The Wooster Blade, Volume XVIII, Issue 4

THE WOOSTER BLADE

WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER • 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH • OCT. 27, 2017 • VOLUME XVIII, ISSUE 4

The 2017 Ohio general election: a look at the issues, locally and statewide

Index:

On Campus 2-3

Feature 4-5

A&E 6

Cover 7-11

Sports 12-13

Focus 14

Views 15-16

ON CAMPUS

Poll demonstrates many high schoolers lack parking permit ALEC PAULEY At WHS, a parking pass is mandatory for all students who park and leave their cars in the parking lot, according to the student handbook.

WHS secretary Kelly Williams says the parking passes need to be visible from the exterior of the vehicle, allowing anyone walking by the vehicle to see it.

Williams said if a student vehicle is found without a parking pass within the WHS parking lot, a ticket may have to be issued to the incorrectly parked vehicle by school resource officer Ken Linz or other officials such as principal Tyler Keener.

The passes can be purchased in the office after filling out a form and paying the $1 fee.

The form asks about proof of insurance, a driver’s license and a $1 payment.

After turning in the form and fulfilling the requirements, students can receive their parking pass, which needs to be renewed each year students are at the high school.

According to a poll taken

by The Wooster Blade for on parking passes for the Oct. 13 issue, it was found that out of nearly 70 sophomores, juniors and seniors polled, 27 had a license, 24 park and leave their car in the parking lot throughout the day and 17 students had a parking pass.

Keener says the passes are a small investment to help keep student drivers, and other drivers using the WHS parking lot, safe.

Linz states paying for the parking pass is a much smaller feat than paying for the parking ticket students may receive for not having one.

The price of a ticket is $10, and another possible $10 for any other driving offenses, whereas the pass is $1.

In the poll, some students said they believe the parking passes are unreasonable and that they probably will not get a ticket.

Keener says that with more officials checking through the parking more regularly now, the passes have good purpose.

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Keener said he has gone into the parking lot himself to check for passes and issued tickets before.

According to Linz, before parking passes were issued, students would park their vehicles anywhere they would like.

Though this was convenient for students, Linz said this caused issues for others who were not students, as some students would park in spaces over the lines or would use designated spaces for the handicapped or teacher parking as their own.

Williams says the concept of parking passes was introduced in order to reduce the number of irresponsible drivers in the WHS parking lot.

Speech and Debate hosts Meet the Team Night to introduce competitors DEVIKA WALIA The Speech and Debate team hosted their Meet the Team Night on Oct. 25.

According to Matt Lorentz (12), captain of the Speech and Debate team, Meet the Team Night is, “a night where all the members and their parents... can see what speech and debate is like if they can’t make it to tournaments.”

William Franck, head Speech and Debate coach, said the night allows parents to experience Speech and Debate if they cannot see their child speak later in the season.

Franck said his role in Meet the Team Night is to delegate tasks to the team, meet and greet the parents and introduce

the coaches.

Franck explained the night begins by introducing the concept of speech and debate, then the team breaks up into groups by category to demonstrate each of the events.

Speech members and debaters break into separate groups to give a modified version of how a round would look in a tournament. The two groups then meet to further explain what goes on within Speech and Debate.

Franck said there is much to look forward to in the upcoming season, as people can expect returning talent from members who have competed at both state and national levels.

Meet the Team night is a yearly opportunity for parents to be introduced to the WHS Speech and Debate team.

Lexi Snoddy (12) playing the role of Kate Rushton

Working: the Musical Drama Club senior

?

Taylor Williams (12) playing the role of Grace Clements ?

Hope Kennedy (12), playing the role of Theresa Liu ?

with Q&A

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WHS musical showcases the lives of working class Americans CLARA LEE Working: The Musical will be performed by the WHS Drama Club Nov. 9, Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. in the PAC. According to Todd Patterson, the musical’s co-director, the show dates were condensed to one weekend to meet the needs of their music pit.

“We have some very difficult music, and our pianist could only play the first weekend… so we’ve omitted the second weekend because she couldn’t

make it,” Patterson said.

Patterson explained that the music has been challenging for both the instrumentalists and the vocalists. Joseph Macchetta (12), a second-year Drama Club member, says it was the most challenging aspect of preparing for the musical.

“It’s a very broad spectrum of types of music… so I’d say probably the hardest part is going from these very different types of tones and energies in the show. You know, switching between those in different scenes and stuff like that,” Macchetta said.

Daniel Carpenter (12), a thirdyear Drama Club member, concurs.

“I’ve got some high notes in the song that I sing and that’s just been difficult, pushing my range and stuff,” Carpenter said.

Working: The Musical is an ensemble-style musical, which means everybody has a fairly equal role, according to Patterson; however, despite the challenges, the cast has been able to overcome the obstacles through hard work.

“I think that they realized the importance of supporting each

other in an ensemble cast, and they have been great at that… and there’s a lot more on each individual. Because it is an ensemble cast, you can’t count on somebody else to pull your weight and you just join in the chorus,” Patterson said.

The musical will also be unique in that it will be done similar to black box theater.

“We’ve done something like this before in that we have not only the actors on stage, but the audience on stage.

They’re going to be seated on platforms…and getting the audience close makes it more

intimate that way so I think it’s a good choice for this show,” Patterson said.

Patterson concluded by saying the musical has a lot of humanity in the storytelling, and the Drama Club hopes the audiences will appreciate the messages within the production.

Tickets for Working: The Musical can be purchased online at ticketpeak.com/ whsdrama or at the door starting Oct. 25. The cost is $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. Seating will be limited to 150 each night.

