The Bruin- April 2008 by Wadsworth Bruin

Wadsworth High School

Newspaper II/III

april 2008

1870 - 2007 Wadsworth City Schools: “Celebrating 137 years of Excellence in Education”

Seniors Last Day May 16th Finals May 19, 20, 21,22

Volume XXXIII No. 7

THE WALL THAT HEALS

625 Broad Street Wadsworth, Ohio 44281

The wall that heals will be in Wadsworth, Ohio in May 2008. On May 28, Wadsworth will experience something that not many Americans can say they have. The person who originated the idea was Jon Scruggs. The Wall That Heals will be in town, as downtown Wadsworth will be blocked off in order to host this exclusive event. The Wall will leave Wadsworth on June 3. The Wall That Heals is an unforgettable exhibit that pays tribute to the men and woman who served in the US Armed Forces. The purpose of this memorial is not to glorify wars fought. It is to pay homage to those who served their country. To those who gave the ultimate sacriﬁce, their life, this tribute ensures their memory shall never fade. To the prisoners of war and those missing in action who were left behind, the exhibit is dedicated to their memory. To all veterans who made it back, it simply says welcome home.

BREAKING NEWS

After four hours, stand off ends WADSWORTH -- A drama unfolded Thursday evening as Medina County Sheriff’s deputies ordered residents of Broad Street to turn off their lights and go to their basements. The incident began around 7:30 PM when Wadsworth Police responded to investigate a domestic complaint at 376 Broad Street. The Medina County SWAT team was called in, as well as ofﬁcers from the Medina, Montville Township and Seville Police Departments. After approximately four hours and much negotiating, police were able to take the man into custody without further incident. The 48year-old was originally transported to the hospital to be checked out, but is currently in the county jail. The man was charged with Inducing Panic, Disorderly Conduct and Aggravated Menacing. At this time, there is no bond because of the charge Inducing Panic is a felony.

Seniors to lead community for one day BY DAVID SANSONETTI

As the upcoming Presidential election is approaching, Wadsworth High School seniors will participate in an election of their own. Students in government and economic classes will take part in a school-wide campaign to job shadow Wadsworth politicians for a day. All of the required elements of a real election are necessary in order to give students the authentic feeling of this political event. Students are not required to participate, but it is a fun way to learn more about the day to day runnings of the community’s operations. Students will be able to participate in an actual city meeting and eat lunch for free. Some of the city and township ofﬁcials who will take part in this year’s activities include Mayor, Council President, Council at Large, Clerk of Council and four Ward Councils. Other positions include Treasurer, Auditor, Law Director and Municipal Court Judge. The Board of Education will also take part in this activity. Students who are seeking any of the positions that are “hired

New inductees share their legacies BY SARAH FORTNER

Two successful graduates have been proudly added to Wadsworth High School’s Hall of Fame on Friday, April 4, 2008. During this ceremony an induction of this year’s newest National Honor Society members took place as well. Dr. Richard Kissling, class of 1957 and Dr. Thomas Masaryk, class of 1974 were the honorees who now join ten other members of the Alumni Hall of Fame, started in 1999. Current Hall of Fame members, Dr. Joseph Arpad and Dr. Caesar Carrino were present for the ceremony to welcome the new members. These members were nominated and inducted by their past classmates and the Alumni committee. Unfortunately, Dr. Kissling was too ill to attend the ceremony, so classmate Ms. Linda Kramer, a current board of education member, accepted on his behalf. His accomplishments include a B.S. degree in Chemistry and Math

INSIDE THE BRUIN

from Otterbein College and a Ph. D. from the University of the Paciﬁc. He was a successful professor and dean at California State Polytechnic University, Heidelberg College, and the University of Arizona during his career from 1968-2005. Dr. Thomas Masaryk was on

“Never be afraid to work hard. -Dr. Thomas Masaryk

hand to share his stories of his days at Wadsworth High School and entertain the junior and senior students in attendance with a power point slide show ranging from his athletic days as a Grizzly to a case study of a patient who had extensive brain surgery due to a self-inﬂicted wound. His academic credentials include a B.S. degree from The Ohio State University and an M.D. from the Medical College of Ohio in 1981. His professional accomplishments include being a professor of Radiology, Head of Neuroradiology for the Cleve-

joel penton relays his message - pg. 3

$1.00

land Clinic and Director of Endovascular Neurosurgery Training Program of the Cleveland Clinic. Other notable Wadsworth High School Hall of Fame inductees include astronaut Michael Forman, Brigadier General Dennis Samic, and Dr. Donald McGinnis, former director of the Ohio State University Concert Band. “Being inducted was quite a memorable moment. I am very honored to come back to my high school and show what my education has done for me,“ says Masaryk, “Never be afraid to work hard,” is a key factor in having success throughout life. This is a great piece of advice to students who are working toward their goals, and looking at Masaryk’s success, one can see it hold truth. Throughout life, all will see dedicated individuals. Wadsworth High School is proud and honored to have two, as well as many other alumni to have such great achievements, to come back to leave the youth today with their legacies.

bruin places first at osma - pg. 4

PHOTO BY DAVID SANSONETTI

Senior Sean ﬁlls out his application as he plans to run for Mayor in this upcoming Youth-in-Government Day election.

through application” must complete the city employment application form for the speciﬁc position desired. Applications will

“It’s a great opportunity for our seniors to understand the operations of their local government. -Mr. Tudor

then be screened and ofﬁceholders will be determined by a selection committee. On April 24th, the student Youth-In-Government Election

Day will take place from 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. The next day, the announcements of the winners will be released. Tuesday, April 29th is the day that all student elected officials will be waiting for as the elected and appointed student-officials will be out of school to assume office for the day’s activities and the student-run city-council meeting for WCTV. “It’s a great opportunity for our seniors to understand the operations of their local government,” said Mr. Tudor, who was thrilled about his first year involvement in Youth-in-Government Day.

PHOTO BY SARAH FORTNER

Mr. Magnacca presents inductee Dr. Thomas Masaryk with this Wadsworth Hall of Fame award.

PHOTO BY SARAH FORTNER

Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Kramer accept this Hall of Fame plaque on behalf of Dr. Richard Kissling, who was absent on account of illness.

rugby at durling pg. 9

leatherheads review pg. 12

Visit the Bruin OnLine at: http://ww2.wadsworth.k12.oh.us/whs/bruin/

E DITORIAL

THE BRUIN

April 2008

The

editorial

Brewin’ Debate

Internet censorship too rigid

As high school students in the 21st century, we have grown side by side with technology. From early childhood, we have been brought up with video game systems, personal computers, cell phones and, most significantly, the Internet. For many, the Internet has become a second reality. We socialize, entertain ourselves, learn, and do homework all on the world wide web. Yet when we come to school, much of the content we’re accustomed to is blocked from our access. Our school’s use of an Internet filter is justified in most circumstances. For instance, graphic or violent websites have no place in the classroom. However, the current filter in place is much too rigid. Most any student, and even some teachers, can attest to seeing the dreaded grey Astaro screen while working on a research project in the library. In most cases, the website in question is usually a legitimate source and only a single offending word blocks all of its content. The main problem with our school’s Internet filter is that it

prohibits our access to information that bring no harm to our students. Message boards, personal pages like Facebook and Myspace and Internet games are all categorically blocked by Astaro, and although some of them are not directly related to the classroom, why must they be completely cut off from the computers? Almost every technology class provides free time to those who work diligently to finish their work. Yet with Astaro, Internet access is restricted to only a handful of the websites popular to teens. Especially for those who do not own or have access to a computer, Wadsworth High School’s filter overly restricts the Internet as a research and entertainment resource. As mostly responsible and mature young adults, we should not be forced to stay within the narrow bounds of what our filter deems acceptable. Although we must remember Internet access is a privilege provided to us by the school system, we at the Bruin feel the Internet is being handicapped by Astaro and its strict scope of use.

The Internet protection is way too strict than what is necessary. You are barely able to look at college school websites which to me is very ridiculous. -Alan Sheppard, 11

The bathroom by the cafeteria is not in very good condition. We should get on that! -Shaun Thomas, 11

Is it hard to make a commitment to not drink, do drugs or be sexually acitve during high school?

YES

BY ALAN MCPEEK

Yes, high school is a time in your life when people around you begin to experiment with all of these different topics. This is the time in a person’s life when they begin to experience all types of these pressures in various situations. I am sure the majority of you have been to a gathering that people are at, partaking in actions you have heard all your life to stay away from. It truly is a difﬁcult decision whether or not to just up and leave, stay away from it, or to give into the pressure. Peer pressure can be the hardest thing to abstain from. Those situations you put yourself in might not even be the hardest ones stay away from. Even having a girlfriend at this time in your life could be more pressure than what it is made out to be. As couples become more comfortable with each other they are lured in by the other sex. When is enough really enough? You have to be strong-minded enough to set boundaries for yourself. Essentially, it is up to you as the individual whether to or not to make a commitment and hold do it. With this being said, yes it is really a hard decision on whether or not you want to make the commitment to stay away from alcohol, drugs, and the sexual pressure situations you might be in someday.

BY MATT SARLOUIS

No, making a commitment to abstain from sex, alcohol and other drugs during high school will provide more opportunities than others who might give in to the peer pressure. In many situations, students who participate in these activities have to deal with the unrelenting pressure of being caught. The levels of stress these activities bring upon a student are far heavier than the peer pressure from students trying to make you break your commitment. The key to keeping your commitment is to surround yourself with friends that will not pressure you to break your pledge. By getting yourself involved with friends who will participate in other exciting activities rather than drugs, sex and alcohol will ease the pathway to success. By participating in sports and clubs you are generally obligated to sign an agreement saying that you will remain free from these types of things. That is just another reason why it is good to get involved in extra curricular activities. It is nearly impossible to say that you will not have to deal with a situation such as one of these in your high school years because the pressure is all around you. It is up to you as the individual whether or not you want to refrain from the substances. Do not be a weak minded person and give into the pressure from others.

