The Colonel - Issue 2

Volume 86: Issue Two

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Contents

3 Editorial

Break The Silence Campaign

4 Opinion Love Hurts Bull vs Moose Drawing the Line Racism in the NBA

10 Student Life

The Rock Script Kent Homelessness in RHS A Face in the Class - Raiden Foris

14 Arts & Culture Taylor Swift’s 1989 Album Review

15 Sports

Fall Sports Review

16 Leisure

A Tale of Two Scissors Part Two

STAFF Editors-in-Chief - Sydnie Barnette & Audra Grimm Content Editors - Logan Kordinak & Haley Richards Copy Editors - Rachel Favetta & Adam Gretsinger Layout Editor - Aaron Leclerc Photo Editors - Samm Ellis & Haley Richards Art Director - Luke Myers Staff Writers Mikenzi Daniels-Smith Murphy Deutsch Phillip Grant Kasey Nielsen Kelly Nielsen Advisor David Massucci

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Editorial

Break the Silence

Good intentions, negative impact story | The Colonel Staff

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omestic violence is a real and heinous crime. This crime should not be taken lightly, and because it often goes unseen, attention should be brought to it. A larger movement across the country, Break the Silence gained a chapter at Roosevelt, made prominent largely over social media circles on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the display case in the main hallway. However, because of the way promotion of the project was executed, we are left questioning the integrity of Break the Silence.

This movement was made with the best intentions, which is easily recognizable. Raising awareness of domestic violence is a great and worthy cause. The inclusivity of Roosevelt’s Break the Silence chapter was also a big plus. By taking portraits of girls, boys, teachers, students, straight and LGBT participants, the movement had a lot going for it from the start. For years, people have been posting pictures of themselves with their personal stories of abuse on social media outlets. These intimate portraits are emotionally moving and take much courage on the part of the poster. The problem is that Break the Silence may unintentionally mock the courage and bravery of domestic abuse victims by placing participants in comically dramatic makeup, manipulating the colors in the images and having participants hold signs with statistics and “personal” stories.

While we realize that this is not meant to mock domestic violence, it is simply not the best way to bring attention to this issue. Most students Send press releases, guest columns and letters to the editor to:

The Colonel c/o Theodore Roosevelt High School 1400 N. Mantua St. Kent, OH 44240 All published material is protected speech adhering to the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and invasion of privacy.

January 2015

involved had good intentions in participating in this project, although some continued wearing the makeup throughout the day, priding themselves for taking part in the movement with potentially narcissistic motivations. Some even spent time imitating the acts of violence the movement opposes. This type of immaturity is not unexpected from a high school aged group, but it should not have been tolerated either.

Break the Silence lost a lot of its power from this.

It is evident that the facts and statistics given were powerful, and showing solidarity by posting a picture is not a bad thing. Had the “personal” stories and makeup been removed, the overall message of the movement would have been present and not at all offensive. This would have fixed the issues present in the Break the Silence movement. If there had been a hashtag or slogan, like, “#StandWithTheSurvivors” or “#StandAgainstDomesticViolence” used in place of the stories, that could have worked, and with no makeup, there would be no threat of mocking.

As a group, we applaud the Break the Silence Movement for its work towards creating a more aware and compassionate world; however, we wish that the student body and the specific execution of the project were altered in a way that would cease to make survivors’ experiences feel trivialized.

The Colonel Volume 86 Issue Two January 2015 The Colonel is an open forum of student expression. It is not reviewed or censored by school officials prior to publication. Published material does not necessarily reflect the views of the Kent City School District or the publication as a whole.

The Colonel

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Opinion

Love Hurts Psychological reasons why women stay with abusive men story | Murphy Deutsch illustration | Sydnie Barnette

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o most outsiders, women who remain in abusive relationships are a complete mystery.

It is frustratingly hard to understand why these women would not separate themselves from the abusive relationship when the alternative is a life walking on eggshells and living in fear.

A commonly held belief is that these women are simply naive, weak or unable to see logic.

People believe that they are just desperately clinging to the “I love him,” and “maybe he will change” claims. And though, often, these are contributing factors, many scientific studies on the workings of the human mind and emotions have shown that there are far deeper psychological reasonings that answer the whys and the hows of women who remain with their abusers.

When it comes to understanding the human mind, it is sometimes easier to think primitively.

From an evolutionary perspective, love and other emotions are mechanisms that compel organisms to engage in behavior that is difficult to understand because it is behavior which is based on our more instinctive base desires.

The fact that women themselves are mystified by their own choice when they follow their emotions and stay with their violent partners seems to suggest the possible operation of evolutionary logic in their thoughts, to which the women do not have complete conscious access.

This can be explained by the concept of the

subconscious human instinct to reproduce.

When it comes down to it, life is merely a means to reproduction.

In our ancestral environment, violent men probably did very well in their survival and pursuits of mates and were most capable in fathering and raising children, hence the reason the females put up with the violence.

Is it right? No. Was it evolutionarily smart at the time? Yes.

However, now that survival is not quite so pressing of an issue, morals are the focus.

It’s easy to blame these women for their suffering and not being able to leave their abusive significant others, but we must understand that on top of these women’s emotions, they are also battling a much deeper and incomprehensible force from which they cannot escape.

An example of this behavior is prominent in the recent case of Ray Rice’s domestic abuse towards his then fiance (now wife), Janay Palmer. Ray Rice lashed out in brutal violence, literally knocking his “loved” one out cold, yet still got married to her one measly month later.

Although many agree that these women’s judgements are clouded by their abuse, they unfortunately cling to their relationships because of the rare sweet moments of recovery, where they feel cherished and safe.

