THE WOOSTER BLADE
WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • FEB. 6, 2015 • VOLUME XV, ISSUE 9
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FRONT
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 2
1-2
on campus 3-4
focus
5-6
sports 7--8
cover section 9-10
feature 11-12
trends 13
a&e 14
views
15-16 Bowling Club strikes opponents
The BLADE explores Wooster
Front photo by Han Mahle
Chess Club checks competition
Co-Editors-in-Chief Taylor Bennington and Jack Reynolds • Co-Webmasters Han Mahle and Shreya Gurumurthy • Business Managers Alex Hasapis and Paige Clayton • Graphics Editor Alex Hasapis • Managing Editor Paige Clayton • Front Editor Alli Wigham • Design Managers Samantha Brunn and Alli Wigham • On Campus Editor Jack Hartmann and Matt Friedhoff • Focus Editors Shiyuan Wang and Becca Foley • Trends Editors Bri Bocook and Claire Lanham • Sports Editors Eric Belcik and Luke Wiest • Arts & Entertainment Editors Mike O’Donnell and Ben Snoddy • Feature Editors Olivia Bernadine, Stefi Hernandez and Chloe Landers • Cover Editors Samantha Brunn and Mary Grace Gorman • Views Editors Alex Barnard and Stephen Kridel • Staff Writers Kayla Barnet, David Burnett, Isabelle Cannon, Kayla Cooper, Gaelan Gatz, Sarah Hopkins, Emma Jeffries, Nate King-Smith, Claire Lanham, Tatumn McGrew, Maureen McKeown, Ryan Miller, Hanna Morgan and Olivia Sleek • Photographers Casey Baik, Beth Clayton, Maggie Flechler, Becca Foley, Fred Holmes, Marcus Jeffries, Claire Lanham, Cain Lanker, Maureen McKeown, Madison Culver, Austin Miko and Grant Peabody • Cartoonists Grace Cheng, and Fred Holmes • 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 330345-4000 ext. 3210 or at thewoosterblade@ gmail.com.
THE WOOSTER BLADE
front section
ON CAMPUS
305 West Mulberry Street • Wooster, Ohio 44691 Phone: 330.262.6730 • Fax: 330.264.9747
305 West Mulberry Street •BLADE Wooster, 44691 THE WOOSTER | FEB.Ohio 6, 2015 | PAGE 3 Phone: 330.262.6730 • Fax: 330.264.9747
Graduation requirements change for the class of 2018 www.bognergroup.com • info@bognergroup.com
ALEX BARNARD views editor
Out with the old and in with the new. The Ohio graduation test is on its way out after the Ohio Department of Education has revealed their new test procedures to graduate high school and receive your diploma. Students entering ninth and tenth grade this year will be experiencing the new graduation tests in the
www.bognergroup.com • info@bognergroup.com
following classes: English I and academic achievement in their II, Algebra I or Integrated Math own school. However, students who have I, Geometry or Integrated Math II, physical science or biology, already taken the courses listed American history and American above will not be required to government, according to the take the states exams; instead they will automatically receive Ohio Department of Education. Each exam has a five quality three quality points toward point grading scale with five graduation for taking the class. 305 West Mulberry Ohio WHS 44691principal, Tyler Keener, being advanced andStreet one • Wooster, said330.264.9747 that giving students who representing limited. Students• Fax: Phone: 330.262.6730 are required to attempt every have already taken these classes three points toward their tests exam in order to graduate and www.bognergroup.com • info@bognergroup.com must obtain a minimum of helps avoid double testing. Keener went on to say that,”… 18 quality points to graduate while also fulfilling individual the new tests will allow students
Education Richard Leone commented on the new changes to the graduation tests saying, “Ohio adopted the Common Core State Standards in 2010 and became part of the PARCC governing board in 2011. It was not so much a driving force to replace OGT’s as it was to 305 West Mulberry Street •adopt Wooster, Ohio 44691 more robust and rigorous Phone: 330.262.6730 • standards.” Fax: 330.264.9747 Testing starts Feb.23 with performance based assessments to www.bognergroup.com be more efficient with their• info@bognergroup.com class scheduling allowing them in Math and English. Testing will conclude on the following to take more rigorous classes.” WSCD Director of Secondary month on March 13.
the students of WHS as well. a little part of their game plan The driving force behind this going into the game. idea was the WHS Student “We are gonna play physical Government, according to basketball, 1980s Bob Knight 305 WestPrincipal MulberryAndrew Street • Wooster, Ohiothey 44691 style. I think are going Assistant to have a really hard time Bratcher. Phone: 330.262.6730 330.264.9747 covering our athleticism, Also, instead of only two• Fax: our experience, and our teams, there will be four www.bognergroup.com • info@bognergroup.com teams, two male and female endurance,” Dave Burnett, staff teams, and two male and coach of the staff basketball teams, said. female student teams. Taylor Bennington, coach of Although players for teams have not been finalized, the the student basketball teams, coaches have been chosen. The has strong confidence in his coaches were both able to share players.
“The key is age, we are going to one another’s weakness with be a fast paced offense because a hard fought battle on the of our youth and our ability, hardwood. which the old people on the The student versus staff West Street •basketball Wooster, Ohio staff305 team justMulberry do not have,” game 44691 will take Bennington said. place Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m in the Phone:plan 330.262.6730 Fax: 330.264.9747 Both coaches to exploit • WHS main gym.
New format for the staff basketball game involves students GRANT PEABODY
staff writer The staff versus staff basketball at WHS gives teachers a chance to get away from all of the papers and quizzes and have a little fun with their fellow staff members. Previous installments of the game have included two staff teams battling it out on the hard top. But, this year’s WHS staff basketball game has a bit of a twist, incorporating not only staff members, but
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Student strides in and out of school SHIYUAN WANG focus editor
For certain aspiring high school athletes, it is important for them to take part in leagues outside of the high school circle in order for them to gain experiences and skills. This concept is certainly true for Dusstyn Reynolds (10), a softball player who not only plays for the high school, but also plays for an outside travel league. The league she plays for is called Ohio Ice, located in Akron. She and her teammates get to compete in prestigious tournaments in places all over the country, including Tennessee, Colorado and South
305 West Mulberry Street • Wooster, Ohio to 44691 also expected practice on their own during their free time. Phone: 330.262.6730 • Fax: 330.264.9747
One of the biggest opportunities Reynolds received is when she www.bognergroup.com • info@bognergroup.com got to travel all the way to the Netherlands to play for the USA team as a catcher. “It was an amazing experience. I was on a team with other players that were selected to be PHOTO BY GRANT PEABODY on a USA team, and we played Carolina, and she has to find against other countries… it was incredible to experience the various ways to fund her trips. “All of my teammates and I do game with that fast of a pace, and a lot of fundraising. And, based that intensity,” Reynolds said. Reynolds states that she is on305 how wellMulberry we did last year, • Wooster, West Street Ohio 44691 we get accepted into certain grateful for Ohio Ice because it has given her the chance to tournaments. We have one• Fax: Phone: 330.262.6730 330.264.9747 every weekend in the summer,” befriend so many different www.bognergroup.com • info@bognergroup.com people and she hopes that it will Reynolds said. Her team practices every week also benefit her in college softball for many hours and they are as well.