Letters To The Editor

I think the courtyard should have a retractable roof. This way snow and rain would not ﬁll the courtyard and not leak through the cracks of the doors. -Matt Sisouphanh, 12

I really do not like how it is so cold in the school everyday when it is cold outside. Then when it is hot outside it is hot inside the school also. It just makes me want to cry. -Jessica Grant, 11

I think that our school lacks school spirit. Being a cheerleader, it is hard to get the students pumped up for games if no one wants to participate. Let’s work harder on that next year! -Danielle Lance, 10

I think that we need to get a new school. After only a few hours of rain today, we had to have towels to cover the ﬂoors. The students demand a new school. -Drew Keiper, 11

I have a complaint. The things around our school should be less secure. I want to do more out of school things rather then in school. It would be more fun. -Mike Alkyer, 10

The lunches are too expensive at our school. You could buy a whole pack of hot dogs at the store for the same price as one hot dog at school. -Chad Baughman, 11

bruin staff Editor-in-chief: Aaron Krumheuer Managing Editor: Jill Edmonds Copy Editor: Marketing Editor: Erin Conley Front Page: Page Editor: David Sansonetti Reporter: Sarah Fortner Editorial: Page Editor: Carly McNutt News: Page Editor: Rachel Hudson Reporter: Ben Dee Features: Page Editor: Caitlin Douglas Reporter: Morgan Duta Health Page: Page Editor: Aumaine Gruich Reporter: Emily Hanna Opinion 1: Page Editor: Alyssa Roberts Reporter: Britt Busson Opinion 2: Page Editor: Mike Hoover Reporter: Autumn Ellis Picture Page: Page Editor: Morgan Duta Reporter: Lindsey Otanicar Sports 1: Page Editor: Anthony Lorubbio Reporter: Tyler Jack Sports 2: Page Editor: Kyle Davis Reporter: Dan Mueller Movies: Page Editor: David Kauffman Reporter: Ben White Entertainment: Page Editor: Alyssa Henry Reporter: Kat Saunders Variety: Page Editor: Taylor Smith Reporter: Logan Kilbride Music: Page Editor: Brett Cline Reporter: Chad Taylor Speakout: Page Editor: Brittani Peltz Reporter: Laura Arch Photography Editor: Justin Mesick Ads/Business Manager: Matt Sarlouis Asst.: Alan McPeek Adviser: John Gramuglia

I do not think the dress code is fair. If we are going to have a dress code, then it should apply to everyone. A lot of my friends have got in trouble for holes in their jeans, but I see many people that are going against the dress code, and nothing is said to them. -Lindsey Thompson, 10

I wanted to complain that their is not enough color in the Bruin. We should take pretty pictures of the spring weather and have all the pages of the Bruin in color. I want to see more articles about video games because I am like a total game fanatic. -Joe Farnsworth, 10

I think the amount of Internet ﬁlters in this school is ridiculous. It is becoming so we can only access our progress book. We can hardly even do research for our school and projects. Pretty soon we will not be able to use the internet at all! -Samantha Robinson, 12

I like how The Bruin points out the main things going on in the school. -Kayla Veal, 10

I believe that our school does not focus enough time on some of the smaller sports. Being the a swimmer and a runner, we do not get as much attention as some of the other sports. I know that watching a 500 yard freestyle and the two mile might not be the most interesting thing to watch, they are still our team sports! -Amanda Pallija, 10

Before we get a new high school, I think a new playground should be built. After all the hard work, we should get recess. At the end of the day my muscles are tight and I need a vast blacktop to complete my day. -Zach Watts, 11

I would just like to say that I love our school. I love our cold hallways, old bathrooms, and mean short tempered teachers. I love the old small hallways and our attempt to make over the school with cameras, milk posters, and fans. Just get us air conditioning! As far as complaints? I have none. -Ben Latin, 11

I believe that students do not get enough sleep at night, so we should have a time set aside during school to sleep. -Megan Johnson, 12

While thinking about things to change, the ﬁrst thing that came to mind is we should have a period of the school day to lay out and enjoy the warm beautiful weather that only comes everyone once in a while. -Ali McNutt, 10

Editorial Policy The Bruin is a monthly publication produced by the Newspaper II and Newspaper III students at Wadsworth High School. The Newspaper I class produces the May issue. The staff will do its best to inform the student body and the community of intra-school, community or national events that affect the student body. This paper provides on-the-job training for the staff members. All decisions are made by the staff members with the advice and suggestions of the advisor. The school administration works closely with the staff to ensure accuracy. We, as the students of journalism, hold the same rights and the same responsibilities as professional journalists as we strive for professional standards. These rights include the right to print any material that is not libelous, obscene, or excessively disruptive to the school process. The Bruin will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion, color, creed, or sex. The staff members accept full responsibility for everything appearing in this publication. The staff strongly encourages students to express their opinions through the letters to the editor column, which is printed every month. The staff also encourages the members of the community to express their opinion as well. Space permitting, all letters will be printed. Because the staff accepts the responsibility for the contents of the paper, we must reserve the right to edit or omit any portion of any letter. All letters must be signed, but the name will be withheld upon request.

N EWS

April 2008

THE BRUIN

Chinese immigration threatens Tibet

BY BEN DEE AND RACHEL HUDSON

For centuries, China and Tibet have been clashing. China has been slowly inhabiting Tibet against their will. Prior to China’s communization into the People’s Republic of China, Tibet claimed that it is an independent nation. Currently, the government of Tibet is in exile, based in Dharamsala, India. Tibet believes that they are an independent nation of conservative Buddhists, which should be free from China. Tibetans believe they have the right to exercise their self-determination. Tibet is viewed by China as a region that has been a political problem to the dynasties of China and cannot become separated from the ruling powers. The spiritual leader of the Buddhists in Tibet, the Dalai Lama, is a religious symbol that does not have a governmental say. The movement to free Tibet from the communist hold threat-

ens the Chinese government by challenging their sovereignty. The Chinese view any nation that sympathizes with them as a victim of Western inﬂuence. Tibetans have been ﬁghting for their freedom for years but have yet to gain their independence. Although under the control of the Chinese government, the Tibetans have informed the entire world of Communist China’s cruelties and brutalities. The protests and riots started on the 49th anniversary of Tibet’s failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. The riots occurring in Tibet are not violent, but include emotional protests of Buddhist monks and Ghandilike riots. The Dalai Lama proclaims that he is not asking for independence but just autonomy. Through autonomy, Tibetans will be able to maintain their culture, tradition, folklore, history and demographic structure. The Chinese and Tibetan cultures differ in many ways. Eth-

NEWS BRIEFS Deborah Young took third place in the 2008 Stan and Tom Wick High School Poetry Competition at Kent State University. Steiner Center is currently in serious negotiations with Akron YMCA to propose a new center in the upcoming years.

nic Chinese have moved to Tibet, many for economic reasons. Salaries are higher in Tibet, mostly because of the lack of skilled labor. Half of all Tibetans are estimated to be illiterate. Even though the cultures may differ, the Chinese still claim them as a minority member of the Chinese nation. Although the violence was directed toward Tibetans in general, ethnic Chinese were also targeted. Rioters burned most of their businesses and the biggest mosque in Lhasa, a major city in Tibet. Tibetans admit that ethnicity played a role in their decision to protest against the Chinese government. The recent immigration of other ethnic groups has made the Tibetans feel like they are foreigners in their own land. Sina Zhuoma told USA Today, “If I enter a shop and speak Tibetan, they shout at me to speak Chinese. I tell them they should learn Tibetan, as they are living in Tibet.”

Tibetans admit that the ethnic tension between them and the Chinese is directly related to religion and political differences. This is a result of the Chinese government’s constant bitter verbal attacks against the Dalai Lama. The Chinese government says Tibet’s government is in exile in India and is prohibited

PHOTO BY MCT CAMPUS

Pro-China demonstrators shout at pro-Tibet demonstrators in San Francisco, California, following the Olympic torch run.

A Fishing Derby will be held at Memorial Park Pond May 10, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to noon for $2.00 per child. This price includes a snack meal and a rafﬂe ticket for various drawings. No ﬁshing license is required. Call Franklin School at 330-335-1470 for more information! WHS Drama Department will present Macbeth Goes Hollywood May 1-3 at O.J. Work Auditorium at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $5.00

OSU alumni speaks morals SUBMITTED BY EMILY MURRAY

With the school year coming to a close and events such as Junior Banquet, Senior Prom and Graduation planned, it was time for the student body to take into account the commitments and decisions that they will face once they leave these halls for the real world. To inspire and motivate these ideas, Ohio State’s defensive tackle Joel Penton came with just that. Penton graduated from The

Ohio State University in 2006. He played all four years for the Buckeyes as a defensive tackle, helping the team to defeat rival Michigan four years in a row. He played a total of 38 games with the Buckeyes during which he received the prestigious Danny Wuerffel Trophy, also known as the “Humanitarian Heisman.” This award is given to the college athlete who best exempliﬁes community service and academic achievement as well as athletic ability. He was also chosen to

PHOTO BY AUTUMN ELLIS

Senior Chris is confronted by Joel Penton on being a Michigan fan on Tuesday, April 2.

play in the Hula Bowl, one of the premier college football events. After graduating, he turned down the opportunity to play in the NFL to speak and inspire high school kids all over Ohio. Wadsworth High was one of the lucky schools to be able to hear Penton speak about his life and how to make life commitments. “He said things that everyone could relate to,” said junior Stephanie Tanner. He proved to be relatable to everyone in the school, whether he was speaking to the freshmen or the seniors. He also included students in his presentation by playing a game where a group of students had to choose whether they “agreed” or “disagreed” with difﬁcult life situations. “In high school, I was always faced with hard problems that I had to face by myself and, even though I was standing alone, I stood against,” said Penton. He hit on the subject of teens and alcohol. With a personal story of he and his friends in high school, he proved that you do not need to be popular and “cool” to ﬁt in. Drinking and smoking was not what he wanted in his life. “I looked into myself,” he said. When speaking about pre-marital

to return to Tibet. This caused the rioting to “sabotage” the Olympics. A month full of violence and rioting has occurred and the Chinese government advised the Tibetans to drop the route, but the Olympic torch will be marched through Tibet on its way to Beijing in late April or early May.

From your Principal

Mr. Magnacca Congratulations to Mr. Gramuglia and The Bruin staff on another great year of Bruin newspapers. Just recently, The Bruin was honored for their hard work and effort in publishing a great newspaper for our students. Their honors for this year include: -A First Place award in the overall large newspaper tabloid competition. -Individual students earning a total of 1 Superior ranking, 2 Excellent, and 8 Honorable Mentions for work submitted in various contests.

PHOTO BY AUTUMN ELLIS

Joel Penton speaks to the junior and senior class with much enthusiasm.

sex, Penton explained that he wanted to share that emotional step in his life with that one girl who had also decided to remain a virgin for that one special guy. “I think the assembly was really motivational. The message was really good and he was really interesting. I think that the story [of him and his wife] was absolutely adorable!” said junior Kellee Leonard . With wit and honesty, Penton gave a great speech to wrap up the year and hopefully inspire students to make good choices in life and in their future.

Again, congratulations and continue to keep our students informed! Lastly, I want to encourage everyone to continue to work hard through the remainder of the school year. I know with the weather breaking, the focus tends to move to outdoor activities and enjoying the sun. I encourage everyone to ﬁnish what they have started eight months ago. Do not let four weeks ruin a great year. Until next timeGo Grizzlies!! Mr. Magnacca

F EATURES

THE BRUIN

April 2008

Diversity scarce in Wadsworth; ¡Hola de strides taken in right direction OPINION BY MORGAN DUTA

The definition of diversity is “a point of difference.” If that were truly the definition the world followed, though, every single city, state and country would be immensely diverse. With varying tastes in friends, lifestyles, music, food, and other innumerable things, each unique individual helps add to the technical definition. More often than not, however, diversity is often used in context of racial backgrounds, heritage, and skin color. You can look at the facts, or just

spend a few days in Wadsworth, but there is no way to bend it; Wadsworth is not racially diverse. More and more often, individuals and families are moving from one far away country to another, helping diversity’s cause. With establishments such as Casa D’Italia, Kasai, and Casa del Rio, one can faintly pick up on Wadsworth’s small moves towards adding to the diversity of ethnic backgrounds. The opening of Casa D’Italia reminds many of a market they would ﬁnd in Little Italy, while people drive all the

STUDENTS OF THE

Mike

MONTH

Megan

Favorite Class: AP Calculus

way from Cleveland to enjoy the food at Kasai, a Japanese restaurant. But while Wadsworth may be increasing their eating options, it still pales in comparison to big towns like downtown Cleveland, Akron, or even Canton. While America and all of her towns are considered to be a melting pot, former President Jimmy Carter stated it best when he talked about diversity: “We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”

Bruin journalists win awards BY BRUIN STAFF

WADSWORTH- Journalists from Wadsworth High School took home 11 individual awards in the ﬁrst-ever Ohio Scholastic Medina Association (OSMA) state conference April 5 at Kent State University. OSMA replaced the old NOSPA (Northeast Ohio Scholastic Press Awards) that the Bruin has participated in for the last 26 years. The Bruin newspaper received a First Place award, the second highest award possible, in the overall large newspaper competition. Newspaper students earned a total of 1 Superior ranking, 2 Excellents, and 8 Honorable Mentions for work that had been submitted in various advance contests. These awards were divided into three categories: Superior, Excellent, and Honorable Mention.

