The Wooster Blade, Volume XVII, Issue 8

THE WOOSTER BLADE

WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • JAN. 20, 2017 • VOLUME XVII, ISSUE 8

To what extent are you informed about the world around you?

Index

A&E 11-12 Focus 4-5 Sports 13-14 ure 6-7 t a e F -3 On Campus 2 Cover 8-10 Views 15-16

ON CAMPUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 2

WHS Speech and Debate coaches receive recognition Holly Custer WHS Speech and Debate coach Holly Custer will be inducted into the Ohio High School Speech League Hall of Fame this March, according to the Wooster City School District website.

According to Custer, the induction process can begin when one has coached for 17 years, served on a district or state committee, coached students to break rounds at the state tournament and has been nominated. Then, hall of fame members vote to determine inductees.

Custer’s passion for forensics began when she joined the Stow team as a student during high school, and has heightened as she continues to watch students flourish because of their speech and debate skills.

“I know how beneficial this program has been for me and I just want to give back... every year I see changes in kids becoming more confident, becoming more comfortable in their own skin,” Custer said.

Furthermore, Custer’s dedication to student growth is evident to the students who receive her coaching.

“Mrs. Custer has revolutionized Wooster Humorous Interpretation. She has been a strong leader and a great coach,” Erin O’Donnell, Speech and Debate team member, said.

The Speech and Debate team holds auditions in September, and Custer encourages students to consider taking part in the invaluable opportunity the program offers.

Blurbs by Amber Swigart, Isabelle Cannon and Glara Lee. Photos Courtesy of Bill Franck.

Bill Franck

Phil Klein Phil Klein, WHS Speech and Debate assistant coach, has earned the First Diamond degree of membership in the National Speech and Debate association’s (NSDA) Honor Society.

“I was happy about it [receiving the Dimond Award].

It’s always good to see the totality of your service being recognized,” Phil Klein, said.

According to the NSDA, diamond accolades are used to recognize the coaches behind the dominance of the rising individuals of speech and debate teams around the world.

Whenever a team member earns ten points, the coach earns one. One thousand five hundred points must be earned to receive the first diamond and the coach must have instructed for five years.

Bill Franck, Speech and Debate coach, and English Dept. member was recently awarded his second Diamond Award for speech and debate.

According to speechanddebate.org, Diamond Awards reflect excellence and longevity in the activity. It is a two-part award, based on the success of the students and based on the dedication recognized through coaching for at least five years.

The first Diamond Award is awarded after five years of service and 1,500 points accumulated.

The coaches are awarded one tenth of a point for each point a student earns in a competition, Franck reports.

Franck also states that in order to receive a second Diamond Award, 10 years of service must be completed and 3,000 coaching points.

Franck is very excited to have received this award.

“I take a great deal of pride in this recognition. It is the second Diamond Award I have received while coaching here at Wooster. I believe this award calls attention to not just myself, but all of the great coaches who have made this program what it is,” Franck said.

Coaches who have received diamond awards during the current academic year are recognized during the Donus D. Roberts Diamond Assembly at that year’s National Tournament, according to speechanddebate.org.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 3

HOW TO: Prepare and cope with potential college rejection Moving past rejections eases strain of college admission process

EMMA STRONG feature editor

As regular decision deadlines come to a close, many high school seniors are one step closer to furthering their educations.

However, submitting college applications can lead to worries over rejection.

The disappointment that stems from a college rejection letter can feel much more significant before really evaluating the necessary steps to take after this occurs.

Jennifer Winge, Dean of Admissions at the College of Wooster, stresses the importance of not basing all future plans around one school.

“It’s important to remember that there is more than one ‘dream school’ that exists for you. Of course you will always have your favorite or top choice, but if you did thorough research of your college options, there will be several schools that fit your interests and help you achieve your goals,” Winge said.

Another important factor in college admission is not to take rejection personally. An article entitled “Wait-Listed and Rejected Students,” by the College Board offers advice for teachers and counselors to help students who have been rejected and waitlisted.

The primary advice the article offers is emphasizing that admissions often depends on numbers, rather than on personal merits of an applicant.

Winge also offers perspective on how to not take rejection personally.

“Some very selective schools will receive thousands of applications from students who meet or exceed the academic qualifications- so how do they make their decisions? Sometimes it’s just sheer luck,” Winge said.

Not letting a rejection feel like it is detrimental to future is a crucial part of this process.

“If you don’t get into your top ‘dream college’ choice…take a deep breath and review and research your other college options. Do whatever you can to get well acquainted with these colleges and you will uncover one that will fit your academic, cultural and social needs.

You can discover many colleges where you can be content and get an outstanding education,” WHS guidance counselor Tyler Egli said.

Beginning the college search process by researching and selecting several ideal colleges is another way to be proactive about college acceptance and minimize the emphasis on possible rejection.

MAUREEN McKEOWN

views editor For seniors, a simple essay can determine the next four years of the future.

College boards have changed over the past few decades and become faster and better at telling a student if he or she qualifies to attend that university. However, colleges have become significantly harder to get into and are more selective than they have ever been.

Once the fully completed application is sent to the college and looked over by admissions staff, the college will notify students as to whether they have been accepted or rejected, either electronically or by mail.

Universities only have a certain number of students they can enroll for the next year. This means that there is a possibility that most students will either be waitlisted or denied enrollment.

When doing anything risky or something that will have a great impact on the future, a “plan B” is typically thought of or made. This should also be done when applying to college.

There is always the chance that the college will deny an application. “The good news is that the acceptance rate for all four-year colleges has remained in the 68-to-70 percent range since the mid-1980s, and more than 80 percent of these colleges say yes to more than half their applicants,” says David Hawkins, NACAC’s director of public policy and research.

This percentage is large, but it does not mean there are more spots for applicants.

Having a plan B, will not only encourage students to put all they can in their first plan, but will also help them in the long run. Planning a backup will help students in the future when making big decisions.

