Issue 2, 2015-2016

Page 1

the

talisman

October 9, 2015

Rutherford B. Hayes High School

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @hayestalisman

Issue 2

Students adjust to House competitions CASEY ESTOK features editor

T

he implementation of the House system has brought substantial alterations to the regular school day. The change originally came as shock to students and wasn’t necessarily perceived in a positive manner. As time has gone on, some students like Junior Dexter Allen have come to love the changes. “Last year when we got assigned to our houses I was only with one of my friends,” Allen said. “So I thought it was going to be kind

of bad, and I wouldn’t be able to hang out with my friends at all.” However, now that the year has started, “I think it’s a pretty good thing,” Allen said. “You can have a group of students get to know each other who wouldn’t normally become friends, like athletic kids and academic kids becoming friends with each other.” Allen believes that those kinds of friendships can benefit everyone because the “students can help each other out with [the skills] they’re stronger at.” Steamtown House dean Joshua Lamb loves the House system, and especially the competi-

art by AUSTIN HUFF

tions. “I want the students of Steamtown to know that it’s cool to compete,” Lamb said. Some individuals though, are still are not fond of the House system. Senior Bailey Gooding said that she thinks there’s a rather negative connotation affiliated with those who do not wish to be involved with house competitions. “I don’t think it’s okay that teachers are pressuring students to compete against each other,” Gooding said. “Some students work better when they don’t have that pressure.” Gooding liked the past system of competition between grades better because “there wasn’t as much pressure to be involved in competitions,” like dressing up during homecoming week, as there is now. Though Lamb was a fan of the class competitions, he thought that classes became “click oriented.” By being involved in the Wits and Wagers competition where each team consisted of one member from each of the four grade levels, Allen had the opportunity to talk to students who were outside of his

normal friend group. “I got to meet people who weren’t in my grade level who I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” Allen said. Lamb, who has been known for his competitiveness, was excited to see how many students were involved in the Wits and Wagers competition. “It was a lot of fun to see how competitive kids started to get, and [how they were] supporting one another; I think that’s fantastic,” Lamb said. “If students didn’t want to root for the four people in their own house, I wanted them to root against me.” Lamb sees many benefits for students as a result of house competitions. Life after high school, entering into college or a career “is a competitive market,” Lamb said. Having “an opportunity to compete at things at a smaller scale, that’s not as big of a deal,” is a good preparation for students before they graduate. “Pushing yourself when you don’t win, I think, is a quality we all need to possess,” Lamb said. “Whether we’re athletes or members of the band, it’s good for everybody to get that sense of competition in.” “[The House system] is the way that it’s going to happen,” Lamb said, “So I’m going to embrace it, and I hope the members of my House... have the same level of passion that I’m putting into it. If we do that, win or lose I’m going to be happy, [though] I’ll be happier if we win.”v

Recent controversy threatens Planned Parenthood MALLORY KING editor-in-chief

A

bortion is a delicate topic that people often avoid discussing; almost everyone has their own stance regarding this topic. This year, though, there have been allegations against Planned Parenthood that have caused the topic to stretch across headlines, through presidential candidate debates, and even into the U.S. and Ohio Senate. Beginning last summer, an organization called The Center for Medical Progress (CMP) has gained hype over their investigative videos allegedly showing Planned Parenthood employees discussing illegal actions during abortions. CMP has compiled videos regarding the sale of fetal organs collected during abortions, as well as other illegal actions, according to CMP. More recently, according to Cleveland.com, Senate Republicans for the U.S. and Ohio have introduced a bill to defund Planned Parenthood. They believe Americans should not be forced to fund the organization through taxpayer dollars. When contacting Planned Parenthood regarding these allegations, they declined to comment beyond the press release. “The appalling videos released during the past several months have been proven repeatedly to be deceptively edited and misleading,” Ohio Planned Parenthood CEO Stephanie Kight said in a press statement released by the organization. “Planned Parenthood in Ohio follows the law—period. Any

Zoo sees animal activity, upcoming events

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effort or piece of legislation that suggests otherwise is flat out wrong.” Many people at Hayes have strong opinions about the topic. “[The released video] hasn’t really changed my views,” secretary Kimberly Todd said. “I’ve never been a supporter of Planned Parenthood in the beginning so it just kind of confirms that I’m not surprised that... they have been recorded saying that... and I do believe that that is probably happening.” Todd is passionate about her prolife stance. Because of her religion, she believes that abortion is morally wrong, but this issue also hits close to home. “My son had a child when he was 15 here at Hayes, and now my granddaughter is 13,” Todd said. “She was my inspiration to start my own private organization called Operation Baby... I help [the parents] with any needs... getting any donations that they need,

(Continued on page 10)

art by MADI HUCK

Long awaited track finally wraps up

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People worry too much about judgment

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