The Bruin- December 2008 by Wadsworth Bruin

Wadsworth High School

Newspaper II/III

December 2008

The

1870 - 2008 Wadsworth City Schools: “Celebrating 138 years of Excellence in Education”

Volume XXXIV No. 3

BRUIN

Happy Holidays from The Bruin Staff!

625 Broad Street Wadsworth, Ohio 44281

$1.00

Donating without paying becomes easier than ever BY KRISTIN MAPLE AND KATEY TOLLETT

PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF

Downtown Wadsworth decorates a tree to promote the holiday spirit. There are now easier ways than ever for citizens to help out their favorite charity.

Presents for the family: $150. Full tank of gas: $30. Fancy dinner date: $75. Donating to charity: priceless. It may not seem this way to the frugal teenager. While the act of giving is beneficial, the cost can be more than what some are willing to pay. What few often realize is that it is possible to donate without spending. Goodsearch.com is a search engine established in 2005 in order to give money to charities and nonprofit organizations designated by its users. Currently there are 71,143 charities and nonprofit organizations available to choose from. All the user has to do is select one then use the website like any other search engine. “Finally there’s a way for people to help without actually ‘doing’ something,” commented freshman Nate Tipton. Whether it was a search regarding ideas for science fair or the lyrics to the newest Britney Spears’ song, each individual search for the past three years has raised approximately 1.3 cents. In addition, it is powered by Yahoo! so the results are as legitimate as those received from the main search tools, the difference being that 50% of the revenue from advertisers is donated. Search engines like Google and Yahoo! generate nearly $8 billion annually, much of which can be attributed to the typical high school student.

Imagine the proﬁts made from students alone. 47% of surveyed students report using a search engine three to six times a day. 31% declared they searched zero to two times in a day. 12% say they exceed 10 uses per day while another 10% only search seven to 10 times daily. If each of the surveyed students used Goodsearch.com as opposed to their usual engine, they could raise $12 for a charity in one day.

“Finally there’s a way for people to help without actually ‘doing’ something.” -Nate Tipton, 9 That is worth nearly two hours of work at a minimum wage job and is donated in a matter of seconds with no cost to the user. Charities and nonprofit organizations are earning thousands of dollars from day to day searches. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals earned $22,000 this past fiscal year and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital earned $8,300. This money has the capability of changing thousands of lives all because people typed a different URL. “I think it’s good to use one that donates to a charity because you will be able to find your information and help people at the same time,” noted junior Nehemiah Sconiers. Money is not only donated through searches, however. In

Search Engine Uses Per Day

How to help during the holidays Goodsearch.com

Freerice.com

Coats for Kids

Freecycle.net

47% 10%

12%

Networkforgood.org

31% 0 to 2

Have students taken their obsession with the vampire story too far?

– page 4

TOP ELECTRONIC GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS Touch-screen becomes the leading craze for holiday buyers, but which product to choose?

– page 7

3 to 6

7 to 10

More than 10

If all 150 surveyed students switched their search engine to Goodsearch.com, they could donate nearly $12 a day, an amount almost equivalent to 2 hours of work.

INSIDE THE BRUIN TWILIGHT MADNESS

2007, Goodsearch.com added their shopping feature. A portion of the money made from online purchases from the 700 available stores will go to the buyer’s chosen charity. All one has to do is go to the Goodsearch website, choose their charity, choose their store and start shopping. Another simple way to help others online is through freerice.com. It is a website used for enhancing one’s comprehension about a speciﬁc school subject. For every question answered correctly, 20 grains of rice are given to hungry people across the world. Although 20 grains of rice seems minimal, it actually adds up very quickly. “I’ve been to freerice.com before and donated 1,000 grains of rice to the hungry while I was studying vocabulary for the SAT!” said junior Taylor Goodson. Through the combination of people’s efforts since Oct. 2007, 4,684 starving people have been fed daily. That is a total of 2 million dying men, women and children that have been saved by this effortless deed. No longer does the act of kindness need to be costly. Innovation has made it possible for inexpensive daily tasks to assist the needy. Everyone now has the opportunity to do their civil duty while still completing their mission. Mr. Mike Schmeltzer, Sr. once said, “Everyone has an experience. Make it a personal preference. Do research, and choose a charity. Simple as that.”