FEATURE

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 27, 2017 | PAGE 4

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts: Local troops describe values EMILY JEWELL On Oct. 11, The Boy Scouts of America announced their plans to allow girls to become members of their organization.

Scoutmaster Jerry Frye of Troop 65, one of the Wayne County troops, said the news was not all that big of a leap, due to the fact that there already was a program named Venture Scouts, which allowed Boy Scouts to be coed for youth who are aged 14 through 21.

Frye described Venture Scouts as, “A way to put forth the scouting values and bring boys and girls together.”

According to “This Boy Scout Welcomes Girls To His Troop,” an article written by Anna Boiko -Weyrauch of NPR news, with the new opportunity for girls to join the organization, it is up to each individual troop as to whether or not they would like to include girls.

Troops and packs have the option to remain

solely boys or become coed. Within a mixed pack, there would be separate dens of all boys and all girls.

Senior patrol leader of Troop 65, Isaiah Styer, said the addition of girls to the Boy Scouts will be beneficial.

“The way girls think is probably different than the way we think. Just in general, the experience of working together with different genders gives both sides some advantages,” Styer said.

According to Frye, the goal of allowing girls into Boy Scouts was to make life easier on single parent families who may have several children within scouts.

Frye shared that for youth, Boy Scouts is a place for them to, “get some of the things they are not getting at home especially when they are coming from multiple children and a single parent.”

Girls from first through fifth grade can join Cub Scout packs in the fall of 2018.

In 2019, girls ages 10 through 18 can join Boy Scout troops.

Troop 2293 values service and projects HOLLY MILLER feature editor

The mission of Girl Scouting is to, “build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place,” as stated by Girlscout.org According to Girlscout.org, Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low organized the first Girl Scout troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah Georgia and the organization now has 2.6 million members.

Zoe Everett (10) got involved with Girl Scouts nine years ago, following the example of her sister who was a member.

Everett is in Troop 2293 and is ranked a senior.

As a senior, the Girl Scout program hopes these girls can, “be a positive role model, mentor younger girls, develop strong friendships and fight bullying.”

Seniors can earn the Gold Award, which can contribute to college and scholarship applications.

“Since we are an older group, we plan and help at a lot of events to make Girl Scouts more educational and fun for the younger

kids,” Everett said.

According to the Girl Scout program, there are five key ways that being involved helps a girl thrive. The first two aspects state a Girl Scout member, “Develops a strong sense of self and displays positive values,” as stated on Girlscout.org.

Service work within the troop helps contribute to the Girl Scouts’ key aspects.

In Troop 2293, Everett said the girls are involved in many programs and events, including Back to Girl Scouting, The Cookie Rally, volunteering to babysit at the Boy Scout Day Camp and helping with several events at the church where their meetings are held.

Troop 2293 is also involved in annual projects.

At Christmas, they make ornaments for the Christmas tree at the library and then the girls decorate the tree.

“Before Memorial Day we put up flags on graves of Veterans that have passed and we remove the flags after Labor Day,” Everett said.

According to the Girl Scouts mission, it hopes to fulfill the building of character in communities.

Boy Scout Mission:

Girl Scout Mission: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, a better place.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | OCT. 27, 2017 | PAGE 5

HANNAH KNAPIC

sports editor On Oct. 11, the Boy Scouts of America announced the acceptance of girls into their ranks, drawing a variety of reactions from the public.

The allowance of girls into the Boy Scout program is a progressive event that will, in the long run, benefit both girls and boys alike.

According to the Oct. 11 NBC News article, “Boy Scouts Will Admit Girls, Allow Them to Earn Eagle Scout Rank,” by Pete Williams, the Boy Scouts

board of directors voted unanimously to allow girls to become Cub Scouts and earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

While the opportunity for girls to be awarded this coveted rank is incredibly significant, one of the overlooked outcomes of this change is the fact that it will slowly abolish the perception that female and male abilities are gender dictated. Boys and girls working together in the scouts will establish an immediate sense of equality between the two genders, resulting in a future society based in equity and mutual respect.

In a BuzzFeed article by Tasneem NashRulla titled, “The Girl Scouts Have Accused the Boy Scouts of Secretly Trying to Recruit Girls to Appeal to Millennial Parents,” a Girl Scouts president discussed what she believes are the ramifications of allowing girls in the Boy Scouts.

The unnamed spokesperson believes that girls in the BSA is a bad idea and goes against, “... single gender programming,” or the idea that girls learn best in an all-girls environment.

However, this continual notion that girls and boys should be separated will only hinder the progress that has been made toward gender equality in the United States.

Ideally, a Scout program in which both boys and girls can work together would benefit society the most. Both the Boys and Girls Scouts have aspects which mold responsible, capable and mature members, but their separation creates weakness.

If boys and girls had the opportunity to learn crafting and philanthropy skills taught by the Girl Scouts as well as survival and STEM skills taught by the Boy Scouts, the wide variety of talents would create a more well-rounded society.

Presidential rhetoric raises questions

JACOB GOOCH webmaster

Every president of the United States from George Washington to Donald Trump has sworn to as stated in the constitution, “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

With that responsibility comes an unwritten and unspoken contract that guarantees the president’s support of basic human rights in the least, along with supporting the morally correct rhetoric.

President Trump has disrespected the premise of

freedom in every form, whether it is in his commentary on protest within the NFL or through his inherently negative rhetoric in regards to freedom of speech, protest and press.

I have witnessed this president spewing his rhetoric during the Fellowship and Service AT&T Summit stadium show at the 2017 National Jamboree for the Boy Scouts of America.

The speech given at this event was a perfect example of Trump and his presidency.

It was not organized in any usual form, as Trump presented claims and neglected to use evidence to support those claims.

