The Wooster Blade, Volume XVII, Issue 3

THE WOOSTER BLADE

WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER 515 OLDMAN ROAD, WOOSTER, OH OCT. 7, 2016 VOLUME XVII, ISSUE 3

INSIGHT INTO REPRESENTATION:

The Wooster Blade staff provides a guide as to how to portray yourself positively

THE WOOSTER BLADE | INDEX | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 2

on campus: pages 3-6

sports: pages 9-13

focus: pages 7-8

Reputation, according to

feature: pages 14-15, 21-22

“The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.”

-Socrates

“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.”

-Benjamin Franklin

cover: pages 16-20

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ON CAMPUS

Advice for high school students on applications and the Naviance program

Naviance assists students

College Advice

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 3 AUSTIN McCULLY focus editor In the spring of last school year, the WHS Guidance Department announced the addition of the Naviance Family Connection Program to the school’s college and career readiness services.

Naviance contains four sections: “Colleges,” “Careers,” “About Me” and “My Planner.”

Within the program, students can analyze and compare both colleges and various careers.

The “About Me” section includes a Strengths Explorer test to help students determine what their natural aptitudes are.

Naviance prioritizes goal setting in students’ development through the “My Planner” section.

According to Naviance’s home website, “Each student’s path

Recruitment director provides advice SARAH HOPKINS & VALERIE ANDERSON co-editor-in-chief & cover editor Keith Gehres is the Director of Outreach and Recruitment at The Ohio State University.

Q: What is your biggest piece of advice to seniors applying to college?

My biggest piece of advice is to take your time when filling out the application and be intentional with the information you include. Too often, I see applications that are submitted at the last minute in a hurried fashion where information is missing or responses are rushed. If a student is not able to fully articulate all their activities or spend extra time proofreading their essay to ensure it answers the question being asked, it may mean that I don’t have as much information as possible when reading the application. I always recommend students include

information in their application if they feel it is important. It is better for that information to be included, even if it may not be needed versus leaving something out that would have been helpful to have included.

Q: What are some of the best ways to stand out in a positive way on an application?

Be authentic and comprehensive.

Don’t try to fill out the application by trying to guess what I want to see, instead fill it out based on what you want to share about yourself. It may seem simple, but don’t use acronyms or list something without an explanation.

Q: How important are tests scores in the admissions process?

Test scores, like any factors in the admissions process, are important. However, it’s important to remember they are only one factor used in this process. We value so many different factors in our

admissions process and while test scores are part of this, we are not saying yes or no to any application simply based on test scores alone.

Q: What’s one thing students should keep in mind while filling out applications?

Be sure to pay attention to deadlines. Colleges use deadlines for important reasons. While we all try to be as flexible and understanding as possible, it’s important to give yourself plenty of time to submit your application and make sure everything else needed for your application is submitted on time. Each deadline can mean something different, which is why it’s important to pay close attention. Don’t just ignore these and hope or expect everything will work out. If you have questions or don’t understand something, just ask.

That is why we are here, to help you in this process.

Blurbs compiled by Estelle Shaya

is unique... Naviance allows students to create a personalized plan that helps them make the right decisions throughout their academic journey.” and career guidance, Naviance acts as a medium for storing application materials, resumes, ACT/SAT scores and other

Naviance offers students one central location...to help students stay organized. information.

Although services resembling those in the Naviance program are available on the web, central location with services to

help students stay organized.

Jennifer Winge, Dean of Admissions at the College of Wooster, commented on WHS’s implementation of the Naviance program in an e-mail on Aug. 17, 2016.

“I’m pleased to see Wooster City Schools invest in the Naviance product... the system facilitates important communication and research at each phase of a student’s high school career.”

WHS Guidance Counselor, Tyler Egli, cited his experience at a school in Indiana as being the motivation behind bringing Naviance to Wooster.

“Seeing how helpful it was for students and families there, I wanted to bring that to the Wooster community,” Egli said.

Guidance counselors have presented information on how to utilize Naviance to senior English classes at WHS.

College admission types

Editor’s note: please note that other college admission types exist; however, we featured three lesser known types.

Early Decision Admissions: For those applicants set on a single school, early decision may be the right choice.

According to the College Board on their official website, “early decision plans are binding.”

If a school accepts an early decision application, the applicant must attend that school.

Early Action Admissions: Early action admissions may be desirable to students wanting an early answer, but not set upon a specific college.

In an article on its official website entitled “College Admissions Options: Early Decision, Early Action, Rolling & Regular,” Campus Explorer said early action is much like early decision. An applicant receives the decision of the college early, but attendance to the school is not mandatory.

Deferred Admissions: The option of deferred admissions is available to students desiring to take a gap year.

Deferred admissions allow students to postpone attending a college they have already been accepted into until a later date for a variety of reasons, according to the University of Utah office of admission.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 4

DROSOS KARDULIAS on campus editor

Orrville High School has implemented a drug testing program, affecting students in grades seven through 12 who either volunteer to be tested, are athletes, or are involved in competitive extracurriculars.

The text of the drug testing policy states that it was implemented due to concerns that Orrville students may use alcohol or drugs.

The policy states that it involves two stages, a team testing stage and a random testing stage. The team testing stage involves all eligible athletes submitting a urine sample. The random testing stage may occur at any time during the season and can involve the same student more than once. Random testing may occur weekly.

The testing occurs either on school grounds or at a testing facility approved by the Orville Board of Education. Testing is subject to a number of security measures, such as placing lab technicians outside of stalls to ensure that urination is

proceeding normally, according to the policy.

According to Orrville High School Athletic Director Audrey Zuercher, the random drug testing at Orrville varies in cost, depending on the budget of the school district in a given year.

Zuercher estimates the current school year’s drug testing will cost the Orrville district $4,500.

However, Zuercher says the program of drug testing has not discovered any evidence of drug use so far.

“We have had 0 positive tests,” Zuercher said.

According to Zuercher, the drug testing program is intended to promote good decision making among students and give them a reason to reject drug-related peer pressure.

Zuercher said the drug testing program has not met with any resistance from the student body and the program has received positive feedback.

Though Jared Lustig, a student from Orrville, has never been drug tested, he supports drug testing, because he believes it will keep the school clean.

Jared Lustig does not know of any cases where drug testing

WHS Students comment revealed of drug drug onevidence random tests use, supporting Zuercher’s statement. He states closest for allthestudents

thing to someone being caught, that he knows of, was a case where students Agree were found withtotesting be drinking, despite the policy of random drug testing.

Joseph Lustig, Disagree an Orrville with parent, opposes the random testing drug testing policy because he said the school is overstepping WHS Students comment its bounds by attempting to regulate activity outside of on random drug tests school hours. for all students Lustig states he is disappointed by the student body’s 40% Agree with testing compliance with the drug testing and that the students do On Oct. 3 and 4, 115 students were polled in not recognize the importance of study halls and lunches. Data60% collection by Disagree with the issue.

Jacob Gooch. Graphic by Matthew Lorentz. testing “I feel what they do not understand is it is part of their right[s] that [are] being given away to the adults that don’t have to be tested,” Lustig said.

The opportunity cost associated with drug testing is a matter of concern for Lustig, who said the money spent on testing has been wasted considering the lack ALEXANDER THOMPSON whether or not it is an effective of results and that the testing way, or part of an effective webmaster money would better benefit solution for keeping the the students by paying for their The Wooster City School students safe and addressing education.

Board of Education announced the concerns of those that have at its August meeting that problems with substances.”

Keating said the committee’s it will form a committee to consider random drug testing first meeting will be in midin the WCSD, according to October.

WHS Principal Tyler Keener The report said, “In fact, drug the Aug. 6 Daily Record testing may actually take scarce article, “Random Drug Testing said there is no rampant drug problem at WHS, but he resources away from the very Considered,” by Linda Hall. health and treatment services Dr. Adam Keating, a assumes the committee will needed by students who are Cleveland Clinic pediatrician, be an attempt to help students misusing drugs.” will chair the committee at the make smart choices more generally.

In 2015 the American meeting on the Sept. 26.

Knapic said the committee Academy of Pediatrics Knapic said the impetus for examined the existing evidence the committee stems from was assembled by the district the board on student drug testing in a inquiries made by community administration, Pediatrics article. members, but said, “The of education and unnamed The paper concluded, inquiries were made in private community members.

Bobbi Douglas, Chuck Cooper, “Given the modest (and short- communication, and I believe term) effect size in reducing it would be inappropriate of Richard Leone, Bridget Frantz, substance use, high cost, and me to share the names of those Brent Rice, Robert Gorman, Dr. Adam Keating, Andy Kellar, significant potential for adverse individuals at this juncture.” outcomes, the AAP concludes Keating said the committee Richard Lee and Jacquelyn that research evidence does will set its goals at their first Dossi are on the committee, not support the initiation or meeting, but said, “Probably according to central office.

Knapic said there would be a expansion of school-based drug the first goal is to look at, from testing programs at this time.” an evidence based manner, the student on the committee, but The AAP represents 60,000 question of random mandatory at this time, no name could be pediatricians nationwide. student drug testing, to see confirmed.

Research casts doubt on drug testing ALEXANDER THOMPSON webmaster

Since the 2002 5-4 Supreme Court decision in Board of Education v. Earls, which allowed schools to conduct random suspicionless drug testing without warrants of any student who participates in extracurriculars, there have been multiple academic studies of the effects of such policies.

A study, conducted by University of Michigan Researchers in the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2013 examined over 200,000 responses to the Youth Behavioral Risk Survey and compared them to adoption of random drug testing.

