The Wooster Blade, Volume XVI, Issue 6

THE WOOSTER BLADE

WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • DEC. 4, 2015 • VOLUME XVI, ISSUE 6

INDEX

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 2

cover

front section

feature

on campus

10:Up and coming musicians at WHS 11: Sleeping 12: On a budget gifts 13:Thrift shopping a&e 14: TV & movie reviews 15: Upcoming sequels 20: Christmas music 21: Hipsters

1: Front cover 2: Index

3: Senior bucket lists 4-5: District responds to writer’s claims

Correction: Last issue The Wooster Blade mistakenly identified Emily Heller as Rachel Heller.

Front photo taken by Megan Buss. Index photo taken by Maggie Flechler

CORPORATE SPONSORS We would like to thank all of our

supporters for the 2015-2016 school year.

Corporate $250

sports 22: Winter sports 23: Oldman banners 24: Swimming success 25: Jessica Bonezzi

trends

focus 6: Winter health tips 7: Local stories 8: Tips on staying happy & safe 9: Least favorite phrases

16-17: Holiday foods 18: Holidays around the world 19: Giving thanks

BCI Buckeye Division Bogner Construction Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnson Ltd. D&S Distribution Franklin Gas and Oil Gionino’s Seaman Corporation Swigart-Braunscheidel Insurance The Pines Golf Club Wooster Glass

26: New male hairstyles 27: Thrift shops 28: Holiday traditions

views 29: Week of trying 30: Rants 31: Musical musings 32: Editorial

Blue $500 Dyer, Roche & Co, Inc. Freeman Building System Metals USA Pine Tree Barn The Western Reserve Group

ON CAMPUS Jaryn Lindenmuth:

John Schrader:

Vince Vanata:

Patrick Saline:

Be a lead in the spring play.

Win OCC for baseball.

Jessica Bonezzi:

Beat Mr. Cerniglia in chess one last time.

I want to play hockey for as long as I possibly can.

To have a successful state campaign and Natasha Florence: to keep my stress Make baked level at school to a macaroni and cheese in foods minimum. class.

Olivia McCory:

I want to achieve a 4.0 for an entire semester.

Erin Daugherty:

Don’t fail pre-calc.

Derek Kunkler:

Hanna Rickett:

I want to find a job that I love, because if I’m going to do it for the rest of my life, I want to enjoy doing it.

I want to work hard the rest of high school to help shape what I do in college and in life itself.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 3

Travel Activities

Seniors share personal goals for their final year at WHS Education Lifestyle

Jacob Saal:

Nick Koontz:

I really want to take I want to go to the beach with my a trip to Jamaica. friends.

Jordan Smith: Camila Herrada: I want to take Get into college and a road trip with go visit Peru. my friends to Coachella because Tayler Swindell: it’s our last year Skydive. together.

Lakeisha McKnight: Go back home to New Zealand.

Grady Suggs:

To be the senior I wish I had when I was an underclassman. To have integrity and to go out of my way to make someone’s day a little bit better.

Tremaine Wilson:

I want to leave a legacy for the students here.

Polly Michel:

Grace Comley:

To show up to all of my IB tests and to not trip on stage getting my diploma.

Pass my math class at the college.

Quotes from 12th graders compiled by Hannah Knapic, Hanna Morgan, Katie Ward and Valerie Anderson

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 4

District responds to claims of misinformation in FCS class MARY GRACE GORMAN & STEPHEN KRIDEL co-editors-in-chief

On Nov. 9, The Huffington Post

published a story alleging that eighth graders in a WHS family and consumer science class were taught incorrect information regarding sexual health, resulting in questions among community members as to what information was presented to students.

The widely circulated Huffington Post article referenced an open letter to Superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs, which made three claims regarding the information students received: “(1) If a girl gets pregnant because of rape or incest, her only option is adoption of the baby. (2) Marriage prevents sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

(3) Students shouldn’t have children until they are married.”

The following day, the WCSD published a press release refuting all three claims.

In addressing the first claim, the district’s release stated, “The speaker never referenced rape or incest and never discussed emergency contraception measures or adoption.”

A female eighth grader from a second period FCS class stated, “They didn’t tell us that [the first claim]. They did say if you get pregnant as a teenager, a good option is to put the baby up for adoption. They said you could have the baby, but they were talking about how the male always leaves the relationship… and how abortion is an option, but you shouldn’t do it.”

However, a male eighth grade student in the first period FCS class stated, “[The speaker] said that if you get pregnant and have a baby that adoption is the only way.”

A female student said neither

adoption nor abortion were discussed in fifth period.

The Wooster Blade chose not to identify eighth graders in order to protect their privacy in discussing a sensitive topic.

In reference to the second claim, the district’s release said, “Marriage is only used as a positive example of a relationship with a decreased risk of contracting STDs.” Two female eighth graders in a fifth period FCS class said they were assigned a crossword puzzle in which students were directed to read the definitions and fill in the blanks with the corresponding STDs. They said the class reviewed the crossword puzzle the following day, but no further discussion of STDs took place.

The aforementioned second period student said, “[The speaker] basically just told us that the only way in order to not get an STD is to get married, is to wait to sleep with someone until you get married. They said you can’t get an STD if you do that. They said that was pretty much the only way. They said that even if you use a condom, you can still contract an STD and still get pregnant.”

In addressing the third claim, Principal Tyler Keener said, “I think, in that regard, we are not here to say this is what students need to learn, but we are here to say, ‘Think of these options, and

think of these things, and is this the best for you at this point in time?’”

In response to all three of the allegations, Family and Consumer Science Dept. member Brooke Coblentz, the teacher in whose classroom the speaker presented, said, “It is unfortunate. I have had multiple students come up to me and ask me why they were said because they knew it was not true. I am not sure if the student who thought they heard those things being said just got it mixed up; I am not sure. It is unfortunate because it gave a bad rap to the presentation that was being given because it is really, really good for the kids and a majority of the students really enjoy it. ” The district’s release also stated, “While the presenter was from the Pregnancy Care Center of Wayne County, the approved curriculum used by the presenter came from the Alliance for Healthy Youth in Akron, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization.

The Alliance receives significant

to schools in both Wayne and Holmes Counties.”

Coblentz explained the speaker was intended to supplement other parts of the class’ curriculum.

“It is a support system to what we have already talked about in class. So, we will discuss making good decisions in class, and then we have the presenter come in, and that is what teachers do in their classes. They bring someone from the outside, and they just support the curriculum that we are teaching, and then we discuss it afterwards,” Coblentz said.

The introduction to the RSVP curriculum provided to The Wooster Blade by Director of Secondary Education Rich Leone states, “Using the foundation of positive character traits, the RSVP curriculum directs students toward making healthy decisions and avoiding risky behaviors… students will be educated about the importance of positive character, empowered to take charge of the formative process, and

venereal disease education should, “Stress that students should abstain from sexual activity until after marriage.”

The RSVP introduction also states, “It is recommended that RSVP be taught in its entirety at each grade level so that the curriculum reinforces student learning in each grade. The lesson plans, designed for five classes in each grade for a total of 15 hours of instruction, teach students how to avoid premarital sexual activity, alcohol and other drug use, and promote healthy relationships.”

However, the WCSD only uses the curriculum for two class periods at the eighth grade level and does not use it at all at the sixth and seventh grade level, according to Leone.

Coblentz explained the Pregnancy Care Center representative chose which parts of the curriculum to teach.

Additionally, Coblentz emphasized that family and consumer science is not intended to replace a health class, but instead, is focused on students’

The Ohio Revised Code’s section 3313.6011 (C)(1) states venereal disease education should, “Stress that students should abstain from sexual activity until after marriage.” state and federal funding, which prohibits it from including any type of faith-based education.”

The curriculum used is called the Responsible Social Values Program.

According to Tefs, the district has always relied on a speaker from the Pregnancy Care Center to deliver the RSVP curriculum as part of its outreach to area schools.

A press release on the Pregnancy Care Center’s website says, “For many years the PCC has been providing these programs

encouraged to make healthy choices regarding their personal development.”

While RSVP encourages abstinence in terms of drugs, tobacco, alcohol and premarital sex, the University of Toledo independent analysis available on the Alliance’s website states, “The fundamental ‘responsible social value’ upon which RSVP is based is premarital sexual abstinence.”

That value is consistent with the Ohio Revised Code’s section 3313.6011 (C)(1), which states

emotional development and well-being.

“The whole presentation is about healthy choices. It’s over tobacco use, alcohol use, drug use, and then sex, which is important too... So, it’s basically helping the students understand what they are comfortable with before they go into a situation like that… it is in my standards to talk about risky behaviors, and that is why we talk about it.

We talk about making good continue the story on page 5

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | DEC. 4, 2015| PAGE 5

“District,” continued continued from page 4 choices in different situations, peer pressures, that is why it kind of aligns with what I discuss. It is not about health, it is not about sex ed, it is just about health choices and risky behaviors and consequences that could follow with those risky behaviors,” Coblentz said.

In an email sent on Nov. 23, Keener stated the FCS state standards addressed by the RSVP include “Advocate a Healthy Lifestyle,” “Manage a Life Plan” and “Manage Personal Transitions.”

He wrote that RSVP also addressed the benchmarks, “Identify social and cultural factors that influence healthy lifestyle choices,” “Recognize values and resources that support goals,” “Describe friend and

family systems that support and sustain a productive and meaningful life,” “Explore skills to express emotions and resolve differences and conflict in school and family relationships” and “Apply social skills that lead to effective school and family relationships.”

Keener concurred the goals of an FCS class are distinct from those of a health class.

“Health class really talks about… the details of body systems, how do things interact with your body, disease prevention. There are obviously healthy habits that go into health class... [In] Family Consumer Science, there are pieces that do directly relate to good choices and healthy living and, basically, what good choices you can make. [In] health class, you get more of the details of disease

and the actual functioning of the body, ” Keener said.

Coblentz elaborated on the division between FCS and health. “[Contraception] is not in my standards and that was not discussed... It’s not her job to talk about contraceptives because that’s not the point of the

member Steve Young, comprehensive sexual education is part of WHS’s mandatory online health class, which students take between eighth and twelfth grade.

“We have a unit on reproduction. It goes on everything from puberty to pregnancy stages and everything

Young explained Ohio does not have any mandatory health standards, so he uses standards from the federal CDC. Keener said the school will continue to evaluate its choice of curriculum in the future.