Later in the speech, he would refute the same claims. Trump warped his original words to mean something completely was to, “put aside all of the Only a few minutes later, Trump was referencing, “The

Swamp” or Congress and all of the institution.

Following the speech, I spoke with several international scouts from Malaysia and Colombia. to how serious the president was in his rhetoric and said they did not believe the news sources who were reporting the truth about Trump’s rhetoric until they heard the words from his mouth in person.

As a member of a minority terrifying that the so called “leader of the free world” is so biased against liberties such as speech, protest and free press.

One textbook example was shown in a March 30 CNN article, within which Trump was quoted as saying, “open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money.”

The man that is supposed to

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREA HAWKS ON THE WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE

President Trump spoke to the Boy Scouts of America at the 2017 National Jamboree at the AT&T Summit stadium in West Virginia. represent all Americans is only representing the Americans that he sees as his supporters and those people who align with his ideal human.

Any leader who only speaks challenged by any person who has the power to do so or we risk falling into the trap explained so well by Martin Niem ller in regards to the Holocaust, “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for

the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

It is the duty of each and every American to speak up for the constitutional rights guaranteed to all of the people within our nation’s borders, in the world and especially in the government. Use your voice to speak up now.

SPENCER DILYARD

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Whirling, twisting and twirling:

Meeting Wooster High School’s majorette, Madison Cox

ANNA NACCI On Oct. 20, majorette Madison Cox (12) led the WHS Marching Band as they performed “Script Woo!” for the third time this season.

Cox has been twirling for six years, four of those for the WHS marching band.

The majorette adviser at WHS is Dianna Pindell, who has directed Cox for her years

243 E. Liberty St. Downtown Wooster 330-601-1250

twirling for WHS. When speaking on her time directing Cox, Pindell said, “Madison is one of the smartest, funniest girls I’ve coached. She has me laughing at every practice and game, and yet she is very serious about her role as a majorette.”

Cox is the lone majorette twirling for WHS this year and says she has grown accustomed to twirling alone as she prefers it over twirling in groups.

Pindell also believes that solo

twirling has helped Cox grow as a majorette.

“Being the only majorette this year has allowed Madison to truly shine as a twirler. She is a competitor, and it has allowed her to practice quite difficult individual twirling skills that aren’t always possible when you’re twirling in a group,” Pindell said.

Michaela Beeman, 2017 WHS alum, twirled alongside Cox for her first three years at WHS. After watching Cox at a WHS

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football game, Beeman said Cox has greatly improved, as she has expanded her talent, and has incorporated more complex tricks.

Beeman said she misses her years twirling at WHS with Cox, as she says, “Madison became my best friend during my senior year. She boosted [my] confidence so I could perform my best on the field.

She always had me laughing and I learned a lot from her.”

Aside from twirling in the

WHS marching band, Cox has been competing with Imperial Cadets Baton Corps for six years. She says twirling with the corps has helped her with mastering her tricks, as well as improving her stage presence.

Along with twirling, Cox enjoys working out, as well as being a senior captain on the WHS girls cross country team.

Cox’s last high school twirling performance will be at tonight’s football game at Ashland High School.

COVER

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 27, 2017 | PAGE 7

OHIO GENERAL ELECTION

On Nov. 7 the citizens of Wooster will be able to cast their ballots for the 2017 general election.

Absentee ballots will be available for request until Nov. 4, according to the Wayne County Board of Elections. In-person absentee voting will take place this coming week from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.

STATEWIDE ISSUES ON THE BALLOT CATHERINE STRONG Ohio Issue 1, known as the Crime Victim Rights Initiative, is on Ohio’s ballot as an initiative constitutional amendment, according to the initiative petition that proposed the amendment, which can be found at ohioattorneygeneral. gov.

The initiative was created to repeal a section of the Ohio constitution regarding the rights of crime victims. In the section’s place, the initiative seeks to put Marsy’s Law in its place, according to the full text of the proposed amendment.

Marsy’s Law is a crime victim legislation that was designed to protect and expand the rights of crime victims in the judicial process, such as to be notified of proceedings, according to the Marsy’s Law Victims’ Bill of Rights, which can be found on State of California Department of Justice’s website.

The initiative would replace the Ohio Constitution’s Amendment 2.

Amendment 2 protects victims’

constitutional rights, but the Crime Victim Rights Initiative would provide additional and more specific rights, according to the text of the initiative petition.

Attorney General Mike McWine is a co-chair to the

require state agencies to not pay more for prescription drugs than the federal Department require state payment of attorney fees and expenses to

RHEANNA VELASQUEZ As general election day draws near, two statewide measures sit on Ohio’s ballot.

The latter of the two initiatives, Issue 2, is a proposition, “to

of the law,” according to www. ohiosecretaryofstate.gov.

Ohio Taxpayers for Lower Drug Prices, the sponsoring organization, titles Issue 2 the Ohio Drug Price Relief Act, arguing the act will lower drug prices by giving Medicaid and other state programs the same discount as the VA, according to

yesonissue2. com.

“Send a message to the drug companies and all of America that it’s time to stop the price-gouging that hurts patients and taxpayers,” Ohio Taxpayers for Lower Drug Prices urges voters on their website, yesonissue2.com.

Ohioans Against the Deceptive Rx Ballot Issue, the opposing

campaign to pass Issue 1, according to an article by Jo Ingles on the Statehouse News Bureau’s website, which can be found on statenews.org.

Despite some aspects o f Marsy’s Law being already present in Amendment 2, Attorney G e n e r a l Dewine said the initiative would give more power to crime victims, such as being n o t i f i e d of court

organization, counters that the act, if passed, will raise both prices and barriers to prescription drug access, according to noonissue2. com.