The researchers found that drug testing contributed to a small decline in marijuana use, but seemed to cause a rise in other, harder, illicit substances.

A 2012 study of 943 high school students published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence found testing regimes to have a small impact on drug use.

They found it was, “associated with lower levels of personal substance use in positive school climates, but only for female students.”

A 2006 Drug Policy Alliance report titled, “Making Sense of Student Drug Testing,” found that 500 tests cost $21,000 to administer properly and that positive tests are exceedingly rare.

40%

60%

WHS Students on random drug testing

School board considers drug testing students

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 7, 2016 | ON CAMPUS | PAGE 5 Improv Comedy Club: Comedy transforms our stress, because making others laugh is magical. –Kristin Broda

Key Club: Volunteer Opportunities and projects that serve local to international communities. –Paige Arnold

Drama Club: Artistic, storytellers, family, fun, accepting, powerful, educational “Magic Happens Here.” –Emily Patterson

National Honor Society: Prestigious group of students promoting scholarship, leadership, service and character. –Rebekah Bell

Art Club: Wonderful, Original, Objective, Satisfying, Talented, Easy-going, Recreational, Artistic, Rigorous, Teamwork. –Tricia Taggart

Student Government: Student Government helps create and promote a positive student environment. –Tracy McElroy

Spirit Club: A gathering of enthusiastic individuals in hopes of boosting morale.

–Tricia Taggart

Interact Club: Program sponsored by Rotary that reaches out to the community.

--Wil Gastier (12)

Creative Writing Club: We capture life and virtual realities with paper and ink. --Michael Sexton

F.O.R. Club: Kindness, compassion, projects, student-led, chain reaction, service, set the example. –Amanda Terakedis

OCC Leadership: Promotes camaraderie, leadership, and sportsmanship amongst schools in the OCC. –Chad Bever

&

Gay Straight Alliance: Place to feel safe and find people who feel similarly. –Katherine Putka Young Life: Introducing kids to Jesus, loving them regardless of their responses. --Jacob Melrose Upward Bound: Help prepare students for college and graduate them from college. --Cheryl Goff Chess Club: Playing chess games, improving our chess skills and having fun. --Maggie Synder (9)

Fellowship of Christian Athletes: Students inspired by faith reaching out and encouraging other people. –Mark Kister

...in 10 words

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Mountain Biking Club: Rolling berms, narrowly missing trees, shredding rocks, roots, and tires. –Spencer Dilyard (11)

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Teen Institute: Students doing community service, advocating against drugs, alcohol and bullying.

--Savanna Burr (9)

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WHS Clubs

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Ultimate Frisbee Club: Awesome, running, fun, fast, flying, skill, ultimate, Frisbee, catch, throw. –Eric Heller

Se rv

History Club: Freedom of speech, expression, tolerance, enlightening discussions, civic responsibility, FUN. – Misty Bisesi

Challenging, fun, exciting, Academic Challenge: dominating, cardinal, academic, sophisticated, historical, scientific, literate. –Matthew Balsinger

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Yearbook: Yearbook: The one stop recorders of ALL things WHS history. –Brett Hiner

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ice

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Blade: The forum of a dysfunctional family that champions students’ voices. --Kristi Hiner

Aca

Science Club: Exciting, fun, science, experiments, explosions, electric, animals, outside the box. –Eric Heller

French Club: Amusant, interessant, delicieux, fete, films, parler, confortable, amis, competition, FRANCAIS. -Jill Forrest

German Club: Good Idea, fun, soccer, Oktoberfest, food, happy, exciting, fantabulous, glamorous. -German Club Students Spanish Club: WHS students passionate and interested in Spanish language and culture. –Chris Matthews Speech and Debate: Passionate students developing speaking skills and communicating about important issues. --William Franck

Keep an eye out for eighth grade clubs in our next issue...

150 N. Walnut St. Downtown Wooster 330-601-1250

Blurbs compiled by Kayla Cooper and Rachel Wood

Upscale and Designer Consignment Clothing and Accessories

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ON CAMPUS | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 6

Chilean poet Formoso visits Wooster RACHEL DUGAN WOOD

ERIN O’DONNELL

Hugs for Kenya’s organizer, Alvin Makori (11), sits next to a collection box for school supplies he plans to deliver to a Kenyan orphanage.

WHS embraces student charity, Hugs for Kenya ERIN O’DONNELL cover editor

Hugs for Kenya, a nonprofit service organization founded

by Alvin Makori (11), is new to WHS this year and has plans to host three drives throughout the year to donate necessities to an orphanage in Kenya.

Makori, president and founder, states the mission of the organization is to help children in Kenya.

Hugs for Kenya is currently hosting a school supply drive until Oct. 21, and then, Makori plans to host two more drives collecting items including personal items in December and books in February.

According to Makori, these drives will benefit the Nyamira Orphanage outside of Nairobi, Kenya, and the organization hopes to adopt more orphanages as more supplies are collected.

Macie Meade (11), one of eight board members of Hugs for Kenya, explains the choice of which orphanage Hugs for Kenya will donate to was made

based on need.

“This is an orphanage that does not have any big sponsors, like most of the orphanages inside the city… We really hope to make an impact on those kids’ lives,” Meade said.

Some board members are planning to travel to Nairobi to deliver these supplies in person, according to Julien Lubell, board member. Supplies will also be shipped by boat in May, with money from a fundraiser called Culture Night, as well as from Hugs for Ghana, the organization from which Hugs for Kenya stems.

Culture Night will be hosted in late March.

Makori took part in the Hugs for Ghana organization at his former school in Washington.

He decided to bring the organization to WHS and adapt it to benefit Kenya because he has a personal connection with that country, as his parents were born and grew up there.

Following Makori’s graduation in 2018, he hopes to take a leadership position at Hugs for Ghana.

On Oct. 4, Chilean author and poet Christian Formoso came to WHS and spoke to upper-level Spanish classes about his work.

According to Stony Brook University, Formoso is the author of six collections of poetry, for which he was awarded the Binational Literary Award of ChileanArgentine Patagonia and the distinguished Pablo Neruda Prize.

One of Formoso’s most widely known poetry collections, El Cementerio Más Hermoso de Chile, (The Most Beautiful Cemetery in Chile) was the recipient or finalist for two other prestigious Latin American poetry awards.

This poetry collection tells

the stories of the people of the Tierra del Fuego territory, an area at the southernmost tip of Chile where Formoso grew up.

Terry Hermsen, English professor at Otterbein University and translator of Formoso’s poems, notes, “[Formoso] gives us a way to visualize 500 years of human history…through the lens of the southern tip of our hemisphere.”

Hermsen met Formoso at a Chilean Poetry Conference and later partnered with him to create an English translation of Formoso’s poems.

Hermsen and Melissa Rooney, WHS Foreign Language Dept. member, partnered to write Formoso a grant to come to the United States and visit several schools and communities.

In Wooster, Formoso spoke

to WHS students, an event that Rooney believes is “…a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity for students.” He also read his work at the College of Wooster.

Hermsen believes Formoso’s work, although Chilean in origin, is quite relevant to an American audience.

“Just as Shakespeare or a Tolstoy offer us the lives of the people in England or Russia in their times--and yet lift those lives to the universal-so a poet like Christian Formoso takes the lives of the people in ‘the most beautiful cemetery in Chile’ and brings them to life, in all their loves, passions, frustrations, and transcendence,” Hermsen said.

Look for an interview with Christian Formoso in the next issue of The Wooster Blade, which will come out Oct. 28.

FOCUS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 7

Decrease in bee populations deserves awareness and action

RYAN MILLER focus editor

Often seen as merely a nuisance, people generally do not look upon bees favorably.

I attribute much of the disdain

of the public to one simple thing, being unaware.

Many people do not understand the pivotal role of pollination that bee plays in our ecosystem.

Bees are an intricate part of the agriculture sector and are responsible for a great deal of the food eaten on a daily basis in the Unites States.

In fact according to a report from the USDA Forest Service, entitled “Bee Basics,” bees pollinate 75 percent of all fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in the United States.

In addition according to a 2011 report from the National

Resources Defense Council, entitled “Why We Need Bees,” bees are responsible for the cross pollination of 30 percent of crops worldwide and 90 percent of wild species of plants.

With that being said, bee populations have been on a drastic decline, according to a June 2014 press release from The White House Press which reports that since 2006 on average beekeepers have seen a 30 percent decline in bee population each winter.

Bee facts

These alarming revelations have been the inspiration for multiple world leaders to take action in order to impede the recent steady decline of bee populations both in the United States and elsewhere.

The European Union has suspended the use of neonicotinoids, an insecticide containing nicotine, that is often cited as a major contributing

factor in decreasing bee populations.

President Obama has taken action to address the problem of decreasing bee populations, responding by creating the Pollinator Health Task Force.

Overall, the role played by bees is irreplaceable in agriculture and food supply.

In addition, the economic repercussions of massive amounts of crops would be devastating.

In summary, people need to appreciate and recognize the immense value of bees in both our ecosystem and in our agricultural economy.

According to the USDA bees pollinate 75 percent of the fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in this country.

According to the USDA there are over 4,000 bee species native to the United States.

According to National Geographic,, if a queen bee dies a new queen will be created by feeding a substance called “royal jelly,” which transforms the female into the queen bee.

Graphics by Spencer Dilyard Illustrations by Valerie Anderson Facts complied by Christopher Roche & Ryan Miller

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FOCUS | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 8

Indigenous plants contribute prosperity to local ecosystem VALERIE ANDERSON

cover editor Over the years, people have moved plants all over the globe, allowing them to root themselves in already developed ecosystems, affecting native species.