They say time heals, but is one month really enough to heal the traumatising, not to mention excessively publicized, abuse she endured? When most women fall in love, they do it with such ferocity and devotion that it’s often times difficult for them to imagine a world without the supposed love of their life. This is especially true when that person once gave them devoted love in return.

While it seems clearly impossible to walk in the shoes and really understand the reasoning behind staying, perhaps this article can give a new perspective to take before assuming the worst of the women trapped in the most publicized, if not damaging, form of abuse in the U.S.

Women are attracted to the primal instincts of men.

The Colonel

January 2015

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Opinion

Bull vs Moose Are the holidays the only time people are giving? bull | Sydnie Barnette moose | Audra Grimm illustrations | Luke Myers

Sydnie Barnette t’s no secret that people give the most during the holidays. One dead giveaway could be, oh, you know, the fact that the time between November and January has been renamed “The Season of Giving.” During this season, people are moved by The Spirit (whether The Spirit for them is of a holy or divine nature or otherwise) to give their monetary earnings to charity, or share their time helping those in need.

There is a definite no-brainer reason for this, it simply feels good to give, and the holidays surrounding the later months of the year already promote giving. While schools, churches and hospitals have fundraisers year-round, the support they receive during the Season of Giving is nowhere near matched by the support they receive during the rest of the year.

The Center on Philanthropy (COP) at Indiana University found that their respondents reported giving about 24 percent of their annual income between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day (ncss.urban.org). However, they later reported that 42 percent of people with an income of upwards of $200,000 gave more during this season, while 44 percent gave “about the same.”

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January 2015

That sustained giving matched with nearly half of people giving more creates an increase of funding during those times. A 2012 Guidestar survey concluded that 50.5 percent of the organizations received most of their income between October and December (ncss.urban.org).

Naturally, people are in need year round, so it’s important to give consistently, however, this doesn’t always happen. An interesting truth comes from the Columbus Dispatch who reported that, “Central Ohio residents who make the least ($25,000 a year or less annually) gave the largest share of their earnings (7.19 percent) to help others.

Those making the most gave smaller shares, 2.31 percent was given by those making $100,000 to $200,000, 2.43 percent was given by those making more than $200,000.” This tells us that those who may actually be in need are more apt to give what little they do have to help others survive in similar situations. This kind of mentality is largely what drives the attitude of giving during this time of year.

One possible reason as to why people give more during the holidays is the fact that there is more promotion during these times. The causes with the most money then have the most influence, and can receive even more donations. According to Forbes.com, in 2013, United Way was the most donated to charity, and got their money largely from payroll deductions. Not every charity has this luxury, so they rely on the flux of giving during the holidays to help fund their programs. In this way, it is not a bad thing that most giving happens during the holidays. The problem arises when families in need do not get the help they need throughout the rest of the year. Just because there is a flux of help during the holidays does not mean that the money gained during that time is spent right away.

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Opinion Audra Grimm ecember and the months leading up to it have been marked as “The Season of Giving.” The holidays exist at every turn of a busy street corner or store aisle — telling us that Christmas is coming and it’s time to start shopping. Not only do folks give to their families, friends and themselves, but also to charity. There’s always a red Salvation Army bucket or other worthy cause to donate to, as giving is at its height during the holidays. Since the warm vibe we get when surrounded with those we love causes us to want the less fortunate to feel the same way, we are more apt to give. Of course the season of giving tends to put more emphasis on giving to charities, making it the most prominent time of the year for helping those with less have more. The spirit of giving, however, is one that is there with us all the time, it just receives more publicity during the holiday season, when it is thought to be most needed.

If a family is in need, it’s likely they’ll be in need year round, not just during the holidays, so it’s unfortunate that publicity for donations is placed on a few months when help is actually needed at all times. Numerous organizations and clubs, whether they be based in schools or communities as a whole, are constantly working to help those in need.

Some examples are clothing drives, blood drives, change drives, canned food drives or simply putting on events individually, donating the proceeds to a charity of choice, more often than not, a local one.

There are plenty of ways to donate, and many take advantage of them whether the contribution is big or small.

Because “The Season of Giving” is given more prominence and publicity, it may seem that it’s the only appropriate time to donate services, goods or money. This is not the case, as lending a helping hand is always appreciated. One recent major example is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which drew millions of dollars and attention to the cause. Right here at Roosevelt, a change war was recently held by student council, Pennies for Patients was sponsored by Health Care Technologies. Key

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Club had a giving tree to donate gently used winter outerwear to kids at Headstart Child Development Program, Riders Taking Action held bake sales to donate to a choice charity and so many more projects are in the works. Humans are commonly seen as selfish, which can be true at times; however, everyone focuses on that negative aspect, while failing to realize how wonderful and giving people can be.

So many kind, caring and selfless acts happen every day, but it doesn’t have the shock value needed to go on Channel 5 News. The media is too focused on the negatives and what’s wrong with the world and how the human race is on a “downward spiral.” Are there bad people? Yes. Are there good people? Absolutely, and those good people are everywhere you go, helping others. If we opened our eyes a little more, we’d realize that selfless acts of giving don’t have to be put on a pedestal or consist of million dollar donations to be valued. They sometimes happen with the giver and the receiver being the only ones to know. Just because it’s not all over the news, or because it’s not being given to a mall Santa ringing a bell asking for donations, doesn’t mean it’s not an act of giving. The acts of kindness that happen every day are right in front of us, whether we realize it or not. There’s no right or wrong time to be selfless, as giving is a year-round ideal.