The Ohio Pharmacists Association notes on their website, www.ohiopharmacists. org, that with pharmaceutical companies maintaining the ability to raise rates on the VA and non-governmental buyers, no provision of Issue 2 allows for lowering of overall prices.

Enforcement is also an issue, with the state, and not drug companies, responsible for not paying more than the VA, according to cleveland.com.

proceedings, as stated in the Statehouse News Bureau article.

ACLU Ohio is against Issue 1, according to an article titled “ACLU of Ohio Opposes Issue 1.”

“The ballot initiative, the Ohio Crime Victims Bill of Rights (OCVBR) or Marsy’s Law, will amend the state Constitution to erode important due process protections, including prevention of the accused from obtaining evidence and allowing victims to interject at all stages of a trial,” the ACLU article reported on aclu.org.

The initiative is to be voted on Nov. 7, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website’s voting schedule.

problem. There are multiple reasons for the high prices (bad corporate citizenship, lack of pricing transparency, hidden rebates to middlemen, managers). Issue 2 is not the answer to the problem for Ohio, unfortunately,” Robert Calhoun, Director of Pharmacy Services at Wooster Community Hospital, said. workability of the initiative, if passed, remain contentious, but the larger debate over drug prices will continue to be an issue for Ohio and the rest of the country.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | OCT. 27, 2017 | PAGE 8

An Introduction to the Wooster Board of Education Candidates: BOE makes decisions for district schools GINA VAN LIEU AND ALEXA MITCHELL

The WCSD Board of Education is the elected body for the school district and makes decisions regarding the district’s schools and their policies.

Michael Knapic, the President; Susan Marlar, Vice President; Bill Gantz; Sue Herman and Janice Gallagher.

Community members vote for members of the board who make the decisions for the school’s recommendations and improvements.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs says he plays a role in the board, overseeing all of the board’s decisions.

In the past few years, the board has approved the Follis Field locker rooms and the Boys and Girls Club addition to Edgewood, along with making the decision to move the eighth graders to the high school.

To pass recommendations that come through the vote. The board also votes on curriculum for the Way and AP Seminar.

Tefs explained how the board’s procedure works by saying, “The treasurer has the direct control over hiring, observing, and evaluating; everything else they are reacting to is a recommendation.”

The Board of Education makes many decisions that impact the WCSD.

ESTELLE SHAYA co-editor-in-chief

William (Bill) Gantz

is an incumbent member of the Wooster City Schools Board of Education.

Gantz was originally appointed to the Board of Education following former member Denise Parker’s resignation in 2011, according to the Wooster City School District’s official website.

Gantz said he is running for the Board of Education because he believes in public education and has time to commit to being a board member.

In looking at the purpose of board members, Gantz said their responsibilities are, “to work with the superintendent and treasurer, along with the administration, in long and short term planning for the district.”

Gantz added that although he believes the board should work with appointed administration members, board members can also question the administration. However, Gantz said he believes administration officials are most qualified to recommend courses of action to the board as they participate in the district everyday.

At Candidate Night on Oct. 18, all candidates were asked about communication between the board and community. Gantz said the board operates as a group and not as individuals; therefore, individual communication that people seek can sometimes not be possible.

In his past term, Gantz said the addition of the Boys and Girls Club in Edgewood has been an important board accomplishment. Gantz said he supports what the club can offer to both students and parents.

Currently, Gantz said the most pressing issue he sees facing the district is funding. If elected, Gantz said he would continue to work with the superintendent and treasurer to determine the next operating levy for Wooster City Schools.

HANNAH KNAPIC sports editor

Erik Coblentz

is one of five candidates running for three available positions on the Wooster City School Board.

A Wooster resident with two children in the school district, Coblentz is also the owner of his own State Farm insurance agency and serves as a varsity football coach for the last six years, as well as a Career Day volunteer. Brooke Coblentz, his wife, has been a teacher in the school district for 10 years and is currently a Financial Literacy and Family and Consumer Science teacher at WHS. Coblentz stated, “I have a vested interest in this district with children, a spouse that is a teacher and relationships built with students over time.”

Serving on school board will allow Coblentz to accomplish his number one goal of providing for the community in a positive manner. If elected to the board, Coblentz plans to work collaboratively with fellow board members to ensure that the district continues to strive for excellence and create a desirable learning atmosphere in Wooster.

Coblentz said the responsibilities of a school board member include establishing programs and procedures to maximize learning for each student, all while being wise with resources and legislation management, which is what he says is the proper guideline by which board members should abide while functioning.

If elected to the school board, Coblentz said he will bring many qualities to the group. Coblentz plans to discuss all warranted concerns with the board while striving to be of, “...high character with honesty and integrity to do the right thing and hold others accountable when needed.”

While collaborating with other members of the board and community members, Coblentz plans to use critical and strategic thinking to bring his own problem solving abilities to the school board.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | OCT. 27, 2017 | PAGE 9

AMBER SWIGART co-editor-in-chief

Brad Gowins

said his leadership skills, ability to collaborate and, most importantly, his background working with families and children, make him a viable candidate for a seat in the WCSD Board of Education.

His experience lies in social work: he is a case worker for Wayne County Children Services and has previously worked as a Diversion mentor and Respect Group Facilitator for Ashland Parenting Plus.

“My education and my job experience has been working with families and children... Also, my time in the military helped me become a good leader, a good listener and taught me how to work as a team to accomplish a common goal. I believe that these qualities will serve me well as a member of the board,” Gowins said.

Gowins considers the district’s loss of Title 1 funds a particularly pressing issue.

“This year alone, the district stands to lose over $150,000. If this trend continues, carryover from previous years will be depleted and the district will have to find other ways to recoup the savings,” Gowins said.

