THE WOOSTER BLADE
WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • SEPT. 28, 2018 • VOLUME XIX, ISSUE 2
ooster undergoes renovations Graphics by Alexis Florence
Moving into the 2018-19 school year, improvements and updates were made within the community and high school.
Index: On Campus 2-4 Focus 5-8 A&E 9-10 Cover 11-13 Sports 14-16 Trends 17-18 Views 19-20
ON CAMPUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 2
WHS students gear up to compete on VEX Robotics Team MASON GARCIA staff writer
One of the newest additions to WHS is the VEX Robotics Club. As of 2015, there were 181 high school robotics teams in Ohio, all of which compete in the yearly VEX Robotics competition. VEX Robotics allows its members to use its approved parts from a VEX robotics kit to design and build a robot that cannot exceed in size an 18 inch cube. In competitions, two schools are paired together in an alliance, and they compete against two other schools, with one team deemed “red” and the other “blue.” During these
games, each team uses their robots to move objects into specific locations using varied functions of mobility, according to the VEX Robotics website. The rules for the games are different every year, and the students must take these rules into consideration when building the robots. They often take roles when creating the competition bot. “Some guys are the mechanics, the guys who build the bots, and others are programmers, the ones who write the program in order to make the robot work. Others are personal relations representatives who go around and talk with other teams to form alliances at tournaments,” Luke Frantz (12),
robotics builder, said. This robot can be controlled remotely and is optimized to perform tasks that relate to the current game. Wooster’s two robotics teams competed in their first seasons last year. According to Dylan Ruff, robotics mentor and Science Dept. member, both of Wooster’s teams qualified for the state tournament last year, one team winning a tournament to get there. Ruff is one of the two Robotics teachers at WHS. He works alongside Jacob Melrose, Science Dept. member, to coach and improve the club. They both travel with the teams to tournaments. This year, WHS has four teams
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THE WOOSTER BLADE Staff
REECE MITCHELL
The Robotic Club, which meets in the STEM lab, will begin work on their robots into the semester. Team members will compete later this year. going into robotics, all of them hungry for success. “We hope to go to states again and qualify for the world competition in Louisville, KY,”
Adam Frank (12), robotics builder, said. On Oct. 27, WHS robotics travels to Loudonville for their first tournament of the year.
WHS staff examines student orientation ALEC PAULEY staff writer In previous years, students started their new school years on a partial week, consisting of three to four days with a shorter first day that included a freshmen orientation beginning on the first day of school. Now, WHS no longer has a shorter orientation week for any grade. Principal Tyler Keener said the first weeks of school leading into the rest of the school year play an important role in all grade levels. Keener said the teachers and administration’s goals for the start of the school year for eighth graders is to get info out about the building and its facilities, make the transition from the middle school to high school as smoothly as possible and start to make better relationships with new teachers. Math Dept. member Christine Mascotti-Rasor said freshmen used to take a tour of the building on the first day and noted this was beneficial to adjusting students to the building.
Eighth grade and ninth grade Math Dept. member Amber Eames says a more involved orientation, rather than the single meeting prior to school, could be beneficial for students. Eames also added that having open house before school starts would be helpful to both the students and teachers. “The students can get introduced with their teachers before school begins to get crazy,” Eames said. In looking at why WHS no longer has a freshmen orientation at the beginning of the year, Keener said it is not necessary anymore. “A second orientation would be awkward, the first year acclimates them [the students] enough that a freshmen orientation wouldn’t be beneficial... To sum up our goals, we want to make any school transition go smoothly, and create good relationships between student and teachers,” Keener said. As for the school’s goals, Keener said he hopes everyone can get settled into new classrooms, set goals for the year and get back into the groove of school.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 3
Programs offered to elementary students EMILY JEWELL & LENA WIEBE focus editor & staff writer Wooster City Schools supplies various services, including haircuts, a dentist visit and eye care, to its elementary students. Throughout the school year, various businesses and organizations volunteer their services to elementary students. Hair stylists from four different businesses: Identity Hair Studio, Kaleidoscope, Roffler and Just Teasin offered free haircuts to the students of Cornerstone Elementary on Sept. 17. The stylists who participated in the project were: Jody Ritchie, Mandy Dague, Jessica Petersen from Identity Hair Studio; Jackie Pittman from Kaleidoscope; Lynn Mackey from Roffler; Cheryl Schaad, Kathi Russell, Rachelle YerianCarpenter and Christine Walters from Just Teasin. Carol Banach, secretary at Cornerstone explained students did not have to meet
any requirements to receive the haircut service, which is currently offered only at Cornerstone. Owner of Identity Hair Studio, Ritchie, said she got involved in the project because she saw a great deal of potential in the project. “I wanted to give these kiddos a chance to have someone listen to them and make them feel really special. For most of us, a haircut is just something we have to get every five weeks. To most of these kids, it’s something they get excited about because they do not get cuts very often,” Ritchie said. The Ronald Mcdonald Care Mobile will also come to various elementary’s including: Kean, Cornerstone and Parkview. The goal of the organization is to, according to the Ronald McDonald House Charities officials website, “Provide healthcare where children need it most.” Ronald McDonald offers a wide range of services to children, including immunizations, school and
sports physical screenings, as well as nutrition counseling. Cornerstone also provides required eye screenings in kindergarten, first, and third grade free of cost. Cornerstone principal Eric Vizzo says that then, if a child is unable to pay for the cost of further eyecare, “...the Noon Lions can provide vouchers for free eye exams or glasses. The Noon Lions also help with preschool vision screenings.” According to their website, the Wooster Noon Lions Club, “... provides assistance to a number of charities and individuals; including assistance obtaining eye glasses for individuals unable to afford purchasing eyeglasses themselves.” The website also states that the Wooster Noon Lions Club and the Madisonburg Evening Lions Club have created a joint fund in order to help serve Wooster residents, including students, and notes that the Noon Lions also lead efforts to recycle and donate eyeglasses. Elementary students and their parents can fill out forms to be considered for this program at any time.
Jacob Gooch
At the Wooster BOE meeting, Lexi Nolletti, John Gorman, John Schmidt and Hailey Tennant accept recognition from Tyler Keener.