“We will take a look at our curriculum in regards to going forward and seeing, well, is

“WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT OUR CURRICULUM IN REGARDS TO GOING FORWARD AND SEEING, WELL, IS THERE A PLACE? DO WE NEED TO HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS COMING IN? LIKE I SAID, WE’RE NOT AFRAID TO CHANGE IF WE NEED TO GOING FORWARD,” KEENER SAID. presentation. It’s just basically helping them understand that they need to have an idea of what they’re comfortable with going into a situation that might be peer pressure… we didn’t talk about contraceptives. That’s a health thing,” Coblentz said.

According to Health Dept.

in between… The health I teach is all comprehensive.

It’s not abstinence only. It’s comprehensive. It’s everything.

All options are discussed. We do talk about abortion, again, with comprehensive health, that is going to include everything,” Young said.

there a place? Do we need to do something different? Do we need to have other speakers in? Like I said, we’re not afraid to change if we need to going forward,” Keener said.

According to the district press release, the WCSD has used the RSVP curriculum for 27 years.

FOCUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 4, 2015 I PAGE 6

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Best ways to stay healthy with the approaching flu season

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Stay away from the ill.

Wear a hat and coat.

Keep skin moisturized.

According to BodyandSoul.com’s article, “5 steps to staying healthy in the winter,” one good way to keep your immune system in tiptop shape is to consume a lot of vitamin C.

Drink plenty of water.

Eat healthy.

According to an article on The Simple Dollar’s website, “The Anatomy of a Sleep Study,” cites a study done by the journal “Sleep,” adults that slept for shorter durations were more susceptible to the common cold than those who received a good night’s sleep.

WebMD’s website states in “8 Tips for Healthy Living” that doing at least 10 minutes of aerobic exercise daily will keep you warm before heading outside to brace the cold.

Cover your cough.

Tips in gray collected by Tatumn McGrew. Tips in green provided by school nurse Beth Gerber and collected by Katie Ward.

Recovering from sickness trumps school attendance NICK COSMO staff writer

School attendance is important, but staying home to recover from an illness must take precedence in some cases.

The WHS student handbook, which can be found on the

Wooster City Schools website at woostercityschools.org, states in section one that among many other reasons, students may miss school due to a personal illness.

Furthermore, the handbook states that the state of Ohio requires a 93 percent school attendance rate for students,

The WHS student handbook... [states] students may miss school due to a personal illness.

which means students can miss up to 15 days throughout a school year without exceeding their alloted limit.

A publication from the CDC, which can be found online at CDC.gov, recommends that if a student, teacher or other staff member has a contagious virus such as the flu, the person that

is afflicted by the illness should abstain from going to school and stay home for a minimum of 24 hours.

Those who are sick can return after no symptoms of the illness present themselves.

Students who do miss school should bring a doctor’s note the day they return to school.

Wooster finds flu shot alternative FluMist in low supply DROSOS KARDULIAS staff writer

Depending on their respective practices, medical professionals around Wooster have varying views on the potential impact of a low supply of flu mist.

Dr. Adam Keating of the Cleveland Clinic in Wooster

said that a shipment of FluMist was expected around Thanksgiving, and still has not arrived. Keating states there have been no recent updates about the time at which the order will arrive.

Keating said that the FluMist is much more popular than the traditional flu shot.

Dr. John Strong, a pediatrician at the Cleveland Clinic in

Wooster, states the lack of FluMist could lead to increased transmission of the flu.

“Unfortunately, the lack of FluMist may indeed increase disease within the community. To what degree cannot be known.

The shortage of FluMist is causing some families to defer vaccination hoping supply will become available.”

Strong also states that patients have expressed disappointment at the lack of FluMist.

However, Esther Horst, Head Nurse of the College of Wooster’s Health and Wellness Center, states that lack of FluMist has little impact from her perspective, and that it will not affect rates of flu transmission.

Horst also states that FluMist

is rarely used in her practice.

“We use less than 1/10 of our flu vaccine in the mist form,” Horst said.

Strong emphasized that timely vaccination is more important than how the vaccine is delivered.

It is unknown whether or not the FluMist shortage will be resolved by the end of the flu season.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 4 2015 | FOCUS | PAGE 7

Speech & Debate team donates to Holiday Tree Festival MADDY NACCI staff writer

The WHS Speech and Debate team recently decorated and donated a Christmas tree to Akron Children’s Hospital to help raise money for children in the hospital.

Akron Children’s Hospital holds an annual gala where they sell decorated trees that others have donated for purchase.

The money made from the gala is given to children at the hospital in need.

Bill Franck, WHS Speech and Debate head coach, has done this project for seven years. He has participated for four years with the IB program

students, and this will be his third year tree building with the Speech and Debate team.

Franck says he loves to participate in this project because all of the money goes to the patients and it is a great way to help children in need.

Pierre Paul (12), vice president of the WHS Speech and Debate team, is a leader of the project.

“When I heard about the opportunity to help, I PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL FRANCK

was overjoyed because it is something small to some, but large to the hospital that gets all the money for things needed to continue the amazing work they do,” Paul said.

Franck has a personal connection with this project because his son was born seven weeks early and had to spend three weeks in Akron Children’s Hospital.

The hospital helped his family in a time of need, so Franck said this project means a great deal to him.

According to Franck, although the tree did not sell at the auction this year, it will grace the halls of the Akron Children’s Hospital.

Some ways to help the community:

- People to People accepts donations to provide free Christmas gifts and toys for children.

- The Salvation Army accepts food donations and volunteers to help with distributing free Christmas meals.

- Children Services runs “Make a Wish” from September to January. A volunteer can purchase a child’s personalized gift wish and give it to the program who then passes it along to the child for Christmas.

COW hires new president DREW FRIEDHOFF staff writer

Following former president Grant Cornwell’s resignation, Sarah Bolton, college dean and professor of physics at Williams College will become the twelfth College of Wooster president on July 1, 2016.

Experience and leadership were the two main qualities the college sought in a new president, according to William Longbrake, chair of Wooster’s board of trustees.

He explained that Bolton encompasses both of these attributes, having spent her entire career in the institution of higher learning and showing an exceptional ability to influence people.

Bolton is looking forward to her new position and is very impressed with the college itself.

“The College of Wooster is a wonderful place, a great community with excellent teaching in the full range of liberal arts,” Bolton said.

In coming to the College of Wooster, Bolton intends to highlight the school’s programs and student experiences, as well as increase the

school’s profile on a national and international level.

“I plan to talk with lots of people, to hear their ideas, and to use those to build plans to support the most compelling aspirations that make the college even stronger,” Bolton said.

Bolton attended Brown University for her undergraduate degree, and then the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. She has spent her 20 year career at Williams College as a professor, chair of her department and then dean of the college.

“As a compassionate leader deeply committed to the development and support of students, Sarah is a wonderful match for Wooster, with its dedication to the liberal arts and its emphasis on research, collaboration, and an inclusive community,” Williams College president Adam Faulk said in a press release.

Faulk wrote that The College of Wooster made an extremely wise decision in hiring Bolton.

Faulk said he has never seen anyone more devoted than Bolton to the academic growth and development of her students.

The Akron Children’s Hospital Holiday Tree Festival was held from Nov. 21-29 this past month and, last year, the gala raised $300,000.

ng i l w Bo M

GlowFriday 10 P Every

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 8

As the end of the year nears, BLADE looks into responsibility 2.

1.

Plan ahead and check the traffic and weather conditions, leave early if necessary, according to nhtsa.gov.

7.

Use brakes carefully and earlier than expected; it takes more time and distance to stop in winter conditions, according to massdot.state.ma.us.

6.

Clear all snow and ice off windows and lights before driving, according to massdot. state.ma.us.

3.

Make sure there is enough coolant in the vehicle, and if it is able to withstand winter temperatures that will be experienced, according to nhtsa.gov.

1.

2.

Stock vehicle with a broom, snow shovel, ice scraper and blanket for cold protection, according to nhtsa.gov.

Seven Winter Driving Tips 5.

Ten ways to help your future self

4.

Keep gas tank close to full, just in case you get stuck in a traffic jam or snow, according to nhtsa.gov.

Be more aware of exit ramps on the highway in winter conditions, they may have received less anti-ice material, according to massdot.state. ma.us.

Tips compiled by Amber Swigart, Emma Jeffries and Valerie Anderson Snowflake graphic by Stephen Kridel, car graphic by Shreya Gurumurthy

ur

y function of yo ive effect on ever sit po a s ha It .

Drink more water your health. sy way to ensure body and is an ea

Study. You probably hear this one a considerable amount, but your test scores and grades will thank you later.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

pictures. There are probably few Do not refuse to smile for or be in e were less photos of them ther wish they adults who have said selves when they were younger. making memories and enjoying them

Spend more time with your friends. The all-nighters spent writing papers should not be your fondest high school memories.

Volunteer. There are countless opp ortunities to do so in the community. Colleges like it, poss ible employers like it and you will become a

better person as a result.

Have a hobby. Develop a skill that is not necessarily valuable in the classroom, but one you enjoy doing or one that will be useful later in life.

Be respectful to teachers and facu lty. They are here to help you learn and succeed, and it is not their faul t that you do not want to be here .

You never know, you could find them to be unexpected friends. s and Rec ’s Donna Meagle and “Treat yo self,” in the words of Park ial for yourself every so often; it Tom Haverford. Do something spec and you

er in future endeavors,

will encourage you to work hard deserve it.

start with the re where to begin, su t no e hat ar u yo future. If will you have? W Think about the . How many pets up y wa ur yo rk small stuff and wo pillow brand? is your preferred Be independent. Skills like cooking and doing your own laundry are pretty simple and essential, so doin g them on a regular basis now will lessen the scariness of eventually being self-sufficient.

Best ways for students to keep themselves safe while driving year-round When starting your car: 1.

Put on your seatbelt and make sure others are buckled.

2.

3.

Make sure your mirrors and seat are adjusted properly.

Know where all the controls are located.

When turning:

1. Yield right of way when necessary.

2. Begin and end turns in the correct lane.

3. Accept legal right of way when safe.

When stopping: 1.

2.

3.

Check traffic all around.

Stop behind crosswalks and limit lines.

