The Sycamore Leaf September 2012 Issue by Sycamore High School

The Sycamore Leaf Hallway freedom: Fri. Sept. 28 , 2012|Volume LIX Issue 5|7400 Cornell Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45242|513.686.1770 ext. 3089|goaves.com

News

Libya, Middle East >> Anniversary of 9/11 brings attacks, changes in foreign policy

Opinion

right or privilege?

The Economy >> 2012 election brings questions, concerns on state, future of economy

Krittika Chatterjee a&e chief

Kelcie Grega

web editor-in-chief

Aditi Sharma

Feature

managing editor

ecause of incidences that have occurred in the locker bays and academic wings such as food fights and disruptive behavior, the administration has put rules in place to keep students in the commons during lunch. Though the new rules that have been put in place have never seemed apparent in the past, they have always existed. This time they being properly enforced. “Supervision has always been a problem for us because we do not have available staff to be in the areas that we need,” said Karen Bare, assistant principle, “In the past we only had four staff available during lunch duty.” In years past, students would often go down to the locker bays to eat their lunch and food fights regularly occurred. Pretzels and chips would be strewn all over the carpet as well as milk cartons and sandwich wrappers. The mess left behind by students was something the administration could no longer allow to continue. “One of the things that I don’t think students realize is that when they make a substantial mess in the upper and lower locker bays they are essentially doubling the size of the area the custodians need to clean up,” said Bare. The mess in the locker bays was not the only problem. Students would frequently roam the hallways during the lunch period

Haiti >> Joseph Ahn, 10, reports on visit to Haiti over summer

A&E

Pinwheels for Peace >> Messages of peace engraved for International Day of Peace

Drilling finally pays off: Hallways fill with smoke Nakul Narendran sports chief

Sports

Water polo >> Boys’ water polo takes shot at state, starts a great season with addition of new coach

The monthly evacuation practices finally came to good use on Sept. 20. Most students were sitting in their fifth bell classes when the fire alarm went off. As they filed out the doors and into the parking lots – as is standard procedure – most were unaware of the true situation. A boiler unit on the roof had undergone

Index

a meltdown around noon and the hallways in the math and business wing were filled with smoke and a repulsive odor. Fire trucks and police cars arrived on the scene and quickly entered the building to resolve the dilemma. Students were ushered out to the soccer stadium where they relaxed at a safe distance for over an hour. Around 1:10 p.m., everyone was allowed back in the building, where they finished the last period of the day. No one was injured, and the crisis was efficiently taken care of.

while classes were in session. Their noise level and disruptive behavior made it difficult for students trying to focus. The plan for the rest of the year is for students to stay out of the locker bays and out of the academic wings. “The administrative team has made a commitment to enforce these rules,” said Bare. One misleading notion that has been spread around is that students are no longer allowed to go to the bathroom or IMC during lunch periods. Students are in fact allowed to use the bathrooms closest to the commons in the lower locker bays. Students also still have access to the IMC. In addition, students are still allowed to go to their classrooms during lunch as long as they have a pass from their teacher. “We are not trying to be unreasonable, we just want students to be mindful of the facility,” said Bare. The effort to reclaim the commons hails back to gestures like the school dance “no grinding policy,” which, while still in place, proved difficult to fully enforce. The question is whether reclaiming the commons will have the same fate as last year’s lunch policy. The Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines outlaws forms of student organization or expression that disrupt the school day. However, reclaiming the commons, a faculty effort, may pose a larger disruption in the student framework than could have ever been foreseen. The rules seem unassuming, yet when Principal Chris Davis announced the new standard on the first day of school, many students were shocked. “Lunch is the only

Commons cont. on pg. 3

Photo courtesy of staff

NEWS 2-4 EVENTS 5 FORUM 6-8 FUN 9 FEATURE 10-12 A&E 13-15 SPORTS 16-19 SPOTLIGHT 20

BIG SHOTS

S 2

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news

cholars’ studies lead to success tudents receive prestigious award

Aditi Sharma

managing editor

very year the National Merit Scholarship Corporation sets out to find the bright young minds of today’s generation. The PSAT serves as a means of reaching these students, and this year SHS is proud to be the home of 17 National Merit Semi-Finalists. Nearly one-thirds of the highest scoring competitors, typically above a score of 200, are recognized as semi-finalists every September. The semi-finalists then work towards becoming finalists and proving that they deserve the award by achieving a high score on the SAT. “I was studying for the SAT last October, so it helped me prepare for the PSAT at the same time. It was like killing two birds with one stone,” said Nikita Thomas, 12.

Along with the many advantages these students receive, including scholarship opportunities, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation recommends each student to two of their choice schools. “I would recommend everyone to really strive to do well on the PSAT because it opens so many doors. Don’t get stressed because that will prevent you from reaching your full potential,” said Aditi Jain, 12. Each year, SHS proves to be one of the highest scoring high schools in the state of Ohio, and once again our seniors have made us proud. “I am really proud to be part of such an accomplished group of people. It is a great feeling to know that we are in the top 15,000 scorers for the PSAT from all over the country,” said Joonhyuk Lee, 12.

Image by Kennedy Harris

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Row 1: Nanki Hura, Tracy Wong, Aditi Jain, Pinar Inanli. Row 2: Nikita Thomas, Christine Lu, Anna Bailes, Hanna Peterson. Row 3: Christine Rollins, Emma Rogge, Marielle Co, Soham Agarwal. Row 4: Joonhyuk Lee, Adam Darwiche, Ryan Dunn, Nicholas Setser, and Alexander Winchell.

Arab democracy, U.S. foreign policy threatened Alexis Corcoran

opinion chief

Atiya Dosani

news chief

On the anniversary of the tragedy that defined the millennial generation, another terrorist attack stemming from the Middle East struck American representatives.

Embassy attacks

The United States Embassy in Libya was attacked on Sept. 11, and the US Ambassador to Libya, John Christopher Stevens, was killed in the attack, along with three other Americans. “Chris was passionate about Libya,” said Zain Verjee, coanchor of CNN’s world report. Verjee knew Stevens well. “He cared about the people and saw hope in its future. He knew the dangers but was committed to democracy and diplomacy above all.” This anti-American violence is due in part to an amateur film produced in the United States patronizing the Prophet Muhammad. Sam Bacile and Nakoula Basseley Nakoula are among the supposed names of the

Casablanca

Arab Spring decline

mystery man who created the anti-Islamic film. The insulting video caused protests across the Middle East. However, on Sept. 10, the day before the turmoil, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri released a video statement which confirmed the death of his Libyan deputy in a U.S. drone strike. Zawahiri called for his death to be avenged. Zawahiri’s statement implied that Libya’s embassy attack was already planned for Sept. 11. With heavy weapons and strategic planning, it was too well-coordinated to be a spontaneous attack. The antiIslamic film only added more fuel to the fire. Still, protest and violence caused by angry responses to the film soon flooded the rest of the Middle East, from Libya to Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen. It is important to point out that although the date of these attacks is unfortunate, they were not committed by the same group as New York’s 2001 World Trade Center attack, and are not from Afghanistan, where American troops are fighting.

Tunis

Some may wonder why these attacks stand out in a year and a half filled with violence and instability in the Middle East following the Arab Spring in 2011. The attacks have brought back American fears of resentment in these countries that have been less prevalent since the fall of Arab dictators Muammar Gaddafi and Hosni Mubarak. These attacks were also the first directly aimed at the United States. Even more frightening to many is the Yemen al-Qaeda branch’s statement saying that they hailed these killings, urging followers to kill other American diplomats in Arabia. However, it is not evident that they had any direct role in the protests. “What has happened is a great event, and these efforts should come together in one goal, which is to expel the embassies of America from the lands of the Muslims,” said one al-Qaeda web statement. Although the Arab Spring was a move in the right direction towards democracy, the events of the past couple

Tehran

Kabul

Baghdad Benghazi Cairo Karachi

Middle East protests erupt

Khartoum

Sanaa

weeks would have been less likely to happen before the revolution. In the previous dictatorships of Mubarak or Gaddafi, the Internet would have been blocked to stop the video from spreading, therefore preventing attacks, or security would have crushed the violence before it escalated. But with some Arab governments new to power, they are still unsure of how to handle violent outbursts like these. The new democracies have allowed various branches of radical Islamic beliefs to emerge, some more violent than others. As far as consequences in the Middle East, the International Crisis Group, a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to preventing deadly conflict, fears these attacks will threaten the new and unstable democracies of the region. This news could be tragic for the millions of Arabs who have spent the last 18 months fighting for change, and the thousands who have died. Perhaps more relevant to Americans, the fall of Arab democratic governments could mean disastrous foreign policy. The United States has made it a mission to spread democracy since the days of communism in the 1960s. A fall in Arab democracy would put the U.S. far back in its mission of democracy that the last 11 years have been spent fighting for in the Middle East.

Spreading violence

Since the Libyan Embassy attack, violent demonstrations have taken place at the U.S. Embassies in Tunisia and Cairo, Image by Atiya Dosani Egypt. PROTESTS IN THE MIDDLE East, stemming in Libya, have quickly spread throughout the region. They have spread On Fri. Sept. 14, protesters far to the east to Casablanca, Morocco, and west to Karachi, Pakistan, and they are continuing to erupt. Embassies climbed the walls into the U.S. all over Arabia have been closed in fear of more attacks, similar to the initial one at the Libyan U.S. embassy. Embassy in Tunis, trashing the

entrance building, and setting fire to a gym, cars, and a nearby American school that is now inoperative. On Sept. 16, an almost perfectly parallel stack took place in Pakistan where dozens of protestors were injured.

Government reply

The State Department released a note of caution Sept. 15, the day after the Tunisian Embassy demonstration, ordering any non-essential American representatives in Tunisia and Sudan to leave the countries for fear of similar anti-American violence. It is hard to imagine that this is the end of anti-American violence from the Middle East, and the U.S. government agrees. “I think we are definitely going to see similar attacks to the Tunisian and Libyan attacks all over the Middle East soon,” said Rajat Bhageria, 11. The two presidential candidates have differing opinions on how the U.S. should respond to the attacks. The current president is nonremorseful. “We must ... send a clear and resolute message to the world: those who attack our people will find no escape from justice. We will never allow anyone to shake the resolve of the United States of America,” President Barack Obama said in his address Sat. Sept. 15. The Arab Spring seemed to bring light to the Middle East with new leaders and signs of progress. However, the recent outbreaks of violence have clouded over the region, showing that achieving democracy, as well as stability, might not be as close as it once seemed. The Arab Spring could be rapidly shifting into the Arab Fall.

news

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‘But it seems to me that, regardless of age, we are all equal behind the wheel in regards to texting while driving’

Drive now, text ‘l8r’ Sarah May

editor-in-chief

hio recently became the 39th state to ban text messaging while driving. After years of efforts preaching the dangers of distracted driving, a bill restricting the use of electronic devices behind the wheel went into effect Aug. 31, 90 days after Gov. John Kasich signed the plan into law. “I think it is smart they finally made this illegal. We’ve seen so many videos of the effects and half the time students just become desensitized to the dangers of texting. This is the first time [the state] has actually taken a step toward doing something about it,” said Grace Keeton, 12. Although commonly regarded simply as a ban on texting, in actuality the law covers much more, at least for younger drivers. Drivers under 18 years of age are now prohibited from using handheld electronic

devices of any type, including GPS systems and iPods. For adults, it is illegal to write, send, or read text messages behind the wheel. The dangers of texting while driving are undisputed. Virginia Tech researchers have found that while viewing or sending a text message, drivers look away from the road an average of 4.6 seconds. At 55 mph, that is the length of time it takes to travel one football field. If that does not ring true, the State Highway Patrol also reported 31000 crashes and 74 deaths in the past three years as the result of distracted driving. The controversy associated with this law arises not from debates on its necessity, but rather from the fact that it differentiates between what adults and teenagers are allowed to do. “The law is terribly written. It makes it okay to do a lot of dangerous

things as soon as you turn 18. It assumes that some people are better drivers just because they are older, and it is basing too much on age alone,” said Jay Burgin, 12. The law has two levels of enforcement: For drivers over 18, violations are a secondary offense, meaning police can stop and cite offenders only if they are also committing a primary offense, such as speeding or weaving. For those younger than 18, a violation is classified as a primary offense; officers can stop these drivers solely on the suspicion of them being in violation. “The law that says drivers under 17 can only have one [non-familial] passenger riding with them, I understand that,” said Mr. Chris Davis, principal. “But it seems to me that, regardless of age, we are all equal behind the wheel in regards to texting

while driving. It is dangerous for everyone.” The law is one of the strictest in the nation for minors. All law-breakers will be charged a fine of $150. Teen violators will also receive a 60-day suspension of license. Additionally, repeat offenders under 18 will be subject to a maximum fine of $300 and possible loss of license for a year. Tickets will start flowing March 1, a date that marks the conclusion of the law’s sixmonth warning period. Some teenage drivers who know they will be 18 before this date have paid little attention to the its passage, knowing that by the time they can be cited, it will only be as a secondary offense. For others, however, the law’s passage has just enough conviction to break the habit entirely. “The law got me to put my phone away while driving,” said Maria Prasek, 12. And that makes the roads just a little safer.

Image by Lila Englander

Commons cont. from pg. 1 time we get to relax and forget about all the stress during the school day. And that’s really hard to do when you’re confined in a small area with a massive amount of other students,” said Jamie Ross, 11. Students that were not necessarily responsible for any infringements on SHS’ standards of cleanliness are now confined with the ones who are. Certainly, not every student left trash scattered in the hallways. “The administration is punishing everyone for something a very small group of people did. Perhaps if they were better at reprimanding the individual, they wouldn’t need to reprimand the group,” said Ross. When those select few oppose reclaiming the commons, the validity of their argument is negated. A student cannot argue for their rights to break the rules. Reclaiming the commons has, up to this point, been effective. Its future remains in the hands of the students’ response.

