lothrop Leukemia Fund to support the inestimable financial toll of three years of treatments. “To hear about his daughter just tugged at my heart and I knew we had to do something to help. I have to give the credit to Ashley Schaefer as she is the one with the idea and the girls basketball team is doing a lot of work,” said Ms. Debbie
Klemt, SALT adviser. This event follows on the heels of the Lay-ups for Liz girls’ basketball game that the team played in with Mason on Jan. 10. The surprised Lothrops entered Mason’s gym to a sight of two rivals all united in support of Liz with matching T-shirts. “We were kind of oblivious. It was pretty amazing seeing both teams wearing the same shirt. I guess you never really appreciate what you have until something like this happens, and it’s been amazing seeing what the faculty and students have shown,” said Mr. Lothrop. A mother at Mason, where Liz attends middle school, made 350 heart-shaped orange pins that were sold at the game. At the end of the night, $350 was raised for Liz’s chemotherapy. The bake sale, Love for Liz, at SHS achieved similar success in November. Kelsey Malof, 10, and Sara Lindsay, 10, organized a sale during lunch that broke the school record for amount raised by a bake sale in one day. “We bought gift cards for the mall, gas, and some restaurants. We figured that because Mr. Lothrop is such a nice guy that Liz would be too and she is. We met her and it was so much fun, she is the most positive person I’ve ever met,” said Lindsay. The Lothrops have received a flood of support from friends and community members. On Dec. 13, Abuelo’s restaurant contributed in the fight against leukemia by donating 20% of that day’s proceeds to the family. Friends, neighbors, and
>>PAGE 3: LOVE FOR LIZ
Lay-ups for Liz Lifting for Liz When: Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m. Where: SHS main gym Price: $10 for T-shirts
When: Feb. 18, 6 p.m. Where: Gregory Center More information: Any football player or coach
Team in Training
When: May 3, 6:30 a.m. Where: Paul Brown Stadium More information: Mr. Chad Husting or Mr. Mike Gutekunst
photo courtesy of cat lothrop
ON THE NIGHT of the diagnosis, Gina Lothrop, 12, (left) visits her cousin Liz Lothrop (right) in Children’s Hospital. Now undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia, Liz has settled into a hospital room covered with cards and posters from well-wishers. Mr. Randy Lothrop, math teacher, says that the response from faculty, students and other community members “has been overwhelming.”
2Environmental Club
news FRIDAY January 30, 2009
plans rain garden
January
30
Plants siphon toxins out of water supply, beautify community
This day
leah BURGIN feature chief
S
ince fourth grade, students have been learning about the water cycle: precipitation, condensation, evaporation – they know the drill. However, when man-made elements such as parking lots and automobiles are introduced into the cycle, the natural flow of water is interrupted. When it rains, the parking lots at SHS cannot absorb the water; instead, the rain runs off into the surrounding green spaces already trying to filter the rain that falls there. Most of the time, this excess water is too much for the grass and mulch to handle, and the water, with all of the toxic brake fluid, antifreeze, and oil that comes from the cars, bypasses the water-logged plants and continues into the district’s water shed. This poses two problems: flooding and water pollution. Flooding can be detrimental to both humans and plants – excess water on the roadways is dangerous and overly water-logged plants are not healthy. Likewise, adding toxins to the district’s fresh water supply is detrimental to the community’s health. Recently, the Ohio River Foundation approached SHS’s Environmental Club with a proposal to reduce the negative impact the school’s parking lot has on the environment: a rain garden. According to Mr. Ron Hochstrasser, Environmental Club adviser, by planting aquatic-rooted plants, the rain garden will have enough vegetation to handle the parking lot run-off for a small to moderate rainfall. As the plants absorb the water, they will take in the toxins that come off of the parking lot, stopping the chemicals before they get to the water shed. “The chemicals will not be harmful
to the plants. The plants will store the chemicals inside of them, and over time as the plants get bigger and develop seeds and leaves, and as the seeds are dispersed and the leaves fall off, the broken down and diluted chemicals get returned,” said Hochstrasser. As Hamilton County is under a mandate by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce the amount of storm water run-off, this rain garden will be beneficial way to help the environmental integrity of the community. “More and more cities are implementing rain gardens because it's a really easy way to deal with the toxic runoff. This gives the water treatment plant time to clean it out instead of having to bypass it into the river,” said Hochstrasser. SHS received a grant from the EPA, Hamilton County, and the Ohio River Foundation to implement the rain garden. After Hochstrasser’s AP Environmental Science classes design the garden and the ground thaws, Environmental Club plans to start planting. “The garden will be 200 square feet and filled with native plants,” said Becca Muskat, 12, club president. “We’re really excited about the rain garden and it will be a great addition to our ecosystem. It will be great to do more to protect the environment.” Listen to announcements and visit the club’s Facebook page to learn more details about the project. At the time of printing, the specifics are pending. “Everyone should come and help plant. It will be a great project for the school and the environment,” said Daniel Boger, 12, treasurer.
in history
leah BURGIN feature chief
1615
Thomas Rolfe, the only child of Pocahontas, daughter of chief Powhatan, and John Rolfe, an English colonist, was born.
1835
photo courtesy of national honor band
MATT GEISEN, 12, POSES in his uniform for the National Honor Band. As a member of this prestigious band, Geisen had the opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day.
Q&A
with Matt Geisen, 12
On Jan. 1, 2009 Matt Geisen, 12 participated in the Rose Bowl Parade. This parade is the main feature of the pageantry that takes place prior to the Rose Bowl, a college football game part of the BCS Bowl.
How did you hear of this opportunity to participate in the Rose Bowl Parade? Well, I actually got a letter in the mail telling me that I was “among the most outstanding high school musicians” or something to that effect and that they wanted me to be a part of this band. I thought, “What the heck, I might as well give it a shot.”
What was your reaction when you found out that you had been selected?
I was very excited. Marching in the Rose Parade for a band kid is like being in the Super Bowl for a pro football player. This was the top of the top, and I was in it. I couldn’t possibly be more excited!
What exactly did you do in preparation for the parade? I had to practice the music and whistle commands nonstop in order to memorize it all. It was a lot to have memorized in only a couple short months.
What was marching in the parade like?
Probably the most brutal experience of my life. After the first mile of marching, our director yelled out, “Ok, we’ve reached the beginning of the paraded route! Get ready, ‘cause this is where the 5 1/2 miles starts!” And just then, a small piece of me died inside. Aside from being incredibly difficult, it was also one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done. I was performing for a worldwide audience of over 40 million people!
What was the best part of the experience?
The best part for me was the beginning of the parade route, when we went around the first turn into the TV spot. I saw all of these people, thousands upon thousands of people piling up in these stands, cameras everywhere, filming my every move. Forty million people all watching us. That was by far the best part of the whole thing.
What is your advice to other students who are interested in doing a similar or the same program? Do it! By all means, do it! It may seem difficult and like a lot of work, but it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The friends I made and the experiences we shared will stay with me forever.
Richard Lawrence, an insane individual who claimed he was Richard III, King of England (who had died in 1485), shot twice at President Andrew Jackson as he emerged from the Capitol Building. Both shots misfired, and as legend goes, Jackson retaliated by attacking Lawrence with a cane. This event was the first assassination attempt against a president of the United States.
1836
Betsy Ross, the woman who allegedly sewed the first American flag, died.
1882
Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States and the only president to serve more than two terms, was born.
1933
Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi party who would eventually persecute and plan the genocide of millions of people, was appointed Chancellor of Germany.
1948
Mohandas Gandhi, the peaceful civil rights leader central to the Indian independence movement, was assassinated.
1951
Phil Collins, known for his involvement in the band Genesis and his hit song “In the Air Tonight,” was born.
1969
After selling out hundreds of venues around the world, The Beatles held their last public performance on the rooftop of Apple Records in London.
news FRIDAY January 30, 2009
>>CONTINUED: LOVE FOR LIZ
a range of acquaintances dined or ordered from the restaurant. “It was kind of like what I imagine Heaven is like. Just imagine walking into a place, and everywhere you look you know people. And it’s people from everywhere in your life,” said Mr. Lothrop. The restaurant has also catered to the school faculty for lunch, so that a portion of the revenue is given to the Lothrop Leukemia Fund. Many members of the Sycamore community have never met Liz, although the family’s church maintains and regularly updated blog to help connect supporters with the eighth grade 14 year-old. Glittergirlliz.blogspot.com even posted a letter sent by Mr. Chad Husting, chemistry teacher, asking for sponsorships in an upcoming marathon. Husting and Mr. Mike Gutekunst, physics teacher, have been training for the Flying Pig Half and Full, respectively, Marathons on May 3. They train with Team in Training, a fund raising organization that donates more to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society than any other program. For their “hero,” Liz, the pair set to raise $1,900 in donations, and have already received $2,500 four months ahead of the race. To make a taxdeductible donation to Team in Training, visit www.pages.teamintraining.org/soh/flypig09/ mgutekunst. Similarly, the high school and junior high football teams are a part of a closer-to-home event, Lifting for Liz, set for late Feb. 18 in the Gregory Center. High school players will be sponsored to bench press and do squat lifts as part of winter testing. Players should watch for announcements about the meeting date to be held the week of Feb. 9. Everyone is welcome to attend the event from 6-8 p.m. where food and drinks will be provided. Donations can be made by sponsoring players or giving directly to the Lifting for Liz and Leukemia fund. More directions will be posted at a later date. All forms and sizes of help are greatly appreciated as the Lothrops continue to feel amazed by the response of friends in the community. “What’s really amazing is the spirit of people that comes out. You can tell that they’re so genuine in looking for ways to help. It has been overwhelming,” said Mr. Lothrop.
F
ashion for the Troops
3
undraiser commemorates fallen soldiers leah BURGIN
C
staff writer
photo courtesy of jeremy mcdaniels
VICKIE KINDRED, 10, AND Michael Guthrie, 12, make a salute on the runway. As two of the student models for Fashion for the Troops, Kindred and Guthrie helped promote the event that raised over $9,000 for Let US Never Forget Scholarship Fund. This year’s fashion show fundraiser was in honor of fallen soldiers, especially SHS alum Army Pvt. Branden Haunert, ‘05.
ombat boots. Stilettos. AK-47s. Handbags. These contrasting items seemingly have no connection. Nevertheless, a link has been forged between them with Fashion for the Troops, a fashion show fundraiser that collected over $9,000 on Thursday, Jan. 22. Seniors Kelsey Dybvad, Chelsea Manning, Claire Schwartz, and Brett Simek, who planned the event, had decided to change the name and choice charity of the fundraiser usually dubbed “Fashion for the Cure” in honor of the community’s fallen soldiers, particularly SHS alum Army Pvt. Branden Haunert, ‘05. “For one year, we wanted to do something different and support a cause that would in turn support our troops,” said Dybvad. “We especially wanted to do something in the memory of Branden. We know he would have wanted it.” All proceeds from this year’s fundraiser will go to the Let Us Never Forget Scholarship Fund, created by Keith and Carolyn Maupin, parents of local Staff Sgt. Keith “Matt” Maupin who was executed by Iraqi insurgents in 2004. “The scholarships are named after fallen soldiers so that we never forget them,” said Manning. “As recipients of the scholarships move forward with their lives, they never lose sight of what all soldiers do for us.” This year’s fundraiser had the support of many community businesses. Montgomery Inn, Stone Creek Dining Company, Apsara, Samurai
Sams, El Pueblo, Marx Bagels, and Papa Johns were among some of the restaurants that donated food to the event. Additionally, The Mustard Seed Boutique, Snap Boutique, Fetish, Obsess, Denim, Alternative Motive, Apollo Studios, Unheard Of, Bridal and Formal, Folchi’s Formal Wear, and Men’s Warehouse provided clothes for the fashion show. Various local companies and families also donated baskets that were either bid on or raffled away. Throughout the event, there was a live DJ and before the fashion show began, Joe McLaughlin, 12, played the Star-Spangled Banner on the guitar. The fashion show was split into two parts – casual wear and formal attire. Over 40 students participated as models in the show. Several teachers will also model during the show, including Mr. Antonio Shelton, Officer Paul Payne, Mrs. Robyn Jordan, and Mrs. Linsey Farroh. “It was nice to see everyone coming together to support something that’s important to our community,” said Riley Able, 12, student model. Schwartz, one of the event’s coordinators shares a similar attitude towards Fashion for the Troops. “I’d like to thank everyone who worked to put together the show this year. It was great experience to work together to give back to the community and to the soldiers who protect us,” said Schwartz. “We have helped our community to remember those who have fallen in combat.”
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4
opinion
PoliticalDIS Service
FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Obama needs to take stand on controversial issue mark RUBEO
staff writer
President Barack Obama had more than enough problems to deal with when he took office Jan. 20. Two wars and an uncertain economy are only the beginning of what Obama must face. It might be a little unfair to be overly critical after one week. That said, when Pakistani militants attacked Mumbai, the president released a statement right away. When the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip broke out, his silence was deafening in the Arab world. Though the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is less clear-cut than the attacks on Mumbai, Obama could have said something, even if that something was “neither side is 100% right.” By keeping quiet, he sent the wrong message to the Arab world. While nothing he could say would satisfy the die-hard, anti-Israel crowd that controls Hamas, silence is interpreted as approval of the status quo. Continued unwavering support of Israel by the Bush administration does not jive with the diplomacy and conflict resolution that was such a strong point in the Obama campaign, but silence is perceived as exactly that. This decision will not destroy his credibility around the world, but it will damage it. Obama has responded to criticism of this approach with the argument that there should only be “one president at a time.” That sounds nice, but the then president-elect set a precedent by speaking about Mumbai. Like it or not, the world and the Islamic community Obama wants to make peace with expect the same about Gaza. Again, the statement does not even need to be strongly supportive of either side. It could be like his race speech: an explanation of the issues faced by both sides. It could be a call for a ceasefire. The important thing is that the president-elect must not appear to be avoiding the issue in the eyes of the world.
the
leaf
image by charlie manion
staffeditorial
T
he purpose of an education is, in part, to prepare students for society. With next year’s addition of Mandarin Chinese to SHS’s salad bowl of global languages, the district is giving its curriculum a much-needed update. Because the world is becoming more connected through the Internet and the world economy, it has become increasingly important that people have the skills to interact with those in other countries. And it is never too early for students to begin learning such skills. Although SHS will lose Hebrew and German, it will gain the world’s most widely spoken language. Not only that, it will gain the official dialect of China, an up-and-coming world power and an important business partner of the US. To cite an example, Proctor & Gamble sees China as a source of strong sales growth, and projects that emerging markets in China and elsewhere will make up 30 percent of all sales by 2010, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. With Mandarin Chinese on the course list, students will have the chance to prepare themselves for today’s global society by learning how to communicate. Knowing this language – and any other second language – opens up doors to innumerable employment opportunities. Furthermore, students who choose to take advantage of this class will get a better understanding of Chinese culture. The past year’s headlines questioning China’s ethics at the summer Olympics, exposing human rights violations and poor environmental standards, and revealing tainted exports have severely tarnished China’s reputation. But governmental shortcomings and corruption aside, China has a rich culture and a history that spans 4,000 years. To understand a culture is to be able to truly interact effectively in this diverse society – and to guard against ignorance. The district is among several other schools in the Greater Cincinnati area, including Loveland High School and Oak Hills High School, that have decided to teach Mandarin Chinese at the Ohio Department of Education’s suggestion and with the community’s support. In the spirit of change, the district would be well advised to consider starting instruction in the elementary schools. Learning a language takes practice. That, combined with the fact that children pick up on dialects more easily at younger age, means that early immersion in global languages would be more effective. Students taking Chinese would especially benefit from this – the Foreign Service Institute of the U.S. Department of State classifies it as one of the hardest languages for English speakers to learn. With the addition of this subject as a precedent, perhaps the district will add Arabic, a language spoken in over 20 countries and one the U.S. government considers “critical to national security,” according to NPR. But based off the addition of Chinese alone, the district has already taken an important step towards preparing its students for life in the 21st century society.
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. The Leaf operates as an open forum for the healthy, robust exchange of ideas. Opinions expressed in the editorials are those of The Leaf staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged. All letters must be signed. The letters, not to exceed 300 words, may be edited for clarity, spelling, and grammar. Letters may be placed in Mrs. Cheralyn Jardine’s mailbox, dropped off in room 115, or e-mailed to jardinec@sycamoreschools.org. The Leaf reserves the right to decide not to cover a death based on relevance, timeliness, and circumstances decided on by the editorial board. In cases that the editorial board decides not to cover a death, letters to the editor in regard to that death will be printed. The Leaf’s complete editorial policies can be found at www.goaves.com.
leafing through the masses
Q:
“ “ “ “
It’s a good idea for a class. Chinese is going to be a helpful and important language to know in the future
” ” ” ”
-Alex Kirschner, 9
It’s a cool and different idea for a class, so I think it’s a good idea
-Adam Reinhart, 10
It is the most widely spoken language in the world, so it will obviously benefit the students that take it as a class
-Dumebi Okonji, 11
It’s a great idea because it will give people a chance to experience a brand new culture
Editor-in-chief: Mary Ann Jiang Associate editor: Daphne Hsu Associate editor: Will Johnston Managing editor: Libby Henning News Noa Belillti Ellean Zhang Opinion Matt Mendelsohn Jeremy Spiegel Fun & Games Brittanny Argyriou Feature Leah Burgin Rashmi Borah Libby Henning A&E Gabirose Keeton Michela Tindera Sports Ben Estes Jared Kamrass Calendar Jake Newton Kavya Reddy Spotlight Maria Marballi Webmaster Jacob Katz Mark Rubeo
What do you think of the decision to replace Hebrew and German with Mandarin?
Mini-Mag Editors Ben Dhiman Sam Cleary Staff Writers Jamie Alemagno Daniel Bayliss Emily Begley Jimmy Chau Chad Chessin Emily Cohen Daniella Cos S.M. Dipali Kelsey Drapkin Gabe Englander Catherine Farist Elise Gelwicks Alyssa Hoeper Elizabeth Hoopes Molly Johnson Bennett Kaplan Jacob Katz Ben Keefe Mandi Kipner Moriah Krawec Charlie Manion Toluwalope Oginni
-Anupreet Lekhi, 12
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opinion
5
FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Underclassmen prepare for scheduling Next year classes may impact student’s future
I
Life after applications provides joy, exhiliration
opinion chief
For those more interested in fine arts, classes like Art I and II or even ceramics might catch your attention. On the other hand. those who are more musically inclined, classes such as Choir or Guitar I are also available. The most pressing issue every year is determining the difficulty of your schedule. Everyone from guidance counselors on down stress the importance of pushing yourself as you get closer to graduation and then college. After attending numerous college information sessions for the past year, I can attest to the fact that colleges place an extreme importance on your course selection. In many cases, that is the first thing they look at upon receiving your high school transcript. However, this can be tricky, as what is easy for someone may be much more difficult for another student. Once again, it all comes back to the areas in which you feel most comfortable. “I plan on signing up for AP Spanish and AP Psychology, because those classes are interesting and I can do well in those classes. However, I could never imagin myself taking an AP science class,” said Jeff Goodman, 11. My biggest advice is to think carefully before deciding on your coursework. Do not take AP American
09
Senior Corner
jeremy SPIEGEL t is hard to believe, but the 2008-2009 school year is halfway complete. As students enter the third quarter, there is one large upcoming issue: scheduling classes for next school year. Every year, this event leads to students facing hefty decisions in determining next year’s schedules. On the one hand, no one wants to take too many work-heavy classes. However, with students one year closer to college, it is time to try to beef up resumes. There is no simple answer to choosing a schedule. You must factor in a variety of aspects, including your strength in a particular area, your interest in a specific subject, and other classes you may be taking. “Whenever I had to schedule next year’s classes, I always looked at the schedule as a whole. I made sure not to take too many AP or Accelerated classes, especially in areas where I felt least comfortable,” said John Stucker, 12. SHS does a great job in making a variety of topics, allowing any students to focus on his or her strengths. For the scientific minded students, there are numerous AP classes available, such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Environmental Science. There are also several science electives, such as Anatomy and Field Biology.
class of
kavya REDDY calendar editor
image by mary ann jiang
Da’montez Lowe, 12, TURNS in a course adjustment request form to the guidance office. It is very difficult to change courses in the middle of the year, so students should make sound decisions regarding the difficulty of their schedule. A hard schedule may either lower grades or make a resume more impressive if the student rises to the occasion. History if you cannot stand history, just because it may look good on a college application. All I can say is that scheduling classes is a personal matter. Just think carefully about what subjects come easiest to you, and how hard
you are willing to work for a grade. “I want to take fun classes, but I also understand how important it is to challenge myself. It should be interesting when I schedule classes,” said Jordan Evans, 10.