January 2015

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Opinion

Drawing the Line

Has America gone too far in its promise of certain liberties? story | Mikenzi Daniels-Smith

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n October 17, 2014, a lawsuit was filed against Donald and Evelyn Knapp. They are two ordained ministers who own the Hitching Post Lakeside Wedding Chapel in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (a state in which gay marriage was declared illegal until October of 2014). The two ministers were told that they must perform samesex ceremonies or face 180 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines. The wedding chapel is registered as a “religious corporation,” limiting it to performing one-man-one-woman marriages as defined in the Bible. However, the chapel is also registered as a for-profit business which means that it must adhere to a local non-discrimination ordinance which prohibits businesses from discriminating based on sexual orientation.

American society has gone overboard in its quest for “equality.” People have been campaigning for so long for gay marriage rights without considering what it is doing to ministers across the nation. Forcing pastors in Houston, Texas to give up sermons because society feels that it only targets homosexuality as being wrong is an attempt to get pastors to bend the rules of their beliefs in order to help society feel better.

What people who push for gay marriage rights don’t realize is that while they’re complaining about churches in their protests, they’re still condemning the personal beliefs of others. This is a matter of pushing a certain belief on people who don’t believe it and then getting angry when they don’t comply.

The First Amendment gives citizens the right to believe and say what they choose. If pastors are forced to perform these ceremonies or face jail time, their First Avmendment rights are being violated according to the Free Exercise Clause. The free exercise clause prohibits the government from interfering with a person’s practice of their religion.

If practicing religion means refusing a certain engagement due to its violation of the beliefs of that particular religion, then the ministers have that right.

American society wants people to fix certain things to keep everyone happy. Ministers who refuse same-sex ceremonies are at war with supporters of the practice. On either side, taking over the opposing side is the ultimate goal. If society wants peace on the issue, then let people believe and enforce whatever they choose.

January 2015

The Knapps’ Chapel is not the only wedding chapel in Idaho. According to The Williams Institute’s analysis of the 2010 U.S. Census, 2,042 same-sex couples are living in Idaho, representing 3.5 samesex couples per 1,000 households. Compared to the 1.6 million living in Idaho, there aren’t many same-sex couples looking to be married to begin with. Therefore, the ministers shouldn’t be fined or sentenced to jail time because they choose to exercise their rights given by the First Amendment. The Free Exercise Clause not only protects religious beliefs, but also actions made on behalf of those beliefs. The clause also allows for violation of certain laws as long as the violation is strictly for a religious purpose.

On October 27, 2014, the city of Coeur d’Alene overturned their decision to charge the ministers in the event they refuse to perform same-sex ceremonies.

The city attorney Mike Gridley said that after further consideration from city officials, it was determined that the ordinance did not specifically state that the organization had to be non-profit or for-profit.

In an interview with Boise State Public Radio, Gridley said, “After we’ve looked at this some more, we have come to the conclusion they would be exempt from our ordinance because they are a religious corporation.” Leo Morales of the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho also spoke on the issue and said that excusing the Knapps from the law was manageable as long as their sole purpose is to perform strictly religious ceremonies.

Morales also said, “However, if they do non-religious ceremonies as well, they would be violating the anti-discrimination ordinance. It’s the religious activity that’s being protected.” The Alliance Defending Freedom senior legal counsel, Jeremy Tedesco, said, “The government should not force ordained ministers to act contrary to their faith under threat of jail time and criminal fines.” He called the city “seriously flawed legal ground” based on the city officials’ decision on the matter.

The original lawsuit stated that Coeur d’Alene was “unconstitutionally forcing” these ministers to perform same-sex ceremonies which is “in violation of their religious beliefs, their ordination vows and their consciences.” In concurrence with the point brought up by Gridley, the ordinance didn’t state the grounds of being for-profit or non-profit, so the city didn’t have the right to file the lawsuit. The city’s decision to overturn their allegations against the ministers was absolutely the correct move to make.

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Opinion

Racism in the NBA Media fuels continued racism in America story | Phillip Grant illustration | Sydnie Barnette & Aaron Leclerc

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are not willing to tolerate the changes that are occurring.

There are currently people in this world who think that there is nothing wrong with what they say about minority groups because they feel that they are more powerful than these citizens.

Unfortunately, these ignorant people hold power in our nation. The people who take on this egotistical outlook fail to realize that the opinionated and stereotypical views they have affect society in a negative way. Even though everyone has a right to their own opinion, it should not give anyone an excuse to scrutinize another based off of prejudgement and false information.

Roosevelt government teacher Nikki Marchmon-Boykin says, “Racism in America will never cease to exist because there are people today who are taught and carry out these historical views.

I have seen the increase of the overt expression of racism since the election of America’s first black president.”

Society remains ignorant to the issue of racism, because the people who run things influence society to feel a certain way using the media. Today’s technology-based society allows people to rely on appearance and stereotypes to judge before they find out who that person really is. Society will never solve this issue unless people learn to deal with racism and not dance around it like it is some kind of “forbidden topic.”

Marchmon-Boykin says, “Overall, racism is institutionalized, and unless we change the systems in America, racism will never be resolved.

However, racism can be resolved amongst individuals through friendships.”

The United States will continue to have leading figures making racist remarks and oppressing minority groups unless society takes responsibility and action immediately. If there are more people in society who speak out against such unjust acts like Levenson’s prejudiced remarks, then there will be less cases of racial profiling and oppression.

ormer Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson has become infamous for his intolerable misbehaviors. A couple years ago, Levenson stated, by e-mail, that ticket sales and corporate sponsors were “not the best” due to the lack of “suburban whites.”

Levenson stated that there were too many black fans attending Atlanta Hawks games and he concluded that the high attendance of black fans scared away some of the white fans.

In his e-mail, Levenson specified, “The average fan attendance is 70 percent black, cheerleaders are black, music is hip-hop, bars located in the arena are 90 percent black, there are few fathers and sons at games and concerts held at the arena are either gospel or hip-hop.”