Guest Column Stephanie Adamec

guest columnist

Uganda is my home outside of Cincinnati. Even though I have only visited there once, I long to see that beautiful red soil and the glowing faces of the students of UNIFAT. After journeying to third-world countries, many visitors are shocked by the poverty they see. However, the element of Uganda that surprised me the most was the happiness that the Ugandans emitted despite the terrible conditions they live in. The Ugandans taught me to appreciate the little things: friendships, deep conversations, love, and most of all the education I am receiving at SHS. When coming back to the United States, the first thought that came to mind was “what am I going to do next?” My first instinct was to tell everyone the stories of the kids and how we can help. It was tough to find that my words often fall on deaf ears. I found that this unique experience was exactly that, unique, and most people aren’t capable of understanding simply because they didn’t witness what I did. However, one thing people noticed was my passion, which is something they can latch on to regardless of the cause they are involved with. My goal as president is to show my passion for UNIFAT and achieving peace throughout the world. I hope to inspire our school to make a difference in our community now. Each year, the continuous dedication I see from students humbles me. I am currently the only person at SHS who has been to Uganda—quite a heavy weight on my shoulders. The fact that students, who haven’t ever been to UNIFAT, have the same fire within them for this cause is astounding. It gives me so much hope, not just for UNIFAT, but for the entire world.

New research may help low income children Lila Englander

news chief

It takes 32 hours on average to study for the General Education Development (GED) test. It takes, on average, 1,000 hours of studying each year for four years to achieve an equivalent diploma. “If we can get four years over with by studying for less than two days, why do we even go to high school?” said Derrick Bennett, 9. The fact that the United States education system allows such a relatively narrow test as the GED to substitute for four years of high school experience illustrates how incomplete such tests are as success indicators. Recent studies demonstrate that success in life depends greatly on noncognitive skills such as grit and self-discipline. “Social skills, work habits,

and perseverance are all things we learn in school that are never tested on a Scantron,” said Clara Chuey, 10. Early childhood brain development enables the establishment of non-cognitive skills that will later determine the success of a person’s life. One explanation for the socioeconomic achievement gap is that traumatic childhood events severely impact brain development. Children who grow up in more affluent homes tend to have fewer traumatic experiences and generally receive more attention. Thus, they have an easier time learning non-cognitive skills. Beyond early childhood, the U.S. education system has yet to even recognized noncognitive skills as an essential part of education. Up until now, the main objective of high school can be compacted into four words—teach to the

test. America focuses only on achieving high enough test scores to be accepted into college, instead of also developing the skills that will help students succeed once they enter college. In other words, there is little understanding of how to teach non-cognitive skills and schools have stopped seeing it as part of their responsibility to do so. As a result, the United States may still have a fairly high rate of college enrollment, but it also has the greatest rate of college dropouts in the industrialized world. In some cases, progress has already been made. Because of these new studies, demonstration projects that teach non-cognitive skills to teenagers have been launched in many cities and have been proven to be relatively inexpensive and surprisingly effective at improving

students’ long-term life success. While this analysis has revealed the reasons for some of the United States’ greatest success gaps, it has also illuminated affordable policy measures, which could dramatically reduce those gaps. If affordable interventions can increase individual capability, socioeconomic disadvantages may be reduced to a greater degree than ever before. “…Not doing it through the standard mechanism of handing out money and transfers from rich to poor. That’s ancient. The idea is you make the poor highly capable, that there really is a possibility of giving people more possibilities,” said James Heckman, an economist who pioneered much of the research in this area, on This American Life.

4 9.28.12

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news

New teachers on the block Mr. Matt Johnson

Mr. John Turner

Position: Special education

Position: Japanese teacher

teacher & head strength coach

What previous teaching

What are your goals this

experience have you had? The

year? Help SHS win more

main thing is that I taught six

games across the board

years of English in Japan.

and make the school better

What should people know

as a whole.

about you? I like to travel- I

Mme. Marjolaine Meeker

think everyone should see the world, the world is a big place. You get

Position: French teacher

a different view of the world when you travel abroad.

What is your previous teaching

Mr. Nick Niehaus

experience? I’ve taught in this state

Position: Special education/math teacher at

at Little Miami and at the Alliance

Aves Academy and head strength coach

Francais. In Missouri I taught at a high

Why Sycamore? As a teacher, it is an honor to

school, and also as a TA in a university.

join a school district that has long been held

I also used to work in translation.

in such high regard. As a longtime resident

What is something you enjoy

of Montgomery and former SHS student

about your current position?

myself, I am thrilled to be an Aviator again!

The excitement of helping someone discover a language.

Describe your teaching style in 5 words:

Mrs. Rebecca Hansen

Failure is not an option!

Position: Special education & math teacher

Ms. Lindsay Schroeder

What experience do you have in

Position: Special education teacher

this field? This is my fourth year at

What are your goals this year? For

Sycamore, but my first year with a

the students, I want to help prepare

classroom in the high school. I’ve

them for the OGT but also bridge the

with students in a variety of roles in

gap between them students and the

the high school, Symmes and Maple

rest of the student body. Also, I want

Dale. I also have experience at Lakota and Cincinnati Public Schools.

to help her students work on their

What should people know about you, as a teacher and a person?

communication and organization.

I am goal oriented.

Image by Shea Lothrop and Ana Barros

Private instruction in: piano voice guitar strings music theory

Sheila Vail, director sheilavail@aol.com

(513) 779-7373

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Events >>goaves.com >>the sycamore leaf

“The money the event raises will go towards training Child Appointed Special Advocates, the people who represent each foster child through the process of finding them a home,” Lauren Glynn

calendar chief

Fashion for the Cure- See article below.

PSAT

SHS & District

What: An SAT practice test for juniors and sophomores. Scores also dictate National Merit Scholarship eligibility. Date: Wednesday, October 17 Additional Info: Sophomores test in the Commons, juniors test in the Gregory Center. Bring multiple No. 2 pencils and a calculator.

French Club Picnic

What: French Club’s kick-off “pique-nique,” an after school snack of French cusine. Date / Time: Today after school Location: Room 152 Additional Info: Members are reminded to turn in their $10 dues.

Early Release Day

What: High school students will be dismissed early Date/Time: Wednesday, October17 at 12:50 p.m.

Parent Teacher Conferences

What: High school students will be dismissed at 1 p.m. due to parent teacher meetings. Date: Thursday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. Location: Commons and IMC

Orchestra Concert

What: A chance for orchestra to show off their talent Date/Time : Thursday, October 18 at 7 p.m. Location: Main Auditorium

Variety Show

What: SHS students get to show off their unique talents in front of family and peers. Date / Time: Friday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Location: SHS main auditorium Additional Info: Auditions today after school.

Girl’s Golf Final Tournament

What: The ladies’ last chance to show off their skills for this year’s fall golf season Date : Saturday, Oct. 20 Location: OSU Gray Course

Relay for Life Committee Meeting What: Meeting for students interested in planning this year’s R4L. Committees include Entertainment, Sponsorship, Survivorship, Online, and Luminaria. Date / Time: Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 5:45 p.m. Location: Staff lounge

Date / Time: Friday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. Against: Princeton Location: Bud Acus Stadium, Sycamore Junior High School Additonal Info: Football game follows homecoming day parade. Includes Band Night, featuring district bands of students from 6th to 12th grade.

Homecoming

Date / Time: Saturday, Oct. 13 at 8:30 p.m. Additional Info: $15 for one ticket and $25 for two tickets. No sales after 12:00 p.m. on October 13.

What: Coaches will present awards to student-athletes who participated in fall sports. Date / Time: Monday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. Location: Meet in main gym; teams will be redirected from there.

staff writer

For every year since 2007, the Fashion for the Cure committee has been hard at work, taking breaks only during the summer season. For 2013, their objectives are slightly different than they have been in past years. Each year two senior cochairs choose a charity of choice they feel appropriate to raise money for, this year is ProKids, a local charity. ProKids trains volunteers to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). Each CASA volunteer is assigned to a foster child and is charged with making sure the child’s needs are met and that the child is safe, and with helping each child move into a safe, permanent, and nurturing home. “I think we’re all really excited to work with this charity especially,” said

Community Blue Man Group

What: The world-famous entertainment group combines art, theater, science and percussive music into a unique theater experience. Date / Time: Oct. 16-28 at various times Location: Proctor and Gamble Hall, the Aronoff Center

Post Secret Play

What: The anonymous postcard phenomenon that is Post Secret takes the stage in a multimedia theater experience. Date / Time: Monday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Location: The Playhouse in the Park Cost: $10

Benefits What: Festival activities and silent auction. 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. and Kids’ Fun Run at 11:30 a.m. Goodie bag and pancake breakfast provided following 5K. Date / Time: Saturday, Oct. 6 at 9:30a.m. -1:30p.m. Location: Sycamore Junior High School Cost/Benefits: $30/Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Additional Info: General admission is free.

Report Card Distribution Date: Monday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.

Free to Breathe 5K Senior Halloween

What: Senior students are invited to wear costumes to school. See graphic below for guidelines. Date: Monday, Oct. 31 Additional Info: Annual senior costume parade will take place seventh bell.

News in Brief Sarah Birkhead

Elizabeth Swofford,11

Aviator Flight Fest and 5K

Fall Sport Awards

Homecoming Football Game

Fashion for the Cure:

Caroline Seiler, 12, Co-chair. Seiler and fellow co-chair Daniella Star, 12, both agree that this year’s work should focus more on helping the individual children and making a difference in their lives, rather than just on raising more money than last year’s show. “Any amount of money toward this organization will make a difference, it doesn’t necessarily matter if it’s less than last year,” said Star. The event will take place on March 20, 2013.

Hurricane Isaac: Emma Burge

staff writer

Ben Young

staff writer

On Aug. 28, Hurricane Isaac formed near the Mississippi River mouth. 11 days after, Isaac had caused 41 deaths and an estimated $1.5 billion in costs, according to CNN.

What: A second anual run/walk for to raise money for lung cancer Date / Time: Saturday, Oct. 6 starting at 8:30 a.m. Location: Acosta Sales and Marketing Cost/Benefits: $25 (adult) $15 (youth under 12 years old)

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

The city’s precautions had paid off; the flooding that Isaac caused was nowhere near that of Hurricane Katrina’s. There are many easy ways students can assist in helping this cause. “I’ll help, but it should not inconvenience me too much. Having easier ways to help will appeal to more of the general public,” said Won Choi, 10. Though there is currently no school sponsored organiztion devoted to helping this casue, there are many other places one could go to lend a helping hand. “I know one way to help the victims of hurricane Isaac is to donate clothes, furniture, and kitchen utensils to Matthew 25 Ministries, which is just down the street from the high school,” said Kennedy Harris, 12. To make a $10 donation, text ‘REDCROSS’ to 90999. It is a simple way to help a national cause.

No masks that cover the face, see-through garments, exposed midriffs, strapless tops or clothing that exposes under garments. Students with such items will be disqualified from the competition and will be sent home to change. No weapons such as swords, guns, etc. can be used as a part of your costume. This includes facsimiles of weapons of any kind. Items will be confiscated. No fighting, pretend fighting, wrestling, etc. Students taking part in such activities will be disqualified and sent home. No rollerblades, skates, skateboards, bicycles, shopping carts or any other wheeled modes of transportation will be allowed in the building. Students may not bring props that are designed for throwing away or distributing. No confetti, food items, stickers, aerosol cans. Students with such items will be disqualified from the competition and items will be confiscated. No latex balloons as any part of costumes. No drug, alcohol or tobacco references including facsimiles of such items. This includes bottles, wine or drink glasses, and SOLO cups. Students with offensive or inappropriate costumes will be sent home to change. If there are questions about whether or not a costume is appropriate, please see Mrs. Karen Bare, assistant principal for approval. Image by Kelcie Grega

9.28.12

No more bake sales4 Opinion >> The ban on bake sales makes fundraising more difficult

US economy 4 Opinion >> As the presidential elections approach, the economy is one of the deciding policies

Joining with friends >> Students do not get the most out of clubs when they join to be with friends

Forum 7

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The Sycamore Sycamore High School Leaf 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. For comments about columns, please write to writetotheleaf@gmail.com Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Editors-in-chief: Sarah May, Ellie Goldman Associate Editors: Sanika Vaidya, Rachael Sun, Isaac Harmon Managing Editors: Aditi Sharma, Ana Barros, Will Gawin Business Managers: Shea Lothrop, Atiya Dosani, Lila Englander Goaves.com Editor: Kelcie Grega Broadcast Editors: Tori Swart, Kelsey King News Jenny Ham Atiya Dosani Britton Kemp Lila Englander Brooke Landrum Opinion Jacqueline Lazar Alexis Corcoran Madeline Marsh Isaac Harmon Julia Mattis Feature Ethan May Rachael Sun Anna Moreno Sanika Vaidya Jacie Ray Joseph Ahn Casey Rayburn A&E Elizabeth Rickert Krittika Chatterjee Ali Richter Sports Lyndsey Roth Michael Saxon Orion Schosser Nakul Narendran Zoe Schlosser Spotlight Lauren Shassere Aditi Sharma Megan Shindler Kathryn Tenbarge Brenda Shen Fun and Games Joseph Slovin Taylor Evans Scott Stefani Ellen Martinson Peter Tosh Cartoonist Gian Carlo Valli Lilly Lefton Alex Wittenbaum Web Masters Ben Young Ruochen Tang Eli Zawatsky Eli Seidman-Deutsch Anna Zhou Enterprise Editors Photographer Allie Oh Jeremy McDaniel Lauren Saxon Adviser Staff Writers Cheralyn Jardine Michelle Bartlett About us Romina Belez Professional Sarah Birkhead memberships: Hope Bundy • Columbia Scholastic Emma Burge Press Association Katie Bush • Journalism Education Astrid Cabello Association Andres Cardenes • National Scholastic High Camila Cardenes School Press Association Michael DeMaio • Ohio Scholastic Media Zachary Fritzhand Association Max Fritzhand • Ohio Professional Writers (National Federation of Caroline Gao Women Writers) Lauren Glynn • Quill & Scroll Andrea Goldstein International Journalism Isaac Goldstein Honorary Melissa Goodman