Workloads decrease as graduation approaches
Senioritis plagues college-bound seniors evan ROMANSKY
staff writer
image by garrett steinbuch
SENIORITIS ANNUALLY PLAGUES the graduating class. While the younger students continue to do their work, many seniors begin to slack off, especially once they receive their first acceptance letter. However, most universities discourage such behavior and would like the incoming freshman to continue to prove their academic excellence.
Senioritis is a legitimate disease. Or at least it should be. It overpowers our lives and all will power that once possessed us to academically succeed seemingly leaves us in one exercised motion. We shut down mentally and begin daydreaming of our imminent future at the next plateau of our lives. This disease has plagued seniors for years. There is no way around it. Personally, every day I wake up in the morning wondering why I have to do it all again; get up at six, drag myself to the shower, sit in the mile long traffic on Cornell Road, sprint to my first bell class hoping to sneak in a minute late, and then slowly doze off during government class while pondering if this is how Ronald Reagan felt during his senior year of high school. After that first acceptance letter, the brain automatically flips the “off ” switch, probably conserving its energy for the grueling years that lie ahead. It sends in its letter of resignation with a nice “good luck second semester,” and an encouraging “see you next fall!” Where did people get the idea that senior year was so easy? It is probably one of the most difficult years of our educational lives up to this point. Maybe not in the classroom, but mentally it completely drains us of any work ethic or motivation that once existed in our now passive minds. At least we all seem to be passing one aspect of senior year: putting forth the least amount of effort possible. Too bad there is not a class for laziness, or I would be making the grade. Sure, there are plenty of perks to senior year. We have more freedoms than ever before and it feels pretty good to walk the halls with that senior tag on our backs. But personally, I think many would be willing to trade it all in for a quick ticket out of high school and onto the road to the rest of their lives. Maybe some will be resilient and not let the senioritis catch up with them. They will push it to the side and continue on their journey without change. Sadly for most, including myself, we are already knee deep in this ailment, and the only prescription is graduation.
We all dread it. We sit sorting through the many applications, looking for our dream one, our parent’s alumna matter, our reach schools, our safety schools. The list can go on forever. Seniors wait until this fateful year to apply to their future school. By going to college they are released into the so called “real world.” As Elle Woods said, “It is with passion, courage of conviction, and strong sense of self that we take our next steps into the world... You must always have faith in people.” We are faced with challenging obstacles such as doing our own laundry and making our own dinner. But there are the extraordinary things that you can get out of college. These can include making new friends, getting involved in extracurricular activities, and studying abroad. The day that I finished my last application was exceptional. After I clicked the submit button for the last one, I closed my laptop and screamed at the top of my lungs. So, my advice to underclassmen: finish early. You may feel like you have so much time but the time passes fast. Take college visits in the summer and start your application journey as soon as you can. The first thing that anyone asks a senior is where they are going to college. We are sick of hearing that word. It is our time to sit back and relax and decide what the world wants for us. After applications, seniors may feel like they have all the time in the world. Go to the zoo, go to the museum, go the park. It is senior year. Get good grades but always remember to have fun. I was able to do the many things that I never had the time to do before the application process. I took up sewing and making lanyards. Try those hobbies which you have always had an interest in. Do not forget to thank your teachers and counselors and whoever else helped you through this enduring college process. We could not have done any of this without them and their amazing support. So, this is the life after college applications. The life of waiting and waiting and waiting. Then, comes the time to decide where our individual future is heading. Decide your future on what YOU want to do. The college you go to should encompass all the things that you want not your parents, peers, teachers, or counselors. So, seniors, relax for the rest of the year, but remember to keep your grades up. Hats off to all you ivy leaguers, community college students, international students, Ohio students. Wherever you are next year, always remember your class of 2009. It is our final lap around the track; let us make it a good one.
6
opinion FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Persistent false alarms cause disregard Students ignore severity of procedures emma OH
staff writer
Y
SHS’s student body. ears ago in Greece, a fable was told about a young shepherd-boy, who falsely cried Students underestimate drills wolf to attract attention from the villagOf course, the alarms caused frustrated eye-rolls ers. In the end, when a wolf truly came, and a couple colds, but worst of all, they have no one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any ultimately led to a widespread attitude of disregard assistance. for the sound of the fire alarm. The moral of the story: there is no believing a The unceasing alarms may have been irritating, liar, even when he speaks but that does not the truth. The next time the fire mean the importance Although the reof future alarms nowned piece of litalarm goes off I think all should be undererature is mainly famous estimated. Although the kids should just go today among young chila fire alarm can seem dren, it was undeniably ahead and take their time like no big deal, disrethought of after a recent garding the warning and get their jackets beand relentless string of can lead to serious false fire alarms. fore going outside. consequences. “I doubt I’ll take the For example, in next fire alarm seriously 2000, consistent false at all. I thought about alarms at Seton Hall that the last time we had University in New one. I kept wondering Jersey caused many students to begin ignoring how we were supposed to know if it was real or them. However, when an actual fire broke out, not,” said Sally Evans, 9. three students who ignored the alarms died and many others suffered injuries. Alarms cause disorder, chaos “If everyone knew the story of what happened at After a faulty pull station in the new fire alarm Seton Hall University, I think more people would system caused numerous, false alarms, fire drills cooperate during fire drills and take them more became a nuisance rather than a skill-building seriously,” said Julia Turkevich, 10. practice. Yes, it may be cold outside or it may be a difficult Alarms went off at complicated times, such as the time to have a drill, but in the chance that there end of the school day and lunch, and left students could be a real fire, it is better to be safe. out in the cold weather without jackets and coats. “Fire drills are one of those things where you “The next time the fire alarm goes off, I think all never know if it’s actually real or not, and in the the kids should just go ahead and take their time event of a real fire, time is everything. No matter and get their jackets before going outside,” said what’s going on, it’s important that as soon as you Alec Diersing, 10. hear the alarm you respond quickly,” said LieutenAlthough the phony alarms were annoying and ant Ben Shapiro, Montgomery Fire Department. troublesome, they led to greater problems for
CONSISTENT FALSE ALARMS have caused many students to disregard the alarms as “just another drill,” a major concern if there ever were to be a real fire. While fires happen rarely, their occurence is not to be taken lightly. Though the cause of false alarms seems to have been taken care of so far, students are cautioned to take drills seriously, in case of a real fire.
”
-Alec Diersing, 10
photo by libby henning
Choices: Begin college search early to ease looming exasperation elise GELWICKS
Students displeased by small selection sohini SAMEERA
staff writer
Deciding where to spend four years of one’s life can be overwhelming and exasperating. The bad news is that a college decision must be made eventually. The good news is that there is no need to feel this way. “It is important to start the college search process early; the more time you have, the easier it is to take time to find the right school. I recommend students begin thinking about possible schools as early as their freshman year,” said Mr. Vincent Rahnfeld, SHS guidance counselor. An easy way to get acquainted with colleges that are of interest is to buy a book containing an overview of schools. The Best 368 Colleges 2009 Edition (Princeton Review $21.95) is filled with schools and includes information about the student body, freshman profile, and location. With a college guide book, it is helpful to make a list of schools that are realistic and some that are more difficult. Having a list to look at on a weekly basis is a great motivation for trying hard in school to get desirable grades. It can also help generate ideas for what to pay attention to while on college visits. “I have a book with hundreds of colleges in America. During my sophomore year I sat down with my parents to find schools that seemed interesting and realistic in terms of getting in. As a junior, I know what
Vegetarian menu lacks choices
grades I should be getting if I want to get into a particular school,” said Jackie Orent, 11. A common complaint is, “How do I know if I will really like the school and its environment?” The best way to learn if a school is the perfect place is to physically go there. Most websites offer tour times and pictures. Also, many of the websites have virtual tours if one can not visit the campus. SHS offers a multitude of resources to aid students in the process. As a junior and senior, students are able to meet with school representatives and admissions officers who come to speak at SHS. “I have gone to at least four college sessions and was able to speak directly with the admissions officer. Hearing them speak about their school made me really excited for college and I feel more informed about what each of those schools has to offer,” said Elizabeth Keefe, 11. To summarize, whatever schools you look at, remember to consider location, size and cost. Students should also try to remain up-beat about the process. “Almost all of the kids who have graduated tell me they are very pleased about the school they chose… so don’t stress so much!” said Rahnfeld.
staff writer
SHS offers many courses. From astronomy to ceramics, our school has it all. One course that has room for improvement is the vegetarian course. Many people take pride in eliminating meat from their diet. Vegetarians maintain a healthy diet and save, around 100 animals every year. So, how much does our school do to support these special diets? “I can only buy once a week because the variety of courses is very low,” said Gautam Nagendra, 12. The cafeteria seems to have a large selection of food. But not much of that assortment is vegetarian. Most sides and substitutions can be eaten by all students, but main meals are not herbivore friendly. “Whenever I have to buy lunch, I buy bagels or pizza,” said Rosalie Wei, 11. Vegetarian students who buy everyday have it harder than those who buy once a week. The cafeteria presents the same veggie meals throughout the week: bagels, fruits, salads, and pizzas. “Many changes could be done to help the vegetarians of our school,” said Avni Bapat, 9. One modification that can be thought about is adding a salad bar, where students would create their own meals. International meals are also another option. Many of our school’s vegetarians come from another country. It is not only our school that faces this problem. Public and private schools in general do not offer a diversity in their school cafeterias. The solution is to come up with different ideas for foods. One option is to serve tofu. Tofu, a Chinese dish, is made from soy milk. It would be appreciated by everyone since tofu is high in protein, and low in fat. Another option is to add a pizza with only vegetables; for example, the pizza could have olives, green peppers, onions, and tomatos. This way, it is more appetizing than cheese pizza, while also maintaining a healthy meal. Schools take pride in the diversity of students, but they should also make the necessary accommodations for them. Hopefully, SHS will provide meals suitable for everyone in the upcoming years.
opinion
7
OBAMA rocks White House FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Cabinet member selections one of earliest in history gabirose KEETON
A
managing editor
lthough Barack Obama has gone by the title of President-elect since his victory on Nov. 4, it was not until Thursday, Jan. 8, that he officially gained the status of President-elect after Congress tallied and certified the votes of the Electoral College. The Nov. 4 election drew a grand total of 131 million votes from the American people. Individual electors are not bound to vote in line with their states, but no electors strayed from the November returns on that Thursday. A ticket only needs 270 electoral votes to win, and after the announcement on Nov. 8, President Obama received 365 votes while Senator John McCain received 173. Ironically, the first four states tallied by Congress voted for McCain. “Everybody was pretty sure Obama had won, he got a clear majority. There really was no doubt,” said Kayla Forshey, 11. Even before Obama was announced as President, he was already filtering and selecting cabinet members. With global and national situations as they are, Obama was just being proactive, not encroaching on then-President George Bush’s territory, as some feel. Obama has become one of the few presidents to begin to assemble his cabinet even before officially being announced as President-elect by the Electoral College. By doing so, he has drawn many critics, not only because of the process, but because of who he has chosen. President Obama has publicly chosen some of his greatest adversaries to serve on his cabinet, and is already making them work together, before even having them confirmed by Congress.
“Obama has been picking people with different views from himself, and I definitely think that’s a good thing,” said Jon Hancher, 12. Perhaps Obama is trying to keep the old adage by keeping his friends close, but enemies closer. Or maybe he is just trying to send the message that he is willing to set aside differences in order to be able to work with some of the most capable minds of today. Obama is being active, by being so “ahead of the game,” in terms of cabinet selections, because the economic crisis and the war in Iraq, for example, will not pause for the transition of the new president. “In response to the economic times, Obama needs to be ready to start after getting inaugurated, so I think it’s a good idea he’s starting early,” said Forshey. It is necessary for Obama to get acclimated with the responsibilities as President before stepping into office. The issues we face today are severe, and by having a cabinet mostly assembled before inauguration, Obama will be ready to work the first day in the Oval Office. However, some Americans do not see Obama’s cabinet selection process in such a light. They feel that Obama is treading on territory that still belongs to Bush, and that it is too early to be making judgments on who should and should not be serving as cabinet members. Although this point is legitimate, individuals must realize that the world did not stop at the inauguration Tuesday, Jan. 20, so that Obama could comfortably settle into the White House. Therefore, the impending circumstances of today have forced Obama to act early. image by kavya reddy
New exam schedule effective Proves successful for years to come frank PAN
staff writer
image by matt slovin
MANY STUDENTS FROM SHS traveled down to Miami, Florida to witness the Orange Bowl. Although hometown University of Cincinnati suffered a loss against Virginia Tech, fans were thrilled to be at the game. Cincinnati fans hope that next year will be yet another red and black victory season.
‘Act like you have been there’
Orange Bowl experience fruitful for fans matt SLOVIN staff writer
Although the University of Cincinnati Bearcats failed to succeed against an impeccable Virginia Tech defense on New Year’s Day eve, the trip to southern Florida proved to be a very enjoyable one for those who traveled to see the ‘Cats in the school’s first ever Bowl Championship Series game. The view from the top level of Dolphin Stadium in the Greater Miami area showed UC fans entering the stadium in droves prior to the 20-7 loss to the Hokies. Upon entering the main bowl at Dolphin Stadium, those in my group were shocked by its sheer size. My father recounted a previous trip to Miami during which he came to cheer on the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII at a much-older Dolphin Stadium. Needless to say, Cincinnati lost that game to Joe Montana’s San Francisco 49ers. The excitement on the faces of the Bearcat faithful was perfectly complemented by the “act like
you have been there before” mentality of the fans from Blacksburg, Virginia. However, the rowdy Cincy fans behaved properly and represented the university and city suitably. As for myself, I was just thrilled to be in attendance at the milestone game. I do admit to being upset at the end result, but on the plane home to Cincinnati, I realized that nobody expected the red and black to be there at the beginning of the season and I felt honored to have been there. SHS students and alumni traveled in solid numbers to the game and those who watched the FOX telecast noticed a young Aviator wearing a green and gold SHS hoodie, prominently displayed. On another note, one would hope that Nippert Stadium is packed next year with UC fans supporting the team. A repeat trip to Miami or another BCS bowl will be no easy task, but with the Cats returning crucial offensive weapons, this goal may be within reach.
This year’s new exam schedule was feared schedule and taking the exam was no by many when it was first released; howproblem. ever, after going through the new process I “I had ceramics the first day and it was a believe that this schedule is more relaxing breeze,” said Lauren Huber, 11. than the schedule of years past. That cancels perhaps the only con of the The students of SHS seem to agree- but new exam schedule, besides the fact that only slightly. In a random poll of 20 they were spread over four days instead of students that were not freshmen or new three. However, the second day of the new to the building, nine said they liked the schedule had students take bells one and new schedule, five said they hated the new two exams and then leave by 11:05, which schedule, and six people did not care. occurred the rest of the week. Attending “I forgot about last year’s schedule and school a full day on Monday and then a total I really just don’t care, I just wanna get it of 12 hours for the rest of the week equals [the exams] over with,” said Jason Robke, the same amount of time in the building 10. as the previous year’s When I got home I just schedule. For those who do not know, last I loved how we left slept the entire afteryear’s midterms before noon on three of noon, which was good the four days of the school consisted three days of testing: I would get home though because then week. exams would begin before 11:30 and be able on Tuesday with I’d be refreshed to study to do anything I wanted. first and second For the majority of the deep into the night. bell exams; the secstudents, it was a time to ond day of exams catch up on sleep, hangout, would have bells and maybe study for the three, four, and five, including the lunch next day’s exams. period; on Thursday, the final day would “When I got home I just slept the entire consist of sixth and seventh bell exams. afternoon, which was good though because Almost everyone who opposes the new then I’d be refreshed to study deep into the schedule has a tough exam on the first day. night,” said Annie Xie, 11. They have an AP class seventh bell which I think the administration did a good job does pose a slight dilemma, but that is why remodeling the exam schedule and I believe the weekend is for studying. This year, I this schedule should continue to be used in found that most teachers were reviewing the future. Though some students may suffer for exams by Thursday and Friday of the on the first day of exams, they eventually week before which also helped. reaped the benefits from Tuesday to ThursPersonally, I did not take an AP exam day. Plus, after exams we got a four-day the first day. Completing an early release weekend, a fitting reward for the hard work.
”
-Annie Xie, 11
8
opinion
Global reliance on oil: FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Dangers of earth’s energy dependence tolu OGINNI staff writer
T
he rising cost of energy is an issue that is currently a huge concern across the globe. It affects everybody in some way. It is an extremely complex problem that will naturally need a very complex solution. We use energy in almost every aspect of our lives. To wake up, we use electronic alarm clocks. To shower, we use water heated by electricity or natural gas. Our houses are also heated and cooled using electricity or natural gas. The food we eat is shipped to us and cooked using energy. Our transportation, entertainment, and communication devices are all powered by energy. Even this article was crafted with the help of energy. Modern life is impossible without energy, either in America or in the larger world. We all felt the repercussions when, due to interference by Hurricane Ike, a good portion of Ohio was without power. The time we endured with no energy is one that I am sure none of us hope to re-experience.
Problems with oil reliance
It becomes clear that our dependence on oil is a dangerous thing for not only America, but for the rest of the world as well. The two biggest reasons are that, first, oil production has either peaked or is reducing even though the demand for energy is increasing across the globe. In the oil industry, there is a so-called “Peak Oil Theory.” The Peak Oil Theory states that at the point when half of the world’s accessible reserves have been extracted, oil production will drop and demand will surpass supply. At that point, the world will be forced to begin looking more seriously at alternate energy sources. Although this is predicted to occur sometime between 2013 and 2037, some argue that it has already taken place. Oil is also major source of pollution. Extracting energy from oil has some serious and permanent effects on our environment.
When we burn these fuels, we also release greenhouse gases which have been shown to increase the average surface temperature of the earth. This, in turn, has such consequences as changes in precipitation patterns, storm severity, and sea levels, generally known as climate change. Second, the burning of these fuels is damaging our ozone layer, the earth’s protective layering from the sun’s rays. With our ozone layer depleting, diseases like skin cancer, which is caused mainly by harmful ultraviolet rays, are on a definite rise. With fossil fuels energy consumption increasing daily, very soon our planet and everything living on it will be in danger.
Solutions
In light of this, the world, particularly America, needs to reduce dependence on oil. Several solutions come to mind. First, we must wean ourselves off of oil. Energy has become a dominant part of our lifestyle, so we can clearly not completely eliminate our need for it. However, we can individually reduce the amount of energy we use. The government also needs to lead the way by investing more in public transportation. America is a huge country, and people cannot get from place to place without mechanical aid. However, this can be accomplished in a more earth-friendly way.
By increasing public transportation, we can reduce the amount of fuel burned daily from individuals driving cars. The main solution is to develop alternate energy resources. “I definitely think we should look for alternative energy sources,” said Emily Eckert, 12. “I would like to see America try to find an eco-friendly alternative to the polluting fossil fuels.” Although there is research going on in these fields and their use is being promoted in several countries in Europe, we have not made significant progress. “Our country’s dependence on oil is unavoidable at the moment... considering that we have no other reliable and efficient energy source, and finding [one] will take a long time and a lot of money,” said Eric Hodgdon, 12. The government needs to encourage investments in these areas by giving businesses significant incentives to research and develop them.