Specifically, Gowins has plans to expand early education, STEM programs and community accessibility, if elected.

“From investing more in science and technology education to adding more preschool, I would like to oversee policies put in place that will prepare our kids for the future. I would also like to accomplish finding a cost effective or cost neutral way to broadcast board meetings for the public,” Gowins said.

He has a passion for working with children and said that in this role, he can advocate for students and teachers in the district.

AMBER SWIGART co-editor-in-chief

Hilary Carroll

, a 1994 alum of WHS, said she hopes to bring a unique insight of each level of the district to the WCSD Board of Education.

Carroll is a mother of three children: one who is in elementary school, one who is in middle school and one who is in high school.

She thinks this perspective gives her a comprehensive knowledge of the challenges inherent throughout a child’s education, which could prove valuable on the Board. “...I recognize the varied needs in our children’s education and the community at large,” Carroll said.

Furthermore, Carroll involves herself in schools’ parent groups, serving in multiple leadership positions.

“I serve on the Business Advisory Council’s Finance Committee, as well as Edgewood PTO, Kean PTO, head room parent and I chair the Kean Talent Show,” Carroll said.

She also chaired the WCS Permanent Improvement Levy last year, stays involved in the community by volunteering, through People to People and Wayne County Children Services and co-leads a Girl Scouts troop.

Furthermore, Carroll has business experience that she said will be an asset to the board.

“Having been trained as an accountant and being a small business owner, I advocate the importance of fiscal responsibility,” Carroll said.

More than anything, Carroll aspires to be on the Board of Education to allocate for the educational needs of as many students as possible with respect to the district’s budget.

At the same time, she said she expects to support teachers along the way.

ESTELLE SHAYA co-editor-in-chief

Dan Stavnezer

is a Wooster resident and therapist currently running for the Board of Education.

Stavnezer said he is running for office because he wants to use his experience to help students and represent every voice in the Wooster community.

Stavnezer said he has gained experience through working as a counselor with young adults for 20 years, working on the WeCare pre-K board and Camp Nuhop’s board, owning his own business and volunteering in schools and directly working with teachers.

In looking at the role of the BOE, Stavnezer said he envisions the responsibilities to include creating policy and advising the superintendent.

However, he also thinks board members should reach out more to the community.

Stavnezer said of many members of the community, “I feel like they don’t have access, they don’t know what’s going on with the board.”

To create more awareness of the board and its actions, Stavnezer said board members should attend school events and make themselves more accessible to the community in board meetings.

If elected to the board, Stavnezer said he will evaluate school programs like testing and districtimplemented programs like the Leader in Me. Stavnezer says he has found few assessment measures for these programs and he believes they should be reevaluated and held accountable as the district spends significant sums on them.

“We’re spending taxpayer money, better make sure…that they’re doing what we ask them to,” Stavnezer said.

Stavnezer said will continue to reach out to administrators, students and community members in order to represent all of Wooster if elected.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | OCT. 27, 2017 | PAGE 10

Attorneys compete for judicial seat Michael Rickett

Suzanne Waldron

a&e editor

cover editor Suzanne Waldron is running for a seat on the Wayne County Municipal court.

ALEXIS FLORENCE

NICK COSMO

Michael Rickett, current Chief Criminal Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Law Enforcement Liaison, is running in the election for Wayne County Municipal Court Judge.

According to his campaign website, rickettforjudge.com, he has worked as a county prosecutor for 12 years.

His website also points out his legal experience, which ranges all the way from smaller

the bench come from her experience. She has practiced law since 1989 and has her own practice in Wooster. When it comes to public experience, Waldron has served as a solicitor for Smithville, West Salem’s village prosecutor, Wayne County’s clerk of courts and, most recently, magistrate in the Juvenile Division of Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas, according to Waldron’s campaign website waldronforjudge. com Waldron stated that if elected, she would have a simple thought process before every decision she makes.

“Basically you weigh the facts and how those apply to the law. You have to be consistent in how you do that and treat everyone equally in how you apply the facts,” Waldron said.

Waldron is one of three candidates seeking to replace the current judge Carol White Millhoan.

jury trials and death penalty cases. including formerly acting as a federal law clerk and serving as magistrate to several Wayne He has received endorsements for the judge position from the mayors of Orrville, Rittman and Doylestown, among others.

Rickett’s website furthers that he has a deep

SPENCER DILYARD

if elected, to protect the community, holding criminals accountable in court.

Barbara Knapic NICK COSMO a&e editor

With 30 years of legal experience, Barbara Knapic is running for Wayne County municipal judge.

Knapic has 20 years of experience in public service, including serving on both Rittman and Wooster’s City Council.

If elected, she said she intends to unlock the courtroom doors to the public, as well as allow law enforcement to carry their sidearms for safety as they are in other courtrooms. She said she also wishes to create an air of fairness, impartiality and professionalism in the local judicial system.

In her eyes, she said the role of the court is to apply the law consistently and fairly.

She said the most dominant issue she will have to face is the ongoing drug crisis in the Wooster community, which she feels prepared to handle because of her time on the Wayne County opioid task force. Knapic added she will try to determine which cases can be solved using treatment, rather than jail time, in order to keep

should have higher bond rates and less leniency.