Companies targeting voters not consumers William Gawin

managing editor

Cartoon by Lilly Lefton

Staff Editorial Indeed, being treated as a zoo animal during lunch seems a little overboard- especially when some of us animals are already legal adults. Our first instinct has been to immediately blame the faculty, the zoo keepers who refuse to allow us to leave our cages. It is mainly those returning to SHS, whether for their second, third, or fourth year, that are throwing out the complaints. Easy to admit, this system is overly juvenile. However before we go blaming a ‘corrupt administration,’ we must not forget that this is a result of our actions. No one really has the right to be astonished over this. The filth and disgust in our school last year from students roaming the halls during lunch was everywhere; not to

mention we all were witnesses of our fifth bell classes being interrupted by hallway noise. Just because our school has custodians does not mean smearing food over the ground and walls is acceptable. In fact, it is embarrassing to admit to go to a school with students who would think that is funny. High school is deemed the time to prepare us for college, mature us so we are ready to leave home, and start our independent lives. That is why it is sad that we make it so we have to be treated as if we were five. Instead of spending time blaming the adults, why don’t you make an effort to prove to them that we are responsible enough to freely roam the building without trashing the place? This is the only way we can get our privileges back.

leafing through the masses What do you think of the new commons restrictions? The new commons restrictions take away our freedom. I do not like that the administration can just infringe on our rights whenever they want. Carly Lefton, 11

This is a big building and it is hard for teachers to be everywhere all the time. Students have time to go to their lockers before they eat and that is all they should be doing during lunch anyway. Mrs. Marnie May, English Teacher

It is hard to go to my locker and do the things I want to before lunch under this time constraint. It just seems too controlling of the administration. Sam Bouajram, 9

Less than three weeks ago, the news cycle was transfixed by the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Both sides had three full nights of opponent- bashing fun. However, despite spending hours in front of my television I can only seem to remember a few things from the speeches: Clint Eastwood doesn’t like empty chairs, a Cincinnati firefighter got to speak at the DNC, and that Clinton’s speech trumped Obama’s. This being said, the commercials did stand out in my mind. Companies seem to have stopped selling their products to consumers and instead, they have decided to sell their brand to voters. In a recent string of ads by Exxon Mobile, the company refrained from mentioning that it‘s an energy company and instead it talked about raising education standards. So why is an energy company talking about education instead of oil? Simple: they want you, the general public, to associate Exxon Mobile with advocating good public policy. Now when Exxon Mobile comes into the public spotlight, such as when applying for a drilling permit, the company is seen as an organization you agree with on some issues even though you may disagree with the company on energy policy. Some companies are even less subtle when trying to change their public perception. A major example would be Chevron’s “We Agree” advertisement campaign in which ads show two scripted people, one an ‘average Joe’ and the other a Chevron employee, agreeing on energy and economic policy. Ads from the Norfolk Southern Corporation, a railroad, even go as far to claim “where our trains go, the economy comes to life.” There is nothing wrong with a company try to get you to like them, but don’t let them sway your political opinion. The bottom line is if a company is spending millions of dollars to produce and run a series of ads they are not spending the money for you. They are spending it to get a return for the shareholders and despite Chevron’s claims sometimes we don’t agree. For comments and suggestions on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com

forum

9.28.12

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In ve n t Meant To

Cincinnati spawns cutting edge technology Lila Englander

news chief

BAKE SALES HAVE ALWAYS been an intricate part of raising money for wholesome causes. But due to the recent health food restrictions and with child obesity on the rise, bake sales have been put into question.

Baked: Taylor Evans

fun & games chief

hen adults hear the term ‘puppy chow’, they think of dog food, however, students know exactly what it means. Puppy chow is undeniably a favorite among all ages. “When I had puppy chow for the first time, I loved it,” said Leah Wallihan, junior high student. Puppy chow does get cleaned out quickly at bake sales, but not because it is being sold for money, but because it is being used as an incentive to buy other items available for purchase such as shirts and bracelets. In other words, baked goods are being given away. It remains unclear why bake sales, which are arguably the most profitable fundraising activity students participate in, are banned. It would be like banning

All images courtesy of Leaf staff

Ban on bake sales sets fundraisers back

French fries from McDonalds, due to health concerns, but still allowing customers to get them with the purchase of a toy. I still cannot understand why bake sales, which are infrequent throughout the year, are constantly beleaguered with rules and regulations. Blaming them for childhood obesity is not sensible, seeing as they are not a daily event. If obesity is the real issue here, then the focus needs to be on the foods that are available every day, such as soda, candy, cookies, and French fries, the four leading cuisines that lead to obesity. “It just doesn’t make sense. I love participating in bake sales, because I feel like I’m really contributing to a good cause and raising money for it, and that is really what they are all about,” said Joanna Brown, 10. High school students, no matter the grade, know good from bad health choices and how to balance what they eat. So

when adults ban bake sales, it makes students feel like their judgment or ability to make healthy choices is not trusted. “I totally support eating healthy, but we have bake sales only a handful of times per year. I don’t think it’s the cookies sold for a couple days that are causing the real issue,” said Brown. It sounds disingenuous to say infrequent bake sales contribute to childhood obesity, and yet still allow unhealthy vending machines and lunch choices with foods not on the Food Guide Pyramid. Healthy living and eating is very important, but taking away something that supports good causes, like Volley for the Cure and Unified for UNIFAT, hurts more than it helps. So, why is the most crucial and substantial method of raising money for foundations and causes banned?

Club atmospheres rank high in peer pressure Rachael Sun

associate editor

Extracurricular activities are commonly encouraged so students can “meet new people.” But when it comes down to it, the inevitable high school environment of ‘social groups’ and ‘friend circles’ prevents this from happening. Is it, perhaps, an idealistic pretense that club members claim to have mastered? When I walk into a club and see clusters of people in corners, it does not upset me. When I recognize that the gatherings are categorized by groups of friends, however, the previous image of harmless mingling becomes disquieting. Because there are so many people from the same group. Of course, it is understandable for us to naturally gravitate towards the familiar, the natural. However, other

perspectives must also be considered. “I think it makes the club a lot more enjoyable if you are surrounded by people you know. However, it sometimes adds a lot of members who only join because of friends,” said Anan Lu, 11. Too often do I see students joining clubs in groups of five or more, and sometimes, this seemingly small number of new participants will compromise the majority of smaller, yet equally interesting, activities. Why do students do this? Why do students continue to engage in the same exact extracurricular activities as their friends? Surely, even within a set social group, is there not enough diversity to have students branching out in separate directions? First, comfort plays a certain role in choosing a club. “It’s nice to have friends in

clubs with you and it makes it more enjoyable,” said Gabby Gerbus, 12. Obvious problems with this setup, however, lead to another objection: the priorities of those involved. “I think it is important for students to get involved, but if they join clubs just because of their friends, they can be distracted from the purpose of the club,” said Reese Allison, 10. More and more am I beginning to notice just how this aversion to forging one’s own path is afflicting those who might be interested in something that ‘their friend is not doing’. For example, SHS offers over 20 clubs in activities that students would not be able to access in such an efficient and effective way outside of school. Students fail to take advantage of opportunities such as fencing

club and book club. And the cause of such neglect, such wasted opportunity? I say that the suspect falls somewhere between obliviousness and cowardice. So as the school year continues, I urge you to try something new. Perhaps the world will not end if you are forced to make new friends for a grand thirty minutes every week. Perhaps. In fact, I will even allow you to have a friend help you. Just not three or four. “[Getting involved] can also help students step out of their comfort zone if they have someone to do it with,” said Allison. Groups of friends who join clubs are not necessarily a bad thing. All I am asking you to keep in mind for the upcoming year of extracurricular activities is to stay, and think, “out of the box” of social restrictions.

In the August issue I recapped my summer experience interning at Design Impact. The column emphasized the renewal and revival that I witnessed taking place in downtown Cincinnati in the same neighborhoods that even a few years ago were deemed too dangerous for suburban teenagers. When people hear about my summer job, they generally view it as a fluke. And yes, I was lucky, but stories like mine are becoming increasingly more common as innovative nonprofits spring up all over Cincinnati. In fact, three blocks away from Design Impact stands an equally impressive organization called Strive Partnership, where my brother interned this summer. Strive Partnership is a network of 300 local organizations, foundations, and schools, whose common goal is to prepare Cincinnati’s youth with the skills needed to succeed. The partnership already has improved retention rates at participating universities and improved reading levels at local schools. What makes Strive Partnership so effective is the way it creates collaborations that engage businesses, community organizations, and governments around the shared goal of making Cincinnati Public School students more successful. Strive Partnership was so successful that its model has been adapted to communities around the U.S. Just like Design Impact, Strive Partnership is not just interesting, it is creating new waves, which are being watched and copied around the country. When people with shared interests join together to pursue solutions to societal problems, those problems become more manageable, and the available resources more potent. Design Impact and Strive both represent the wide variety of exceptional ideas being born in Cincinnati and the potential our city has to become a frontrunner for groundbreaking ideas and initiatives. For my brother, Strive was an excellent experience, partly because he was interested in their cause and partly due to its size. Strive Partnership’s accomplishments may be widespread, but their permanent staff is only six people, which enabled him to play such a key role. When choosing an internship it is important to consider the size of the organization as well as the topic, because size influences the opportunity that interns have for exposure. For comments on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com

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9.28.12

Where we stand: B Isaac Harmon

opinion chief

ill Clinton’s speech at the Democratic National Convention was a remarkable combination of serious banter and memorable zingers. Perhaps the best of these zingers was his sarcastic summary of the Republican case for denying President Barack Obama’s re-election: “We left him a total mess. He hasn’t cleaned it up fast enough. So fire him and put us back in.” On Inauguration Day 2009, the U.S. economy faced three main problems. First, and most pressing, there was a crisis in the financial system, with many of the crucial channels of credit frozen; we were, in effect, suffering the 21st-century version of the bank runs of the Great Depression. Second, the economy was taking a major hit from the collapse of a huge housing bubble. Third, consumer spending was being held down by high levels of household debt, much of which had been run up during the Bush era. The first of these problems was resolved quite quickly, thanks to both lots of emergency lending by the Federal Reserve and, yes, the much-maligned bank bailouts. By late 2009, measures of financial stress were more or less back to normal. “I do believe that, overall, we are better off then we were four years ago. As I recall, we were in a downward spiral with the rate of unemployment and the downfall of the stock market. At this point, unemployment in the state of Ohio has dropped over the past wto years. The stock market continues on its roller coaster ride, but at least it has risen out of the basement,” said Mrs. Martha Reisenberg, economics teacher.

Housing recovery

This return to financial normalcy did not, however, produce a robust recovery. Fast recoveries are almost always led by a housing boom,

but the excess construction made this impossible. Meanwhile, households were trying to pay down debt, which meant depressed demand. So the economy’s free fall has ended, but recovery remains sluggish. But here’s the good news: The forces that have been holding the economy back seem likely to fade away in the years ahead. Housing recovery has already begun. Household debt is still high by historical standards, but the ratio of debt to G.D.P. is way down from its peak, setting the stage for stronger consumer demand.

Business investment

Business investment has actually been recovering rapidly since late 2009, and there’s every reason to expect it to keep rising as businesses see rising demand for their products. But we should have had strong policies to mitigate the pain while households worked down their debt, as well as policies to help reduce the debt. “There are so many extenuating circumstances that continue to keep our economy depressed. The weather extremes, the poor housing market, the turmoil in so many foreign countries. At this point, I do not want our government to spend more money to ‘fix’ the economy,” said Reisenberg. However, the policies we received were far from adequate. Debt relief, in particular, has been a bust. That said, President Obama did push through policies, namely the auto bailout and the Recovery Act, which made the slump a lot less awful than it might have been. And despite Mitt Romney’s attempt to rewrite history on the bailout, the fact is that Republicans bitterly opposed both measures, as well as everything else the president has proposed. So Clinton basically had it right from the start.

President’s recovery

For all the pain America has suffered, President Obama can claim to have helped the country get through a bad patch, from which it is starting to emerge. The slow start for the economy in 2012, with an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the first three months of the year, is evidence that the recovery is too weak to push joblessness much lower than its current 8.2 percent, and too fragile to withstand the kinds of budget cuts Congressional Republicans are proposing. First-quarter growth was not far off the recent average pace and conditions are certainly worse elsewhere, what with European nations in recession. But that is false comfort. To make up for the damage the Great Recession did to jobs, income, wealth, and confidence, the economy needs consistent above-average growth. Europe’s problems will only exacerbate America’s own, by shaving growth from exports or, in a worst case, by destabilizing banks that are linked to the European financial system.