Enough talk, time for action
In conclusion, it is important that we act and act immediately. America, and the rest of the world, needs to secure a more sustainable future by reducing our dependency on oil and natural gases, building new technology to develop more sustainable energy, and changing our habits. Because America is such an important nation, if we set an example, other countries will follow. “I believe we shouldn’t rely so much on other countries for oil. We should cut back and drill in America,” said Will Spellman, 9. There are various solutions that have been suggested, such as drilling more, building more refineries, and getting the oil producing companies to produce more oil. However, the solution is to first conserve our use of nonrenewable energy, and then look for and develop alternative sources of energy.
image by libby henning
Countries that cannot afford the increasing oil prices are forced to spend the money that should be used for things like food and health on oil.
Nationally:
Because of the increasing cost of oil, Americans all over are driving less and less for business and leisure. The problem with that is that there is a large distance between cities and communities and few opportunities to take public transportation.
Locally:
Hydroelectricity: energy derived from the force of water
Alternate sources
Worldwide crisis
Internationally:
Energy consumption affects us by squeezing the budgets of families. From personal experience as well as from observing the families around us, we can see the effects of energy consumption.
Conserving at home
Understanding problems, finding solutions Geothermal power: energy generated by heat stored beneath the surface of the earth Hydrogen fuel cells: for powering cars Solar power: the utilization of energy directly from the sun Wind energy: energy derived from the natural movement of the wind Jatropha: a plant whose seeds contain oil
Recycle whenever possible Walk or ride bikes more often Turn off the light switch before leaving a room Only turn on dishwasher/washing machine when there is a full load Do not leave the water running when showering or washing dishes
fun&games
FRIDAY January 30, 2009
9
J U MB LE
jeremy SPIEGEL opinion chief
Unscramble the letters, then write one in each box to form winter words.
AELFK
MTITNES
LASFEK
CILECI
BODSWNOAR
WMONRTOSS
Now, take each circled letter and rearrange to answer this question. 1. Flake 2. Mittens 3. Flakes 4. Icicle 5. Snowboard 6. Snowstorm
What does a snowman eat for breakfast?
Sudoku
image by charlie manion
Find the answers to the January edition of sudoku on www.goaves.com.
Answer: Frosted Flakes
Join the J and we’ll help you
fit into those jeans! Young Adult Membership (ages 16 - 29) $0 enrollment fee when you join by March 31, 2009 NO long-term contract Open to all 30 day money-back guarantee FREE Start-Up Package (worth $100) World-class fitness center Indoor aquatic center FREE group exercise classes* *yoga, zumba, bosu, hip hop, spinning, boot camp, and more!
Check it out for yourself: 513.761.7500
info@mayersonjcc.org
www.JointheJ.org Manuel D. & Rhoda Mayerson JCC on The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati Campus
10 HIGHLIGHTS
this month in feature New Museum exhibit showcases ‘RACE’
feature FRIDAY January 30, 2009
And save enough energy to…
I will… Skip using the blow dryer twice a week OR Reduce the weight of my trunk by 7 pounds Lower the thermostat by 1 degree in the winter
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Make 50 blog posts Ride a Moped for 139 miles Read 748 emails Play a video game for 24 hours Recharge a laptop 120 times Surf the web for 25 hours Make 1281 blog posts Play a video game for 603 hours Recharge a laptop 3068 times Surf the web for 640 hours
Global energy demand escalates: Researchers scramble for solutions, what everyone else is doing Backspace
Enter
ellean ZHANG
A
news chief
Page 16 Learn how to build the perfect snowman
Art of palm reading,what does it say?
larm clock—check; hot shower—check; hair dryer—check; car—check; microwave oven—check; laptop—check; energy—CHECK— for now, but for later…who knows? It seems like every moment of life is a moment to use—or overuse a little bit more of the world’s finite energy bank. With everyone talking about how the world’s resources are rapidly being depleted and how energy is critical for the future of human existence—it must be made clear that this is all not just talk. “My parents keep urging me to save more energy, but honestly,
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that’s probably more out of concern for saving money,” said Sukhada Kulkarni, 11. While energy costs are being driven up by the singular force of its demand versus its availability, it does not necessarily mean that people are using more energy. Regardless, the world in its entirety is experiencing an alarming increase in demand for energy as economic output and living standards keep escalating dramatically. Developing countries like China and India are bound to demand more energy, as their populations are expected to double by 2025. Meanwhile, the U.S.—home to only 4% of the world’s population— consumes 25% of its energy; other developed countries like the U.S. will only require more energy as they continue to prosper.
But as is known, the world is not an endless supply of useable energy. Teams of researchers are currently dedicated to the quest for discovering more efficient ways to apply fossil fuels and alternative sources. But just because research is still in progress does not mean that everyone else should sit back and wait for a declaration of the ultimate solution to the world’s energy problems. There are many ways everyone can do their share to help lessen the intensity of the energy situation, without forcing dramatic lifestyle changes upon themselves. This change is actually quite marginal when compared to, say, the difficulty one may face when attempting to live as a vegan for a week, after a lifetime of omnivorous consumption. However, not everyone is convinced that their part in making
small changes will actually help the world in its mission to save more energy. "The biggest misconception people have about their environmental impact is that their small, individual actions don't make a difference,” said Sam Newland, 12. “If 6,706,993,152 people all use two plastic bags for 12 months, it takes 160,967,835,648 [plastic bags] to supply the population - a number too massive for my computer’s calculator to compute.” For those who are still not convinced of the magnitude of their individual impact, some faith must be invested in the fact that baby steps really do add up—just ask Russell Peters to share his enlightening experience with the dollar store. For more information, visit http://willyoujoinus.com.
Free bell next year?
Find perfect elective class to fit schedule rashmi BORAH
1
feature chief
What are you most likely to get in trouble for during class?
4
What assignment pattern do you prefer?
5
What classes do you despise?
A. Texting in class B. Playing Tetris on your graphing calculator C. Eating your lunch D. Doodling in your notebook
2 What classes are easiest for you?
A. Anything involving collaboration between peers or other people B. Ones where you can plug numbers and formulas into a graphing calculator or computer C. Anything involving hands-on activities D. Classes that allow you to be expressive or create something
3 What is your dream assignment ?
A. Talking to people to get information B. Using a set of formulas to solve real-world problems C. Taking what you have learned in class and doing hands-on activities D. Finding out what your imagination can create, without many rules
6
A. One with frequent assignments and deadlines to meet B. Regular homework assignments, but without stringent deadlines C. One with mostly class work, very few homework assignments and worksheet-based work in class. D. Low levels of homework, with most things done in class A. Classess where you do most of the work by yourself B. Classess where you need to create something C. Classes that do not allow you to do hands-on activities D. Classes that require you to follow a set of rules to complete something
What subjects draw you in?
A. Anything involving communication B. Math C. Science, or any lab based classes D. Anything involving art, whether drawing, painting, or sculpting
If you had...
MOSTLY A’s: The perfect class for you
would be Journalism Convergence or Yearbook. These classes are open to anyone with strong English fundamentals. Students frequently interact with peers in their class, around the building, or even in the local community. In order to create the newspaper, The Leaf, the Web site, www.goaves.org or the yearbook, “The Log”, strict deadlines need to be met. A majority of class time is allocated to meet these deadlines. For more questions, contact Mrs. Cheralyn Jardine or Mr. John Robinson.
MOSTLY C’s: Nutrition and Foods
would be the best elective class for you. At least once a week, students work in groups to make food eventually moving up to creating their own simple meal. Students learn about different types of foods, as well as how to eat healthily and how to avoid certain unhealthy foods. Once this class is completed, students can take Gourmet Foods, which involves creating more complex food items based on previous knowledge. For questions, contact Mrs. Debbie Klemt.
MOSTLY B’s: The perfect class
for you would be AP Statistics. AP Statistics, though an AP class, is open to anyone who has completed Algebra II. Statistics is an elective math class that stresses using formulas and patterns to solve real-world problems. This class is perfect for anyone who is calculator-savvy, as an extensive amount of work is done using a calculator. For an AP class, the work load is not particularly heavy. For questions, contact Dr. Keith Brackenridge.
MOSTLY D’s: Painting, Drawing
or Ceramics would be the best class for you. Students who take the first level of certain art classes can expand their options with the sequences that follow, potentially moving up into AP Art classes. Though much of the work is done in class, some homework assignments are given. For questions, Mrs. Margaret Copfer or Mrs. Kathy Ferguson.
***If you did not have a majority in any category, consider both of the electives that matched your results, and choose the one that would best fit your schedule or that interests you the most.
feature
11
FRIDAY January 11, 2009
How to:
Students reflect on two weeks of
Winter Break
keep New Years resolutions
photo by Leah Burgin
noa BELILLTI news chief
maria MARBALLI
“After the ‘Cats scored that first touchdown, looking around and seeing so many loyal fans jumping up and down, screaming, high-fiving people they never met before - I just could not help but to have chills shooting down my spine,” Brandon Sosna, 10 at the Rose Bowl in Miama, Fl (pictured bottom left).
L
“My most memorable moment was probably going to my brother’s army base. He was being promoted in ranking, and I was called up to pin the new rankings on his sleeve after his commanding officer spoke some kind words. It was a huge surprise for me, but I was very moved to be a part of such an important ceremony. Afterward we went out walking in the old city of Yaffo and then out to celebrate in Tel Aviv,” Evan Gildenblatt, 12, in Israel (pictured in middle). “The snorkeling was amazing. I was swimming with sea turtles, sea lions, sharks, Galapagos penguins, and hundreds of colorful fish. There was one instance when I started chasing after a sea lion that had rocketed under me. Of course, I am not very aerodynamic. So the chase didn’t last long, but it was still a great moment,” Leah Burgin, 12 at Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands(pictured above). “My most memorable moment is waking up at the butt crack of dawn (5:45) and we hiked to the top of diamond head. It was on the first island we went to. The hike was not too demanding and the view was amazing! Everything in hawaii is lush green and beautiful, we got to see the sunrise from the top of the mountain too and it was breath taking,“ Katelyn Hudson, 12.in Hawaii (pictured bottom right). photo by evan gildenblatt
photo by brandon sosna
photo by katelyn hutson
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spotlight editor
ose weight. Raise grades. Be nicer to the family. New Year’s resolutions- people make them, but few follow through with them. This year, commit to being the person you want to be by following these steps. Keeping resolutions isn’t easy, but with the right tips and a lot of dedication, you will surprise yourself with your success. 1.New Year’s resolutions are a lot easier said than done. So let’s be realistic- keep the goals at a reasonable level. Do not make too many, and do not make them overly difficult. One resolution is hard enough, let alone five or six. If the set goal is too overwhelming, you are setting yourself up for failure. In the same way, if the date you want to accomplish it by is too soon, things may not end as you expected. Be good to yourself and allow some extra time. Relax, take a breath, and revise those over the top resolutions. 2.Once the goals are set, let people know and have them hold you accountable. Tell people that you see on a daily basis. Maybe they can share their resolutions with you as well- that way you can keep each other going. This friend should also be someone that is approachable for help. Sometimes it is too much to meet goals on our own. Having multiple people aware of your goals will also serve as perseverance since no one wants to be caught failing. 3.Good behavior deserves a reward, don’t you think? Say the resolution is to not drink anymore soda, and it has been a whole week since you last touched it, which for you, is pretty darn good. Celebrate and go to that movie that you’ve been dying to see! 4.Keep track of your progress. Use a calendar to pace yourself. Mark the day of the desired stopping point, for example if one wants to lose weight in several months. Each day that goes by that is successful, mark it on the calendar. This tip provides a sense of satisfaction in oneself and keeps them going. If the goal does not have an ending point, keep track of it anyway. This way you can let friends and family know how well things are going and set records for yourself. 5.Create a personal plan of how you are going to go about fulfilling these goals. Do not decide that you are going to lose weight in two months without an exercise and eating plan. A game plan will keep you on track- which is exactly what is going to be required of you. Forty-six percent of those who make New Year’s resolutions are successful at keeping them six months after January. Follow these tips and be one of those forty-six determined, successful goal setters.
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feature FRIDAY January 30, 2009
news-worthy, from curriculum changes that impact the entire school to one student who marched in the Rose Bowl Parade.
Niches to be filled
photo by daphne hsu
JOSH SAMUELS, 12, HELPS junior staff writer Paul Pescovitz with formatting a sports page on www.goaves.com. On top of publishing a monthly newspaper, journalism (convergence) students maintain this news Web site using Adobe Dreamweaver, a program used by many businesses. Knowing how to use such programs broadens students’ job opportunities.
Journalism:
Gain real-world skills in high school class mary ann JIANG
O
editor-in-chief
f the 217 courses offered, only one elective does not involve locker rooms, student elections, or written exams. These features only skim the surface of why journalism (convergence), a course that combines managing The Leaf and www. goaves.com, is such a unique experience. From creating full-page enterprises on a self-selected topic in one issue per semester, to writing weekly beats posted on www.goaves.com, the opportunities found in journalism exceed what one would expect to find in a high school class. “Journalism makes you like
writing,” said Sohini Sameera, 9, a staff writer. “I didn’t even know that I was into writing when I joined.” Arguably, the most appealing aspect of creating The Leaf is the chance that is provided for using one’s voice. Facebook lets one speak succinctly to an audience of limited size, clubs can attract a sliver of attendees at each meeting, posters and announcements can advertise with confines on length and space. In contrast, newspapers capitalize on every citizen’s constitutional right to free speech and press. The quiet and vociferous alike are given space to print ideas and research for the masses to read. Writers have the opportunity to publicize anything
Anyone interested in cartoons and graphic design should also take a closer look at this course. Skilled artists and the technologically-adept can develop an impressive portfolio. Both the print and web mediums allow room for growth, experience, and wide viewership of the finished products. “I take an extreme amount of effort and time to make the graphics and I feel honored to know that what I am doing is actually being seen by my peers,” said Jake Newton, 11, graphics designer. A former editor, Casey Manning, ’08, joined the staff of the University of Vermont’s The Cynic with the noticeable differences in overall quality of the publication she was leaving and the university’s newspaper in mind. Weeks later, Manning became the youngest editor ever for the paper when she took the role of layout editor. “[When I first saw it,] I thought that The Cynic wasn’t designed very well and then I stepped in and helped with that,” said Manning. “My experience at The Leaf made it so that I could drop onto The Cynic knowing a lot that other people, even editors, didn’t know. We take it for granted on The Leaf that we learn Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator, but mastering it in high school will help wonders.” In addition, the vast amount of fields that journalism encompasses allows sports enthusiasts, fans of political discourse and the arts, and people of all interests to find their niche. But journalism (convergence) does not stop at just a newspaper
and a Web site; the mini-mag is the perfect place for students to gain experience in magazine journalism and layout design. “The mini-mag allows us to get creative and portray news and popular interest in a new and appealing light,” said Sam Cleary, 11, minimag co-editor.
Benefits to be found
Students learn about newspaper elements, how to deal with deadlines, how to work in an organization with delegated assignments, and how to think critically about sources and reporting. By the end of the first semester, students must sell a set amount of ad space for revenue which is needed to print the newspaper. Dealing in a professional manner as such also extends to conducting formal interviews and working on a team. “It’s a lot of teamwork. You depend on each other,” said Sameera. Motivated students of any grade seeking a fast-paced, hands-on co-curricular activity that elevates job competitiveness and real-world skills should seriously consider becoming a member of this awardwinning paper.
Still not convinced? Turn to pages 20 and 21 to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes of The Leaf.
image by daphne hsu
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TOP
13
FRIDAY January 30, 2009
of ‘09
1) President Barack Obama The year ahead promises to bring hopeful changes with the first African American president . Thousands gathered at the inauguration, anticipating changes for the future in the housing market, turbulent economy, and wars overseas.
2) Lollapalooza This Chicago music festival features everything from hip-hop artists to punk rock bands.
3) “Harry Potter and the HalfBlood Prince”
This highly anticipated movie is set to be released on July 19. The young wizard sets out on a quest to find out who the Half-Blood Prince is.
4) Making the Big Switch
Many this year are finding it more and more necessary to switch to alternative forms of energy, freeing themselves from high fuel prices and carbon emissions.
jacob NEWTON & kavya REDDY calendar editor
T
On Feb. 17, all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analogue airwaves and begin broadcasting in
6) Last “rent payment”
The Bengals have no further financial obligation, having made their last rent payment for Paul Brown Stadium. Tax payers helped subsidize the cost for the stadium. That is a great deal for the Bengals.
“TheDarkKnight“
calendar editor
his year, many are hopeful for a new start. They look to new beginnings in America’s historical president, in the economy (hopefully), and in their lives. Harry Potter fans look forward to yet another successful sequel from famous author, J.K. Rowling. Be sure not to miss one of the must see music festivals of the year, Lollapalooza. Many are wary to switch over from analogue TV this February. Broadcasters claim digital broadcasting will stations to offer improves picture and sound quality and has additional channels. This year, the movie industry is predicted to be exceptional. With great movies like “Gran Torino,” “Bride Wars,” and “The Unborn” released, it already seems like a good one. Good luck to all this year, and hope the dreams, hopes, and resolutions all come true.
5) Goodbye to analogue TV
End of year
‘08 wrap up
Nominated for eight academy awards, the Batman sequel has been said to be a part of “one of the best summers in memory for flat-out blockbuster entertainment” by TIME Magazine. This film was also the last major work of actor Heath Ledger, who died before the film’s release.
7) “The Long Fall” by Walter Mosley One of the country’s best known writers comes out with a mystery novel about a private investigator on March 24. The P.I. takes on an assignment in the New York City and pulls some sketchy stunts.
8) Call of Duty 5 It was announced that players will again be taken into the gritty fight of the World at War.
Beijing Olympics
Olympic number XXIX included 11,028 athletes from 204 nations, participating in 28 sports. The Olympics also brought America a total of 110 medals and was the start of the reign of swimmer Michael Phelps.
Blackout
Due to the massive force of Hurricane Ike, much of Cincinnati’s electric power was disabled, leaving many SHS students without electricity for at least a day or two.
9) ”Where the Wild Things Are” The movie based on the children’s book by Maurice Sendak is scheduled to be released on Oct. 16. This classic story is centered around the imaginary adventures of a young boy sent to his room without supper.
Sarah Palin vs. Tina Fey Political events and figures always make for good jokes on late night comedy show “Saturday Night Live.” But Tina Fey’s portrayal of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in particular drew large audiences, and even larger laughs. Brilliant? You betcha.
Mike Matthews
This tight-end for the New York Giants and SHS graduate returned to his home town after a Giants Super Bowl victory.
Britney Spears
The year began with the singer in the hospital for a mental health assessment and in the midst of a custody battle. However, by the end of the year she was being hailed a ‘“comeback queen” with a full head of a hair and a new album.
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feature
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FRIDAY January 30, 2009
ew exhibit, “RACE: Are We So Different,” examines society umber of displays at Museum Center trace racial developments
michela TINDERA
A
business manager
s much as people try to avoid it, race is an issue that has served as a backdrop in countless social, political, and economic issues around the world. And just as the first non-white president, Barack Obama, was inaugurated on Jan. 20, a new exhibit entitled, “RACE: Are We So Different?” opened at the Cincinnati Museum Center. “I think it’s a really great time to have this exhibit in Cincinnati,” said Joyce Zhang, 11. “It really applies to what is going on in our country right now.” Located within the History Museum of the Union Terminal, the exhibit contains a host of displays designed to, according to the exhibits founders, the American Anthropological Association (AAA), “foster dialogue in families and communities and help better relations among us all.” With an attendance of over 200 people on its first day, Jan. 17, the exhibit looks to be a very popular one. The exhibit details scientific as well as cultural issues that make up how American society defines race, and begins with a hands-on activity demonstrating the origins of the human species in Africa as one single race with the changing of skin tones as a product of mere genetic variation as different groups move away from their origins to other parts of the world. A particularly intriguing analogy is the one made by Jefferson Fish, professor of psychology at St. John’s University in New York, regarding an avocado. Depending upon what part of the world one is from, an avocado can be considered either a vegetable eaten in salads as it is in the US or as a fruit eaten with sugar for dessert as in various South American countries. Similarly, in America the skin tones are most often categorized into about six general groupings: black, Hispanic, white, Asian,
Native American, or mixed. However, in Brazil, their culture provides for 134 ways to label races. For example, “bem-morena” means a “very dusky” skin tone, and “morena-castanna” means having a “cashew-like” skin tone. All of these different ways to define a person’s skin color goes to show that racial differences among cultures are essentially differences created by the society itself. “American racial categories are merely one of the numerous, culture-specific schemes for reducing uncertainty about how people should respond to other people…[rather] a matter of cultural interest than of scientific substance,” said Fish. The exhibit also examines the upcoming issue in 2010 of how race should be classified on the U.S. Census. There is a hands-on survey that all museum-goers can take part in regarding what kinds of questions should be asked about defining the US population’s race. Visitors are given four options to choose from. The first option is the same way race has been questioned on the census for decades with a list of different races to check. The second is having the same races to check, however they would be in alphabetical order. The third is allowing a blank for people to write in what race they are. And the fourth option is to not ask about race at all. “RACE” traveled to six cities before arriving in Cincinnati, beginning in the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul. So far it has been received with little opposition among the public and plans are to continue its touring through 2014. “I definitely plan on attending this, it seems like a really informative thing to go see” said Katie Bitzer, 11. Tickets can be purchased for $8 (price of one museum ticket) and it runs through April 26.