Five WHS students earn National Merit honors GINA VAN LIEU feature editor
Seniors John Gorman, Lexi Nolletti, Hailey Tennant, John Schmidt and Elizabeth Perkins have recently qualified to be semi-finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Program is a program for juniors who take the PSAT and score in the top of their state and become semi-finalists. There are about 1,600,000 students who take the PSAT and they must have the top scores in their state in order to qualify to be a semi-finalist. About 16,000 students qualify to be semifinalists. After the students qualify to be semi-finalists, they must take the SAT, fill out an application and write an essay, with about 15,000 students becoming finalists, according to Perkins. National Merit Scholarships are given to about 7,500 students out of the 15,000 who qualified. One thousand students, not finalists, get a corporate sponsor, which will give the student a certain amount of money, and the
finalists can get one of three types of scholarships; National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, corporate-sponsored scholarships and collegesponsored scholarships. The amount of money students receive is based on what school they go to and how much a corporate is willing to give, according to Nolletti. Getting this opportunity is rare with a .01 percent chance of qualifying to be a semifinalist. “I am absolutely honored. It came as a complete surprise and I hadn’t really expected to qualify, but I’m proud to represent WHS and stand with some of our school’s best and brightest students,” Tennant said. According to a WCS district press release, Tyler Keener, WHS principal, wishes the best for the semi-finalists to continue to compete for National Merit Scholarships. “We are confident these students will go on to achieve many great accomplishments in the future,” Keener said. For students, this opportunity has been around for 64 years.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 4
Production staff collaborates to expand news coverage The Edge magazine, in collaboration with The Wooster Blade, is working to publish multiple issues this school year, along with uploading additional stories to the website. BRYN SAVIDGE staff writer In the past few years, The Wooster Blade has been reaching its audience in ways other than just the newspaper. The Edge is a magazine advised by English Dept. member Kristi Hiner and run by several members of BLADE staff. Hiner started The Edge in 2016 as a passion project in order to create an, “outlet for not only in-depth journalistic pieces, but also to exhibit and allow students another way to express themselves creatively.” Co-editors-in-chief of The Edge, Rachael Schmidt and Alexis Florence, are focusing on making The Edge contain more than just hard news stories, for which the The Wooster Blade is known. “We also include submissions of artwork and writing,” Schmidt said. Florence supports Schmidt’s ideas by saying, “We get more time to work on putting the issue together…[The Edge] aims to explore topics more in depth...the goal is to cover what’s beyond the surface.” According to Schmidt, The Edge staff, “takes submissions from students, teachers and community people.” This year, the magazine staff is working to incorporate creative writing from the elementary and middle schools. “We, the magazine facilitators are all just collectors and facilitators of all of these
creative works,” added Hiner. She also emphasizes the importance of creativity in the magazine, as many members of the BLADE staff are also creative writers, artists and photographers. Another branch of the newspaper is the online publication of the The Wooster Blade. Jacob Gooch, webmaster, is focusing on making it an addition, not an echo of the print version of the The Wooster Blade. “At the end of the 2017-2018 school year, we began working to put original content on the website or at least additional content,” Gooch said. He goes on to explain that “We need the website to evolve with time, getting our publication to more individuals than possible with our print issues... with interactive elements and multimedia.” Hiner adds that the website can follow up on stories published in The Wooster Blade, and “give full coverage in a different medium.” She also hopes to incorporate videography that extends the coverage of the stories. The mission of both The Edge and the website, explained Hiner, “is to allow for different mediums to tell stories without the news and to encourage younger students to see what they could be a part of.” With these goals in mind, Hiner acknowledges there is a great deal of potential for growth of outlets for student expression.
WHS welcomes Grayshock as library paraprofessional ANNA NACCI feature editor Kelly Grayshock is the new WHS library paraprofessional. Prior to becoming a library paraprofessional, Grayshock worked in WHS’s Credit Recovery Program for two
school years. As a library paraprofessional, Grayshock said she has more responsibilities than many people assume, “Most people think a librarian just checks out books and says ‘SSSHHHH’ all the time, but there’s more to do it than that,” Grayshock said.
Along with checking out books, Grayshock’s manages library resources. Grayshock is also in charge of managing book orders and reports. Grayshock said she enjoys her job, as she has loved reading her whole life.
Sleeping and eating habits affect students academically PAULINA SALAZAR staff writer Humans have a few basic needs; two of these are sleeping and eating. However, high schoolers are barely meeting the required minimum of these needs, according to the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine’s 2017 study on children’s sleep. Barely meeting the minimum can lead to serious consequences, as sleep deprivation is a cause of attention and mental health issues and increases chances of risky behavior, as reported by the CDC website. Just like sleep deprivation, not consuming the recommended amount of calories per day can lead to attention problems. To have an insight into how this correlates to WHS, 153 students were polled on the week of Sept. How many hours of of How many hours How many hours of sleep sleep dodo youyou getget onon a a sleep do you get on a school night? school night? school night? or more 10 10 or more 10 or more
3 on their own sleeping and eating habits. In accordance with other studies, nearly 76 percent of students polled were sleeping seven or fewer hours a day. However, the National Sleep Foundation recommends eight to ten hours of sleep for teenagers. Furthermore, 65 percent of the students polled said homework or practice was what kept them up late, while 31 percent said the cause was their electronics. A Statistic Brain poll published on their website last year showed that high schoolers were, on average, doing three hours of homework a day. The amount of homework hours with two hours of practice, leads to five hours of work after school. In addition, Harvard found that the light from phones disrupts the natural sleep cycle, making people stay up later.
If you don’t getget thethe recomIf you don’t recomIf you don’t get the recommended 8-10 hours sleep mended 8-10 hours of of sleep mended 8-10 hours of sleep a night, why you stay a night, why dodo you stay upup a night, why do you stay up later? later? later? Other Other Other
4 less or less 4 or 4 or less
Which is the meal Which is the meal Which is the meal you miss the most? you miss the most? you miss the most?
None None None
8-10 8-10 8-10 Homework Homework Electronics Homework Electronics Electronics
5-75-7 5-7
The sum of hours of homework and practice added to the disruption of a phone’s light leads to the increasing amount of sleep-deprived high schoolers. Additionally, the WHS poll showed that 58 percent of the students had a tendency to not eat breakfast. Avoiding breakfast deprives teenagers of basic nutrients needed to start the morning. The USDA’s website stated that a balanced breakfast helps students in school and improves concentration and problemsolving skills. In addition, the National Bureau of Economic Research’s Working Paper No. 20308, issued on July 2014, stated that passing up on eating breakfast creates an obstacle, blocking students from doing their best at school, a big problem if students want to reach their full academic potential.
Practice Practice Practice
Dinner Dinner Dinner Lunch Lunch Lunch
Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast
On Sept. 4 and Sept. 5, 153 students were polled during lunch periods. Polls distributed by Paulina Salazar and Madison Helms. Graphics by Corinne Wiles
FOCUS
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Wayne County Fair 2018:
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Photographers from The Wooster Blade share their favorite aspects of the fair through pictures The Wayne County Fair is an annual event that took place from Sept. 8 through Sept. 13. According to the fair’s website, events throughout the week included animal showings, tractor pulls, concerts, and musical contests. The fair also features a plethora of food and showcases local students’ artwork. Patrons can ride rides, play carnival games or walk through
various barns to examine booths from local businesses and causes. This year the fair made an unprecedented move to evacuate livestock because of the rain, saying in a press release on Sept. 8, “we have been advised, and have concluded that it is in the best interest in safety and property preservation that livestock and other areas within the floodway are evacuated ahead of the need.”
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THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 6
2018 Wayne County Fair: MAEVE FLORENCE-SMITH staff writer Walking down the long rows of stalls and admiring the animals of the Wayne Country Fair is a testament to their caretakers’ hard work and persistence. Sophia Troutman (10) works with her goats March to September and, one month before September, she begins teaching others how to show their animals. Troutman then spends two weeks practicing, grooming and trimming, all for one week of the fair. Lily Bickett, a freshman at North Central State College, has been showing for nine years. She explains caretakers must have their animals to start preparing before June. Activities before the fair
include tagging and weighing the animals, the Skillathon, a test of knowledge and Quality Assurance. At all these events, attendance is required. Persistence is key to success— Madison McCoy (11) trains her pig for about five months and her steer for over a year. “Washing my pig takes about an hour, and the steer takes about two hours,” McCoy said. Caretakers invest a great deal of time in preparing animals for the ring, while balancing classwork, and hope that their animals stay healthy and, at the fair, show schedules do not conflict. This work has an upside as Hannah Watson (11), who has been showing sheep for seven years, explains. “Sheep are very stubborn animals and they like to be in control of themselves. My job as an exhibitor is to show my
Examining WHS students’ favorite fair foods
35
The results of the poll show that 34 percent of students chose fair fries as their favorites, while 13 percent prefer funnel cake. Elephant ears and Lerches doughnuts were tied with 8 percent of the vote. For other fair foods, 27 foods split the remaining 37 percent of the vote.
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Students involve themselves in the preparation and process of showing animals and comment on their favorite snacks at the fair.
skills with leading the lamb around the ring and that takes control,” Watson said. Caretakers learn important skills while empathizing with living creatures that have their own instincts. Many of the students who work with animals agreed that fair week can be stressful but also incredibly rewarding. Addie Warton (9) said that she, “gets to meet new people, and make new friends.” Warton said she also learns about patience and other life lessons. Audrey Cochran (10) said showing animals is a great learning experience that teaches people how to take care of an animal. The animal caretakers make many friends while supporting one another as they persist to reach one goal: showing their animals at the fair.