Native plants are those that grow naturally in the area in which they evolved. The plants, animals and insects that co-evolved with them become dependent and develop a delicate system of survival.

Many plants for sale in local nurseries are alien species from other countries. The more alien plants added to a garden, the more competition the native

plants have.

According to audubon. org, “Restoring native plant habitat is vital to preserving biodiversity. By creating a native plant garden, each patch of habitat becomes part of a collective effort to nurture and sustain the living landscape for birds and other animals.”

Take into consideration the relationship between the Monarch butterfly and milkweed plant.

Monarch butterflies have evolved to have an immunity to the toxic alkaloids in milkweed. They are so dependent that Monarchs can only feed on milkweed. If there is more planting of the native milkweed, there are

more Monarch butterflies.

Turning a green space into a Certified Wildlife Habitat may help maintain these relationships.

WHS Science Dept. member, Troy Worth, stresses that minute discrepancies in the climate surrounding the plant cause these invasive species to out compete the native species.

“If the invasive species creates enough of a detrimental effect, it could cause trophic cascades in the surrounding areas as well,” Worth said.

Native plants are also easier to grow, as they are already adapted to the soil and climate, so there is no need for extra fertilizers or pesticides.

ILLUSTRATION BY JESSICA LYONS

ILLUSTRATIONS BY VALERIE ANDERSON AND LEAH SIM

RANDY CARMEL guest columnist

Autumn is the time of year when all the birds that visit our backyards, all summer, head south, many migrating to the tropics where our coffee is grown.

However, this might not be the tropical paradise you have in mind. In fact, clearing land for coffee plantations is one of the biggest causes of shrinking migratory bird habitat.

Modern coffee plantations use varieties that are grown in full sun, necessitating the clearing of native forest.

However, traditional, shadegrown coffee farms harbor a diversity of many species.

But, it is the research that

showed the importance of shade coffee plantations to birds that caught the attention of the public an really kick-started the shadegrown coffee movement.

In the last few decades, scientists have noticed long-term declines in many species of Neotropical migrants — about 200 species of birds that breed in North America, but winter south in the tropics.

Researchers examined the entire life cycle of these migratory species. Many of the birds we call our own in Ohio, spend as much as nine months of the year in migration or in the tropics.

Searching for answers to the long-term decline of migratory songbirds, researchers noted the deforestation in the wintering areas of North American

breeding birds.

Since much of the habitat in the New World tropics is being cleared for agriculture, the importance

of shade and organic coffee plantations to wintering North American migrants, as well as resident tropical species, became evident.

The multi-layered vegetation of traditional or organic shade-grown coffee farms provides food and cover for birds, which is in some cases, very similar to native forest.

In areas where farming has replaced natural habitat with stark pastureland and row crops, organic and shade grown coffee farms are sometimes the only quality habitat available.

So, as you sip that coffee in the morning, listening to the birds around your home, you can be assured your consumption does not destroy valuable habitat birds need to survive.

By purchasing shade grown and organic coffee you can minimize destruction of the mid elevation tropical forests necessary to support that morning cup of coffee.

SPORTS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 9

New members inducted into WHS Hall of Fame ISABELLE CANNON

design manager The Wooster All Sports Hall of Fame is an organization that promotes the outstanding accomplishments of former athletes, coaches and supporters of Wooster athletics.

According to Tom Catanzarite, Hall of Fame Board President and 2004 inductee, athletes may be nominated by anyone in the community. They must have graduated a minimum of 10 years before being eligible for induction.

Coaches and supporters have no time limit for induction, Catanzarite explained.

According to an article entitled “Wooster to induct...” on WoosterCitySchools.org, a Blue and Gold Award winner is sometimes chosen.

The Blue and Gold Award is given to non-athletes who have done something positive for Wooster Athletics.

Wooster Athletic Director Andy Kellar, believes that the Hall of Fame is a great way to inspire current and future athletes.

“The H.O.F gives all current and future athletes something to strive for, as records are meant to be broken,” Keller states.

The next induction will take place in 2018.

of Tom Catanzarite and Jim Dyer.

Mark Alberts Sr.

Betsy Allen Buckwalter

Nick Bellanco

Q: Who would you like to thank for this honor and why?

A: “For me, I’d like to thank the athletes and the the administrators. And my family, my wife especially, and my kids who all graduated from Wooster High School.”

Q: How do you think WHS sports affected your development as a person and athlete?

A: “Being an athlete taught me that you have to work hard at things in life and that there’s great reward in that.”

Q: What advice would you give to current WHS athletes?

A: “Stick it out.

I did not have a lot of success until my junior and senior year in sports.

I played a lot of JV and I played a lot of lower roles, but I stuck it out.”

Chuck Catanzarite

Ethan Crabtree

Kathy Sauers

Ryan Delany

Whitney Hooley

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this honor?

A: “There are so many people from this high school who have gone on to succeed in their lives and I think to be called out as one of them is a very big honor.”

Q: What advice would you give to current WHS athletes?

A: “Have fun.

There are few situations in life... that you all are supposed to be doing for nothing else than pure enjoyment.”

Q: What advice would you give to current WHS athletes?

A: “Do the best you can, and always remember that grades come first.”

Blue & Gold Award

Q: Who would you like to thank for this honor?

A: “Coach Gary Green; he confidently told me I was special all of the time and encouraged me, rather than coached negatively.”

Q: How do you think WHS sports affected your development as a person and athlete?

A: “It had a huge impact on my life; I wouldn’t have been able to go to the places I travelled to or the college I went to.”

Luke Myers

Danny Peters

Beth Starling

Whitney Taylor

Terrell White

According to The Daily Record, Luke Myers passed away on Aug. 8, 2013, at the age of 41. Myers was a football and wrestling standout during his time at WHS. Myers went on to compete collegiately at Wright State.

Q: How do you think WHS sports affected your development as a person and athlete?

A: “It taught me many valuable lessons such as perseverance, time management and how to motivate others.”

Q: Who would you like to thank for this honor?

A: “I’m thankful for my family, t e a c h e r s , teammates and coaches, in particular Chris Matthew, for their support and encouragement along the way.”

Q: What advice would you give to current WHS athletes?

A: “Put in your work, but at the same time, keep a balance between academics and athletics. Additionally, stay focused, because it is a short season.”

Q: What advice would you give to current WHS athletes?

A: “Enjoy having your friends because once you graduate, everyone goes their separate ways... looking back, I wish I had cherished my time on the field more.”

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 10

What does sportsmanship mean?

Athletic Directors around the OCC were asked what sportsmanship means to them and their school.

GRANT PEABODY

Football captains Antonio Crossty (21), Colt Morgan (14) and Nick Ballard (34) shake hands with Wadsworth’s cap-

Group promotes integrity NATE KING-SMITH co-editor in chief

OCC leadership is a club centered around the goal of improving student leadership within high schools.

The club is not restricted to WHS; OCC leadership is offered to all eight schools within Wooster’s athletic conference.

Katie Sarsoza (12) has been a member of OCC leadership for several years and recognizes the values she has witnessed throughout her time in the club.

“OCC leadership consists of a well-rounded group of people, who lead by example.

This leadership group has the opportunity to inspire others to dream more, do more, learn more and become more, laying the groundwork for the success of many individuals,” Sarsoza said.

Additionally, the club is not restricted to a sole focus on leadership. Chad Bever, adviser of the Wooster branch of OCC leadership and English Dept. member, hopes that in addition to leadership, the club also helps

to promote sportsmanship and camaraderie.

Members of OCC leadership undergo experiences designed to nurture these traits. They partake in activities ranging from exchanges, wherein members will swap places with students from a different school to get a new perspective on their high school, to attending leadership conferences, to helping mentor struggling students at the elementary level.

Furthermore, members of the club have positive outlooks on what they have learned from it and the benefits they have gained throughout the years.

Hanna Morgan (12) has been in the club for three years and said it has aided her in numerous ways.

“OCC leadership has taught me to take on responsibility within a sport, and to be a positive role model around WHS,” Morgan said.

OCC leadership is open to anyone in grades 10 through 12 who achieve a quality GPA and participate in at least one extracurricular activity; applications are available in the fall of every school year.

“I would say sportsmanship is dependent on respect for the rules of the game, for your teammates, coaches, officials, the other team and even respect for yourself as a player or a fan.”

-Justin Sanford (Mount Vernon)

“Sportsmanship goes beyond the playing field. It is how we as student-athletes, coaches, teachers and administrators act daily with others, both in our own school, as well as those we meet each day.”

-Joe Roberts (Lexington)

“I believe that sportsmanship is an integral and a vital part of of athletics, especially the high school level.

It is important that we treat officials, teams, coaches and opposing fans with the upmost respect and courtesy.”

-Andy Kellar (Wooster)

“I feel that sportsmanship is welcoming a visiting team or school and showing them respect and consideration upon stepping onto your grounds. I like to welcome the coaches and kids here when they arrive at West Holmes.” -Lee Ann Race (West Holmes)

““Here at Ashland High School, we believe that sportsmanship is defined as competing as hard as you can within the regulations given forth for your particular sport.”

-Jason Goings (Ashland)

Editor shares view on sports etiquette

GRANT PEABODY business manager

The players, coaches and even the fans sitting in the bleachers impact sportsmanship in high school sports.

When sportsmanship is mentioned, images of a rowdy student section or a disrespectful student-athlete may come to mind, but the issue is bigger than those stereotypical images.

Unfortunately, the adults and coaches leading the teams and the parents, who have come to watch their kids compete, often

perpetrate the bad behavior on display.