Township Trustee Candidates

Wayne County: Tom Buchholz

Frank Lucci

Wooster City:

Michael Lindeman Matthew Ogden Tracey Varns

Wooster City Council Candidates At Large:

Jon Ansel Bill Bostancic Greg Gehris

2nd Ward:

MacKenzie Haiss Jennifer Warden

4th Ward:

Joe Churpek Scott Myers

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | OCT. 27, 2017 | PAGE 11

Levy proposals appear on local counties’ ballot this election

Fire Levy JOHN GORMAN

Mental Health Levy AMBREA DELLAFAVE

Public Library Levy RACHAEL SCHMIDT

Photo by Spencer Dilyard

SPORTS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 27, 2017 | PAGE 12

Boys’ head soccer coach plans to retire after 15 years and six OCC championships THOMAS MATTHEW & KYLE WARD Brian Hansen, the head boys’ soccer coach at WHS, is retiring after 15 years as head coach.

Hansen recently announced that this will be his last soccer season coaching at Wooster, and he now looks forward to spending time with his family.

“After retirement, it [my time] is filled with family and watching my son play soccer,” Hansen said.

Hansen said he has found it more difficult to perform coaching responsibilities throughout the entire year.

“I’m not able to do what a head coach should be doing during the offseason,” Hansen said.

He is, however, hopeful for the

added.

Second year player Xavier Lubell (10) hopes to also see traditions live on.

“I hope that the n e w coach k e e p s tradition, and doesn’t change the practice style too much,” Lubell said.

Senior player Keagan Brown (12) said he hopes traditions live on, and will miss coach Hansen.

Hansen has six OCC titles under his belt and said he hopes the new coach will continue this winning tradition.

Assistant coach JP

future of the program and wants to see traditions live on.

“I hope someone can come in and run the program efficiently, and carry on some of the traditions that have been in Wooster for so many y e a r s , ” H a n s e n

Lytle believes Hansen has had a successful run.

“It’s been an awesome 15 years, and the program can speak for itself on that: [the team] won a ton of conference titles, a lot of boys go on to do great things, developing from freshmen to senior. It’s been a great ride for them, and, hopefully, we can finish off strong with a nice run at districts,” Lytle said.

Hansen’s replacement has yet to be determined, but assistant coach Lytle said he would love to pursue the position.

As for his goals for next year, “I don’t really know that yet, but the goal is to apply for the position, and go from there,” Lytle said.

As Hansen’s season came to an end, the Generals fought a tough battle against Brunswick.

Wooster lost in the final seconds, the score being 3-2, but Hansen said he was proud of his team and their hard work.

Hansen looks forward to continue his support of the WHS soccer program as a fan.

HANNAH KNAPIC

MADDY NACCI Ashton Dunlap (8) was a standout this fall cross country season, winning eight out of nine of his races and leading the team to many team victories, including an Ohio Cardinal Conference team win.

Dunlap’s parents are both competitive runners, so he started running early, but began competitively in seventh grade.

“I didn’t really love it as much as I do now until last year. It is a lot more fun when you are

part of a team,” Dunlap said.

Kristen Broda coached Dunlap this year and emphasizes how he leads the team both on the course and in practices.

“Ashton is a natural leader who inspires his teammates to aim higher. He leads with integrity, kindness and humility, which resonates well with the team,” Broda said.

Dunlap says the team’s biggest accomplishment this year was competing well at the Woodridge Cuyahoga Valley National Park Invitational, one of the most challenging meets in which they compete.

Dunlap ran his personal record of 10:45 in the two mile at the Ashland invite on Sept.

2 and continuously raced hard, knowing how to pace and when to make a move in a race, said Broda.

Jill Forrest has coached Dunlap for two years and has watched him grow as a runner. She said he always set a great example for his younger teammates.

She said there was a runner from Waynedale with whom Dunlap was very close and with whom he competed through the start of the

season, but as the season progressed, Dunlap made the gap between them bigger and continued to push himself.

“He never went into a race with the mindset that he was going to win,” Forrest said.

Dunlap also participates in basketball and will run track and field in the spring for Edgewood, saying he wants to get within 10 seconds of the middle school 1,600 meter record.

Dunlap said he is looking forward to running high

school cross country in the fall with his fellow e i g h t h graders, as well as the runners he has looked up to through middle school.

Forrest said she believes Dunlap will only get stronger as he moves to longer distance in high school.

JACOB GOOCH

Eighth grade boys cross country runner stands out during OCC championship season

Izzy

MOLLY SCHNEIDER

Brent

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | OCT. 27, 2017 | PAGE 13

competes at district tennis tourney MOLLY SCHNEIDER Izzy Rico (12) was eliminated

by Sarah Robertson from Rocky River at the district tournament for girls tennis on Oct. 12.

Rico competed in the singles competition at districts, which is one of the most difficult flights, according to girls tennis coach Stan Burris.

Rico placed third at the Ohio Cardinal Conference tournament and qualified for districts after that competition.

Rico said despite losing in

how far she went,” Tefs said.

Burris also explains Rico’s capability to learn and apply what she was told right away and explained how it is beneficial to her success.

“When you tell her something, she is very coachable and she’s able to incorporate something new into her game right away. She’s probably one of the quickest learners I’ve ever coached,” Burris said.

Rico hopes to go into chemistry and continue playing tennis at the college level.

tees off at district golf tournament SKYY KHOUNBORIN

ALEESHA VAUGHN

the first round at districts, she entered her match with the intention to put forth her best effort and to enjoy the experience.

She said she wanted to improve on her skills and be a stronger player on the court.

Rico co-captains the girls’ tennis team with Julia Tefs (12).

Rico is also the WHS first girls tennis player since 2007 to compete at districts.

According to Tefs, the tennis team was pleased to watch Rico succeed throughout her season.

“We are all just super proud

Golf team member Brent Dillon (12) was the sole WHS player to qualify to the district tournament after placing second at sectionals with a score of 79.

Dillon has played golf for eight years, with four of those as a member of the WHS team.

According to Dillon, he will continue his golf career at Ashland University.