No one knew about Levenson’s racial remarks until he notified the public of the incident in 2014. The reasoning behind Levenson’s choice to incriminate himself is unknown. Sources throughout the NBA then tried to find a way to punish Levenson.

According to USA Today, when Levenson revealed the e-mail to the public, he decided to sell the team. The apparent punishment has been established in that he is no longer an NBA owner.

However, oppression and racial profiling still seem to exist in America due to incidents like these.

Blacks and other minority groups throughout the country are constantly being targeted and manipulated.

Black citizens are jobless, have unwanted jobs and are shunned by society today because they are black, and some people assume that they pose a threat to others. Similarly, employers assume that potential female employees are inferior to the male employees and cannot get anything accomplished efficiently.

People are still being denied certain rights because of their ethnic background, gender, sexuality and/or appearance. The United States might be diverse, but some people in this country still fail to accept a society where all people are equal.

The country is far more socially advanced today than it was before the twentieth century; however, the U.S. still suffers from people who

January 2015

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Opinion

Where Do Veterans Go? A home for veterans at Freedom House story | Samm Ellis

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nited States’ military soldiers are paid and aided throughout their time in the service.

However, once they are out of the military, many of these veterans are left with very few options for work and housing. According to the Veteran Affairs website, 49,933 veterans were homeless as of January 2014. In the military, soldiers become accustomed to a structured lifestyle, which makes leaving feel like too much freedom. Since 2004, Valor Home has been a place that provides homeless American veterans with food and shelter.

This program is funded by the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Capital Grant and Per Diem Program (GPD) and donations. Although there are workers at the house, there are also volunteers who help out, as well as the residents taking care of chores. GPD is is a program that annually funds community agencies that provide supportive housing and/or services to homeless veterans.

Family & Community Services Incorporation has created six facilities so far.

White House, Miss Liberty House and Freedom House are all residences located in Portage County.

Within Lorain County is Valor Home. Carroll Street and another house named Valor Home Residence are both homes in Summit County.

White House and Miss Liberty House are both considered permanent housing facilities however, Miss Liberty House is female only.

Female houses provide for the different needs that women have that men do not. Freedom House has a maximum stay of two years, and Carroll Street Residence has a maximum stay of 60 days.

Freedom House, located in Kent, is a 14 bedroom transitional housing facility that is staffed 24/7. The facility complies with the standards of the Disability Act of 1990, but the house is not only for disabled veterans. This act is the first comprehensive civil rights act that addresses people with disabilities. It prohibits discrimination against anyone with disabilities in regards to employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and government activities.

While interviewing a current military member, Staff Sergeant David Kaman, who has been a soldier for eight years and plans to serve another 12, he is asked his opinion on veteran shelters. Kaman’s response is, “Shelters for veterans are great, as those who served, they are entitled to fair treatment and to be in surroundings that January 2015

may be built in such a manner as to be familiar to them from their military day, and access to the large number of support programs and groups that exist for them.” Kaman stated that he has worked with one soldier that he knows is homeless, and that he has had money troubles himself in the past. Kaman did not wish to elaborate on any details of this specific homeless soldier out of respect for his privacy.

In the first year, 75 percent of the Valor Home residents acquired their own home. In the following years since then, 80 percent of the residents had success finding housing.

“One issue with homeless vets is their inability to find work, or have a goal driven existence,” said Kaman. Since 2009, Valor Home has also helped veterans find jobs by working with the Department of Job and Family Services Employment One-Stop Program and The Veteran’s Service Commission of Portage County. Training is given in lawn care, snow removal, asbestos removal and demolition.

Kaman believes that the inability for veterans to find jobsv in today’s society is because, “of a smaller job market requiring more specialized knowledge, that they don’t possess.”

The Valor Home program provides many services for the veterans. There is emergency, transitional and permanent housing available. They also offer substance abuse, vocational, legal and mental counseling. Freedom House holds weekly Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, too. Even case management, medical and dental coverage are provided.

However, there is a process to be eligable to receive these services. Only veterans who served actively and left with honorable discharge are allowed. Staff Sergeant Kaman said that even though it is difficult to find jobs once men and women leave the military, “the majority of homeless vets from the current conflicts are more than likely released from service due to S Negative incident on their record, and the shame and stigma attached to that status causes them to lose motivation.” S Negative incidents are where a soldier is discharged in a negative or other than honorable condition.

Although there are few homeless shelters specifically designed for veterans, Freedom House in Kent has declined to comment or be interviewed.

Although, as they appear to continue to work and expand, the foundation they set seems to keep busy helping veterans that are coming to them and veterans that they have already been helping.

The Colonel

Student Life

The Rock The emblem that embodies the spirit of Roosevelt

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story | Kelly Nielsen photo | RHS Environmental Club

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he month of May can be crazy at any school, but it was especially crazy at Roosevelt in the spring of 2007. With students longing to be done with classes and cramming for exams, everyone was ready to enjoy the summer sun. The seniors in particular felt this way, as they are always suffering from severe “senioritis.” During this time of year, it is common for the seniors to think of a way to leave their mark on the school. Everyone dreams of playing a legendary senior prank. The class of 2007 had a unique twist on the simple idea of this public joke, but they never knew the silly antic would become a symbol of school pride.

The graduating class of 2007 came up with the idea to put a rock on the lawn of school property.

They got a boulder to place on the corner by the main entrance of the school near the stop sign.

Roosevelt students and administrators were baffled as to how it appeared and didn’t know how to handle the situation. The school had to figure out how to move this massive rock. They were going to keep the prank, but put it in a different location. They ended up placing it where it is now, near the entrance of the school parking lot.