INDEX

ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE

Wadsworth’s competition against Highland heats up.

– page 10

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

Research shows some products work but still have harmful side-effects if used incorrectly.

– page 11

PAGE

News..................................................................... 3 Opinion .............................................................. 4,5 Ads ................................................................. 6,13 Entertainment ...................................................... 7 Picture Pages .................................................. 8, 9 Features ............................................................ 10 Health ................................................................. 11 Of the Month ....................................................... 12 Sports ............................................................ 14,15 Speakout ............................................................ 16

THE

BREWIN’ DEBATE YES

Should the drinking age be lowered to 18 years old?

BY JOEL HLAVATY

Without a doubt, the drinking age should deﬁnitely be lowered to 18. It is at this age that people everywhere begin making decisions that will impact the rest of their lives. It is at the age of 18 that adults gain the right to vote, and it is also at this age that one is able to join the military. It just does not make sense that someone should be allowed to decide on the future of our country, or sacriﬁce their life at war, but not be allowed to consume alcohol. When a person votes, they are deciding on the future of America. This action seems a lot more impactful on others’ lives than drinking alcohol. Similarly, when a soldier goes off to war, they are putting their lives on the line every single day for the well-being of the United States of America and every one who lives here. That sounds like a pretty important responsibility to be given to someone who is not even allowed to drink.

NO BY ALAN MCPEEK

Lowering the drinking age to 18 may seem like a good idea, but when keeping the age at 21 means saving lives, the law makes a lot more sense. The National Highway Trafﬁc Safety Administration did a study that showed when the drinking age was raised to 21, deaths from car related accidents in people ages 18-20 dropped 13%. This may not stand true for all 18-year-olds, but for the majority of them, their maturity level is just not high enough to handle drinking alcohol. Eighteen is an important age for many young adults, and it is during this time of life that people make the most important decisions in terms of deciding their futures. Being prohibited from drinking alcohol should be looked at as a positive, because it is one less thing to be tempted to do when you have much more important issues to worry about in your life.

Letters to the Editor... Dear Editor, I liked the Thanksgiving edition of The Bruin. The staff did a very nice job of constructing the layout and content. I just wanted to say The Bruin is doing a great job and keep it up. I am looking forward to the December edition. Jordan Richards, 11 Dear Editor, I’ve seen many high school newspapers in the last few months and I’m proud to say that The Bruin is by far one of the better quality papers. The newspaper is very well put together and also has great articles. Congratulations on making such a nice newspaper for the whole school to enjoy. Mackenzie Blanton, 10 Dear Editor, Everyone loves the Otis Spunkmeyer cookies on Friday mornings, but what about all the other days of the week? We have to wait four days before we can have them. After two days off of school, it is really hard to get

E DITORIAL

THE BRUIN

December 2008

up on Monday mornings. Having something to look forward to would be motivating to wake up. Since we have cookies on Fridays, we should have donuts on Mondays! Jessica Odgen,11 Amanda Oyakawa, 11 Dear Editor, I’m so proud of our school for how much we are helping people during the holidays. The canned food drive and the Coats for Kids help the less fortunate in our community. It makes me feel proud to be part of WHS. Brittany Lallathin,10 Dear Editor, WHS lacks school spirit. Our school doesn’t get excited and dressed up for sports. During Spirit Week we don’t even dress up. It’s time we get excited for our school. We are WHS, and we should have some pride.. Krista Wintersteller, 11 Ashley Berlin, 11

Dear Editor, This school’s dress code is too strict. Mid-thigh skirts? They don’t even make skirts longer than upper-thigh. The holes in the jeans rule is ridiculous. You get in trouble if you have holes in your jeans at your calf area, but yet if you wear capris, what’s the difference? We should be allowed to express our personalities and wear what we want. Emily Prather, 10