Education for
Testing
THE CINCINNATI MUSEUM Center has opened a new exhibit entited “RACE: Are We So Different?”The exhibit explains the development of racial tenesion in societies around the world. The displays will be in the history museum until April 26.
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WHEN: Now through April 26, 2009 during regular museum hours. PURPOSE: To explore and convey perceptions about race and its presence in everyday life and in other countries. COST: $8, included with admission ticket to the history museum. UPCOMING EVENTS: February 16: Cincinnati Opera presents “Oh Freedom!” at 1 and 3 P.M. February 26: The Concept of Race: A Darwinian Perspective at 7:30 P.M.
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FRIDAY January 30, 2009
‘Everyone was so happy to be there – it was such a great atmosphere’
Throwing ice cubes, wearing pajamas inside out, sleeping on spoons
Teachers, students experience history in nation’s capital
Students share snow day superstitions
daphne HSU
T
associate editor
eachers left their television sets on all morning while the events at National Mall unfolded on Jan. 20. Coverage of the inaugural events was projected onto a wall in the commons. Meanwhile, at least five teachers and students (Mrs. Gretchen Washington, sophomores Emma Burgin and Kim Seymour, and seniors Sarah Brown and Danny Seymour) stood among the millions in Washington D.C. to see Barack Obama become the 44th president. “Even though it was insanely cold outside, the experience was so worth it,” said Brown. “Everyone was so happy to be there – it was such a great atmosphere.”
s.m. DIPALI staff writer
photo courtesy of emma burgin
ABOVE: THE CAPITOL building was decked out in flags on Inauguration Day. Left: Thousands of people from all over the country congregate at the National Mall to take part in this historic day. photo courtesy of mrs. gretchen washington
photo courtesy of sarah brown
IN ADDITION TO attending the inaugural speech, students got to hear prominent public figures speak, such as former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
photo courtesy of sarah brown
SARAH BROWN, 12, GESTURES at an image of Barack Obama on the JumboTron as he makes his inaugural speech.
On the eve of a possible snow day, Jenny Rissover, 9, performs many rituals in anticipation. At exactly midnight, while snowflakes drift down to the street, Rissover wears her favorite pajamas inside out and flushes the toilet, hoping the snow will stick. “I love falling asleep wishing for a snow day,” said Rissover. With the magic already working its way up to the clouds, she falls asleep with a spoon turned upside down underneath her pillow. The next morning, she looks out her window and sees the hill in her backyard covered in a white blanket of snow that she cannot wait to sled down. She and the rest of the school district have a snow day. For most students, an unexpected snow day is just what they need to lighten their week. “Sledding, hot chocolate, snowball fights, and watching friends’ noses turn bright red -- a snow day is one the best things about winter,” said Katie Bitzer, 11. No doubt, snow days themselves are exciting, with all the fun things that can be done. But, the anticipation of a snow day is half of the fun for students as they wait by their televisions the night before, hoping they get to enjoy a few extra hours of sleep. The day before a perspective snow day, superstitions fly around the classroom with shouts such as “flush the toilet at exactly midnight” or “let’s do the snow dance!” These superstitions have been around for years. They have progressed in popularity and variation, but most practices are still the same, even throughout high school. Rituals can be as simple as eating a snow cone or yelling “snow day” into the freezer. Some, on the other hand, are performed with necessary talent, such as the infamous snow dance in global language teacher Mrs. Kate Korchok’s room. “The snow day dance makes me laugh. It probably does nothing for a snow day, but I definitely have fun dancing,” said Jackie Weber, 10. Do these superstitions sound crazy? Many students find these rituals a joke, such as throwing three ice cubes into the toilet. But in the end, they just add to the finesse of snow days.
More snow day rituals
Hope, blue and white snowflake pajama pants, and snow dance (three twirls) -Willie Willis, 9 “Sometimes, I wear my clothes inside out when it looks like there is a chance. [for a snow day].” -Andrew Kozlove, 10 Text friends in anticipation and flush the toilet at midnight -Neha Tandon, 11 “Flushing the toilet at exactly 10 o’clock at night has worked in the past.” -Daniel Roth, 10
16
feature FRIDAY January 30, 2009
How to make jacob NEWTON calendar editor
PERFECT SNOWMEN
Step One
Winter blues: Season brings depression, stress emma OH
F
staff writer
The first thing to find when trying to make the perfect snowman is the perfect snow. Ideal snow conditions consist of large flakes, just below freezing temperature, snow that “squeaks” when walked on, and snowflakes that squeeze together without soaking gloves. When conditions are ideal, roll a giant ball for the base of the snowman.
Step two Repeat the above for the midsection and head. The bottom should be the largest ball and the top should be the smallest. Then, gather up some accessories to stylize your snowman. Be creative, and use items such as buttons, coal, rocks, or anything round for the eyes and mouth and a carrot or candy cane for the nose.
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Step three
After giving the snowman a hat, scarf, or other decorative objects, admire the finished product. The snowman’s days are limited, so remember to take plenty of pictures!
or many years, a sense of lethargy has accompanied the shortening days of winter. During the months of winter, most people notice tiredness, a bit of weight gain, difficulty getting out of bed, and bouts of depression. “Winter months often bring about a change in our moods and sleep patterns,” said Mrs. Valerie Nimeskern, psychology teacher. “We wake up and it is dark and sometimes by the time we get home, it is dark. Because of the shorter days and more darkness, we tend to have less time to exercise or do things outdoors, leaving us to be more sedentary.” In some cases, people experience a more exaggerated form of these symptoms. This condition is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, (or SAD). It is believed SAD is caused by a biochemical inequality in the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that regulates things such as sleep cycles, body temperature, and appetite. This imbalance is caused by the shorter hours of daylight during winter, making sunlight the most effective treatment. Other possible treatments include anti-depression medication, ionized air administration, cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation, and carefully timed supplementation of melatonin, the hormone secreted in the pineal gland in opposite proportion to the amount of light received by the retina. “Lack of daylight can affect our brains and other physiological systems. Our bodies have a natural biological clock called out circadian rhythm and the change in the seasons can disrupt this cycle,” said Nimeskern. However, most people, including a majority of high school students, only feel a minor form of depression when winter rolls in. As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, people will find they generally have or want less to do. “People need time to get outdoors and have fun, but in the winter most people are stuck inside because it’s cold,” said Ali Lopez, 10. During the winter, most high school students sleep and eat more, their grades fall, days seem dull and the general outlook for the rest of the season is filled with melancholy despair. Fortunately, these dreary winter blues can be cured with simple remedies, such as getting out of the house, adding color to rooms, exercising, or starting a new hobby. “I think a great winter depression reliever is just getting out and doing donuts in a parking lot, or playing laser tag,” said James Perryman, 9. During the dark winter months, it is important to stay positive in order to refrain from falling into more serious disorders like SAD. Many doctors recommend getting out, eating right, and taking a break from daily stress. “Any kind of winter depression can usually be cured with an adequate amount of sleep, proper nutrition, a good amount of exercise, and face to face interaction with other people versus MySpace and Facebook conversations,” said Mrs. Brenda Fisher, Student Assistance Counselor.
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FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Spreading holiday sentiment, joy
Inexpensive Valentine’s Day gift ideas gina ROMEO staff writer
B
oxes of little candy hearts with messages sent from one person to another, a color scheme of red and pink adorning store windows, all a sign that love is in the air. This can mean only one thing: the popular “Hallmark holiday”, Valentine’s Day, is approaching. On Feb. 14, Cupid’s arrow will have struck lovebirds across the country. Many will be taking their significant others out to fancy restaurants or to other romantic locations. Impressing one’s sweetheart on Valentine’s Day is a must; everything has to be just right. Romantic spot? Check. Perfect lighting and music? Check. Thoughtful gift? This requirement tends to cause a slight problem. So what does one get for their significant other on the most romantic day of the year? Expensive jewelery or clothing seems tempting, but one’s monthly paycheck does not need to be sacrificed for a simple gift. Here are some ideas for a great present without a great big price tag. Chocolates and other candies may seem clichéd, but they are no doubt the most classic of Valentine’s gifts. Nothing like sweets for a sweetie. Another simple gift is flowers, whether it be the traditional bouquet of red roses or a few big sunflowers. Flowers are a simple way to express affection and love. It might help to know what type of flowers to get, as many people have particular favorites aside from the traditional roses or sunflowers. For music-lovers, a great gift would be a burned CD, complete with cheesy love hits or songs that mean a lot in the relationship. This twist on the classic mix tape is both thoughtful and compassionate, and can easily be created on iTunes or most other music programs. Creative types can show off their love by writing their Valentine a poem, song, or making them a homemade card or jewelry. Most craft stores sell giftmaking items at low costs, and the clearance section can hold some creative and very inexpensive items to use. Valentine’s Day gifts can be simple and unique. All they need are a personal touch. Any valentine will fall in love with these one of a kind gift ideas.
image courtesy of ehow.com
Lights, candles,
festivities, fun Celebrating
Chinese image by libby henning
Students’ thoughts on Valentine’s Day...
” ”
I used to think Valentine’s Day was a stupid “Hallmark holiday”, but now I’m starting to see its validity as a celebration of love.
-Jeffrey Silverstein, 10 I like celebrating it, but I can see how it would be kind of depressing for some people who aren’t in a relationship.
-Hannah Brand, 12
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I think that it’s always fun to exchange gifts, no matter what the holiday is. I’d never turn down a box of chocolates.
-Jordan Edelheit, 11
It can be a fun holiday, but kind of stressful if you want to get someone a good gift.
-Drew Gelwicks, 9
New Year
jimmy CHAU staff writer
The words “New Year’s Eve” bring to mind thoughts of time with family, a big dinner, and of course, the giant ball dropping at Times Square. “New Year’s at my house is just spending time with my family and watching all the countdown shows,” said Angela Messina, 11 But while the students of SHS were watching Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve and other New Year’s Eve countdown shows, people on the other side of the world in Asia were treating it as any other night. This is because countries in Southeast Asia follow a different calendar. It is known as the lunar calendar which is based on the moon’s cycles. Because it is different, the date of the New Year varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar most here are used to. This year, Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year as it is widely called outside of China, will fall on January 26, long after the U.S. celebrates the New Year. “During Chinese New Year, there is always great food and fun. Along with all the parties, it is a great time to remember the traditions such as the zodiac and the arts,” said Erik Bao, 9. The day of Lunar New Year is the first in a 15-day celebration ending with a festival of lights known as the Lantern Festival. Throughout this time, family members gather and observe many traditions. One tradition is giving friends and family red envelopes filled with money. The color red is supposed to represent good luck and ward off the bad spirits of the past year and the one coming up. Another custom is a traditional dragon dance that involves a team of men raising a dragon on sticks above their heads and performing a series of acrobatic moves only the most skilled people can perform. “The dragons are very vibrant and make the holiday even more festive than it already is,” said Amy Poliner, 10. The Lantern Festival at the end of the 15 days is mainly for children. On the night of the festivities, children go outside with paper lanterns and participate in a night of fun and games; signifying the end of the celebration. How or when the New Year is celebrated does not matter. It comes down to being with family and starting the New Year with a clean slate.
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feature FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Cold temps bring warm drinks: kelsey DRAPKIN & alyssa HOEPER
A
staff writer
staff writer
s the weather man predicts colder temperatures for the nearing months, the search to discover that perfect hot drink and a cozy place to relax begins… but where to start? Locally, there are over 50 different coffee shops, each with their own unique personality. Along with the drinks they serve, coffee shops offer a soothing environment for studying or chatting with friends. The large number of coffee shops in the area makes it hard for SHS students and faculty to decide which coffee shop to choose, but this variety makes it easier to discover the perfect shop for each individual. These coffee shops range from a generic Starbucks or Caribou Coffee to some more Cincinnati-based shops, such as Highlands or Kaldi’s. When looking for the perfect place to go, keep in mind certain aspects of each shop that make them unique.
Atmosphere
Each coffee house has its own feel. Some are homier than others, while some focus on feeling more modern. Many local-based shops tend to be more to the cozier side of the spectrum. Chain shops tend on be more professional, most having WiFi access. While WiFi is usually found at Starbucks and Caribou, it can be found at Cincinnati’s local shops. The shops near UC’s campus are very likely to have access due to the amount of students that go there to study. Some shops,like Rohs Street Café, lure the artsy type while others, like Roxx, attract gamers, and many appeal to students. Finding the one that relates to each person’s unique attributes is key for satisfaction. For example, Sitwell’s is a very mix-match shop, with random tables and chairs, quotes lining the walls, bottle collections on shelves, and even a jukebox in the corner. This shop is very upbeat and on one of the main streets in Clifton, creating an environment unlike many others. In contrast, Kaldi’s, located on the outskirts of downtown, is mellow, darker, and quieter. The bookstore in the back tempers any business in the front, creating an environment available for a wide variety of purposes. Any shop that a potential customer would enter will assuredly have its own personality. Even walking into two different Starbucks will feel different.
Locations and environment
Distance plays a major role when deciding which coffee shop to chose. Some cafés are located within a couple miles of one’s house or school, but others may require more traveling. Depending on where the coffee shop is located, that will indicate what types of people found there. Shops near college campuses attract more college age students. Typically, there will be students studying there as well as friends just hanging out. This gives anyone a great chance to meet new, interesting people. Also, these are the shops more likely to host events like open mic night or have bands play. Shops within strip malls and businesses seem to have a more professional feel, directed toward study and work. Other shops near middle or high schools have a great environment for younger students. For example, Roxx, located just down the road from SHS gets around 50% of its business from the
high school or one year graduates. This convenient location provides the perfect opportunity to hang out with other classmates. While many of Cincinnati’s locally based coffee shops are in the Clifton area, there are other shops around town. These include The Coffee Shop on Madison or The Main Cup in Milford.
Times, prices
Coffee shops are some of the only places that are open at extreme times. In Cincinnati, it is difficult to find places that are open past 10 p.m. Coffee shops offer a perfect hang out for odd hours; most are open early for the morning rush and late for those who enjoy staying out into the night hours. Some shops open as early as 5 a.m. and may not close until 2 or 3 a.m. Roxx, for instance, is open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays. Prices can also be a huge factor when deciding where to buy coffee. For those who don’t have a lot of extra cash, it is important to find somewhere that is affordable but still tasty. A coffee that is only $1 in one place could be $2.50 somewhere else. Keep in mind that some varieties of drinks are more expensive than others. When comparing prices, make sure that similar items are being compared.
Events, entertainment
Most coffee shops have events that make them stand out from others. On boring days, coffee shops can be used for great entertainment. Places such as Rohs Street Café hold live music events Thursday through Saturday nights. These evenings can range anywhere from jazz, to open mic, or even poetry. Sitwell’s hosts art shows and provides upcoming artists with the chance to show their work. Roxx has special gaming tournaments, parties, and even overnight, lock-in gaming sessions. For anyone over 18, places like Gypsy Café double as a coffee shop and hookah bar and some shops like Highland’s even provide alcoholic beverages to those who are of age. Any coffee house is a great place to meet new and interesting people of all different backgrounds and upbringings. Coffee shops gather people together, making a diverse environment that attracts many customers to the unique environment.
How it affects SHS
On average some 75 percent of students buy coffee at least once during the week. According to MSNBC, a 16-ounce Starbucks coffee has about 320 milligrams of caffeine. It would take more than nine 12-ounce Cokes to get that much caffeine from soda. Healthy or not, the National Sleep Foundation poll proves around 75 percent of teens drink at least one caffeinated drink a day, and 31 percent drink two or more. The National Coffee Association says young people are the fastest growing coffee-drinking niche. The number of coffee shops is growing 10 percent annually and more and more are trending to become specialty shops. They are also growing in popularity and are becoming new social hang outs, open for anyone to try. So, SHS, decision time. What’s the best shop for you?
image by charlie manion
THE IMMENSE SELECTION of coffee shops available to high school students may at times seem like a towering debacle teens have to face. With the variety available, it is best to ponder the best fitting coffee shop for each individual. Keep in mind that each coffee shop has a unique personality that makes it stand out from the rest.
image by jake newton
feature 19 Morning caffeine jolt wakes students Sitwell’s Roxx Cincinnati samples FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Location: Blue Ash on Cornell Rd. Unique Features: gaming cafe, 14
Location: Clifton on Ludlow Ave Unique Feature: serves
vegetarian food, full breakfasts, salads, and sandwiches. Specialty drink: vanilla astral buddha espresso, soy milk, chai, and vanilla) Atomosphere: quirky, mix-match, upbeat, artsy, antiquey
Rohs Street Cafe Location: Clifton on Rohs Street Unique Feature: right by UC cam-
pus, hosts music events nearly every weekend, features local artists and their crafts Specialty drink: known for traditional Italian Cappicino Atomosphere: comfortable, open, art on the walls
Other Local Shops • The Euopean Cafe (Montgomery) • Coffee Please (Madeira) • Highlands (Clifton) • The Main Cup (Milford) • Coffee Emporium (Hyde Park) • Coffee Shop on Madison (Oakley) • LookOut Joe (Mt. Lookout) • Baba Budans (Clifton) • Gypsy Cafe (Clifton) • Heavens Roast (Loveland) • Kidd Coffee (Mason) • Mammoth Coffee and Cafe (Newport) • Morning Star Coffee Creation (Symmes Towp) • Zen and Now (Bridgetown)
coffee terms SHS Says.... Cappuccino : equal parts of espresso, steamed milk and frothed milk (prepared with much less steamed or textured milk than the caffè latte) Creme based : uses creme as the bases of the drink rather than coffee Frappuccino : an iced or chilled cappuccino. Espresso : the concentrated coffee beverage that comes in “shots.” Latte : an espresso shot with steamed milk, usually topped with foamed milk. Mocha (or cafe mocha) : similar to a latte or a cappuccino with chocolate syrup or powder added. Your size choices are usually: short (8 oz) tall (12 oz) grande (16 oz) venti (20 oz)
” ”
I like to go to Starbucks, but it’s extremely expensive and the drinks are really bad for you. I’ve been wanting to try a different place like Roxx, somewhere cheaper and that’s not a chain.
-Rebecca Pollak, 10
Roxx is really fun. I’m pretty much here everyday. The coffee is really great but I come mostly for the environment.
” ”
-Irina Skorobogat, ‘08
computers with 24 inch moniters, two large screen TVs with XBOX 360, Playstation3, and a Wii Specialty drink: Candiccino coffee drink flavored like candy bars Atomosphere: directed toward gamers
Kaldi’s Location: downtown Cincinnati on Main Street
Unique Feature: long history,
life-long customers, book store with thousands of old books Specialty drink: none Atomosphere: bar and coffee, book store in back, artsy, friendly
numbers
I walk to the Starbucks in Montgomery almost every day after school to get tall hot chocolate. It’s really nice to walk around downtown Montgomery.
-Will Spellman, 9
The best coffee shop in town is the Coffee Shop on Madison. The service is awesome and the coffee is amazing!