Backup plans prepare students for applying to college

FOCUS

Edgewood unveils newly-constructed Boys & Girls Club area RACHEL WOOD “How do we help these kids live the American Dream, and every kid have an equal chance?” This question, posed

by Ohio Attorney General Michael DeWine, seems to have its answer in the new space for the Boys and Girls Club of Wooster, an after-school program for middle school students.

According to club adviser Christine Montelione, Boys and Girls Club of Wooster is a program whose members meet after school as late as 7 p.m. However, it is far more than a latchkey service, and, instead, offers a wide variety of additional educational and recreational opportunities to its participants. Some of its activities include Sports Club,

Gamers Club and Torch Club, a service-based group. The program also offers students tutoring opportunities.

Dakota Morris, a Boys and Girls Club member who has benefited from the club’s educational opportunities, said this program helped her keep her grades up. She also reported that she was recently named Youth of the Year.

However, despite its many programs, “Since inception, [our club] has existed as somewhat nomadic,” Montelione said.

But on Jan. 13, the club found a permanent home, as the 4,000 square foot addition to Edgewood Middle School was officially opened. The new addition includes a large group space, several offices and a lobby area, according to Montelione. The group space

CORPORATE SPONSORS

GRANT PEABODY

also opens up into the library, allowing students access to books and other materials after school.

DeWine, who spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, noted the club staff

hopes to help youth struggling inside and outside of school.

“A big challenge is youth coming from different circumstances. Maybe mom and dad work two jobs, and this is the period of time when

kids get in the most trouble,” DeWine said.

DeWine also noted that he was able to designate $4.3 million of non-payer funds for Boys and Girls Clubs across Ohio, $700,000 of which went to Wooster, so that other communities can enjoy the benefits of similar clubs.

Montelione hopes the new addition will attract even more students to participate in Boys and Girls Club.

“I believe there is going to be a shift in their perception of [Boys and Girls Club] when we open the new addition. We’re not just an after school club; we’re their club,” Montelione said.

She also hopes the new addition will help the staff expand opportunities to include field trips and leadership programs.

BLUE SPONSORS

$500

We would like to thank all of our supporters for the 2016-17 school year.

Baaron, Inc. BCI Buckeye Division Everything Engraved Swigart- Braunscheidel Insurance The Pines Golf Club The Studio on Liberty The Urban Cottage Wooster Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Metals USA Dyer Roche & Company, Inc.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 5

Local lecture series brings foreign perspectives to Wooster RYAN MILLER focus editor

Dating back to 1981, the Great Decisions lecture series has brought expertise on issues of foreign policy and affairs to Wayne County.

The lecture series is a cooperative project that connects the College of Wooster and the local community, in an effort to educate and encourage participation in democracy.

Each year a new topic is chosen, according to Dr. Angie Bos, Chair and Associate Professor of Political Science at the College of Wooster and Head of the Great Decisions

lecture series planning committee, this year’s series addresses environmental concerns.

“Our goal with each series is to engage the community with important global issues. This year, we selected the theme, ‘Environmental Challenges to the Global Community’, which is meant to engage the college and community in important questions surrounding climate change and sustainability with regard to resources such as food and energy,” Bos said.

Cameron Steinback, a sophomore at the College of Wooster and a member of the planning committee for the

GD

lecture series, remembers the experience of planning for the upcoming lecture series fondly.

“It was a really neat experience to be a part of the planning process because the committee basically has full autonomy on who to bring to campus.

Meaning, we are given a budget and a topic, but we get to ultimately choose who we want speaking to the campus,” Steinback said.

The president of the board of directors for the Great Decisions lecture series is Doug Drushal, who strongly encourages anyone with interests in the world beyond Wooster to attend the series.

“Here in Wooster, you have the chance to get the highest quality insights into foreign policy matters, at no cost, without having to leave town. If you have any interest in the world outside Wooster, you will find no better opportunity to learn a little bit more about that world from speakers who are uniformly interesting and engaging. How could you go wrong?” Drushal said.

The Great Decisions lecture series begins with the first of five lectures being given by Robert Musil on Feb. 2, about the continuing relevance Rachel Carson’s ecological vision.

GRAPHICS BY MATTHEW LORENTZ

Superintendent explains process of cancelling school CHRISTOPHER ROCHE

In these frigid winter months, calamity days are a popular topic for discussion among students.

Many of these discussions stem from confusion over the number and nature of calamity days, so to clarify, a calamity day, according to Superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs, is when certain weather or road conditions warrant, “school delays and closures.”

This year, the Wooster City Schools Board of Education has allotted four calamity days, which means students must make up any school days cancelled after that number has been reached.

When bad weather threatens, the BOE, monitors potential road or weather conditions throughout the night so Tefs can announce a decision by 6 a.m.. According to a January

2017 newsletter, the decision is usually made between 5:15 a.m. and 5:45 a.m..

According to the WHS website, one factor taken into consideration is when temperature and wind chill pose a situation, “when frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less.”

The frostbite delays or cancellations usually concern students waiting on the bus in the morning.

Tefs said that when looking at wind chill as a factor for a calamity day, a “-15 wind chill is the standard around Wayne County.”

According to the January 2017 newsletter, Tefs and the BOE determine road conditions when a, “team of school district employees assess the road conditions by driving in assigned areas throughout the district.”

Parents can be notified by e-mail, text or phone call.

FEATURE

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 6 “History classes allow students to learn about the past and help them use it for the future. The same mistakes from the past are being made again, you would think we would learn. They help educate people.” Joel Schmidt

Why social Studies? A closer look at what the department has to offer

“Part of school is preparing students for the outside world and learning about other cultures and what is going on.