Stop without keeping your foot on the gas.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 4, 2015 | FOCUS | PAGE 9

No offense

I can’t even

If you have to say “no offense,” it will offend someone else. So, if you feel the need to give a warning before you say something, you should probably not say it.

You can’t even what? Why do people speak in fragments of sentences? Please finish sentences, as it is not inappropriate to use two more syllables to finish thoughts.

Cray Cray is a shortened form of crazy. The trend of one syllable words needs to cease.

Lit Your party is not a candle; it will not be lit. Just say, “This is going to be a good party.”

Yaaaaaas Yaaaaaas is just a very excited way of saying yes. It is a completely unnecessary made-up word that can be replaced with more descriptive words of excitement.

Salty Salty is a flavor, not a way to describe someone’s personality.

Same

I’m dead

“Same” is used in all the wrong situations. For example, someone could say, “My dog just got hit by a car, it’s a real bummer.” “Same.” No, not same, not even close.

Just because something is really funny, does not mean it can end your life.

Finna

Turnt

What does “finna” mean? As it is not even a real word, people should probably just say that they are going to do something instead.

Blurbs by Shreya Gurumurthy and Tatumn McGrew

What’s the buzz?

People cringe upon hearing these 10 phrases

Turnt: is it an adjective? Is it a verb?

In all actuality, it is not a word at all; therefore, it should not be used.

GRANT PEABODY

FEATURE

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 10

Freestyle Club encourages student expression through music GRANT PEABODY sports editor

WHS offers many opportunities for students to get involved, including a freestyle club, which allows students the chance to express themselves through

music beats and other fun activities.

“Freestyle Club is supposed to be a time where students can express feelings through music and any form of art or creativity,” Owen Thompson (12), lead organizer of freestyle club, said.

“FREESTYLE CLUB IS A TIME WHERE STUDENTS CAN EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS,” THOMPSON SAID.

Freestyle Club consists of an activity called “freestyling,” where a person creates a beat or listens to a beat already made, then sings or raps to the beat.

“Freestyling is extremely fun and hard at the same time, but once you get the beat down and have some rhymes in the back of

SCOT NIELSON

RYAN MILLER

staff writer

M

ey atthew Chids

on campus editor

Alvin Makori AUSTIN MCCULLY staff writer

WHS newcomer Alvin Makori (10) did not take long to establish himself as one of Wooster’s budding musicians.

Prompted to get into music after a friend made a mixtape last winter, Makori released his own mixtape this spring while still living in his hometown of Mukilteo, Wash., a suburb of Seattle.

The mixtape was called 1996 as a tribute to the state of rap music during that time.

“I believe that was the best time in rap music as a genre, and I thought my music was deserving enough to be successful in that time period,” Makori said.

Some of Makori’s tracks, including “Ohio State” and “Check the Stats,” even boast original beats made by his producer from Washington, Stephen Kertis or $K. In addition to being a part of the choir at WHS, Makori has been involved in an ongoing rap battle with Pierre Paul (12).

According to Makori, their battle is over, and he, Paul, and Owen Thompson are planning to collaborate soon.

er-Lee Madison Culv

Budding musicians of WHS

Matthew Chidsey (11) has been playing the piano since the age of four, when a family friend, a piano major, visited for a weekend.

Chidsey then told his parents, neither of them piano players, that he wanted to learn how to play.

Telling the story, Chidsey asserted, “I had always loved music.”

According to Chidsey, piano has had an extremely positive influence on his life. “[Piano] has given me a way to express my thoughts and emotions in ways that simple words cannot,” Chidsey said.

In order to keep his skills honed, Chidsey practices at least once a day, averaging about an hour and one half for each practice.

Practices can be difficult for Chidsey to squeeze in, as he has a very busy schedule.

Despite being sometimes difficult to complete, this practice pays off: he has played for weddings, drama club productions and in other professional settings.

Chidsey plans on pursuing a music education degree, with piano as his major instrument.

your head, it can be a really fun time,” Alvin Makori (10) said.

Students interested in attending freestyle club can contact adviser and Art Dept. member Tricia Taggart, or Derek Kunkler and Owen Thompson, lead organizers, to inquire about future meeting times.

HANNA MORGAN feature editor

Madison Culver-Lee (11) has a strong passion for music, as she is a budding musician at WHS. In sixth grade at Melrose Elementary School, Culver-Lee started playing the trombone to honor her biological father, who was a professional trombone player.

When Culver-Lee was in seventh grade at Edgewood, she took up the French horn. From then on, she fell in love with the instrument.

“Evidently, I was pretty good at it because I got into symphonic band as a freshman and skipped over the freshman band and concert band,” Culver-Lee said.

In the past year, Culver-Lee has started playing with the Mansfield Youth Symphony.

In addition, she has also joined the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra.

Culver-Lee wants to take her music playing to the next level as she gets older.

“My goal for college is to attend the Oberlin Conservatory of music for a degree in performance for french horn,” Culver-Lee said.

One of her other goals is to eventually play in a professional symphony.

WHS students Owen Thompson (12) and Pierre Paul (12) have been composing music together for roughly four years.

Their friendship turned into a continual musical collaboration one day while listening to music according to Paul.

“Owen and I had known each other for a while and he taught me how to freestyle. One day, we were listening to an instrumental, and then I started to sing, he freestyled. That’s when we realized we could easily make music because we are both musically inclined,” Paul (12) said.

Thompson (12) appreciates the unique nature of music, while being able to create something to one’s own style.

“The thing that influences me is art. I like art; I like to be creative. I like to do something others can’t replicate. You can’t paint the same exact picture, like how you can’t make the same exact song,” Thompson said.

The duo have accumulated over 1,300 hits collectively on their Soundcloud page and plan to continue their collaborations.

Owen Pierre Paul & Thompson

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 11

Sleep assists memory KAYLA COOPER

focus editor Sleep is vital in many ways.

According to several articles on sleepfoundation.org, throughout the day the brain takes in a great amount of information.

This information is not automatically stored in the brain. Memory processing takes place during sleep.

Bits of information are transferred from short-term memory to long-term memory.

Sleep also helps people restore and rejuvenate their bodies, grow muscle, repair tissue, and synthesize hormones.

Lack of sleep has many side effects. A WebMD article, “9 Surprising Reasons to Get More Sleep,” states that lack of sleep puts people at risk for heart disease, heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, strokes, and diabetes.

Teens face sleep woes AMBER SWIGART staff writer

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Young adults should sleep for about nine hours a night due to their continuing development of brain and body, but many teenagers do not get the suggested amount of sleep.

Sleep is essential to cognitive processing, re-energization, development, and attentiveness, yet only 15 percent of teenagers are getting more than 8.5 hours each night according The National Sleep Foundation article entitled “How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?”.

Unhealthy sleep habits among teens are widely due to participation in so many time consuming activities, leaving sleep to be seen as less of a priority.

“Teens have to balance the weight of many demands on their time… An early start and a lot of homework can combine to make it hard for them to get to sleep on time,” writes UCLA Health, which goes on to explain the involvement of responsibilities at home, jobs and extracurriculars.

Lack of sleep can result in drowsiness or irritability and affect the ability to problem solve, focus and recall information.

Additionally, extended sleep deprivation can lead to an increased risk of depression, diabetes and several cardiovascular conditions, according to “The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Body” from Healthline.com.

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New sleep habits alleviate stress

CHLOE LANDERS trends editor

With exams right around the corner and grueling school activities increasing, many of us run into the problem of insomnia.

According to prevention.com, it is important for those who hit the gym to do it early. When people work out early, the adrenaline from the workout is able to last through the day and wear off by the time they go to sleep. Studies show that those who stick to routines and work out regularly are less likely to be depressed and more likely to sleep well at night.

Sleepfoundation.org cites studies have shown that deep breathing is key to the sleep process. It is important to practice deep breathing and the relaxation of muscles before going to sleep. It is also mentioned that listening to audio recordings can help ease the mind from a stressful day and allow for better sleep.

Taking the vitamin supplement, melatonin, is also a safe and easy way to cure insomnia, according to webmd.com.

Melatonin is found in foods such as meats, grains, fruits and vegetables. Our bodies control our levels of melatonin, and it is proven that before bed and while we are sleeping, our melatonin levels are highest. Therefore, taking a supplement before bed every night allows melatonin levels to increase, which allows one to sleep better at night.

Consider an over-the-counter bottle of melatonin vitamins, do some breathing exercises and create a workout routine that benefits your sleep schedule, and with this one can get the sleep that is much needed during this anxious exam season.

Great jobs, great lives!

GALLUP

just completed research on the largest ever representative sample of college graduates, and the results were clear. Graduates with “great jobs and great lives” were those who had a mentor in college and completed a longterm project as a student. Those results tell Gallup Executive Director Brandon Busteed that Wooster is doing “exactly what should be happening.”

BY JESS

W

LYONS

wooster.edu Wooster, OH!

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 12

Community prepares for the season of giving Finding the perfect gift does not have to break the bank

$5

$10

Vinyl Records make a great gift due to their newfound popularity. They often are much cheaper than a regular CD and can make great wall decorations if the person receiving the gift does not have a record player. Records can be purchased at Lucky Records in downtown Wooster for as cheap as $5 up to $35.

This spray is called poo-pourri, available for $10, and is essential for any family gathering.

This spray is used in the bathroom to eliminate all odor. Simply spray the mixture into the water of the porcelain throne and eliminate the possibility of odor. This is a perfect stocking stuffer for anyone on your Christmas list.

CLAIRE LANHAM

FRED HOLMES

$9.95

$20 For anyone who loves baking, a cupcake stand is an aesthetically pleasing way to display cupcakes, which are also fun and easy to make.

Cupcake and cake stands can be found in various colors with multiple tiers and can be bought in shops like Today’s Kitchen Store in downtown Wooster for as little as $20.

CLAI

Spruce up the bathtub experience with a bath bomb that dissolves different scents, colors and extras such as sparkles and flower petals, providing an at-home spa experience for $9.95 from LushUSA.com.

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ANH

AM

Graphic by Shreya Gurumurthy. Blurbs by Emma Jeffries, Claire Lanham and Nick Cosmo.

HANNAH KNAPIC

Crowdfunding provides a popular and beneficial way to donate Crowdfunding is when a person or organization raises small amounts of money from a large number of people, resulting in a large sum. It is a form of charity that is quickly gaining popularity.