305 West Mulberry Street • Wooster, Ohio 44691 Phone: 330.262.6730 • Fax: 330.264.9747 www.bognergroup.com • info@bognergroup.com
305 West Mulberry Street • Wooster, Ohio 44691 Phone: 330.262.6730 • Fax: 330.264.9747 www.bognergroup.com • info@bognergroup.com
THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | FEB.6, 2015 | PAGE 4
Members of the Speech and Debate Team qualify for OHSSL JACK HARTMANN on campus editor
The Wooster High School Speech and Debate team has qualified 42 students to the OHSSL Akron District Tournament, a state qualifying tournament, this season. This OHSSL tournament is the best preview of what the Tournament of Champions and National Tournaments will be like. “This tournament has a very rich field and it is a good estimate of what the national and state tournaments will be like. If nothing else, the Tournament of Champions is a confidence builder,” head coach Bill Franck said. The team has qualified seven
students to the “ Tournament of Champions” in Kentucky in April. The team members include: Pierre Paul (11), Matt Friedhoff (12), Taylor Bennington (12), Paige Clayton (12), Mary-Grace Gorman (11), Alli Wigham (12) and Alex Hasapis (12). Members of the team show enthusiasm to compete at such a high level. “I am excited to be a part of such a prestigious tournament I am beyond humbled to have the honor to compete with some of the top competitors in the nation. And, while it will be difficult, I have complete faith that Wooster will fight and come out victorious, trophy or no trophy,” Original
WCS works with AHA PAIGE CLAYTON business manager
On Jan. 27 The Wooster City Schools District announced they will be partnering with the American Heart Association for the month of February in celebration of Heart Awareness Month. The collaboration between WCSD and the AHA was spearheaded by Director of Primary Education Karen Arbogast as well as the Steer Committee, a committee designed by WCSD to help with the collaboration. “I, personally, look forward to working with Adam Parker with the AHA and the WCSD Steering Committee members to plan activities. The energy of this group is overwhelming positive and very creative in supporting this service oriented initiative. I also love the excitement from our students as they learn about a heart healthy lifestyle. Many of our students and staff members have personal connections with family or friends who have experienced heart disease. Their stories are meaningful and our students know that they are helping
others,” Arbogast said of the partnership. WHS Art Dept. member, Tricia Taggart, has been involved with the American Heart Association for the past 12 years, since her nephew was born with heart difficulties. “Both of my daughters are currently raising money for the AHA. They also both participate in their school’s events for the AHA, in support of their cousin,” Taggart said. According to the district most recent newsletter, beginning the week of Feb. 2, the WCSD will participate in an all district wide Spirit Week. Superintended of Wooster City Schools, Dr. Michael Tefs has shown continuous support for the collaboration as well. “Our partnership with the American Heart Association is pretty special. I’m proud that our district is leading the way in health initiatives like this that will help our students live healthier and happier lives,” Tefs said. The collaboration between the WCSD and the AHA has high hopes for success, as well as fulfilling their goal to spread awareness of heart disease.
CASEY BAIK
Members of the WHS Speech and Debate team that qualified to the Tournament of Champions will compete in Kentucky in coming months. Oratory member Pierre Paul said. As the season winds down,
many members of the Speech and Debate team have set a goal to reach the National
Tournament in Dallas this June. “The Tournament of Champions in Kentucky is a great opportunity for students, who may or may not have experience on the national circuit, to compete with a highly skilled pool of competitors,” Dramatic Interpretation member, Matt Friedhoff (12) said. Friedhoff believes the Wooster students will enjoy the experience and find success competing in a different environment. The Speech and Debate team looks to continue their success at The Tournament of Champions in April and at the National Tournament in June being held in Dallas, Texas.
FOCUS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 5
The Wooster Blade discusses: Does one size really fit all?
Lululemon Athletica carries specific clothing sizes and has gotten some backlash due to their decisions. The store stocks women’s sizes 2 through 12, despite the fact that the average dress size for American women is a 14. “It was definitely discriminatory to those who wear larger sizes,” former employee, Elizabeth Licorish, said. In a July 31, 2013, article by Kim Bhasin on huffingtonpost.com, former employees of the store talked about working at the store and recalled the discriminatory attitude posed toward plus sized shoppers.
Urban Outfitters has made the news again recently due to a scandal concerning one of the models featured on their website. According to a Jan. 6 article by Chris Serico on today.com, a British advertising standards group requested that the company remove a photo of an underweight model from their website. Back in June 2010, the store was scrutinized for selling a shirt with the words “Eat Less” printed on the front, according to “Urban Outfitters ‘Eat Less’ T-Shirt Controversy” from myfoxny.com.
Do you believe stores discriminate against larger sizes?
58% of WHS
58% of girls yes girls saidsaid YES
“We go after the attractive, all American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong in our clothes and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely,” former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries, according to an article in The Huffington Post, said. Abercrombie and Fitch operates their retail store by hiring very attractive and almost unrealistic looking models, with their clothing running thin, small and very tight. The clothes are designed to target a younger crowd.
girls who said no girls who said yes
41% all students 41% of allofstudents polled said yes said YES polled
people no
26% of boys said yes 26% of WHS boys
people yes
said YES
boys no boys yes
Graphic by Shreya Gurumurthy
Blurbs by Emma Jeffries and Sarah Hopkins. Graphic by Shreya Gurumurthy. Fair Use Flickr via gufm (Brandy), Austin Marzan (Abercrombie), Elvert Barnes (Lululemon), Mike Mozart (Urban Outfitters). A total of 153 people were polled on Jan. 29 and 30 during first and third periods.