The Social Studies Dept. does that.” Bryan Ehrlinspiel

Why should students be encouraged to take history “History helps you understand “I think it is important classes? current events, that help you because they need to know and take lessons from the past and apply them to their everyday lives. People need to be aware of what is going on today in current events.” Mark Kister

R E Q U I R E D

Grade 8

E L E C T I V E S

The World’s Past

American History 8

“It is important for people in our sociey to know where they came from and history does that. Also for potential career paths.” Mike Sullivan

Grade 9

Grade 10

AP European History

AP US History

Honors World Studies World Studies

make educated decisions. It “So they understand issues in makes you a better person. You the past, and we do not repeat are put in the shoes of others them again.” Misty Bisesi who have lived in times where you have not.” Paige Arnold

American History

Grade 11

Grade 12

AP Government

AP Psychology

Government

Various Electives

US History 10

Recomended Course Path for WHS Students from the 2016-2017 Course Selection Guide

Dangers of

The Social Studies Dept. offers courses in multiple areas of the realm of history and understanding the human condition.

Human Nature

American Pop Culture

The World Now World Geography

Psychology

Sociology

When choosing a class to take, reference the WHS course selection guide to be sure you are both eligible to take the course and the class is still available.

Graphic by Jacob Gooch Quotes collected by Hanna Morgan

Revolutionary Classical and Middle Ages History

Society

Social

S

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 7

tudies:

howcasing exceptional students

Prentice Mullis (10)

Elise Kern (11)

Aidia Wathen was nominated by U.S. history teacher Scott Miller.

“I enjoy social studies courses because you get to learn what lead up to present times and what people went through,” Aidia said.

When studying, Aida listens to classical music, to make things more entertaining and efficient.

“Aidia is sweet, kind and a bit wise for her age,” Miller said.

Aidia plays in Orchestra and enjoys practicing and learning new music outside of school. In her free time, Aidia also finds learning new languages interesting.

Tracy Morgan Joseph Linz (11) was nominated by Phil Klein as a student who excels in social studies.

Linz says his favorite social studies course is AP Government, which is taught by Klein.

“Joe is a great student to have in class, he is affable and gets along great with his peers. He has a passion for subjects that interest him and let him show his creativity,” Klein said.

Linz says that in order to learn more, student have to take advantage of the time given in class and to take what is being taught to heart. He says that social studies, especially AP Government, is applicable to United States citizens and voters. “[Social studies] gives you a chance to learn from the past and improve your future,” Linz said.

Linz hopes to one day receive an appointment to the United States Naval Academy.

Elise Kern (11) was selected by Phil Klein, Social Studies Dept. member, as a model student.

“She [Elise] pushes herself to understand each concept and works tirelessly,” Klein siad.

Kern cited AP American Government and Politics, a class favorite social studies classes.

In order to do well in social studies, Kern’s advice is simple.

“Pay attention in class, take notes, and ask questions whenever you have them,” Kern said.

Klein also notes Kern’s active participation in class.

“I am sure that the questions she has are ones that While Kern does not plan for a social studies major in the future, she is grateful for the education she has received in this area of study at WHS. Chelsea Patterson

Blurbs by Valerie Anderson, Alexis Florence and Maddy Nacci

Aidia Wathen (8)

Joe Linz (11)

Grant Peabody

Prentice Mullis (10) was nominated by U.S. history teacher Scott Miller.

Mullis says Miller is a great teacher and makes his U.S. history class fun and enjoyable.

“Prentice is a good-hearted kid with a great sense of humor,” Miller said.

Miller also added that Mullis has the willpower to never give up in his schooling.

Mullis said he uses Kahoot as his go-to study method and thinks it is the most fun when he is the one to come in first.

In the future, Mullis has plans to gain experience in welding and possibly go to college to focus in on a welding career.On the weekends, Mullis looks forward to watching football on Sunday afternoons.

The Social Studies Dept. selected students to be recognized based on the criteria of hard work, determination, passion and creativity.

Students were selected based upon effort put forth and engagement in class.

Madison Culver-Lee

Christian Walton (11)

Christian Walton (11) was picked by Social Studies Dept. member Bryan Ehrlinspiel as a student that stands out to him because of his passion and love for history.

“Completely unfazed of what others may think of him, he bravely puts himself out there in all of his classes and he takes risks. It’s with those risks that he earns his peers respect. His unique nature and inquisitiveness will serve him well in his future,” Ehrlinspiel said.

Walton recommends that students take Classical Middle Ages, taught by Ehrlinspiel. He says Ehrlinspiel has influenced him and has enhanced his passion for history.

Walton says he loves history and takes time to learn and look at outside sources on his own.

“History is nothing more than who we are and who we are going to be,” Walton said.

Walton said his future is flexible and he hopes to go into physical therapy.

Chelsea Pat-

COVER

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 8

Troubling issues of cybersecurity RYAN MILLER focus editor

A modern day slavery threatens the U.S. ESTELLE SHAYA business manager

The idea of slavery, especially in the United States, is often thought of as an event hidden in the past.

However, slavery continues on today in the

ing is slavery including, “forced labor, domestic servitude and

can happen to your neighbor.

It can happen across the street.”

In Ohio, the establishment of

commission has served as a meeting place for people both interested in and working to address the issue, Scherbauer said.

The commission has allowed better communication and a forum in which people can speak, she added.

However, everyday citizens can play a part in helping to identify

as a large-scale issue, both across the globe, and spe-

Anne Victory, the education coordinator of the Collabora-

In 2014, the International Labor Organization estimated 20.9 million people are enslaved every year throughout the world.

Veronica Scherbauer, a Programs and Development Specialist for the Ohio Attorney Gen-

said in response to The Wooster Blade

for The Wooster Blade, “When we look at the United States, I think it’s hard to tell how many victims exist because it’s very well hidden, but I would say it’s also very prominent here...” to any singular ethnicity, socioeconomic class or other groups.

In her book, The Slave Across the Street, Theresa L. Flores describes how she became caught in the net of huwith her family in an uppermiddle class suburb of Detroit.

Flores later went on to become a social worker and advocate

person being overly timid, not speaking for her/himself, having lots of new items he or she tive about activities and living where he or she works. someone very young spends sigson, who is not related to him or her, or when an underage person is involved in prostitution.