-Ben Rosen, 12
50
percent of population that drinks espresso, cappuccino, latte, or iced/ cold coffees
24,000
coffee shops across the country
200-300
average number of cups of espresso and coffee based drinks sold per day by The Espresso Drive-thru Business
400 million cups of coffee are consumed each day in the United States
75
percent of all the caffeine consumed in the United States is from coffee
27
percent of U.S. coffee drinkers that add a sweetener to their coffee courtesy of www.coffeeforums.com
feature 19 Morning caffeine jolt wakes students Sitwell’s Roxx Cincinnati samples FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Location: Blue Ash on Cornell Rd. Unique Features: gaming cafe, 14
Location: Clifton on Ludlow Ave Unique Feature: serves
vegetarian food, full breakfasts, salads, and sandwiches. Specialty drink: vanilla astral buddha espresso, soy milk, chai, and vanilla) Atomosphere: quirky, mix-match, upbeat, artsy, antiquey
Rohs Street Cafe Location: Clifton on Rohs Street Unique Feature: right by UC cam-
pus, hosts music events nearly every weekend, features local artists and their crafts Specialty drink: known for traditional Italian Cappicino Atomosphere: comfortable, open, art on the walls
Other Local Shops • The Euopean Cafe (Montgomery) • Coffee Please (Madeira) • Highlands (Clifton) • The Main Cup (Milford) • Coffee Emporium (Hyde Park) • Coffee Shop on Madison (Oakley) • LookOut Joe (Mt. Lookout) • Baba Budans (Clifton) • Gypsy Cafe (Clifton) • Heavens Roast (Loveland) • Kidd Coffee (Mason) • Mammoth Coffee and Cafe (Newport) • Morning Star Coffee Creation (Symmes Towp) • Zen and Now (Bridgetown)
coffee terms SHS Says.... Cappuccino : equal parts of espresso, steamed milk and frothed milk (prepared with much less steamed or textured milk than the caffè latte) Creme based : uses creme as the bases of the drink rather than coffee Frappuccino : an iced or chilled cappuccino. Espresso : the concentrated coffee beverage that comes in “shots.” Latte : an espresso shot with steamed milk, usually topped with foamed milk. Mocha (or cafe mocha) : similar to a latte or a cappuccino with chocolate syrup or powder added. Your size choices are usually: short (8 oz) tall (12 oz) grande (16 oz) venti (20 oz)
” ”
I like to go to Starbucks, but it’s extremely expensive and the drinks are really bad for you. I’ve been wanting to try a different place like Roxx, somewhere cheaper and that’s not a chain.
-Rebecca Pollak, 10
Roxx is really fun. I’m pretty much here everyday. The coffee is really great but I come mostly for the environment.
” ”
-Irina Skorobogat, ‘08
computers with 24 inch moniters, two large screen TVs with XBOX 360, Playstation3, and a Wii Specialty drink: Candiccino coffee drink flavored like candy bars Atomosphere: directed toward gamers
Kaldi’s Location: downtown Cincinnati on Main Street
Unique Feature: long history,
life-long customers, book store with thousands of old books Specialty drink: none Atomosphere: bar and coffee, book store in back, artsy, friendly
numbers
I walk to the Starbucks in Montgomery almost every day after school to get tall hot chocolate. It’s really nice to walk around downtown Montgomery.
-Will Spellman, 9
The best coffee shop in town is the Coffee Shop on Madison. The service is awesome and the coffee is amazing!
-Ben Rosen, 12
50
percent of population that drinks espresso, cappuccino, latte, or iced/ cold coffees
24,000
coffee shops across the country
200-300
average number of cups of espresso and coffee based drinks sold per day by The Espresso Drive-thru Business
400 million cups of coffee are consumed each day in the United States
75
percent of all the caffeine consumed in the United States is from coffee
27
percent of U.S. coffee drinkers that add a sweetener to their coffee courtesy of www.coffeeforums.com
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feature
‘We have major issues’: FRIDAY January 30, 2009
chad CHESSIN & brandon SOSNA staff writer
W
staff writer
ith a great newspaper comes great responsibility. Producing an edition of The Leaf is not simply about writing articles, gathering pictures, and jamming them together. The day-to-day operations leading up to deadline day are the instrumental parts of delivering a success-
ful newspaper to the readers. Weekly short articles, generally focusing on school events, called “beats,” are used to improve writing skills under the guidance of teacher Mrs. Cheralyn Jardine. Mr. John Robinson instructs on the technological aspect of journalism, with the help of Adobe computer programs. There are a variety of tools and
assets SHS journalists must have in their arsenals to survive in the battleground that is the newspaper room. Students must have a love for writing, the ability to stay calm despite multiple assignments, and an insatiable work ethic. These skills combined with those absorbed through teachings come together to make a SHS journalist.
Every student writes the best article possible, knowing it is their responsibility to their fellow writers and the readers to do so. Everything is then pieced together on hectic deadline week. Students and teachers scramble to produce the paper, finishing the task exhausted and ready for bed. But it is not that simple. Money
does not just fall off the trees in room 115. The paper must be funded. To do this, students are required to sell 300 inches of advertising space each year. It proves to be a difficult, frustrating task for many. This is the manner in which an edition of The Leaf is created, as a result of hard work and determination.
images by brandon sosna
STAFF MEMBERS WORK diligently to “stuff” the newspapers with the insert advertisements sold by the students. Each month when the paper is returned from the printer, the students are responsible for filling the paper with the advertisements. This is just one of the many tasks the staff must complete in order to distribute the newspapers to the building.
Leaf lovers As The Leaf arrives on their second-bell teacher’s desk, these students are full of excitement and anticipation. There are many such students in this school. So who are these “Leaf lovers?” Let them speak for themselves.
Steps to success Creating The Leaf is a very rigorous process. Many students must contribute to each of the following steps in order to produce a successful issue of the newspaper.
”
I am a very big fan of The Leaf. It has quality information and is definitely worth reading. It keeps me informed on what is going on in and around the school.
-Hayley Moore, 9
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Note cards
Students are handed a note card on which they are to give three to five story ideas for the upcoming issue. Staff members must consider that the newspaper is to be 80% preview and 20% review. These selections will make up the next issue of ‘The Leaf.’
”
The Leaf is the best part of every month. I love reading what is going on in the community and at school and what my peers think about it. It’s a great connector for the student body and I feel comfortable saying that I love The leaf!’
-Jeffrey Silverstein, 10
Students then select a story from a list of all ideas compiled by the entire staff. Typically, they will choose two stories they would like to write. This allows the students to be able to decide what they wish to write about and avoid subjects disinteresting to them.
Choosing stories
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3
”
It’s nice to have a newspaper that keeps us up to date on current affairs, made by our peers. The Leaf is jam-packed with information both to entertain and notify us.
-Maxim Coninx, 11
Final story ladder
Following story selections, story ladders are posted all around the journalism room. These lists tell what stories are being written, by whom, what page they will fall on, and who will the page editors will be. Students are then officially held responsible for their article.
Students are then given approximately two weeks to write their stories. This is an important step. Staff members must research their stories, collect information, and seek quotes from fellow SHS students. Articles are also a large part of the quarter grade.
Complete articles
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feature
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FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Debunkifying procedures, programs that create each edition of The Leaf Productive Programs Four classroom necessities
If a student wants to construct top of the line graphics, they will consult Illustrator. This program uses a variety of shapes and templates to create images and designs. The Dell desktop computers on this page were produced using this program.
To design the newspaper, students work with InDesign. This program allows students to set up a page with the correct formatting, insert pictures, apply text, and set up any info-graphics. The program allows a page to be created in newspaper format. Without InDesign, the newspaper would be impossible to produce. For all the Web site work on www. goaves.com, students use Dreamweaver. This program can create HTML documents to post online, design portfolio pages, and maintain the yearbook. Dreamweaver is mastered by a team of webmasters, who use it to run the Web site. Without Dreamweaver, Goaves could not exist. In order to create graphic designs for the Web site and newspaper, students use Photoshop. This program allows the designer to produce and edit images. Many of the infographics and pictures present in this very issue of The Leaf were generated in Photoshop.
Staff editorials The Leaf is a nationally acclaimed, award winning newspaper. Why? Because of the excellent staff, superb teachers, and flawless program.
5
Pages designed
Each page is assigned a page editor, which is usually a veteran member of the staff. It is their responsiblility to edit the stories on their page, place them on the page, add visuals, plus other infographics. This requires mostly after school work.
”
”
You still get a thrill seeing your name inked in hundreds of copies of a paper. I love newspaper because it’s so powerful having a voice and medium like this. It really makes you appreciate being American and at this school.
I would definitely encourage anyone who is thinking about joining the staff to do so. My freshman year, I wasn’t that enthusiastic about it, but it obviously has grown on me. It has been a great experience.
-Mary Ann Jiang, 12
-Will Johnston, 12
When the page editors complete their assigned pages, they are taped to the large glass windows in room 115. There they can be seen by all members of staff, who can be quick to point out obvious errors. This is mostly used as a tool to measure who has done their job and who has not.
Pages finished
6
7
Copy editing
No one on the staff is perfect. As deadline day is completed, the finished products are all printed out page by page. Then, staff members take home a few pages and copy edit them, looking at headlines, captions, photo credits, and all other small details that can often be overlooked.
”
I have found my niche in room 115. It’s the place where I spend a lot of my time, probably more than is healthy. I have especially appreciated the mentoring capabilities of Mr. John Robinson - he is my role model.
-Leah Burgin, 12
Deadline day is arguably the most vital day in the process of creating an issue of the paper. By this day, the newspaper must be completed for distribution. Many staff members stay at school well into the evening editing, correcting, and polishing the paper, oftentimes staying past dinner time.
Deadline day
images by jake newton
8
9
Sent to printer
The following day the pages are made into PDF documents and sent to the printing company. From there, they print 2,000 copies of the newspaper to be distributed to the school during second bell. Once the paper arrives, they are stuffed with advertisements and placed on carts for distribution.
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feature
Palm analysis
FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Unlocking life’s innermost secrets emily COHEN
P
staff writer
alm readings have been in existence since 2000 B.C. It is an ancient art that the Greeks performed and the tradition eventually spread around the world. Readings reveal traits about individuals and can even predict future events. The lines on the palm are not fixed from birth. As a person progresses through life, the palm lines will form and change according to their experiences. Therefore, everyone has their own unique reading.
Left hand, right hand
The first step is choosing the hand to read. The dominant hand is said to show future events while the nondominant hand is said to show past experiences. Studies show that the left hand is a better representation of personality while the right hand reveals more logical traits. Both hands will show the characteristics, but both should be analyzed to get the most accurate results.
Major Lines
There are four main lines on the palm: the Life Line, Head Line, Heart Line, and Fate Line. Each line indicates a separate area of a person’s life. These lines are the guide to unlocking the unknown. The Life Line represents the length of a person’s life. The Head Line deals with a person’s beliefs, philosophy, and attitude on how they approach life. It is a representation of mentality and intelligence. “I am a logical person and have a straight headline. It’s amazing that a
1
straight line can tell I’m logical, ” said Robby Meyer, 10. The Heart Line deals with all the emotions and events that are centered around love. The Fate Line tells the effect society and world events have upon a person’s life. If the line has many breaks or changes of direction, it means that they are prone to many changes in their life from circumstances they cannot control. “It is interesting how often the readings are true,” said Lauren Huber, 11. The major lines on the hand will give an individual a very general reading about their life. If one seeks more, they must journey into the minor lines.
Minor Lines
The Health Line deals with a person’s health. The line starts somewhere between the ring and pinky finger and extends down across the palm. If the line is straight or missing that indicates no health problems for that person. If the line is broken or wavy, then that person may have potential health problems. “Even though I have a straight line and have good health I do not believe that the line predicts that fate,” said Colleen Bird, 11. The Fame Line focuses on the social rewards of success. On the left hand the line is to the left of the Fate Line and extends upward. On the right hand it is to the right of the Fate Line. If the line is strong and clear that
Life Line
indicates both distinction and satisfaction of that person’s life’s work. If the line appears broken, this is an indication of the ups and downs of a person’s social recognition. If the line travels to the ring finger this indicates fame in the arts. The Money Line shows the skill for making money. The Money Line can exist in a lot of different places, but usually starts from the base of the thumb and extend up or horizontally. A line that runs from the base of the thumb, to below the index finger ending in a star, indicates a natural talent for moneymaking. A line running from the base of the thumb to below the middle finger indicates money made in business. A line from the Head Line that runs to the ring finger, cutting through the Fame Line, indicates money acquired through luck and by surprise. The final minor line is the Travel Line that starts from the edge of the palm at the heel, opposite the thumb, and extends horizontally. The Travel Line indicates trips that will have a penetrating impact on a person’s life. If the Travel Line intersects with the Life Line, a person’s health will be affected by a trip. Lines that cross the Travel Line foreshadow danger or problems. If the line has a break in it then that shows a delay in that person’s travel.
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5
2 4
1
image by libby henning
THIS PALM SHOWS the four major lines on the hand. The Life Line, 1, Head Line, 2, Heart Line, 3, and Fate Line, 4. The Angle of Luck, 5, is the area between the Life Line and the Head Line. The greater the space the more luck a person possesses. The smaller the space the less luck they posses.
2 3 4 Head Line
Heart Line
A deep long line stretching across the palm indicates a logical and direct way of thinking. The straighter the line, the more realistic the thinking, and the deeper the line, the better the memory.
If the line extends boldly across the entire palm, then the person tends to look for those whose status rises above their own, and has great respect for them.
A swooping semicircular line around the base of the thumb shows great strength and enthusiasm, as well as an improved love life.
If the line is short and curves upwards, then a person tends to have a short attention span. A long line that curves upwards represents more of a retentive memory.
A selfish and materialistic look at love is characteristic to those whose Heart Line starts below the middle finger. The person is more concerenced about physical things like possessions.
If the line is straight and sticks close to the side of the palm, then this is a sign of a limited exploration of love and a very cautious nature.
A broken line shows a distinct change in one’s way of thinking, They may experience nervous breakdowns.
A normal and content love life is represented by the line that starts beneath the index finger.
If the Life Line is long and deep, then this represents a long life full of vitality and health. A short line, if strong and deep, also shows great vitality in life and the ability to overcome health problems.
Fate Line
If the Fate Line is joined to the Life Line, it indicates that a person is a self-made individual. Often they will know early in life what their life’s aspirations are.
If the Fate Line has a break at the Head Line and goes on, this indicates that an individual will successfully change their job in their middle years.
a&e
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FRIDAY January 30, 2009
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ exceeds expectations What could have been cheesy plot, proves to be Academy Award contender meena THATIKUNTA
I
staff writer
concede. I did not want to see “Slumdog Millionaire.” Just listen to the plot; it screams cheesy: Guy from the slums gets on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” and finds his true love. Insert ultra-cheesy 60s Bollywood dream sequence here. Begrudgingly, I went to the movies anyways on A) a few hours of sleep (so, if need be, I could sleep through the movie) and B) with a friend (to wake me up if it got good). Deepthi Nalluri, 12, and I enjoyed gabbing loudly throughout the previews like classic Indian movie-goers. But we immediately halted once the opening lines of “O...Saya” hit the audience with incredible cinematic charisma. The movie is immediately gripping. The plot description I had heard is a dilution of “Slumdog’s” fantastic exploration of modern India and the tortured psyche. The piece consists of flashbacks to Jamal Malik’s (Dev Patel) past, explaining how he knew the answer to each question. His flashbacks are cleverly constructed with each question unearthing fundamental parts of the Indian culture (without the dry lens of a textbook author). Under the guise of modern India, “Slumdog” subtly exposes pieces of India’s past that still plague the present, such as the corrupted law enforcement whose principles are far from “serving justice.” However, at some points scenes misrepresent India and feed on stereotypes ingrained in Western conception. Most noticeably was the Hindu raid on the Muslim village.
‘Parade’ set to hit stage in March
sam CLEARY minimag editor
This year the theater department will bring a brand new musical to the stage: the 1998 Broadway hit, “Parade.” The plot begins in Atlanta in 1913, and follows the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who is put on trial and accused of murder. “Parade has awesome music, and is both concerning and dramatic. It’s also a true story and I believe that people will find it compelling,” said Mr. John Whapham, director. Stars Josh Goldman, 11, as Leo Frank, and Becky Caspersz, 11, as Lucille Frank, lead an immense cast of 64 people. Whapham looks forward to working with the challenge of directing his biggest cast yet. “I am excited to be participating in Parade because of the amazing cast and crew. I am looking forward to working with the talented people in the show,” said Goldman. Parade will hit the stage this spring, and run March 5, 6, 7, 12 and 13. The dramatic musical brings something new to the table all together. “It’s a show they haven’t seen before. It’s new, and I think a lot of people will like that.” said Whapham.
Nominations announced, film expert picks important winners for Feb. 22
After seeing all of the films nominated for Academy Awards, I made these picks for what should win in the five main categories.
staff writer
Best Picture
Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor
Mickey Rourke- The Wrestler
Best Actress
Meryl Streep- Doubt
Best Supporting Actress Penelope Cruz- Vicky Christina Barcelona
Best Supporting Actor Heath Ledger- The Dark Knight
this month
Apple makes price changes for Itunes a&e chief
Winners predicted for Oscars:
gina ROMEO
ichela’s musings
michela TINDERA
The scene is unrealistic, and fuels the myth that there is great and violent animosity between the two in India. Therein lies the only fault--the fact that only those versed in Indian culture could discern which scenes and nuances were actually plausible–leaving others with the Hollywood history lesson. Never a good study guide. As a whole, I was pleasantly surprised to see an engaging portrait of modern India. “I was going to watch the movie online but my friend told me that I need to see it in theaters just because the music is so powerful,” said Christen Corcoran, 12. The musical score was especially impressive, a collaboration between prolific Bollywood composer, A.R. Rahman and Sri-Lankan, mash-up style rapper, M.I.A. “M.I.A., she’s a real powerhouse. Somebody played me her CD and I thought, Who’s this girl? She came here and knew all my work, had followed my work for ages. I said ‘Cut the crap,’ this ‘my idol’ crap. You have to teach me,” said Rahman in an interview with New York Magazine. The collaboration is a surprisingly elegant melding of the many influences of each musician. Both understood each scene’s gravity and brilliantly complement the film with the musical score. Director Danny Boyle succeeds in bringing modern India to the screen in a way that ingeniously lends itself to a specificity of culture and soaring universality to be felt by all. photo courtesy of www.guardian.co.uk
‘I believe that people will find it compelling’
m
in a&e...
Who is the artist spotlight this month? Hint: Pineapples. Turn to pg. 24 for more. Want to go see an Oscar contender? Check out pg. 25 for some ideas.
Truth. I, am not a pirate. I do not sport swash-buckling poofy pants or shirts, eye patches, or peg legs, but along with that, I do not illegally download music, television, movies, or the like. I am not here trying to teach a moral lesson about stealing. I have my own reasons for not owning the various programs necessary to pirate music. Mainly, my computer is so slow that as I sit here writing this column, I am often forced beyond my own will to wait a good thirty seconds before I can type a sentence. My preferred word processing software cannot process what I am typing at a humanly feasible speed. Although I do have the slight nagging of my conscience that some of the lesser known artists I listen to actually do deserve the $0.99 it costs to purchase a song off of Itunes. But, regardless of my lack of upto-date electronics and/or nagging conscience, it has come to my attention that starting in April Itunes will be raising its prices. The once standard $0.99 song will transfer into a $0.69 price for all “old” songs, deemed to be released at least six years before the present day, or (here is where the tears of pain and anguish come in), $1.29 for each “new” song, all those released after the six-year “mark.” In fact, according to “The Los Angeles Times,” Apple will “embrace” these new prices. Personally, I do not see this as any kind of business move that should be “embraced,” kissed, hugged or any other public displays of affection. In my opinion, this kind of change warrants some pushing, shoving, and possible kicking inflicted upon the Apple execs. As a consumer who does make an effort to frequent the Itunes store, I am quite upset over the matter. What am I supposed to do with my $15 gift card now? Buy 11.63 songs? The thing myself and many others enjoyed so much was the simplicity of the $0.99 song; less than four quarters for four to five minutes of pure musical bliss. Not anymore.... And though the $0.69 deal may seem like a winner, I already have most of the older songs I want. This is because I have CD’s of them, or I already bought them for $0.99. Excuse me Apple, may I have my $0.30 multiplied by X number of songs refund now? Apple explained at the annual MacWorld Conference and Expo in early January that, in hopes to increase music sales, products can now be bundled for $1.29. Their hopes are that the music customer who used to spend $100 dollars on music per year, pre-mp3, era will return to that kind of spending after their expenditure of $25-$30 per year. I may sound like a simpleton, but this kind of price change and proposed bundling of songs seems just too complex for my tastes. I turn to the Itunes store for that one song I have been hearing on the radio, not that one song and a bonus track of probably lesser quality. My ipod only has so much memory on it anyway. And soon enough, I may be turning to other—ahem (or should I say “arrr”)—services for my music. All I can say is I will be making quite a few purchases before April rolls around, and then, I take a very, very long hiatus from the Itunes store.