A one-size-fits-all clothing store, Brandy Melville is designed for only one body type: thin and petite. By making their tops and dresses one size and their pant sizes only having a range of zero, two and four, the store caters to a very limited pool of buyers. As a result, Brandy Melville is excluding a large portion of the female population. The store also advertises their clothing by using unrealistically thin, fair, long haired models, adding to the controversial message they are sending to young girls everywhere.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 6
Wooster Opportunity Loan Fund brings hope for entrepreneurs OLIVIA BERNADINE feature editor
The Wooster Opportunity Loan Fund, developed in 2010, is available to entrepreneurs working to start a business. The WOLF, as it has come to be known, is a hyper-local source of funding that supports young technology companies located in, or willing to move to, Wayne County, according to a submission by the Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce entitled “Wooster Opportunity Loan Fund Announces New Application Round.” Jonathan Millea, Development Coordinator for the City of Wooster, is involved with the WOLF and can see the direct benefits of the program in Wayne County. “WOLF has already funded a
handful of new companies in Wooster. Manuscript Tracker and also Team Inn are two WOLF recipients who have brought new technologies to the marketplace. The more technology firms grow, the better the opportunity of creating new, quality and highpaying jobs in town,” Millea said. Millea is proud to be a part of a program supporting entrepreneurs’ bright ideas. “Most of us spend most of our lives planning to work for companies or organizations, but what if we thought more about starting our own businesses? Every building we see, every restaurant we go to, and every store we visit, was created from someone’s idea. Most business owners started with little more than an idea, building a small
business with the skills they learn along the way,” Millea said. Steven F. Huszai, staff writer
“EVERY BUILDING WE SEE, EVERY RESTAURANT WE GO TO, AND EVERY STORE WE VISIT, WAS CREATED FROM SOMEONE’S IDEA,” MILLEA SAID. for The Daily Record, wrote a Nov. 28, 2012 article on the WOLF: “Wooster Opportunities Loan Fund expanding countywide.”
According to Huszai, the initial roll-out for the WOLF was $200,000 divided out to applicants up to $35,000 at a time. Akron-based Cascade Capital, a corporation that seeks to provide capital for start-ups, is primed to add another $100,000 to the fund for start-ups across Wayne County. According to Justin Starlin, economic development administrator, Wooster project funding will come from the WOLF. Organizations outside of Wooster will receive funds from the Cascade. Similar programs for up-andcoming entrepreneurs are recommended by Millea. The Senior Corp of Retired Executives is a business mentoring and education organization serving Wayne
County. More information can be found at akron.score.org. The Small Business Development Center is a statefunded program to assist small businesses as they startup or seek to expand. More information can be found at cantonsbdc.org. The Economic and Community Development Institute is a non-profit economic development organization focused on filling financing gaps for small businesses. More information can be found online at edci.org. Entrepreneurs can apply online through jumpstartnetwork.org/apply. However, WOLF coordinators recommend that applicants first contact Wooster Growth through the City of Wooster at (330) 263–5250.
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SPORTS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 6, 2014 | PAGE 7
WHS bowling team rolls out another successful season NATE KING-SMITH
staff writer In comparison to sports such as football and basketball, bowling may be a less common sport to see throughout high schools. At WHS, however, bowling has been growing in popularity throughout the student body. Karlie Way (12), a bowler on the girls’ team, has been able to see the team develop throughout the years. “The bowling team started about six years ago. The team started because Andrew and Tracie Leiendecker knew about upcoming bowlers. She thought it would be great for junior bowlers to have something to do in high school other than bowling with younger children,” Way said. Since the start of the team six years ago, the bowling team mentorship has not stopped growing in the high school.
Tracie Leiendecker is the bowling club adviser as well as the girls varsity coach. Leiendecker started the bowling club six years ago when many of the junior bowlers started asking why Wooster did not have a team. “Each year we have grown and accomplished even more than the last. Last year, we had three b o w l e r s make it to state. Our goal this season is to take the boys or girls as a team or both to state,” Leiendecker said. Leiendecker says bowling can be something that attracts students who would not otherwise participate in a team
sport. “We have seniors who want to try something new and find out that they wished they had know about it as freshman,” Leiendecker said. Many bowlers on the team started young and have been able to grow as individuals and see the team grow. Theo Crawford (10) has been bowling since he was seven and has loved it ever since. “Compared to how it has started, we have come a long way, a lot of it is because of our team’s talent and coaching,” Crawford said. Crawford says bowling allows him to make good impressions on both other players and his coach. Bowling now supports three
“We have come a long way, a lot of it is because of our team’s talent and coaching” THEO CRAWFORD SAID.
Oilers hockey provides ice-cold action TAYLOR BENNINGTON co-editor in chief Yes, it is true; Wooster has a hockey team for its high school students. The team, The Wooster Oilers, has come from humble beginnings. Allan Saline was a key figure in the creation of this program and describes its foundation as,“[the team] was put together by men and women in the area with an affection for the game, some having played in college and others just having a passion for the game and wanting to pass this along to the kids.” Competitions for the team generally are around the Cleveland area, but the team has been known to travel to tournaments around Ohio and the United States. “Travel consists of league games within the Cleveland
and Columbus metro areas, but tournament play has taken them many to other cities including Ann Arbor, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Dayton and beyond,” Saline said. This traveling hockey team consists of students from across the Wayne, Ashland and Stark county areas. “The current team boasts a team where players have risen through the youth age groups with all having extensive experience… Other players are from Shreve, Bellville, Ashland, Apple Creek, Orrville, Massillon and Parma. Six players currently go to Wooster High School. The head coach is Jim Murphy from Apple Creek,” Saline said. The Oilers program has brought many memories to the youth that have called themselves Oilers. Patrick Saline [11] says
this program, and hockey in general, have been a big part of his life. His favorite memory in hockey was “beating Jackson this year.” Patrick has played hockey for 10 years and has been with the Oilers for three. Hockey may bring great memories, but it also has the potential to be dangerous. Bradley Huffman [11] says he personally suffered a concussion as the result of hockey, and has just recently snapped an opponents collarbone. Regardless, hockey, and the Wooster Oilers, will continue to be an essential part of the lives of many of Wooster and Wayne Counties youth. The Oilers will play their next home game at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Alice Noble Ice Arena against Fairview Park. This game will be honoring the senior members of the team.