Victory said education and choosing fair trade products (having no slave labor in their supply chain) are easy ways Scherbauer encourages people to spread knowledge of huand have them do the same.

The National Human ber

is

1-888-373-7888.

As the internet becomes incorporated in more aspects of life, it becomes more profitable and rewarding for criminals and adversaries to exploit security flaws in these computer systems.

The following statement, from the Department of Homeland Security’s webpage, echoes that sentiment: “Cyberspace and its underlying infrastructure are vulnerable to a wide range of risk stemming from both physical and cyber threats and hazards. Sophisticated cyber actors and nation-states exploit vulnerabilities to steal information and money and are developing capabilities to disrupt, destroy, or threaten the

DREW FRIEDHOFF sports editor

Home to over 3.5 million Americans, Puerto Rico is currently dealing with a financial crisis with $72 billion of debt, according to Mary William Walsh and Liz Moyer in The New York Times article “How Puerto Rico Debt Is Grappling With a Debt Crisis.”

For decades, Puerto Rico issued triple tax exempt bonds to compensate for fiscal shortcomings as reported by The Week staff in their article, “Everything You Need to Know About the Puerto Rico Debt Crisis.” These bonds were purchased at rapid rates, as buyers would not

delivery of essential services.”

These “sophisticated cyber actors” have recently become an emerging political issue in light of the presidential election.

Cybersecurity was at the center of the Wikileaks and the DNC scandal that prompted Debbie Wasserman Schultz to step down as the chairperson.

Echelon Insights, a company that deals with analytics and data, comprised a list of the most discussed election topics by analyzing 2.011 billion tweets from U.S. Twitter users and found that the top two categories, “Wikileaks/ Hacking” and “Clinton emails,” were mentioned 54 million times collectively. While the third most mentioned topic, “Deplorables,” were mentioned just under 6 million times.

President Obama found the issue compelling enough to advise an additional $5 billion be allocated to cybersecurity this past February, according to a Reuters article entitled, “Concerned by cyber threat, Obama seeks big increase in funding.”

The issue of cybersecurity and cyber-aggressions will continue to play a role in the investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 election, and will continue to be discussed, while intelligence agencies try to determine what Russia’s ambitions and motives may have been.

The expansion of uses of computers by both the government and people evokes the need to secure computer systems and the data contained within them.

have to pay federal, state or local taxes on the bonds.

Then in 1996, Congress, which gave U.S. manufacturers hefty tax breaks in an attempt to bring more manufacturing jobs to Puerto Rico, lifted these tax breaks causing many plants to shut down, while Wall Street made millions.

When these jobs left, with them left their workers.

Thousands of unemployed and a poverty rate of 45 percent, pushed many into fleeing the territory in search of a steady job, as stated by Walsh and Moyer.

Already desperately in need of government money, this massive reduction in tax revenue

only furthered the problem.

Usually, when faced with such a mountain of debt, municipalities and their utilities in the United States will simply file for bankruptcy.

This luxury, however, is not granted to Puerto Rico, as it is a territory rather than a state, consequently requiring it to follow a separate set of guidelines, according to the Associated Press in their article, “Here’s What Congress Can Do About Puerto Rico’s Debt.” In this article, it is stated that in Washington, the only solutions that have been proposed are a federal bailout or debt restructuring, both of which have been met with great opposition by Congress.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 9

United States foreign aid serves policy goals MILITARISTIC AID EVAN DOAN veiws editor

As President-elect Trump comes into office, the nation and the world, are watching apprehensively to see what his first course of action will be as commander-in-chief.

According to the latest Department of Defense data, the United States currently has over 150,000 troops

stationed in foreign countries around the world. The most significant garrisons include troops in Japan (almost 50,000 soldiers), Germany (37,000), Italy (12,000), and South Korea (27,000). There are currently about 35,000 troops serving in the 20 nations in the Middle East region that comprise the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, according to Commander Elissa Smith, press officer for the Middle East at

the Office of the Secretary of Defense. About 3,200 of those U.S. forces are in Iraq. The figures reported here include personnel serving in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.

However, this number excludes countries such as Syria, Iran and Kuwait, where the United States does not want to disclose numbers of military personnel in these foreign countries and enflame host

nation’s sensitivities.

President-elect Trump’s plan for foreign policy concerning military intervention is largely undetermined, although he has shown appreciation for Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.

As far as the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan, little is known as to whether Trump will decide to continue in pursuing a stable democracy or choose to halt the United States’ intervention entirely. The issue

received very little attention throughout the election cycle.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, in President Obama’s last year in office, the United States dropped 26,171 bombs in seven countries.

President-elect Trump has shown no intention of reducing this number, and has repeatedly voiced his enthusiasm for the use of bombing against ISIS, regardless of its random and devastating civilian casualties.

Examining the impact of economic aid is messy to say the least. Myriad papers and studies of the subject exist, often contradicting each other, or finding that aid’s effectiveness is wholly subject to such factors as levels of corruption, the size/ repressiveness of governments and even climate variability in the recipient nation.

Above all, it must be remembered that problems with foreign aid often stem, not from the fact that the concept

itself is flawed, but rather the flaw is in its delivery or its reception.

According to a 2004 study published in The Economic Journal, by Carl-Johan Dalgaard, Henrik Hansen and Finn Tarp titled, “On The Empirics of Foreign Aid and Growth,” which consults a vast number of previous analyses, finds economic aid is effective, but tends to be far less effective in the global tropics. Simply put: the regions which often most need aid are those where

it is least effective. While aid difficulties are as old as aid itself, the assistance given by the American government makes a difference in countless lives across the world.

With an impending change in leadership, foreign aid is something that has been publicly sentenced to the chopping block.

While potentially no more than a political stunt, the future of beneficial programs such as poverty alleviation and development are at risk.