A common myth about coaches and sportsmanship is that their sole responsibility is to teach and enforce it.

The coach’s job is to observe players during the games and to enforce the guidelines of sportsmanship.

The real job of teaching sportsmanship starts with mom and dad. It is up to parents to lay the foundation of sportsmanship for their child, not the coach.

Coaches can positively influence their players’ behavior by making their expectations or team rules clear at the beginning of the season and holding student-athletes accountable. Consequences for misbehavior might include benching an athlete, suspension from team activities or removal from the team.

Behavioral issues are put to the test after a loss to a fellow

opponent because all eyes are still on athletes, even after the final whistle or buzzer.

And, from the wise words of one of the greatest football coaches of all time, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up,” said by Vince Lombardi.

While players and teams want to win every single game, sometimes a loss can re-focus a team, and revitalize parts of a team that needed work on. This is exactly what the our football team did at home against Clearfork in week four.

After suffering a heartbreaking defeat at home during week three, they took a step back and worked hard at both ends of the field and came back with a huge win at home.

During, and after the game, the Generals showed class and respect to the fellow opponent, which is something that was lacking in previous years.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 11

Matthews swim strong

WHS Legacies:

Athletes excel through generations

Editor’s note: This story is part two of a two part series on generations of

HANNAH KNAPIC

Stokes leave a legacy in WHS cheer HANNAH KNAPIC

Crawford family athletic tradition continues

HANNAH KNAPIC cover editor

cover editor

Spanish Dept. member Miriam Stokes and her youngest daughter, Olivia Stokes (12), represent one of the many generational athletes in WHS. Miriam began cheering when she was in eighth grade and cheered all four years of high school, two of which were for the varsity squad.

Olivia began cheering in fourth grade with the Wooster Youth Instructional Football program. Olivia has cheered all four years of her high school career, and has been a varsity cheerleader for all four.

Over the years, Miriam

Matthew’s family from left to right, Clay, Thomas, Chris and Madalyn swim to success throughout multiple generations.

HANNAH KNAPIC

Olivia and Miriam Stokes both started cheering at a young age and were involved in Wooster High School cheerleading for four years. believes that the biggest difference from when she cheered is the tumbling.

Miriam stated “I couldn’t even do the splits or jumps; I just had the loudest voice.”

MADDY NACCI

His grandpa was one of the original founders of the program and went out and worked on the soccer fields to keep the program improving and the fields in prime condition.

Theo Crawford says that everybody within Wooster soccer knows his family and what they have done for the program.

“It is stressful knowing I have such a history to back up and shoes to fill, but I do it proudly, knowing that I’m continuing a legacy,” Crawford said.

Mike Crawford is now the

sports editor

The Crawford family has been involved in Wooster soccer since the very beginning of the program.

Theo Crawford (12) plays varsity soccer and is a team captain for WHS this 2016 fall season.

According to Crawford, his father, Mike Crawford, played high school soccer at Wooster for four years and was captain for one year, graduating in 1982.

Girls swim coach and Spanish Dept. member Chris Matthew, along with her two sons and daughter, are part of the legacy of swimmers at WHS. Chris participated in swimming in college at Westminster and began her coaching career at a club team in Pittsburgh. Out of Chris’ 13 years of coaching at Wooster, the OCC championship has been won 11 times.

Chris’ eldest child, Madalyn, graduated from Wooster in 2007 after swimming for varsity all four years of her high school career, two years of which the girls won the OCC championship.

Madalyn did not continue her swimming career in college, but instead, played for club lacrosse teams at Ashland University.

Clay, the middle child, graduated in 2010, also after swimming on varsity for all four years of his high school career. During these four years, the OCC championship was won by the boys swim team four times. At Ohio University, Clay used his swimming background to play club water polo, which he said, “... was more for fun than for the sport… but I enjoyed using my swimming past to learn a new sport.”

Thomas Matthew is currently a freshman at WHS, and has been swimming competitively since he was eight.

GRANT PEABODY

Theo Crawford (12) in pink, and his father (right) share a moment after the Generals defeated Lexington 3-2 to win the OCC. assistant/JV coach of the WHS boys’ soccer team, while Theo Crawford is finishing his fourth

year of soccer at Wooster High School as a captain and the varsity goalie.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | SPORTS | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 12

WHS fall sports teams’ talented captains inspire athletes b.

The vast importance of sports leaders SAMUEL SCHONFELD

Matthew, the girls swim coach of 23 years, said.

Brian Hansen, the boys soccer coach of 14 years, said.

They also are the voice between the coaches and the players, says Hansen.

It is not only important to have a strong captain, but someone who is willing to accept the challenge of the role “It [being a captain] needs to be taken seriously,” Christina

Many sport teams are not only led by coaches, but also by student captains.

In that leadership role, responsibilities that come with the title.

“The captains led by example,”

a.

rewarding one being chosen to become a captain.

“It is an honor,” Matthew said.

The use of student captains is another aspect utilized by coaches to make their team more cohesive and stronger for the upcoming seasons.

d.

How well do you know your captains? c.

1.

2.

“When I am not running I am eating or doing homework.”

“My favorite thing to do at practice is play king of courts.”

3.

“I started playing my sport in sixth grade and I love split court mini games.”

e.

f.

“I’ve been tumbling through games for 11 years.”

5.

“My team has won the OCC for two years and the Eagles are my favorite team.”

Graphics by Spencer Dilyard and Jacob Gooch

6.

“When I am not playing my sport I watch it on tv, I’ve been playing my sport for 13 years.”

Photos by Grant Peabody

Answers: 1. d 2. b 3. f 4. c 5. e 6. a

4.

Statistics courtesy of Doug Haas. Conversions done by Austin McCully.

Photos by Spencer Dilyard and Grant Peabody. Graphic by Austin McCully.

Fulfilling their fantasies:

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 13

Analyzing top “fantasy” producers on WHS varsity football team

Explanatory blurb written by Austin McCully.

F a n t a s y sports have taken over the sports world.

The concept of fantasy sports is that participants draft

professional athletes and assemble them into their teams.

After teams are set, participants match up with other participants’ teams.

Their scores align with fantasy points, earned by their team members in their real-life

games, according to a fantasy point conversion chart (located on the right).

Fantasy sports are only officially offered for professional teams, but the conversion chart can be used for statisics at any level.

Above are the top five fantasy point producers currently playing on the WHS varsity football team, according to ESPN’s point conversions.

Passing yards: 1 pt per 25 yd Passing TD: 4 pt Interceptions: -2 pt Rushing yards: 1 pt per 10 yd Rushing TD: 6 pt Receiving yards: 1 pt per 10 yd Receiving TD: 6 pt 2-Pt conversions: 2 pt Fumbles lost: -2 pt Kick/punt returns for TD: 6 pt

Fantasy point conversions gathered from espn.go.com.

FEATURE

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 14

8 SPOOKY THINGS TO DO THIS FALL Nightmare in the Wilderness: Located in Lodi, this haunted apple cabin offers a half mile hayride into the wilderness. To get back to the cabin, the trail needs to be found, where one will walk back to safety while being spooked in the woods.

The cost is $18 per person.

Nightmareinthewilderness.net

The Haunted Orchard: The Haunted Orchard is located in Wooster, and is perfect for anyone needing a little scare.

It is the only indoor haunted attraction in Wayne County.

The cost is $15 per person.

Thehauntedorchard.com The Paranormal Penitentiary: Located in Mansfield, The Ohio State Reformatory opens up for a haunted experience. Walking the halls of the reformatory, one will be scared at every twist and turn. For a new experience this year, a touch pass is being offered. The touch pass lets the actors give anyone the full experience of a “good scare�. General admission is $20 Paranormalpenitentiary.com

Haunt at Halloweekends: Only at the roller coaster capital of the world can you find Halloweekends.

During the Halloween season, Cedar Point transforms into spooky festival. During the day, you can celebrate Halloween with all the fun activities, like riding the rides and special Halloween games, but at night, is when things get scary. Monsters of all kinds come out at night, scaring anyone in sight. $42 per person. Cedarpoint.com Stony Creek Farm: Stony Creek Farm is located in West Salem. From hayrides to pumpkin picking, Stony Creek Farm offers something for everyone. The cost is $3 per person.

Stoneycreekfarmohio.com

Boo at the Zoo: The Akron Zoo offers a non-scary Halloween event. Dress up in costume, get a candy passport and find the way to all the treat stations around the Zoo. $12 per person. Akronzoo.com

Ramseyer Farms: Ramseyer Farms offers plenty of things to do on a fall day. Corn mazes, hayrides and picking pumpkin are just a few of the many things the farm has to offer. The general admission is $10. Ramseyerfarms.com Blurbs by Hanna Morgan Illustration by Jessica Lyons

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 15

Niche, online public ranking site, rates WHS and the COW

Wooster High School

Overall

B+

Diversity

Wooster High School Principal Tyler Keener said, “It’s hard to quantify that statement partly due to the fact that… how do you compare us to other schools?...There might be some people that would like to do things differently and I would challenge those students to talk to their student government, to different leaders in the building, to teachers and to us in administration.”

Overall

B+

B-

Tyler Keener said, “Obviously, our school is a representation of the community that we live in… I don’t know if they’re talking about diversity in regards to race or if they’re talking about the economically disadvantaged. Diversity takes on so many different facets...I am encourage that we’re looking to have everyone be more culturally aware of each other.”