Photos courtesy of Lynn Buchholz Grace Buchholz (11) shows her market hog Chester at the 2018 Wayne County Fair. This is her eighth year showing pigs at the annual event. As Watson concluded, her favorite thing about showing is the environment and the friends she makes—also the bond with your animal. All this creates an electric environment.
Fair week proves to be a challenge, a commitment, and a celebration of the exhibitioners’ skills as they prepare and present their animals for the ring.
Best Fair Foods
34% French Fries
During the week of Sept. 3 through Sept. 7, 143 students were randomly polled throughout the halls and classrooms of WHS. Poll conducted by Molly Schneider. Graphic by Emily Jewell.
25
15 10 5 0
13% Funnel Cake 8% Elephant Ears
8% Lerches Doughnuts
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 7
Wooster City Schools Pay-to-Participate fees purpose examined JACOB GOOCH webmaster
According to Wooster City School District Treasurer Bonnie West, in 2004, the Wooster City School District faced cuts in the operating budget. This prompted the creation of pay-to-participate fees for both co-curricular and extracurricular activities within the schools. Each fall, students and their families are assessed fees in accordance with Board of Education policy in terms of pay-to-participate fees. These fees are assessed by the district in order to combat the costs associated with extracurricular and co-curricular activities. When discussing payto-participate fees with Wooster City School District administration, West places an emphasis on the difference
between class fees and payto-participate fees. West emphasises that class fees go directly to each class’s budget for use at the teacher’s discretion. West, when speaking about where the pay-to-participate fees go, stated, “It goes into the general fund with the understanding that the costs associated with those activities also occur in the general fund... The implementation of those fees was meant to offset the cost of those programs; it was never meant to necessarily pay for them.” Principal Tyler Keener of Wooster High School supports this when he states the district is looking at the, “big picture… to offset the costs.” This statement was further supported by West when looking specifically at the WHS Music Dept. and pay-toparticipate fees associated with
Wooster Parents 5.3%
music in our schools. Based on the number of WHS music students received from Dan Adams, Music Dept. member, the estimated income from pay-to-participate fees associated with music in the WCS amounted to approximately $30,000, before factoring in free or reduced lunch students. According to the Ohio Treasurer’s website, Music Dept. stipends amount to approximately $26,000, leaving approximately $4,000 unused. West explains in cases such as these, where pay-to-participate brings in more than is spent directly, the district is then able to put additional monies towards music or programs in similar situations. In a poll of 168 unassociated parents, community members and employees of Wooster and Wadsworth at the Wadsworth v. Wooster football game Aug. 31, BLADE staff members
polled individuals on the range of amounts of spending by parents on school pay-toparticipate fees and general community support for lesser amounts of pay-to-participate fees. Of 58 unassociated Wooster parents polled, responses ranged from almost 23 percent of poll respondents paying $50 or less per year per student to a little more than 5 percent paying over $500 per year per student in pay-to-participate fees. (For the full set of data see the charts below.) Of 30 unassociated Wooster community members polled, responses showed almost 52 percent of respondents stated pay-to-participate fees should not exceed $50 per year per student and an additional almost 35 percent responding that the costs to families should not exceed $100 per year per student.
“How much do you pay per year in pay-to-participate fees?”
Of 17 unassociated WCS employees polled, a little more than 31 percent of poll respondents supporting payto-participate fees of no more than $50 per year per student and an additional 50 percent of poll takers supporting no more than $100 per year per student in pay-to-participate fees. In addition to polling Wooster parents, community members and WCS employees, their Wadsworth counterparts were also polled, as Wadsworth City Schools also has a pay-toparticipate policy in place. Comparing 44 unassociated Wadsworth parents polled, almost 12 percent responded they were paying $50 or less per year per student in payto-participate fees, contrary to Wooster parents’ response of almost 23 percent.
Continued on page 8 “Pay-to-Participate”
Wadsworth Parents
$50 or Less
7%
$51-$100
22.8% 14%
$101-$200 $201-$300 $301-$500
17.5%
14% 19.3%
7% 11.6% 7% 9.3% 27.9%
$501+ Prefer not to answer This poll encompassed 168 responses and was administered at the Wadsworth v. Wooster Varsity football game Aug. 31, 2018. Polls were distributed by David Cheng, Sophie Gamble, Jacob Gooch, Madison Helms, Skyy Khounborin, Paulina Salazar and Theresa Wendell. Graphics by Jacob Gooch.
14% 23.3%
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | SEPT 28, 2018 | PAGE 8 Continued from page 7 “Pay-to-Participate” Comparing the $500 or more category, Wadsworth parents responded with 7 percent saying they have pay-toparticipate fees of $500 or more per year per student, whereas Wooster parents responded with a little more than 5 percent. The 17 unassociated Wadsworth community members polled echoed Wooster community members in supporting lower payto-participate fees, with a little more than 31 percent of community members stating they support pay-to-participate fees of no more than $50 per year per student and an additional nearly 38 percent
saying they support no more than $100 per year per student in pay-to-participate fees. Comparing the seven unassociated Wadsworth City Schools employees polled and WCS employees responses, nearly 17 percent or Wadsworth employees who were polled said they support pay-toparticipate fees of no more than $50 per year per student and an additional 50 percent of Wadsworth employees supported pay-to-participate fees of no more than $100 per year per student. Forty-seven percent of parents polled said their monies were going directly to the programs, or at least program areas, of their child or children. In addition to lower fees based on how many co-curriculars
a student participates in, according to West, all students within the free or reduced lunch program do not pay a fee or pay a lower fee for activities. As Director of Secondary Education, Richard Leone supported West’s statement on free and reduced lunch fee waivers, explaining the district and the Board of Education never want financial circumstances to interfere with opportunities. Pay-to-participate fees are determined by the Board of Education each year before the beginning of the acedmic year. The schedule may be found on prior Board agendas, specifically in July or August, or within the WHS Student Handbook for the 2018-2019 school year.
Wooster Employees
18.8% 50% 31.2%
16.7% 16.7%
49.9%
16.7%
Wadsworth Employees Refer to Page 7 for key. Graphic by Jacob Gooch
District PTOs help staff and students in the school GINA VAN LIEU, LEO RILEY & SOPHIE GAMBLE feature editor & staff writers Parent teacher organizations are actively involved in the elementary schools and the middle school within the Wooster City School District. According to Christi Shindollar, the PTO president at Parkview, PTOs assist in promoting communication between the school, parents and community through events, assemblies and fundraisers. At Edgewood, their PTO is led by president Christine Nolletti. Their main goal, according to Kelly Kuzma, a parent volunteer for Edgewood’s PTO, is to work with the principal and staff to bring additional opportunities to the students outside of the classroom. “I feel it is a great way to get involved with my kids, their friends and other parents,”
Kuzma said. Edgewood’s PTO is involved in planning events such as the annual New York City bus trip, a Veteran’s Day lunch, conference meals and teacher appreciation meals. Cornerstone’s PTO is run by Bri Smith and the organization has fundraisers and accepts donations from community members and businesses through gift cards and items for raffles. They have recently raised over $600,000 to build a playlab for their students. According to Molly Richard, an administrative intern and member of Cornerstone’s PTO. Cornerstone’s PTO also partnered with Parkview’s PTO to bring in two plays from the Magic Theater Company for the students.