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a&e
FRIDAY January 30, 2009
with Otis Hall, 12 daphne HSU
associate editor
At the beginning of the year, you said you didn’t really like doing portraits. Now, the Scholastics portfolio you recently submitted features all self portraits. How did you get to where you are now?
Whatever they can. 90 percent of people look at my work and say, “Oh, it’s really funny” or “Oh, it’s really goofy.” But then every now and then, someone will say, “Well, why would the pineapple say that?” And I’m like, “Yes! That’s it!” So I just want people to think.
I think my photography is very self-reflective, so I think it just has a lot to do with me changing. I’m kind of an anti-social person, but at the same time I still like people and I want to be accepted, but it’s kind of hard. It was a matter of me trying to get more with people and trying to examine people more. I’m still examining emotions and thoughts and ideas, but now I’m doing it with myself because I’m the only person that I’m always around.
What does photography mean to you?
You’ve been doing images with speech bubbles that either make a statement, or are silly like the one with a pineapple and quantum physics. Where did you get your inspiration for that? I don’t know if there really was an inspiration. I like to communicate ideas, but I still don’t want to be narrow-minded and have the person looking at it to have one thing in mind. The cool thing about the speech is that it says something, but it can be interpreted so many different ways, especially because a lot of the things I do say may seem nonsensical or seem just funny on the surface. But if it makes people think, I think that’s what most important.
What do you want viewers to get out of your images?
I find that photography is a good outlet for everything – creatively, emotionally, and mentally. It just gives me something to do: if I go to school, skip a bunch of my classes, and hang out in the dark room printing and then go home and sleep the rest of the day, that’s a productive day to me.
You use mainly traditional photography – you use a 120 film camera. For one thing, I like the fact that you have a lot less power. I wouldn’t call myself a purist, but whatever you wanted a picture of, that’s what you [get]. I don’t like messing around with the contrast, photo courtesy of otis hall or anything. All I care about is having a good, decently clear picture – that’s what the 120 film gives me. It just works. I just know how to do traditional stuff.
You’re pursuing photography in college at the Art Institute of Chicago. Are you going to do it as a career or are you still figuring it out? It’s the only thing I really can see myself being happy doing, so if I could make money off of it, that would be awesome. All I know is that I don’t want it to be over when high school’s over.
Winter war movies disappoint many ‘Valkyrie’ fails to meet viewer expectations sam CLEARY minimag editor
F
or Hollywood, winter seems to be the season of ill-produced war movies. Just like a juniorhigh crush or a second-grade obsession with Pokemon, the moviemaking industry goes through its phases, too. In 2008-2009, big-time producers and corporate studios, like Weinstein, are channeling their resources and bottomless funds toward the production of mediocre, half-baked attempts at depicting ‘the untold stories’ of our planet’s most destructive wars. We have seen it before, and we will continue to see it. For now, it is best to just let the ‘stars’ do their thing, and hope this winter fling ends quickly and painlessly. When the trailer for “Valkyrie” was released early in November, it took everyone by surprise, to say the least, even I read into it. Then it hit me like a colossal slap in the face from that ‘magical place’ we call Beverly Hills: ‘Tom Cruise.’ “Mission Impossible” Tom Cruise? “Minority Report” Tom Cruise? “Vanilla Sky” Tom Cruise? Apparently someone missed their audition and the production company got stuck with scientology’s psycho stepson, who, aside from Nicholas Cage, is just about the most predictable actor in the business. Guns, shiny sunglasses, and outof-proportion historical fallacies: the epitome of Cruise in “Valkyrie.” Aside from the obviously fictional exploitation, wide-lens shots of an oblivious Cruise walking up and down unknown cooridors, and the occasional stutter, one could say that going to see this blockbuster is a perfect way to waste ten dollars. Just edging out Owen Wilson’s eye-melting performance in “Behind Enemy Lines,” Cruise has my vote for one of the worst war heroes ever. It is not over yet: the Weinstein company has chosen to throw yet another sure-to-fail crowd pleaser our way this January, with “Defiance,” the story of three brothers who choose to emancipate and protect Jews during World War II. Daniel Craig, who plays the main character and protagonist of the film, is, in my personal opinion, a well-seasoned actor with budding potential. For the time being, however, he might want to stick to playing ‘James Bond.’ Someone needs to inform him that those aqua-velvet eyes are not going to save a clan of run-away’s from the Nazi regime. All in all, critics are calling Craig’s performance tolerable and well-developed, but the honest truth is that the actor does not match the role. So maybe this winter, the best thing to do is stop by Blockbuster on the way back from a snowball fight or a sled ride, because clearly, the theater is, for the time being, a rancid hole of dreadful historical depictions and poorly-acted garbage.
Blue Ash: 791-4405
a&e
FRIDAY January 30, 2009
‘...a satiating experience for the eyes and heart...’
Realism grips movie viewers in ‘Wrestler’ sam CLEARY
I
minimag editor
n 1980, Darren Aronofsky blew away Sundance critics with his trippy, mind-twisting rendition of 3.14 in “Pi”. Later, “Requiem for a Dream” forced the faint of heart from theaters with its provocatively controversial mosaic of a group of New York heroin addicts. Released this month, Aronofsky’s newest film, “The Wrestler,” is slightly less of a nightmare, but brutal and blunt in its nature nonetheless. To make an attempt at directing a film centered
around something as taboo and mainstream as ‘professional arena wrestling’ is something new from Aronofsky. The dark, unpredictable phantom of cinema seems to take pride in extraordinary films centered around ordinary lives, such the lowly biologist of “The Fountain,” who wrestles with a cure for debt. This year however, he seems to have branched off from his usual dismal illustrations to a stillheavy, but somewhat modest story of a man struggling to find his way. “The Wrestler” is, beyond anything else, a vibrant and illustrious caricature set to the tone of a humble and somewhat drab backdrop. There is little allure to the time and place. The milieu of the film itself is dreary and bittersweet, and coupled with Aronofsky’s mildly watered-down, but ever-present shooting trademarks, it is a satiating experience for the eyes and heart. The plot took me off guard at first; it seemed unsuitable for such a Poe-like artist; but ultimately, I found myself pleasantly surprised. In this feature, Mickey Rourke assumes the role of Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a callused but troubled professional wrestler past his prime. Tormented by a joyless past and family resentments, Robinson finds himself at a crossroad in life, searching for fulfillment and enlightenment. Rourke’s career has been marked most recently by somewhat of a lull, co-starring in mainstream studio picks like “Sin City,” and “Revolver.” With this film, it seems, however, that Rourke may be resurrected.
In a brilliant heat of acting and direction, “The Wrestler” portrays, perhaps for the first time in cinematic history, a realistic embodiment of the mid-life crisis in what Newsweek’s David Ansen calls, “a harmonic convergence of player and part that happens once in a blue moon.” Rourke, with co-star Marisa Tomei, delivers a tour-de-force unlike any seen on the silver screen this year. His character, along with Tomei’s, depict a pounding, but ultimately heart-warming manifestation of life’s struggles and the will to find purpose in existence.
#1
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Art awards round-up daphne HSU
associate editor
Drexel University High School Photography Contest
Out of over 3,100 submissions from all over the country, judges for this Philadelphia-based contest chose 125. These students’ winning photographs will be on display in the university’s Photography Gallery until the end of February. Jaimee Johnson, 12 Catie Viox, 11 Alyssa Hoeper, 10
Overture Awards – finalists
Finalists in this local competition will perform a public show at the Aronoff Center on March 7, after which the six $2,500 scholarship winners and 18 $500 finalist scholarship winners will be announced. Zach Steele, 11, theater – musical theater Ben Rosen, 12, vocal music Kaori Matsui, 11, instrumental music – violin
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards – regional winners (as of press time)
These regional portfolio winners will have their artwork advance on to the national competition in New York, and all of the award-winning work will be on display at the Marx Gallery in early February. Liz Avery, 12, photography Eric Hodgdon, 12, photography Shelby Bittinger, 12, art
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a&e
Music devices evolve over time: From phonograph to MP3, sound quality improves FRIDAY January 30, 2009
E
staff writer
ver met a person who does not like music? It is clearly impossible to find such a person. No matter who one is, what one does in their spare time, what ethnicity or age they are, music is a part of everyone. So without ways to play this music, who knows where the world would be?
Music player history
The year was 1877, and the man of the year: Thomas Alva Edison. This is the person solely credited for the invention of the phonograph, more commonly known as the record player. Edison’s phonograph would revolutionize the way that mankind listened to music forever. From that moment forth, music players could only become more and more technologically advanced. As the years progressed, it seemed as if a new music player was produced at
least every ten years. With inventions like the Walkman and the cassette tape, to the eight track and the compact disc, or CD, it became apparent that the evolution of digital audio was only just beginning. In 2001, America was introduced to the one and only Apple iPod. An innovation unlike any other, this MP3 player changed the way the nation would view music players for eternity. “I remember the day that the iPod first hit the shelves. I wanted one so bad,” said Matt Romeo, 12.
comes across a person who still listens to CDs as opposed to the ever-popular MP3 player. From the year 2001 to present-day, Apple has successfully unveiled twelve different versions of the original iPod. Ranging in prices from $99.00 to $499.00, and in a spectrum of colors, who could forget such models as the Shuffle, the Nano, the Video, and the Mini? Companies like Microsoft have invaded the market, competing with the iPod with their player—the Zune. Introduced in 2006, and initially cast as the ugly duckling, the Zune has proved itself a worthy
Latest products Since then, Apple has been pumping out new versions of the iPod almost every year. It is not too often that one
competitor to the iPod dynasty. The iPod Nano-Chromatic is the latest and greatest edition to the iPod legacy, an all-aluminum and glass design.
SHS favorites
Every day, students roam the halls blatantly oblivious to the world around them, completely consumed in those over-sized headphones encompassing their ears. The question is: what music player are they using? Is it a Zune or iPod? Could it be an old-school Walkman cd player? “I like Zunes because you can share music wirelessly,” said Max Riehemann, 10. The majority of SHS students are carrying an iPod. Most popular is the iPod Nano, most likely because it is compact and easy to carry around school. “I take my iPod everywhere. It’s so great, ” said Sarah Inskeep, 9.
A history of music players Thomas Edison invents the phonograph.
2008 2001 1998 1983 1979 1965 1949 1896 1877
gina ROMEO
Nikola Tesla invents the first radio.
RCA introduces 45-RPM records.
The 8-track magnetic tape is introduced.
Sony Walkman cassette player makes its debut.
A side-by-side comparison Apple iPod Classic
Microsoft Zune 80
Design:
Design:
The classic iPod comes in sleek white, black or silver with rounder edges and a glossy touch.
The original Zune 80 comes in a green and brown color scheme, and is noticeably bulkier than the iPod, weighing 0.8 ounces more.
Features: Apple’s iPod features games of all sorts, a stopwatch,contact list, and loads of picture and music storage. Price of an iPod Classic: $249.00
VS
Features: Only on a Zune can an FM radio, wi-fi chip, customizable wallpaper, and lots of music and video storage be found.
Price of a Zune 80: $229.99
BOTH THE APPLE iPod and the Microsoft Zune were released in the 2000’s. Debates surrounding which MP3 player is the “better buy” have been in the air since the Zune first hit shelves in 2006. Each player is loaded with features, including flashy video capabilites and music storage.
all images by gina romeo
Sony and Phillips introduce compact disc technology. First MP3 players are released.
Apple releases the first iPod Classic.
The newest edition of Apple’s iPod, the NanoChromatic, hits shelves.
27
sports FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Varsity hits high point of season Two game streak pulls team out of GMC cellar will JOHNSTON
brandon SOSNA
A
associate editor
fter what has so far been a long season for varsity basketball, the team has hit what has undoubtedly been the high point of its year. Varsity beat Milford 58-49 on Jan. 20, its second straight victory. The first of these wins was a 41-24 win at Fairfield. By time of publication, the team’s record currently stands at 3-7 (1-5 GMC) and is in second-to-last place in the GMC. Prior to this brief winning streak, the opening weeks of the season had not been kind to the team. Varsity not only opened up 1-7 (0-5 GMC), but suffered the indignity of losing not only games, but players as well. Seniors Casey MacLean and Steve Hull both elected to leave the team earlier on in the year. Hull has attributed his decision to concerns about possible injuries hampering his performance during the football season next fall (Hull has verbally committed to the University of Illinois). Meanwhile, MacLean seemed to have been frustrated by the team’s lack of success, as he excused himself from varsity’s 35-65 home loss to Hamilton on Jan. 2 and did not return to action. To replace these departed seniors, E.J. Higgins, 11, and Ron Apke, 11, were called up from JV. Each has seen limited action at the varsity level thus far. The offense, or lack thereof, has been a major problem for varsity. The team averages 43.1 points per game- last in the GMC. Only one player averages double digit points (Brett Simek, 12, at 15.0 PPG). Despite the team’s struggles so far, the coaching staff is not completely fed up with its performance. “No real frustrations at this point, except for a couple close losses. I feel that we are playing hard and competing, but we just haven’t come out on top on some of them,” said Mr. Stan Kaniecki, head coach. Half of the season still remains for varsity, which includes a number of tough games. The team will play Middletown on Feb. 3, travel to Loveland on Feb. 7, and host Mason at the regular season finale on Feb. 20. Each of these will be crucial games if the team intends to turn around its season. “If the players buy into the game plan that we put together for each opponent and work their hardest at practice each day to make themselves better and their teammates better, than that’s all I can ask. Hopefully doing those things day in and day out puts our team in a position to win each game,” said Kaniecki. Varsity next plays tonight against Lakota West at home.
WES YENGO, 10, GUARDS a Comet player during varsity’s game at Mason on Feb. 9. SHS lost 43-49. The defeat was the seventh in the team’s first eight games in what has been a long season for varsity.
JV looks to improve, get on right track chad CHESSIN staff writer
this month in sports
on deck
Going into the season, the JV basketball team looked to improve upon last year’s 3-14 record. Unfortunately, the beginning of the season did not do much to further this goal. Of the boys’ first eight games, only one left them on the winning side of the scoreboard. The team opened at home against the Elder Panthers. The first half showcased defense, with shots being contested and steals occurring frequently. After halftime however, the Panthers pulled away and enjoyed a 38-26 victory. “It would have been nice to get a win in the first game, but after a loss, you have to keep your head up and keep improving,” said Kevin Bogenschutz, 10. Four games later, the team still had not gathered its first win. On Oct. 2, the sixth game of the season, the boys played host to the Hamilton Big Blue. In a highly contested game, a “1” finally appeared in the team’s win column, as it won
43-41 in a thriller. “Although getting the first win took off a little pressure, we realize there is still much work to be done,” said Jason Robke, 10. Following this game, JV suffered losses to Oak Hills and Mason. The squad’s record stood at 1-7. “We know that if we play at our best, our record could improve greatly,” said Joey Crusham, 10. From there, the team took on the Fairfield Indians and Milford Eagles. Winning both of these, the boys reeled off two straight victories for the first time all season. The Milford game was a nail-biter, where SHS barely squeaked by in overtime. Their record is now 3-7. “We are capable of winning every game we play, as long as we execute opportunities and don’t make too many mistakes,” said Robke. With three wins out of their last five games, the team may well be able to get back on track and achieve its preseason goal.
Head over to Page 29 for an update on the girl’s varsity basketball team.
Sophomore team notches third straight victory; freshmen pursue second win staff writer
&
bennett KAPLAN
staff writer
The first step for the boys’ sophomore basketball team-a long awaited one at that-was to get win number one. At least they are not Detroit Lions bad – how about that for a moral victory? With their three game winning streak vaulting their record to 4-7, the sophomore team has very little to celebrate. But, with much pride, the group can say of all the teams playing basketball at SHS, they have the best record. Now that is a true victory. It has not been pretty this year for the sophomore squad, as they struggled all year to pick up the first win, a little more fight for the second, before finally getting that charming third victory. “We’re still having fun and playing hard,” said Jeremy Dock, 10. At some point, one must throw aside “W” and “Ls” in favor of the forgotten art of fun. “I would say that we are proud to be the best team in the school,” said Jason Robke, 10. With the half way point now in the rear view mirror, the second half of the season looms in the distance. The good news: six of the last nine games will be played at home, which will be a welcomed change for the team. And the bad news: they need to claim another string of three games just to get back to the .500 mark. The group is just coming off the completion of a five game road trip, covering almost two weeks. They have also played nine of their last 11 away from the friendly confines. “We have a chance the rest of the season to pick up some wins and confirm our spot as the best team in school,” said Brian Klonne, 10. It could be worse - they could have no motivation at all.
Freshmen improving
all photos by jeremy mcdaniel
Danny Berghoff, 10, battles multiple Elder defenders in the first game of the season. Losing this game, the team suffered its first of seven early losses.
Curious about the process for students being recruited for Jared and Ben tackle such hot college athletics? topics as the Super Bowl, the BCS Page 33 Championship, and much more. Page 32
Through the first five games of the season, the freshman green basketball team was 0-5. After their first two losses, the coaching staff was frustrated. “We can achieve success if we play better defense and learn to take care of the ball,” said coach Mr. Rob Reis. “Too many turnovers have really hurt the team to this point.” But after their first win, coach was a little more enthusiastic. “The team struggled early but has begun to play better,” said Reis. The team got its first win against Hamilton 49-40. After coming back from an ankle injury, captain Bo Weber, 9, has played well, as well as fellow freshmen AJ Willams, Joel Tate, and Dayshai Minnifield. The team won their second game recently, and has only up to look. They can finish with a winning record, having ten more games to play. The players know what they have to do and they know how they can win. “If we keep on layeing like we have the last two games and if we hustle and play defense,” said Tate.
sports
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FRIDAY January 30, 2009
View from the Stands
Ease up on Tebow hype ben ESTES sports chief
There is no doubt that Tim Tebow is one heck of a quarterback. Quite frankly, this fact cannot even be debated. In two years as the starter for the University of Florida, he has amassed 6,033 passing yards, 1,568 rushing yards, 97 total touchdowns, and one Heisman Trophy, becoming the first sophomore to ever win the coveted award. He led the Gators to a national title just a few weeks ago and will undoubtedly have them in contention to repeat next season. His on-the-field accomplishments have led to effusive praise from just about everyone, and deservedly so. These positive words often also include Tebow’s off-the-field endeavors. The young man is intensely religious, having done extensive missionary work. He also exhibits generally strong character. The problem, though, is that the whole story has become overplayed and the individual has been ridiculously overhyped. Some have gone way over the line in their praise, causing them to sound like morons and giving non-Florida fans reason to despise Tebow. The main culprit is the intolerable Gary Danielson, an analyst whose credibility has dissipated with his move to CBS and ensuing transformation into a shameless SEC shill. I dare you to watch a Florida game that Danielson is broadcasting without vomiting; it’s nauseating and despicable the way that he and others go out of their way to shower praise on the quarterback. The most recent example was Thom Brenneman’s three-hour long Tebow love-fest during the national championship game. Again, I’m not saying that Tebow isn’t both a great football player and human being; he appears to be both. But the practices of those that go over the top do nothing but harm his reputation. It’s only natural to dislike somebody who is lauded so much. It’s the old “teacher’s pet” corollary. Also, with such unnaturally high expectations, one tiny misstep would result in unfair criticism. In our sports culture, commentators feel like that they can’t get their point across unless they either scream or insert so much hyperbole that it sounds sarcastic. This fact really bothers me. Whatever happened to thoughtful, reserved reporting? I can mute “discussions” between Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith and still have my eardrums burst. Ultimately, the media (and Tebow fans) need to remember that the quarterback isn’t perfect nor a saint, as evidenced by his taunting of Oklahoma players after Florida had already sealed the win. To continue to treat him like one does a disservice to the athlete, fans, and, most importantly, the credibility of the media (or whatever’s left of it).
all pictures by jeremy mcdaniel
THE VARSITY SWIM team is entering the final stretch of its season. The squad is focused on the upcoming GMC championship, in which the swimmers will be looking to recapture the title. Mason took home the trophy last year.