With every passing year, the relevance of 9/11 is slipping away. 10 minute moments of silence have become 10 seconds in what seems like no time at all. And yet, the number of deaths on that fateful morning will never shrink - if anything, it increases under the radar due to medical conditions caused by the harmful conditions at Ground Zero. It was the largest terrorist attack on America in history, but somehow its importance is being silently swept under the rug. The six million unjust deaths that were caused in the Jewish, homosexual, and gypsy populations during the Holocaust have not been avenged, but certainly not forgiven. In order to prevent history from repeating itself, as the old adage preaches, it is expected that we know the history, the statistics, and the consequences, and that Krittika Chatterjee we treat the horrors of it as taboo. a&e chief Sept. 11 is only a lesser act in its numbers. To imagine it was spurred by any less Image by Ana Barros hatred is absurd, and to ignore the effects

Generation after years later, 9/

wounds just as fresh

Our position in today’s economy

forum

What it means for elections

Unfortunately, with electionyear partisanship only intensifying Washington’s gridlock, concerted action to support the economy will have to wait until after the election, and no one knows which direction the policies will take. There are bright spots: consumer spending and housing construction were both up in the latest growth figures. But there is little to show that the upturns are sustainable. Spending, for example, was stronger despite weak wage growth, suggesting that most of the bolstered consumption is from wealthier consumers. That makes for good numbers, but does not mean prosperity. Similarly, corporate profits have been healthy, but business investment has waned, indicating that businesses remain cautious and unlikely to increase hiring or raise pay. That suggests that growth will flow more to profits than pay. “I think it is up to businesses to continue to hire and up to the consumer to continue to spend,” said Reisenberg. At the same time, cutbacks in government spending, which are scheduled to deepen next year in keeping with last year’s federal budget deal, will eat into growth. In the latest figures, government spending cuts shaved 0.6 off a percentage point from growth; deeper cuts mean more damage, as has been amply demonstrated by self-destructive austerity in Europe. “We’re on the right track, but we still have a long way to go,” said Reisenberg.

Image by Ana Barros

of the hate on America is a result of cowardice on the part of the nation. Deaths in smaller numbers are not reflective of a lesser evil. Some believe that, under this logic, the attacks on Oklahoma City, Columbine, and even the movie theatre shooting deserve the same recognition. Perhaps they do. But to treat them in the same manner as arguably the most relevant event in modern American history is not proportionately accurate. The pain of 9/11 is still an open wound when forgiveness, as general consensus of our country has decided, is not an option. The confusion lies here: this restoration of patriotism that comes with being educated on the subject does not entail a subsequent hatred of Islam. Rather, a truly enriched knowledge provides understanding. America has reached a point where the purpose is no longer to know the enemy, but to know the facts. With greater knowledge, our country, instead of attempting some ludicrous clean break, can learn to heal.

The Organic Fable Isaac Harmon

opinion chief

Organic has long since become an ideology. The romantic back-to-nature obsession of an upper middle class able to afford it and oblivious, in its affluent narcissism, to the challenge of feeding a planet whose population will surge to nine billion before the middle of the century, and whose poor will get a lot more nutrients from the two regular carrots they can buy for the price of one organic carrot. An effective form of premium branding rather than a science, a slogan rather than better nutrition, “organic” has oozed over the menus, markets and malls of the world’s upscale neighborhood at a remarkable pace. In 2010, according to the Organic Trade Association, organic food and drink sales totaled $26.7 billion in the United States, or about four percent of the overall market, having grown steadily since 2000. So I cheered this week when Stanford University concluded, after examining four decades of research, that fruits and vegetables labeled organic are, on average, no more nutritious than their cheaper conventional counterparts. The study also found that organic meats offered no obvious health advantages. Now let me say something nice about the organic phenomenon. The first is that it reflects a growing awareness about diet that has spurred quality. Still, the organic ideology is an elitist, pseudoscientific indulgence shot through with hype. There is a niche for it, if you can afford to shop at Whole Foods, but the future is nonorganic. To feed a soon-to-be planet of nine billion people, we are going to need high yields not low yields; we are going to need genetically modified crops; we are going to need pesticides and fertilizers and other elements of the industrialized food processes that have led mankind to be better fed and live longer than at any time in history. I’d rather be against nature and have more people better fed. I’d rather be serious about the world’s needs. And I trust the monitoring agencies that ensure pesticides are used at safe levels, a trust the Stanford study found to be justified. Organic is a fable of the pampered parts of the planet, romantic and comforting. Now, thanks to Stanford researchers, we know just how replete with myth the “O” fable is. For comments on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com

9.28.12

Fun & Games

Taylor Evans

Riddle

Ellen Martinson

What has no weight but is heavy enough to sink a ship?

fun & games chief

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fun & games chief

Answer: A hole

P E L B D P A W Y O

R U I W E U P U J Q

Z S M D H S Z L U S

G A F P O C M R E K

T G F G K O I X X S

P M A V S I H D A B

Leaves Cider Apples

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

Where in the school is this?

Word Search: Fall

S E V R A C S E M P

A P G B U K N F E V

C V C L E A V E S R

Q Y A E T K J Y I L

Scarves Hoodies Pumpkin

The first person to submit the answer to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com

will win an out-to-lunch pass.

Poetry by Students By: Ryan Dunn, 12 Behind clouds The moon hidden from view while I sit on the porch Filling my lungs with sound and Feeling for which rib of mine God must have given to you But even if creation isn’t true -- You’re the most beautiful Accident of stardust Held together by cosmic glue That I’ve ever come upon The glowing sun at dawn Reminders of our sonic youth Our ironic love for disaster and the Cinnamon ice cream truce we’ve signed Still, you stand Iconic in my prose My sober peace of mind

Submit your poetry for possible publication at SHSstudentvoice@ gmail.com. The poem must be reasonably short to be considered.

The worst....

Joseph Ahn

feature chief

Mind Game

Sudoku

9.28.12

Unified for UNIFAT >> Club impacts lives of Ugandan children through education

Helping in Haiti >> Staff member reflects on conditions three years after quake

Feature 12

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Overseas explorations Students register to visit Europe through Spanish classes

hen one searches ‘best places to visit in Europe’ online, a mass amount of sites instantly appears with Spain often in the top 10 choices. Many sites list cities in Spain such as Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona as must see destinations. As of this month, Spanish students of Novice III or higher are being offered an opportunity to experience some of the aforementioned best places to visit in Europe. Already, more than 20 students are signed up for this trip. “I’m super excited for the Spanish trip because I potentially want to minor in Spanish. I think it’ll be a really cool experience, especially since we’re going to Spain. I hope to gain a firmer grasp on the Spanish language and a deeper understanding of Spanish culture,” said Madelyn Dukart, 11. For the tripgoers, the week following Friday, March 22 will be filled with cultural experiences and impressive historical sites. On day one, students will fly from the United States to Spain and become comfortable in their hotels. The next day, students will meet the Prometer Tour Director in the airport upon their arrival in Malaga; students will then take a three hour ride to Seville where they can initiate individual explorations. Next, the group will congregate for a tour of Barrio Santa Cruz and dinner in a local restaurant. On Sunday, day three, students will venture into an early guided walk tour of Seville, witness the Alcazar during their free time and finally, entertain

Freshman frenzy: Brooke Landrum staff writer

At this time of the year, freshmen are running around asking questions about homecoming. The most common questions revolve around dates. Do most people have them? Is it embarrassing to go alone? Should you go out with them before hand? “I would probably want to go to a fun restaurant before with my friends and their dates,” said Meagan Haupt, 9. Upperclassmen can offer advice to their younger peers. “I always have a fun time with my friends at dances, but if the right guy asks me, then a date would be more fun,” said Angela Phillips, 11.

Image by Atiya Dosani and Sanika Vaidya

Upperclassmen offer Homecoming advice to frantic first timers

It can go both ways; some people enjoy going with dates, while others like to go in a big groups because they find it less awkward. The next question to arise is about what to wear. Girls tend to ask this the most. The majority of girls just go for a dress, but their male counterparts’ attire ranges from tuxedoes to what they wore to school that day. “Some guys wear jackets, but most just wear a dress shirt, and maybe a tie,” said Katherine Amster, 10. “[Homecoming dresses are] usually less formal than the other dances, but still pretty and shorter than formal dresses,” said Molly Balk, 12. The final question inquires about whether it is acceptable for girls to ask their dates to dances. It is possible that most girls find it more romantic and sweet if the boy asks, but boys seem to be flexible as well.

“If a guy doesn’t have the courage to ask, then the girl should do it. But, the boy should really do it,” said Alexander Montchai, 9. Others, meanwhile, think both ways are okay. “I think it’s fine if girls ask guys to homecoming. Girls ask guys to the Winter Formal, so I don’t see the big deal about it for homecoming,” said Adam Lucken, 10. Upperclassmen give some generalized words of advice for freshman and new students to SHS. “Make sure you go with people who you are comfortable spending more than three hours with,” said Zoe Bochner, 12. “Go! Lots of freshmen are intimidated by their first high school dance, but it will be a fantastic experience,” said Grace Hertlein, 10.

Homecoming spirit week MONDAY MONDAY Oct. 8 Oct. 8

EGE COLL GE EDAY L T SCPOIRLI DAY

SPIR

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY THURSDAY TUESDAY Oct. 9 Oct. 10 Oct. 11 Oct. 9

LAX BRO GEAR

Oct. 10

Oct. 11 Favorite Band t-shirt Day

FRIDAY FRIDAY Oct. 12 Oct. 10

SENIORS GREEN

staff writer

a Flamenco Dinner Show. Monday will find students on a voyage via AVE train to Madrid where they will tour Plaza Mayor and later consume a traditional Spanish dinner. Tuesday, day five, students will receive a dose of classic Spanish history. Students will view the Museo del Prado, pursue the Palacio Real, descry the Parque del Retiro, and enjoy a custom dinner of paella. On day six, students will witness the resting place of the royals as well as numerous other ancient locations in Madrid. Finally, on day seven, students will conclude their last two days in Barcelona. In the next two days, students will embark on the Barri Gotic, Las Rambias, the Basiilica de la Segrada Familia, outstanding art shows, and lazing free time. On day nine, students will fly home. “I really wish I was going but unfortunately I’m not; it’s only because gymnastic season is in full swing by then. Everyone I know who went on previous trips said it was amazing and worth the price,” said Mary Claire Cron, 12. The prices commitment for this trip is quite extensive. But for the price of $3,000, instead of buying materialistic items, students are gifted with a life-changing experience of travelling abroad. Students can attain cultural education, expand their perception of the world, and grab a chance to improve their future endeavors of foreign languages. “My mom went to a university in Seville and worked in Barcelona for several years, so there’s an insistence to go on the trip from inside the household and from some of my pals,” said Tyler Henley, 11.

FRESHMEN WHITE SOPHMORES BLACK JUNIORS GOLD

Jenny Ham

CLASS COLORS DAY Image by Lauren Saxon

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9.28.12 11

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ope is all we need to make our lives better’

‘

aiti heals amidst destruction

feature chief

n Jan. 12, 2010, Haiti was crippled by a devastating magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake. It became the poorest country in the westerm hemisphere. Three years later, the country is still crumbling. This natural disaster coupled with chronic unemployment and the rising prices of food fuel has brought the nation to its knees. Most of Haiti’s 10 million people live on less than $2 a day. But despite their numerous problems, during my trip to Haiti, I could not help but be amazed by the humble, optimistic lives of the country’s inhabitants. My preconceptions on my trip to Haiti were not a positive one. At first, I was scared and full of doubt and it certainly did not help my spirits either when I was told that the indoor plumbing would not work for the first week. But as the days went on, it was the sight of the children’s smiling faces so full of hope and delight that chased those fears and doubts away. “You clean our teeth and feet, give us clothes and water, but that is not why we come to see [you]. We come because you bring hope with you. Hope is all we need to make our lives better.” “We bring our children with us so they can see that hope too, and they all hope that one day they will be like you,” said a Haitian man who introduced himself only as Jonah. Our team was a combination of Koreans, Caucasians, Dominicans, and Haitians. We flew from New York to the Dominican Republic, where we met up with a United Nations team, led by Pastor Joosik Suh. We then drove approximately seven hours to PortAu- Prince, Haiti. As we crossed the border into the other half of Hispanola, the contrast was flagrant. I remembered the images and video clips I had seen on television of Haiti’s buildings and houses turning to rubble. The vista seemed not to have changed in two years. The pavement was replaced with dirt and potholes, and the air smelled of urine and cement. Trash littered the ground. I thought to myself how awful it would be to live here, but as I looked around, I was amazed to see the content expressions and friendly nature of the people of Haiti. The team consisted of three parts: The dental unit cleaned teeth, filled teeth, took out teeth, and made new ones. The medical unit took blood pressures, gave out medications, and evaluated the general health of the people. I was in the children’s group. We made balloon animals, sang songs, made arts and crafts, and played soccer. “The kids love to smile. We just need to give them something in their lives to smile about,” said Frandy, one of the volunteers from the Dominican Republic. Make them smile we did. It was amazing to see how small of a thing could make them so happy. I could not help but think of how much better my life would be if I expressed that much gratitude and joy every time I received a piece of candy or a t-shirt. Immediately upon interacting with the kids, you

could tell the differences within them. Some seemed to have simply given up, while the others possessed an inner determination to succeed. Those children with that motivation would sing the loudest, play the hardest, and make sure that their balloon animal was the best cared for. These were the kids that we as a team could really connect with the most. Later, during the team meeting, we touched upon this subject. Pastor Julio simply described this phenomenon as kids with “It”: that driving force behind the special ones who have big dreams for the future. There were two kids in particular who I especially bonded with: Sara, age 8 and Johan, age 10. There was something about Johan’s toothy grin and the fact that he seemed to know Jeremy Lin that allowed us to become close friends. Sara followed me everywhere, constantly chattering. We would talk on and on, which was funny because the only Creole I know is como suele, or “what is your name. It was surprising to note that on this trip, I was not shocked by the poverty that these people lived in, since that was expected. Instead, what really hit me hard was the optimism and contentment by which the citizens of Haiti carried out their daily lives. This trip changed my habits and my mentality towards my own life forever, and on my list of places to return to, Haiti is definately on top.