“We plan to continue this experience for our students,” Richard said. Parkview’s PTO is led by Shindollar and is supported with parent volunteers and staff. “The goal [of parent and staff involvement] is to keep that line of communication and collaboration open, working together to benefit the students,” Shindollar said. They have two main fundraisers, “Fit ‘n’ Fund” and the Fall Carnival, which the staff and students really look forward to, according to Shindollar. At Kean Elementary, the PTO is similarly involved in the school. They plan events such as the Spring Carnival, a talent show, a Rock the House, a school dance and a Holiday Shop. Although they do not yet have officer positions, Melrose Elementary’s PTO helps
Upcoming PTO Meetings in the district Parkview Kean Melrose Cornerstone Edgewood organize events and works with staff to make events possible. In looking at the role that the PTO plays at Melrose, principal Kaylee Harrell said the partnership between the parent organizations and the school is very important. “The invaluable part about our PTO is that they enhance the learning experiences. They host and plan community events and field trips and they host fundraisers to make our school look better and run
Tuesday, Oct. 2 Tuesday, Oct. 2 Thursday, Oct. 11 Thursday, Oct. 18 Thursday, Oct. 18 more efficiently. In short, the partnership between parents and school enhances the community for our students,” Harrell said. Anyone may attend their respective schools PTO meeting by checking on their website, most meetings are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Parent teacher organizations, within the Wooster City School District, support their student’s families through fundraising and planning events.
A&E
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 9
Summer movie reviews: BlacKkKlansman
The Kissing Booth
analyzing historical thrillers and romantic comedies To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
JULIA HOOTMAN staff writer From filmmaker Spike Lee, comes the true story of the first African-American detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department taking on a risky mission to fight for equality. BlacKkKlansman is a chilling and seamless film that expresses the important themes of love, hate and equality while telling a worthwhile story. Set in the early ‘70s, young Colorado Springs detective, Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), takes on a dangerous undercover mission to infiltrate and expose the Klu Klux Klan. The young detective pretends, on the phone, to be a white man while speaking to the president of the Colorado Springs chapter. He then recruits fellow detective, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) to stand in for him at the Klan meetings and, together, they team up to take down the hate group. A brilliant aspect of this movie is the emotionally impactful soundtrack, composed by Terence Blanchard. There is a smooth guitar riff heard in several scenes throughout the movie, fitting well with the era of the movie right alongside afros, colorful clothing and ‘70s specific dialogue like “yes brother,” or “yes sister,” and “I can dig it.” The script, written by Spike Lee, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott and Charlie Wachtel, is phenomenal. Raw and believable acting from John David Washington and Adam Driver portrays the humorous aspects of the script perfectly while telling a powerful and important story. BlacKkKlansman shows great strengths in cinematography, wardrobe, script and acting with unique scene changes, accurate costuming, meaningful themes and a thought provoking plot. I have nothing but high praise for this groundbreaking movie and I hope that every American will take the time to see it because this film is worth it.
ALEXA MITCHELL co-editor-in-chief The Kissing Booth, a Netflix original, is described as a quirky romantic. Just by looking at the title on Netflix, you can tell it will be quirky and even a little cheesy by how “Booth” is spelled with kissing lip emojis, instead of O’s. Even though the title may have people thinking it is only about a couple, this movie displays a friendship that I feel everyone should have. Lee Flynn and Elle Evans are the main characters who display the closest friendship possible between a guy and girl, but the struggles of the friendship appear when Elle and Lee’s brother, Noah, want to have a serious relationship. Throughout the movie, Elle and Lee have a list of rules to help keep their friendship healthy and strong. Rule number nine clearly states there is no dating siblings. So, when Elle and Noah’s feelings grew stronger, Elle decides to keep it a secret from her best friend Lee. This situation causes major conflicts, as later in the movie, Lee finds out about his brother and Elle and is overwhelmed. In the movie, drama is created as Elle was trying to have it all, between her true love and best friend. In the end, it is a decision not just for Elle who has to decide which relationship is more important, but is also a decision for Lee to know whether or not he wants his older brother dating his best friend. It is a thrilling movie, as it always provides the kind of laughter that keeps people on the edge of their seats. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes romances or is just looking for a cute, funny love story.
MADISON HELMS staff writer To all the movies I have loved before: I am sorry, but there is someone else. It is not you, it is me… Actually, it’s the new Netflix original To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, starring Lana Condor as Lara Jean Covey and Noah Centineo as Peter Kavinsky. With its alluring plot and charming visuals, one simply cannot help but fall in love with this to be rom-com classic. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is the perfect mix of old school with modern, making it appealing to all ages. Lara Jean is a daydreaming ‘90s enthusiast, who keeps love letters hidden away in her closet, never to be opened by those to which they are addressed. That is, until an attempt to finally get her a boyfriend is made by her younger sister, Kitty. Kitty sends letters to the five boys on whom Lara Jean has had a crush. Once these letters are sent, Lara Jean’s life spirals into a bit of chaos while sparks fly as new romances bud from fake relationships. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before may be seen as a cheesy movie targeted toward teenage girls, and while that may be true to some extent, the thought put into this movie is apparent. Classic movie tropes are mixed with new elements to make this movie a must watch. From the carefully laced together plot, to the aesthetically pleasing cinematography, to the remarkable songs on the soundtrack, there is at least one aspect of this movie that everyone will love.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 10
W
Getting the band back together:
WHS hosts alumni band and reunion for Homecoming week
GRAPHIC BY ALEXIS FLORENCE
ALEXIS FLORENCE investigative feature editor For WHS band director Dan Adams, the 2018 WHS Alumni Band and Reunion, the show will be taking place on Sept. 28 during the Homecoming football game at Follis Field, is more than just a performance; it is a reunion that connects tradition with the present. “We call it an alumni band and reunion because we have time to get to know each other again, meet each other again and we also get to know the current students as well,” Adams said. About 170 past band members will be returning to Wooster from states across the country from California to Massachusetts. Emily Kaye Baxter, class of 1993, is one such alum who will be traveling from Pennsylvania to play at her
alma mater once again. Baxter is a clarinet player who is looking forward to reconnecting with people and memories from her time at WHS. “I have very fond memories of marching at Thursday night practices and Friday night games. I am looking forward to reliving some of those memories by returning to WHS for this event,” Baxter said. The event spans two days with a cookout, practice on Follis Field, and then alumni party at the Wooster Country Club on Sept. 27. On Sept. 28, the alumni will march into the football stadium with the current band and perform at the halftime show. Alumni will also join current students in the band section of the stands according to Adams. Alum, David Williams graduated from WHS in 2016 and is currently a student at Kent State University. He is
PHOTO COURTESY OF WHS MUSIC DEPT.
2003 Alumni Band participants march for a picture at Follis Field. More information on past shows is located at www.whsmusic.nvi.net/alumni.htm. returning to connect with past and present band members. “I’m looking forward to performing with all the past and current band members and
seeing everyone on the field,” Williams said. The combined band will be performing an arrangement that Adams created called
“Woo Tribute.” The piece, according to Adams, is a melody of past songs played by the WHS band including fight songs and cheers. The band will also play the WHS Alma Mater and will cheer in the stands. Baxter further commented on the importance of having events like the alumni band show saying, “I love how an alumni event like this helps current WHS students better understand the history of the program and the decades of pride and tradition that they are currently a part of. Likewise, events like this are a nice way for past band members to experience and appreciate the new energy and traditions that have become a part of the fabric of the WHS music program.” The 2018 alumni band show is the fourth in this high school’s history; the first alumni band show was in 1993, according to Adams.
COVER
WHS Renovations:
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 11
keeping our school safe and up to date
Pool update benefits community and students RACHAEL SCHMIDT cover editor
For the last 25 years, the Ellen Shapiro Natatorium has provided indoor swimming accessibility to the Wooster community. According to WHS swimming and diving coach and Foreign Language Dept. member, Christina Matthew, years of use corroded the pool surfaces and led to the need for other updates to the pool facility. Beth Davis, chairperson of the Pool Pride Committee, helped in the process of fundraising and planning for the pool renovations. According to Davis, about a year ago, the fundraising
committee started trying to get the message out to the public, especially to swim families, about the need for pool renovations. The committee wrote a formal letter to families about fundraising needs, and created a Twitter account, @PoolPrideWoo, to spread information about the project. All donations made were sent to the Wayne County Community Foundation which provided administrative help by processing thank you notes for the donors and creating a spreadsheet to track the progress of donations, said Davis. Pool renovations started in April with the draining of the pool, Matthew said.