Varsity looks ahead to GMC championship as JV waits in wings ben KEEFE & matt MENDELSOHN opinion chief staff writer
D
uring Jan.9’s meet against southern Ohio powerhouse Centerville, SHS honored graduating seniors Jon Hancher, Kartik Warikoo, Abhi Singh, and Anton Martychenko. “It’s great that we are honoring all the seniors, but it was a tough meet. Last year Centerville placed second at districts and placed top ten at state, and this year they have a much stronger team,” said Chris Culin, 11. Centerville’s line-up is not only lightning fast but also deep. “When you have 3,000 kids in a school and two great USA feeder teams like the WTRC Sharks and the Dayton Raiders, you must have some people who can swim fast and a lot of people who can swim. And Centerville has both,” said Hancher. The Centerville dual meet helped prepare the boys’ swim team for Jan. 17-18’s Ohio Southwest District Coaches Classic, the largest swim meet in the country. Last year was the 25th year anniversary of the classic, and because of that, special appearances were made by swimming idol Rowdy Gaines, Olympic Gold Medalist and SHS alumnus Dan Ketchum, and other Olympic athletes. Along with the special guest appearances, Swimming World Magazine, the leading independent resource for swimming, covered the entire meet. Following the Classic, the team will begin to
prepare for the Feb. 7 GMC Championship Meet, in which SHS hopes to regain the title. In the 2008 GMC meet, the boy’s team finished second. It was the first GMC championship in 13 years that SHS did not win. In 2009, the team believes that this will be the most competitive GMC meet in history. “This year there are five teams who could take the GMC title. Mason has depth. Oak Hills has speed. Lakota West may win the most events, but depth will kill them. Fairfield has two or three guys who can really swim. And we have the best proportion of speed and depth. We have a lot of guys who can swim up top, and we have a deep team,” said Hancher. Just one week after the GMC meet, the state tournament begins. It starts with the sectional meet on Feb. 13. All members of the boys’ swim team will participate at this meet. “I can’t wait to swim at the sectional meet and have the opportunity to qualify for districts and state. This will be the fastest and most important meet, or series of meets, I’ve ever participated in,” said Thomas Norris, 9. A swimmer must place in the top 36 at the Southwest District Sectionals in their event to qualify for the prestigious Southwest District Championship. Following the district meet, the top 24 swimmers in each event in the state will qualify for the state
championship meet. “This year we hope to qualify more swimmers to the state meet than we ever have. There are two divisions in Men’s swimming in the OHSAA now and the opportunity to go further in the state tournament has been presented to all participants,” said Culin.
JV hones skills
Any great program needs a solid foundation. The SHS swimming team is no different. Though many swimmers instantly move to varsity, many youngsters begin by developing on the JV level. Coached by Mr. Mark Dowdall, only three members make up the boys’ JV team. They include Nicholas Peltz, 11, Lenny Bressler, 10, and Zim Zimmer, 9. While the size of the team is small, it allows for better teamwork and more intense concentration on improving skills. “It is a lot of fun and a great way to get in shape,” said Zimmer. The team does compete numerous times throughout the year, swimming in all of the dual meets. They also have several meets that are solely for junior varsity, including meets at Mason and St. Xavier. Though the season ends early, the swimmers do get the chance to compete in the prestigious Southwest Classic. The last meet of the year for the boys’ JV team was on January 29 against Lakota East and West.
Diving prepares for upcoming meets
Team focuses on personal bests, end of season ellean ZHANG news chief
BRITTANY ROHNE, 11, FLIPS into the pool. The athlete is one of few dedicated divers battling for varsity this season. Currently, the team is focusing on the final stretch of the year.
Are they sea creatures? Land creatures? Superheroes? Maybe all of these, but besides that, SHS divers are also working to heat up the cold pool with their moves this season. Firing it up are the four varsity divers: juniors Alex DiMasso, Jenna Ruff, and Brittany Rohne, and freshman Drew Hugenberg. The junior varsity consists of two freshmen: Erin Wahler and Nicole Kissela. At most meets during the season, each diver is required to do six dives off the one meter springboard. As they tuck, pike, and free-style (twist) off the board, they accumulate a series of points that are added into their overall personal scores. These scores are the ones that compete with those of other divers; they are the stats that divers constantly have on their minds. The higher the score, the better. “My personal goal—after breaking my last one at our last meet—is to break 210 points, and to make it to states,” said DiMasso. “There isn’t necessarily a ‘limit’ on how many points you can accumulate, but just for a feel, our school record is 285.45 points.” For divers, the sport is definitely an
important focus during the winter season; equally important, though, is the time they have together to bond and grow as a team, especially since the squad is so small. “Practice is almost always late at night—8:45 to 10:00,” said Ruff. “It’s intense, but if we do well, we get some time at the end of practice to just goof off in the pool and have fun.” But with the season due to wrap up in February, there is little time for the divers to simply sit back and relax. As of press time, the divers were determined to perform well in their meet against Lakota East and Lakota West on Jan. 29. This meet was one of the last ones available to try something new and not get penalized for it, or to test their limits once more. February’s chain of meets will begin with the GMC and sectional meet. From the sectional meet, intensity builds by the week for those divers set on qualifying for the district and state meet. The team hopes that these meets will openly welcome them with strong performances and prove rewarding after a tough season filled with dive after dive after dive.
sports
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FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Seven game winning streak finally ends Mason tops varsity girls, but successful season continues emily COHEN
F
all pictures by jeremy mcdaniel
MAUREEN CRON, 12, DRIVES to the basket for the varsity girl’s basketball team. The girls have enjoyed a highly successful season thus far, posting a 10-2 (6-2 GMC) record, but have a difficult stretch of games ahead.
staff writer
or over a month, the varsity girls’ basketball team was on a tear. The girls totaled seven straight victories from a 74-24 annihilation of Lakota East on Dec. 6 through a 52-40 victory at Oak Hills on Jan. 7. “Beating Oak Hills was a really big win because they had a higher rank than us. Plus we have not beaten them in four years,” said Kaley Bridgewater, 11. After winning these seven games, the team lost to Mason 40-31 on Jan. 10. It was a close game that came down to the wire, but in the end the girls just could not pull it off. However, varsity bounced back by beating Mercy 46-37 and Lakota East 49-28. The team has been powered by a high octane offense that ranks second in the GMC. Abby Cooper, 12, leads the team in points, averaging about 11 a game. But the offense is not the only thing that has enabled the team to have such success. The girls believe that they have gotten better because of their team chemistry. “We have really good chemistry and are coming together well,” said Emily Elsbrock, 11. Tough defense has also played a role in the team’s success, especially recently, as the girls have held oppo-
nents to 37 points or under in each of their last three games. Maureen Cron, 12, leads the team in blocks and Chloe Pavlech, 9, leads the team in steals averaging 2 steals a game. “We’ve played great defense this year,” said Amy Isaacs, 11. The next couple of weeks will significantly impact the GMC standings. The squad will play Lakota West on Jan. 28, Colerain on Feb. 4, and Mason on Feb. 14. These three teams are each above or near varsity in the GMC standings. Preparation does not happen over night, there is a lot of hard work and dedication that goes into it. Players work hard everyday in practice to prepare for games like these. They do countless drills and are constantly pushing themselves to become better. “Coach [Mrs. Paula Hayden] wants us to do well and motivates us to become better,” said Isaacs. SHS looks to upset Lakota West on Jan. 28 and take control of the GMC. The team that executes more efficiently by getting to the line and knocking down shots will win. Ashley Schaefer, 10 leads the team in free throw percentage shooting almost 80%, which could be key. Lakota West, Colerain, and Mason will put the team to the test in the coming weeks.
JV girls’ basketball remains undefeated maria MARBALLI spotlight editor
JV girls’ basketball is having a successful season so far. They are currently undefeated at 10-0. “I am really impressed with how well our team has been working together,” said Allie Martin, 10. The girls have played Seton, Princeton, Lakota East, Milford, Middleton, Mason, Hamilton, Withrow, Fairfield, Oak Hills, and Mason. Their win against Mason was a big success for the team. They are huge rivals and the girls have been anticipating this game for months. “We were all so excited when we won. We had all been worked up about it so our hard work really paid off,” said Ashley Locke, 10. The girls are also looking forward to the anticipated match up against their GMC rival, Colerain. “I think that if we give it our all and work together, we will definitely win,” said Mallory Condron, 10. The JV girls’ basketball team hopes to continue their success and complete an undefeated season. An undefeated season under coach Mr. Victor Harris would provide the varsity team with a good slate of juniors for next year. This could in turn create success for the varsity program.
THE JV GIRLS basketball team huddles up in early season action against Princeton. The girls were victorious against the Vikings, and have capitalized on their momentum to remain undefeated at 10-0.
‘I’m tired of the basketball and football teams getting all the glory, when our track athletes work just as hard’
Winter track strives to set up spring success catherine FARIST
staff writer
Winter track has finally reached that point where newcomers are no longer welcome. The rigorous schedule is taking its toll on all the members. Longer runs, longer sprints, harder abs, and heavier weights. “As we continue to get in better shape, Coach Ray definitely takes it up a notch in our workouts. The workouts have become pretty intense,” said Annie Roessler, 12. While it is hard for everyone to make it to every practice, Fridays are the designated make up days, so those athletes with busy schedules can still receive all their points for the season. Mondays and Wednesdays are the running and/or pylometric days with
weight room days: Tuesdays and Thursdays. While it is not all work and no play, coach Mr. Hank Ray does throw in a few games to give the track kids a break such as dodge ball, every once and a while. “We’re all extremely competitive, so we tend to get really into it and run just as much as we normally would have with a normal practice,” said Kat Pember, 10. But, this winter session is more than just points; it is about improving the overall quality and endurance behind the athlete’s performances. The spring track season is going to be a success this year, and coach Ray is certainly going to make sure of that. “I’m pushing everyone to a point
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where I know they can succeed, I’m tired of the basketball and football teams getting all the glory, when our track athletes As we continue to get in work just as hard,” said better shape, Coach Ray Ray. Track is an individual definitely takes it up a sport, so those big signs notch in our workouts. The hanging in the weight workouts have become room only hold one track state championship for pretty intense. the women’s 2x400m. This lack of banners may make the sport seems less successful, and consequently less popular. “I’m working to improve our program and getting everyone the recognition they deserve,” said Ray.
-Annie Roessler, 12
Full Court Race divides college football coaching jared KAMRASS sports chief
Racism. A topic that has been divisive in this country since before its inception still rears its ugly head. With three black head coaches in D-I losing their jobs (Tyrone Willingham, Ron Prince¸ Sylvester Croom) the issue has reached a boiling point this winter. Luckily, there is an African-American candidate that has garnered attention from around the country: Buffalo coach Turner Gill, who despite maintaining a .400 winning percentage and a thin resume is interviewing for very high profile coaching vacancies. Why, then, is Gill such a hot coaching commodity this off-season? Certainly what he’s done at Buffalo is impressive: turning a perennial bottom feeder into a conference champion, but the résumé, pedigree and established success are not there. But does it warrant consideration to take the reins of a big-time program? There is a coach with a remarkably similar résumé. He was the offensive coordinator at a Pac-10 school and has taken a team within Gill’s same conference to perennial conference contender. His name is Bill Cubit and if you haven’t heard his name before, don’t despair. The Western Michigan coach can’t even so much as get an interview. So why, all things being equal, is Gill the hot coaching commodity of the winter? With the widespread public push for more African-American coaches (a cause I support) schools are tripping over themselves to show the nation that they are diverse and open to interviewing minority candidates (even if they don’t hire them). Could Gill be a successful coach? Maybe. Is he ready after three years at Buffalo? Probably not. The bottom line is that universities are doing Gill and his family a disservice by interviewing him primarily because he is African-American. Some school will hire Gill and put him in a position to fail as he does not have the ample experience to be successful. A few years from now he will be fired and unable to get another job instead of taking a job when he is ready and be a shining star for an entire generation of young, black coaches. Over winter break, Ron English, Dwayne Walker, Mike Locksley and Michael Haywood were all hired, however, they went to lower level schools with minimal chances of succeeding and, when they do fail, they will unlikely be hired by another school. It’s not that its racism, it’s more that the success of black coaches is actually being held back when the few that are hired are put in positions to fail. While there is a tragic shortage of African-American, giving jobs to minorities just for their being a minority is not fair to the fan bases, the universities, and most importantly, the coaches themselves.
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FRIDAY January 30, 2009
all photos by jeremy mcdaniels
COACH JEREMY PLETZ (center) looks on as the wrestlers on both the varsity and JV squads compete. JV newcomer Caleb Whitcomb-Dixon, 9, (left) and returning varsity member John Kurz, 12, (right) celebrate victories from earlier this season. Kurz, along with Ryan Whitney, 11, are ranked second in the Greater Miami Conference among wrestlers. Both squads will continue to work toward the GMC Tournament, scheduled for Feb. 14. From there, it will be on to districts, and then the state tournament.
Varsity, JV wrestlers prepare for upcoming season Both squads looking forward to Sycamore Invitational jamie ALEMAGNO & staff writer
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daniel RICKERT
tarting winter break, the varsity team had a whole month off of competition before the first home tournament of the season: the Sycamore Invitational. This highly anticipated meet was held January 16 and 17 in the main gym. 16 schools were invited, including Colerain, Loveland, and Oak Hills. “Oak Hills is very good this year; they will be our toughest competition,” said Ryan Whitney, 11. Whitney, along with John Kurz, 12 has worked very hard this season. Both wrestlers are ranked second in the Greater Miami Conference (GMC.) Not only are wrestlers excited about the invitationals, but they also are happy about getting two pounds. This means that each weight class will go up two pounds. “Man, I could never be a wrestler,
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staff writer
I like eating too much,” said Donta Higgins, 11. “But it shows a lot of dedication for those guys to work so hard with so little food and getting two extra pounds isn’t that much.” To a non-wrestler, two pounds may not seem like that big of a difference, but to someone who is continuously cutting weight, it is like Christmas all over again. “It will help because I’m cutting 20 pounds and the last couple pounds are always the hardest,” said Kurz. Hopefully the extra two pounds helped the wrestlers in the Sycamore Invitational.
JV wrestling
While most of the students at SHS used the winter break to rest, the JV wrestling team went to two tournaments. The team did very well, wrestling at Oak Hills and Carroll High School. Although the team struggled at the
Oak Hills Invitational, they rallied to wrestle very well at the Carroll High School Invitational. Under the direction of coach Greg Cole and coach Jimmy Weeks, the team was able to have almost half of the wrestlers receive medals. “It was great to place in a tournament,” said Kyle Pangallo, 11. Pangallo, as well as Daniel Rickert, 10, Mike Rozzo, 11, Keaton Pangallo, 9, and Tony Ancona, 11, were just a few of the SHS wrestlers to place. “I felt that I wrestled pretty well,” said Pangallo. Many wrestlers had to step up to wrestle the Sycamore Invitational, JV’s only home tournament. There was a lot of competition for the 13 varsity spots. “I really want to wrestle varsity at home,” said Jonathon Coddington, 11. The coaches determine who will get
the varsity spot by holding “wrestleoffs.” A “wrestle off ” is a match that a coach refs in practice; the winner receives a varsity spot. Many of the JV wrestlers were able to wrestle some varsity matches early in the year. The JV is in the midst of a three week break of competition. This time is great for not only improving their skills, but their strength and endurance too. All of this hard work will come into play during the GMC tournament. This tournament features staunch rivals, including: Colerain, Oak Hills, and Princeton. Last year’s team only had one tournament champ: Jimmy Morgan, 12. The team has one of the strongest JV lineups in years and hopes to make a run at a GMC title.
Remaining schedule
2/7: vs. Fairfield (Senior night) 2/14: Greater Miami Conference tournament 2/27-2/28: District tournament 3/5-3/7: State tournament
lyerettes keep dancing despite unexpected schedule changes
or first time in several years, team partakes in two competitions
michela TINDERA
business manager
After countless weeks of preparation, the Flyerettes performed in yet another competition on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Seton High School. This was the second competition of the 08-09 season, and the first time in several years that the team has attended two competitions in one season. “I’m really glad about how many competitions we are going to this year,” said Josie McKinnon, 11. “I think they’re a great opportunity for our team to show off how hard we work and it’s a great experience for everyone involved.” Because this second competition at Seton was scheduled for the weekend before exams, the girls were given the option to not partake in the competition. Seven girls still decided to remain. The girls that decided to still perform in the competition were juniors McKinnon, Kathryn Rosenberg, Jordan Edelheit, Michela Tindera, and Christine McLaughlin and seniors Ayako Kobayashi and Tamar
Weiner. They performed a modified version of what they performed at the Winterfest Competition on Saturday, Dec. 17, a jazz dance to the song “The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson. The dance remained essentially the same as before but with a few new twists to accommodate the smaller group. “It was fun working with a small group of girls. I hope we can really represent the team well on Saturday,” said Jordan Edelheit, 11. The competition on Saturday was almost all day from around 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The team competed in the varsity jazz division against other varsity dance teams in the area. After competing, the Flyerettes left Seton High School on Saturday, Jan. 10 feeling a bit puzzled. “During the awards at the end of the competition they called out all the categories and the winners were announced, but no one on our team heard our team called,” said Edelheit.
The team competed in the Varsity Jazz division along with seven other teams from around the Cincinnati area including Mason and Mount Notre Dame, among others. “It was very confusing how the awards were given out; I never knew what category they were talking about,” said McKinnon. Despite the confusion, the team was able to receive their score sheets and after some conferencing with the judges, coach Elise Allen was able to determine that the team would soon learn what their place was in the competition. As of press date, that information has yet to be released but is expected to be in the coming weeks. “I feel like the team, even though we had a smaller group of girls this time, still performed really great,” said Edelheit. After the team got their score sheets back, there was a marked improvement in several categories, which had been a goal of the team upon entering the competition.
THE FLYERETTES DANCE team performs during the Homecoming Pep Rally. The group puts on shows during nearly every home basketball game. For the first time time in many years, they took part in two competitions in one season.
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FRIDAY January 30, 2009
‘Overall it’s been a great season so far, hopefully we can keep it up’
Quiz team maturing, winning in GMC michela TINDERA
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business manager
all photos by jeremy mcdaniel
THE QUIZ TEAM has experienced prolonged success this season. Led by junior Ashvin Srivatsa, the athletes have obtained a 11-1 record. They are currently in 1st place in the GMC.