ECONOMIC AID DROSOS KARDULIAS on campus editor

American foreign aid is a topic of contention, and economic aid may soon be under intense scrutiny from both the government and the public.

A fact sheet, released by the State Department’s Office of the Spokesperson on Feb. 9, 2016, outlines President Obama’s proposal to provide $50.1 billion of discretionary funds to the United States Agency for

International Development and the Department of State.

Compared to the budget a from 55 years ago, which is given by John Galbraith in his essay, “A Positive Approach to Economic Aid,” published by Foreign Affairs that year as about $3 billion, the growth is massive. This money serves many purposes, including funding international organizations, supporting health initiatives, carrying out diplomacy and combat climate change.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 10

SYRIAN CIVIL WAR

ALEPPO: AT A GLANCE

LEAVES A CITY RAMPAGED

Aleppo is a large metropolis in Syria with a population that has dropped from 2 million to less than 300,000.

March 2011:

Uprising among the citizens of Syria began against President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government.

Feb. 26, 2012: Syrians vote

to approve constitutional referendum, opening up the possibility of a multi-party system.

Dec. 13, 2016:

Russia and Turkey attempt

tiny.cc/SyriaFreedom PHOTO FAIR USE VIA FLICKR USER FREEDOM HOUSE

In the photo above, Syrian citizens walk through the rubble of a building that was hit by barrel bombs, which on-site activists report were dropped by government forces. Photo taken in Aleppo, Syria, on Feb. 6, 2014, by Flickr user Freedom House. Nine days following this picture, second rounds of peace talks began in Switzerland regarding Aleppo, according to the CNN article.

NICK COSMO a&e editor

“Under attack. Nowhere to go, every minute feels like death.

Pray for us. Goodbye.”

With one tweet, seven-yearold Syrian girl Bana Alabed Syria’s second largest city.

Aleppo has become a disaster area, caused by immense taken place there. The New Yorker in an article titled “The Battle for Aleppo, Syria’s Stalingrad, Ends,” on Dec. 13 2016, where

it is outlined that since 2012, the forces of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad have fought against a group of rebels.

However, the government forces have now retaken almost all of the city that was formerly a rebel stronghold.

Aleppo has been hit extremely hard by this war, as airstrikes have reduced many buildings in the city to a pile of rubble. CNN reports, on Nov. 20, 2016, in an articled called “Syria activists: Airstrikes knock out hospitals in rebel-held Aleppo,” that in many cases, the indiscriminate bombing in Aleppo, done

by Bashar Al-Assad and his Russian allies, directly harms civilians. The article also went on to point out that bombings have destroyed hospitals that civilians rely upon, sometimes for life saving emergency treatment.

Not only do civilians in Aleppo have reason to fear bombings, they also are threatened by government soldiers. In a Dec. 13, 2016 article by the BBC titled “Aleppo battle: UN says civilians shot on the spot,” government forces may kill civilians they come across.

They cite a United Nations

investigation that found that government forces have been killing people, as well as women in children, in their homes and on the street.

Moreover, the violence taking place in Aleppo is only one example of the widespread violence that plagues Syria.

World Vision outlines on Dec. 22, 2016, that 4.8 million Syrians the threat of violence.

The civil war struggle in Aleppo is an extremely delicate situation, and a disaster for human rights for those that live there.

Eastern Aleppo, but it is broken less than a day after its implementation.

Dec. 22, 2016: Syrian

government announces they have gained full control of Aleppo.

Over 220,000 people have been killed.

4.81 million Syrians have

Facts gathered from a Dec. 22, 2016, article titled “Syrian Civil War Fast Facts” and a Sep. 8, 2016 article titled “What is Aleppo?” by Eliott C. McLaughlin, both located on CNN.com.

Facts compiled by Austin McCully.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT F e n c e s

o v e s v i e w e r s

ADAM KIRK Fences has quickly climbed up my list of favorite movies from 2016.

This film adaptation, of the play Fences by August Wilson, is the story of Troy Maxson, an AfricanAmerican man struggling to provide for his wife and son.

While working to sustain his family financially, Troy falls short in fulfilling his emotional responsibilities to his family, causing his relationship with his son, Corey, and the fidelity of his marriage to falter. As Troy’s relationships crumble, he holds on to his crooked values.

Fences stays true to its original story through its full 138 minute run time, with simplistic storytelling and beautiful performances by everyone involved.

Actor, director, and producer Denzel Washington’s performance is nearly flawless, and Viola Davis shows us all why she deserves her newly awarded star on the Hollywood “Walk of Fame.”

While I was entranced by this film, its style is not for everyone. It lacks much of the typical adventure common in today’s films, and has very little comedy. Its dramatic nature limits excess movement and can appear low energy to those unfamiliar with its style.

But, what this movie lacks in action, humor and extravagant sets, it makes up for in authenticity of story and genuine emotion.

Fences has shown me why it belongs in the American Film Institute’s top 10 films of 2016.

B L A R D E E V I M E O W V S I E

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 11

OLIVIA SLEEK Rogue One did not disappoint as the newest addition to the Star Wars franchise. and focuses on how the plans to destroy the Death Star were found, leading up to the start of the fourth episode.

In doing so, the audience is able to see what went into numerous new characters to love.

Jyn Urso, played by Felicity Jones, and Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, take on the plot as the two leads and throughout the movie, the audience is able to watch these characters develop into the pride of the rebellion.

The overall movie is absolutely amazing, but viewers have to pay attention to what is going on. The beginning is a little hard to follow, as it keeps changing to new planets that I barely recall hearing about or others that I had never heard of at all, but once you learn Jyn’s father, Galeen Urso, who was the head engineer in the construction of the Death Star, created a trap that would lead to the whole space station exploding, the story line slowly falls into place. After seeing it multiple times, this plot point makes it a lot easier to follow.

Rogue One provides a great explanation and is the perfect R2D2, making them the only two Star Wars characters to be in all eight movies.

All in all Rogue One makes a great addition to the Star Wars collection, and I highly recommend it.