If each person in a large group wanted to donate just a small amount of money, like $10, then these people together can make a big impact. Philanthropy is no longer just for major donors.

About $3.06 billion of Crowdfunding dollars went to social causes in 2014 Crowdfunding has been used to fund local businesses and new projects on the website Kickstarter.

A group of people managed to raise $500,000 in in only 24 hours for a maternity center in Haiti and for midwives helping refugee women in Berlin.

Crowdfunding blurbs and facts collected by Shiyuan Wang. Facts for crowdfunding from a Christian Science Monitor articled called “How to change the world with $10.”

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 13

El o n i s e Camp

If you are looking for a fast dinner, but still want a birthday song, then El Campesino is the place to go. With its ridiculously fast service, you will be in and out within 30 minutes.

On birthdays, the staff comes out, puts a sombrero on your head, sings to you and shoves delicious fried ice cream in your face.

Broken Rocks

For people who choose to celebrate their birthdays at Broken Rocks Cafe, they can expect an enjoyable and memorable experience.

For guests in a large party who are celebrating, the “guest of honor” is given a seat at the head of the table.

An ensemble of waiters and bussers will then sing to the individual whose birthday is being celebrated and will serve cake or another dessert of the customer’s preference with the words “happy birthday” spelled out in a fruitflavored topping, complete with a lit candle on top. All and all, Broken Rocks provides an enjoyable experience for people hoping to celebrate their birthday downtown.

Blurbs compiled be Erin O’Donnell, Ryan Miller, Maureen McKeown and Katie Ward. Graphics by Shreya Gurumuthy

TJ’s

Looking for a sweet treat on your special day? TJ’s is the place to go, offering their delectable mint brownies with candles to birthday celebrants.

In addition, customers have the opportunity to sign up for the “birthday club,” in which TJ’s will send out birthday coupon post cards that offer a discount of some sort, such as a free appetizer or a buy one entree and get one half off deal.

A birthday at Osaka Hibachi & Sushi includes many familiar traditions, putting a new face on well-known birthday traditions.

People celebrating their birthdays at Osaka receive a complimentary bowl of fried ice cream and a serenade of the birthday song from the staff of Osaka’s to add to the culinary experience.

Osaka

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

To watch or not to watch: The best and worst of the film industry

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 14 The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) was a poorly created movie full of raunchy scenes and an excessive amount of profanity.

Students review new films and TV shows

Rubber (2010) is a movie about a tire who discovers his ability to make people and animals explode. It was 82 minutes of watching a homicidal tire. Just pure nonsense.

Twilight (2008) is a poorly acted movie about vampires and werewolves fighting for the love of one ordinary teenager. Need more be said?

The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) is an action packed superhero movie that is two and one half hours long and entirely too drawn out.

The worst The best

Movies compiled by Isabelle Cannon and Becca Foley

Moonrise Kingdom (2012) is a whimsical and immaculately filmed movie that is set in the ‘60s depicting the rebellious nature of love stricken teenagers.

Good Will Hunting (1997) is my all-time favorite movie because it follows a simple, low class man trying to find his identity, through an oddly found friendship with a therapist.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) encapsulates the unfair cast system in India and shows that greed can ruin anyone, especially the underprivileged in the lower castes.

Better off Dead (1985) is a typical teenage love story, full of unexpected ‘80s humor. It is a classic must see for any teenager.

CLAIRE LANHAM a&e editor

To say that Creed is “Rocky 7” would be possibly the greatest injustice you could do to this new film.

Michael B. Jordan portrays main character Adonis Creed, the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, who was adopted out of foster care by Creed’s widow and given a life of luxury that he never really felt was his.

He moves from L.A. to Philadelphia to escape the shadow of his father and be trained by the now out of practice Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone).

Creed is constantly haunted by the shadow of his late father and fears he will let down the legacy, which is a constant theme through the film.

Running over two and one half hours, the film keeps viewers engaged and provides an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end.

The score, created by Ludwig Goransson, fits perfectly with every scene. The songs cause viewers to feel anxious and excited during fights and training montages and nostalgic when watching Rocky struggling to live after people who are important to him have passed on.

Creed is an amazing film, definitely worth seeing, that proves to be a wonderful link for Rocky fans who are looking to see old favorite characters and brings in a new generation of viewers with its ability to stand alone and create a new world in the already familiar streets of Philadelphia.

Very few good things happen in Disney Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur.

The premise of the movie is tragic to start off with. Arlo is a dinosaur who has always been the weak link and has never been able to ‘make his mark’ like his siblings could.

Following the death of his father, Arlo gets carried away by a river. He spends the whole movie trying to find his way back home, accompanied on his journey by a young human cave-boy, named Spot.

Arlo spends his movie journey facing storms, other dinosaurs that try to eat him and Spot, hunger and even more tragic events along the way.

The movie tells a courageous tale about prevailing through hardships; although it would have been nice to have a little more prevailing and a little less hardship.

And, while I appreciate a movie that can make me cry, Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur tore at my heartstrings a little too much for my liking, as I cried three times.

Because of the extremity of these tragic events, The Good Dinosaur is not as kidfriendly as it originally sounded. Along with the hardships, Arlo and Spot run into a T-Rex who recounts a time when he fought off a crocodile by drowning him in his own blood and they also get into some wild berries and start hallucinating. That is right: a graphic tale and a drug montage. The movie is not exactly fun for all ages.

I can say that The Good Dinosaur was visually stunning and even photo-realistic, perhaps one of the best animation jobs ever to hit theaters.

However, the storyline just did not meet the standards that were set by the extraordinary animation. I was disappointed.

KAYLA BARNET on campus editor

BECCA FOLEY a&e editor

Although I am not normally a huge superhero or crime show fan, Marvel’s Jessica Jones is something worth watching.

This series follows ex-superhero and private eye Jessica Jones, played by Krysten Ritter, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to her dark past. The man who haunted Jessica has made a return, sending her into fear and panic. She must help others catch this villain and keep her loved ones safe.

Jessica Jones is definitely intended for a mature audience, due to its explicit language and somewhat graphic violence, hailing from the original comics that Netflix stayed true to while creating the show.

Jessica Jones is one of the 10 new shows Netflix released this year in their new campaign to produce original TV shows. This is Netflix’s second show partnered with Marvel, their first being Daredevil which also premiered this year.

I was only able to watch the first few episodes of this series and it managed to suck me in given its plot twists, secrets and scandals. Marvel fan or not, Jessica Jones is a show I would recommend anyone to watch.

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Flickr.com and Netflix

Film graphic by Nate King-Smith

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 15

Movie sequels: follow-up films will soon hit the theaters

Fans wait incredible time for movie sequel EVAN DOAN staff writer

Although the release date is still far off, many longtime fans of The Incredibles will be excited to hear that Incredibles 2 has been confirmed to be in production.

According to cinemablend.com, Brad Bird, writer and director of The Incredibles, Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol and recent Disney hit Tomorrowland, has been confirmed to be involved in story development for The Incredibles 2.

Also returning to assist with development is Michael Giacchino, who composed the music for the previous movie, according to mrndaily.com.

As Cars 3, Toy Story 4 and an animated movie about the famous spanish holiday El Dia de los Muertos are all currently being produced by Pixar, Incredibles 2’s release date has been pushed to June 21, 2019, a full 15 years after the original Incredible’s release.

Other than a release date, no other details concerning plot or cast have been released as of yet.

Viewer regains appetite for Hunger Games Last year’s Mockingjay Mockingjay, Part film would have 1 is probably complemented each the worst movie other well, rather in the Hunger than making two Games franchise, extremely long, so naturally, I slightly boring expected Part movies.

2 to be subpar; However, the however, to cast and the effects my pleasant made the movie surprise, than just SHREYA GURUMURTHY more Mockingjay mediocre. The webmaster Part 2 explosions and exceeded my fight scenes were expectations. lifelike. The acting and editing The Hunger Games movie were excellent, and I actually felt franchise peaked at Catching like I was in the film.

Fire, the second of four movies.

So, maybe Mockingjay Part 2 is Splitting the third book into two not quite as good as the first two separate movies was completely films in the franchise, but it is unnecessary. The dull nature of better than the prior movie and the first movie paired with the definitely worth the time to exciting action of the second watch it.

Film toys with romantic and comedic themes AMBER SWIGART staff writer

Toy Story 4 will be released June 15, 2018.

Although the Pixar movie is a follow up to Toy Story 3, which was released in 2010, the focus will shift away from the relationship between toys and humans.

“It’s not a continuation of the end of the story of Toy Story 3,” Pixar president Jim Morris said in an interview with Disney Latino, according to Time.com. He later added, “...it will be a love story. It will be a romantic comedy. It will not put much focus on the interaction between the characters and children.”

The movie will include a search for Bo Peep and her relationship with the protagonist of the Toy Story franchise, a toy cowboy named Woody, according to “Everything you need to know about Toy Story 4“ from Digital Spy. There is no confirmation yet as to whether voice actors Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack will reprise their roles in the film.

Fans keep swimming to Finding Nemo franchise SAMANTHA BRUNN business manager

According to IMDb.com, in May of 2003, Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo was released in theaters, setting the record for the highest grossing original animated movie. That record was only recently broken by Disney’s Frozen just last year.

Thirteen years later, generations Y and Z anxiously await the June 17, 2016 release of Nemo’s sequel, Finding Dory.

The aforementioned website describes the plot saying, “A friendly but forgetful blue tang fish reunites with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the true meaning of family along the way.”

The movie trailer alludes to Dory’s, “sleep swimming problem,” which leads to her disappearance and the ensuing journey to find her, as she finds her family.

“I” logo fair use courtesy of user Mr White via Wikimedia Commons. Mockingjay poster fair use courtesy of user Film Fan via Wikipedia. Toy Story logo fair use courtesy of user Carniolus via Wikimedia Commons. Nemo logo fair use courtesy of user Magnus Manske via Wikimedia Commons.

Graphic by Shreya Gurumurthy.

COVER

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 4, 2015 I PAGES 16 & 17

Holiday biscuits: In Austria, typical holiday biscuits such as Spekulatius and Lebkucehn are often served during winter holidays. Spekulatius is a cinnamon spiced cookie, and Lebkuchen is a soft gingerbread biscuit covered in chocolate, according to Europeantraveler.net.