THE WINNERS ARE:

SUPERIOR Aaron Krumheuer, Reviews EXCELLENT Kyle Davis, Sports Opinion Mike Hoover, Personality Proﬁle HONORABLE MENTION Erin Conley, Commentary

HONORABLE MENTION Caitlin Douglas, Commentary Dan Mueller, Sports News Aaron Krumheuer, Editorials Alyssa Henry, Newswriting Laura Arch, Sports News Morgan Duta, News Feature Sarah Fortner, Personality Proﬁle

Quote To Live By: “No one ever lost any sleep from being too kind or too forgiving.”

What are your thoughts on leaving Wadsworth High?

How do you plan to spend your summer?

What are your future plans after graduation?

“Good riddance Wadsworth High!” -Eric Erme

“We are going to France together!” -Katie Paluscsak & Sam Stripe

“I will miss the leaks in the ceiling, the styrofoam falling on my head and Mr. Smith.” -Jenna Gahan

“Serving coffee at Starbucks all morning and spending the nights out with my friends.” -Eric Thomas

“12 more years of school.” -Nathan Justice “Going to college at OSU and majoring in Physical Therapy.” -Joey Kaminski

“Well, quite excited. I cannot wait to leave this overdramatic hole.” -Justine Frase

“I plan to spend my summer the farthest away from Ohio that I can.” -Melanie Povirk

“I am going to Wheeling Jesuit University and playing basketball. I am really excited to spend time with the team. The best part is that Sam Pecnik is coming.” -Chrissy Pavlik

“I will miss playing euchre in study hall, but I am excited to play sports in college. It is good and bad.” -Joe Goddard

“I am going to Myrtle Beach for senior trip, then Maine, then topping it off by moving into my dormroom in August.” -Drew Priest

“A long summer before going to Kent State. I cannot wait for the long nights of studying.” -Sam Robinson

Class of 2008

REFLECTIONS

Chilé!

The United States and Canada: two countries often looked at as very similar, if not the same. Both obviously speak English, function under democratic systems of government, and share borders. However, we all know our neighbors to the north are very different from us in their Andy 12, reports speech, currency, parliamentafrom Chile. Woods ry system, and population. The is a Wadsworth stusame outlook is often given to dent who is currently spending his senior Chile and Argentina, or all of year studying abroad South America for that matter. in La Ligua, Chile. However, after just recently completing my third trip to Argentina, I have realized that the two South American nations are in fact very different. The Republic of Argentina sits to the east of Chile and shares the Andes Mountains along Chile’s eastern border. Almost the entire eastern length of Chile is met with Argentinean border, making them very close neighbors. Argentina is a much larger and more populated nation than Chile; the city of Buenos Aires has about the same population of the entire nation of Chile. The two nations share the south of Chile and Argentina which is known as the “Patagonia.” However, this territory once belonged to Chile, accounting for some internal cultural grudges for Chileans. The style and speed of Spanish is very different in Argentina. Chileans are known as fast speakers and often don’t pronounce the “s” sound and the end of words. In Argentina, the Spanish is more textbook sounding but with an Italian accent. Argentina has a heavy Italian influence and can be seen in the cities. The two cities that I have gone to, Mendoza and Buenos Aires, are filled with pizza shops and Italian restaurants. There are also slang words specific to Argentina, as well as in Chile. For example, in Argentina the word “che” is often used as “friend” or simply a word to start off a sentence when talking to a friend or peer. Theories behind the word’s origin point to the Argentinean Marxist Nationalist Che Guevara. Another distinct difference in Argentinean Spanish is the pronunciation in the double-L. For example, the word for chicken, “pollo,” in Argentina, is pronounced “pocho.” The double-L often takes the “ch” sound. The Argentinean economy is very up and down. In recent years, crisis has struck the market in Argentina, causing the government to provide huge subsidies to farmers and the food industry. Currently, the exchange rate sits at 3.13 Argentinean Pesos to 1 U.S. dollar. In Chile, although it has risen since I have been in the country, sits at 455 Chilean Pesos to 1 U.S. dollar. However, the robust capitalist Chilean economy is said to be superior of their Argentinean neighbors’ economy, despite the difference in the exchange rate. Entering Argentina, for a Chilean citizen, is much like going from the United States to Canada. Every Chilean citizen carries an identification card, with a number referred to as their “RUT.” It is much like our social security number, but the RUT is used more often than we use our SSN. With the Chilean identification card, a Chilean can pass into Argentina for short term business or pleasure vacation. I, of course, had to use my passport. Although I have a one year Chilean ID, the Argentineans do not accept it. I learned firsthand that the nations of South America, although they speak the same language and are located in the same region, are not the same. Chile has its special traditions and lifestyle just as Argentina has its special traditions and background. It has been a great benefit of my exchange to be able to see a different nation other than my host country and learn to respect what is different. Well, Wadsworth High, enjoy the new spring weather because now it’s my turn to take on fall and winter as the temperature is quickly beginning to drop here in Chile! Chao!

H EALTH

THE BRUIN

Fun Facts • Men are six times more likely to be struck by lightning than women. • Sadly for left-handers, the right-handers usually out-live the lefties by nine years. • The average person eats 30,000 kilograms of food, which is the weight of 6 elephants. • Finger nails grow nearly four times faster than toe nails. • Most dust particles in your house are made up of dead skin. • An average pair of feet will sweat a pint of perspiration in a day. • In an average lifetime a person will walk the equivalent of three times around the world. • The odds of a mother having twins are 1 to 90. • We use 200 muscles when we walk. • There are 40 miles of nerves in a body. • In the course of an average life two meters of nasal hair sprouts from nostrils.

April 2008

Caffeine addictions put health in danger BY EMILY HANNA

From chocolate to soda to popular energy drinks, many busy Americans are incorporating large amounts of caffeine into their diets for an energy boost. What many people do not realize is that caffeine is a drug and can become addicting especially when used at high rates. Caffeine can have the same pharmacological effects as many substances we recognize as harmful because it manipulates the same channels. About 90% of the American population consumes caffeine at least once a day. Most people drink caffeine daily and do not even know they are doing it. Medicine and chocolate contain caffeine which is surprising to many because people do not realize the effects of caffeine while taking medicine or eating chocolate. Caffeine increases motivation because breathing tubes open up, blood pressure increases in the stomach, the liver releases sugar into the bloodstream and muscles tighten up. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and also affects your metabolism. It increases alertness and motivation, which is what most people crave when they choose to take in the caffeine according to the American Dietetic Association. Most people are not looking for the insomnia, headaches, nervousness and dizziness that it causes. Caffeine is a highly addictive drug and causes people to crave it daily, in taking more than what is

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

Student feels the crash of the energy drinks and coffee after trying to stay up studying.

healthy for ones system. Because Americans have become so addicted to the drug, there is about 45 million pounds consumed each year. Caffeine is not harmful with moderation and common sense. Caffeine consumption that is healthy is about 300 mg. which is also about 3 cups of coffee, but this can vary depending on the person and the type of beverage or food they are consuming. Caffeine is not always harmful to the body but if you become addicted it can cause minor problems according

to Medline Plus Health. Because caffeine is so valuable to the soft drink industry, when coffee is decaffeinated (caffeine remains in the beverage but not as much), the caffeine that remains is sold from coffee companies to beverage companies. It is vital to soft drink company’s because the addictive caffeine causes people to consume the drink. Although caffeine is addictive, once intake is decreased, people will rely less on the drug.

Dangers of underage drinking increase BY AUMAINE GRUICH

With junior banquet, prom season coming up and the graduating seniors heading off for college, underage alcohol consumption, as well alcoholism in general, is becoming a more prevalent issue. Many are surprised to learn that alcohol is used as the number one drug of choice among American teens and results of this are beginning to show. According to The National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, each year approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking. This includes accidents related to drinking and driving, homicides, suicides and other minor accidents such as burns, falls or drowning. If public awareness of the dangers of alcohol abuse could be heightened, perhaps some of these deaths could be eliminated and American teens would be more informed about how this increasingly popular pastime will affect their futures. Many times, going off to college brings new experiences, a lot of these related to alcohol and drinking. At colleges and universities, there is easier access to alcohol due to upperclassmen becoming of legal age. With alcohol so easy to obtain, students may begin to incorporate it into their social and personal lives quickly, without re-

can also undergo major change as a result of alcoholism. Vital organs, along with muscles and bones may be underdeveloped or not as strong as they would be without the effects of alcohol. Research also shows that the younger a teen is when he or she begins to drink, the more negative PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS side effects are shown Teens everywhere are forced to make decisions in their life. These can regarding alcohol and its responsibilities. include marijuana and other drug use, promiscuous alizing the short-term as well as lifestyles and low grades in school. long-term consequences. In recent years, there has been a This availability of alcohol often rise in public awareness programs results in binge drinking, which about the dangers of underage is generally classiﬁed as 5 or drinking and alcoholism. Nationmore alcoholic drinks in within wide programs such as SADD 2 hours for a man and 4 or more (Students Against Destructive drinks for a woman. This type of Decisions) and MADD (Mothers drinking becomes quickly addic- Against Drunk Driving) promote tive, with some teens and college positive choices about drinking as students participating in such well as local groups like HUDDLE activities more than once a week. (Helping Us Develop Dedication, Often these habits do not Leadership and Enthusiasm) and end after college and stay with Middle School Mentoring are an individual throughout the also influencing children in a adult life, creating major health constructive way. issues that can last a lifetime. Teaching children at a young The number one health risk of age the dangers and effects of drinking is damage to the liver. alcohol will help be able to make This can result in overweight strong choices regarding these teens and young adults or even topics in their futures, and in turn, obesity. Growth hormones, be able to better educate others which are critical to develop- on the dangers of alcoholism. ment during the teenage years,

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

Prom and graduation present more opportunities for underage drinking to be a danger among high school teenage students.