Dillon said that to train himself for districts, he played in tournaments all summer and

Thank you to Certified Angus Beef for donating a work night meal to our Oct. 23 work night.

THE WOOSTER BLADE Staff

practiced almost every day.

Dillon also gained practice from the matches played during the high school season.

Mark Snowbarger, golf coach, says Dillon is a very coachable athlete and has earned a spot on his list of favorites because his character is shown both on and off the course.

Snowbarger said the main thing he wanted to teach Dillon before the district tournament was to have a positive mindset, to do your best and have a good time playing.

Stacey Dillon, Dillon’s mother, says she is proud and excited to

see him achieve.

“He has worked hours, year round everyday on his golf game. He is deserving of his accomplishments” said Dillon.

She said she is excited to see what the future holds for Dillon.

The district tournament was challenging for Dillon.

“I started out rough, but had a good finish. I was hoping to have a good day and make it to state again but it’s just so hard to do at that level,” Dillon said.

Dillon ended the day scoring an 82, marking the end of his WHS golf career.

Thank you Coach Hansen 15 years of coaching excellence

FOCUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 27, 2017 | PAGE 14

Student opportunities at the College of Wooster

Academic opportunities made available by COW HANNAH KNAPIC focus editor

COW offers arts to students and community CHRISTOPHER ROCHE focus editor

for members of the community to experience the arts featured there.

Some of the arts featured at the COW include its jazz ensemble that features students, as well as guest musicians playing and an art gallery that features contemporary art.

The COW’s jazz ensemble is made up of students who of jazz in various events throughout the year. According to the College of Wooster website, the jazz ensemble has sometimes featured guest artists including Rodney Whitaker, Dee Alexander and Stefon Harris. According to Professor director, the jazz ensemble will be holding a performance on Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Freedlander Theatre.

The performance will feature Michael Kocour, a pianist who will be playing the music of Oscar Peterson, Nelson Riddle,

Nat King Cole and Herbie Hancock. Tickets will be available at either Buehler’s, the COW bookstore and at the door of the concert.

The COW art Museum features from artists around the world.

Director and curator of the museum, Kitty Zurko, said the museum not only features many contemporary artists from around the world, but also features art from student projects. One of the upcoming exhibits is “We, The Masses” by Robyn O’Neil. “We, The Masses” is an animated short based on the art of Robyn O’Neil, Zurko said. According to Zurko, “We, The Masses” will be in the Sussel Gallery Jan. 23 through March 8.

The art museum also features student projects, including the upcoming student curated “Saints, Relics, and Images: The Art of Medieval Devotion exhibition.” “The Saints, Relics, and Images: The Art of Medieval Devotion exhibition” will be in the Burton D. Morgan Gallery April 17 through May 13.

The art museum and the jazz ensemble are only a sample of the multitude of arts featured at the College of Wooster and available to the community.

The College of Wooster offers academic opportunities such as lectures and cultural events that are not only available to students, but to the community as well.

According to Dr. Bryan Karazsia, Dean of Curriculum and Academic Engagement, the COW offers multiple free or inexpensive events, including guest lectures, student performances and athletic events. Karazsia’s two favorite events of the academic year are Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Senior Independent Symposium Day, during which classes are cancelled for students to fully engage in the, “...very dynamic learning experiences.”

The College of Wooster Forum particularly enhances academic opportunities for students and the public through a series of guest lectures, as well as a production of Medea, on Nov. 1, 2 and 3 according to thewoosterforum.scotblogs. wooster.edu.

This year’s speakers include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pennsylvania State University professor, Kirt Wilson and Debra Statz, a Professor of Ethics in Society, Philosophy and Political Science at Stanford University.

Groups of faculty and staff members make decisions regarding the forum, according to Karazsia. Committees choose specific details of each event at the forum while events outside

of the Forum are handled by the hosting department or organization.

Although Karazsia believes students are always in mind for nearly all hosted events, he also stated, “Whenever possible, we try to think through relevance of an event to our local community…”

Along with the forum series, the COW offers a community audit program, in which local adult residents may audit one college course a semester at no cost, according to Karazsia.

Although no credit is offered, the college states that the purpose of the program is to, “...provide the opportunity for continued growth and development of community members, strengthen the relationship between the community and the College…” according to the Community Audit Program Application on wooster.edu.

Students in both college and high school, as well as community members, can benefit from lectures and classes available at the College.

Karazsia said that “The College has been very fortunate to be able to enrich the lives of our students and our local community by organizing events that challenge us to learn something new, critique our views or broaden our perspectives.”

Learning through inquiry and free expression of diverse viewpoints is beneficial to everyone wishing to broaden their perspective or discover something new, according to Karazsia.

VIEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 28, 2017 | PAGE 15

Writer stresses the importance of teenage voting make your opinion count than to vote and participate in government.

our grandparents make accomplishments. scope of this phenomenon: we grow up accustomed to

voter turnout for people aged

ourselves. important to educate ourselves in order to form an informed

are given the right to vote for a reason. Our right to participate in government directly is what

vote actually voting.

Before we reach the age

ERIN O’DONNELL cover editor

As high school students

not know how.

Politicians speak for us and our concerns without our permission all of the time.

understanding of how the

as pawn pieces in political rhetoric. Whether it includes

voter.

healthcare reform or education

having people speak for us.

Our parents sign our

The political state of Wooster High School

With which political party do your views most align?

increasing.

“This kind of morality schism is hard to overcome. It turns into a self-sustaining cycle of

Republican 38%

EVAN DOAN a&e editor

“Trump’s Win Uncovers New

partisanship and drove more of

Democrat 27% Graphics by Avery Ross

generalizations that group hundreds of thousands of people under one category. act condescending toward order for America to to come

alarming increase in partisan politics.