La La Land Though I, normally, do not enjoy romantic comedies, Damien Chazelle’s masterpiece is an exceptional

JOHN GORMAN

winter break was going to see the musical La La Land.

Stone star as the film’s protagonists, aspiring jazz pianist Sebastian and undiscovered actress and screenwriter Mia. Their on-screen chemistry is equally as incredible as their musical and dancing talent.

The dialogue is especially amusing and the cinematography and lighting is expertly crafted in each and every scene. Stone and Gosling’s witty discourse is as fluid as it is entertaining.

However, the most impressive aspect

of the film is the music. Composed

by Justin Hurwitz, the soundtrack lays the perfect background to an almost whimsical love story set in LA. Gosling shocked me with his skill as a jazz pianist and it sound as if he could be at home playing alongside any number of modern day jazz groups.

The slow jazz ballad, “City of Stars;” the classical piano-centric “Mia & Sebastian’s Theme;” and the popjazz fusion John Legend song, “Start a Fire” have all become favorites of mine.

Chazelle has an inate talent for using the exquisite soundtrack as a storytelling device throughout the

R o g u e O n e d o i n a t e s

film. Not only is it a central plot device throughout the film, the soundtrack immaculately sets the mood in both the most Seussian and profound scenes. If you cannot see the movie, I thoroughly recommend you listen to the soundtrack.

La La Land was both publicly and critically acclaimed, receiving an 89 percent positive from the public on rottentomatoes.com.

Additionally, the film set a record for Golden Globes, winning all seven for which it was nominated, including Best Musical or Comedy Score.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A&E | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 12

The

Arts

Nashville, Tenn.

Dubbed the name the “music city,” Nashville, is known to be the music capital of the United States.

Going all the way back to the beginning of the 1800s, Nashville slowly became a national center for music publication.

An article on www. nashvillescene.com says radio announcer David Cobb named Nashville “Music City U.S.A.” on the air in 1950.

Eventually, the city also became known as the “songwriting capital of the world,” according to www. visitmusiccity.com.

Though many people associate Nashville with country music, the city also has first-rate symphony and chamber orchestras, rising hiphop, and thriving rock, pop and jazz scenes.

Household names such as Taylor Swift, Kesha, Blake Shelton, Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus have roots from the famous city.

At

Home

And

Abroad

Paris, France

Tokyo, Japan

Italy

The debate of whether New York City or Paris holds the title of fashion capital of the world seems to be everlasting.

However, Paris seems to prevail more often than New York in more ways than one.

Many of the most well-known fashion designers hail from or are headquartered in Paris: Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, Hubert de Givenchy, Christian Louboutin and so on.

In addition, the city is home to some of the top 50 best fashion and design schools in the world, including Studio Berçot, ESMOD Paris, Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale, Istituto Marangoni, Paris College of Art and Studio Bercot, according to www.fashionschools.org.

An article on www. parischerie.com found that Paris Fashion Week is the largest fashion week in the world, more renowned than even New York’s.

Tokyo, Japan, is the largest culinary capital in the world according to What makes Tokyo the “World’s Greatest Food City?” on CNN.com.

It surpassed Paris, New York and France in 2009, for culinary excellence according to Tokyo named culinary capital of the world on telegraph.com.

As of 2015, Japan had 226 Michelin-starred restaurants, whereas Paris had 94.

Tokyo has 36 two star restaurants and 128 one star restaurants, according to the telegraph.com.

Popular cuisine in Tokyo includes sushi, tonkatsu, tempura, ramen, kabayaki and tofu.

Italy has won more awards for best foreign language film than any other country, according to ”The Award For Best Foreign Language Film Goes To: Italy” on kissFromItaly.com.

France and Spain follow Italy.

France has 12 wins and Spain has four.

Italy was considered a filmmaking powerhouse during the ’70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, with 15 nominations, six of which were wins according to Foreign Language Films at the Oscars: “Which Country is Best?” on valuepenguin.com.

In 1947, the Italian film Shoeshine won the first Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Since 1947, Italy has won 13 more Academy awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

France and Italy have won 26 out of 69 awards, according to worldatlas.com. Italy has had 31 nominations, with 14 of those being wins.

The cuisine in Japan is one of three national food traditions that are recognized by the United Nations for its cultural significance, according to “21 Things You Should Know About Japanese Food” on everintransit.com.

Blubs compiled by Tatumn McGrew and Kayla Barnet. Graphics by Matt Lorentz

SPORTS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 13

WHS begins to implement policies to promote sportsmanship NATE KING-SMITH & HOLLY MILLER

What sparked the discussion about sportsmanship at WHS? A brawl involving parents and students broke out in the stands following the boys’ basketball game at Lexington High School on Dec. 30. The fight occurred after a Wooster win of 63-41 where back and forth between fans escalated.

According to a Lexington police department report, extra officers were called to the game to break up the altercation, with only minor injuries being reported.

A letter released on the school website about sportsmanship, written by Wooster principal Tyler Keener and athletic director Andy Kellar, outlines the school’s expectations for spectators.

Readers are reminded in the letter that, “Profanity, degrading remarks and intimidating actions directed at officials, competitors and other fans will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the event site.”

Kellar also stated that fans and students on both sides of the altercation at Lexington are being charged.

According to Connor Casey of The Mansfield News Journal, the fight consisted mostly of adults, as well as some Wooster students.

Kellar indicated this problem of unsportsmanlike conduct amongst adults and athletes alike has been on the rise.

With the growing problem of poor sportsmanship in fan sections, awareness of the administration’s expectations must be raised.

Keener explained his expectation for both parents and students in saying, “My expectation of spectators is, let’s provide an atmosphere that allows our student athletes the best possible way to grow and

learn. Unfortunately, we take the ideas of sport and we make it about winning and losing.”

Along with urging the community and students to have good sportsmanship in the letter, Keener also expressed that Wooster will be seeing some changes to their home basketball games to prevent conflict; he hopes that after seeing these changes, fans will follow suit.