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he varsity quiz team upped their record to 11-1 after a clean sweep of number seven ranked Middletown on Wednesday, Jan. 21. This win allowed the team to retain its record as first place in the GMC out of ten teams. The final score after the two games was 55-33. “If we continue as we have so far, I can see us really doing great for the rest of this season,” said Ashvin Sritvatsa, 11. The team’s success has been nearly unstoppable especially after their unprecedented win against previously undefeated Mason on Wednesday, Jan. 14 which improved the varsity team’s record to 9-1. Matches are made up of two games, and the team was able to dominate both of those games against Mason to pull through with a win, during exam week no less. After this win, the team took over first place in the GMC. “The cool part is that we don’t have any seniors on the team, so we were a little unsure as to how well we’d be. But so far, so good,” said Neil Krishnan, 11. After beginning the season with a defeat of Colerain, the team continued to sail. Varsity earned several more wins before its first loss against Lakota West. The defeat was by a margin of a mere four points. Despite this setback, the team was able to get back on track after that loss by dominating the wins against Lakota East and Princeton. Up next is a match against Hamilton at home which will be dubbed, “Junior Night.” “We are hoping to have a large crowd for this, and call it the ‘Junior Night,’ since we don’t have any seniors to do a senior night,” said Anu Kaushik, 11. The team always encourages students to come and watch the matches which can be found in room 233 after school on Wednesdays. After Junior Night, there will be two more matches, one against Oak Hills and then the final on Wednesday Feb. 11 against Fairfield. “Overall it’s been a great season so far, and hopefully we can keep it up,” said Krishnan.
Bowling program limping through year gabe ENGLANDER & staff writer
josh SAMUELS staff writer
After bowling a 2184 against Loveland, a SHS record, the girls squad’s performance has dropped off. Since their first victory, they have gone 0-5 in the GMC. But the bad news doesn’t end there. Even star player Katie Ziegler, 10, has seen her average fall. Once second in the GMC in pins per game, Ziegler has tumbled to ninth. “My play and our team have not been playing even close to our potential,” said Ziegler. “We really need to pick it up for the second half of the season.” Despite the recent losses, the team still has much to be happy about this season. For starters, this is the most successful bowling team in school history. For instance in 2006 and 2007, the varsity girls went 1-12 and 3-10, respectively. “This is only my second year bowling for SHS, but I can tell that there is a huge contrast between the attitudes of last year’s team compared to this year,” said Lainey Paul, 10. “We are all smiling a lot more and trying to have a good time with it.” With the hardest part of their schedule over, many weak teams such as Lakota West, Mercy, and Oak Hills remain as important opportunities to boost their 3-5 record. The team will finish their season against Mount Notre Dame High School on Feb. 10.
Boys’ Bowling
The 2008-2009 season for the boy’s varsity bowling team has not been what they wanted so far. The goal for the team was to finish with a .500 record; right now they stand at 1-7 overall, 0-5 in the GMC. Kam Keeling, 12, leads the team with a 196.6 average, followed by Phil Lafrance, 11 (185.9) and D.J. Donnellon, 12 (182.4). Although the record has not been stellar, they have had close games that could have gone either way. Varsity had a 69-point loss against Western Hills and an 11point loss against GMC rival Lakota East. The GMC is loaded this year, with five teams ranked in the top-10 teams in Cincinnati. Oak Hills, for example, winners of at least a share of the last two GMC Championships, is strong once again. The Highlanders are joined at the top of the standings by the Mason Comets, who have already defeated SHS this season. “It’s been a season of ups and downs, but we did our best and that’s all anyone could ask for,” said Donnellon. Sectionals begin on Feb. 14; the squad will be trying to better last season’s 2-1 run in the postseason.
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THE GIRLS HAVE experienced an up and down season with a 4-8 overall record. Sophomore Katie Ziegler leads the team with a 159.9 average. Despite a season of struggles the girls hope young players can lead the team in the future.
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FRIDAY January 30, 2009
Pardon the Interruption
Jared Kamrass
Cardinals or Steelers: who will win Super Bowl XLIII?
Ben Estes
The Cardinals are seven point ‘dogs but if they can contain QB Ben Roethlisberger and not let him make plays outside the pocket, they have a fantastic chance of winning. Tim Hightower needs to keep the Pittsburgh “D” honest so that Warner and Co. can still be productive through the air. It should be an epic game, and regardless of who wins, it should be close.
Matt Mendelsohn
Unfortunately, Pittsburgh is going to win Super Bowl XLIII and it’s not even going to be close. The Steelers are rolling right now; their defense is immovable and their offense is finally clicking. Arizona is pretty hot too, but it will not be able to prevent Pittsburgh’s persistent pressure from disrupting its high-octane passing game.
Evan Romansky
In an upset, Arizona will defeat Pittsburgh. After taming the blitz-happy Eagles defense, the Cardinals have proven they can succeed against pressure defense. Having an opportunistic defense themselves, look for them to focus on stopping the run early and force Ben Roethlisberger to beat them, causing turnovers.
Kavya Reddy
I have to go with the Arizona Cardinals. They have the momentum heading into the title game and with their high-powered passing offense I think it will be too much even for the Steelers defense to stop. Larry Fitzgerald has blossomed into a star and he will deliver on the world’s biggest stage, ending the Cardinals’ drought.
The Steelers will win because of their number-one-ranked defense. This tough defense will outplay Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and the rest of Arizona’s offense. The offense of the Steelers will do just enough to win the game because of their playoff experience. I predict the Super Bowl MVP to be Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.
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National Signing Day
Hope for Bengals
College Football 09
JK: There will be a flurry of commits on this day when football recruiting classes are finalized for 2009. What do you expect to happen on February 4th?
BE: If there is another team in the history of the NFL with such a despicable track record for losing, it’s the Arizona Cardinals. Does their Super Bowl berth give the Bengals hope?
JK: Ok, so another BCS National Championship Game has come and gone and I have a feeling that the 2009-2010 version will have a rematch of Oklahoma and Florida.
BE: I expect a lot of excitement. It’s a very entertaining day for fans across the country (its also creepy considering that these recruits are still in high school ).
JK: In a word, no. Hope doesn’t come from examples around the league. We all know the league is full of parity, yet a team only has a chance to compete if the front office actually cares about winning.
BE: It could, but USC and Texas might have something to say about that. However, they join the above teams as part of the strongest preseason top four in recent memory.
JK: Yeah, I don’t disagree. That doesn’t keep you and me from following our teams hardcore. I expect OSU to land OT Marcus Hall and QB Tajh Boyd. BE: The one thing I don’t like is when prospects try to add unnecessary drama when picking a school. However, they are still kids so I don’t want to be too hard on them.
Chess Team The dynasty continues. For the fifth consecutive year, the SHS chess team secured the GMC Championship. The squad went 8-0-1 before rolling over the competition during the GMC Tournament on December 13th, winning all nine games. Congratulations to head coach Dr. Keith Brackenridge (who won GMC Coach of the Year) and his team for an amazing year.
BE: I agree completely. The Bengals know they can win. They just lack any commitment to doing so. The only possible ray of light is that the Cardinals previously lacked this too. JK: And then the Bidwell family made a choice to try to win. We have seen absolutely no evidence of that same desire present in Mike Brown and his cohorts.
JK: True. There are alot of secondtier teams that are solid as well. Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, Ole Miss and others have a chance to make some noise. BE: I’m just worried that the season will fail to live up to the lofty expecations, which is always a concern. But with so many top players returning, I think it will be an outstanding year for us fans.
Thumbs up, Thumbs down Boston College
Pete Carroll
The Eagles have had anything but a banner January. First, A.D. Gene DeFilippo fires football coach Jeff Jagodzinski simply for having the nerve to interview for an NFL head coach gig. Then, the basketball team (after defeating first-ranked North Carolina) drops four straight games, including one to powerhouse Harvard. Good luck in February. It’s not going to get any better.
A player’s coach? Not quite. The USC head man all but verbally castigated his (former) QB Mark Sanchez after the underclassman chose to declare for the NFL Draft. Whereas many coaches encourage players to leave if they will be first round picks, Carroll threw Sanchez under the bus, motivated (seemingly) by his selfish desire to win a National Championship.
Take a
letter If you would like to send an opinion to ‘Take a Letter’ about anything you have read or heard about at Sycamore or in the world sports community, please e-mail Jared Kamrass and Ben Estes at sycamoreathletics@gmail.com
Big Ten Network Sure, game coverage for the Big 11’s channel is often pretty sketchy. But with the network’s recent hiring of Gus Johnson for basketball play-by-play, our approval has skyrocketed. No one calls a game quite like Johnson, who’s high-pitched exultations of emotion often border on delirium. It makes for one heck of a viewing experience.
Dear Sports Opinion Czars,
Dear Stephen,
As everyone knows, I am a huge fan of the NFL. No other sports league out there, in my mind, can match its quality of play and level of excitement. However, pro football does have one bad feature: the Pro Bowl. Every year they play this all-star game a week after the Super Bowl; a ton of those selected often drop out because of various “injuries” and those who do play do so only half-heartedly. The end result is an event that nobody cares about in the first place and game so devoid of entertainment that it is a waste of time to watch. How can the NFL fix the Pro Bowl so it can match its peers?
It’s certainly impossible to deny the many issues surrounding the Pro Bowl. Honestly, there is no plausible way to make people watch the Pro Bowl. The NFL’s absurd idea to put the game the week before the Super Bowl just makes it even worse. This way players from the two remaining teams (and probably, the Conference runner-ups) won’t be able to play. It’s an idea that the league should scrap. If they really feel that strongly about it, they should go back to the drawing board. If anything, the league should reward “Pro Bowl Status” for the pride and financial benefit and give the players a vacation in Hawaii for a week; these are the only reasons players attend anyway. Football is by far the most violent sport and the risk of injury and potential effects for that player’s team is simply too much to ignore. In baseball and basketball, the players can go out there and mess around and still entertain. This just is not possible given the nature of football. The NFL runs a fantastic operation but this one annual sore spot is a significant wart on the face of the NFL’s image. Here’s hoping they right the ship.
With respect, Stephen Raithel, 12
With Love, The Sports Opinion Editors
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FRIDAY January 30, 2009
To play, or not to play? Student athletes debate whether to play college sports ben KEEFE staff writer
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he college application process is winding down for seniors, while juniors are just beginning their search. For many students, the college choice is largely influenced by athletics.
versity of Wyoming. Playing college athletics requires something more than just the time spent involved with the sport itself; one must commit to being a full time student as well. There is a saying relating to the colSHS student athletes lege experience that for many hits the At SHS, the fall sports season has nail right on the head. come to a close, and the winter seaThat saying goes along the lines son is now in gear. of, “there are three factors in the So far, many SHS athletes have decollege life: academics, athletics, cided to play a sport in college, some and social. The thing is you only being at the division one level. have time for two of those.” Bud Golden, 12, and Steve Hull, For many students, that saying 12, have each committed to play is their incentive to not play a sport football at the University of Ilwhile attending college. For others, linois in 2009. that is the reason they “Playing at Illinois do play a sport in colThe reason I next year is going lege. to be awesome. Big chose to play Those who say that Ten school, Big Ten football in their social life is the atmosphere, Big Ten driving force in their college, is my team,” said Golden. election to not play a Along with Golden love for the game. sport in college have and Hull, Lily Ricci, I can’t picture a very valid explana12, has chosen to play tion for their choice. myself without lacrosse at Brown The big hype for the University next year, the game college experience is while Wes Denny, 12, the social life itself. -Steve Hull, 12 has committed to play Choosing to play golf at the Air Force a sport at a division I Academy. program demands a 20-hour a week Ricci’s teammates, Kelsey Beck, 12 commitment in-season. NCAA By (American University), and Emile Huntlaw 17.1.6.1 sets a 20 hour per week er, 12 (Virginia Tech), are also preparing limit on time spent on athletics for to play lacrosse in college. Division I athletes. Ryan Lavigne, 12, is attending the However, in a 2006 University of University of Cincinnati in the fall of Nebraska study, done in coopera2009 and will be playing soccer there. tion with the NCAA, it was reported Caitlin Bresnahan, 12, is heading “coaches do not follow the rules of out west to play soccer at Washinghours of week for practicing.” ton State University come next fall. That 20 hour commitment makes a Her high school teammate, Alix large cut in the social aspect of college Hildal, 12, will play at Mississippi. because not only is one committed Baseball players Gary Banks, 12, athletically, one also must commit and Michael Morris, 12, recently academically and to decided to play baseball remain athletically in college. Banks will eligible must at I would have play at Ohio Northern least attend classes. to say that the and Morris at TennesAttending classes see Tech. commitment an takes up time too. The decision for For many, The athlete makes many student athletes primary purpose for a division one who elected to play of attending color not to play a sport sport is in season lege is to get an in college was a very education. Social it is comparable tough one. life and athletwith a full time “The reason I chose ics should come to play football in coljob. An athlete second behind lege is my love for the education. is expected to game. I can’t picture make a large myself without the Student or game,” said Hull. commitment to
“
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Q&A
with Steve Hull, 12
On a scale of 1-10 how excited are you to play football next year at a Big Ten school?
For me, I would say I’m around about a 10. I cannot wait to go play in the Big Ten.
What was your ultimate factor that made you choose to play division one football in college? The ultimate factor for me was the feeling I had every time I walked out onto the field Friday night. There isn’t a better feeling then running out into the lights with a student body and fans cheering for our team. I just have so much fun playing football.
Commitment
What are your goals in the future with football? In the future, I just want to be successful at Illinois. It is a very challenging conference but I want to be able to play a lot and do well.
Any advice for people who are debating whether to play a sport in college? If you can’t see yourself loving the sport for that long, or playing that long, it’s not your true love.
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photo by jeremey mcdaniel
STEVE HULL, 12, RESTS during a football game last fall. Hull has verbally committed to play at the University of Illinois next fall, and will compete against teams such as Ohio State and Michigan. Hull will be joined by teammate Bud Golden, 12.
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image by ben keefe
LILY RICCI, 12, BALANCES her time between school work and lacrosse. She plans to continue to do more of the same next fall at Brown University. She is one of three members of the girls’ lacrosse team who have already committed.
make the $30,000 scholarship they are given to play a sport
athlete?
For many By deciding to play student athletes a sport in college, one in college, school is choosing to make a does not come very time consuming before athletand arduous commitics. In that same -Jim Stoll, Athletic Dir. 2006 study at ment. “I would have to the University of say that the commitment an athlete Nebraska, 60% of student athletes remakes for a division one sport in ported that they were athletes before season is comparable with a full time they were students. job. An athlete is expected to make Though playing sports in college is a large commitment to make the a tremendous experience that may $30,000+ scholarship they are given define one’s life, it rarely will make to play a sport,” said Mr. Jim Stoll, one’s life. Athletic Director. According to the NCAA, only one Stoll has considerable experince out of 250 college athletes will play in dealing with college-level athlettheir sport professionally. So to many ics. He was assistant basketball student athletes, playing a varsity colcoach at Miami University and lege sport is not worth it. head basketball coach at the Uni-
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his month brings many important dates. The Super Bowl XLIII will be feature the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals. Pittsburgh will be going for its sixth Super Bowl win, which would place it in possession of the record for most Super Bowl wins, while the Cardinals are seeking their first league title since 1947. Be sure to catch the boys’ and girls’ basketball games this month, as they prepare to round off the season. The boys have had an overall losing season, while the girls recently suffered their first loss. Clive Owens and Naomi Watts star in “The International.” This gripping thriller revolves around an Interpol agent who attempts to expose a high-profile financial institution’s role in an international arms dealing ring. For all those in love, the holidays of love is just
sunday
1 Pro Sports: Super Bowl Sunday
8
monday
2 Holiday: Groundhog Day SHS Sports: Bowling vs. Oak Hills (away) @ 4 p.m.
9
feb.
FRIDAY January 30, 2009
jacob NEWTON & kavya REDDY
around the corner. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. This month marks the debut of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. This American children’s television series was created and hosted by Fred Rogers. This show inspired an amusement park, planetarium, and traveling show. The Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team have some tough opponents, hopefully they can make the unviersity proud as the football pulled through this year. The movie “Fired Up” releases with the plot is about the two most popular guys in their high school decide to ditch football camp for cheerleader camp. Check out more on sports, clubs, and news on www.goaves.com.
tuesday
3
History: Vietnam War ended (1973)
wednesday
4
thursday
5
Movie Release: “The Pink Panther 2” starring Steve Martin, Andy Garcia and John Cleese.
10
11
12
Holiday: President’s Day (No School) SHS Sports: Girl’s Cooper Invitational @ 4:15 p.m.
17
SHS Sports: Boy’s Varsity Basketball vs. Winton Woods @ 7:30 p.m.
23
18
Concert: Seether @ Bogarts
Holiday: Fat Tuesday/ Mardi Gras
History: U.S. Flag raised at Iwo Jima (1945)
19
History: “Mr. Roger's Neighborhood” debuted (1968)
24
7
SHS Sports: Girl’s Varsity Basketball vs. Fairfield @ 2 pm
14
Holiday: Valentines Day SHS Sports: Girl’s Varsity Basketball vs. Mason @ 2 p.m.
SHS Sports: Academic Quiz Team vs. Fairfield @ 4 p.m.
History: King Tut's Burial Chamber opened (1923)
22
13 Movie Release: “The International” starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts
SHS Sports: Boy’s Varsity Basketball vs. Hamilton @ 7:30 p.m.
16
6
saturday
SHS Sports: Hockey vs. Beavercreek @ 7 p.m.
Wierd Holiday: Toothache Day
15
friday
25
Holiday: Ash Wednesday Concert: TasteofChaosTour @ Bogarts
26
College Sports: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. West Virginia @ 7 p.m. at Fifth Third Arena
20 Movie Release: “Fired Up” starring Nicholas D’Agosta, Eric Christian Olsen, and Sarah Roemer
27
Movie Release: “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li” starring Kristin Kreuk, Michael Clarke Duncan, Chris Klein and Moon Bloodgood
21
History: Malcom X assassinated (1965)
28 History: Gold Seekers arrived in San Francisco (1849)
advertisement 35 FRIDAY January 23, 2009
36 Cheung’s
favorites
spotlight FRIDAY January 30, 2009
‘I have a hard-working mindset’
Alan Cheung shares Chinese background, memories Where do you want to go to college and what do you want to study? I cannot decide. The University of Louisville or University of Kentucky. What do I need to do to be a pharmacy technician?
Person
My Grandpa
What do you like about moving? What do you dislike? There are never any positives and a negative is never having time to keep in touch with what you left behind. What do you want to be when you grow up? Pharmacy technician. But I will always keep the door to priesthood open. What lifestyles have you brought from China to the United States? A hard-working mindset to get what I want, tradition (Chinese New Year), food (rice and noodles about every day), and respect.
Movie
Kung Fu Panda
all photos courtesy of alan cheung
CHEUNG POSES BESIDE a Hannah Montana poster revealing his joking personality and interest in today’s music, also sporting a University of Kentucky sweatshirt, one of his top choices for college.
Q&A
with Alan Cheung, 10
Place you have lived
Louisville
maria MARBALLI spotlight editor
When did you live in China and for how long? Have you lived in any other countries? I lived there for one year when I was either three or four. What is your best memory of China? The Chinese New Year because there were always huge fireworks (the ones that make your ears ring) all across the street. Since people lived very close at the time, we would all go out and let it rock. It didn’t matter who your neighbor was. As long as they had some fireworks, he was invited and everyone would just light them together on the street. It was a huge gathering of people.
Color
White
What is most important in life? God, family, friends, and finding my purpose. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Hanging out whenever I get the chance. Sports is my thing.
Would you prefer living in America or China? America. I actually fit in as an American more than in China. My Chinese is terrible and Chinese people make me look bad. The rumors about being smart are true. Also, I do not know too many people there or things to do. Have you lived anywhere else in America? I have lived in Kentucky, Philadelphia, Lousville, and New Jersey. What do you miss most about Kentucky? Going to the Kentucky Derby with my grandparents. It was so much fun, I will never forget it. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? The power of speed because I love going fast. If you could travel anywhere else in the world, where would you go? I would go to Japan because it seems really interesting. What did you do for the Chinese New Year in Ohio? The Chinese community gets together at my family’s house, party it up, and go to China Town, which is the restaurant that my dad owns. We stay there all night. I work there a lot and sometimes play the piano for entertainment.
Music R&B CHEUNG DANCES DURING a field trip to Washington D.C. “Some guys were dancing on the street and my friends dared me to go up to them and start a dance off. I failed,” said Cheung.
CHEUNG AND HIS family sight-seeing in China before they moved back to the United States. “My family and I wanted to travel around before we moved,” said Cheung.
CHEUNG PLAYS IN an igloo that he built on a snowday with his friends in his neighborhood.