HAITI CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 21 thousand volunteers who circulate in and out of the coutry every year. The UN alone has 2,245 volunteers actively working. Various programs and organizations such as Hope for Haiti or Habitat for Humanity allow thousands of Americans to travel to Haiti each year.

Haiti’s Earthquake-Affected Areas Displacement of Population STORM INTENSITY Light Moderate Strong Very Strong Severe HAITI EARTHQUAKE Violent Extreme Evacuation

112,405 killed (GoH) 196,595 injured (GoH) 800,000 to 1,000,000 displaced 2,000,000 in need of food assistance 3,000,000 affected

Dominican Republic

Joseph Ahn

SOURCE: US-AID *All figures are approximate.

PORT-AU-PRINCE

Population: 2,000,000

20 mi

All images by Joseph Ahn

9.28.12

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feature

Fashion Club leads to big dreams Megan Shindler

‘Now they have the dream and the hope that they’ll become something’

Image by Karin Oh

staff writer

U4U leaders reflect on impact Anna Zhou

staff writer

ith touched hearts, Unifed for UNIFAT (U4U) members dedicate their time to help the students at the UNIFAT School. Through the organization, they have had experiences that changed their lives. In 2003, three college students in California traveled to Northern Uganda to film “Invisible Children: Rough Cut”, a documentary portraying the story of a country plagued by civil war for over twenty years, opening the eyes of thousands in the United States.

History of U4U

The tragic tales of children living in constant fear of being kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers emotionally moved three Moeller High School students to action. The group, along with Connie Ring, U4U sponsor and math teacher, established the organization. They, along with founder of the UNIFAT school Abitimo Rebecca Odongkara, had a vision to educate destitute children in Northern Uganda. The school has grown to the point

where they provide and educate for 1,500 students. It now has hired teachers and mentors to help the kids. “Some of my jobs are that I visit children and make sure they are living in a healthy environment. I also tutor the students as well. I want to work there until I see the children I am mentoring achieve their goals,” said Opiyo Denis, head mentor. Three times a year, the mentors of UNIFAT visit homes looking for these destitute children, and provide them with an opportunity to get an education. They select two children from every destitute household to give the largest possible numbers of children a fair chance.

SHS Support

Those in U4U can volunteer to sponsor a child through school for a whole year. As they raise the $300, the sponsors are placed in a raffle to decide who will go on the trip to Uganda. Once they go on this trip, students often felt enlightened to just how many children in Northern Uganda are struggling simply to survive. They saw children pick pocketing or fetching water to just to live instead of going to school. “Going there makes me think what a privileged life we have. It really makes

me thankful because we have so much,” said Stephanie Adamec, 12, Unified for UNIFAT president. “Now they have the dream and the hope that they’ll become something,” said Adamec. Many UNIFAT students have high aspirations. They know that education is the only way to achieve what they want to do. UNIFAT keeps their dreams alive.

How to help

There are many ways for students to contribute to the organization. “Just take a little bit of time; that one dollar really does make a difference,” said Adamec. The money does not just stop at one child; it impacts the whole community. It pays for the tuition of the most destitute students at UNIFAT, the teachers’ salaries, as well as the construction workers. Students can help by buying merchandise and going to the awareness events that U4U holds. Past events have included the iDance, the Benefit Concert, and the Amazing Race. “I think that people don’t realize just how happy the kids can be even with the smallest things,” said Adamec.

aughing, learning, Ludi Romani atin Club looks forward to new year

Caroline Gao

staff writer

After a month of school, activities are starting up again, and Latin Club is no exception. Latin Club is an extracurricular activity held at SHS, open to all current and former Latin students. Latin Club meets every Friday after school in room 150, where members focus on completing their projects for a state-wide convention held in March. “Members of the club enjoy a great variety of activities, including social events, service projects, academic contests, and artistic competitions,” said Mark Torlone, Latin Club

teacher sponsor. “Latin Club lets students go Since members of the club beyond their Latin class and do not elect officers, each showcase their skills at the individual is responsible for convention. At the event, Latin his or her own activities in the students get a chance to work club. together and show their school Every year, pride,” said the Latin Sabrina Latin Club lets students go students Kaul, 9. participate Also, beyond their Latin class and in the each month showcase their skills at the the Latin state-wide Ohio Junior convention. Quiz Team Classical competes League Sabrina Kaul, 9 against Convention Latin in Columbus. For three days, students from other high over 1,000 Latin students schools in the Cincinnati area from high schools across the in ‘contests’, otherwise known state gather to participate in as ‘certamen’. The first match academic, performance and of this year will be in held artistic competitions. October.

Some new activities this year include the club members preparing a music video that will be judged at the state convention. The club will also be sponsoring the ‘Ludi Romani’ (Roman Games) in April, for members here at SHS. Latin students at Sycamore Junior High School also participate in the high school Latin Club. This establishes a bond between the younger and older Latin students. “Latin Club is a great time for people who love the classics to get together and work on projects they’ll eventually submit at the Ohio Junior Classical League in March,” said Won Choi, 10.

The style enthusiasts, future designers, and crafty artisans of SHS have united to bring Fashion Club back. In a relaxing, friendly environment, students are encouraged to share what inspires them most about fashion. During the previous four years, the club has been coordinated by Deborah Klemt, foods and fashion teacher, and boasts unique opportunities that the club offers to students. Twenty members are led by presidents Hailey Wagers and Halley Bell, both 12. “Fashion Club is a great way for students to get together and talk about their individual style and interests. We have a lot of exciting plans for the near future, including possible field trips and activities. I personally love this club because everything we do is creative and fun,” said Bell. Bell’s leadership role has helped her transition into the world of designer fashion and merchandising with finesse. Ambitious plans for her future include studying Fashion Merchandising or Fashion Design at either Kent State University or the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. “It’s a great way to gain exposure to different things in the fashion world and do cool projects,” said Bell. In addition to its accomplished members, the club is involved in a network of similar high school clubs that are nationally validated by the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. This honorable recognition allows members of the club to access exclusive contests and scholarships that are endorsed by the institution. Some Fashion Club alumni are currently studying at the nation’s most prestigious design schools, including FIT, Parsons, and the DAAP program at the University of Cincinnati. They plan on branching out into our community and our student body in a number of new ways. Attending the UC DAAP Fashion Show to cheer on the designs of Sycamore graduates will be a pivotal event on the club’s fall agenda. As always, they will also participate in Fashion for the Cure by designing, coordinating, and modeling for the spectacular fundraiser that supports a special cause. All students are encouraged to attend their monthly meetings on Wednesday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., and partake in the festivities. Whether they have a glamorous, fashionista persona or a more traditional, modest animus, students are compelled to share their style views and appreciate the defining factors of high school fashion.

9.28.12

A&E >>goaves.com >>the sycamore leaf

Marching band >> Halftime show “Momentous” announced

New restaurant >> Fine American dining downtown at Senate

Pinwheels for Peace >> Art project aims for a higher purpose

‘Don’t Forget to be Awesome’

Acclaimed author, online community leader visits Cincinnati library

Ellie Goldman

editor-in-chief

ome know him as the author of five wildly successful young adult fiction novels. Some know him as the man who can mobilize his followers to donate over one million dollars in 23 hours. Some know him as peanut-butter-face guy. There are over 100 possible hims in the phone book. But only one John Greenthe one who most recently authored best-selling novel “The Fault in Our Stars,” that is- will be speaking at the main branch of the library on Oct. 15 at 7:00 p.m. The library describes his visit as an opportunity to “meet John Green and hear him present and discuss his new book ‘The Fault in Our Stars,’ followed by a book signing afterward.” Green is respected by the multitudes that have fallen in love with his novels or joined the masses that follow the YouTube channel he commandeers with his

brother, Hank. This duality of media is perhaps the key to Green’s almost cult-like following of generally school-aged fans, who call themselves the ‘Nerdfighters.’ (Think: ‘Freedom Fighters.’) There is little argument that his books are good- critics flaunt his works as “amusing, illuminating” and in some cases an “instant classic.” “His books have an incredible balance between sarcastic hilarity and tear-jerking poignancy,” said Claire Pustinger, 12. But one thing that separates him from other authors is the massive online community he and his brother have built. The pair has been posting videos at least twice weekly since 2007, in which they discuss everything “from John's books to Hank's music, ‘Harry Potter’ to ‘Doctor Who’ to ‘My Little Pony,’ and from the edge-less universe to eco-friendliness,” Pustinger supplies. Their YouTube channel ‘The VlogBrothers’ has amassed nearly 250 million video views. But the Nerdfighters do not just silently watch and continue

on with their lives. They respond. They post. They think. Actually, they also kind of do whatever John and Hank want. In May 2012 John made a call to his viewers to plant a tree in honor of his brother’s birthday. Thousands of trees were planted across the country, and world. As referenced earlier, Green urged his supporters to donate to a non-profit that they supported, and the eager population surpassed the million dollar goal in under one day. “Nerdfighters as an online community, to me, is about as real as any offline community,” said Pustinger, calling ‘Nerdfighteria’ a “selfsustaining mental community.” She also mentions the worth of a virtual space that fosters connections between motivated young adults. “People can bash the internet as a waste of time, or a new medium for bullies, but I think those people fail to see things like this: the building of global communities and networks in which young people can share ideas and opinions with others like them,” she said.

And this is a community that is quick to act if their leader is going to be nearby. The Facebook group ‘Ohio Nerdfighters’ is already mobilizing to arrange rides to Cincinnati for its more distant members. Indeed, a large crowd is expected for Green’s first Cincinnati visit. SHS students who intend to stop by should know that Green will sign and personalize up to three items, sign but not personalize any of his merchandise, and allows pictures, as long as they are not posed. Just as the videos give viewers a chance to better know the acclaimed author, Green’s presence at the library gives Cincinnatians a chance to interact with him more personally. Suggested checklist: tent (for outside the library), book, poster, and t-shirt for personalization, and, oh yesas John and Hank remind at the close of each of their videos, “DFTBA- Don’t Forget to be Awesome.”

Image by Krittika Chatterjee

Choral ensembles combine for newly timed Variety Show Krittika Chatterjee a&e chief

The Vocal Boosters’ annual Variety Show has been pulled from its usual spot of early December to the forefront of the school year for 2012. “In celebration of the choral program, all choirs will perform in the variety show this year,” said Mr. Kenneth Holdt, choir director. Auditions this year were held on Sept. 28, for the show on Oct. 5 – months earlier than typical Variety Shows. This quick start has Holdt’s choirs hitting the ground running, as well as giving them time to prepare their primary pieces for scheduled choral concerts. What this means is a show that has an overwhelming choral population, with multiple singing acts – Aviator Chorale, girls’ choir Belle Voce, premiere ensemble Select, and acapella groups SHAG, SWEET, and Madrigal. Because of this majority, Holdt will likely be accepting less vocal acts than previous years. For an event that benefits the choirs, he thought it would be appropriate to showcase them, so people know what they are benefiting. The funds from the show benefit Vocal Boosters. Those circumstances are

not ideal for participants like Loren Hamilton, 11, who has performed in the variety show as a solo singer in her past two years at SHS. “I felt that I had the spot on lock, but I’m already in a choir, so I think he might be reluctant to let me perform in more than one act,” said Hamilton. While singers’ chances decrease with the new standards, the Variety Show

may in fact be seeing more variety than ever. In an event that has showcased everything from jugglers to marimba players, the competition may have very well increased for what is normally a high population of dancers and certainly singers, which make up a huge majority of auditions. If students still choose to sing, this year’s Variety Show

demands more creativity than ever before. 2012 may prove the best example of variety in years. The Variety Show will be held on Oct. 5 at 7:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased in the Commons during all lunches.

Learn more about SHS clubs and after school groups online at GoAves.com http://www.goaves.com/

Photo courtesy of McDaniels’ Photography

CHAMBER CHOIR, A DIVISION of Select Ensemble, performs at last year’s Variety Show. Since then, they and Touring Company have combined. The complete Select Ensemble will have an act in this year’s show. Pictured here are Giulia Mezzabotta, 11, and alums Lauren Motley, Tamara Goldner, and Noelle Plageman, ‘12.