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O PINION 1

THE BRUIN

April 2008

Destructive behavior flies under radar With the many d r u g awareness programs e s t a b lished in our fine city, you BRITT m i g h t OPINION STAFF think stud e n t s would pay more heed and consider the risks involved in drug use, but as I see it, quite the opposite is taking place. Going through the Wadsworth City School system, most students have HUDDLE in fourth and sixth grade, D.A.R.E. in fifth grade and health in Middle School and High School. So most of us are well aware of the physical health problems associated with drug use. But what is not stressed nearly enough is the highly indifferent and apathetic attitudes that often result from drug use. By definition, alcohol and marijuana are depressants, meaning they decrease brain activity. This

then causes users to be less motivated, less driven and less passionate about all aspects of life. This is evident by users’ grades in school, lack of interest in extracurricular activities and lack of pride in themselves and what they are apart of - namely our school. I have heard more complaints this year than ever before about how poor school spirit is. Through this observation and also noticing that some students do actually attend school sporting events while intoxicated, it is clear that alcohol and other drug use is affecting school spirit in a very negative way. It is pathetic when opposing schools’ students stand up, chant and dress in unison at sporting events to keep their teams excited and into the game when our school, on the other hand, behaves apathetically. In particular, I can remember the entire student section sitting down to start the second half of the boys’ varsity basketball game at Green, when the teams were tied 24 to 24. We obviously had

in life. “It’s becoming more and more popular in this world to make commitments, but at the same time it is becoming more and more popular to break commitments. The people who are going to do something significant in this world are those who find a way to do what they say they are going to do; not just make commitments but keep their commitments,” said former national football champion, Joel “It’s becoming more and more Penton. I see this as popular in this world to make coman entire generamitments, but at the same time it is tional problem. becoming more and more popular Not many young to break commitments.” people I know express passion, -Joel Penton enthusiasm or commitment for ment and passion change the way many things other than partying we think, feel and act in all areas on the weekends, sometimes even of life. Just as motivational speak- on week nights. In all aspects of er and former Ohio State football school teenagers are always lookstar Joel Penton can attest to, the ing for the easiest way, involving people that develop motivation the least amount of work, finding and commitment are the ones new ways to cheat, basically anywho find success and fulfillment thing but working to be the best

a really good chance of winning at that point, so there was a lot to be excited about. But when our student section grudgingly stood up, they did nothing to cheer on the team. We ended up losing that game. The thing most people do not realize is that school spirit makes a difference, and not just for one game, season or particular event. Spirit, excitement, commit-

Harig’s Hoopla What is your favorite piece of literature ever written? Why? The Bible- there is so much in it: poetry, history, prophecies, parables. Aside from that, Pride and Prejudice—what a beautifully crafted story.

MRS. HARIG TEACHER

Mrs. Harig, what is your opinion on houses made of adobe (sun-dried brick)? I wouldn’t be opposed to living in one. If you could teach any student for the rest of your life, who would it be? Ross McMillan, without question.

they can be. There is so much wasted potential because students simply do not care. I see this apathy as a direct result of drug use, and it is a vicious cycle, difficult to reverse once in place. The best way to fix it is to prevent it in the first place, but what more can be done? People who find alcohol and drugs as their only means of happiness are destined for a life of mediocrity. I see it everyday: students talking about weekend plans. The only thing many of them look forward to in life is getting drunk and high every weekend. It is scary to think that the professionals of tomorrow, today’s high school and college students, are a bunch of binge drinkers headed toward alcoholism and drug dependency. The problem is obvious to anyone willing to open their eyes and see it: parents, teachers, advisors, administrators, friends. Sometimes it is easier to just sit back and ignore what may be difficult to fix, but is it worth it in the end? How is that for more spice?

Do you believe in magic in a young girl’s heart? Absolutely. What is your favorite movie of all time? It changes all the time, but I could watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Sandlot over and over and never get sick of either. Would you rather live on a cloud (with perfect weather) with glorious, frolicking unicorns or live in an underwater paradise with dancing seahorses? I think I’d choose the cloud, even though I’ve never really liked unicorns. Would you rather wear a life vest for the rest of your life or wear parachute pants? Parachute pants. I’ve never owned a pair, but I’m guessing they might be pretty comfy—they worked for Hammer.

Spring into favorite pastimes Despite the biting cold and mountains of snow that northeast Ohio has seen during winALYSSA ter 2008, OPINION STAFF Ohio is still a state that undergoes four season changes, and spring is ﬁnally here. Although it is tempting to continue the constant whining that “there is absolutely nothing to do in Wadsworth/ this is the most boring city of all time,” stop complaining. Start with the basics. Bidinger’s ice cream is a staple food from the day it opens in March to its somber closing for the season in October. Bid’s is an inexpensive, quick way to meet up with friends between after-school activities and long nights of homework. Another way to welcome the warm weather is by playing frisbee. Now that more than 600 col-

leges across the country are active in the sport of Ultimate Frisbee, it is more important than ever to sharpen your throwing and catching skills. A standard 175 gram ﬂying disc can be purchased for less than $10 at Target or WalMart, and will last for years. Kaleidoscope Park provides prime space for a game of Ultimate. In addition, Kaleidoscope has a sand volleyball court, perfect for a pickup game on warmer spring nights. Any park in Wadsworth (and we have at least ten) is good for one thing: mud football. “I am constantly trying to ﬁnd things to do with my friends without paying a lot of money. I have to say that after a nice spring rain, mud football is about the most fun friends can have!” said junior Emily Stitzel. Not big on football? Try mud soccer, rugby, or wrestling. After a game, have a laundry party at one player’s house on a rotating schedule. Seriously. Although most spring sports begin in early March, tempera-

tures are often frigid until midApril. Now that spending more than ten minutes outside won’t leave you with frostbite or hypothermia, cheering on your friends and classmates at their spring sporting events is an inexpensive way to spend an afternoon. Spring sports are traditionally among those with the smallest fan bases, so spring athletes would certainly appreciate a little fan love. On windy days, kite-flying is a throwback activity that does not get enough credit. Think back to when you were six or seven, and how nothing beat the feeling of successfully getting your kite to soar after several failed attempts. A good kite will cost about $20$25. If you split it with five friends, that’s only about five dollars each. You and your friends may even have a few buried in the garage and flying several at a time can lead to intense flightlength competitions. After the sun goes down, clear nights provide a dazzling blanket of stars, perfect for star-gazing or an evening walk with your

PHOTO BY ARA POST

Customers ponder what delicious type of ice cream treat they should choose from Bidinger’s Ice Cream on Broad Street.

DON’T MISS THE STUDENT COUNCIL TAILGATE BEFORE THE VARSITY BASEBALL GAME vs GREEN ON APRIL 29 BEGINS: 4PM COST: FREE! signiﬁcant other. After school, homework, work, and practices, walking hand-in-hand with someone you care about is an excellent way to de-stress. As winter ﬁnally submits to spring and eventually summer,

keep in mind how simple and cheap it is to have fun in the sun (and the mud) when you are surrounded by friends who you always have a great time with, regardless of how much money you have or do not have!

O PINION 2 IT PAYS TO BE THE TOP CLASS NHS stole$19 Senior Dues$20 Cap and Gown$25 Cedar Point$ 29 Senior bowling$6 a week Prom (dress, tux rental, limo not included)$58 per couple Post prom50 dollars per couple College application fees$20-$40 on average College acceptance feeAverage $100 Senior pictures$200-$500 Senior Trip$400-$600 ACT-SAT $25 per test AP testing$84 per test

THE BRUIN

April 2008

Senior expenses cast gloom over fun T h e cost to be a graduating senior has topped off the charts in the most recent AUTUMN years. The OPINION STAFF amount of money parents dish out for their young adult has caused a break in the bank and has put dampers on their last year of high school. Some would say it is simply ridiculous for the amount of expenses that these soon to be college students are forced to pay just to graduate. Everything from the serious, most obvious events such as graduation and prom, to the leisure activities like cedar point and senior bowling have begun to add up. Every senior pays their senior dues, a $25 ﬁne, which nobody seems to know where that gets put towards. It seems as if the past years have added to the expenses of this “never ending” amount of money that you, as a senior, are responsible for. “Prom is way too expensive and what is with random senior dues? I am not made of money!” said senior Nicole Alexander. Anyways, not to state the obvious, but every senior is to pay for their graduation. It costs $25 for a cap and gown, granted you get to keep this memory saver. Also, members of National Honor Society pay an extra $19 for a blue or white graduation stole. Is that not how it always is? You always have those certain students that care about their education and obviously leaving the ones that do not. Looking at the expenses to graduate, it pays to be smart. If you plan on spending the next four years of your life in a college atmosphere, a ﬁnancial awareness

of the costs to even get there are well known. Maybe for the students not planning to go to college catch a break but maybe not. Just one single ACT-SAT testing session costs $25, with no intention of taking just one that could be a phenomenal amount, just based on testing your knowledge. You obviously have to have an ACT score to get into college, so it is not exactly a PHOTO BY AUTUMN ELLIS choice. Mr. Johnson, Senior class advisor, sells Prom tickets to seniors Scott and Sam . Just another senior If you are expense to enjoy the last year of high school. really up for Despite the negative aspects of senior trip is one of the main testing your knowledge, it costs $84 being a responsible senior, there are reasons they can not wait to be a for a single AP test. In the long so many opportunities to have an Wadsworth High School graduate, run, it could beneﬁt your college enjoyable time. Hanging out with even with all the money they plan expense, but there is no guarantee the friends is just one memory that on spending. Many plan to spend that you will get a score that allows many seniors will never forget. close to $500 dollars to take a once for college credit. Everyone knows of the all glo- in a lifetime vacation, but it does riﬁed, Prom. Prom is supposed to pay to have fun. “Prom is way too expen- be the chance for you, as a senior, The instructional fees left over to beautify yourself. You pay $58 from your freshman year, still linsive, and what is with dollars to attend the dance, $50 to ger in the air on top of everything random senior dues? I am attend post-prom and then you have else that has unknowingly added the dress, the tux rental, and the up. not made of money!” limo. I guess it pays to be beautiOthers have less harsh feelings - Nicole Alexander, 12 ful. towards the costs of your last year “Prom is too much! I am not of high school. Then you have your future to be even going to post prom,” said “It is was it is. I just accept it preparing for. If you are planning senior Ryan D’Amicone. and move on,” said senior Kristen on attending college, you have to Almost every senior has senior McCauley. pay your college application fee pictures taken. The prices vary beDespite the negative, senior year on average of $20-$40, moving on tween photographers and packages is still known as the best year of to college acceptance fee with an that are available, but still cost an high school. In the end it all seems average of $100 dollars, varying average of $200 to $500. to be worth it when graduation upon the school you choose. Most seniors would say that comes along.

Senioritis tears into lives of students, causes much distress

MIKE OPINION STAFF

According to Time, “the second semester of the last year of high school is a kind of waiting room for the next stage

of life.” This waiting room is more commonly known as “senioritis” by high school students and teachers, and it has ofﬁcially arrived in Wadsworth. Frequent symptoms of the “disease” include lethargy, lack of focus or attentiveness and indifference towards grades and appearance. Not only are we well into the second semester, but we seniors have already delved into the depths of our ﬁnal quarter of high school. “Taking it easy senior year may seem like a nice break, but is likely to do more harm than good,” warned an article by The College Board. Unfortunately, we have arrived

to the point of the year where senioritis ﬂourishes. In fact, I certainly do not even feel like writing this story! I will never write another newspaper article, so why am I wasting my time writing this one? I am just kidding, Bruin readers…but not really. The weather has just begun to become warm, and motivation for many is sparse, especially for the seniors that are about to graduate. “It is honestly not a big deal if you miss a couple homework assignments. I mean, we are seniors... it is kind of expected,” said senior Joe Goddard. Even WHS teachers acknowledge that senioritis is just a given fact of life. “I do not believe in senioritis. It should be called lazy-itis. That is a lot of years experience talking,” said Mr. Shepherd. Of course, Mr. Shepherd is one of very few who do not recognize senioritis and its severity. Another teacher, Mr. Schmeltzer, Sr., has seen his share of students conquered by senioritis.