College of Wooster

John Hopkins, Associate Vice President for College Relations and Marketing, said, “The four-year experience of living and learning together in a relatively small, close-knit campus community, and especially the shared experience that every one of our students has of working closely with a faculty mentor on a yearlong senior research project, really binds them together in ways that a last long after graduation. It truly is a network with lifelong benefits.”

Diversity

B

John Hopkins said, “Having students from diverse backgrounds — not just in terms of ethnicity and gender, but also family background, economic circumstances, urban vs. rural, different parts of this country and different countries around the world — makes for a richer, more interesting learning environment and community.”

Blurbs collected by Amber Swigart.

Ratings from niche.com.

Food

B

Tyler Keener said, “...Generally, kids are through the line in 18 minutes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody not be able to finish their lunch with plenty of time to visit afterwards...They’re basing a grade off the opinions of people that I’m not sure are really serving everyone in the school.”

Safety

C

John Hopkins said, “I looked at the methodology for that one and frankly some parts of it are a bit odd. For instance, among the factors included in creating that score are first to second year student retention, and sixyear graduation rate, neither of which would seem to have much to do with campus safety.

I can tell you that the college, as a whole, and our Security and Protective Services office work very hard to keep our students safe.”

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 18

THE POWER OF WORDS: the BLADE explores positive lives

thinking and misused words and phrases SPENCE

R DILYAR D

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thought

s reform

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Grammar facts compiled

by Hannah Knapic

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 7, 2016 I PAGE 19

:

The Wooster Blade examines the role that presenting

nt e m y lo p m e t n a c li p rmalities affect ap

Fo

ERIN O’DONNELL cover editor

s independence b e c o m e s increasingly important in high school students’ lives as their teenage years progress, and important step in this journey for independence is to have a job.

Being in high school and working a part-time job not only gives one a paycheck of expendable income, the experience teaches students responsibility.

But, before these and other valuable benefits come into play, those seeking a job must complete an application.

A

CHELSEA PATTERSON

A high school student goes through the job application process in hope

Follow-up value stressed CHRISTOPHER ROCHE One of the most important parts of a getting a job is not the interview itself, but followingup afterward.

Following-up shows the potential employer that you are both responsible and dependable.

A manager of Broken Rocks, a local restaurant, Tiffany Costanzo, explained, “I think following up within 48 hours is always a good thing to do after

an interview.”

She elaborated: when calling back to follow-up, it is always a good thing to be personable, mention your name and for what position you interviewed.

WHS teacher of Financial Literacy, Rich Lee, said following-up, “shows the that you are hungry for the job.”

He added, when finishing up with a job interview, you should always ask when you can expect to hear back from them, as this can give you an idea of when would be a good time to follow-up.

Tips collected by Tatumn McGrew.

Graphic found by Spencer Dilyard and Ryan Miller.

A job application can take a few forms, but will most commonly be seen as a few sheets of paperwork asking for basic information such as name, address and phone number, according to BusinessDictionary.com.

Applications also usually ask for things like past job experience and how the applicant heard of the job.

The application itself is mostly inflexible; however, some positions will require that applicants attach a resumé, which can be a bit more personalized.

According to Investopedia. com, a resumé is a one to two page document, written by the applicant, relating his or her skills and experiences to the

specific job to which her or she is applying.

A resumé is not meant to be an exhaustive list of every possible qualification for any job.

Resumés should be specialized for the job to which one is applying, including certain skills and experiences that could prove valuable.

As a rule of thumb, one should never lie on a resumé.

According to an online article entitled, “What Really Happens When You Lie on a Resumé,” most employers often do background checks on those applicants whom they are seriously considering, and finding a mistruth or erroneous material on a resumé is almost always grounds for halting consideration on that applicant.

• According to the Forbes.com article, “12 Surprising Job Interview Tips” from Oct. 20, 2014, while being interviewed, one should ask questions that kill two birds with one stone. For example, asking a question that impresses the interviewer, as well as answers a genuine question you have about the job.

• An applicant should come prepared to an interview by doing research on the company for which they are applying.

• According to Fastcompany.com, address hobbies or what you do outside of work, as this will allow the interviewer to see a different side of you and determine what your work ethic may be like.

• Usnews.com states that people should show up early to an interview or appointment, as well as bring a pen, paper, portfolio, copies of resumes and a list of questions they may have for the interviewer.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | COVER | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 20

Properly addressing college and high school faculty DREW FRIEDHOFF sports editor

As the school year kicks into gear, being knowledgeable of the proper way to speak to advisers plays an important role in developing respectful relationships with teachers and professors.

“Mr.,” “Mrs.,” “Dr.,” “Professor,” “first name” and “last name.” These are all choices of different ways to address teachers for students on a wide range of academic levels. While the traditional

conventions of calling high school teachers is “Mr.” and “Mrs.,” and collegiate teachers “Dr.” or “Professor,” there is still a lot of gray area when it comes to addressing one’s instructor.

Ben Wiest (12) said he always refers to teachers as “Mr.” and “Mrs.,” unless instructed otherwise.

One of these exceptions for Wiest is his calculus teacher, Chris MascottiRasor, who told her students to call her just plain “Scotti.”

“If I have permission from a teacher and he or she is comfortable with it, then I feel like it’s okay to be more casual,” Wiest said.

How to ask teachers for college recommendations

Requesting recommendations:

College a Blurbs compiled by Samuel Schonfeld

The appropriate way to speak to teachers may also depend on the setting or the classes they may teach.

Christina Matthew, Spanish Dept. member, prefers for her students in class to refer to her as “Señora,” but for those who do not have her as a teacher, “Mrs.” is appropriate.

Matthew is also an exception to the rules as she is the high school’s girls’ swim coach and allows her swimmers to call her “Chris.”

For college students, there are often more options of ways to speak to instructors.

Dr. Fitz-Gibbons, a Sociology and Anthropology professor at the College of Wooster, spoke to this dilemma collegiate

nd high s

1. Choose a teacher based on the requirements of the letters or based on past teachers who know you well.

2. Be sure, in asking the teacher to write the recommendation, to give him or her two weeks minimum to do so.

3. Provide any personal information such as volunteer work, jobs and extracurriculars to aid them in writing the letter.

4. Ask the teacher in person if he or she could write a letter of recommendation for you.

5. Get the letter or electronic letter back and send it with you application via mail or online.

students may encounter.

“Campus cultures vary on what to call faculty. The most common are ‘Professor’ (as in Professor Smith) or ‘Dr.’ At some schools, not all faculty have a Ph.D., so Dr. might not be appropriate, but it doesn’t hurt any to assume they are Dr.,” Fitz-Gibbons said.

For Kyle Powers, a sophomore at Bradley University, being cautious is always the best way to approach addressing his instructors.

“I always start out with professor because you never know whether your professor is married or a doctor, so it eliminates the possibility of saying something incorrect until the professor states their preference,” Powers said.

One rule that applies to

addressing both high school teachers and college professors, mentioned by both Matthew and Fitz-Gibbon, is to never refer to a teacher as “Mrs.” without knowledge of their marital status.

If after all of these suggestions, you are still unsure of the proper way to do things, Matthew suggested referring to teachers as “sir” or “ma’am.”

This option is both polite and safe for anyone you may encounter.

When communicating with teachers via e-mail, it is still important to be respectful and appropriate. Fitz-Gibbons suggests beginning e-mails with “Dear Mrs. Smith” also reminding students that e-mails are a more formal way of communication than text messaging and to not write e-mails as if they were texts.

chool etiq

uette

How to impress in a college admissions interview Illustratio

ns by Lea

EVAN DOAN views editor

Finding the right college can be a tough decision; however, nailing the admission interview is often even more nerve wracking.

Matt Friedhoff, a sophomore at Bradley University and a WHS Speech and Debate alumnus, thinks it is important to be calm and sincere during the interview.

“Stay relaxed; being myself helped me so much in my

college interviews. Be genuine with you answers to questions and try not to feel nervous,” he said.

Earl Thompson, the Dean of Admission at the University of Tulsa, states in an interview at bigfuture.collegeboard.org that colleges are looking for an honest assessment of who you are, not any particular student profile.

“We are looking for a diverse campus community, not any particular subset of students. We would prefer the interviewees to give

h Sim

us a realistic assessment of themselves,” Thompson said.

Similarly, Friedhoff states the importance of knowing yourself going into the interview. “In my opinion, the best way to prepare for a college interview is to really know yourself. What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? What goals do you have for the future? What are you passionate about? It’s super easy to over think the simple stuff, so it’s important to do that thinking before you get into the interview,” he said.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 21

Rumor has it: Astrology signs cause social media panic

EMMA STRONG feature editor

In mid-September, an article in Cosmopolitan Magazine claimed that NASA added a 13th astrological sign.

Astrology is the belief that the positioning of the stars and planets a f f e c t the way events occur on E a r t h , according to the American Astronomical

Society.

According to the article, “Your Star Sign Has Probably Changed,” the alleged change in zodiac signs would mean that up to 86 percent of people were born under a different sign.

The ensuing social media panic led to NASA releasing a blog post explaining why the claims made by Cosmopolitan were incorrect.

NASA first stated that astronomy is not the same as astrology.

“Astronomy is the scientific study of everything in outer space. Astrology is something else. It’s not science. No one has shown that astrology can be used to

predict the future or describe what people are like based on their birth dates,” according to NASA in their blog post “Constellations and the Calendar.”

The blog post continued to explain that when zodiac, or astrological signs, were first created by the Babylonians, they picked 12 out of the 13 constellations in the zodiac to represent the 12 months in the calendar.

To make the zodiac line up with the 12 month calendar, the Babylonians chose to ignore the fact that the sun moves through 13 constellations instead of 12.