What changes are taking place at WHS? Steps have been taken to prevent events like the incident at Lexington.

“During the games we will get the ropes out and keep people off the floor, if people are not going to act professionally, we’ll ask them to not be a part of the game,” Keener said.

After winning a contest, WHS students traditionally gather below the Alma Mater sign and sing. One of the changes that is being made is to move the sign above the east doors of the gym, the same side where the student section is located, which will keep the students from having to travel to the visitor side of the stands.

“That is so our student sections and players are right there, so they don’t have to intermingle with the opposing team trying to get to the locker room,” Kellar said.

In addition, dividers have been placed to guide athletes and fans entering and exiting the game. School administration and police officer coverage will be also be increased during games.

“When our fans and community see these changes, they’re going to follow them.

I know a lot of people are embarrassed of what happened at Lexington and they too will do a better job of how they behave in all aspects,” Keener said.

These precautions have been taken in the hope of preventing any further incidents from happening and making sure

GRANT PEABODY

both fans and athletes know what is expected. The outcome of these changes will be put to the test when Wooster vs.

Lexington at home on Feb. 3.

What can be done to promote sportsmanship?

Despite the changes being made throughout Wooster to prevent incidents such as the Lexington fight from occurring, it is pertinent to explore other avenues of promoting good sportsmanship.

Jerry Snodgrass, Assistant Commissioner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, as well as a former coach and athletic director, is an advocate for sportsmanship and has involvement with various sport programs at the high school level throughout the state.

“I have always watched that focusing on the negative often creates more negative behaviors; challenge kids to do things in a positive light and, so often, they will meet that challenge,” Snodgrass said.

One method Snodgrass has found to foster such an attitude is the “Golden Megaphone

Challenge,” a competition in which high schools attempt to prove they have the best student section by posting pictures and videos on the nights of their games tagged #GoldenMegaphone.

Schools with the most retweets during the four submission times are selected to be visited by members of OHSAA. Schools can win the Golden Megaphone Challenge after members of the OHSAA visit; winners receive a banner to display at their gym, acknowledging their student section in addition to a plaque recognizing their support.

“Ultimately, we hope we make a positive influence on not only them, but it trickles down to the adults,” Snodgrass said.

This challenge inspires good sportsmanship amongst students, as well as adult spectators.

Additionally, Snodgrass expressed that a good step for schools to take to promote good sportsmanship initiatives is to reach out to their leaders and allow them an opportunity to lead; oftentimes, promoting sportsmanship can be made

most effective through social media.

Furthermore, the divide caused by winning and losing games could be mitigated by focusing more on the experience that athletic events foster.

“Encouraging the social event idea, promoting ‘theme nights,’ finding ways to transition a theme night into a positive experience,” Snodgrass said.

Little things such as social media involvement, The Golden Megaphone Challenge and theme nights could assist in boosting general sportsmanship, in addition to school pride.

Kellar and Keener emphasize that the onus is on adult spectators to recognize their role in representing good sportsmanship.

“Make your cheers supportive and not derogating to other spectators. Be a positive role model through your own actions,” as written in the letter

by Kellar and Keener to the community.

Directing cheers toward positivity creates a better environment for both athletes and for spectators.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 14

WHS wrestlers, gymnasts shine at Beauty and the Beast HANNA MORGAN feature editor

For the fourth year in a row, the Beauty and the Beast gymnastics and wrestling has combined their competition at the dual meet that took place in the WHS gym Jan. 7.

Gymnastics coach, Debbie Knapic, said there was a change in the competition this year, in that there was a youth YMCA meet hosted for both wrestlers and gymnasts before the high school athletes competed.

“It was really awesome to see the youth that will hopefully be high school athletes someday, compete,” Knapic said.

Knapic added that this meet was the team’s highest score of the year so far and she said she is pleased with the direction the team is taking.

Gymnast, Isabelle Pisani (11)

GRANT PEABODY

GRANT PEABODY

Jaret Lennon (10) and Hannah Knapic (11) wrestle and tumble in the Beauty and the Beast dual meet at Wooster High School on Jan. 7. Lennon (left) competes against Kent Roosevelt and won the match, adding to Wooster’s winning score. Knapic (right) participates on the balance beam, one of four gymnastics events. said it was a great feeling to compete in their home gym and score the highest they have

during this season so far. It is her first year being a part of the high school team and she

is very proud of how well they have been competing.

The wrestlers also got a first

place win during this meet versus Kent Roosevelt.

Wrestler CJ Leal (10) said the event turned out well.

“Our wrestling team was very aggressive and got a dual win for Wooster,” Leal said.

He added that the gymnastics team did an excellent job, as well.

Brad Stoll (11) said the wrestling team had many small things that went their way to help them with their win.

He also pointed out that the gymnasts brought a big crowd and were performed well in their events.

The idea of Beauty and the Beast was derived from Kent State University.

It was then brought to WHS after gymnasts watched the competition and thought it would be interesting to bring to Wooster. Since then, the joint competition has continued.

VIEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 15

Editor reminisces on the good aspects of past year

SARAH HOPKINS co-editor-in-chief

As 2016 came to a close, I found myself surrounded by posts on social media

and commentaries by my peers reiterating how awful of a year they thought it had been.

Donald Trump’s win in the presidential election furthered the political divide present in the United States, while the deaths of several artists and monumental figures, including David Bowie, Muhammed Ali, Alan Rickman, Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, left many feeling like they lost a close friend.

However, not all was lost in 2016.

Nov. 8 also brought the historic election of women of color including, Attorney General Kamala Harris, Ilhan Omar, Catherine Cortez Masto and Pramila Jayapal, to governmental positions in the Senate, state legislature and Congress, according to “Eight Good Things That Happened in 2016” on nbc.com.

The good news does not stop there as The International Union for

Conservation of Nature announced that the giant panda is not endangered as of 2016.