Pass The Plate The Wooster Blade samples traditional holiday dishes from around the world.

Cheese and crackers: In the United Kingdom, special and formal dinners always conclude with gourmet cheese and crackers. According to BBC.com, cheese is served before dessert, because the dinner host wants the dinner to end on a sweet note.

Russian vinaigrette: According to russiapedia.rt.com, a common holiday food in Russia is Russian vinaigrette. It creates a Russian twist on traditional vegetable salad and is made from beets, skinned potatoes, a carrot, an onion, cucumbers and olive oil.

Frijole beans: According to a Mexican Food Journal article written by Douglas Cullen in 2015, Frijoles de la olla or beans of the pot, are one of the most common dishes in Mexico. Frijoles de la olla are black beans that are seasoned and slow cooked in order to enhance flavors.

Dumplings: According to www. travelchinaguide.com, dumplings are a typical holiday food in China.

Dumplings are usually filled with pork, onions, lotus roots and ginger and then seasoned.

Spring rolls: According to www.travelchinaguide. com, a typical holiday food in China is the spring roll. Spring rolls are filled with meat and vegetables and are sometimes used as a holiday snack.

Pain au chocolat: The pain au chocolat recipe is a special treat served regularly, but especially during the holiday season. According to frenchfood.about. com, it is golden and just slightly crispy on the outside, with melted chocolate swirled throughout the buttery pastry. This delicacy is best served fresh from the oven.

Croque monsieur: A very important element of a French holiday meal is a croque monsieur.

According to www.theguardian.com, one can be sure that when the French tackle a dish, they do so with enthusiasm, and it can not be denied that at its best, a croque monsieur is a strong contender for the world’s finest ham and cheese sandwich.

CASEY BAIK

Gnocchi: According to a Washington Post article written by Bonnie S. Benwick in 2013, Gnocchi was a food historically made by Italian peasants because it required few components.

Gnocchi is a potato-based dumpling often served with tomato sauce.

Foods made and blurbs compiled by Maureen McKeown, Isabelle Cannon, Maddy Nacci and Ryan Miller. Photos by Maureen McKeown.

Pastry strudels: Danish pastry strudels are warm crescent rolls filled with apples and cinnamon. According to express.com, Danish pastry strudels make for a brilliant brunch and the perfect holiday treat.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 18

The world celebrates various holidays associated with different cultures Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa, created by Doctor Maulana Karenga in 1966, is a celebration of African culture taking place from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

According to Karenga, as found on the officialkwanzaawebsite. org, Kwanzaa is modelled on traditional African “firstfruits” celebrations, which were celebrations of the harvest season. The holiday was a result of the black nationalism movement in order to provide a common ground for African Americans and members of the African diaspora worldwide.

Karenga states that Kwanzaa is not a substitute for other holidays, being cultural in nature rather than spiritual.

The holiday celebrates seven key values: Nia (purpose), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), U j a m a a (cooperative economics), Kuumba (creativity), Umoja (unity), Imani

(faith), and KujiShagulia (self-determination).

According to officialkwanzaawebsite.org, Kwanzaa includes gifts and traditional greetings which change each day.

Lesser known holiday celebrations around the world:

Pagan celebrations

An ancient pagan holiday season, though separated from modern time by thousands of years, has great similarities to the holidays many people know.

Occurring around the same time as Christmas, ancient pagan festivals and holidays surrounding midwinter were common in many cultures, chief among them the Romans.

Saturnalia, a festival

Blurbs compiled by Drosos Kardulias and Alex Barnard

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is one of the best known Jewish holidays, not because of religious significance, but because of its close proximity to Christmas.

According to reformjudaism. org, the Hanukkah celebration revolves around the lighting of a nine-branched menorah.

On each of the holiday’s eight nights, another candle

dedicated to the god Saturn, was held during early to midD e c e m b e r.

This festival involved g i f t exchanges, l a r g e meals, and lighting candles, according to professor Beryl Rawson of the Australian National University.

However, according to researcher Jarred James Breaux, the late Roman Empire is the source of Christmas’ current date, due to a Roman holiday called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, a celebration of the birth of the sun god Sol Invictus.

This Dec. 25 holiday symbolized defiance against the cold of winter, and the hopeful message of Dec. 25 has continued for over 1,500 years.

Graphics by Shreya Gurumurthy, Han Mahle and Spencer Dilyard

is lit after sunset; the ninth candle, called the shamash, is used to light the other eight candles. Each night, another candle is lit from right to left. On the eighth night, all candles are lit.

Gift-giving is not a traditional part of the holiday, but was added over the course of time.

Noel

More well-known holiday celebrations:

According to www. timeanddate.com, in France, Christmas is called Noel.

And, though there are many similarities to Christmas in the United States, there are a number of key differences. A figure called Pere Noel, father of Christmas, makes home visits with gifts.

On Christmas Eve, children leave

their shoes by a fireplace in order to be filled with the gifts. In the morning, they awake to find fruits, nuts and toys.

Many homes have a Nativity Scene, which serves as the focal point of decoration and celebration, just as the Christmas tree does in U.S. homes.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | DEC. 4, 2015 I PAGE 19

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Uncovering the occupations that often go unnoticed Caretakers When considering who to thank this holiday season, all healthcare professionals are certainly deserving of praise.

Annually, over 8 million people receive support from long-term care services of home health agencies, nursing homes, hospices, residential care communities or adult day service centers, and the number is expected to triple by 2050, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Long-Term Care Services in the United States 2013 Overview.

Despite the high possibility that you or someone you know will likely depend on them later in life, the role of nurses and physicians who specialize in the care of elderly and sometimes terminally ill patients is often underappreciated and overlooked.

Blurbs compiled by Amber Swigart and Alex Barnard

Politicians

Janitors of WHS

Regardless of whether you completely agree with the viewpoints of politicians in your local or federal government, it is important to recognize that politicians are public servants and not just figures to mock during the political debates or on Saturday Night Live.

As the year comes to a close, take the time to thank your politicians for their work and commitment toward the public good and for their representation of the United States.

Contact information for exchanges through the phone, email or fax can be found on usa.gov.

Current soldiers

Many of us will be spending our time with our families; however, there is a minority group that will not be with friends and family over the holidays, but rather on military assignments across the globe defending freedom.

This group is comprised of active military personnel.

Many families have relatives who have served or are presently serving in the military, but for those families that do not have a military background, it would be honorable to keep soldiers and military families in your thoughts when you are with your friends and families over the holidays.

When walking into WHS, you may not notice that every morning, the floors are polished and the hallways are spotless and cleared of clutter.

There are countless examples of how well kept our building is, all thanks to a very diligent and hardworking group of people.

The custodial staff of WHS is undoubtedly the most unsung and underappreciated members of the school, and their acts need to be recognized. I would like to thank them for all they do for our school.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 20

DECK THE HALLS: pollsters seek the ultimate holiday playlist None 3%

Do you believe Christmas music starts too early?

Yes No 53% 47%

Jingle Bells

13%

26%

Other

18% All I Want forW in t e s r a Christm W ond

21% 1 erland 9%

old

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Do you prefer new age or traditional holiday music?

What is your favorite holiday song?

alN n io ew

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Age

64% 36%

Polls of 192 students were conducted Nov. 20 in 4A and 4B lunch by Maddy Nacci.

Christmas caroling sparks debate among staff members Caroling creates awkward situations for passersby SHIYUAN WANG feature editor

SCOT NIELSON staff writer

MAGGIE FLECHLER

I love Christmas. I love the time of the year when people start putting up their Christmas decorations, when I walk into a store and hear Christmas music.

I especially love it when it starts snowing, and the entire city of Wooster is covered in a blanket of snow, because winter is truly a beautiful time of the year.

Christmas is honestly one of my favorite times of the year.

However, there is one aspect of Christmas that I do not particularly enjoy: Christmas caroling.

Do not get me wrong, I love Christmas music. I think it is one of the greatest symbols of Christmas spirit.

I do not hate people who go out Christmas caroling; what

I hate is the act of caroling itself. For me, it just creates an uncomfortable situation. When I go out in public and see Christmas carolers gathering around, I avoid making eye contact with them or else I just feel I have been placed in an awkward position.

Oftentimes, people do not really pay attention to carolers because they are trying to avoid eye contact with them.

It is also a big pain when carolers travel around to people’s houses. This tradition only forces people into more difficult situations and wastes these people’s time, as they have to bear witness to an event they did not want to witness in the first place.

Again, I love Christmas, but I do not love Christmas caroling.

I simply believe there are better ways to show Christmas spirit around town.

Christmas caroling brings spirit and joy to the holiday season

My freshman year of high school, the church group in which I was involved decided to spend an afternoon at a local nursing home caroling from room to room.

I felt apprehensive about the event as I did not, and still do not, consider myself a talented singer.

My experience convinced me that caroling can be a positive experience for those performing and those listening.

My first argument is that caroling can yield health benefits. In fact, Gunter Kreutz, author of Music, Health and Wellbeing, finds that participating in amateur choirs can improve mood and immune function and that listening to choral music helps

reduce cortisol levels. Caroling, and even listening to caroling, is good for bodies and minds.

One could argue that these benefits are available to anyone who sings, but a 2013 study conducted by Nick Stewart of Oxford Brookes University found that people who sing in choirs report higher levels of well-being than those who sing alone.

The second reason I advocate for caroling is less scientific.

I remember singing with my church group and seeing faces of those to whom we sang.

Some would join in the singing and thank us for visiting. This service was a great experience for our group, knowing that we sang for people who greatly appreciated the amateur performance.

If improved health, decreased stress and service to others appeals to you, go caroling.

Hip•ster

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 21

“A person who follows the latest trends and fashions, especially those regarded as being outside the cultural mainstream”

Photography

Clothing

Flannel shirts, skinny jeans, oversized glasses and beanies are all articles of clothing typically associated with the word “hipster.” Vintage clothing, beat-up shirts and shoes, large jewelry, floral prints and bright colors are popular trends with those who associate as hipsters. Popular brands include Vans, Converse, American Apparel, Urban Outfitters and Topshop.

How can a hipster be defined?

In terms of...

Music

It is easy to say a hipster listens to indie music and vinyl records.