Head-to-Head: Validity of horoscopes debated

SARAH HOPKINS co-editor-in-chief

I am just going to say it; I believe my horoscope.

When I get told online that my week is going to be superb and I will meet the love of my life because I am a Taurus, I can not help but believe it.

Some might call it wishful thinking, and I completely agree with them. I think horoscopes are great because, as my psychology teacher, Mike Sullivan, always points out during class, they

are almost unfailingly positive.

Horoscopes never publish predictions to readers like, “watch out this week, if you turn your back for a hot minute, your entire family might die and you might lose your job! Also, Mercury is in retrograde!”

Horoscopes may not always tell the absolute truth, but I believe if people read that their given zodiac sign is destined to have a great week, it cannot help but make their week a little better.

By being on the lookout for the love of our lives or a crazy new job promotion mentioned in one of many daily horoscopes, I think it makes p e o p l e ’ s outlook on life just a little bit brighter.

AMBER SWIGART cover editor

Illustrations by Leah Sim.

The popularity of observing the zodiac signs and what they supposedly predict about one’s personality and future necessitates a reminder that horoscopes involve fun speculation, rather than any form of scientific fact.

I admit to guiltily taking a peek at what being an Aquarius, based upon my Feb. 12 birthday for interested gift-buyers, reveals about me as much as the next person does, but I recognize the ridiculousness in finding validity in claims formulated

by Babylonians to explain the seasons.

According to the article, “First Things First: Astrology is not Astronomy,” on the website of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration: “Astronomy is the scientific study of everything in outer space… Astrology is... not science. No one has shown that astrology can be used to predict the future or describe what people are like based only on their birth date.”

To view horoscopes as an absolute truth, promotes a lack of control and direction in one’s own in life.

“You shouldn’t look at the signs of the zodiac as a step-bystep guide for how to approach your life,” writes AJ Agrawal in The Huffington Post article “Are There Any Truths to the Zodiac?”

Horoscope readers should observe their star signs with passivity, rather than blind belief and loyalty to a pseudoscience based on guesswork.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | FEATURE | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 22

October awareness Blurbs Written by Glara Lee, Tatumn McGrew, Hanna Morgan, Maddy Nacci and Rachel Dugan- Wood Graphics by Matthew Lorentz

Drug Prevention Red Ribbon week takes place the week of Oct. 23 and is celebrated to prevent the use of drugs.

According to Nfp.org the red ribbon is a symbol of support, showing one’s commitment to raise awareness of the destruction caused by drug use.

A major goal of Red Ribbon Awareness week is to educate the youth, and encourage them to not partake in the use of drugs.

Breast Cancer Awareness Since its first recognition as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1984, October has promoted an increased awareness for the disease and how to prevent it.

According to an article titled “Our History” from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation website, today’s connection between the pink ribbon and the breast cancer awareness movement began when Evelyn Lauder and Alexandra Penney launched the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign within the Estee Lauder brand.

Domestic Violence Domestic violence is a widespread problem throughout the country. raise awareness about domestic violence, as well as celebrate the lives of survivors and honor the memory of victims.

Six years later, October was named Domestic Violence Awareness Month, with the “Day of Unity” being National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

Bullying Prevention Make it blue, make it end.

October is the highlight of the stampede to end bullying across the world.

National Bullying Prevention Month is a nationwide campaign found by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center in 2006 that rallies communities across the world to raise the truth and detrimental effects behind bullying and cyberbullying.

Mental Health Awareness The first full week of October is Mental Health Awareness week according to the National Alliance on Mental Health.

“Join NAMI in shining a light on mental illness and replacing stigma with hope,” as stated on National Alliance on Mental Health’s website.

The stigma free pledge can be taken on National Alliance on Mental Health’s website stating that pledges will help fight the stigma associated with mental illness.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 23

Innovations in dining etiquette throughout the years Do not chew with your mouth open. It is disgusting and rude. Be sure to take bites small enough to properly chew before speaking.

Always use cutlery while eating, as opposed to eating with your fingers.

14th Century

If you drop food onto the floor or yourself, do not eat it.

Tips courtesy of The Guardian and Etiquette Scholar.

18th Century

19th Century Do not ask for a second serving of soup or fish, as it will delay the second course for other patrons.

Present Day

Do not put your phone on the table while you eat. It distracts not only you, but your dining companions as well.

Present Day

Present Day

Do not put your elbows on the table while you are eating. It looks bad, and the slouching it causes is detrimental to your posture.

Graphic by Matthew Lorentz.

Etiquette tips compiled by John Gorman.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 24

Musical Artists that...

We wish would make new music

THE LUMINEERS

After the release of The Lumineers’ debut self titled album in 2013, I did not think they would be able to top themselves; they did.

The band released Cleopatra in April and I still find new things I like about it each time I listen.

Lead singer, Wesley Schultz, tells beautiful and heartbreaking stories through the lyrics of each song on Cleopatra, and I think listeners can find truths in the songs that relate to their own lives. The Lumineers’ comeback was well worth the wait.

LORDE

The worst part of being a fan of an artist or band is the time in between albums, which is approximately between two to four years.

Amongst these artists who I wish would come back is Lorde.

The 19-year-old New Zealand native’s first and only album, Pure Heroine came out back in 2013.

At age 16, Lorde had already won herself two Grammys and numerous other prestigious awards.

Lorde’s songs do not solely focus on heartbreak and partying like many songs on the radio do; they range from not being accepted by friends, pining for the innocence of one’s childhood again, accepting she is not the conventionally beautiful teenage girl, feeling alone in a world full of people, etc.

Lorde has been hinting at the release of her sophomore album and it is rumored we may have said album by the end of 2016.

Recently released new music

VAMPIRE WEEKEND

Three years after their third album, Modern Vampires of the City, dropped, and I am still anxiously awaiting new music from Vampire Weekend.

With the departure of keyboardist and producer in the band, Rostam Batmanglij, earlier this year, I am not sure when we will be graced with new music.

However, I am ready for more clever and beautifully lyricized songs about grammar, love and the city.

Ezra Koenig: where are you?

,

RIHANNA

Rihanna is one of the most famous celebrities in the music industry, and with good reason. She has been in the spotlight for over 10 years and her music has only gotten better.

Anti, released in January, was a highly anticipated album due to the fact that the last time she had produced new music was 2012.

Her newest album topped the charts when it came out and is definitely her best record to date.

The songs on Anti are powerful, emotional, and heartfelt. Rihanna is an absolutely phenomenal artist and even if we have to wait another four years for her next album, it will be completely worth it.

We wish would leave the music scene

TAYLOR SWIFT

Though many will disagree, I am ready for Taylor Swift to disappear from the music industry. fun and overall iconic.

Swift used to fall under the pop-country genre, which was about as country as I could really listen to.

However, Swift has become incredibly mainstream and her songs have become repetitive and shallow. They all sound the same and somewhat unoriginal.

Swift is not even a great live performer, especially compared to other artists in this industry who deserve more recognition and praise for their talent.

Of course, I will still belt out the lyrics to “Our Song” and “Mean” when I hear them, but overall, I am tired of Taylor Swift.

SELENA GOMEZ

Selena Gomez, as a person and an actress, does not bother me. In fact, she actually seems like such a gracious and kind person.

However, her music lacks substance.

I feel as though she is only in the music industry after being pushed into it during her time on Disney Channel.

Vocally she is not very strong, and there are plenty of other artists with more natural talent and less bubblegum pop music. Her music is nothing new, as it meshes into the rest of the mainstream radio nothingness.

Blubs by Sarah Hopkins and Kayla Barnet Courtesy of fair use photos Constanza Contreras Hormazabal, Kevin Hill and AleeDear on Flickr.com

WHS Student Playlist

THE WOOSTER BLADE | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 25

INDIVIDUALS PUT FORTH THEIR PERSONAL PLAYLISTS Play

Artist

Song

STUDENT PLAYLIST Playlist compiled from lists by Mimi Wiles (11), Alexis Florence (10) and James Nielson (11). Submissions collected by Nick Cosmo, graphic by Matthew Lorentz.

My Top Rated Music Videos Purchased Recently Added Recently Played Top 25 Most played

Songs

Albums

Artists

Genres

Twenty One Pilots

Blurryface

3:55

Let’s Stay Together

Al Green

Let’s Stay Together

3:19

Formation

Beyoncé

Lemonade

4:26

Lane Boy

Twenty One Pilots

Blurryface

4:13

Tiny Dancer

Elton John

Madman Across the Water

6:12

DADDY LESSONS

Beyoncé

Lemonade

4:42

Emperor’s New Clothes

Panic! At The Disco Death of a Bachelor

Superstition

Stevie Wonder

Flawless Remix

Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj

Videos

Search Music

Pierce the Veil

Playlists

Parent Playlist Name

View Time Artist

Stairway to Heaven

8:00 Led Zeppelin

My Guitar Gently Weeps

3:36 The Beatles 3:45 Harry Chapin

Cats in the Cradle Faithfully Styx Tall Cool One Have I Told You Lately

Album

Heavydirtysoul

King For A Day Music

Follow

4:26 Journey 5:36 Mr. Roboto 5:08 Robert Plant 4:13 Rod Stewart

Talking Book

5:04 2:39

PARENT PLAYLIST Collide with the Sky

TEACHER PLAYLIST

2. Where the Green Grass Grows-Ev...

3. Accidently in Love- Single 3:11

Playlist compiled from lists by Troy Worth, Chad Bever and Bryan Ehrlinspiel. Submissions collected by Kayla Cooper, graphic by Matthew Lorentz.