Krittika Chatterjee a&e chief

Ed Sheeran is one of the best to come out of the recent second wave of the British Invasion. His style conglomerates the growing movements of West London folk like Mumford & Sons with urban hip hop from Rizzle Kicks. He performs with only a guitar and a loop pedal, pounding on its body to compose beats and singing over his harmonies to recreate stripped versions of his most popular songs. Sheeran emphasizes his rap influence with the work of a loop pedal, layering conceptual harmonies with remarkable depth. I had the opportunity to see this unique style live on Sept 10. While Sheeran’s studio tracks include drum tracks and electric guitar to supplement his voice, his live sets strip them down to the basics and reveal his raw talent at its best. Opening with anthemic ballad “Give Me Love,” Sheeran’s voice could barely be heard over the crowd chanting the chorus with him. And what a choice it is. Every member of the audience wrapped their arms around each other, letting Sheeran’s soulful notes be shared gratefully. He didn’t ask us for silence in his cover of Johnny Cash’s “Wayfaring Stranger,” but it came anyway, letting his voice shine in his acapella rendition with looped harmonies. All of a sudden, on his final chorus, he cut the loop pedal and pulled the mic away. Every person collectively gasped as he waited for a hush to fall over us. After that moment without a microphone, we were all infinitely more aware of the talent before us, making for less of a concert and more of an experience. I didn’t hear his encore performance of his first radio success “The A-Team.” I had left to stand outside the security gates, waiting to maybe meet him. I stood in front of the gate for two and a half hours. At 12:30 a.m., we were asked to form a single file line. Another half hour later, I hugged Ed Sheeran and thanked him for his work. What stood out was that he seemed as grateful to be in my presence as I was to be in his – infinitely humbled by the praise he receieved, but entirely deserving. Sheeran’s debut album “+” is available in the USA now. For comments and suggestions on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com

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9.28.12

‘Momentous’ moments

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Marching band preps halftime show that will wow Gian Carlo Valli

staff writer

here are more than 100 members in this group yet it is all able to move in synchronization. This group is the marching band, and they are competing yet again this year with their new show entitled “Momentous”. The show illustrates momentous moments in people’s lives, such as graduations and marriages. Enlarged photos of marching band members will be displayed on the field in representation of the show’s theme. “I think this show has more meaning and details to it… It just seems more elaborate then previous shows,” said Spencer Pike, 12. Band members must work hard to pull off the show. That begins with the freshmen, who participated in a rookie camp over summer break. This camp was a time for freshmen “rookies”to learn the basics of marching. Rookies were then joined by other members of the band late in the summer. “I thought rookie camp was beneficial… because it taught us things we needed to know before band camp,” said Gwen Constand, 9. Band camp is always a great time to meet new people, but it is also the time when the marching band works the most on its show. “It was worth it; we got a lot done this time,” said Katie Steinberg, 10. In addition to the use of props, the performance will highlight solos by Katherine Dunn,9, oboe; Vijay Holtkamp, 11, saxophone; and Ryan Dunn, 12, and Marshall Hortel, 12, baritones. There will also be a brass quartet and a woodwind sextet. The Marching Band will compete Oct. 6 at Loveland, Oct. 20 at Lebanon, Oct. 27 at Colerain, and Oct. 28 in Dayton. Throughout the season, their greatest competitors are expected to be Mason and Centerville. “[It is] a show that the audience is going to identify with, and even though we’ve got a lot of new people, we’ve got some great leadership this year so I think we are going to have a highly successful year,” said Mr. David Swift, marching band instructor. With all of the work that the band has put into their competition show this year, they are expected to do very well during the upcoming competitions. “I am expecting high scores this year,” said Aditya Roy-Chaudhury, 11.

Michael DeMaio

staff writer

MARCHING BAND PERFORMS THEIR new halftime performance at the recent UC game. The band had to prep over the summer for the show at band camp. Lauren DeMarks, 10, and Branan Foster,12 , rock the trumpet.

All Images by Kelsey King

urtain up

omedy set to open Aves Theatre

Kelsey King broadcast editor-in-chief

It is that time of year again, as theater begins prepping for its first show of the year, “You Can’t Take it With You.” The show will take the stage Nov. 1, 2, and 3 in the Little Theater. The rest of the theater season will include the shows “Laramie Project,” “Pippin,” “One Acts,” and student directed plays. “It’s a different type of show from our typical play. Everyone featured has great comedic chops, which makes the show hilarious. It is nice to see it come together,” said Miss Sarah Garvey, co-director. The show takes place in New York, ironically with a family by the last name of Sycamore, as it explores their very strange family dynamic. It focuses on a girl dealing with her unconventional family with the hope that they will mesh with her new fiancé and his conservative focused family. “I am so excited to be playing

Alice [the lead and youngest daughter of the family] in the show, I think it is a really fun role that I have so far enjoyed connecting and growing my acting skills with,” said Zoe Bochner (pictured), 12. With the show taking place in the 1930s it is often described with the phrase, “the old fashioned version of YOLO (you only live once).” “Even though I’m not in this show I cannot wait to come out and support my friends that are in the play,” said Rachel Handkins, 12. The show deals with conflicts surrounding materialistic possessions and unconventional lifestyles. Alice’s family shows the importance of the thought that ‘you only live once,’ so do what you want to do because no matter how much money you make in life, you can’t take it with you.

Winter is almost here, and its got me excited, and in typical winter fashion I’ve been listening to a lot of melancholy music. I know in the past I’ve always written about new, or at least relatively new music, but this month I’m going to give you a rundown of everything that you need to know, new and old, to keep your ears filled with the right songs for the cold months ahead. A large portion of my current listening has been devoted to Detroit techno, and things inspired- or at least reminiscent- of it. Carl Craig’s “More Songs About Food” and “Revolutionary Art” bring together classical composition and electronic production to a middle ground full of relaxing sound-scapes and smooth industrial rhythms that are great companions to the snow. If you are looking for a place to start with Craig I would highly suggest the track “Televised Green Smoke,” as well as the music video that accompanies it. In addition to the techno savvy, Squarepusher’s album, “Ultravisitor,” is a must listen for any fans of jazz and IDM. His talents on many instruments, combined with his genius production of the album have made it a staple in the Electronic music world for years. Standouts include: “I Fulcrum,” “Lambic 9 Poetry,” and “Tommib Help Buss.” Aphex Twin’s album Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is one of the most introspective albums ever created and is perfect for time spent alone in the cold. In this album Richard D. James (Aphex Twin) crafts beautiful sound-scapes with wonderful motifs that give the pieces a feeling of sad hypnosis which lends itself well to solitude. Selected Ambient Works was also recorded directly to magnetic tape, another brilliant achievement considering the intricacies of the music; the use of the tape causes the pieces to feel more warm and lifelike through the recording in this analog format. Tracks to hear: “Xtal,” “Tha,” “I,” and “We Are the Music Makers.” Portishead’s album, “Roseland,” with New York Philharmonic is dark and thought provoking, it should be heard by any fan of Portishead, or 90’s trip hop in general. This recording is a must hear, on early sunsets and cold mornings. Important tracks (they’re all important) include: “Glory Box”, “Mysterons”, “Roads”, and “Strangers”. For comments and suggestions on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com

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9.28.12

inwheels for Peace

assionate art students spread global message

Astrid Cabello

staff writer

magine a day with no arms fired. For SHS students, this is everyday life. But for some others, such a day might be unimaginable. Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace, is a day where all arms must cease fire. Pinwheels for Peace is an international event that began with school art departments nationwide to spread the message of peace. Ms. Jen Colson, student art teacher, brought the idea from Sands Montessori to SHS. “Peace is an international practice, and [with Pinwheels for Peace] you can be a part of something bigger,” said Colson.

Back at home

Students in every art class started the year off by constructing pinwheels in class. All of the pinwheels were required to include at least four out of the seven elements of art and teachers encouraged students to give their pinwheels a bit of their own personality. The purpose of the art assignment was

to spread the idea of peace, so students were asked to incorporate a story of an encounter with peace into their artwork. Stories included experiences of with adults, children, other students, and even animals. Others shared feelings of tranquility and inner peace. “I liked the project and thought it was a good way to teach us to add peace into daily life,” said Robert Werden, 9.

Defining peace

The project was meant to inspire kids to practice peace in school and in daily life. However, the word “peace” may seem broad to most. What exactly does a peaceful school look like? “Hope. Peace isn’t so far-fetched, when everyone is considered as an individual. A peaceful school is one where everyone is content with themself and doesn’t need to take it out on others,” said Colson. Students wrapped up their projects, and the pinwheels were put away. On Sept. 21, the finished products were displayed outside of school to celebrate the International Day of Peace.

Image by Astrid Cabelo

ACCORDING TO THE PINWHEELS for Peace organization, the project is a “visual public statement about peace.” Students displayed their pieces outside of the high school building on Sept. 21. Joining with others worldwide, the movement hopes to continue fostering a global attitude of compassion and peace.

Can we have our bill, please? Michelle Bartlett staff writer

New releases take different direction Music review: Chris Brown’s ‘Fortune’ Jacie Ray

staff writer

Some may say Chris Brown’s 2012 album “Fortune” seems to be an emotional comeback from his 2009 abuse scandal with Rihanna. In his song “Don’t Judge Me,” the lyrics imply that he has made mistakes in the past, but the past should be accepted as is. This corresponds with his relationship improvements. The feelings emanating from the songs start off as just another pop album, but as the tunes progress one starts to perceive an intimate vibe and notice the deep emotion. The most adventurous parts of “Fortune” take a turn towards the dubstep and shrillex styles more so than his previous hip-hop based album, “Fame.” This has thrown off stars such as Justin Bieber, since the two artists recently created a pop song together

titled “Next to You.” Even though Brown’s first claimed that his album “Fortune” was an extension of “Fame,” the new album varies in its extremes. His soft songs are more sentimental and meaningful while the rougher songs are more determined. The more sensitive songs such as “Stuck on Stupid” allude to Brown’s crush. What does this mean for Brown? Has he found the girl for him or is it just another song (girl) that will not stick? As for the rougher songs Brown writes, they include some rap and are more upbeat. Brown’s 2012 album makes a comeback to regain lost fans.

Video games grapple with ‘Guild Wars’ Ethan May

staff writer

In 2005, Arena Net released what would be one of the biggest role playing games (RPG) of the decade called “Guild Wars.” Now, seven

years later “Guild Wars 2” has once again taken over the gaming world. “When I heard a second ‘Guild Wars’ was being released I got so excited because of the first one,” said Rick Niu, 10. The game received a huge hype after it’s release was announced, and it certainly has delivered. The huge world of Tyria is where the game is set. For many players it will take a long time to explore the entirety of it. Instead of using the usual currency of gold, like in most other RPG games, players use a currency called Karma to be able to exchange, buy and sell things. “Its good to see that Guild Wars 2 is taking a step away from the usual,” said Niu. Some people play the game just to be able to explore and look around at the scenery. The beauty of the game is breath taking, and the games movement is very fluid. Some of the best things about the RPG include the ability to be able to freely explore instead being forced to do quests. One might be walking along the land and enjoying the beauty, and then suddenly find the entrance to a cave filled with hidden treasure. Another new aspect to the game is that the quest givers are also vendors and by completing their requests you will be able to unlock whatever they have to sell. “Guild Wars 2” is a dream game for RPG players and is a huge advancement in the field of games.

Britton Kemp

staff writer

Imagine walking into a restaurant and watching a customer grab a big juicy hot dog filled with coleslaw, wrapped in bacon with melted American cheese, and topped with BBQ chips. This restaurant is known as Senate and is located in downtown Cincinnati, at 1212 Vine Street. Consisting of a menu with extreme dishes such as the hotdog, their specialties are unknown and very unique compared to other restaurants. The Senate is a very different place to eat. It differentiates itself from any other restaurant due to the exclusive menu and rare design. The restaurant is a rather new establishment. It opened in Feb. two years ago by owner Dan Wright and his wife Lana Wright. “We would’ve opened sooner, but the liquor license prolonged the wait,” said Dan. Dan grew up in Chicago around old style buildings. Downtown Cincinnati brought back memories of his childhood. “This neighborhood is thriving with great

diversity,” Dan said. The restaurant has a different feel to it. It has a very relaxing atmosphere. The outside wall opens up to the street so the air runs through the dining area. Senate has received many accolades, including ‘Best Restaurants 2012’ from Cincinnati Magazine, ‘Best New Restaurant 2011’ from Metromix, ‘America’s Best Hotdog’ from Rachel Ray’s Magazine, ‘Best Hotdogs in the US’ by Huffington Post, and finally ‘The People’s Best New Chef’ from Food and Wine. If you are thinking about going on a date at Senate, get there early! The restaurant does not take reservations; they work on a first come first serve basis, and the place is packed with people all of the time. Many take advantage of the week days which are not as busy, but the restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays. The waiters are top notch and are very familiar with the restaurant as well as the food. What should you expect when you decide to eat at Senate? Well do not plan on leaving hungry, that’s for sure. There are many unique foods on the menu that sound bizarre, but turn out to be incredible combinations of flavor.

Image by Britton Kemp

SENATE BOASTS ITS CINCINNATIAN influence. On the Trailer Park hotdog locally based Grippos chips are used as a finishing seasoning. The menu pictured above states the restaurant’s motto: ‘Eat...drink...discuss...’.

9.28.12

Football Opinion 4 >> Team looks to finish strong after good start to season

Volleyball Opinion

Cross country 4 Opinion

>> Volley for the Cure successfully raises money for breast cancer

>> Girls’ team improves with new additions, prepares for state meet

Sports

sports chief

When does cheering go too far?

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

Boys’ water polo takes shot at State Ethan May

staff writer

Anna Moreno

staff writer

he boys water polo team is off to a great start this season. Head coach Nick Helwig has added former Milford coach Paul Split to the coaching staff. Players and coaches seem optimistic about their season and have enjoyed the addition to the coaching lineup. In 2008, Split had the experience of winning a State Championship with his former team - Milford. This is a feat that players respect him for. In the preseason polls, the team was ranked sixth. On Sept. 12, the new rankings came out with the team at the number three spot, trailing Thomas Worthington and Upper Arlington. “The combined effort of the new and old coaching staff has motivated our team and set

good goals that we can surely achieve,” said Joe Moreno, 10. “Each of the coaches has a different experience and brings a different perspective to the sport.” The Varsity team is small in numbers, but that does not seem to hold them back. “I enjoy coaching the boys’ water polo team, it has been the most fun coaching them in all my 11 years as being a coach. Our goal this season is to be one of the top two teams in the region, so we can move onto the state match,” said Split. Benjamin Hammer, 11, shared the benefits of having a smaller team. “Water polo is all about working as a team,” said Hammer. “The positive side to having a smaller team than other schools is that and there is more team unity. Also, everybody will get to play during a game. The schools with bigger teams have a deeper bench, but they do not get as

Upcoming SHS Sporting Events Oct. 2 Girls’ tennis vs. Wyoming 4 p.m. Photo courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography

BOYS’ WATER POLO PLAYER Logan Mather, 11, aims his shot. The team has had a successful season so far, placing second in the Ohio Cup.