BETH CLAYTON
Lauren Taylor (12) gives a critical roll her best effort. The Generals bowling squad remains optimistic heading into the heart of their winter season. teams. They have a JV boys team, currently 1-0, a varsity boys team, 4-0 and a varsity
girls team, 3-1. The Generals next meet is on Feb. 10 against Canton South.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 8
Disgruntled Cleveland Browns fan fed up with partying ways
DAVID BURNETT staff writer
Winter in Cleveland has arrived, signaled by the harsh winds of Lake Erie and the dingy gray skyline that hangs over its inhabitants. For Cleveland Browns fans, this winter (like most) signals a deep and depressing emotional slump. Following a disappointing finish to a once promising season, the Browns are left with most of the same problems that have plagued them since their return to the
NFL in 1999. Inconsistent quarterback play and an anemic offense in the homestretch of the season led the Browns to drop six of their last seven games. In short, the teams firstplace playoff hopes were squandered, ultimately ending with a last place finish. The issue was not merely on the playing field; Johnny Manziel could not live up to his hype as the franchise’s savior as he was more likely to be found liquored up with his entourage than studying the offense and contributing to the team. The pre-draft speeches about how he cleaned up his life were soon found to be false. By early July, pictures surfaced of Manziel rolling a $20 bill in a Las Vegas bathroom, an action commonly associated with the use of cocaine or other powdered drugs. The joke did not end there,
with brawls and late night booze binges gracing the front pages of the Cleveland tabloids throughout the entire 2014 season. Manziel’s $420,000 salary could easily be classified as the largest cash robbery in Cleveland history. Johnny Football’s partner in crime is a more tragic case. Josh Gordon lit the world on fire in 2013 as the star receiver for the Browns, ending with more receiving yards than any player in the NFL that year. The future looked bright for Cleveland. The team went into the draft with two first round picks, the second highest cap space in the league and the best WR on the planet. The party quickly ended. Gordon failed his third drug test, dragged the team through miles of red tape and, ultimately, received a 10 game suspension. When Gordon came back, he was not the same
Swimming teams dominate OCC again
CASEY BAIK
Connor Orr (10) swims the 100 yd. butterfly during a meet earlier this year. The boys and girls swim teams both won OCC Championships on Jan. 16 and 17. Both teams defended their titles at Wooster High School. The boys scored 493 points beating second place Lexington, while the girls scored 487 points, also beating Lexington. During the meet, Matt Dyer broke the 200 yd. IM record, Daniel Ackerman broke the 100 yd. freestyle record and Jessica Bonezzi broke the 200 yd. IM and the 100 yd. butterfly record. The boys team also broke the meet record in the 400 yd freestyle relay. Dyer, Ackerman and Bonezzi all received OCC Swimmer of the Year honors. WHS Girls coach Chris Matthew received OCC Girls’ Coach of the Year.
player. Just one week ago, Gordon failed his fourth substance test, testing positive for excessive alcohol use. Gordon will now be forced to miss the entire 2015 season. It is the same negative cycle for Cleveland sports fans that sheds light on a huge problem for our town. We never seem to catch a break, and always find ourselves as pathetic losers. While this column may seem pessimistic about the Cleveland Browns, it is not. I will never lose my allegiance to the team I love. Simply put, I am mad as can be at idiots like Manziel and Gordon who have no clue how to handle the privilege given to them to make millions of dollars to play a game. As a lifelong Browns fan, I see tremendous success in the upcoming season. The team has the tenth best roster in football according
to a January article by Pro Football Focus, and looks poised to capitalize in the offseason once again with two first round picks and the most cap space in the league. The Browns are three players away from being a legitimate AFC contender. By cutting knuckleheads like Gordon and Manziel, the team will take a terrific step forward. We have got a rare opportunity to send a message to athletes here. It is high time that owner Jimmy “no nonsense” Haslam cuts ties with Manziel and Gordon and avoid forcing the hand on drafting another loudmouth or drug addict. If the problem is corrected, than the winds of Lake Erie can once again howl in unison with the playoffbound Cleveland Browns fans. Then we will be Super Bowl bound.
COVER
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 9
ON THE ROAD TO WOOSTER:
The Wooster Blade features businesses and institutions that bring people to the community
Main Street Wooster promotes business SAMANTHA BRUNN cover editor
Main Street Wooster is a nonprofit organization that was established in June of 1985 to promote economic development in the downtown Wooster area. Sandra Hull, Executive Director of the Main Street Wooster Board, described the organization as something that gets people interested in downtown and improves the overall aesthetics of the downtown atmosphere. “[Since the early years] $150 million has been invested into the downtown area. The buildings were in very poor shape. At the time Main Street Wooster began, the malls and shopping centers had begun
to die out. So, we saw a need for an innovative way to liven up our own businesses,” Hull said. Main Street Wooster is one of 20 downtown committees statewide and is one of 1,400 nationwide. Hull explained that Wooster’s branch is one of the top in both the nation and state, and many executives who hope to start their own Main Street organization for their city come to Wooster to learn the ropes of a successful downtown organization. David Weisenberg, Main Street Wooster Board member and co-owner of The Wooster Book Company said, “Main Street Wooster is the best advocate for this part of the community. Before, the downtown area didn’t have a focus or vision. But now, it
OLD AIRPORT RD
does.” Weisenberg also went on to say that Wooster has always been drawn to homegrown or local businesses and that Main Street Wooster has capitalized on this aspect of our town and has shaped it into one of the main appeals of the city. The Main Street Board unanimously agrees that much of their success is due to the collaboration of the Board and their partners that include the City of Wooster, Wayne County Officials, the Public Library, WCSD, the Chamber of Commerce and the Wayne Economic Development Council. The Main Street Wooster organization is entirely responsible for the revamp of local businesses and the downtown Wooster aesthetics.
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-- Full-time Faculty: 173
The College of Wooster
-- Total enrollment (2014-15): 2,066 -- 47 states and 48 countries represented -- U.S. residents: 39% Ohio, 61% non-Ohio
OSU ATI -- Open enrollment for graduates of Ohio high schools -- 700 total students
Photos by Fred Holmes and facts compiled by Matt Friedhoff from http://www.wooster.edu and http://ati.osu.edu
N. GEYERS CHAPEL RD
MADISON AVE
LuK USA
Frito-Lay
Daisy Brand
Wooster Brush Co.
LuK USA’s Wooster location has been located in the City of Wooster for years, moving to the city in 1977, according to Justin Starlin, Wooster Chamber of Commerce President. Starlin also commented that the late Chris Schmidt, who was a philanthropist in Wooster in the 1990s and 2000s, played a major role in bringing the LuK plant to Wooster. LuK USA’s Wooster location has 1,300 employees and still looks to grow if the work force can be found in the area. This amount of employees makes LuK USA the largest employer in the City of Wooster, Starlin said. The primary business of LuK USA is the manufacturing of torque converters for vehicles ranging from semis to sedans. In 1977, LuK USA began with 35 employees and has continued to grow and invest in Wooster. It now has 800,000 square feet of space and has been in the same location for 38 years, Starlin said.