4. Rainbow in the Dark- Single 3:04 5. Ice Ice Baby- Extremely Live 4:00 6. Ophelia- Cleopatra 2:44

4:54

Playlist compiled from lists by Terry Snoddy, Lynn Buccholz and Greg Submissions collected by WHSTieche.

Teacher Playlist Evan Doan, graphic by Spencer Dilyard.

Add To...

Soundcloud 1. Enter Sandman- Metallica 5:30

3:40

THE WOOSTER BLADE | A & E | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 26

Book Thief

Book plot to true art

KAYLA BARNET

OLIVIA SLEEK

a&e editor

trends editor

The Book Thief takes its ranks as number one on my literary bookshelf.

After being forced to read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak my freshman year and absolutely hating it, I decided to give the book a chance to redeem itself. And I was not disappointed.

Recently converted into a major motion picture, The Book Thief tells the story about the life of a German Girl named Liesel during World War II. missed many important details due to the dread of being forced to read it. The second time, however, I was able to catch deeper meanings behind the passage. Instead of just seeing Liesel as a girl that Death literally follows, I was now able to see her as such a strong character and how she was able to cope with everything through her love of literature.

I would highly recommend reading The Book Thief for the time depending on if you were forced to read it like I was, and trying to read it for enjoyment.

participate in a beta, a test of from soaring through the skies Battlefield 1’s early stages. in a WWI era fighter plane to The beta was seamless; from racing through the desert sands a gameplay standpoint, it was on horseback. remarkably In the full smooth. game’s There were release, very few glitches players and connectivity will have issues. Any access to Best Buy for $79.99 gamer knows more maps, Where can that if a beta is such as the you buy it? Walmart for $79.96 clenching this smooth, the game’s release colds of the Gamestop for $79.99 Alps, to should be amazing. the dreary The gameplay trenches of was so realistic Flanders When can I felt like I could Field and you buy it? feel the arid even more. temperatures The release brought on by will also the blistering feature On which sun above while realistic WWI PS4, Xbox 1 consoles can battling through era weapons and PC you play it? the desert. and vehicles I enjoyed such as early every second versions of of exploring the massive map, tanks.

BATTLEFIELD 1 Quick Facts

CHRISTOPHER ROCHE Should you be excited about playing the new Battlefield 1?

In a word, yes.

In two words, definitely yes.

Battlefield 1 is an upcoming first person shooter set in a realistic World War I. The game is planned to release Oct. 21.

In late August, Dice, a video game developer, allowed a small number of people, who signed up early enough, to

Oct. 21

Given the busy schedule many students have, due to school, work, sports and other activities, it can be hard to find time to sit down and read a book for fun.

However, if one can find the time to do so, the historical fiction novel Sunflowers, by Sheramy Bundrick, is a must.

It is July of 1888 in France and a woman named Rachel meets a mysterious and intriguing artist in a garden, Vincent Van Gogh. He has moved to France to throw himself in his art and meeting Rachel only fuels his work.

But, as their relationship grows, Rachel sees more than just an eccentric virtuoso -- she sees a man who is fighting a deep battle within himself. Can she save Van Gogh from the darkness inside his mind?

Not only is the plot compelling, the story goes into detail about Van Gogh’s real life artwork and puts a story to his pieces, bringing each one to life.

Sunflowers is one of the most beautifully written pieces I have ever read and I would highly recommend it to everyone.

TRENDS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 7 2016 | PAGE 27

School Struggles? There’s an app for that

Khan Academy

Quizlet

As traditional study tools, like flashcards, become obsolete, technological innovations, like Quizlet, step in to help students learn.

Quizlet is a study tool designed for students in which different people can create digital flashcards from which to study. According to its website, there are more than 125 million user-generated study sets and that number is continually rising.

Not only does the digital study tool allow for a list of flashcards to be created, but it also generates study games to play, including a timed matching challenge and a fill-in-the-blank race.

Quizlet also serves as a way for teachers to provide extra study materials to students. Beyond simply sharing flashcard sets with students, Quizlet Live provides an entertaining educational excercise in the classroom.

Khan Academy is an app that strives to provide high level education to anyone, anywhere.

Khan Academy ACADEMY

courses.

Evernote

As technology becomes increasingly available including the app Evernote, attempt to make use of each viable platform, especially by connecting them.

Evernote is a service that allows users to store notes, whether they are to-do lists, simple reminders or pictures of a sketch, and access them on all of their devices, whether it is utilized on smart phones, tablets or computers.

Evernote

Duolingo

users and has a search function that is even able to detect invaluable service to those who value both organization and note taking.

Apple’s updates arrive

September was a memorable month for Apple, as both the iPhone 7 and their new operating system, iOS 10, were released.

The three leading changes in the iPhone 7, according to a Popular Science article, titled “We Tested The iPhone 7’S Three Most Notable Features,” are the new

Duolingo

From Spanish, to French, to even Klingon, the language of the Star Trek alien species, Duolingo, the popular language learning app, has it all.

According to its website, Duolingo is set up in a quiz format of learning in which the students answer questions and earn points. After so many points are earned, the student can reach a new, more challenging level of learning.

This app prides itself on three different ideals: personalized education, fun learning and being universally accessible.

Duolingo has gained an immense amount of recognition from Apple, Google and TechCrunch for its innovative learning style.

Graphic By Matthew Lorentz and Spencer Dilyard.

Blurbs by Matthew Lorentz and Nicholas Cosmo.

JOHN GORMAN

ranging from math, to art, to economics to computer programming and it is all free.

Millions of students around the world use Khan Academy’s resources everyday, which include over 100,000 interactive exercises and versions of the site in Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese and 36 other languages that are currently in the process of being translated.

Khan Academy’s website states that their goal is to provide a free world-class education for everyone, regardless of location or economic situation.

This site is perfect for those who need more practice in

Quizlet

camera, waterproofing and the loss of the headphone jack.

The new 12 megapixel camera comes with optical image stabilization, which helps ensure a shaky hand doesn’t ruin a photo.

The waterproofing protects the phone when submerged in up to three feet of water, but the speakers will not work as well after submersion.

Perhaps the most obvious

difference between the iPhone 7 and its previous incarnations is the loss of the headphone jack. Instead, you must either use bluetooth headphones or headphones that plug into the lightning charging port of the phone.

Apple also released an update to its operating system on Sept.

13. iOS 10 can be installed on recent versions of the iPhone, iPad Pro, Mini and Air, and the newest iPod Touch.

According to a CNET.com

article, titled “Apple iOS 10: Will it make you love your iPhone again?,” the new operating system includes a slew of both aesthetic and functional changes.

Some of the major changes include an altered lock screen, an updated news app, quicker interactions, enhanced siri voice recognition, a Home app allowing you to interconnect technology in your house, stronger encryption and security and redesigned emojis.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | TRENDS | OCT. 7 2016 | PAGE 28

“Cute scarves always add to an

“Ankle boots are very in style and look good with anything. Wearing long sweaters with skinnys and boots is also a cute look.”

Chris Matthew

and functionable.”

Mackenzie Doup “Ripped jeans and flannel are best served in the fall months.”

Chad Bever Quotes collected by Drew Friedhoff and Olivia Sleek Photos by Grant Peabody

Fun fall trends inspire faculty members and students “Dress in layers at all times, not only is it fashionable, but it is practical.”

Tyler Keener

“I absolutely love it when boys dress nicely.”

Miriam Stokes “When it comes to fall fashion, fabulous.”

William Franck

Graphics by Spencer Dilyard

THE WOOSTER BLADE | TRENDS | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 29

Looking Forward...

The Wooster Blade asks seniors and faculty for thier advice for the college search and application process

PHOTOS BY TRACY MORGAN

VIEWS

THE WOOSTER BLADE | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 30

Immigration harms USA

on campus editor

Immigration has its benefits, but the overall impact on America, particularly under current immigration policy, has been decidedly negative.

High levels of immigration harm consumers, and thus economic growth as a whole.

Immigrants who start small business, according to an article in The Public Interest

Gun control saves lives

DREW FRIEDHOFF sports editor

All decent people are mournful and outraged with the recent mass shootings in Florida, California, Oregon, South Carolina and the many other places across the country.

What further infuriates these people is the fact that lawmakers have refused to take action.

Since the terrorist attack on 9/11, the United States has taken aggressive action: invading two countries, launching military operations, and drastically increasing spending on homeland security.

Americans have accepted

this unprecedented extension of government powers and invasion of privacy to prevent future attacks. The Global Terrorism Database estimates that 3,046 people in the United States died in possible terrorist attacks between 2001 and 2014, while The CDC estimates that 153,144 Americans were killed by gun homicides between 2001 and 2013 and yet we have done nothing to inhibit this gun violence epidemic.

Currently, it is legal for someone on the no-fly list, the terrorist watch list and many people who are mentally ill to acquire a firearm. Even worse is the fact that some would still like to further ease the process of purchasing the weapons that account for 11,208 deaths annually, according to the CDC. The solution is not to take guns away from everyone, but a great majority of Americans agree that increasing background checks and increasing gun control will help toward making this country a safer place in which to live.

Wooster Blade editors debate national issues

DROSOS KARDULIAS

by sociologist Peter Kwong of Hunter College, tend to start the same kind of business as other immigrants, leading an oversaturation of certain types of businesses. This oversaturation results in more low-skilled service jobs, and, thus, a less competitive economy when it comes to innovation and global leadership.

Finally, immigration threatens the American way of life.

According to a Reuters/ Ipsos poll conducted in July of 2014, 70 percent of Americans feel immigration threatens the American way of life and America’s culture. As a democracy, this nation is bound to act by the wishes of its people.