However, it is difficult to define what indie music is. Google defines indie as, “not belonging to or affiliated with a major record or film company.” So, much of the music can be described as alternative or not mainstream. Artists in the category of alternative music include Modest Mouse, Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, Saint Motel and Arctic Monkeys, according to “15 Albums That All Hipsters Love” on pigeonsandplanes.com.

Blurbs by Becca Foley and Samantha Brunn. Sticky note poll conducted by Spencer Dilyard in flex periods during the week of Nov. 16. Definition from Google.

Photo by Claire Lanham.

BLADE asked: What words do you associate with the term “hipster”?

Contrary to popular belief, hipsters have been around since long before the 1990s.

According to Merriam-Webster.com, the first part of the word, “hip,” means to know and follow to latest trends, styles and fashions and is very indicative hipsters.

“Don’t You Dare Call Me A Hipster! I, Sir, Am A ‘Hep Cat,’” on NPR.org states that the word first originated in the 1940s, as shown in Cab Calloway’s book Cab Calloway’s Hepster’s Dictionary: Language of Jive.

Calloway described a hep cat or hepster as, “a guy who knows all the answers, understands jive.”

Hep cats and hepsters subsequently became known as hipsters and were commonly white teens who were active in the jazz scene.

At a time of war and segregation, they rejected social norms and embraced a laid-back way of living. Many of them would go see African American musicians perform in places like Harlem.

Opposite of hipsters were “squares.”

Squares willingly conformed to societal norms and just wanted to feel secure in their possessions and status, according to “Origins of the Hipster” on micar.com.

The use of the word then sizzled down until its reemergence at the turn of the century.

Where does the word “hipster” originate?

“Hipster Barbie is So Much Better at Instagram Than You.” That is what an article from Wired, on Sept. 3 of this year, proclaimed, and I think the article perfectly describes what it means to be a hipster on social media.

“Sociality Barbie is a fantastic Instagram account satirizing the great millennial adventurer trend in photography. It’s an endless barrage of pensive selfies in exotic locales, arty snapshots of coffee and just the right filter on everything.

Anyone who’s flipped through an issue of Kinfolk gets the aesthetic.

And it’s everywhere on Instagram,” Taylor Glascock wrote in the aforementioned article.

Curating the appearance of a perfect life is of utmost importance to the average hipster, and Sociality Barbie aptly showed the world just how far hipsters will go to get that aesthetic.

Written by Sarah Hopkins

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 4 , 2015 | PAGE 22

SPORTS

-The GIRLS’ BASKETBALL team is currently 2-0 as of Dec. 2, with wins against Buchtel and Madison Comprehensive.

The next girls’ basketball game will take place on Dec. 10 at West Holmes.

- The BOYS’ BASKETBALL team has their season opener tonight against Orrville. Following tonight’s game, their next game will be Dec. 5 at Ontario High School.

-The BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ SWIMMING AND DIVING team competed against Firestone on Tuesday, with the girls taking first and the boys taking second. The next swim meet is tomorrow at Youngstown State University.

-The GIRLS’ GYMNASTICS team’s first competition will take place this Wednesday against Perry in Canton at the Diva Gymnastics Academy.

-The WRESTLING team’s next meet will take place Wednesday at Madison Comprehensive High School.

Photos and blurbs by Grant Peabody

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | DEC. 4. 2015 | PAGE 23

Booster Club sponsors banners for senior athletes DREW FRIEDHOFF staff writer

The Wooster All-Sports Booster Club will be hanging new banners of senior athletes outside of WHS in an effort to increase school spirit.

The project was initiated by Wooster’s All-Sports Booster Club in an effort to recognize athletes and generate a sense of school pride within the community, according to booster club president Jen Monastra.

“We are hoping these banners will generate Wooster General Pride amongst students, parents, faculty and community members,” Monastra said.

Among those in support of the new banners is Athletic Director Andy Kellar.

“I think it’s a phenomenal idea to support our senior athletes,” Keller said.

The seniors appreciate this support, including senior basketball player, Brandon Blair.

“I like the fact that they recognize the seniors and that we have worked up to this point,” commented Blair.

The new banners will be displayed on lamp posts around the campus and along Oldman Road, replacing those hung at sporting venues.

The Booster Club, with TW3 Printing and Wooster Color, will produce the banners. The pictures have been taken by Ashley Escola.

PHOTO BY HANNAH KNAPIC

Football Petey Bess - 1st Team OCC Colt Morgan - 1st Team OCC Kobe Russell - 1st Team OCC Trey Mathis - 1st Team OCC Staten Kirchhofer - 1st Team OCC Antonio Crossty - 2nd Team OCC Leon Griffith - 2nd Team OCC Michael Cicolani - 2nd Team OCC Reggie Arrington - 2nd Team OCC Peyton Bennington - 2nd Team OCC Seth Folks - Honorable Mention OCC Mason McGee - Honorable Mention OCC Corbin Lanker - Honorable Mention OCC Girls’ Tennis Olivia McCory - Honorable Mention OCC Izzy Rico - Honorable Mention OCC Julia Tefs - Honorable Mention OCC Hanna Morgan - Honorable Mention OCC Golf Corey Musselman - 1st Team OCC Anthony Panepento - 1st Team OCC Brent Dillon - 2nd Team OCC Wesley Roberts - Honorable Mention OCC Girls’ Soccer Emily Edgell - Offensive Player of the Year Amanda Shabitzer - 1st Team OCC Natalie Cicolani - 1st Team OCC Carla Stoll - 2nd Team OCC Maddy Nacci - 2nd Team OCC Grace Rickett - Honorable Mention OCC Natalie Covert - Honorable Mention OCC

Athletes earn OCC honors

Compiled by Nate King-Smith

Girls’ Cross Country Isabelle Cannon - 1st Team OCC Tracy Morgan - 2nd Team OCC Maureen McKeown - 2nd Team OCC Haley Miller - 2nd Team OCC Boys’ Cross Country Jordan Green - 1st Team OCC Matthew Chidsey - 1st Team OCC Connor Niro - 2nd Team OCC Christopher Cannon - 2nd Team OCC Breydan Hann - 2nd Team OCC Jeromy Green - Honorable Mention OCC Alexander Thompson - Honorable Mention OCC Boys’ Soccer Stephen Kridel - 1st Team OCC Matt Adams - 1st Team OCC Zeven Zemrock - 1st Team OCC Joe Stoll - 2nd Team OCC Cameron Reed - 2nd Team OCC

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 24

Successful program swims laps around competitors Boys’ Swimming NEAC Championships: 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Boy s Stat ’ Qua e lifie rs:

2014 :M Dyer, atthew Da Acke rman niel , Dav Good r ich, B id Grah J am, B r yan Park e r 2013: M atthew D Ackerm an, Davi yer, Daniel d BJ Grah Goodrich, am

2011: Cha

Data collected by Hannah Knapic

CASEY BAIK

se Hooley

’ s l r Gi te Sta iers: if l a Qu

Girls’ Swimming NEAC Championshps: 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

ielle r b a :G 2014 a, Jessica Sibili i, Sydney n zz Bone er, Madiso a i Weng an, Soph m Whit Davis ilia, b i S e l l e abri 2013: G hitman, Jessica W r Madison , Sydney Wenge Bonezzi tler, Katy e t s h c o H ity n 2005: Trinam Spencer, Jorda Senn, S McCord

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | DEC. 4. 2015 | PAGE 25

WHS senior JESSICA BONEZZI made waves by signing with the Akron Zips

P

STEPHEN KRIDEL co-editor-in-chief

remiere swimmer, Jessica Bonezzi (12) is setting goals for her future as a swimmer for the University of Akron, while flowing through her last year swimming for the Generals.

As a team captain and three-year letter winner, Bonezzi signed her National Letter of Intent Nov. 16 and agreed to swim for The University of Akron next fall.

For some athletes, moving from high school athletics to college is a big change, but according to WHS girls swimming coach Chris Matthew, Bonezzi may not experience trouble transitioning.

“I think there will be very little transition, due to the fact that she has trained with her summer coach, who is the Akron University coach, so she is very comfortable in the pool and with the girls,” Matthew said.

Bonezzi had offers from two other schools: Duquesne University and Eastern Michigan University, but chose Akron, citing that the coach is very supportive and motivating.

Despite involvement in sports, collegiate athletes still have the academic aspect of college to balance.

Very conscious of academics and interested in pharmacy, Bonezzi said she did not even look at colleges that would not fulfill her academically.

The WHS swimming programs have been very successful in the past decade, consistently winning Ohio Cardinal Conference Championships and a handful of Northeast Aquatic Conference championships. This success is, in part, due to talented swimmers such as Bonezzi.

Since her freshman year, Bonezzi has been awarded All-Ohio three years, All-American in the 100 meter butterfly and is ranked 80th nationally in the event.

Bonezzi has received another award, not won for athletic prowess, but for bravely recovering after a traumatic accident.

During her sophomore year, Bonezzi was given the bravery award by the WHS Athletic Dept. after suffering from burns during a summer accident that left her unable to swim for two months. Bonezzi fought hard to return to the water, earning her the accolade.

“Getting back into it, you do not feel the same as you were before, so that took a lot of support and motivation and a lot of hard work to get back to the point where I was before that accident,” Bonezzi said.

As a captain, Bonezzi is charged with leading the team and helping teammates.

“Almost daily she helps me critique on my stroke, and if I am getting down, she gets me back up so I finish a set, instead of giving up in the middle of it,” teammate Sophia Davis (11) said.

A goal for Bonezzi this year is to return to the state meet for the fourth time. ”Every day, I have to think about those goals in the water and in the weight room, and I tell myself that is what I want to do so here is what I need to do, and push myself every day toward that,” Bonezzi said Bonezzi’s last high school season begins Dec. 1 against Firestone at the Ellen Shapiro Natatorium.

“EVERY DAY, I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THOSE GOALS IN THE WATER AND IN THE WEIGHT ROOM,” BONEZZI SAID. Photo by Casey Baik

TRENDS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 26

1.

The Undercut Reminiscent of the 1940s, the undercut haircut is making a comeback.

According to “The Disconnected Undercut Hairstyle Mixes Long and Short” on nytimes.com, the undercut is a hairstyle in which the sides of the head are closely cut or shaven, while the top hair is left longer.

Although this “short on the sides, long on the top” hairstyle was first popularized in the ‘40s, celebrities from Brad Pitt to Justin Timberlake to Ruby Rose have been seen sporting this haircut throughout the past year, popularizing the look for men and women alike.