RHS decided to keep the rock and model it after the Kent State rock. Kent State’s rock is painted to bring awareness to certain causes, celebrations or

grievances. Roosevelt had to call in reinforcements and bulldozers to move the rock. Since then, the rock has been painted over hundreds of times. Throughout the years, the rock has symbolized more than a senior prank. “The rock is a place of expression, especially in time of celebration or a grievance that brings the school together.” the activities director of Roosevelt, Mrs. Jurging, said.

#breakthesilence

This standout design on the rock helps bring awareness to violence against men and women. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Since its origin in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The #breakthesilence movement, started by Roosevelt students, is a hashtag used on social media images that calls attention to domestic violence through makeup and statistics. By simulating domestic abuse by makeup it has drawn awareness to the increasing problem.

Devon

Devon Conwell was a Roosevelt student in the class of 2015. In April of 2012, Devon passed away due to an enlarged heart condition. His smile, personality and presence is missed. Students and teachers decided to paint the rock in his honor to remember the legacy he left at Roosevelt. The rock was painted for him and it recognized his impact on the whole community.

Volleyball beating Crestwood

On October 8, 2013, Roosevelt volleyball did the unthinkable. They beat their rivals, the Crestwood Red Devils, at home, to win the PTC League Championship.

This championship meant more because it was their third time in a row winning the league title. The accomplishment signified the hard work the volleyball team had put into their season since the beginning of August. The team painted the rock to celebrate their achievement.

Environmental Club

Environmental Club decorates the rock to raise awareness for environmental protection.

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The Environmental Club at Roosevelt has a simple goal: create a more sustainable world starting with the school and community. To bring awareness to their club and the Earth, they painted the rock on April 22, 2014 for Earth Day. The bright, simple design was a quick reminder to students and faculty driving by to remember to be green and help the planet.

January 2015

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Student Life

Script Kent

The longest standing tradition of Roosevelt story | Murphy Deutsch photo | Samm Ellis

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t’s the last home game of the season.

Our valiant Rough Rider team had just played their hearts out on the field; the stands are wild with student and adult cheers alike.

Suddenly, a hush falls over the crowd as the head snare of the Rough Rider Marching Band counts off a steady beat to the rest of the squad.

The band is announced over the speakers as they slowly march to the opposite side of the field to a crowd favorite, “Smoke on the Water.”

There, they wait patiently on the sidelines, ready to take the attention of the stadium.

They know what’s coming. The announcer declares, “The most cherished tradition of the season, ‘Script Kent!’”

The lights go out all at once and the night engulfs everything in a pitch black blanket.

The crowd, relieved of the tangible tension that gripped them so tightly in suspense, erupts into applause.

In the distance, the steady beating of the head snare can be heard, fueling the excitement of the event.

One by one, green lights appear in a cluster on the field where the band members stand. The crowd cheers in awe of the spectacle.

One green light breaks away from the group and begins its trek along its predestined path on the field.

Script Kent on the football field

January 2015

The green lights seem to be playing follow the leader as they dance to the rhythmic beat of, “French National Defile.”

As the song continues, the picture becomes clear. Suddenly, you can see the whole scene laid out before you.

K-E-N-T is spelled out proudly on our home field.

The tubas cross the “T” in their final touch on the event and the roaring applause is deafening.

The lights stay out long enough that the innumerable number of camera flashes can be noticed blinking brightly out of the stands as spectators attempt to capture the talent of the Rough Rider Marching Band on film.

As light is returned to the stadium, the band performs their beloved halftime show, still in the Script position.

Finally, the band files out of the stadium to the beat of the popular drumline cadences and the cheering of the crowd.

For two weeks before the show, six hours per week, the band practices their program on and off the field. Prior to their performance, glow sticks are placed in their predestined positions by assistant band director, Ms. Sundman, to help the band with their formatting. These glow sticks serve as markers for the twists and dips of the cursive letters the band creates. The performance of “Script Kent” by the Rough Rider Marching Band follows the final home football game of the regular season.

This entertaining tradition started in the fall of 1975 when the Rough Rider Band was under the direction of Jack Liles, who had roots in the Ohio State marching band.

The formation is similar to “Script Ohio” that is performed at The Ohio State University, but here it is performed in the dark. Jack Liles’ successor, Tom Knapp, presented the idea of carrying out the show in the dark in 1977, and the band obliged.

Bill Davis, who came to Roosevelt High School in 1982, continued the tradition. Mr. Davis said that the Rough Rider Band would perform “Script Kent” in the dark every year, “until the audience lost interest in the concept.” That, fortunately, has not yet happened.

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Student Life

Homelessness In Our School Our homelessness system is a homeless-mess system

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story | Haley Richards illustration | Sydnie Barnette & Aaron Leclerc

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omelessness is a real and present problem in Kent, and it doesn’t just affect the older part of the population. Our school has many programs and fundraisers that help and benefit the homeless population, but very few programs which help local students who are homeless themselves.

Homeless students often find themselves in Miller Community House, a homeless shelter in Kent. Miller House stays are limited to 30 days, meaning residents need to find homes within that time. This can prove to be a difficult feat, particularly if a student is without family support.

When a high school student is homeless there are many hardships that people fail to consider. Aside from how difficult it is to obtain basic necessities, homeless students have to deal with the constant stress of living without a consistent place to sleep.

They may feel at least partially responsible for their situation, even though it is more often than not a situation that arose from a common circumstance.

“We were evicted because my dad was laid off from his work, and Mom didn’t have a job at the time to help pay rent,” one student said.

If a student is homeless, they won’t have easy access to the internet, hindering their ability to complete assignments. Students also will not be able to afford things like clothing, access to health products, easy access to medical attention or other necessities.