The Frito-Lay facility has been rooted in the City of Wooster since 1947; 51 of those years have been under the direction of Frito-Lay, Justin Starlin, Wooster Chamber of Commerce President, said. The plant underwent a warehouse expansion in 2000, which allowed for it to become one of the most efficient operations in the corporation, according to Tim Tayerle, the head of logistics, distribution and transportation at Frito-Lay’s Wooster plant. The Wooster plant manufactures Fritos, Lay’s, Ruffles, Doritos and Tostitos chips and employs 350 employees, Tayerle said. The Frito-Lay plant won the Wooster Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award in 2014, Starlin said. The plant services Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Daisy Brand is the newest large business to come to Wooster. Daisy began the process of coming to Wooster a little over two years ago, according to Justin Starlin, Wooster Chamber of Commerce President. Daisy Brand has invested upwards of $125 million into bringing a production facility to this city. Citizens of Wooster can expect to see 90 positions open in the first phase of the operation, with a minimal amount of those positions coming from internal employees from Daisy Brand. The space that Daisy Brand will take will cover more than 200,000 square feet with much land around the structure for expansion, Starlin said. Daisy Brand produces cottage cheese and sour cream, according to daisybrand. com. The Wooster location will provide these products for the entire eastern region of the United States and parts of the midwest region, Starlin added.
The Wooster Brush Company began in the City of Wooster in 1851. It is the oldest company in Wooster, according to Justin Starlin, Wooster Chamber of Commerce President. It has grown to 500 employees, with an average of 18 years of service each, according to thewoosterbrush.com. The Wooster Brush founder, Adam Foss, began making brushes by hand in 1851 in a small two-story building in Wooster until 1909, which is when the Madison Avenue land was acquired, thewoosterbrush.com says. The Wooster Brush Company produces and sells more than 2,000 products and, “The company has over 888,000 square feet of manufacturing, shipping, administrative, and warehousing facilities,” thewoosterbrush.com stated. Blurbs by Alex Hasapis
THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 10
Geiser grows and sells food locally
Where do you shop in Wooster? Walmart
MIKE O’DONNELL
Walmart Kohls Kohls Poppy Poppy None None Other Other
Do you shop at the mall or downtown?
Mall Downtown
Poll data collected by Claire Lanham. Graphics made by Shreya Gurumurthy and Han Mahle. In study halls on Feb. 28 through the 30, 125 students were polled.
a&e editor
The idea of taking food straight from the garden to the table is not a familiar one for most Americans. Kidron resident Karen Geiser is working to change that idea. Geiser lives on a 78 acre family farm with her husband and five children, where she works all year round to keep her family fed. “Most of our farm is in pasture, so we raise grass-fed beef, do pastured broiler chickens in the summer, plus we have a menagerie of other critters like goats, ducks, a dog and farm cats. I also have about an acre in the garden for vegetables and we have a number of fruit and nut trees for family use,” Geiser said. Geiser used to run a Community Supported Agriculture program from her farm for about 10 years in which five to 10 families would regularly buy seasonal greens grown either in her garden or her greenhouse.
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Though she no longer participates in the Community Supported Agriculture program, Geiser still grows greens for her family, even through the winter. Geiser’s farm work falls largely during the growing season, though she stays busy during the winter. “Education is a big part of what I do, and I do weekly demonstrations at Lehman’s store in addition to various talks o n
not there. COURTESY OF KAREN GEISER
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gardening, herbs and healthy living,” Geiser said. Geiser says that though local food tends to be more expensive up front, buying local benefits the community by keeping the money close to home. Beside pricing, “Most food produced locally will also be generally more nutrient-dense, high quality and delicious,” Geiser said. A big part of Geiser’s food philosophy is proper preparation of food. “Since most local food is sold as a ‘whole food’ and not in a can or box, it is so important to have basic cooking skills and equipment [like pots, pans and knives], so you can use your food,” Geiser said. Through her continued efforts in presenting and educating around the community, Geiser hopes to turn the tide of food consumption back toward local food.
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FEATURE CEDAR POINT Located in Sandusky, Cedar Point is a popular amusement park that attracts visitors from around the country. The park opened in 1870 and is the second oldest amusement park in the United States. Cedar Point has deemed their park “The Roller Coaster Capital of the World!” According to their website, a new coaster named “Rougarou” will open May 9 of this year.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 11
Why Ohio? A multitude of attractions and events are provided all across the state of Ohio.
AMISH HEARTLAND TOURS Open six days a week, Amish Heartland Tours in Holmes County has been giving tours of Amish country since 1993. According to their website, 10 employees, with Amish or Mennonite backgrounds, will take visitors through the dirt backroads in their sightseeing vans and answer visitors’ questions. Amish Heartland Tours is “the longest-running, full-time back road tour company in the area,” according to their website.
THE IMAGINATION STATION The Imagination Station provides plenty of science learning opportunities in a very fun setting for pre-school children through early teenagers. The waterfront location is a nice place to visit to see the sites and sounds of downtown Toledo and the Maumee River, which leads to nearby Lake Erie. This museum is really a hidden gem, rated among the top science museums in the Midwest, particularly for the low admission cost. For less than the average price of a movie at the theater, students can go to the Imagination Station for a day of entertainment and science knowledge. Exhibits include physics, alternative energy, chemistry, biology, and earth sciences.
ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME There are many museums in Ohio that are certainly worthy of a visit. Museums of art are found in cities all across Ohio, including Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo and Dayton. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is a great place to cultivate one’s curiosity and expand knowledge of Earth’s past by exploring outdoor galleries, a wide array of animals and the expansive dinosaur hall. Furthermore, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is a must visit for a journey through some of the most heavily influential musical culture of the past few decades.
MOHICAN MEMORIAL STATE FOREST
Just outside of Loudonville is the Mohican Memorial State Forest. Mohican offers fun activities for the entire family. According to their website, Mohican offers camping, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, go-karts, mini-golf and rental cabins, as well as an Aerial Park, which contains five different obstacle courses. The Mohican website describes numerous special events which can be found on their website.