2.

The Comb Over A modern take on a classic hairstyle, the comb over haircut is a clean and easy way to style hair.

The classic comb over was smooth and tight, while the modern comb over is much more loose and rugged, according to “The Side Part Hairstyle, An Old Look For A New Age” on hairstyleonpoint.com.

The comb over is a very natural look that can be worn with longer or shorter hair, depending on the desired look.

1.

4.

The Wooster Blade explores: Male Hairstyles

Tremaine Wilson (12)

3.

2.

Casey Baik (12)

The Man Bun

Man buns, a fairly new and potentially controversial hairstyle, have begun to make an appearance at WHS. A man bun is a small or large bun on the top of a man’s head, using either half of the hair or all of it.

Man buns are commended for their comfort, style, and convenience.

Corbin Lanker (10), man bun wearer, appreciates them for their appearance.

“Man buns are great. They make you look and feel like a samurai,” Lanker said.

A problem posed by man buns are their link to male pattern baldness, according to an article from Cosmopolitan.com.

While man buns may look good now, they could lead to a “hairy” (or lack thereof) situation later on.

Photos by Maggie Flechler, Claire Lanham and Megan Buss

3.

4.

Quentin Hall (11)

Eddie Rooney (11)

The Flow “Flow,” or long hair on men, is making a comeback.

Flow was originally popular in the ‘80s, when girls wore feathered hair and legwarmers and boys wore letterman jackets and shoulderlength hair, according to an article from cosmopolitan.com entitled “80s Hair and Sequin Sweaters.”

Eddie Rooney (11), long-time flow fan, appreciates flow for its function, saying, “My mom can point me out on the lacrosse field more easily.”

Rooney also likes the appearance of it, saying “The ladies love my long luscious hair.”

According to a hairstyleonpoint.com article entitled, “Long hair is trending. How to grow your hair out,” the return of the flow has been long awaited in the world of men’s hairstyles.

The flow illustrates that what goes around comes back around.

Blurbs written by Sarah Hopkins and Erin O’Donnell

LADE explores thrift shops in the Wooster community

THE WOOSTER BLADE | TRENDS | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 27

Q&A with a local thrift shop owner: What are some tips that you have for Jodi Harris thrift shopping?

How do you choose what goes into your store and what does not? of Jodi’s Closet

“I look for items that are current. Things that are in the stores right now. Some things are timeless, and I will take, say one wool coat that never really goes out of style.

The background of my consignments is extremely important. I require items to be washed. Nothing that smells like smoke.

I am fortunate that I know many of my cosigners personally, so I know where the items are coming from.”

Q&A conducted by Maureen McKeown

How should a person thrift shop?

“There are all types of thrift consignment shops. Know what you are looking for. If it is in more “labeled/designer labels,” you may want to go to a more specialized shop. Some shops are strictly women’s, like mine.

Others’ stores are geared to kids and or infants.”

Thrifty Finds:

“That is the great thing about thrift/consignment. I have helped people put together an entire outfit for under $25.

There is something for everyone’s budget. I would think that in most thrift/consignment stores you could get great finds for under $20.”

Nice as New Consignment Fashions is a place to shop for new and used clothing resales and consignment. Nice as New has relocated to 2891 Cleveland Rd. They will be opening on April 1, 2016. Their daily hours will be Monday through Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Journey and Billy Joel records found at Great Finds Resale. $1 each.

MAGGIE FLECHLER

Formal dress found at Goodwill. $5.50

CASEY BAIK

Items found by Valerie Anderson and Sarah Hopkins

How much money should someone spend in a thrift store?

Nice As New:

CASEY BAIK

NIKE tennis shoes found at Jodi’s Closet $20

“Be open minded. You can find amazing items that are in great shape. You need to look carefully. You want good quality at a good price. Check for cleanliness, condition, etc. Ask if there are any specials or sales.”

VALERIE ANDERSON

Men’s shoes found at Goodwill. $5

Great Finds Resale: Opened by Dan and Carrie Snyder, Great Finds Resale is located in downtown Wooster.

According to greatfindsresale. com, the family-owned business’ owners have six children ranging from 4 to 16 years old. They have recently relocated to 328 E. Liberty St., next to Larry’s Music. They are open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Jodi’s Closet: Jodi’s Closet is located on 150 N. Walnut St. It is open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jodi’s Closet will take in any used brandname clothes items and reimburses sellers based on the clothing items.

Goodwill: Goodwill is an international organization founded in 1902.

Located at 1034 Nold Ave., Wooster, community members donate used items and those items are then resold.

According to woostergoodwill. org, the mission of Goodwill Industries of Wayne and Holmes Counties is, “To help people reach their highest level of independence and success through training and employment-related services.”

Goodwill is open on Sundays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Blurbs written by Hanna Morgan and Valerie Anderson

THE WOOSTER BLADE | TRENDS | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 28

From Advent calendars to Italian Christmas fish, ‘Tis the Season: students and staff reflect on holiday traditions “We always put up an aluminum pole in our living room in protest of the consumerism of Christmas.”

-Phil Klein, Social Studies Dept. member

“My family goes to the Pine Tree Barn and we cut down a tree to put in our living room.”

-Keith Kilner (10)

“As a family, we always decorate the Christmas tree with ornaments together. Also, my sister and I always have an Advent calender.”

-Christopher Cannon (11)

“Every year my family and I buy Christmas ornaments for each other.” - Thomas Westover, Math Dept. member

Quotes compiled by Evan Doan and Ryan Miller Graphic by Shreya Gurumurthy

“Every year after Christmas, my family drives up to Illinois and celebrates Christmas with my dad’s side of the family.”

- Corbin Lanker (10)

“Every single year we open one present each on Christmas Eve.” -Jacob Gooch (9)

“On Christmas Eve, the only meat Italians eat is fish, so we cook smelts and stuff.” -Armand Rutter (11)

“Well, my family always soaks our cat in canola oil and then we see which one of us can slide her further across the living room floor.”

- Wil Gastier (11)

“Every year, my extended family celebrates Christmas morning with carols and the story of Christ’s birth. Then, chaos ensues as all the cousins swap gifts among ourselves.”

-Nathaniel Steiner (12)

“We always make almond toffee as a family and have oyster stew on Christmas Eve.” - William Franck, English Dept. member

“We open small gifts every day leading up to Christmas starting on the Dec. 1.”

-Griffin Murphy (9)

“Every year, my family and I attend the Cornerstone Free Methodist Church Christmas Eve service.”

-Chad Bever, English Dept. member

“Every year, we make graham cracker houses and whoever makes the best one gets a prize.”

-Izzy Rico (10)

“We have a book that we read a page from every day that counts down until Christmas Day.” -Matthew Lorentz (10) “Every year for Christmas I take my kids to see Santa.” - Misty Bisesi, Social Studies Dept. member “My mom would put an orange in the bottom of our stocking every year.”

- Paige Hollingsworth, Social Studies Dept. member

VIEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 29

The week I tried:

Less sweets lead to positive thoughts

NO SWEETS NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS NO TV/NETFLIX No TV proves productive

SHREYA GURUMURTHY webmaster

Avoiding the temptation of sweets for a week was not as hard as I expected.

At the beginning, no coffee, candy, chocolate, cookies, ice cream or any other sweet snack, many of which I eat on a daily basis, for seven days seemed very close to torture.

Everything I wanted to eat was sweet and unhealthy.

Surprisingly, over the course of the week, no sweets evolved into no snacking. I stopped

eating when I was not hungry.

I replaced sweet snacks with salty snacks, but if I had a sweet tooth or if I were hungry between meals, I resorted to fruit.

As the week went on, my strong urge to consume sugar started to wear off.

I began to feel healthier and more proud of myself for completing this seemingly impossible task.

Until now, I did not realize the amount of unhealthy food I actually eat and now I will make a conscious effort to reduce that amount.

Although I was happy to be able to drink all the coffee I wanted after the week was over, I think this week has really affected me positively.

Veganism affects mind more than body ERIN O’DONNELL sta writer

This past week I tried to go without television, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and all other internet mediums of the sort.

To be honest it was terribly difficult, but it was ultimately rewarding.

I went into the week expecting a week of suffering, and I was not too far off.

The first two days were the worst because I had to break my habit of Netflix for two hours before bed, and that was a habit I was not entirely thrilled to get out of.

However, I did not account for the good that would come out of it.

For example, I caught up on my homework so far that I actually ended up two assignments ahead in math.

I also fell asleep at a reasonable time every night I was on the experiment.

So, while the initial hump was like that of a smoker trying to quit, I found the experiment worth the boredom.

I might even put a dent in my weekly Netflix intake when I have work to do.

STEPHEN KRIDEL co-editor-in-chief

The lure to attempt veganism did not lie within my ethics or health, but in general well being and peace of mind.

I had heard from several vegans that the diet leaves people feeling cleaner, more energetic and more refreshed.

Although not knowing whether my constant drowsiness was from lack of good sleeping habits or my meat-heavy and dairy-

downing diet, I wanted to see if a week of veganism would help energize me.

Sadly, I did not see enough of a change to conclude the vegan diet had an effect. This lack of change may have been due to the short amount of time on the diet, or maybe I just was not trying hard enough.

I did, however, notice a change in how I went about choosing food. Despite being

vegan choices, I steered away from any soda, junk food and other sweets, feeling quite content and even over joyed that I was putting almost strictly all-natural foods into my body.

Overall, being vegan felt like a very meditative and thought provoking cleanse, and it is definitely something I would recommend attempting at least once.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 30

Students spill their opinions in 100 word rants Politicians react to refugee situation

Blame for Paris placed on refugees

MARY GRACE GORMAN

SHIYUAN WANG

I am absolutely appalled by statements American politicians recently made regarding the refugee crisis. Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush suggest we only accept Christian refugees. Really? Are they that unenlightened regarding the separation of church and state? Chris Christie asserts we should not even take orphans under age five, still citing security concerns. Paradoxically, while they justify these proposals as essential to fighting terrorism, hostility toward refugees only helps ISIS, bolstering their narrative: the West fears Islam, and the only refuge for Muslims is the caliphate. Remember, refugees are human beings at their most vulnerable. We cannot turn them away.