Homeless students will not be able to afford a tutor for school, disadvantaging them should they need help. It’s also incredibly stressful for a student to worry about homework when they are not even sure that their family will be able to eat on a particular night. Both students interviewed for this article said it was inconvenient not having a private and quiet place to do homework.

Aside from homeless students with family support, some high school seniors become homeless themselves as the year progresses. Whether they age out of the foster care system or are simply kicked out of their parents’ home, they don’t have a place to sleep, food, a way to wash their clothe or petty spending money. This particular situation leaves students in more complex and independent positions than homeless students with the support of their family.

Homeless seniors cannot pay for college applications or college in general. They have no way to go to interviews for college, and although a part The Colonel

time job would assist with financial needs, they can add more stress to a difficult situation. Both interviewed students expressed intent to attend college, and were motivated by wanting to escape their situations.

“I’ve learned a lot watching Mom go through this, and all the work that has to be done in a short amount of time,” one student said.

The sophomore guidance counselor, Mrs. Cooper said on the homelessness in our school,“Each situation is unique, therefore all of these factors impact students in different ways. We operate case by case to support the individual student and family.”

When asked how being homeless affects academics, health and social life, Cooper said, “A student in a homeless situation may have difficulties with getting to school, which can impact their academics. Also, a student may be taking on extra work responsibilities to help provide for their family, which can add extra stress and take time away from school, work and friends.”

Cooper also shared on the topic of resources for homeless students: “We try to be supportive in any way possible, including being available for emotional support, connecting students and families with community resources and helping to provide items such as food and clothing as needed. We also continue to track their academics and work out realistic plans so they can stay on track with courses and grades.”

Miller House is a very impactful resource for these students. One student said, “They have computers and printers at the shelter that I can use. Also, they have a lot of school supplies that they gave me when I got here.”

Students interviewed were asked about their unique experiences at Miller Community House. “It’s okay, I like when there are big meals because it feels like you are part of a big family or something and people talk with each other rather than just walking around quietly,” one student said.

When asked if there were any stories they would like to share, one student said: “I’ve learned that there are some very ‘regular’ people here at the shelter. I used to think that people in a homeless shelter were there because they were lazy or had a past of charges. There are people here that have worked their whole lives and lost their housing because of medical bills.”

Some local students are homeless, and they face many difficulties students in stable situations do not. Often people fail to consider the less discussed inconveniences. Though these often depress people who have to deal with them, both students interviewed are ultimately optimistic for the future.

January 2015

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Student Life

A Face in the Class Raiden Foris story | Kelly Nielsen

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n aspiring engineer who is getting a head start in the Engineering Academy at Roosevelt, Raiden Foris is no ordinary student. He has overcome heartache and tough situations. He comes from an impoverished family, where his mother divorced his stepdad. After the divorce, his mom and siblings were evicted from their house. Raiden, not letting this situation get in the way of his success, has moved in with his aunt and uncle in Mantua to try to continue a normal routine. Coming from a rough start, Raiden is motivated to get out his tough upbringing. He is 34th in the class of 2015 and has accumulated a GPA of 3.87, and he hopes to be the first college graduate in his family. Raiden has been accepted and will attend Cleveland State University where he will major in electrical engineering. He has also considered getting a PhD, a feat which is not unreasonable for such a motivated young man.

“He likes to sit down with a cup of tea and throw knives at logs.”

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Raiden Foris, Senior Photo by Samm Ellis

Besides his academic success, Raiden also has unique hobbies. When he was five, he started collecting knives. As of now, he has around 75 knives and this collection is still growing. As this passion grew, he began throwing the knives he collected to relax himself. He sees it as a sport, and likes to sit down with a cup of tea and throw knives at logs. He has continued this specialty for 13 years and now can hit a tree from 30 feet away.

Raiden believes that struggle is unavoidable and builds your character.

He thinks that people should “never accept your fate” by overcoming the rough times and doing what is best for yourself. Raiden is an example to anyone in a difficult circumstance because he has proven you can conquer any battle life may throw at you.

The Colonel

Arts & Culture

Taylor Swift’s 1989 Album Review story | Aaron Leclerc illustration | Luke Myers

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h, 1989. The year the Berlin Wall was destroyed, officially ending the Cold War, the Gameboy made its debut, “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” was released and the beloved Taylor Swift was born. She has cleverly titled her new album 1989 as an homage to the 80s pop that she grew up listening to.

Taylor Swift has moved past her poppy, country days into a new, less unique, more repetitive stereotypical pop realm. Supposedly, this album was inspired by Swift’s love and nostalgia for 1980s pop music. She presumably wanted to create something that resembles what she experienced in 1989. Overall, this goal was not well accomplished. This album seems to be more heavily influenced by modern pop music than anything else.

Swift uses some of the current standard pop music techniques in most of these songs.

For example, the second track, “Blank Space,” follows the relatively recent trend of simple instrumentals with slightly eerie melodies most commonly attributed to Lorde. Swift also hopped on the catchy-saxophone-riff bandwagon in her song “Shake It Off,” following the success of similar riffs from Macklemore, Jason Derulo, Ariana Grande, etc.

As do all of her albums, 1989 follows the theme of songs about past relationships. Some of these lyrics, however, are a little “edgier,” if you will. Instead of only complaining about failed relationships (don’t fret there’s still plenty of complaining) this time she also offers men some tips on “How You Get The Girl.” This song is rather unhelpful, considering it is actually about how to get the girl back. The only instruction she gives men is to beg and plead for her forgiveness because they are fools for ever treating her poorly.

This album also gives insight into some of Swift’s poor relationships with other celebrities.

“Bad Blood” takes us on a journey through the drama between Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.