Michael Saxon

Being a member of the Varsity soccer team, I know a little bit about fan support. Our JV team has some of the most ridiculous cheers I’ve ever heard. During the game, my ears are treated to cheers ranging from more classical “You can’t do that!” chants to harassing an opposing player by yelling out the factors of his own jersey number. I’ve even witnessed SHS’ very own Principal Chris Davis take part in “Magic Fingers” to try and disrupt a keeper’s punt. Yes, our JV team is a unique group of boys. They still, however, raise the question: when does cheering go too far? I’ll answer this honestly. There is no such thing as going too far when cheering, as long as the cheering is not obscene or exceptionally degrading. A home team has no better weapon than a rowdy crowd. As an example, look at the NBA Western Conference Finals. Without a doubt, the San Antonio Spurs were a better team on paper, which is why they even took a 2 – 0 lead in the series. But when the series went to OKC, it was a whole different story. I could tell the stadium was absolutely raucous by watching on TV, though I can’t imagine how loud it must have been inside. While Kevin Durant is a gifted basketball player, I think the biggest reason OKC won four straight to win the series was their crowd. Switching sports, Marshawn Lynch’s signature “Beast Mode” (YouTube the video - it’s fun to watch) against the Saints in 2011’s NFC Wild Card game is a vivid example of a boisterous home crowd. The Seahawks upset the favored New Orleans Saints not just because of Lynch’s amazing run, but because the crowd noise was also enough to register a small, seismic event not far from the stadium. Now, you may ask why I’m telling you this. Well, here at SHS we have some fantastic sports teams, and all of them deserve our support. Yes, I said it – ALL of them. Not just the football team; not just the soccer team. There is no substitute for a vocal home crowd. So, I challenge you to get out to some sporting events and support your Aves. We may not be able to be picked up on the Richter scale, but who knows? I hear people can get pretty rowdy at some Chess events.

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much playing time.” The boys’ water polo team has only lost a couple of games so far in this season. “It’s all about the skill and execution. In the end, team size doesn’t make a difference. We have a good chance at winning state,” said goalie Adam Darwiche, 12. The team has really come together this year, looking to be in top shape and have a real shot at the State title. At the Ohio Cup, the team had a preview of most other teams in their region, including Upper Arlington, the top team in Ohio. At the Ohio Cup, they took second place to Upper Arlington, proving themselves to be a serious threat to the State Championship this year. This was the first time in Coach Helwig’s career that they have placed in the top two at Ohio Cup. The team’s next game is on Oct. 2 against St. Xavier High School.

Reality Check

What’s your opinion on the quality of the replacement referees in the NFL so far? Michael Saxon

sports chief

No one can deny that games are getting out of hand because of the lack of control shown by these awful officials. But is it really their fault? Maybe these refs are actually the victims in this situation. They’re being thrown into the deep end, without a great deal of notice or preparation. Let’s just give them some time. Maybe they will be able to turn things around as the season progresses. Being football fans, we can only hope.

Nakul Narendran

Obviously, the calls have been extremely tight this year. With the official referees going on strike, the replacement refs have been under a lot of pressure. Sure, the refs have made a lot of bad calls already, but it’s only the second week, and I don’t think we have the right to blame them. It is not their fault that they are being forced to ref all of the games. They are not as experienced and are unprepared for the speed of the game. I think they will improve, but for now, we should learn to deal with it.

Isaac Harmon

Oct. 2 Boys’ soccer vs. Lakota East 7 p.m. Oct. 2 Boys’ golf *Sectionals* Glenview G.C. - 10 a.m. Oct. 4 Girls’ soccer vs. Middletown 7 p.m.

Oct. 5 Football @ Lakota East 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 Girls’ tennis @ Ursuline 4 p.m. Oct. 9 Boys’/Girls’ Water Polo *Senior Night* 6 p.m. Oct. 9 Boys’ soccer vs. Hamilton 7 p.m. Oct. 10 Girls’ golf *Districts* Weatherwax G.C. - 9 a.m.

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The replacement refs show no ability to control a game or make sure it moves along. By now, even the casual fan has figured it out it’s just not working. They have had their 15 minutes of fame and can tell everyone back home they worked on the big stage. That includes the one who shakes his cheerleading pom-poms for the New Orleans Saints, as well as the ref whose previous duties included making sure there were no uniform malfunctions in the Lingerie Football League. I want my old refs back.

Lauren Saxon

staff writer

The replacement refs do not have the experience to referee NFL games, and it shows. I admit that there is no perfect official, and there are bound to be questionable calls in games. The replacement refs have taken the label “questionable calls” to the extreme, leaving fans, players, and coaches scratching their heads. We have already seen the officials lose control of multiple games, making it dangerous for the players. I think it is safe to say that us football fans are counting down to the end of the strike, and return of the regular quality officials.

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

Oct. 12 Football vs. Princeton 7 p.m.

Oct. 13 Girls’ soccer @ Anderson 1 p.m. Oct. 13 Boys’/Girls’ Cross Country *GMC Meet* 9 a.m. Oct. 20 Boys’/Girls’ Cross Country *District Meet* 9 a.m. Events according to GMC Sports site or respective online schedules

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Striding ahead: Nakul Narendran

sports chief

he girls’ Varsity Gold tennis team has lost one match all season, and they are still going strong. Currently at 13-1, the girls have only come up short once to a tough Lakota West team. Much of the girls’ success can be attributed to Coach Michael Teets’ positive attitude and sportsmanship that he pushes to his players. Teets has been coaching for years, and he has made it obvious that he knows how to win. “The girls have done an outstanding job this season en route to a 13-1 record. We are currently tied with East and West for first place in the league. It is going to be an absolute battle in the GMC tournament to see who finishes on top,” said Teets. Something that you do not see in many other sports is when a freshman comes in and plays on the top team for his or her school. It happened this year, as freshmen Alexa Abele and Margaret Skwara have taken the lead on Varsity Gold, playing first and second singles, respectively. Caroline Gao, 9, is also playing Varsity at second doubles. “We are in the semi-finals of the state tournament and I am so excited! I love my team, and I’ve had a great year so far,” said Abele. Abele has been playing first singles the entire season as a freshman and has won nine matches already. Every win has helped to ensure a victory against another team, and that just shows the value of every player. In her first year at SHS, Skwara has earned the second singles spot. She recently moved to Cincinnati from Virginia. Coming in to a new school and learning names was not easy. But she quickly adapted and was able to make a place for herself on the Varsity Gold team.

“We’ve become like a bunch of sisters. One of my favorite moments is when we were all in the van coming back from a match and we were all singing loudly to the radio because we won a crucial match. Actually, we were screaming. Especially Maggie,” said Sophia Southard, 12. Returning players include Southard, Nanki Hura, 12, Jamie Pescovitz, 10, and Grace Kays, 11.

9.28.12

Girls’ tennis players keep first place position “Senior captain Nanki has won some tough matches for us at 3rd singles, including the clinching wins against Columbus Academy and Springboro. Nanki has been working on a new service motion and continues to do everything she can to help the team,” said Teets. The first doubles team composed of Pescovitz and Southard has also been playing very well together. Not only have they bonded as a team together, but they have also helped their new teammates adjust. “We’ve had an awesome season so far, and this is definitely the best we’ve been since I’ve been on the team. We’ve already become so close and some of my best friends are on my team,” said Pescovitz. To top it off, Kays and Gao have been able to secure a win at most matches at second doubles. “The second doubles team of Grace and Caroline are very steady and hard-working. They never beat themselves and have lost only once all season. They continue to refine their skills and are a fun team to coach,” said Teets. With an impressive record, and still a good portion of the season left, we can expect great things from this team. They have reached the semifinals of the state tournament and could very possibly win it all. This just may be their year. SERVING HER WAY TO victory after victory, Margaret Skwara, 9, has played an important role on the Varsity Gold team. Swkara and her teammates have only lost one match this season. They have advanced in the state tournament and have a good chance to push even further.

Image by Nakul Narendran

Comeback city: Boys’ Varsity soccer attempts to come from behind to win GMC Michael Saxon

sports chief

As the final seconds ticked away during a loss to Wayne High School, frustration was plastered all over the face of Scott Sievering, head coach. His team had not won a single game in nearly two weeks. His offense was beginning to sputter, and the team continued to struggle to defend; especially on set pieces. “It was frustrating because we dominated the game but struggled to score. Also, we gave up a set piece goal right before half and were not able to recover,” said Benjamin Thiss, 10. The next game would be no different, ending in a 1 – 0 loss to rival Mason High School. The team was left questioning how good they really were. At the beginning of the season, Sievering predicted some “growing pains” because of the team’s youth; however, starting the season with a record of 1 – 2 – 3 was not ideal. “To be honest, our record never really crossed my mind,” said Jake Biegger, 11. “It was early in the season, and there was plenty of time to recover.”

SHS did recover, going on a three game win streak. They were finally able to bounce back with a win against Oak Hills High School. Luke Bobst, 12, led the way with two goals. This win increased the confidence of the team before their next game. After allowing Loveland to get out to a 1 – 0 lead early in the second half, SHS battled back and pulled out a 2 – 1 win. Austin Schafer, 10, and Edward Rivin, 11, scored their first goals of the season to propel SHS to the win. “It was incredible. Celebrating the goal, seeing the ecstatic faces of everyone on the team, and hearing the chants of the fans was unbelievable,” said Rivin. The fact that the goals were scored by a junior and a sophomore is a testament to the underclassmen’s role on the team. “The juniors and sophomores have been tremendous this season. Most of them are new to the Varsity level, but their work ethic and energy have allowed them to have a positive and immediate impact,” said Sievering. SHS went on to beat Princeton 3 – 1 with Bobst again chipping in two goals. However, SHS still has a tough schedule remaining. If the team wants to win the GMC, they will have to overcome their slow start and win the rest of their games. “I think a lot of people overlook us, but by the end of the season, we will be the team to beat,” said Samuel Dhiman, 12.

Q&A with Wessel Bleesing, 9, JVB soccer player What is your current record? 2-3-2. Although our record does not resemble it, I think my team is playing very well together.

Do you like your coach? How has he been so far? Coach Woody Hinton has been a great coach and is always very enthusiastic. He is always looking for ways to make us a better team.

How do you think you are going to do the rest of the season? Later on into the season, I think that we will come together and find our rhythm and win most of our games.

What has been the most memorable moment this season? We were tied 0-0 to Walnut Hills and had four minutes left in the game. We needed a goal to win. I crossed the ball to Tino Darpa and he rocketed the ball into the back of the net.

How has the team bonded? As the team is mostly consisted of freshmen and sophomores, we have been able to relate to each other easier. Our most recent meeting was at the team’s pasta party, which was a lot of fun.

What is your favorite part in participating in a sport here at SHS? One of my favorite things about participating in a sport is the unity of the team. We are like a band of brothers. It is also a great way to meet new people and upperclassmen.

Bengals not out yet Nakul Narendran sports chief

Sure, some might say the Bengals have no defense and they can’t win a football game, but they said this after the Bengals lost to one of the best receiving cores in the NFL: the Ravens. I’ll admit that they had a rough game, but it was only their first regular season game. They were able to fix the issues and come out strong in their home opener. Against the Browns, second-year quarterback Andy Dalton threw for over 300 yards, including a 50 yard touchdown to wide receiver Andrew Hawkins. My personal favorite Bengal, A.J. Green, had seven receptions for over 50 yards and a touchdown. This was backed up by Ben Tate, who had over 70 yards receiving, including a 44 yard touchdown. The Bengals went on to beat the Browns 34-27. They had a tough time defending a young star in Trent Richardson, but hey, that’s why he’s a “star.” The Bengals are now tied for first in the AFC North at 1-1. When they travel to Washington next week, the Bengals are going to have a real test defending another rookie: Robert Griffin III. So far, he is definitely the best rookie quarterback in the league, and I’ll be interested to see how our defense does against him. After Washington, the Bengals do not have that difficult of a schedule before their Week 8 bye. I feel like if the Bengals play a solid, defensive game against the Dolphins in Week 5, our offense will come alive as well. The Jacksonville Jaguars are winless so far, and so are the Browns. After Week 7, I think we will be sitting at 4-3, a record which we can push farther into a winning season. A 4-3 record will also leave us near the top of our division, which means that getting a wildcard into the playoffs may not be necessary. It’s not going to be easy of course, winning at Jacksonville, and at Cleveland, but I know that even without home-field advantage, we are the stronger team, and that we will show it on the field. But before thinking too far ahead, I know we have to deal with Washington. I don’t predict an easy win, and I know that I won’t be surprised if we walk away with a tough loss as Griffin III is a talented young player. Dalton and Green have a special relationship that seems to light up when necessary so I wouldn’t be surprised to see another tally in the win column. Either way, I know my Bengals are going to do great things this season, no matter what the critics say or how they do Week 3. For comments on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com

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9.28.12

Volley for Cure: Victoria Swart

staff writer

reast cancer is still considered one of the most terrible experiences a person can endure. One of the more encouraging thoughts to a person with cancer is that they are not fighting alone- the rest of the nation is right there with them. People around the world have found many ways to help fight breast cancer. One of the ways that the high school levels have contributed is through Volley for the Cure, an event started by SHS. Volley for the Cure began when a student from SHS, whose mom had breast cancer, played on a club volleyball team with a player from Loveland, whose mom was also under the same circumstance. With the help of their coaches, they received permission from the OHSAA to wear pink uniforms and have all the proceeds from their SHS vs. Loveland game go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. The game was named Volley for the Cure. From here, the event spread like wildfire. In the past two years, over 100,000 Volley for the Cure games have been played nationwide. Teams play wherever they can- inside their own gyms, in other facilities, even on football fields. “It’s really special to be part of something that is so much bigger than us,” said Carrie Berghoff, 12. The start of Volley for the Cure led to many other similar events in SHS, including Kick It for Diabetes and Relay for Life. Massive preparation goes into each occasion, by the team and by the school itself. “Our team made signs and we decorated the gym. We also sold t-shirts, beads, and baked goods during lunch for two weeks. We’ve been working really hard at practices to make this a special night,” said Berghoff before the event.