After the Paris attacks that devastated the entire world, there is one particular accusation coming up that truly makes me angry, which is that refugees are the cause of such horrific acts of terrorism around the world. As a result of this accusation, there have been 34 governors in the United States who want to stop the flow of refugees into their own states.

Refugees are escaping the exact kind of terrorism that is being inflicted in these major cities. Blaming them will not solve the root of the problem. Instead, it will only lead to undue hatred and racism.

Hallway displays hygiene problems

Lack of forks sparks controversy

DROSOS KARDULIAS

BECCA FOLEY

staff writer

a&e editor

Personal hygiene is a large part of how we present ourselves to the world. It aids others in forming positive first impressions of us.

Some people inexplicably seem to accept that others will perceive them as unclean. This acceptance would be perfectly fine if it did not also affect those others. Alas, a decision to forego deodorant or a shower not only hurts the person making the decision, but the innocent people around them. Suffering through offensive odors not only disrupts an educational environment, it also makes walking through the hallways frustrating and painful. End the suffering. Take a shower.

Forks are remarkably handy. I use forks for eating everything from noodles to grapes. But, when one purchases a value pack of utensils, it often comes with an equal amount of forks, spoons and knives.

And, what always runs out before the others? Forks. Or, in a cafeteria where they put out containers of each utensil, what container runs out first? Forks.

Companies either need to start making these packages with more forks and more containers of forks should be put out in a cafeteria or people should stop discriminating against utensils that could be used for the same purpose.

co-editor-in-chief

feature editor

Support for Starbucks remains strong

Double standards still present

HANNA MORGAN

on campus editor

feature editor

Recently, there has been a controversy dealing with my beloved Starbucks. Up until this year, Starbucks has printed winter designs on their cups. This year they have designed a plain red cup instead. Some Christian leaders said Starbucks is starting a “war on Christmas,” which I think is ridiculous. Then Donald Trump added that everyone should just boycott Starbucks. Being a Starbucks fanatic, this over the top controversy keeps me up at night. I do not see how this small change could affect the public’s view on Starbucks. I will never stop supporting Starbucks and their new plain red cup.

KAYLA BARNET

Though our society has made a positive turnaround in the way men and women are treated, unfortunately we still face double standards.

A male wears a shirt to showcase his muscles and he’s considered confident. A woman wears a skirt above her knees and she’s considered promiscuous.

Double standards also exist in the interests of both genders. A girl cannot show her love and support of her favorite band or artist without being labeled as obsessive and crazy. However, a male can wear a jersey everyday, attend sports events and scream at his television without anyone thinking twice about this.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 31

MUSICAL MUSINGS: song lyrics provide insight into life “I Don’t Wanna Be” emphasizes individuality lives and not care what others think.

CLAIRE LANHAM a&e editor Everyone starts out his or her life with a plan.

But, what happens when we get to high school? We find ourselves in an ecosystem that crushes our confidence and causes us to overthink every decision in fear of being disliked or labeled unfavorably.

Gavin Degraw’s song “I Don’t Wanna Be,” perfectly exemplifies how everyone should go about their daily

“PART OF WHERE I’M GOING, IS WHERE I’M COMING FROM.”

People need to remember where they have come from to help them know where they plan on heading. Past experiences influence people more than they realize and usually help to create a better future. Remembering the time someone insulted you at school or you made a mistake you wish you could take back allows you to better plan for your future. If you can remember that life moves on, then suddenly, everything becomes just a little bit easier.

“I DON’T WANT TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT I’VE BEEN TRYING TO BE LATELY.”

Everyone seems to struggle with being themselves. Why do people care so much about what everyone thinks?

One of my friends, who a lot of people would consider popular, once said to me, “My friends and I are not any better or different than anyone else.”

So, why do we think they are? It is because they believe they are popular, so everyone else does.

People need to remember that being popular in high school is irrelevant in the long run, so do not try to be anything other than yourself.

“Blank Space” exposes a gossip problem “AIN’T IT FUNNY, RUMORS FLY.”

staff writer

Rumors and gossip spread more easily now than ever.

While many people may not be shocked by the aforementioned statement, it does not change the fact that before meeting a person, a stranger may have a preconceived notion about that person’s character, based on what has been said by others. This phenomenon can be explained through Taylor Swift’s hit song “Blank Space.”

“AND I KNOW YOU HEARD ABOUT ME.” It may be positive or negative, but everyone is likely to have heard something about a person whom they have not yet met. Therefore, it is likely that most people have an opinion of other people before they meet

“SO HEY, LET’S BE FRIENDS.” People should make their own opinions on people and give them a chance to decide for themselves whether they want to be friends, rather than rely on outside accounts. Ending rumor spreading may not be achievable. But, it is entirely possible that we each pass our own judgments on people, instead of just listening to outside accounts.

Opinions of a person should remain similar to a “blank space” until the chance is available to personally meet.

GRAPHICS BY SHREYA GURUMURTHY

NICK COSMO

Whether it be through word of mouth or social media, rumors spread like wildfire throughout the student body and society as a whole. Whether the rumors are true or false may not even come into consideration as they are spread, and they usually have spread too far and too fast to retract the rumor.

face to face.

Relying on what other people have said about a person would not be a problem if it were not for the fact that this information may be biased or untrue.

WOOSTER

BLADE

Editors-in-Chief Mary Grace Gorman, Stephen Kridel Webmaster Shreya Gurumurthy Graphics Manager Nate King-Smith Business Manager Samantha Brunn Front Editor Maureen McKeown On Campus Editors Kayla Barnet, Ryan Miller Focus Editors Kayla Cooper, Olivia Sleek Sports Editors Casey Baik, Grant Peabody A & E Editors Becca Foley, Claire Lanham Trends Editors Emma Jeffries, Chloe Landers Cover Editors Isabelle Cannon, Sarah Hopkins Views Editors Alex Barnard, Fred Holmes Feature Editors Hanna Morgan, Shiyuan Wang Staff Writers Valerie Anderson, Megan Buss, Nick Cosmo, Spencer Dilyard, Evan Doan, Bree Flinn-Johnson, Drew Friedhoff, Hannah Knapic, Austin McCully, Maddy Nacci, Scot Nielson, Erin O’Donnell, Amber Swigart, Katie Ward, Tatumn McGrew, Drosos Kardulias Photographers Fred Holmes, Grant Peabody, Casey Baik, Megan Buss, Bree Flinn-Johnson, Hannah Knapic, Jenna Zhu, Maggie Flechler, Maureen McKeown, Claire Lanham Cartoonists Scot Nielson, Jess Lyons, Fred Holmes, 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.

Editorial Board discusses:

Curriculum, media and ODE standards In the original Nov. 9 Huffington Post article, it was evident to The Wooster Blade Editorial Board that the newspaper did not uphold basic principles of journalistic integrity in the reporting of the incident. The original article was based solely on allegations, and the writer failed to include more than two sources of information, one of which was the then-anonymous accuser of the WCSD through the American Atheists Legal Center. The writer gave the WCSD mere hours to respond before publishing the accusations, and other publications, such as Seventeen and Teen Vogue, quickly picked up the minimally-sourced story.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board is disappointed in the reporter’s practices; however, the board also believes that the WCSD could have better handled their response to the article.

In a Nov. 11 article from The Daily Record, WHS Principal Tyler Keener described the parent who lodged the complaint with the American Atheists’ group as “disgruntled.” The Daily Record went on to publish two different articles on Nov. 16th which enumerated the history between the parent who lodged the complaints and the school district.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board finds the approach the WCSD used to respond to the allegations troubling.

In the press release, Superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs stated, “We can speak with absolute certainty when we say these claims made by the American Atheists were not only false, but ridiculous.”

While the claims were proven false, the board believes the use of defensive diction like “disgruntled” and “ridiculous” was unnecessary and minimized parent concerns.

Furthermore, with the media distracting the public with the stories of the accuser’s past behavior toward the district, attention has been taken away from the larger issue at hand.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes the way the WCSD and Ohio approach sexual education is flawed for several reasons.

First, the board is resolute in its belief that students should be treated as serious young adults when it comes to sex education. When reviewing a copy of the entire Responsible Social Values Program (RSVP) curriculum obtained on Dec. 1, the The Wooster Blade Editorial Board was startled to see the juvenile approach utilized by the Alliance to address a mature topic.

Over-the-top demonstrations and activities including, “The Case for Abbey Stinence,” “The Basket of Consequences,” “The Egg of Abstinence,” an STD card game with an abstinence “trump card,” “The Flames of Passion” and “Freddy the Frog” belittle 12- to 15-year-olds and are not in the spirit of having a serious discussion. Demonstrations including an explosion of vinegar and baking soda and setting numerous objects on fire are excessive and serve only as scare tactics. Instead of fear and shame, options should be laid out for students in a factual and balanced manner.

While Wooster High School does not utilize all 15 days of the curriculum, the RSVP curriculum is subsidized by the Ohio government. The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes the Ohio government should halt its subsidies of such programs.

In fact, the The Wooster Blade Editorial Board was horrified to discover that Ohio is one of only two states to have no health education standards, according to Health Dept. member Steve Young. It is disgraceful that Ohio does not mandate that its students receive proper health education.

Moreover, the Ohio Revised Code does mandate abstinence education. That Ohio mandates that a value be taught, while it does not mandate any objective health education is a disgrace to Ohio and a disservice to Ohio public school students.

Yet, proper sex education is crucial. According to the Guttmacher Institute’s 2012 “Facts on American Teens’ Sources of Information About Sex,” 86 percent of the decline in teen pregnancies between 1995 and 2002 can be attributed to greater contraceptive use, yet, “Among teens aged 18–19, 41 percent report that they know little or nothing about condoms and 75 percent say they know little or nothing about the contraceptive pill.”

In addition, greater emphasis on STD prevention in ways other than abstinence would be in the spirit of minimizing “risky behavior,” as the Guttmacher Institute continued to note that American teenagers have significantly higher rates of STD contraction than their Canadian and Western European peers.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes abstinence only education is not practical. The National Survey of Family Growth 1982-2002 found that 95 percent of respondents have had premarital sex, and 75 percent did so before age 20. The abstinence mandate comes from the state level, so change too must stem from the state level.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board implores Ohio to reevaluate its standards and put students first by mandating fact-based curriculum in terms of sexual health.

MAGGIE FLECHLER

THE

THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | DEC. 4, 2015 | PAGE 32