Presumably, Swift was touring with a dance team, but Perry offered them more money to dance on her tour instead. They agreed to leave Swift’s tour, claiming that Perry’s tours were more fun. In a typical Taylor Swift fashion, she decided to hold an eternal grudge for a pretty The Colonel

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minor offense. Because of it, we have the supreme pleasure of enjoying an over-dramatic song about girl drama.

One of the few appealing factors of Taylor Swift’s music has always been that she writes the songs herself, unlike most artists in the popular music world. Fans have been defending her with this argument for years. They claim that she is better than people like Katy Perry, for example, who have their songs written for them. Unfortunately for those fans, Taylor Swift did not write the songs on this album herself. Ironically enough, Max Martin, the man responsible for many of Katy Perry’s hits was a huge part of the songwriting on this album.

Overall this album takes us on a thrilling roller coaster ride of failed relationships, tips (from someone who is obviously great at relationships) on how to have a successful relationship and lots of whiny melodies about insignificant feuds and fallouts between Swift and other celebrities. We get some repetitive choruses, uninspiring lyrics and some rip-off instrumentals. My personal rating of this album is a solid two out of ten, and I would not recommend it to anyone who cares about good songwriting, interesting instrumentals, true emotion or music in general.

Taylor Swift signing her soul over to the devil

January 2015

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Sports

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Serial Novel

January 2015

The Colonel

Serial Novel

A Tale of Two Scissors Part Two - Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid:

Whenever the final electronic bell rang out of Saint Columba of Iona’s ancient, copper-wired sound system, it would be instantly overpowered by a cacophony of shuffling papers, falling books and rushing feet as about a third of the student body trampled each other to get outside.

For five minutes, the copious, three-story staircases of the private school would be turned into rivers of stark white shirts, loose ties and school-branded hoodies, all flowing outside into the great, wide yonder of the afternoon.

Usually, I found myself contributing my off-gray, half-frayed hoodie to the daily flood, but on the Monday after Geoffrey’s weekend kerfuffle with Hiromi, my journey was redirected. Instead of reaching the avenue of bloated buses, I was perched atop the roof of the school and searching, with a meager mass of spectators tracking my progress, for my unseen opponent.

“Alright, kid,” I projected across the rock-salted roof, “cut out the hide-and-seek crap. I don’t want to be doing this all day.” The icy wind nearly slammed my words out of commission, but I knew by my fledgling audience’s reaction that they had made it into the air alright.

The crowd, bedecked in puffy jackets and insignia-covered stocking caps, shifted around anxiously in anticipation; they knew that some semblance of action was going to finally occur in this match.

I peered out across the salty field, trying my best to stare through the various chimneys and vents in my way. I began to slowly walk toward one suspicious-looking brick tower, making sure that every footfall gave off a satisfying crunch. The salt and gusts were the only sources of noise as I inched closer and closer to the structure.

The gasps of the crowd then joined the quiet symphony as I rushed to the corner of the brick and pulled myself around the edge. An old, rusted shovel met my gaze.

I had just given out a small chuckle when the funniest sound that I had ever heard in my life graced my ears.

My opponent, John Something-or-Other (there were way too many Johns at St. C’s), decided that it would be prudent and useful to come charging out from behind an airduct with the cry of an immature banshee. If his little legs weren’t so quick, I would’ve laughed right then.

Instead, I had to sidestep out of the way and give the poor kid a smack with the flat of my trusty, old tailor shears. He immediately spun around and threw out a panicky jab, only for me to knock it out of the way. He tried this same move again and again, and I kept batting it out of the way. This is why I don’t fight sixth-graders if I can avoid it: they are so boring to defeat.

After about a minute of this repetitive dance, his shoulders and stance began to sag. With his guard lowered, I decided to take the offensive, smacking his plastic shears to the ground, scraping the back of his arm, and The Colonel

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story | Adam Gretsinger illustration | Luke Myers

holding the point of my blades underneath his chin. The wind whistled in the silence left by the end of the fight.

“Ya done playing around, kid?” I asked bluntly.

He didn’t answer me; he was busy staring at his microscopic wound as though it had gone all the way through his arm. “Hey, John,” I said again. “Nod if you want to quit, man.” He replied with a tiny, shocked tilt of his noggin some moments later.

A tame, muffled applause followed Peter Grabowski as he ran up to me and triumphantly held up my hand. “Aaaaand the winner is… Maria Nievez!”

A few fans cheered, but none of them really put their heart into it. They all knew that I was going to win; they were just hoping to see me pull some fancy moves when I inevitably beat him. They were already beginning to get up and leave by the time Grabowski yelled back to them, “H-hey, guys, don’t forget to come back for the big match between Maria and Geoffrey on Friday in the playground. It’s going to be ‘super-hype’!” The crowd sort of waved back at him like Hollywood agents wave off unmarketable artists.

I smirked at him. “Losing your audience much, man?” I asked.

“Oh, shut up, Maria,” he replied, pushing his glasses back onto his skinny face. He glanced back at John, the boy’s eyes fixated on the tiny bead of blood bubbling from his scrape. “Geez, man, you really messed him up.”

I shrugged and said, “Hey, ya gotta learn to get good before trying to tussle with the champs. That scrape was just a little reminder.” I slipped my shears into the front pocket of my hoodie. “Anyway, could you take care of him ‘til his ride comes?” I looked back to where the audience had sat and saw a girl adorned in the most obnoxiously pink jacket that could ever be imagined (let alone actually created). “My friend, Kaitlyn, appears to have a bone to pick with me.”