RACHAEL SCHMIDT
On Sept. 19, Superintendent Michael Tefs gave Beth Davis flowers for her work on the Pool Pride Committee. The Committee also gave thanks to Chris Matthew by naming the pool the Chris Matthew Aquatic Center.
The pool floor was completely resurfaced and painted, in order to avoid more serious damages to the pool. Renovations also included refurbished locker rooms with lockers for better safety of pool users’ belongings and new no slip flooring, along with a resurfaced pool deck for better traction and cleaning, said Davis. Matthew said she is anticipating the finished product of the pool renovations. “Everyone is so excited. The paint alone makes it look brand new,” Matthew said. According to Matthew, the renovation also includes a new sound system and two massive new fans. The pool renovations directly benefit WHS and the YMCA of Wooster, as well as the general public. “Students are directly benefited by the renovations, whether they are high school kids in gym class, elementary kids coming to the pool, or students on the swimming and diving team,” Davis said. At the grand reopening of the Ellen Shapiro Natatorium on Sept. 19, WCSD Superintendent Michael Tefs spoke about the renovations. According to Tefs, the renovations used 1,500 gallons of paint, and filling the pool took 650,000 gallons of water. The pool officially opened to the public at 9 a.m. on Sept. 20.
Graphics by Alexis Florence
District increases safety during school hours with new wall DAVID CHENG views editor
After months of planning, the dividing wall by the athletic office has been completed in WHS. The wall, made of glass and a double aluminum frame, was completed in four days, but the designs and safety inspections during the design phase took several months, according to WHS principal Tyler Keener. The wall separates the academic wing from the public facilities, such as the Gault and pool, during school hours and operates with electronically controlled access, requiring an ID badge, according to Michael Foore in an interview for the article “Separating ‘the public from the school,’” written by Linda Hall May 30 for The Daily Record. In that same article, Dr. Michael Tefs stated that any traffic that needs access to the academic wing will need to go around to the main entrance. In addition to the wall, a new glass foyer similar to the design of the wall was installed by the Natatorium. According to vice-president of the board of education, Dr. Michael Knapic, the purpose of
the wall is, “mainly, to keep our students and staff safer.” However, the creation of the wall brings new challenges, according to the aforementioned article with Tefs explaining that the wall will, “solve one problem and create another.” One problem created from the wall is cutting off the restrooms from users of the Gault facilities. Keener addressed concerns of Gault patrons being sent to the locker room restrooms saying that “the intention of the wall is to prevent harms, but there is still responsibility that knowing that somebody really wants to cause harm and violence, we need to find a way to react appropriately. The wall is a deterrent.” Keener also said during the school year, the school will continue working on more security features in the Gault back hallway by the boys and girls locker rooms to keep the public away from the academic wing. Keener said the wall, though not a finished product, is a start for increasing safety for the students and community members at WHS.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 12
Fielding
GRIFFIN MURPHY sports editor
Change:
Local committee raises funds to renovate Miller Fields
KEIFER DILYARD & MYA VANDEGRIFT staff writers
New pavilion opened to downtown Wooster
Downtown Wooster has overseen a number of recent renovations, with the square’s northeast quadrant being the site of a new pavilion. The newly designed area is handicapped accessible and has redesigned parking spaces with public seating. Sandra Hull, executive director of Main Street Wooster, a downtown revitalization organization, sees the area as a new normal for the setting of downtown Wooster. “... The new area gives us a green space and a bigger area for performances,” Hull said. Hull went on to describe a vision for renewing historic downtown Wooster. According to Hull, Main Street Wooster hopes to continue to renovate more over the course
A committee for Miller Fields has begun a project to renovate the Wooster Youth Baseball fields to help the fans and the children competing in baseball games to have a better experience. According to Diane Tirakis, one of the people helping head the campaign for Miller Fields, this project has been in development for about two years now. “Renovations to; the lighting, the dugouts, the concessions stand, bathrooms, and new bleachers,” Tirakis said when asked about the renovations
the next several years. A local business owner, Michelle Ventling, co-owner of Blue Spruce in downtown Wooster, has been watching the construction over the summer. “I think it’s beautiful; it’s a great addition to the city. For some of the other things they want to do down her, I think it will be versatile,” Ventling said. Now that the pavilion is finished, Ventling said this renovation will have a positive effect on the community as a whole. Kristin Keating is an active member of the community, choosing to involve herself in Wooster City Schools activities, even serving as an event coordinator for the Wooster Speech and Debate team. Keating voices her concern over the new design, as she has heard from other residents of the city. “I know there’s a lot of anger over it, because the gazebo [has] always been there, people think that the new place doesn’t match
that need to occur to the fields in years to come. They will also be fixing the drainage on the fields due to serious flooding issues in recent years. “The lighting will also need to be replaced because as it stands they are safety hazards as the lights are showing age and wear,” Tirakis said. The campaign has raised $300,000 so far through donations by a few local businesses, philanthropic groups and individual donors. The estimate of what is actually needed is $1.5 million. “Wooster Youth Baseball currently serves 300 families, and we need to be able to
serve all of them as best as we can, while keeping up with other USA baseball programs like we have since 1948,” according to Tirakis, who has worked with other heads of the campaign in order to get Miller Fields into better shape. The hope for this Miller Fields project, according to Tirakis and Brian Ritchie, is to give the youth a new facility that makes them want to come and love to play even more than they could have before. The renovation project for the fields is set to either take place in the next year or two or when the committee reaches the $1.5 million mark, whichever occurs first.
of
MADDY MCCULLY
A newly constructed pavilion replaces the gazebo on Public Square as part of an improvement project developing downtown Wooster’s streetscape. the landscape of downtown Wooster,” Keating said. However, personally, Keating sees the new space as a change for the better. “I’m okay with the blending of the old and the new...I think the new area is great because it is handicapped
accessible,” Keating said. The new pavilion is now open to the public, and many look forward to events in the new space. Hull said Main Street Wooster organization members hope the new area reflects the coexisting of old and new.
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Heat causes concerns
Improvements to WCSD:
HOLLY MILLER
A new pavilion has been added to Kean Elementary School. The new pavilion is placed in the back of the school, by the playground. Many teachers have taken advantage of this new feature by teaching classes outside. Maddy McCully
The Outdoor Learning Center gives students a unique opportunity to be educated outdoors ANNA NACCI feature editor
A new classroom was added to Kean Elementary School in August. The Outdoor Learning Center
was officially added to the school’s campus at the ribbon cutting ceremony in early September, Kean Principal Brandon Cobb said. Since the center’s opening, it has been used for math lessons, Cobb said.
Maddy McCully
A teacher at Kean Elementary conducts her classroom in the new Kean pavilion. Teachers plan on using the space as an educational tool.
The Outdoor Learning Center will also be used for subjects besides math. “I plan on using the learning pavilion for some of my science lessons, reading incentives, read aloud, buddy reading, writing,” Clay Price, second grade teacher, said. The pavilion measures 30 by 48 feet, making it the school’s largest classroom, according to an article in The Daily Record by Linda Hall. The pavilion’s large size was one of the intentional features of the project. “The size of the pavilion makes it possible to have some collaborative learning or an area for students to spread out,” Cobb said. While education was the primary purpose for the pavilion, it will also be used for things other than teaching. The pavilion will also be used for the Kean Carnival and Walk-A-Thon, as well as to serve students snow cones to reward them for positive
behavior they exhibit. The Outdoor Learning Center cost $26,000 to be built, according to Hall’s
“THE SIZE OF THE PAVILION MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE SOME COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ,” COBB SAID. article. The pavilion was funded in part by the Kean Parent Teacher Organization fundraising efforts, as well as by the Wooster City School District, Cobb said. The pavilion is the beginning of improvements to Kean’s campus. Next, the school plans to add 14 recycled plastic picnic tables, according to Cobb.
cover editor In the opening weeks of school, the hot weather has precipitated a discussion of air conditioning in the school district, as Edgewood Middle School was closed because of the high heat index. According to Michael Foore, Wooster City Schools manager of buildings and grounds, he runs a district preventative maintenance program and monitors the buildings for abnormalities or issues with A/C performance. Melrose and Parkview Elementary schools received window A/C units installed in the last month due to the heat. Edgewood Middle School has had problems due to the smoldering hot days, having to call off school twice this year. The building is equipped with some window A/C units, but still had issues with extremely hot classrooms. Brad Warner, Edgewood Middle School principal, said the upstairs hallways and classrooms can get up to 90 degrees in late afternoon. Warner said in order to assist in cooling the school, he and custodians go into the school late in the evening and early in the morning to open windows. “The decision to call off school had to be made for the safety and security of students… the heat affects focus, attention and becomes problematic for students,” Warner said. The smaller window size in Edgewood Middle School makes it harder to cool classrooms.
SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 14
Community keeps on pace with running opportunities
Photo courtesy of Tammy Polen Beau Polen participates in youth running camp with Jeff Roche as coach. At practice, young runners learned athleticism and sportsmanship, and were rewarded with snacks after practice.
Local races promote health JACOB NURSE staff writer The 14 annual Buehler’s Heart and Sole Run held Aug. 18th in downtown Wooster raised funds for United Way with the goal of bringing people out of poverty. Carrolyn Salazar, who is a manager for United Way, said the races have been a success, “We had almost 800 runners, which is incredible,” she said One of those participants was Steven Bett, a runner from Ashland, who has competed in the last six Heart and Sole competitions. Bett reflects that he keeps returning to this race because of the hospitality of the event. “The people are great here and it is well organized,” he said, before remarking that he likes to crush the competition in his age group. Bett won his category this year and hopes to continue to do so for years to come. Jeff Roche, the 10k winner, also has competed in previous Heart and Sole Race fundraisers and he does not just run to win. “I’m going to do the Akron Half Marathon at the end of September, and I’m raising [money] for Akron Children’s
Hospital.” Roche said There are plenty of other local races in which Wooster athletes can compete, including shorter distance races, if a half marathon seems around 10 miles too long. The fifth annual Brokeman’s Classic, which takes place in Mt. Vernon, is planned for Oct. 7. This race is a community event welcoming anyone who is willing to go out and start running. The course involves running both on trails and roads around the city, according to the Brokeman’s Running Company’s website, www. brokemans.com. The race’s focus is on building community, as well as promoting physical and mental health, and the event will consist of a marathon, 20 mile, 15 mile, half marathon, 10 mile and 5 mile, the website states. A bit closer to home, the 11 annual Rich Dalessandro Memorial Turkey Run will take place Nov. 3 in Dalton. All proceeds from this run go to leukemia research and support for local families fighting the disease, according to the group’s Facebook page.
Upcoming local races: Sept. 29 Mohican 5k Run and Walk Oct. 6 Raven Run 5k and Family Fun Run Oct. 13 Wooster Brick Run Oct. 27 The Whistling Pines More race information can be found at verticalrunnerwooster.com
Youth hit their stride with Vertical Runner RACHAEL SCHMIDT cover editor
Every summer for the past six years, Vertical Runner has held a running camp for youth at Wooster Memorial Park. For one hour on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for six weeks, kids run the park trails and participate in games that promote activity and fun. Tammy Polen has assisted in running the camp for all six years, as her husband, Brian Polen, owns Vertical Runner. Polen emphasizes that the goal of camp is to, “encourage youth to be active in the summer and to prepare them for the culmination of a 5k, the Buehler’s Heart and Sole the Saturday before school starts.” This year, the camp sold out, with 150 youth coming to participate in enjoying the trails at Wooster Memorial Park, and learning about an active lifestyle, said Polen. At one practice, children participated in a water relay. Young runners quickly ran wet sponges across the field to buckets next to their cheering
coaches, and tried to be the team with the most water in their bucket when time was up. Throughout the relay, coach Brian Polen sprayed water guns, while his son Beau Polen chased other runners around while wearing a shark costume. At the end, the relay teams got to dump their buckets of water on their coaches. Lane Wilson (12) is a cross country and track athlete at WHS who helps coach Vertical Runner’s kids camp. Over the summer, the youth run a small, medium and long loop through Memorial Park, along with interval and hill training to prepare to run a 5k, said Wilson. Wilson said he enjoys playing games such as four corners and freeze tag with the children at camp. The youth have relished in dumping a bucket of water on Wilson two years in a row on the day of water relays. Wooster resident Beth Babulski found out about Vertical Runner’s kids camp by being involved in the local running community created by Vertical Runner. Babulski’s children, Sara, Beth and Robbie,
look forward to coming to running at camp each summer. “The progress my kids, and all the kids, make is amazing. To see the first night of camp where they struggle to make it one little loop at the park, to the 5k where they are running, laughing and smiling, is what makes running camp awesome,” Babulski said. Sarah Polley has volunteered as a coach at Vertical Runner’s kids camp and is the mother of 7-year-old Dallas Polley, who participates in the kids running camp. “Dallas has ADHD and he sometimes lacks the focus you need in team sports, so last year, we tried running camp. At first there was a lot of whining, but he found that he enjoyed it and that his energy was appreciated and encouraged. This year, we have seen growth from last year and he is very proud of how he has grown,” Polley said On Aug. 18, Vertical Runner’s running camp came to a close as athletes ran the Buehler’s Heart and Sole 5k, showing off their improvements from the summer.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 15
Panel investigates and suspends Meyer GRIFFIN MURPHY sports editor
On Aug. 22, Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer was suspended for the first three games of the 2018-2019 college football season for mishandling of information as a result of abuse allegations. These games consisted of Oregon State, Rutgers and Texas Christian University. In the home opener, while still missing Meyer, the Buckeyes won 77-31 and they defeated Rutgers by a score of 52-3, then won against TCU 40-28. Meyer returned on Sept. 22 against Tulane where the Buckeyes won in 49 to 6. It was released, by the NCAA that Zach Smith and his wife Courtney split in 2015 leading to the domestic abuse allegations coming to light. According to The Detroit
Free Press published Aug. 31, Meyer is under scrutiny by the NCAA for not reporting all of the information about which he may have been aware. Meyer has admitted to knowing about the 2009 case where Smith had assaulted his, at the time, pregnant wife. The facts about the domestic abuse allegations came about when Zach Smith’s former wife, Courtney Smith, addressed these occurrences and said she believed them to be known by Meyer, according to an article by NBC News published Aug. 22. According to SBNation, published on Sept. 15, the reason the situation with the mishandling of domestic abuse information was investigated by the NCAA was due to the fact that as stated in Meyers’ contract, he must report any instances of domestic abuse
to his superiors regarding his coaching staff. In regard to the situation of the suspension, it was alleged that Meyer mishandled information regarding a domestic abuse instance between the former receivers coach Zach Smith and his former wife Courtney Smith. According ot SBNation, Shelley Meyer, Meyer’s wife, was told by Courtney Smith about the abuse and Shelley Meyer, expressing sympathy, stated she would tell Urban about the abuse. However, according to SBNation and the official statement given by Meyer, he stated that while he was aware of the abuse allegation, it was never confirmed that he was told about the abuse from his wife. Meyer was put on administrative leave Aug 1.