Blurbs compiled by Eric Belcik, Becca Foley and Gaelan Gatz. All photos courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons. No changes have been made. Cedar Point photo courtesy of Patrick McGarvey Imagination Station photo courtesy of Ken Colwell Amish Tours photo courtesy of Serge Melki Mohican Memorial State Forest photo courtesy of Phong Nguygen Rock & Roll Hall of Fame photo courtesy of Brook Ward Progressive Field photo courtesy of Erik Drost
PROGRESSIVE FIELD Just across the street from The Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland is the home stadium for the Cleveland Indians. Progressive Field, still known as Jacob’s Field to some, has recently undergone several renovations to improve the overall facility. According to Cleveland.com, the renovations add five new restaurants to the stadium, including Melt, Barrio and Sweet Moses. Additionally, the bullpens have been moved more toward center field to give fans a better view of the warm-ups. Mark Shapiro, President of the Cleveland Indians, says a space has been cleared to add a statue to honor Larry Doby, who was the first black player to play in the American League.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 12
e becaus s d r a ley e c ing th candy,” Hay t t e g “I like s there is me someti e 10). Ag Sleek (
“I like th e day aft er Valentine’s Day because all the chocola te is on s ale,” Libby Szukait is (10).
love
What do you about Valentine’s Day?
that aims to abolish the idea of Valentine’s Day. Others take a different route from the celebratory tone by doing everything someone might do if they had a partner, such as watching romantic movies or eating chocolate, but they instead take part in these activities alone.
give prizes and discounts on chocolate or sell chocolate for two days only. Most of the merchant participation is during regular business hours, unless otherwise specified. This two day event, which starts on Feb. 6 at 8 a.m. to Feb. 7 until 8 p.m., will feature 30 or more businesses all offering many special items and discounts involving chocolate.
Marlene Boyer, Family & Consumer Science teacher, also one of the founders of Local Roots of downtown Wooster, stated that Local Roots has been involved in Chocolate Daze for the last couple of years and has loved everything about it. A press release named a few of the chocolates that will be available including chocolate martinis from Broken Rocks Café & Bakery, chocolate
brownies from TJ’s Trio of Restaurants and Chocolate Lovers tea from Artfind Tile. Beverly Chrapowicki, the Project Manager of Main Street Wooster, said that it will be the first time to finally see the brand new Weaver condos that they started building in the summer. Chocolate Daze is co-sponsored by Main Street Wooster and The Daily Record.
“It’s a special day to tell you r loved ones you love them and it gi ves me an excuse to buy stuffed an imals for my kids.” Misty Bisesi (Social Studies Dept).
Loveless: Opting out on Valentine’s Day staff writer
Valentines Day can spike a feeling of loneliness for those not in a relationship, hence the reason Anti-Valentine’s Day parties came about. And, for those people who feel lonely on such a romantic
feature editor
holiday, some of them have decided to band together to celebrate their own way with their own parties. Anti-Valentines Day parties and what they entail vary depending on the people hosting. Generally, it consists of decorations saying phrases such as “love stinks” and food
ah
KAYLA BARNET
CHLOE LANDERS The moment that I declared to the world that I do not like chocolate was the moment I knew I would never be able to enjoy holidays the way “normal” people do. A highly anticipated day is coming upon us and I, the oddball that I am, love conversation hearts, while most others use those conversation starters to get a date. Please note: I also am one of three people in the world that like Peeps for Easter, candy corn for Halloween and candy canes for Christmas. Back to the topic, Valentine’s Day is basically a reason to go out and spend money on candy (chocolate), flowers and maybe, even dinner. The sad truth of Feb. 14 is that we need a recognized day to remind us to love the people around us and not take them for granted. Many of my friends and
ic g candy,” M in t t e g e k li “I just (Age 10). n o is h c t u H Quotes collected by Olivia Sleek
Student offers opinion on Valentine’s Day
schoolmates get bent out of shape over the sentimental day, as they claim “I have no Valentine. I am going to be alone forever.” Obviously, that statement is dramatized, as we are only in high school and probably have not yet met our so-called soulmates. Instead of getting upset over an issue like that, why don’t we do something special for a family member or a friend? That is what the holiday should be about; showing endearment toward someone who matters, such as siblings, parents or grandparents. People who have a significant other on V-day feel as though they have to step up last year’s performance, or in most cases, the restaurants and gifts they choose to buy. This holiday does have several positives in my eyes though. I am sure we all have probably read those stories in which a couple has been married for some 40 years, and every Valentine’s Day they go to the same restaurant and sit in the same booth, I have no problem admitting that is cute. I cannot say the idea of this romantic holiday is horrible, but I can say it is overrated. Most enjoy this holiday for the warm and sugary feeling received from being loved, but maybe we should try to express love toward those we care for.
It is a chance for all the small local businesses in downtown to come together. There are tours available for those interested in learning about the Wooster landmarks downtown. “Come tour at the latest lofts, a model condo, and two lofts under construction, all in the wonderful downtown landmark buildings,” according to Main Street Wooster’s press release.
Chocolate Daze expected to dazzle downtown Wooster
MAUREEN MCKEOWN
staff writer Chocolate Daze in Wooster is simply something that cannot be missed. This event has everything any chocolate lover enjoys and happens once a year in Wooster. During this event, numerous small businesses on Main Street Wooster host games and
TRENDS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 13
Gifts and spending take away from true meaning of holiday
STEFI HERNANDEZ feature editor
As Valentine’s Day approaches, I can still remember the anticipation I was filled with
preparing all my valentines for my classmates as a child. I would spend weeks preparing for the big day. I remember pestering my dad to help me with my valentine box and spending hours writing sweet, misspelled messages to all my classmates in red marker. Valentine’s Day is a beautiful time to express love for someone, as it is supposed to be a time for love and caring. But, Valentine’s Day has perverted into a holiday in which people try to spend the most money in order to prove
Do you celebrate Valentines Day?
Yes 71%
No 29%
their endearment. As I got older, I realized that Valentine’s Day took a materialistic turn; it began to be more about receiving than giving, it began to be more about boasting than appreciation, and it began to be more about money than sincerity. Everywhere I look, I cannot help but notice advertisements trying to lure me into spending large sums of money on my loved ones, as if that accurately depicts my appreciation for someone. Embracing the idea
How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Go on a first date with a new person 1% Go out with boyfriend/ girlfriend 29%
Go out with 23% friends Movie marathon 11% Alone 36%
of care does not mean spending large amounts of money and it does nothing to validate the authenticity of a relationship. Quantifying love based on how much money someone dishes out is ridiculous and superficial because it is simply impossible to put a dollar amount of love in a relationship. Buying expensive gifts does not represent how much we care for someone, nor does receiving gifts mean someone loves us. While receiving gifts can
make us feel appreciated, that should not be the basis of our relationships with other people, whether it is Valentine’s Day or not. Gifts should not be the center focal point of Valentine’s Day, nor should it be what we look forward to most. I am not saying we should return to giving each other cartoon filled valentines as we did in elementary school, but rather we should focus on giving more meaningful gifts to our loved ones because they will mean much more than an expensive watch or bracelet.