Peter’s eyebrows furrowed as he pulled his wristwatch to his face. Finally, a sigh crawled out from his lips. “Alright,” he said, “but you better make your fight with Geoffrey interesting, okay?” He began to tug lightly on John’s petrified arm to lead him downstairs.

“Sure thing, Peter,” I called as he went down.

“I’ll make their hearts stop with excitement!” My snark echoed for a few moments, but the breeze eventually carried it away. The air was silent as I procrastinated my impending conversation. Unfortunately, I knew exactly what it would be about.

Nevertheless, I decided that it was ultimately stupid to

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Serial Novel delay the inevitable. “Hey, Kait,” I eventually greeted her.

“Hey,” she anxiously started as she picked up her hot pink backpack (just as gaudy as her jacket) and walked over, her multitude of keychains violently clicking in the breeze. She came up to me, paused, and quietly asked, “So, it’s true?”

I smiled cheekily. “Yes, Kait. I am the avatar of the scissor-god. Bow down to me and pray.”

Her face scrunched up in worry. “No, Maria! I’m talking about your fight with Geoffrey.”

“Yeah, Kait,” I replied, less than enthusiastic to be engaged in this conversation. “The kid finally decided to try for the crown.” I yawned, not entirely by accident. “It’s a pity, really; instead of learning his lesson all by himself, he has to wait for me to teach it to him.”

Her eyes grew wider and more concerned by the second. “You’re not worried at all?”

I leaned back against the red-brown brick of a chimney. “Why should I be? He’s just another kid who’s grown too big for his britches.” A phantom smile appeared on my face. “You know what they say: ‘Fancy scissor swings won’t make the cut if you can’t fight.’”

“B-but, I’ve heard he’s really good. You could really get hurt, Maria!” She was one of those people who tossed her limbs around when she talked; unfortunately for me, this frenzied movement directly translated to the novelties hanging from her bookbag. Every other word was followed by a storm of clicks and clacks from her multitude of kitschy keychains, and it was swiftly contributing to my irritation.

“Oh, come on!” I shortly retorted. “That schmuck wouldn’t even be able to shank the broad side of a barn, for goodness’ sake! Stop worrying about me! It’s not like I’m going to get killed or anything!”

“B-but G-geoffrey said-” She couldn’t finish her sentence. She began to sob a little bit.

The gusts had died down at this point, leaving her sobs as the only sounds on the roof. I sighed, knowing that I had to become “Maria the Psychologist” for a minute or two.

“Hey, shh, Kait, shhh,” I started as I kneeled down in front of her.

“I’m sorry, okay.” She continued to cry. “Look, what did Geoffrey say to you?”

With red eyes and a soft hiccup, Kaitlyn admitted, “H-he said that he was going to…”

“Going to what, Kait?”

She sniffed and pathetically sobbed, “He said he was going to kick your arse!”

It was only through an extreme amount of willpower that I was able to refrain from slapping all of my face with both of my hands. “Darnit, Kait, don’t use his stupid, British swears. Just say ‘ass.’”

She stopped crying, and turning to look at me with crimson eyes, asked, “That’s what ‘arse’ means?”

It was a good thing that she was my best friend in the world. She wouldn’t last a day without me. “Alright, The Colonel

Kait, listen up,” I began as I stood up to my full, unimpressive height. “Maria’s going to calm your simple, pure mind.” She looked up at me with wide, glistening eyes.

I pointed casually to a light scar running like a shadow under my left eye. I asked my friend, “You remember how I got this one?”

Kaitlyn wiped her nose on the bleach-white sleeve of her blouse and squinted blearily at the scar.

“W-was that when you fell down the stairs at my place?”

What could I do but roll my eyes again? “C’mon, get it together, Kait! This was fifth grade when I decided to take on the top-ranked duelist here, that jacked-up jock, Alex Candia.” I started to smile wistfully. “Remember how I, no taller than your leg back then, challenged that jerk at the year’s first meeting? Remember how everyone laughed at me, threw sandwiches and insults at me at the lunch table and in the halls? Remember how people started drawing tombstones and skull-and-crossbones on all my stuff before the fight? I was the school’s newest laughing stock.”

Then, I felt my smile turn thoroughly less pleasant. “Heh. They sure did sound different when old Alex fell down, bleeding and crying for his mommy less than a minute into the fight.” I lightly kicked the ground for emphasis, the pebbles scattering over to the edge of the roof. “Took them long enough to respect me.”

I looked back at her after a few seconds and, upon seeing her not quite as optimistic as I wanted her to be (honestly, she looked a little spooked), decided to continue my campaign of reassurance. “How about that one time I broke my arm during that one match in fifth grade? You remember the big cast, right?” I didn’t give her the chance to respond; non-rhetorical questions take up too much time and energy. “My arm had practically snapped in half when that Paul Schmidt kid managed to kick me down some stairs, and everyone was telling me to throw in the towel.

But you know what I did?”

“What di-” Kaitlyn began to ask.

“I won that match, Kait! I won that match with a gimp arm and a crazy amount of pain. I whupped that guy so badly that he could barely walk for the rest of the year.”

I was smiling now, lost in my own remembrance. “Heck, if you look at any part of me,” I gestured to myself as a whole, “you’ll probably find at least five nasty scars tracing back to one of my many victories!”

She stared at me like I was a recently escaped convict from a mental hospital. After some seconds of still silence, she asked, “How does that help me?”

I put my hands on her shoulders and explained.

“It’s just to illustrate how I’ve completely got this fight in the bag and why you shouldn’t worry about me.”

She shifted her eyes to the side. “How about that one time you lost to-”

“That doesn’t count, kid.” I smiled as wide as I possibly could. “He obviously cheated.” Then, I said something really stupid: “I’m sure that everything’s gonna be just fine.

What could go wrong?”

January 2015

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