“It takes a lot of discipline to overcome senioritis. You see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he commented. Although most teachers look forward to the end of the year just like students, Mr. Schmeltzer denies this claim. “I could teach 13 months out of the year,” he said. Luckily for all of us, there are only 12 months scheduled in 2008, and four of them are nearly over. After recently coming back from Spring Break, summer seems even closer. The predominantly warm weather, time spent with friends and doing nothing is truly something to look forward to. As the school year ends, the desire to give up will certainly grow stronger. Although our high school journey is nearly over, I urge everyone, especially my fellow seniors, to be strong.

PHOTO BY MIKE HOOVER

These seniors have chosen to play euchre instead of doing their homework. Sadly, many seniors have been stricken by senioritis this year.

April 2008

THE BRUIN

P ICTURE P AGE

Page design and photos by Morgan Duta

Performed by a tireless cast, and with the help of many others, Beauty and the Beast wowed four packed houses during shows on March 27 - 30. Fantastic costumes, impressive choreography, and high energy lit up the stage. Great job everyone!

P ICTURE P AGE

THE BRUIN

April 2008

1. 2.

Rugby 3.

For the past few months, students have been enjoying a new recreational activity known as rugby. Rugby is very fast paced. There are ﬁfteen players from each team playing at a time. Players are only able to move the ball by running or kicking it down the ﬁeld, also called a pitch. They are not allowed to throw the ball forward, only backward passes are legal. Scoring occurs when a goal is made. This can be achieved by kicking the ball over the crossbar between the two upright goal posts. Dan Moss and Chris Goshia are the organizers of this extremely fun and rowdy game. These students play every Sunday at four pm at Durling Park. They would like to extend an invitation out to those who may be interested in playing.

1. The players get together in a huddle as they prepare their play. 2. While the competition rages on, these players Drew , 12, and Aaron, 12, still ﬁnd time to help their fellow teammate up off the ground. 3. Josh , 11, runs the ball, wind blowing through his hair. 4. Aaron chases ball carrier Elliott , 11, while Billy , 12, goes for the tackle. 5. Billy 12, kicks the ball and sends it ﬂying. 6. Onlookers have a quick laugh as Matt , 12, gets tackled.

“It is a fun way to hang out with my friends. I have not missed a game yet.” Matt , 12

“Wadsworth Rugby... not for the weak. ” Ryan , 11

5. 6.

Page design by Lindsey Otanicar and photos by Morgan Duta

S PORTS 1

THE BRUIN

April 2008

Indians seek trip to World Series BY TYLER JACK

The Cleveland Indians are back, and looking to make a big hit in the 2008 season. After the great success of last year, they hope to make it to the World Series this year. They are a young team and have a lot of talent under their hats. The Indians started off their season on an impressive note. They won their first two games but lost the third one during their first three games against the Chicago White Sox. The Indians have not played very well after that first series, losing 12 out of 16 games. “The tribe will bounce back and get into the groove of things, I am not worried at all,” said sophomore Joel Hlavety. There are some new faces in the tribe this year and some new talent in sports that they needed to improve on. This is a plus considering they were only one game away from the World Series last year. The tribe also has some returning all star players that are sure to make a big impact on the way the season plays out. The American League is always a tough challenge in the MLB so getting back to where the tribe left off last year is going to be hard. The AL central had some good news the past weeks with the Tigers getting ,2

THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE CLEVELAND BROWNS WILL APPEAR ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL .

15-

swept by the Kansas City Royals in three straight games. Their season has also had a rocky start with six wins out of 19. “I hope that the Indians can play good this year and get back to the playoffs. Watching baseball is the best part about the fall season,” said junior Tyler Smith. So far, the Tribe has not played up to the hopes they had at the beginning of this season. Coach Eric Wedge is using this as a learning experience to hopefully build onto future plans. The expecPHOTO BY DAVID KAUFFMAN tations for the rest of the Cleveland Indians started their season with a win over the Chicago season are still in ques- The White Sox in the home opener. The team is struggling since the opener. tion. Some are still unsure about the pitching. in October, the coaching staff and players “If I could use one word to describe the have no reason to start losing hope. Indians right now, it would have to be ratSome of the tribes upcoming series tled, they are obviously getting rattled with will be against Seattle, Kansas City, New these losses,” said senior Joe Goddard. York, and Toronto. There is no doubt the The World Series is a long time away. Indians can win most of the games and get They still have all summer and the fall to a few series under their belts with their get their game together. With the playoffs upcoming schedule.

2008 INDIANS ROSTER Rafael Betancourt Rafael Perez Masahide Kobayashi Jensen Lewis Jorge Julio Craig Breslow Joe Borowski C.C. Sabathia Fausto Carmona Jake Westbrook Paul Byrd Cliff Lee Kelly Shoppach C Victor Martinez 1st Ryan Garko Asdrubal Cabrera 2nd Jamey Carroll Jhonny Peralta SS Asdrubal Cabrera Casey Blake 3rd Andy Marte LF David Dellucci CF Grady Sizemore Franklin Gutierrez RF Jason Michaels Travis Hafner DH

By The Numbers

58.3-

TIME THAT BRITTANI PELTZ RAN THE 400, BREAKING A 20 YEAR OLD SCHOOL RECORD.

70-

NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE LOSING SEASONS FOR THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES.

NUMBER OF POINTS STEPHEN CURRY SCORED IN THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT FOR DAVIDSON.

RANK OF OHIO STATE’S RECRUITING CLASS FOR THE 2008 SEASON.

Cavaliers hope to make playoff run BY ANTHONY LORUBBIO

Expectations are high for the Cleveland Cavaliers as they enter the NBA playoffs. The Cavs won the Eastern Conference title last year, but they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the ﬁnals. Lebron and the Cavs look to improve this year and come back to Cleveland NBA champions. In order to become the champions, the Cavs will face a tough playoff run. Their road will begin play against the Washington Wizards. If they get by them, the Cavs will have to face the best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics have the best record at 60-15. The Cavaliers are 2-2 against them this year, so their chances of winning the title are not improbable.

“With the right leadership and a good amount of teamwork, I think the Cavs have a fair chance at winning the NBA title,” said junior Jaime Mosier. “With Lebron on the team, anything is possible!” Cleveland is alive with pride in their Cavs and have faith that they can pull it off. Another aspect going in favor for the Cavaliers are the returning players. Guard Daniel “Booby” Gibson has ﬁnally returned after an ankle injury kept him out for six weeks. Also, Ben Wallace is looking much better now that most of his back spasms have surpassed. With these players back in the lineup, the Cavs are looking stronger now than any other time during the season.

PHOTO BY MCT CAMPUS

Led by Lebron James, the Cavaliers clinched home-court advantage in a win over the 76ers. As the NBA season comes to a close, the Cavs look to the playoffs and hope to make another run at the title.

The Cavs are returning a great deal of experience to the playoffs. Not only do they have players from the Eastern Conference champion team from last year, the Cavs now have an NBA champion, Ben Wallace. He was on the Detroit Pistons when they won in 2004. Also, Devin Brown gained valuable experience playing with the defending champions, the Spurs. “I think the Cavs have good experience and can make another run at the title this year,” said junior Mike Burton. “Also, Lebron has an experienced supporting cast to help him out.” The Cavaliers clinched home court advantage last Monday with a tight win over the Philadelphia 76ers. In a game that was over and lost for the Cavs, the refs reversed a call, giving guard Devin Brown a chance for the win at the free throw line. Calmly stepping up to the line, Brown drilled both free throws, lifting the Cavs to much-needed home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Currently, they are faced off against the Washington Wizards in a heated rivalry series. After an impressive postseason last year, expectations were high coming into the season. A year ago, the Cavaliers won the Eastern Conference finals but were swept in the championship by the Spurs. This year, the new and improved Cavs hope to redeem themselves. Looking to better from last year, the reigning conference champion Cavaliers wish to give Cleveland its first NBA championship trophy in history.

NBA PLAYOFF PICTURE

Eastern Conference 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Boston Celtics Detroit Pistons Orlando Magic Cleveland Cavaliers Washington Wizards Toronto Raptors Philadelphia 76ers Atlanta Hawks

Western Conference 1. Los Angeles Lakers 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

New Orleans Hornets

San Antonio Spurs Utah Jazz Houston Rockets Phoenix Suns Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets

S PORTS 2

THE BRUIN

April 2008

Baseball team’s chemistry gives hope to achieve more victories BY DAN MUELLER

For the past few years, the high school baseball team has been considered very youthful in the age of many of its varsity starters. Now that most of the players are seniors, this season should be successful. With the amount of skill and experience they have, the team could achieve great things. “I believe that we should be very competitive. The Suburban League will be strong; however, we are an experienced team that is very motivated to compete at a high level,” said Coach Brian Madigan. This year, the team is doing many things to prepare. Each practice consists of working on offensive and defensive situations, base running and batting. Preparing pitchers and keeping them injuryfree is also another important key factor for them. With an 8-3 record so far, the team is off to a great start, but they

still have a long way to go. “All of the players will have to ﬁll their roles for our team to be successful,” Madigan said. Returning to the team is Dru Jones, a four-year starter, Joe Goddard and Nate Wilson, all of whom are league players. Also, 10 out of the 15 players on the roster are second year varsity starters, so the team has a lot of returning experience. Nine of those ten are seniors, which makes the team’s leadership also very immense. “I’m very excited to be part of this highly motivated group of players, and so far this season, we’ve been having great team chemistry, which, in turn, helps us win games and be successful,” said senior Brian Solitario. “We have a lot of returning players who have a ton of experience and leadership.” Already, Highland, Revere and Cloverleaf have been beaten by the team, but hard competition is soon to be thrown at them when they play against Tallmadge and

Green in the near future. These big games will show if they really have the capability to reach their goal of a winning season. Each player is working hard and giving it their all not only in the games but in practices to make sure they will be prepared. “We are giving everything we have this year to be sure of a winning season,” said junior Jake Palidar. “If everyone gives 100 percent effort during practices and games, everything should fall into place.” All in all, the team still has many more games to play in order to become distinguished for tournament time. With this said, Coach Madigan and the team deﬁnitely want to see the student body come out and create a home ﬁeld advantage. Also, this season the parents club is giving away T-shirts at home games to encourage more students to come out and enjoy the season with the team. Also, on Tuesday, April 29, there will be a tailgate

ity that suits them best. Pinnacle Sports gives the opportunity to stay in shape and have fun to all ages. From youth sports camps to adult training exercises, people of all ages can enjoy participating in an event of their choice. Along with the many recreational activities at places like Pinnacle Sports, many students participate in other sporting leagues. One of these leagues is the Junior Olympics volleyball organization, or simply JO. A great deal of students there are members of volleyball teams around the state. They practice weekly and play in tournaments on the weekends.