SHS aces breast cancer, game raises over $3,000

In more recent times, SHS has partnered with Mason High School for the game of Volley for the Cure. “All of the coaches are in this event together. I’m really proud to say that even though Mason is one of our biggest rivals, we can still work together to help this great occasion happen,” said Mr. Greg Ulland, Varsity head coach. The fact that the game is played for breast cancer research and the added rivalry with Mason usually draws a massive crowd to the game. The students show up proudly wearing their shirts and prepared to cheer on the players. “The crowd provides a lot of energy, and they help us get excited. However, the crowd also adds a lot of emotion to the game,” said Joanna Brown, 10. There are only three seniors on the varsity volleyball team this year- Amelia Wells, Paige Hineline, and Berghoff. “Being a senior, it’s kind of bittersweet playing in my last Volley for the Cure. It’s going to be even more fun than normal because it’s my last chance to play in this event,” said Berghoff. One of the more negative facts about this occasion is that this year it was held on Sept. 11, also the anniversary of 9/11, the day of a dreadful terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. The players, however, do not see the date as only a bad thing. “It adds emphasis to us coming together as a school to do something great for a good cause. Although it makes a sadder day, it makes it a better day because it allows us to remember what happened and also focus on something good too,” said Ellie Gibson, 10. The final result of the game was also bittersweet: SHS lost to Mason in three games. However, in regards to breast cancer, the game raised over $3,000 to give as a donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. The ultimate impact will be the lives saved from this event.

Early-season blitz:

fifth highest number of passing yards in the Greater Miami Conference. Caleb Coletts, 12, has the fourth highest number of receiving yards in the conference. After a four win, zero loss start to “We dont consider it an upset. We are the season, the Varsity football team just as good as outscored them. We need their to win this in the opponents by locker room,” We are hyped for the Mason a total score said Josh Hunter, of 157 points game, but we need to focus on 12. for, to only The team has a the prior games, and take it one 24 points very tough and against. This at a time. grueling schedule marks the ahead of them. second year Lakota East & in a row that Mason highlight the team has the biggest games started off four and zero. coming up, all of which are teams with The team is led by quarterback Greg winning records. Simpson, 11, who has the second Later, the team will travel to Lakota East highest number of rushing yards, and High School, to take on the Thunderbirds. staff writer

Tinashe Bere, 11

Upcoming Games

staff writer

Runaway Reds

Image by Michael Saxon

OLIVIA WELLS, 10, SERVES a ball during Volley for the Cure. Despite the loss, over $3,000 was raised for breast cancer. Fans not only enjoyed the game, but they also enjoyed the feeling of satisfaction for helping out.

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Varsity football looks to continue hot start

Alexander Wittenbaum

Lakota East Oct. 5

Joey Slovin

Princeton Oct. 12

Lakota East has only one loss on the season, and will be a very tough matchup for the Aves. The previous matchups between the teams have been tight, splitting them two-two in the previous meetings between the teams. The last game of the season will come on Oct. 6, when SHS hosts the annual senior night against Mason High School for the Battle of the Skies Trophy. Last year, the Aves were crushed by Mason, and seek revenge this year against their rivals. “We are hyped for the Mason game, but we need to focus on the prior games, and take one at a time,” said Tinashe Bere, 11 As the season progresses, the Aves are looking to continue their hot streak, and try and lead the team into the postseason for a second straight year.

Oak Hills Oct. 19

Mason Oct. 26

Your Cincinnati Reds are (almost) in the post-season. At the time of press, their magic number was down to two. For those of you that don’t know, a magic number is any combination of Reds victories and the second place team’s (in this case, the Cardinals) losses that would result in a guaranteed playoff berth. This begs the question: Exactly when will this glorious moment come? Will it occur the same night that our Aviators take on highly-ranked Colerain High School Friday night, September 21st? Or will it have not yet happened by the time you are all reading this on September 28th? With the number down so low, the Reds could clinch the National League Central extremely soon, so fans are playing the guessing game and grabbing tickets to any upcoming game, in hopes of seeing Cincinnati’s third playoff berth since 1995. The Reds record on September 21th was 91-59, which is good enough for them to be labeled as the second best record in baseball, just behind the Washington Nationals. Sitting atop the National League Central Division with a commanding lead of 11 games, there is simply no stopping these red hot Reds. The next question Cincinnatians are asking is who? Who will the Reds be facing in the first round of the playoffs, which (if the Reds do indeed keep up their current winning pattern) would most likely start on Saturday, October 6th. Well, again, the answer cannot be definitive until the Reds have officially clinched their division, however the opinion of most expert analysts(and me) pit our beloved hometown team against the current National League West Divisional leader, the Giants of San Francisco. The Giants are our typical offense-oriented team. Their roster includes five players who have batting averages over .290, however are struggling in the area of pitching. In my opinion, as long as the smoking hot Cincinnati hitters remain hot, (such as Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto) they should be fine. At least, until they face possible second round opponent and divisional rival St. Louis Cardinals. But as long as Rookie of the Year candidate Todd Frazier keeps the opponents outfield busy by showering them with a myriad of base hits, our very own Cincinnati Reds are a very strong candidate and competitor for the 2012 World Series trophy. For comments on this column, please write to SHSstudentvoice@gmail.com

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9.28.12

‘The new additions have only made us stronger’

Girls’ cross country dominates opponents Varsity team,” said Maggie Thompson, 11. This year, SHS has a chance of competing at the state meet. In order to do so, they must be one of the top four teams in the hen the girls’ cross country region. In the past two years, the team has team embarked on the two placed fifth. hour drive to Louisville, The four teams currently ranked ahead they had one main goal for of SHS are Centerville, Mason, Hilliard the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational: to beat Davidson, and Springboro. The team Hilliard Davidson and Springboro, and would need to beat one of those four teams become the number one team at the meet in order to run at the state meet. from Ohio. The region SHS competes in is the After running in the meet on Sept. toughest in Ohio. Last year, at the state 15, SHS fell short of that goal, beating championships, Mason placed third, Springboro, but losing to Hilliard Springboro Davidson. finished fourth, However, out of Hilliard Davidson 40 teams from I think one thing that differs this finished eighth, seven states, the Varsity year is the depth of our team. We and Centerville twelfth. squad placed an have a strong Varsity team, as well finished However, impressive fifth. the team has “22 out of 30 as a strong Junior Varsity team. improved upon of our team last year. Julia members ran Temple, 10, is a a season or new addition to lifetime best the team, and twins Allison Rogge, 10 and time. I think this shows just how hard the Megan Rogge, 10 are both new to the sport whole team works,” said Abby Miller, 10. but have contributed to the Varsity team. At the meet, Samantha Siler, 12, set a “The new additions have only made us new school record for the 5k (which is stronger,” said Jessie Hobart, 10. approximately 3.1 miles) with a time of The improvement of the team is evident 18:13. This converts to a pace of about 5:51 by the state rankings. SHS achieved its for each mile. highest ranking in the history of the cross 10 team members ran in the Varsity race, country program, placing sixth overall. and 20 other team members competed in This is out of almost 200 teams which the open race, similar to a Junior Varsity compete in Division I. concept. The open team placed eighth out Coaches vote in a poll that ranks the best of twenty teams. teams in the state. The team has achieved “I think one thing that differs this year its highest rankings ever, showing just how is the depth of our team. We have a strong dominant the team has become. Varsity team, as well as a strong Junior Ellen Martinson fun & games chief

Maggie Thompson, 11

Image by Michael Saxon

FRESHMAN CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER Allison Rogge races around a turn. Rogge and her twin sister, Megan, have played a huge role in the success of the girls’ team in only their first year. The team has gotten a major boost from the new runners to the team.

Girls’ soccer teams bond during tough times Scott Stefani

staff writer

Allison Oh

staff writer

Zoe Schlosser

staff writer

As the new season begins, a new girls’ soccer team comes to life. With 23 girls currently on Varsity, eight are returning. The rest are new members of the squad, in addition to two new coaches. The team has gotten to know each other through team bonding activities, and of course, by playing together. With activities like attending a Columbus Crew game and spending a day at the coach’s house, the girls have gotten to know one another very well. However, the squad had one particular interesting bonding activity. The activity was to make a dance video to the song “Call Me Maybe” by artist Carly Rae Jepsen, which has been a popular activity to do with sports teams across America. In fact, even the U.S. Olympic Swim Team made a dance video to the track, and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Soccer Team made one to the song “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus.

“I really enjoyed making the video. It was fun and I got to spend time with my new teammates,” said Ashley Thiss, 10. As well as getting to know each other, the girls have also acquired new responsibilities. The team has a Sycamore Aviators Women’s Soccer Discipline sheet explaining the jobs each player has been assigned for the year. Jobs like communicating on the field and respecting each other are some of the tasks the players have been taking care of. “Motivating the team is one of our jobs as a member of the team,” said Jordan Elder, 11. The girls also have a goal sheet they made together at the beginning of the season with their head coach, Kendra Hornschemeier. Every player was required to sign this sheet and keep it with them at all times. Some of these goals are to focus on and off the field, make practices harder than games, and to outwork the opponent every match. “Setting goals is a great way to have a successful season,” said Katie Oh, 10.

MIDFIELDER MELODY FREELAND, 10, cuts to the ball. The girls’ soccer program has had a tough year so far, with both the Varsity and JV teams struggling to win games. However, the players remain optimistic, and are pleased with the way they have bonded over time.

Even though the season has started off rough, the team has learned from their experiences and continues to work harder each practice in hopes of turning their season around. This is true for the JV team as well. Much like the Varisty team, this year is very different from the last. Because the number of girls who tried out this year was significantly lower, the usual JVA and JVB teams are no longer two separate teams. Since there are only 18 girls playing on JV, there are not enough for two individual teams. Therefore, these girls must play on both teams. This new season is very unique, and the combined team brings forth both negatives and positives. While there is no other choice to have the two combined teams, there are still problems that come along with the combination. Not knowing who is playing and when can be complicated, and often confuses the players. With a weekly update, the girls are told which game they will participate in. The games are also difficult because there are substitutions frequently so that everyone gets a fair amount of playing time. “The new idea of having one JV team can be frustrating because we don’t get as much playing time. I think that it is just different from last year and will take some getting use to,” said Paige Henry, captain. However, many girls see the benefits of having one team. “It’s almost better because it gives the girls an opportunity to become closer to each other and build each other up,” said Eva Thorn, 9. Having both teams together can also be effective when it comes to game time. “Having the two teams as one is nice at times because it gives us a chance to bond together, and knowing each other and bonding together helps us play better on the field,” said Jenn Adamec, captain. The girls hope that in the end having the two teams together will have a positive outcome for everyone.

Scan here with a smart phone for more information on girls’ soccer. Image by Lauren Saxon

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Performing to the Max Theater, voice, juggling- Max Poff does it all Eli Seidman-Deutsch

>>the sycamore leaf >>goaves.com 2006-07: First role as a guard in Symmes Players production of “Aladdin”

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Aditi Sharma

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Kathryn Tenbarge

Spotlight

spotlight chief

ax Poff was already a star at SHS before his freshman year. In the 2011 production of “Seussical the Musical,” Poff had a starring role. “Being in ‘Suessical’ was a fantastic experience and was so fun because of the cast. The cast was incredibly talented and friendly to me and each other. I also enjoyed working with Mr. Whapham and Ms. Garvey. They are both very professional but still able to have fun!” said Poff.

2007-08: Played Billy in Symmes Players production of “Dear Edwina”

Juggling Activites

In the past year, Poff has added a new artistic and athletic activity to his life: juggling. After only 11 months of practice, he can juggle up to eight balls and five clubs. Being new to the school, Poff has adjusted to a lot of change. “Freshman year has been great so far! I was, however, shocked at how much harder the academics are than at the Sycamore Junior High, but I just need to get used to it and I should be fine. What I was looking forward to the most was having the freedom of a high schooler. I was really looking forward to having a completely free lunch break where I could sit near my locker and get homework done, or I could go visit teachers, but I know we’re not allowed to and that’s okay. Besides that, my expectations have been met!” said Poff.

2008--09: Audition for Children’s Theatre of Mason and begins singing and dancing lessons.

2011: Performed in “Seussical the Musical” at SHS

Looking Ahead

Poff has had a fair share of time in the spotlight, and is in no hurry to end it. “I’m still undecided about what I want to be when I grow up. It would be awesome to make it big in the acting career but the chances are very slim, so my backup plan would probably be something to do with the financial end of business. If I end up doing that I would need good grades in high school and college so that is what I’m working towards. Honestly though, I am just a ninth grader and I still have a few years to decide what I want to be,” said Poff.

2012: Lead role in “13” at SJH

I really like musical theatre... I started to take acting, singing, and dancing lessons... After lots of training, I started getting bigger parts in and out of school.

Max Poff, 9 11023 Montgomery Road

Cincinnati, OH

45249

(513) 530-5501

Hey Aves! Enjoy a complimentary chocolate fondue with the purchase of a combination dinner for two! Restrictions apply. Valid at the Cincinnati location only. Not valid with any other special offers or on certain holidays. Offer is subject to vary or change. Must present this offer to your server. Offer good until October 31, 2012.