Meyer suspension causes dissatisfaction
JOHN GORMAN co-editor-in-chief
To say Ohio State University head coach Urban Meyer’s three game suspension and apology for mishandling domestic abuse allegations was underwhelming is a drastic understatement. The press conference announcing the penalty was an embarrassment by both
the school and the athletic department alike. On the OSU’s side, instead of making a stand that negligence of this magnitude, intentional or not, will not be tolerated, they serve Meyer with a three game slap on the wrist. Suspending Meyer for only three games sends a definitive message to everyone watching the program: winning is all that matters. While wins and losses should guide a program’s actions on and off the field, the school must provide an example of right and wrong to its team members, students and
supporters. OSU’s disciplinary policy failed unconditionally failed in this regard. Too little, too late. Not only was Meyer only suspended from coaching three games, two of which were near guaranteed victories, he was still permitted to run practices and coach the team week to week, just not the 24 hours surrounding game days, according to Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports. This miniscule punishment sets an awful example to all watching the
hio State football scandal rocks sports world Graphics by Jacob Gooch program as to the severity of the negligence shown by Meyer. Too little, too late. And, on Meyer’s side of things, his apology for his involvement sounded nothing coach repentant for his actions. At the conference, Meyer never apologized to Courtney Smith, the woman whose reports of domestic abuse by a coach on his staff for nearly a decade were ignored. When asked what message he has for her, he responded, “I have a message for everyone involved. I’m sorry we’re in this situation,” Sports Illustrated’s Joan Niesen reports. Not, “I’m sorry I put Courtney Smith in this situation,” or, “I’m sorry I didn’t do enough to stop this” but, “I’m sorry we’re in this situation,” as if he is just
as much a victim as anyone else and is only sorry he got suspended and distracted people from the season. Too little, too late. Meyer apologized to the Ohio State community. Meyer apologized to the university president. Meyer even apologized to “Buckeye Nation.” And yet, not once did he apologize to the person his actions hurt most directly. In fact, his apology was so lacking, Meyer was forced to issue a public apology for his apology two days after the press conference, finally telling Courtney Smith he was sorry for his actions, according to Dan Murphy of ESPN. Too little. Too late.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 16
Jacob Butdorf prepares to compete on Olympic Trap shooting team in October SKYY KHOUNBORIN a&e editor Jacob Butdorf (11) travelled to Kerrville, Texas, this past summer to shoot in a qualifying match in order to be on the U.S. Paralympic Trap Team. The category in which Butdorf will be competing is called Olympic Bunker Trap and Butdorf notes this category alone brings its own challenges. “It challenges the mental game more than the physical game, which is like no other sport,
which is why I like it so much,” Butdorf said. The fundamentals of the sport involve a target being thrown from any of the three traps located directly in front of a shooter. The goal is to hit all of the targets. Ed Butdorf, Butdorf’s father, explains an obstacle that his son had to overcome in attaining the opportunity to compete at the international level. “Jake has a form of Muscular Dystrophy called Charcot Marie Tooth Disease. It is a
BLADE STAFF PREDICTS NFL OUTCOMES In selecting categories, based on years watching the NFL, spending time on ESPN and playing Fantasy Football, The Wooster Blade’s resident football fanatics selected their picks for Las Vegas sports books’ most popular NFL betting categories: Super Bowl Champion, Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year and Cleveland Browns win total.
degenerative nerve disorder that causes bad balance and diminished flexibility amongst other things,” Ed Butdorf said. In the world championships, there is no junior category, so Butdorf will be shooting against people much older than him from all over the world. Terri Dewitt, Scholastic Clay Target Program National Team head coach, is astonished by Butdorf’s growth as an athlete. According to Dewitt, “I’ve seen exceptional growth from Jake. His technical skills are
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENNA BUTDORF Jacob Butdorf practices at the range for upcoming Olympics trap shooting event. Butdorf will be travelling to Italy for the competition. improving of course, but it’s his emotional maturity and growth that has impressed me the most. Olympic trapshooting is not a sport that an athlete can learn in a summer nor expect to make a national team in a year’s time.
Reece Mitchell
Griffin Murphy
This sport requires commitment on a level far beyond Americanstyle trapshooting. Not many athletes are willing to make that commitment. Jake is.” Butdorf said he is honored to compete in the world championship in October.
John Gorman
Korbin Reed
Super Bowl Winner
Most Valuable Player
Tom Brady
Drew Brees
Todd Gurley
Rookie of the Year
Baker Mayfield
Saquan Barkley
Saquan Barkley
Browns total wins this season
Aaron Rodgers
Baker Mayfield
5 4 4 10
Graphics by Corinne Wiles
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 17
Strapless Skinny Strap V-Cut
Bright Red Bell Sleeves Lace Long-Sleeved
Homecoming Style CORINNE WILES
Classic Tie
trends editor The WHS Homecoming dance will be held Sept. 29 and picking the best semi-formal wear can be a difficult process. Luckily, there is a variety of outfits to wear and finding the perfect ensemble can actually be an enjoyable process. In terms of female students, the possibilities are endless. Most commonly worn are dresses, which have a wide range in style, whether it is skinny straps, long sleeve, off-the-shoulder or even strapless dresses. Rompers and jumpsuits are also great options as there are so many unique colors, prints and fabrics available in almost any outfit. For male students, there are also countless combinations of clothing. A simple pair of pants can be paired with several different types of dress shirts, varying in color or pattern. This can be customized by adding different ties, suspenders, or accessories, such as a watch. All of these can be found in almost any clothing store around. A great economical option in the Wooster area, is Jodi’s Closet, a consignment shop downtown. There are several perfect choices for outfits, including shoes such as the three pairs, located below, with very reasonable prices.
$20.25
$18.25 $16.00
Bow Tie with Suspenders
Orange Strappy Sandals
Black Flats Nude High Heels
Pictures by Holly Miller
THE WOOSTER BLADE | TRENDS | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 18
Speech and Debate team plans for Homecoming CLARA LEE
on campus editor The Homecoming dance is planned by the WHS Speech and Debate team every year. William Franck, assistant Speech and Debate coach, says the administration allowed the team to take over planning Homecoming years ago, after it was previously mismanaged, to support the program. Speech and Debate president Lexi Nolletti (12) says Homecoming is an important fundraiser to pay for some of the team’s expenses, including tournament entry fees and transportation costs. Franck says the team officers choose the theme each year. According to Franck, there is a rotating system of different theme options. This year’s theme is The Greatest Show. Nolletti says the team prepares for the dance far in advance. “We start thinking about themes and how we can reuse our resources for the next year almost immediately after wrapping up the dance,” Nolletti said. Nolletti says the team officers are responsible for delegating tasks the day of the dance, and parents of team members run the coat check, chaperone and work concessions. The team is also in charge of tear-down and getting a DJ approved, Franck says. Nolletti says the team, in response to dissatisfaction with the music at Homecoming in past years, is working with a new DJ company this year.
Homecoming
Proposals:
MELINA MERA a&e editor
For Homecoming, students not only have to prepare for the week of events, but also have the added pressure of figuring out creative ways to invite someone to join them at the annual dance. Science Dept. member Charles Cerniglia and Nathan DeRodes (11), both experienced
Homecoming dances and proposals, but Cerniglia said when he was in high school it was more common for people to go in pairs rather than in bigger groups. Cerniglia said it was more common for boys to ask girls, not the other way around. “Well, a lot of girls asked me, but that wasn’t the norm,” Cerniglia said. Cerniglia reflects on
the differences between Homecoming proposals today and from when he was in high school and said Homecoming proposals were just not a big deal. DeRodes said Homecoming proposals should be made a bigger deal. “I think people should put effort into proposals, so that it’s something you both can remember,” DeRodes said.
DeRodes asked Maddie McCoy (11) to Homecoming with a decorated poster. However, he does not think simply asking someone in person without a sign is looked down upon. DeRodes said that people might just want less attention when asking someone and also notes it is not odd nowadays for females to ask males to Homecoming.
Photos accumulated by Theresa Wendell. Couples include Hannah Johnson, Garrett Flinner, Brady Meade, Lauren Crum, Kendall Ross, Matt Savage, Victoria Machado, Michael Conrad, Madison McCoy, Nathan DeRodes, Jimmy Lyons, Madison Kurtz, Zeke Ntia, Emilee Glenn, Jake Burns, Lauren Schmitt, Bryn Savidge, Mya Vandegrift, Phoenix Scale, Theresa Wendell, Drew Rader, Brooke Balas, Grant Webster, Avery Becker, Kade Coblenz and Madison Vann.