This is not just speculation.

A Livescience article written

Other 7% None 28%

researching the candidates and issues at hand.

says.

Political division is nothing

20% No

33% Don’t Know

our parents.

Political discourse needs to be valued

99% Yes

Do you align yourself with the same party as your parents?

This statistic means that young

parents. high schoolers to register to vote.

Is voting important?

47% Yes

from other nations.

It is especially important for young people to make an informed vote.

We represent a set of needs and values that are entirely

shut down any sort of progress.

“THERE ARE A LOT OF NAMES WE CAN USE TO CLASSIFY THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES, RANGING FROM IDEOLOGICAL TERMS TO VICIOUS INSULTS.”

respect for one another’s

deserve any sort of empathy.

voted for.

There are a lot of names we can use to classify the two

have political conversations with the other side in a constructive way. His main point of emphasis is that people must come to an understanding of empathy and respect.

ideological terms to vicious insults. While some of these

sort of political compromise

psychologist at the Princeton article as saying that this social divide is exponentially

THE

WOOSTER

BLADE

Editors-in-Chief Estelle Shaya, Amber Swigart Webmaster Jacob Gooch Graphics Manager Matthew Lorentz Business Managers Matthew Lorentz, Jacob Gooch On Campus Editor Spencer Dilyard Focus Editor Chris Roche Sports Editor Hannah Knapic A & E Editors Nick Cosmo, Evan Doan Trends Editor Chelsea Patterson Cover Editors Alexis Florence, Erin O’Donnell Views Editor John Gorman Feature Editors Holly Miller, Maddy Nacci Staff Writers David Cheng, Ambrea Dellafave, Henry Gamble, Emily Jewell, Skyy Khounborin, Clara Lee, Emma LoGiudice, Thomas Matthew, Maddy McCully, Melina Mera, Alexa Mitchell, Reece Mitchell, Anna Nacci, Alec Pauley, Avery Ross, Rachael Schmidt, Molly Schneider, Cate Strong, Gina Van Lieu, Aleesha Vaughn, Rheanna Velasquez, Devika Walia, Kyle Ward, Corinne Wiles Head Photographer Hannah Knapic Photographers Ambrea Dellafave, Spencer Dilyard, Jacob Gooch, Emma LoGuidice, Maddy McCully, Reece Mitchell, Chelsea Patterson, Molly Schneider, Cate Strong, Aleesha Vaughn Adviser Kristi Hiner The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The paper is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established in a district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the right to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Wooster Blade is printed in cooperation with Wooster’s The Daily Record.

Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-345-4000 ext. 3210.

The newspaper can also be found at the woosterblade.com

THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | OCT. 27, 2017 | PAGE 16

Greater communication needed between Board of Education and student body OUR VIEW As five candidates vie for three spots on the Board of Education in this election cycle, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board evaluates the relationship between WHS and the BOE, encouraging students to take a more involved and informed role.

Principal Tyler Keener said, “Not just our students, but our community and our people should understand and get involved [in our local elections]...it does affect our livelihood in some way, shape or form.”

Within the WHS senior class, 107 members will be 18 by Nov. 1 and, thus, eligible to vote.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board encourages these students to realize the effect that board procedures have on WHS and take it upon themselves to learn about each candidate and vote in this upcoming election.

After conducting a poll of 104 students in grades eight through twelve, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes students are very disconnected from BOE members.

Only 20 percent of students polled could correctly name a single WCS Board of Education member.

Students polled also responded, in a majority of 68.9 percent, that they see BOE members at few or none of their extracurricular events.

However, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes the onus of awareness and participation also falls upon the Wooster community.

Although many people are already active in local elections, the Editorial Board would like to call upon all adults to research and participate in this election.

Local elections have a more direct impact on the community than many larger elections and voters have a greater ability to influence their outcomes.

Therefore, voters should care about these elections more than national or state elections.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board would also like to see the BOE

encourage the community to actively follow its actions.

One way in which the BOE could encourage community involvement would be to livestream or broadcast meetings on cable television.

We find this proposal both realistic and necessary to make BOE meetings accessible to all community members, considering meetings take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday nights, a

THE WOOSTER BLADE EDITORIAL BOARD BELIEVES STUDENTS ARE VERY DISCONNECTED FROM BOE MEMBERS time residents cannot always attend.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board recognizes the time and dedication given by BOE members, especially considering that most have jobs and other community commitments outside of their board positions.

However, the Editorial Board also believes since BOE members are public representatives, they have a responsibility to make themselves known to students and the community they serve.

On the other side of the equation, students also have a responsibility to make themselves open to information concerning the BOE. Within the framework of many BOE candidates’ messages at Candidate Night was the idea of changes to communication.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board encourages those who are elected to take strides to interact with students and community members to understand their concerns and to work to solve those problems.

In addition, the Editorial Board implores the Wooster City Schools BOE to increase awareness of its actions in the student body through new attempts at transparency, and an increased presence at studentattended district events.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board believes that if each party is willing to make small changes, the BOE, community members and students will have a stronger relationship, increasing the voices examining and working to better the quality of education in Wooster City Schools.

Letter to the Editor Editors – November 7th is Election Day. If you are 18 years or older, please consider becoming an informed voter on candidates and issues and take advantage of the opportunity to cast a vote. There are contested positions on the Wooster City Council, the Wooster City School Board and for the Wayne County Municipal Judge,

along with two important tax levies.

Visit the Wayne County Board of Elections website at votewayne.org to view a list of candidates for all elections countywide and to review voter registration, polling locations and sample ballots. In-person absentee voting began on October 11 and will end on Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.