Also, who could forget the joy and jubilation of the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series after a title drought of more than a century? (Okay, Indians fans could forget, that is who).

Unemployment also hit an all-time low since the recession in 2008, ringing in at only 4.6 percent as of November of this past year, according to “13 undeniably

good things that happened in 2016” on pbs.org.

Finally, and most importantly, the moment we were all waiting for at last arrived: Leonardo DiCaprio won an Oscar for his performance in The Revenant.

There will always be good and there will always be bad when evaluating the years that go by.

I am choosing to look for the good from now on, and when reflecting, and I urge you to join me.

Writer advocates for change in upcoming year

ERIN O’DONNELL cover editor

Coming from a tumultuous past year, a great number of people will

remember only feelings of fear for the future that a Trump inauguration will bring. As we begin 2017, and thus his presidential term, this fear becomes real and tangible.

With such anxiety in the United States, it is important to remind everyone that the world is not over.

To quote President Barack Obama’s election night message, “The sun will rise in the morning.”

And, with this rising sun, comes the promise

of change and new ideas as well. A new wave of passionate people will inevitably rise to pick up the slack they feel Trump may leave.

With Trump’s appointment of Scott Pruitt, a climatechange denier, to the head of the EPA, many non-governmentaffiliated environmental organizations have voiced their outrage.

Greenpeace U.S. has voiced its concern in recent tweets, and has also announced a

call to action.

“Stand up to Trump’s cabinet of climate denial! Join hundreds of people talking in the #DayAgainstDenial,” the Jan. 8 tweet reads.

A tweet the following day, Jan 9., announced that on that day, “thousands of people across the country will go to senators’ offices to stop Trump’s climate denial cabinet.”

With these companies’ outrage, the promise of strengthened private-sector

environmental agencies is exciting, as experts in their filds will have more impact.

With much of the country hurting this year, it is time for us to put our heads together and face them forward.

Healing comes from joining together and fighting for those among us that lack representation.

THE

WOOSTER

BLADE

Editors-in-Chief Sarah Hopkins, Nate KingSmith Webmaster Alexander Thompson Graphics Managers Spencer Dilyard, Matthew Lorentz Design Managers Estelle Shaya, Isabelle Cannon Business Managers Grant Peabody, Estelle Shaya On Campus Editors Drosos Kardulias, Tatumn McGrew, Focus Editors Austin McCully ,Ryan Miller, Sports Editors A & E Editors Kayla Barnet, Nick Cosmo Trends Editors Olivia Sleek Cover Editors Erin O’Donnell, Amber Swigart, Valerie Anderson, Hannah Knapic Views Editors Evan Doan, Maureen McKeown Feature Editors Hanna Morgan, Emma Strong Staff Writers Madison Culver-Lee, Alexis Florence, Jacob Gooch, John Gorman, Adam Kirk, Glara Lee, Holly Miller, Christopher Roche, Samuel Schonfeld, Leah Sim, Rachel Dugan Wood, Head Photographer Grant Peabody Photographers Madison Culver-Lee, Hannah Knapic, Tracy Morgan, Chelsea Patterson, Artists Jess Lyons, Evan Rice, Leah Sim 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 the woosterblade.com

THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | JAN. 20, 2017 | PAGE 16

OUR VIEW

Sportsmanship: In the heat of competition, it can become easy to let the emotion of the situation take over and dictate actions. However, it is imperative that common courtesy and civility persist before, during and after sporting events.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board strongly believes that sportsmanship should be emphasized in athletic programs, especially in those that exist at WHS. A basic level of respect and compassion between competitors is what makes athletics possible.

Sportsmanship is vital to ensuring that

sporting events provide a beneficial experience to both participants and spectators, rather than a tumultuous and overall negative affair that overshadows the friendly competition that athletics should provide.

While, of course, the goal of competitors is to win, that goal is most meaningfully achieved if done in an ethical manner. As James W. Keating asserts in Sportsmanship as a Moral Category, “Modesty in victory and a quiet composure in defeat testify to an admirable and extraordinary self-control

Encouraging appropriate athletic conduct in the OCC and, in general, dignify and enhance the goal of the athlete.”

However, the onus of good conduct should not be placed solely upon those that participate in athletic programs.

Spectators and adults must recognize that they too need to remain calm and polite to the opposing side.

Nicholas Novak, a high school principal, explains in an article from National Federation of High School Associations titled “Adults Present Biggest Sportsmanship Challenge,” published on May 26, 2015, that poor

behavior may often be perpetrated by the parents watching their kids compete. Novak furthers that it is also harder to address issues with the behavior of adults.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board firmly believes adults must maintain a level of decorum in order to create a positive atmosphere for all at sporting events.

Sportsmanship is crucial to athletic programs as a whole, and both participants and fans must keep a level of common decency to create the best possible environment.

Graphic created by Spencer Dilyard

Hero’s message applies to current issues “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King became a leader and figurehead for the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s because he peacefully stood up against the wrongs which he and other African Americans were forced to endure for centuries, and demanded change.

Today, although the Civil Rights movement seems like another era, the values, like equality and justice, taught by Dr. King and others such as Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer and James Farmer persist.

Their famous stories are all about living during hard times and also are about passionate people who refuse to be silent.

place in Washington D.C. The Women’s March on Washington urges all people to, “...stand together, recognizing

“OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER,” KING SAID. One such group of people is the Women’s March Organization.

On Jan. 21, the organization will host a march for women’s equality in cities nationwide, with the primary march taking

that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us,” according to the official event post on eventbrite. com.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes this march exemplifies

King’s views on equality in our nation and proves that even long after his death, King’s actions and protests have the ability to spark movements committed to justice.

The Women’s March Global Organization channels King’s ideologies, and even introduces their guiding principles as, “the principles of Kingian nonviolence,” on their website.

Through their unwillingness to stand by complacently and their resistance to violence, Women’s March Global symbolizes the endurance of Dr. King’s fight in society today.