How much do you spend on Valentine’s Day? $0-20 $20-40
72%
16%
$40-60
$60-80
2%
$80+
6%
4%
Poll conducted by Mary Grace Gorman Jan.24. During first and fifth period, 111 students were polled during study halls.
Student discusses the commercialization of Valentine’s Day
ALLI WIGHAM
cover editor Valentine’s Day, a day originally intended for people to demonstrate their love
for another, has turned into a day for that same love to be shown, but instead it is displayed through money and materialism. Retailers have capitalized on this newer trend, turning the original genuine Valentine’s Day into nothing but a Hallmark holiday, existing only to make money instead of strengthening relationships. Celebrated by 61 percent of Americans, according to statisticbrain.com, the new commercialized Valentine’s Day proves to be a booming
multibillion dollar industry. According to “Valentine’s Day, by the numbers,” from CNN.com, on average, people will spend $130.97 on their significant others on this holiday, which adds up to a whopping $18.6 billion spent on material possessions such as flowers, candy, and diamonds by Americans on Valentine’s Day each year. What used to be a nice gesture, has become an expected and mandatory staple in relationships. The film industry is
not immune to the commercialization of Valentine’s Day either. This year, the movie to watch is the romantic flick Fifty Shades of Grey, opening Valentine’s Day weekend, which is sure to be box office gold. According to “’Fifty Shades of Grey’ release moved to Valentine’s Day 2015” from entertainmentweekly.com the release date of the film was pushed back more than six months from August, to February to accommodate a more lucrative release date.
Thanks to its new release date, Fifty Shades of Grey is sure to be the movie to see for Valentine’s Day dates everywhere. The general idea of Valentine’s Day is inherently good; it is a day to show love and appreciation for one’s significant other. However, this seemingly innocent concept has been become less and less genuine throughout the years, and has been blown outrageously out of proportion, in order for businesses to make a profit.
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 14
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Biopic shines a light on a hidden story
This year’s Academy Awards will be held Feb. 22, beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Creativity & cinematic techniques in Birdman impress student
JACK REYNOLDS co-editor in chief
With every year, new approaches to filmmaking are brought about by very talented directors. Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel, Biutiful) is, without a doubt, one of those directors. Iñárritu’s most recent film, Birdman, is one of the most fascinating movies I have ever seen. Not only is it intriguing from the execution of the plot and characters, but it also was filmed in a way that is unlike anything else prior to this. Birdman follows Riggan Thomas (Michael Keaton), a washed up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, who battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career and himself in the days leading up to the opening of a Broadway play. The story sounds very straightforward and it is. However, with Iñárritu’s directing and Keaton’s acting, Riggan’s struggle becomes more of an emotional one as he confronts the problems he faced in his career that affected his
Photo courtesy of fair use from www.foxsearchlight.com. VHS Graphics by Shreya Gurumurthy.
family. Birdman was filmed as if in one long take, similar to that of a play or musical. The scenes were filmed without cutting scenes for up to 15 minutes, requiring actors to hit certain marks at exact times. The scenes were then edited together as if the camera did not stop rolling. The application of one seemingly long take gives the story an added sense of realism as we continuously are connected with the characters, knowing exactly what they know. The acting in Birdman is also well done. Interestingly enough, I found the actors to be almost parodying themselves through their characters. Michael Keaton, who achieved fame in the 1990s as the title role of Batman, plays Riggan, a man who achieves fame playing the ‘90s superhero, Birdman. Riggan plans for his Broadway debut play to be his
career comeback and many people see Birdman as Keaton’s career comeback. Another instance of actors paralleling their characters is Edward Norton (Fight Club, American History X), who plays Mike Shiner, an overlyinvolved, acclaimed actor. In reality, Norton is, without a doubt, a talented actor and has been known to argue with directors and step on their toes. The parallels between the actors and their characters is incredibly interesting to me. In short, the casting for this movie could not have been better. All in all, Birdman is a great film and worthy of all nine of its Oscar nominations. I am more than certain that it will walk away with more than a handful of these highly acclaimed academy awards.
LUKE WIEST sports editor
The Imitation Game has established itself as a moving piece of film and is one of the best pictures of the year. Morten Tyldum directs the real life story of cryptanalyst Alan Turing, which portrays the race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of codebreakers at Bletchley Park, Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School during World War II. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the brilliant yet socially inept Turing who is working to decipher the enigma code used by the Germans to communicate during the war. Turing is set up with a team that is supposed to help him break the code. His relationship with his colleagues is often strenuous, but occasionally comedic as the audience discovers more about the enigma that is Alan Turing while he attempts to crack the enigma code. One of the highlights of the film is Turing’s relationship
with Joan Clarke, played by Keira Knightley. Watching the two interact in what is supposed to be the central romance of the movie is sometimes amusing and sometimes distressing. Joan painstakingly comforts Alan as he struggles through work during the war. It adds yet another level of emotion to an already complex drama. Overall, Cumberbatch delivers a very touching performance. Alan Turing was a complicated man, who was one of the greatest heroes of the war. He was also the victim of harsh English laws and lived a depressing life because of them. Close to the end of the movie, there is one particular scene involving Turing’s post-war treatment that made most of the audience well up. To be clear, many of the movies main plotlines are fictionalized in order to create a spy thriller type theme. However, the fact that this movie is not pure nonfiction does not take away from the poignant tribute to Alan Turing that this movie is. The Imitation Game has been nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Cumberbatch) and Best Directing (Tyldum). The Imitation Game, in the end, is a wonderful movie that does justice to an often uncelebrated man and leaves audiences satisfied with its blend of suspense and drama.
VIEWS
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 15
What would YOU save from a fire?