Sophomore Alyssa Johnson plays for one such team in Wooster. Her Wooster Elite Volleyball Club practices a few times a week and “has tournaments almost every weekend for ﬁve months straight!” Another association that deals with amateur sporting events is the Amateur Athletic Union, or AAU. The AAU organization offers a myriad of sports from basketball, to baton twirling and weight lifting. Students can register for teams and travel to certain locations in order to try out. Although these sporting teams may come at a hefty price, most ama-

PHOTO BY DAN MUELLER

Coach Brian Madigan and his team huddle up before their game against Cloverleaf. They are doing excellent this season but still have more games to play.

sponsored by Student Council, and the coaching staff and players would like to see a huge crowd to help pump them up for their game. With a notable record already, the baseball team is coming around. For many, this is their last chance to prove they have the skill to be

triumphant, and so far, it seems as though they are working very hard to reach that goal. As long as they keep up the good work, the team should not have any trouble. “I invite all students and staff to come out and enjoy the season with us, especially as the weather improves,” Madigan said.

teur athletes and students seem to think it is worth the money. “I love playing for my AAU team,” says sophomore Jordan Keener. “It is really cool to travel to all the different places and compete at a high level.” Junior Brittany Arvay is another student who participates in a non-scholastic sport. Arvay does gymnastics for Gymnastics of Ohio, which is located in Uniontown. She has been practicing and competing in gymnastics for twelve years, and it has definitely paid off. Along with winning Nationals last summer, she also placed first twice in Nationals in the beam area. “It is great to compete against higher level gymnasts,” said Arvay. “There’s more opportunity to get noticed when you compete outside of school,” she continued. Mixed martial arts is also a sport that recently became popular within the last few years. Gyms across the country offer lessons and practice to willing participants. One gym around this area is Fightscience, which is located in Brimfield Township. Senior Joey Kaminski often goes there to “fight” with other gym members. Although these fights are supervised, they do not consist of full contact. “Rolling on the mats is a great workout,” said Kaminski. “It takes great strength and endurance to last for a full fight.” Fightscience offers lessons at a price of $50 per month or $10

per lesson. Although the drive is around thirty minutes, Fightscience may be worth the money. Other facilities here in Wadsworth offer extracurricular activities. Wadsworth Church of the Nazarene offers a dodgeball league where people of all ages can participate. They play every Wednesday from 8:00 to 10:00 PM. Junior Chris Greenwood has just started playing there. He loves the league because it is “free of cost and pressure.” Steiner Youth Center also offers a vast number of activities for one to ﬁll their time with. One can sign up for swimming lessons, lifeguarding lessons and work with a personal trainer. Along with pool area lessons, training in martial arts and things like yoga and Pilates are also presented to the public. It seems as if a majority of students who play sports in and out of school seem to prefer playing for the non-scholastic team. Even though school leagues pride themselves on competition, outside leagues seem to offer more. Also, playing for AAU, JO, or another organization gives students the opportunity to travel to a wide variety of places. Traveling for tournaments and games may be a better way for kids and students to get noticed by college scouts. This, in turn, could help further someone’s athletic career. Even though prices for participation may be very large, a great deal of students believe it is all worth it in the end.

Students participate in non-scholastic sports BY KYLE DAVIS

Although school sports seem to get the most hype throughout the high school year, many students participate in non-scholastic sporting events. There is a great number of kids that play volleyball, basketball, soccer and other activities on their own time. Whether it is for AAU, Junior Olympics or just for fun, students keep themselves busy. Pinnacle Sports in Medina offers a wide variety of sporting events in which kids can participate. From lacrosse to roller hockey, one can enroll in an activ-

Athletes of the Month Jake

- .462 Batting Average - 2 stolen bases, outstanding defensive play in center ﬁeld. - Great attitude and work ethic

Katie

- .293 Batting Average - .983 Fielding Average - 7 RBI’s - Game winning home run against Firestone

M OVIES

THE BRUIN

April 2008

Prom Night scares its way to number one at box ofﬁce SAMANTHA KREIDER

REVIEW BY BEN WHITE

JUNIOR

Donna’s senior prom is supposed to be the best night of her life, though a sadistic killer from her past has different plans for her and her friends. High school teenager Donna Keppel (Brittany Snow) loses her entire family (mom, dad, and brother) at the hands of Richard Fenton, a teacher who had an obsession with her. Three years later, Donna, now about to graduate and living with her aunt and uncle, undergoes therapy and takes medication to deal with the trauma. The action of the ﬁlm takes place on the night of her senior prom, beginning when she goes to the dance with her boyfriend, Bobby, and her friends. All this is happening while Fenton escapes from prison. Detectives Winn and Nash, once aware of the danger Donna faces, go to the prom in case Fenton shows up. Donna is unaware that Fenton

“I loved this movie. I was scared from beginning to end. This is one of my favorite horror flicks.“

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCREEN GEMS

Donna (Brittany Snow) hides under her bed after coming home and seeing her brother and father dead. Here she witnesses her ex-teacher, Richard Fenton, murder her mother.

“I thought that it was one of the best scary movies that I have seen in a while.“

is staying in the hotel where their prom is being held. His plan is to abduct her and kill anyone who stands in his way. For being a remake off the 1980 movie Prom Night, I thought that this was one of Hollywood’s better remakes. Personally, I enjoyed this movie because it shows the killer’s side of the story. Moviegoers are able to witness how Fenton finds the students while managing not to get caught. Seeing how Hollywood remakes are usually never as good as the original, the 2008 version offers new thrills and screams for its audience. With 22.7 million dollars grossing in on the first weekend, the movie is clearly a popular pick. Teens can really relate to the plot of Prom Night because, in a broad aspect, it is plausible. Many recent horror flicks to hit the box office, like the Saw series or The Ruins are absolutely unlikely, and make the film seem less frightening.

JADE ZITO JUNIOR

Other Movie Reviews

Street Kings

DrillBit Taylor

Superhero Movie

Nim’s Island

The Ruins

Overall, Prom Night is deﬁnitely a ﬁlm worth seeing.

B-White’s Rating 4 out of 5 Great

Upcoming May Movies -May 2ndIron Man Made of Honor -May 9thSpeed Racer What Happens in Vegas... Redbelt -May 16thThe Cronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian -May 23rdIndian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull -May 30thSex and the City: The Movie The Strangers

4/5

3.5/5

2/5

1.5/5

Leatherheads makes playing in mud romantic REVIEW BY DAVID KAUFFMAN

Pulling double duties, George Clooney directs and stars in his 1920s football film, Leatherheads. He also enlisted John Krasinski onto his roster as his co-star to play the role of Carter Rutherford, a college football star with a heroic war history. Clooney’s character, Dodge Connolly, is a pro football player with an idea to bring more attention to his league. In the midst of their football season, both fall in love with a news reporter Lexie Littleton, played by Renée Zellweger. How will their season turn out when two star players are competing both on and off the field? Leatherheads has a unique style to it, bringing an easy going feeling to the viewers. Based in 1925, when pro football was not nearly as lucrative as it is now, there is a rustic quality to the film provided by the excellent wardrobe of leather football gear, the flapper style dresses and the eloquent hats worn by Zellweger. Clooney was very accurate at depicting the roaring twenties. “The comedy of Leatherheads is for a more mature audience,” said junior Michael Niemochinski.

Clooney and Zellweger added a witty type of humor to the film. Their characters are a perfect match for each other, but Zellweger’s character is not interested in Clooney’s, at the beginning. Throughout the entire movie, their sly remarks and banter between themselves brings the comedy in this romantic comedy. Leatherheads definitely appeals more to an older age group, especially those who lived in the twenties. For them, this film would be a pleasant look back into the past and some events that they might of have experienced. “It was awkward sitting in a movie theater full of older couples,” said junior Matt Gaborcik. “The majority of people there were probably in their forties, at least.” In the midst of this romantic comedy, Dodge struggles against a changing society. His way of life is forced to change with the appointment of a new chairman to the pro football league, bringing a whole set of rules along with him. No longer are the days of rowdy football games full of punches, trick plays and questionable calls. Dodge wants to keep football true to its origins, and not change just to meet with the expectations of

wealthy corporate men. For those who thought Leatherheads was a sport movie when they first saw the previews, you might be a little disappointed. Although the film is based around football in the 1920s, only about half of the movie deals with the actual playing of the game. The rest is a mix of romance and comedy, both expressed mostly by Clooney and Zellweger. There is a final game at the end, but Leatherheads is nothing like The Longest Yard or The Replacements. “I was a little disappointed,” said junior Matt O’Neil. “I thought it would have concentrated more on football rather than the romance between Dodge and Lexie.” Overall, Leatherheads was an entertaining film. With a mixture of sports, comedy and romance, it is great for any type of movie goer. It is also great for all ages with its combination of youthful athletes and older, wiser ones. Leatherheads provides an enjoyable viewing for everyone.

DK’s Rating 3 out of 5 Good

PHOTO BY FITZROY BARRETT/LANDOV/MCT

George Clooney and his girlfriend, Sarah Larson, show up on the red carpet at the premiere of Leatherheads. Clooney was the director and starred as Dodge Connolly in this romantic comedy set in the 1920s.

REVIEWS FROM OTHER NEWSPAPERS “A scrappy debate on the rules we live by disguised as a screwball comedy.” Rolling Stone “A light, charming, well-executed pastiche of a 1920s screwball comedy.” LA Times “It’s an oxymoron: a mild screwball romance.” Chicago Tribune “A sloppy, haphazard and tonally incoherent piece of work.” New York Times

A DS

THE BRUIN

April 2008

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THE BRUIN

April 2008

E NTERTAINMENT

Fresh faces awe audiences D C ASES

E L E R

April 29 Augustana Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt Madonna Hard Candy

Lil Mama VYP: Voice of the Young People 65daysofstatic The Destruction of Small Ideas

BY ALYSSA HENRY

High-profile actors and actresses with plenty of box office power have long monopolized the movie industry. However, this past year, little-known newcomers impressed audiences with Oscar-worthy breakthrough performances that outshined their more established peers. While big name stars like Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and others lead busy lives with few and far roles in between, up and coming actors and actresses are surprising the movie industry with their roles. One actor who is making a name for himself is Ben Affleck’s brother Casey. Previously acting as Virgil Malloy in the Ocean’s trilogy, the younger Affleck broke away from his brother’s shadow with his role as Robert Ford in The Assassination of Jesse James. His scene-stealing performance got him nominated for an Oscar. He also won Breakthrough Actor of the Year in 2007 for his role.

May 6 3 Doors Down [Title TBA] Gavin DeGraw Gavin DeGraw PHOTO BY MIRAMAX/MCT

Casey Afﬂeck showed his strength as a leading man in the drama Gone Baby Gone.

Ja Rule The Mirror

May 13 Death Cab For Cutie Narrow Stairs Lil Wayne Tha Carter III

During the course of last year, many artists grew increasingly frustrated as their music leaked to the public months before release dates, thanks to online torrenting sites. Now, several music groups are ﬁghting back with unusual methods to preserve their ownership of their music. The Raconteurs, a rock band featuring Jack White of the White Stripes, made history with their second album Consolers Of The Lonely. The release of the album on March 25 came as a surprise to the public because it was only

announced one week prior. White insisted that the group’s record label, Warner Bros., released the album as soon as it was completed, with no promotion or press. White became desperate to protect his work after the White Stripes’ most recent album Icky Thump leaked a month in advance when a radio played it without permission. Some tech savvy listeners taped the show, and within hours the album was up on the internet for anyone to download. White was furious and determined not to let it happen again, which explains the extreme measures he took to prevent the same thing

Ryan Cabrera The Moon Under Water Jason Mraz We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things

May 20

Scarlett Johansson Anywhere I Lay My Head Teyana Taylor From a Planet Called Harlem

PHOTO BY UNIVERSAL PICTURES/MCT

Seth Rogen displayed his comedic talent alongside Katherine Heigl in Knocked Up.