VIEWS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 19
Editor describes Nike business model behind controversial Kaepernick ad
NFL players, along with seven NFL owners, joined in the protests. Though currently unsigned by an NFL team and in the midst of a collusion case against the NFL, Kaepernick was chosen by Nike as the face of the campaign in a brilliant move for both parties. The new campaign gives Kaepernick another platform through which he can continue to push for racial equality and remind the public that these protests are not an attack on the military as they are so often portrayed, but are rather a demand for social justice for
minority groups. As he contends in his collusion case, Kaepernick appears to be blackballed by NFL owners, unable to earn a spot on rosters, likely due to his political protests, despite glowing endorsements from fellow NFL stars, including Tom Brady, Alex Smith and Richard Sherman, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN and Dan Gartland of Sports Illustrated. As for Nike, choosing Kaepernick not only seems to show support for his political message, but also amounts to a stroke of genius from a business standpoint. According to Fortune and Apex Marketing Group, media coverage of the new campaign earned the company $43 million of free advertising in the first 24 hours. Moreover, Marketwatch reports that online sales of the brand have skyrocketed 31 percent since the campaign launched, and stock prices have more than rebounded from initial drops following the launch. Kaepernick and Nike made for the perfect pairing; Kaepernick is able to continue to fight for equality and it gives him a mammoth corporate endorsement, while Nike jumped on an opportunity to combine social activism with increased profits, a rare combination.
Foreign Language Dept. member. They can be used to, “participate in review games and activities and to access to quick information,” but at the same time they can be a distraction due to, “social media and drama,” according to Forrest. Troy Worth, Science Dept. member, also said cell phones can be used for communication with teachers and for programs and apps that can enhance learning. Coming from a different perspective, a teacher who
does not allow phones in her classroom is Misty Bisesi, Social Studies Dept. member who said, “Students get too distracted by their cell phones and, therefore, are not engaged in their own learning.” One of the more negative effects of cell phones can be the influence of social media with Worth explaining, “Social media can exacerbate the peer interaction issues that are negative in nature.” Forrest argues limiting cell phone use will help students interact and connect with their classmates. Adding that
As a result of Nike’s new ad, the #boycottNike became a trend. The following tweets are a representation of many viewpoints in response to the new Nike ad.
“Colin Kaepernick is a dude” - @russellcrowe JOHN GORMAN
co-editor-in-chief Thirty years after Nike debuted its iconic “Just Do It” advertisements and slogan, the company made waves once again by selecting NFL quarterback and political icon Colin Kaepernick as the face of the marketing campaign. Kaepernick shot into the national spotlight in 2016 after refusing to stand during the national anthem prior to football games, according to NFL.com, explaining, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country
Phones cause more harm than benefits
that oppresses black people and people of color.” Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the anthem has drawn equal parts support and scorn. One of the most vocal critics of the anthem protests is President Donald Trump, who declared at a special election rally, “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b---- off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!’ according to Bryan Graham of The Guardian. After these comments, USA Today reports that nearly 200
HENRY GAMBLE focus editor
Cell phones provide advantages and disadvantages to the learning process at school, according to Jill Forrest,
“Especially proud to be a part of the Nike family today” - @serenawilliams
“Just like the NFL, whose ratings have gone way down, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts. I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way? As far as the NFL is concerned, I just find it hard to watch, and always will, until they stand for the FLAG!”@realDonaldTrump
“As @Nike commits #Brand Suicide”@realjameswoods Quotes compiled by John Gorman “just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it’s correct,” referring to student use of online resources on assignments such as Google Translate. Teachers taking a stand against student cell phone use should be encouraged and supported because of the overwhelming amount of benefits including increased participation in class and increased communication between students and teachers. However, cell phones can also be used as a resource in class and in certain situations their use should be allowed.
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Editors-in-Chief John Gorman, Alexa Mitchell Webmaster Jacob Gooch Graphics Manager Jacob Gooch, Catherine Strong Business Manager Anna Nacci On Campus Editor Clara Lee Investigative Feature Editor Alexis Florence Focus Editor Henry Gamble, Rheanna Velasquez, Emily Jewell Sports Editor Reece Mitchell, Griffin Murphy A & E Editors Skyy Khounborin, Melina Mera, Catherine Strong Trends Editor Molly Schneider, Corinne Wiles Cover Editors Maddy McCully, Holly Miller, Rachael Schmidt Views Editors David Cheng, Alec Pauley Feature Editors Anna Nacci, Gina Van Lieu Staff Writers Keifer Dilyard, Maeve FlorenceSmith, Sophie Gamble, Mason Garcia, Madison Helms, Julia Hootman, Jacob Nurse, Korbin Reed, Leo Riley, Paulina Salazar, Bryn Savidge, Mya Vandegrift, Theresa Wendell, Lena Wiebe Head Photographer Maddy McCully Photographers Grace Brownson, Alexis Florence, Jacob Gooch, Maddy McCully, Reece Mitchell, Rachael Schmidt, Theresa Wendell Artists Haley Balas, Catherine Strong Adviser Kristi Hiner The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The paper is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established in a district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the right to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Wooster Blade is printed in cooperation with Wooster’s The Daily Record. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-345-4000 ext. 3210. The newspaper can also be found at thewoosterblade.com
THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL
THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | SEPT. 28, 2018 | PAGE 20
THE WOOSTER BLADE LAYS OUT THEIR GOALS FOR THE YEAR Who are we?
Known for producing and distributing our biweekly paper to the school and our community, The Wooster Blade has been published at WHS since 1994. As students, we broaden our viewpoints, work with passion and teach others about issues and stories about the world and the community in which we live. As journalists, we promise to responsibly address topics in the world, defend our democracy and to get students and community members involved in their community.
We pledge ...
To inform students and our community about current events in the school and Wooster. To listen to all voices and be objective and fair in our coverage and in our writing.
Our goals...
We strive to be an objective student voice and to ensure that diverse points of view are represented. We aim to shine a light on people, places and organizations throughout our community and the world in which we live. We aspire to expose students to journalistic education.
We will continue to provide a platform for ALL student voices
VICTIMS CONTINUE TO UNFOLD THEIR #METOO STORIES
RACHAEL SCHMIDT
As women, sharing life experiences, especially physical and mental traumatic experiences, is terrifying. On Sept. 23, The New York Times published “#WhyIDidntReport: Survivors of Sexual Assault Share Their Stories After Trump Tweet,” about the recent development of the #WhyIDidntReport hashtag that grew out of the #MeToo movement. I hope this hashtag not only brings awareness to the valid reasons women do not report sexual assault and harrasment, but also gives women the strength to share their stories in pursuit of justice under a presidency which shows little support.
cover editor
LEAD FILLED WATER NEARLY AN ISSUE AGAIN The Flint Water Crisis first occurred in 2014. It has been four years, and the water in Michigan still contains a significant amount of lead. The governor of Michigan said on April 6 of this year that they are ending the free bottled water program, which gave out clean water for residents to drink. Once the supply is gone, the residents will have to begin drinking lead filled water once again because the FDA deemed it drinkable according to a CNN article titled, “Flint Water Crisis Fast Facts.” The Flint Water Crisis remains an issue and needs our attention.
SKYY KHOUNBORIN a & e editor
EXERCISE FACILITIES MUST BECOME STUDENT FRIENDLY
EMILY JEWELL focus editor
WHS has various athletic facilities on campus; however, they are not student friendly. Students of WHS should have free access to all facilities, including the Gault Recreation Center, the Ellen Shapiro natatorium, as well as the new weight room. We should be able to use our school issued identification cards to gain us access to the facilities. For the weight room, there could be open hours for any student, with a paid adviser to supervise. If students do not appreciate the privilege they were given and disrespect the rules, then their privilege would be revoked. This could benefit WHS students by allowing non-athletes and athletes combined the chance to exercise in a safe place that they would not have previously had the opportunity to do so on their own.