Let the public speak. End all immigration now.

The

Immigrants help economy

EVAN DOAN views editor

To those who say that immigration is hurting our economy and endangering our safety, I would ask you to look back at our own heritage and delve deeper into the issue before making judgments on them.

Immigrants have positively boosted our economy in recent years. According to

treasury.gov, 25 percent of venture-backed American businesses have been started by immigrants, opening jobs for over 200,000 Americans.

Additionally, the Treasury states foreign-born citizens are more likely to hold an advanced degree and twice as likely to hold a PhD, compared to American-born citizens.

These scientists and engineers are keeping us at the forefront of worldwide innovation.

In this turbulent election year, remarks by certain candidates have fostered a stigma toward immigrants. Those seeking safety and a higher standard of living should not be stonewalled from entering this country in a legal and safe manner, and they should not be seen by the negative labels certain people prescribe them.

Gun control falls short

ALEXANDER THOMPSON web-master

No one is coming to take your guns, the Second Amendment is not in any remote danger, and gun owners suffer no persecution.

Arguments against gun control that run along these lines are fallacious.

More dangerously, these arguments detract from a discussion of the effectiveness of gun control, and it is an important debate as 33,000 Americans die from guns each year.

So, can gun control stop the killing?

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and other Democrats have proposed banning assault weapons, but the research tells a different story.

A ban in the 1990s in the United States did not affect gun violence, according to a University of Pennsylvania study, by Christopher Koper, which found the ban riddled with loopholes and grandfathered in millions of guns.

Another proposal is that everyone should pass a universal background check.

This probably works.

Yeah, it is not a black and white position, but this is what the evidence shows.

Johns Hopkins researchers found Connecticut’s law reduced killings and the repeal of Missouri’s increased them.

A 2015 meta-analysis found the same thing.

Gun violence is a serious issue, but having philosophical or (already settled) constitutional fights about it does not get us anywhere.

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | OCT. 7, 2016 | PAGE 31

Ohio makes the call

NICK COSMO a&e editor

As the 2016 presidential election draws ever closer, it is imperative that society examines what the determining factors are going to be in who wins the election, one such important factor being the winning of swing states.

Swing states are states that have a fairly even mix of people who are members of the Republican party and those who are part of the Democratic party. This balance between the two parties means that the state’s electoral votes may fall to either candidate.

An extremely important swing state is Ohio, as Politico points out, in an article titled “Four Things the Ohio Results Tells Us About This Primary Season,” that Ohio has picked the winning presidential candidate in the general election 28 out of the last 30 times.

An article from The Akron Beacon, titled “Why Ohio is political star,” explains that while the majority of counties

in Ohio lean to the Republican side, more densely populated counties such as Summit and Cuyahoga are more Democratic.

Ohio boasts 18 votes in the electoral college, which may not seem high when compared to the 538 total electors, but is a relatively high amount when compared to other swing states, making these votes crucial to the success of a presidential candidate.

Ohio’s history of being a swing state continues on in the lead up to the 2016 election.

A conglomeration of polls from Real Clear Politics shows that Donald Trump currently lead Hillary Clinton in Ohio, but only by a margin of 1.8 points.

Past Primary Voting Trends in Wayne County

RYAN MILLER focus editor

Voting is the great equalizer in our government.

It enables no single voice to be heard louder than another, regardless of any factor.

With the previous sentiment in mind, it is baffling as to why people actively make the decision not to vote,

particularly in presidential election years like this upcoming election.

It is even more surprising when I consider that in my home state of Ohio, where the candidate who wins the state has gone on to win the election each and every time since John F. Kennedy was elected in 1960.

According to a report from the Bipartisan Policy Center entitled “2012 Voter Turnout Report,” only 57.4 percent of eligible voters voted in the 2012 election, meaning 93 million eligible voters did not cast a ballot.

Whether it is, a result of apathy or being unaware, a sizable volume of voters are voting.

This is concerning for a number of reasons, especially when looking toward this

Democratic

Republican

2008: 21,712

2008: 29,342

2012: 30,251

2012: 30,251

presidential election.

Whomever wins this election will have a myriad of problems to combat, problems including: the war in Syria, growing racial tensions and a developing nuclear weapons program in North Korea amongst other issues.

In addition, it is more than likely that the next president elect will have to appoint multiple Supreme Court justices.

There is already one vacant seat that was previously

occupied by Antonin Scalia, and currently, three justices are over the age of 78.

The Supreme Court is a enormous part of a president’s legacy, as it enables his or her political views to remain in the judicial branch for long after his or her tenure has concluded.

Appointments are for life, justices will remain on the court until they retire or pass away.

To put this idea into perspective, up until the passing of Scalia this summer, two seats on the court were still

occupied by justices appointed

by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.

In summary, it is imperative that people vote to elect candidates that represent their political views and values. Whomever wins this November will face countless issues at home and abroad, that will require a capacity to use good judgement at every step of the way.

Because of the elevated stakes in this election, the choice you make voting matters more than ever.

THE

WOOSTER

BLADE

Editors-in-Chief Sarah Hopkins, Nate KingSmith Webmaster Alexander Thompson Graphics Managers Spencer Dilyard, Matthew Lorentz Business Managers Grant Peabody, Estelle Shaya On Campus Editors Drosos Kardulias, Tatumn McGrew Focus Editors Austin McCully, Ryan Miller Sports Editors A & E Editors Kayla Barnet, Nick Cosmo Trends Editors Olivia Sleek Cover Editors Erin O’Donnell, Amber Swigart, Valerie Anderson, Hannah Knapic Views Editors Evan Doan, Maureen McKeown Feature Editors Hanna Morgan, Emma Strong Staff Writers Madison Culver-Lee, Jacob Gooch, John Gorman, Glara Lee, Holly Miller, Christopher Roche, Samuel Schonfeld Design Managers Isabelle Cannon, Estelle Shaya, Rachel Dugan Wood Head Photographer Grant Peabody Photographers Madison Culver-Lee, Hannah Knapic, Tracy Morgan, Chelsea Patterson Cartoonists Jess Lyons, Leah Sim Adviser Kristi Hiner The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The paper is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established in a district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the right to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Wooster Blade is printed in cooperation with Wooster’s The Daily Record.

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

The newspaper can also be found online at thewoosterblade.com.

THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL

THE WOOSTER BLADE | VIEWS | OCT. 7 2016 | PAGE 32

OUR VIEW

School bathrooms fail to meet standards When students are at school, there is an expectation that the facilities they use will be sufficient and satisfactory.

However, it is the belief of The Wooster Blade Editorial Board that some of the facilities at WHS are not meeting these standards, specifically the restrooms.

Throughout the high school, restrooms contain stalls absent of both doors or locks, proving insufficient in providing student privacy.

These problems were presented to principal Tyler Keener who assured that changes will be made.

“Now that I am aware of [the problems with the stalls], I will put those work orders in to our staff,”

Keener said.

In addition to deficient restroom appliances is a lack of restroom etiquette shown by WHS students.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board would like to remind students not to flick or pour water outside of the sink because such carelessness often results in a wetting of school supplies or clothes that have come in contact with the counter.

Furthermore, clogging toilets, writing on the walls and throwing paper towels is disrespects both our custodial staff and our student body.

Keener advises students to report problems or inappropriate conduct to faculty members or custodians.

“I encourage students and faculty

“NOW THAT I AM AWARE OF [THE PROBLEMS WITH THE STALLS], I WILL BE SURE TO PUT THOSE WORK ORDERS IN TO OUR STAFF,” KEENER SAID.

Oftentimes, well intended legislation has horrendous side effects.

This concept is precisely the case with Assembly Bill No. 1687 that was signed into law by California Gov. Jerry Brown Sept. 24 of this year.

Essentially, the bill prevents commercial entertainment employment service providers from publishing any information regarding the age of a client, who are almost exclusively actors.

While supporters of the bill praise it as a defense against age discrimination, The Wooster Blade Editorial Board is concerned with the precedent that the bill sets.

The Wooster Blade

Editorial Board believes giving the capacity for legislators to remove factual information from websites sets a dangerous precedent of allowing censorship of free speech and violates First Amendment rights.

In addition, federal and state laws explicitly outlaw age discrimination of any sort, making this bill redundant in nature.

Furthermore, not allowing an actor’s age to be displayed on websites such as the Internet Movie Database or IMDb does not prevent an employer from knowing the age of the actor. Countless actors have Wikipedia pages, on which an actor’s date of birth is listed and would not be considered a commercial entertainment

if you see something or know something needs to be done, let us know and we’ll get it taken care of,” Keener said.

Students deserve to be able to use the restroom at school without stress and The Wooster Blade Editorial Board asks that both students and administration help to make that goal possible.

Graphic by Matthew Lorentz and Austin McCully

employment service provider.

Essentially, all a potential employer would have to do to basically render the law meaningless is to open another tab and search the actor’s name.

The Wooster Blade Editorial Board considers the precedent set by Assembly Bill No. 1687 to be alarming for free speech and freedom of information.

The editorial board believes Assembly Bill No. 1687 should be reconsidered, not only due to the infringement of basic liberties, but because the bill serves a purpose already fulfilled by prior legislation.

Fact-box compiled from reason.com

by Evan Doan

-California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that would censor the age of actors on IMDB -The argument for the bill was that age discrimination in Hollywood is a serious issue and it needs to be addressed -The law was deemed a violation of IMDB’s First Amendment rights by nearly every lawyer consulted by The Hollywood Reporter -Sets a dangerous precedent for internet censorship in the future