As audiences gravitated last year to numerous outrageous comedies, they witnessed a few actors that stood apart from the rest. Seth Rogen, who, for years, worked in comedies as a minor supporting actor in hits such as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, ﬁnally showcased his true comedic genius in Knocked Up. The hit was quickly followed up by one of his own creations, Superbad. Although he had only a minor role, Rogen’s natural comedic timing and honest sense of humor were obvious in his acting and in the script. He can be seen in Pineapple Express this summer with James Franco. Superbad also served as a platform for the young actor Michael

Cera. His soft voice and innocence balanced the crude humor in the movie, giving it his own unique touch of quirkiness. He then quietly made the transition from Superbad to the comedydrama Juno. Although Cera played a part in Juno’s success, it was Ellen Page who truly stole the show. Her dryly-sarcastic remarks and quick wit were undeniable as the pregnant teenager, and it quickly brought her to instant stardom. These actors’ and actress’ breakthrough performances gave audiences exactly what they wanted: great movies with compelling and interesting scripts supported by excellent acting. Audiences should take note of their names and look for them next time they head to the movies.

Musicians combat wide spread music leaks BY KAT SAUNDERS

Clay Aiken On My Way Here

From there, Affleck propelled himself even farther with the lead role in the critically acclaimed Gone Baby Gone. Playing a private investigator, he proved that his acting ability has the strength to carry a serious movie. Also in Gone Baby Gone was Amy Ryan, who already had a long list of movies on her résumé, but lacked a blockbuster role. Her chilling portrayal of a drug-addicted mother whose child goes missing gained her a nomination for an Oscar. Keira Knightley has showcased her talents in movies such as the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and various time-period dramas, but her latest movie Atonement created buzz for her co-star, James McAvoy. McAvoy’s moving performance as a man wrongly accused of a crime captured the essence of the situation, and stole the audience’s attention away from Knightley. This was not McAvoy’s first time in a highly praised film. He also had roles in The Last King of Scotland, Becoming Jane and played Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. McAvoy more recently starred in the light-hearted, child-friendly movie Penelope, which further proved his range as an actor. His charming good looks and talent have only become more evident over the years. Audiences can look for him starring alongside Angelina Jolie in Wanted, which releases later this summer.

PHOTO BY AUTUMN DEWILDE

Rock band the Raconteurs have joined the ﬁght against music leaks.

from happening when Consolers Of The Lonely came out. The Raconteurs are just the latest band to use their artistic creativity to protect their music. The British alternative group Radiohead released their current album, In Rainbows, just days after it was completed, making it available on their ofﬁcial web site for download. Instead of selecting a ﬁxed price for the digital release, Radiohead allowed their fans to choose how much they thought the album was worth. The group has refused to declare exactly how much money the downloads generated, so it is unknown how successful their unique marketing strategy generated. The duo Gnarls Barkely initially had their album, The Odd Couple, slated for an April 8 release date, but when a leaked version appeared on various torrenting web sites, they decided to push the date up to March 25 to minimize losses. Other bands may follow suit as their albums became available before release. One of the most popular torrenting sites was OiNK, a gold mine for those seeking everything from rare live performances by their favorite bands to the latest albums, leaked sometimes up to four months before their commercial release. OiNK was one of the internet’s worst kept secrets, and after protests made by

music industry insiders as well as the artists whose music was stolen, the site was shut down, and the owner, Aaron Ellis, was arrested. The issue was investigated by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, the British Phonographic Industry, Cleveland Police and the Fiscal Investigation Unit of the Dutch Police, who planned to take action against those who downloaded the torrents available. However, Ellis had taken extreme care to conceal the identities of the site’s members, and the police were unable to take action against anyone other than Ellis. Within days, however, more sites had popped up to replace OiNK, attracting thousands who seemed not to care about the risks, all to the dismay of police and members of the music community alike. Though there may be no end in sight to the rampant file sharing and music leaking, artists are developing new ways to protect their music. The latest wave of musicians who will no longer allow their hard work to amount to nothing have the potential to change the way music will be released in the future. For every album which finds its way onto the Internet, there is an angry musician who can channel their creative energy into fighting the injustice that is torrenting and file sharing.

M USIC

THE BRUIN

The innovative Talkbox becomes trendy BY BRETT CLINE

Although it has been unknown to most outside of the music industry for quite some time, the innovative Talkbox is starting to gain steam and become more popular among the American public. The Talkbox is an effects device that allows a musician to modify the sound of a musical instrument, most commonly a keyboard or guitar. The musician controls the modiﬁcation by changing the shape of their mouth, making their voice sound electronic. The Talkbox works on the principle of reproducing the sound made by a musical instrument and directing it into the mouth of the user through a small tube. The sound that one hears is not actually the performer speaking, it is the sound of the musical instrument being reshaped by the performer’s mouth to form words. The Talkbox ﬁrst started to become popular among musicians back in the 1970’s when famous artist Peter Frampton used it on his hit singles “Do You Feel Like We Do” and “Show Me The Way”. In the years since, the Talkbox has been revolutionized by Roger Troutman. He has gained fame through his Talkbox and has used it exclusively in songs such as “More Bounce To The Ounce”, “I Wanna Be Your Man”, and was featured in “California Love” by Tupac and Dr. Dre. The Talkbox has also been used in hit songs

April 2008

Upcoming Shows 4/27 - Cartel @ Peabody’s (Cleveland) 4/28 - The Fall of Troy and The Dear Hunter @ The Grog Shop (Cleveland, OH) 4/30 - Emmure, Recon, Ligeia, & After The Burial @ Peabody’s 5/3 & 5/4 - Tech N9ne and Paul Wall @ Peabody’s

PHOTO COURTESY OF TALKBOX.ORG

The Dunlop Heil Talkbox, shown, is a talkbox with a higher quality and better tone than most. It is priced between $140-$170 depending on where one looks.

such as “Deep” by Blackstreet, “Beverly Hills” by Weezer, and American Idol contestant David Cook recently used one during his rendition of the Beatles’ song “Day Tripper”. “Personally, I think that the Talkbox is quite an instrument. It has a cool sound to it and I think that it can add a lot to a song when it is used in the right way,” said senior Ross McMillan. Although revered by some, the Talkbox is sometimes a rather awkward sound for others to hear. It can be considered annoying or useless for the more conservative music listeners. “I cannot stand the Talkbox! It sounds like the person is just singing straight through their nose. I thought singers were not

supposed to do something like that. Also, it does not take any talent. It sounds like a mutant,” said senior Royce Vanderbilt. Although it is an effect a lot of musicians are going for these days, it can be rather expensive for the average do-it-yourself musician. In order to use a Talkbox, one must ﬁrst have a keyboard or electric guitar. This can cost from a couple hundred to thousands of dollars. The Talkbox itself can also cost about two hundred dollars. Most Talkbox websites do, however, give useful tips on how to make your own Talkbox to save money. The Talkbox creates a sound that is new and exciting, and has recently grown into a very popular way of creating music.

PHOTO BY CHAD TAYLOR

Above, Life In Your Way guitar player Corey Stroffolino shreds on his guitar during a solo

5/13 - The Devil Wears Prada and Gwen Stacy @ The Attic (Kettering, OH) 5/17 - Kid Rock with Rev. Run @ The Q 5/31 - Different Living @ Peabody’s 6/13 - Death Cab For Cutie @ The Plain Dealer Pavilion 7/2 - SCREAM THE PRAYER TOUR @ The Attic

Life In Your Way sends message in Dover, Ohio REVIEW BY CHAD TAYLOR

Above, Life In Your Way vocalist Joshua Kellam screams some amazing lyrics during the show.

5/14 - The Mars Volta @ The Agora

In the fast paced world of hardcore music, its hard to ﬁnd bands that send positive messages to their many fans. Connecticut born band Life In Your Way decided that it was time for a change with the release of their popular new CD Waking Giants. Life In Your Way was formed in December of 2001 with a passion for music and meaning. Life In Your Way’s new album ignores the majority of its hardcore brethren and goes along with other faith based bands like The Devil Wears Prada and August Burns Red with Christian themed music and songs of hope. Other bands in the same genre tend to createmusic with seemingly no purpose other than shock value. They write of death, violence and other negative and degrading topics. So when I heard that they were coming within driving distance, it was a no brainer, I had to attend. Other acts that were on the bill were Christian hardcore bands Means, followed by For Today. Each of the three bands brought their own style of music, but were all equally passionate in their performances. Means played

first and happened to be the least known band out of the three, yet by the end of their six song performance, they had gained a good amount of fans. Next on stage was For Today, who originated in Indiana. They started things off with a whole band prayer to ensure a good performance and then zoomed right into their set. They recently released their debut CD titled Ekklesia, and each of their five songs came from it. They were one of the best bands I have ever seen live as far as sounding exactly like their recording. That is a quality that is hard to find in today’s concert scene, full of studio bands and lip-syncing. For Today began the set with their intro song to get the floor moving, following up with a religious number, Redemption. After For Today stopped playing, Brandon, the bass player, addressed the crowd with some positive words. He talked of faith and the reason in which they play their music. He said that its not for the money or the fan base, but its for what he believes in, Jesus Christ. This is the type of influence that is really pushing its way into the hardcore music scene.

For Today and Means had put on great shows, but now it was time for the headliner, Life In Your Way. This was the band that the vast majority of those in attendance had been waiting for, and the one with the most to say. The venue floor had suddenly filled up and you could feel the anticipation in the air. They huddled around the drummer and began to pray and played their first song. As I stood directly in front of the stage taking pictures, I could feel the energy coming from the both the band and the many fans. This was the first show I had been to where I actually felt connected with the fans around me; it was an awesome feeling. The highlight of the set was when they played one of their more popular songs entitled “Making Waves”, which talks about standing strong and doing what you believe in. This was the type of message that they sent that night, and everyone in attendance felt it. Life In Your Way may not be around forever, but they have definitely paved the way for more positive based hardcore bands to come.

April 2008

THE BRUIN

A DS

V ARIETY

THE BRUIN

April 2008

Abstinence vital prior to marriage Bodies OPINION BY TAYLOR SMITH

In the teen years, there are many things that may be tugging at a one’s emotions. Many teens have signiﬁcant others who they relate with in various ways. This emotional trust is very important. The issue with the strong feelings between young Americans is that they can become tempted to unleash their innocence and erupt with wild actions. It is important to contain these feelings and show self-respect and self-discipline in keeping the most sacred thing you have, your virginity. There are several dangers of having sex before you are married. By having sex with multiple persons, STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) can be spread rapidly through a community. “STDs are my biggest concern. They are the main reason I stay abstinent,” said senior Josh Hartman.

One very common STD is Chlamydia, a disease caused by bacteria which can damage a female’s reproductive organs. It can cause infertility and other complications. For males, Chlamydia can cause discharge from the penis or burning during urination. Another STD that has been found in many teens is gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is caused by bacteria that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract. While many people think gonorrhea is uncommon, statistics show otherwise. In 2006, the rate of reported gonorrheal infections was 120.9 per 100,000 persons. Symptoms of the disease include a burning sensation when urinating or a white, yellow or green discharge from the penis. One more very common STD is genital herpes. These are caused by herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV2). Studies show that 45 million

people ages 12 and older, or one out of five adolescents and adults, have had genital HSV infection. Herpes are shown by sores and flu-like symptoms. They can, however, be treated. There are many more STDs that can be mentioned as dangers to young teens having sex. There is syphilis, bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and AIDS. Although STDs are a very serious concern for one who does not practice abstinence, pregnancy may be the most prevalent concern. Pregnancy is a very life altering event that can devastate a young one’s bright future. “I would never want to be pregnant because it would ruin me. It would make me fat,” said sophomore Danielle Goodson. Not only does pregnancy cause physical changes, but potential emotional and career-damaging changes. When a high school student gets pregnant, all of their

dreams can be postponed or even shattered like a vase falling from a mantle. College opportunities are put on hold while the student cares for their newborn. Instead of getting a good, college education and having fun with their friends, they are forced to ﬁnd a low-paying job and succumb to constant misery and worry. Many people think that they will not be the person who gets pregnant, but studies show differently. Each year, almost 750,000 teenage women aged 15–19 become pregnant. That is a big number of people for such a small age group. “I would not know what to do if I got a girl pregnant. It would be the worst thing ever,” said senior Scott Saylor. There are many dangers of having sex before marriage. STDs and pregnancies are very life altering events for a teenager. Through abstinence, STDs and pregnancies can be avoided.