Greed pollutes American values
views editor
Question: who has two thumbs and has greed that is slowly crushing American culture? The answer: almost every American man, woman and child. Some may ask, why such a brash generalization? Brash? Maybe. A
$59.1 billion black over the four-day weekend. A record high and 13 percent increase from last year. People expect Thanksgiving and Black Friday to bring out the materialistic side of people. It is the holiday season after all. However, materialism knows no season. “Americans today, compared to 55 years ago, own twice as many cars and eat out twice as much per person,” said Carolyn Gregoire of The Huffington Post in a Jan. 23 article from last year. Twice as many cars and twice as many visits to Applebee’s, and that is year round. In hindsight, will materialism really crush American culture? Next holiday season, visit ole Saint Nick at Walmart. Your answer, lies in the numbers.
INSTRUMENTS
Most Unique responses
“MY J’s”-
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tz e o C r a z -Ala ” R E X I M D I ENA H C T I K Y “Mita Wiles “MY TEMP Mel
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U RPEDIC ” E L PILLOW” “MY UNICYC -Jordan
MEMENTOS CLOTHES
ELECTRONICS BOOKS
PHOTOS FOOD JEWLERY
PHONE/CHARGER MONEY
Most Common Responses
STEPHEN KRIDEL
generalization? Think again. Kevin Tampone, writer for syracuse.com in a Nov. 26 article entitled “Black Friday 2014: By the Numbers,”wrote that 45 percent of people polled, planned on shopping Thanksgiving Day. A day for giving thanks for the good things in life turned to giving thanks for the material things in life. If materialism is noticeable on thankful Thursday, frenzy Friday can not be pretty. According to an Emily Jane article on CNNMoney, titled “Black Friday Shopping Hits a New Record,” Jane says that the infamous Black Friday was even more black than ever before. Going into the black is retail speak for profit, or better yet, money. This year was about
elby
-Logan S
WHS Students were asked what three items they would save from their home in the event of a fire.
Photo by Han Mahle
THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEB. 6, 2015 | PAGE 16
1. A
B
D Graphic made by Han Mahle
Standardized testing offers new challenges As the controversial Bushera No Child Left Behind education law emerges for renewal on Capitol Hill, the debate over education policy has been reignited nationwide. Senate Education Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander proposed an elimination of the testing requirement that came with the law, according to a Politico article from Jan. 21 called “Hill fight on No Child Left Behind looms.” While The Wooster Blade Editorial Board feels that such elimination would be a step in the right direction, federal testing requirements are only a fraction of the problem. We are bombarded with testing on the class, school, district, state and federal level. Ohio House Bill 629 plans to change the time spent testing to two percent and limit the time taking practice tests to one percent of each year. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board feels that spending two percent of the year testing is still too long, especially considering that many other developed nations test only demographically representative samples, rather than bogging down every student, every year, as explained in an NPR article from Jan. 6 called “What Schools Could Use Instead Of Standardized Tests.” According to a report released by the Ohio Department of Education on Jan. 15, the average Ohio tenth-grader spends 28.4 hours, which equates to about
four days, taking district and state tests every year. The requirements set by the ODE only extend to tenth graders; however, the latent dysfunction of these requirements inconveniences the rest of the WHS student body. According to the Wooster City School District newsletter, the rest of WHS is being put on a block schedule from Feb. 23 to March 13 to accommodate the testing schedule of the tenth graders. Although we know that administrators are trying to create a schedule that effectively allows for equal class time and learning, we have concerns that block scheduling will impede learning in other classes. We feel that many classes, like calculus, AP courses and other content-heavy classes, are not conducive to learning in double periods, especially considering the fact that neither we, as students, nor our teachers have ever worked with this type of schedule for an extended amount of time and are doing so at an extremely tense time of testing. Realistically, in looking at this schedule, the primary concern resides in the fact that we even have to create a special schedule to accommodate a ludicrous amount of testing in the first place. Therefore, the structure and process that is intended to enlighten students, teachers and administrators is, in reality, burdening our ability to learn and their ability to do their foremost job, teach.
American Sniper causes student to question the film’s intentions to the lyrics, it is anything but patriotic; criticizing America’s treatment of Vietnam vets, using the ironic guise of patriotism to convey deeper social commentary. “Born in the U.S.A.” has been misinterpreted for years, even being played at political conventions. This misinterpretation seems to be exactly what is happening BEN SNODDY with American Sniper among a&e editor the military and gung-ho Americans who support Directed by Clint Eastwood, anything that kills those gosh American Sniper is a darn savage Muslims. beautifully made film that has In addition to the generated a decent amount of misinterpretation of the film controversy over its historical by viewers, the movie does inaccuracies and tainted not accurately portray the Iraq depiction of the Iraq War. war, nor Chris Kyle himself. However, the most noticeable Eastwood’s and worrisome depiction of aspect of the the Iraq war film, which is is overly evident to me, simplistic, is the shameful which also misinterpretation exacerbates of the film by the the idiocy majority of its of those viewers. who deem After seeing the film a the film, I was patriotic impressed. war cry, Having always which is been a fan of confusing Eastwood’s to me given cinematic Eastwood’s masterpieces, I known think American Creative Commons Flickr position Sniper is no exception, Chris Kyle, pictured above, was recently portrayed in the film American Sniper by Bradley on the war, but I will containing Cooper. The film, directed by Clint Eastwood, has come under heavy criticism recently. save that impressive rant for another day. surprised, that this movie has cinematography and a great American Sniper is a well been used as a rallying point performance from Bradley made film whose meaning has for military recruitment centers Cooper. been twisted and distorted and war mongering politicians. However, these comments in order to achieve an end Dean Obeidallah of CNN are purely from a filmmaking that the filmmakers never perfectly illustrated my perspective. intended it to. thoughts on this film’s After walking out of the The film should not be reception when he compared theater and turning to social reduced to a simplistic, American Sniper to the hit media to see what my peers government propagandasong “Born in the U.S.A.” by had to say, I saw the entire esque patriotic flick, but Bruce Springsteen. At its face movie had gone right over should be treated as the value, it seems to be a patriotic many of their heads. emotionally complex war anthem, but when you go a American Sniper is not a drama that it is. layer deeper and actually listen patriotic battle cry to kill the terrorists. It is not an excuse for people to voice their bigotry concerning muslims. And, it is certainly not an excuse for the supremely annoying Cloyd Rivers account to tweet more about how great “Murica” is. In fact, according to Eastwood himself it is, “the biggest antiwar statement” he has ever made. The film depicts the detrimental and lasting effect that warfare can have on individuals, glossed over with an ironic tone of patriotism, given Eastwood’s outspoken opposition to U.S. intervention in the Middle East. I am disappointed, but not