Junk of the Month

PHOTO BY LOGAN KILBRIDE

Junior Chad models his fashionable car on his way out of the student parking lot (top), but he hopes that no one notices the embarrassing side fender tied to the bottom of his car (bottom).

Chad’s 1991 golden Mercury Sable seems reliable enough to get him from one place to another, but gauging his gas amount is another story. Chad said, “My gas gauge is broken, so I have to guess how much gas I have left. That can become quite a problem!” Some other serious issues with his ride include a broken rearview mirror, a broken check engine light, a cracked windshield and a cluttered interior. To add to these problems, the

car seems to continuously leak oil, and that can become a real safety issue as well. Other people sometimes look down on Chad for his sub-par vehicle, but he claims that his social life is hotter than ever. He does not listen to the snickers and ridicule that are incorporated with his car. However serious these problems may seem, Chad still loves his car, and would not give his prized possession up for anything!

April showers bring May ﬂowers BY LOGAN KILBRIDE

It is obvious that spring is in the air when the various migratory birds return home, and the snow begins to melt. Some students get depressed over this rainy spring season, but it is better to look at this time as one for hope and vibrant life. Summer is on the horizon, and fun is in the air. Students prepare for the glorious season of spring! You may feel down and gloomy with all of the rain and windy, chilled weather, but soon you will be in the midst of wondrous dandelions, tulips, carnations, fresh air, youthful birdies and white, ﬂuffy bunnies. The month of April is associated with fresh, new, zesty life. The rain washes away the wretched winter atmosphere and brings home the welcoming ambiance of spring. This clears the way for fun-ﬁlled barbecues for innocent, vibrant children and their families. Little kids frolicking in their yards represent the hope and optimistic future of our society. What a perfect picture to be painted of our lifestyle in the world today! The splendid migratory birds

have begun to return home from their distant winter locations of Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. This trip is a treacherous journey, but it is a pure representation of the return of spring. This widespread appreciation of nature and life coincides with the anticipation of spring. The birds are not the only guiltless creatures to emerge out of hiding in the April season. The warmer weather provides a more welcoming environment for hibernating animals, feeble vegetation and garden life. Sophomore Sam Schwab said, “I love looking forward to the relaxing time with my friends at the Lance’s lake. Last year I spent my entire spring and summer there enjoying the wonderful nature.” In coalition with this idea, senior Bobby Papas said, “ I love springtime because I love the track season. Nothing can beat the mixture between my favorite sport and the warmer weather. Nothing can replace that feeling, not even the wonderful lemonade stands of the summer!” However, not everyone agrees

with these feelings. Junior Alan Sheppard said, “I prefer winter over spring because I don’t mind the cold weather and I love basketball! Spring is okay, but all of the rain is depressing, and it makes me miss basketball.” As the grass grows taller, so do the hopes and dreams of many Americans. Conversely, with the fresh-cut grass smell, the feelings of aspirations continue to erupt

like the budding trees and blooming ﬂowers. Nothing can replace this theme of the emergence of new life! When the blue birds begin to chirp, starting off a fantastic day, do not think of the gloomy, rainy days. This sadness and despair will not help. Just picture the innocent and glorious days of spring that lead into the exciting months of summer to brighten your rainﬁlled April life!

PHOTO BY LOGAN KILBRIDE

Seniors Bobby, Kristen and Kristin work together and enjoy the beautiful spring weather in the courtyard during their senior study hall.

yearn for swimsuit status BY TAYLOR SMITH AND LOGAN KILBRIDE

With swimsuit season right around the corner, many people are worried about being able to look good in a swimming suit. The good news is that you should not worry! Everyone looks good in a swimsuit, but if you are trying to go the extra mile to achieve that top-notch status, here are a few tips. -For starters, one must begin to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet to eliminate excess fat. Also, cutting down on proportions may also help. -Second of all, those bedtime snacks must come to an end! Sleepy time is the prime fat-building occurrence. -One of the most important aspects of that swimsuit image is the bronze tan. No matter what people may tell you, natural tanning is the best and healthiest. It is proven that UV rays penetrate even the thickest of clouds, so no matter how cold or cloudy it is, efﬁcient tanning can still be accomplished. Most effective tanning hours are daily from 10-4. -Another key aspect of the swimsuit body is the elimination of excess fat on the tricep region of the arm. These “hangy downies” can be prevented by swinging onepound dumbbells in a backand-forth motion. With solid arms, one is sure to gain positive feedback from the opposite sex. -One extremely embarrassing hassle is the prevalence of bodily hair. To eliminate this pest, full body waxes are recommended. Razors, Nair and automated shavers can cause equally embarrassing skin irritation including cuts and rashes. To establish the clean, smooth, sexy look, waxes are best. -Finally, our most intriguing advice is to schedule a private work-out with Taylor Smith and Logan Kilbride. This has continually yielded extremely successful results and is always an exhilarating experience. The personality, quality, experience, and determination are irreplaceable. These suggestions will hopefully lead to a more enjoyable and optimistic swimsuit season. Keep in mind all of the health and efﬁciency suggestions, and make the most of your body!

April 2008

S PEAKOUT

THE BRUIN

What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

My favorite thing to do on a rainy day is to just relax with friends and have a good time. - Alyssa Powell, 10

I enjoy watching my seasons of “Gilmore Girls” while eating oranges. - Ali McNutt, 10 On rainy days, I like to sit at home or hang out with friends. Normally I drive around, but that’s not going to happen for awhile. - Matt Sisouphanh, 12

My friend Sara Allen and I make a slip and slide that goes down my entire backyard. We aim to go under the trampoline and across my creek. - Renee Simon, 10 I enjoy watching raindrops pitter-patter on the window panes and playing Connect Four tournaments with my wonderful sister! - Nick Erme, 12 I like to run around in the rain and jump in puddles! Who doesn’t love to be a kid again?! - Lindsay , 11 My favorite thing to do is put on Under Armour, go outside and play soccer. I love to slide tackle in the rain. The best part is playing keeper so you get all muddy. - Rachel Motz, 10 Make some hot chocolate and practice dance moves. - Mat Varga, 12 My favorite thing to do is lay around my house and watch movies all day! - Lauren Arndt, 10

PHOTO BY BRITTANI PELTZ

Lindsay loves to act like a kid again during rainy days by jumping in the puddles.

My favorite thing to do on a rainy day is to stay inside and relax. - Sammi Petit, 9 I sleep in and make my famous delicious cookies then I eat them while I watch America’s Next Top Model re-runs with my dog, Molly. - Jackie Lowdermilk, 11 I enjoy running during the storm. It is thrilling! - Bobby Papas, 12

I like to either watch ESPN, “Scrubs,” “Spongebob Squarepants” or play video games with some friends. I also like to go out to eat with friends or one of my sisters. - Luke Williams, 10

I like to hang out with my friends and go shopping and to the movies. - Samm Malkowski, 9 During rainy days I like to play inside with my “daughter” Lacey. She is the half that makes me whole. I am going to miss the Neon, though. It has gotten me through plenty of rainy expeditions. - Jillian “Da Bean” Melton, 12 My favorite thing to do on a rainy day is hang out with some friends and watch movies. - Jessica Wetshtein, 9

I enjoy jumping in puddles with my little sister Amanda, Ali McNutt, and Jackie Lowdermilk. - Allison Pallija, 11 Stand in it! I love the rain. The only drawback is I always get headaches on rainy days. Anyway, the rain is poetic, and I love it. Go rain! - Chelsea Ray, 10 Sleep. - Joel , 10

PHOTO BY BRITTANI PELTZ

Sophomore Joel passes rainy days by sleeping soundly.

STUDENTS

What is one talent or skill you don’t have, but always wanted?

I wish there was SOMETHING I was not better at than Bobby Jones. I mean, I am better looking, stronger, more athletic, in better shape and just a much better person in every way. I really feel sorry for the guy. How sad for him. - Mr. Bivens

I would love to be able to dunk a basketball. But I can’t so I will just settle for being the best three point shooter in Northeast Ohio. - Mr. Moore

To read my wife’s mind. If I could do that, I would never be in the dog house and I could ﬁnally have all of life’s answers. - Mr. Jones

I have always wanted to be able to put Mr. Yaggi, my big brother, in a headlock. - Miss Yaggi I have always wished that I had some musical talents. I would have loved to be the next Jimi Hendrix or Eddie Van Halen. - Mr. Booth

I always wished I could play the piano. Other than that, maybe doing the ﬁrst few notes to ‘Jaws.’ I am very limited! Heck I would even be happy to be able to play Guitar Hero 3 on the expert level. Drew Cline, in that sense, is my hero! - Mr. Postak

I could throw and hit a ball, but could never kick one. I always wanted to learn to kick, also juggle. - Mr. Goddard The one talent that I have always wanted was the ability to play lead guitar in a band maybe like Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton. I also wish I was skilled in math and spelling. All kidding aside, I have always wanted to write the great American novel. Who knows, that may still happen! - Mr. Gains

I have always wished I had a beautiful voice, but instead I am a completely horrible singer. - Mrs. Hutchinson I always wanted to be able to tomahawk dunk a basketball. I do, however, give Mr. Yaggi a little Y-town every once in awhile. - Mr. Lynn

I have always wanted to sing and dance like a Broadway star. One of these days, I want to take lessons. In the meantime, I will be happy working with our students who can perform and help them show off their talents. - Mrs. Cskay

PHOTO BY LAURA ARCH

Mr. Booth practices the air guitar for his dream of some day playing as good as Jimi Hendrix or Eddie Van Halen.

SINGING! I’m awful. I’m always amazed at the people who can sing. (I’m a great lipsyncher, though). - Mrs. Farr To play chess like Bobby Fisher. - Mrs. Trausch

TEACHERS

I always wanted to be able to sing well. If I could, I would have been a country singer. The next Faith Hill maybe? - Mrs. LaMonica I always wanted to be able to sing and not sound like a tone-deaf bull frog!! - Mr. Smith I am not very coordinated. I love to dance, but it looks ridiculous! I watch “Dancing with the Stars” and drool over all the talent! However, I love to hang out with Mr. Singleton because he knows how to “ChaCha!” - Mrs. Mathews To have an incredible 30 plus inch vertical jump!! - Ms. Althaus I have always wanted to be a gymnast. However, I didn’t possess either the agility or the ﬂexibility that one needs to become one. In high school, I chose to be in a tumbling (beginning gymnastic class) where you were trained in the basics of gymnastics. The ﬁrst exercise was to learn how to run and do a summersault in mid air. After several crashes, I was pulled aside and gently told to drop the course before I killed myself. So, my hat goes off to all of you graceful gymnasts that can soar through the air with the greatest of ease. - Mrs. Nedoh