Dear Editor, We think that the dress code is not put in effect equally for all students. It seems like girls wear super short skirts or dresses and don’t get in trouble. We know that we would get in trouble before ﬁrst period even started. Freshmen shouldn’t be allowed to use the excuse that they didn’t know because it is their ﬁrst year here. We think that the teachers need to start being more fair about who gets in trouble for dress code. Dianna Tenyak, 10 Kayla Truax, 10

Bruin Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: ALYSSA ROBERTS ASSISTANT EDITOR: MORGAN DUTA COPY EDITOR: ALYSSA HENRY MARKETING EDITOR: DAVID KAUFFMAN EDITORIAL: PAGE EDITOR: SARAH FORTNER REPORTER: ANTHONY SHROCK FRONT PAGE: PAGE EDITOR: KRISSY MAPLE REPORTER: KATEY TOLLET SPEAK OUT: PAGE EDITOR: SARAH FORTNER REPORTER: EMILY HANNA OPINION 1: PAGE EDITOR: ALI MCNUTT REPORTER: JOE VARGO OPINION 2: PAGE EDITOR: MIKE CARPS REPORTER: LOGAN KILBRIDE FEATURES: PAGE EDITOR: MADDIE GABROSEK REPORTERS: ALYSSA POWELL AND BRANDON HOUSE NEWS: PAGE EDITOR: MATT O’NEIL REPORTER: KAT SAUNDERS PICTURE PAGES: CHELSEA RAY AND MORGAN DUTA SPORTS 1: PAGE EDITOR: ANTHONY LORUBBIO REPORTER: DANNY FOORE SPORTS 2: PAGE EDITOR: LUKE WILLIAMS REPORTERS: TYLER JACK AND DAN MUELLER HEALTH PAGE: PAGE EDITOR: KYLE DAVIS REPORTERS: LISA KAUFMAN AND JACKIE LOWDERMILK OF THE MONTH: PAGE EDITOR: BROOKE BERGER REPORTER: MORGANN PRIEST ENTERTAINMENT: PAGE EDITOR: ALLISON PALLIJA REPORTERS: JEFF GAHAN AND ZACH WATTS ADS/BUSINESS MANAGER: ALAN MCPEEK ASST. MANAGER: JOEL HLAVATY ADVISER: JOHN GRAMUGLIA

In the technological bubble of our generation, it is hard to believe that the World Wide Web has been in existence shorter than most of us have been alive. Since the inception of the Web in 1992, the multimedia phenomenon has permeated our culture. These days, the Internet has done exactly what it was designed to do: present citizens around the globe with the opportunity to share, network and connect with others when it would otherwise be impossible. With an innumerable amount of websites in existence, there are likely hundreds of thousands dedicated to social networking. Here at The Bruin, we have several favorites. Couchsurfing.com presents an unconventional way of traveling the world. “Couch surfing” is an inexpensive way to connect humans all over the globe. The concept of couch surfing is simple: people open their homes by posting their available couches on the Web. Travelers sign up for one of these couches to sleep on while traversing the country or the globe. Essentially, it is an international hospitality service that is free, safe and allows humans to participate in cultural exchange. Kiva.org states its mission as “connecting people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.” It works this way: lenders browse profiles of entrepreneurs in need, choose one, finance a loan (that can be as large or small as the lender would like) and feel good about what they have done. Over time, the entrepreneur pays back the loan. These business ventures, often in poverty-stricken countries, allow the entrepreneurs to make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family and their community. This holiday season, we at The Bruin ask that everyone take time to consider the responsibility we have to take care of our fellow man. It is as simple as lending $20 to someone in Rwanda or giving up your couch for one night.

EDITORIAL

Dear Editor, I love the idea of having intramural basketball, but I think we should have other intramural sports other than just basketball. We should do ﬂag football teams or softball and other sports like that. Everyone gets involved for the basketball teams, so the other sports would be fun for everyone too. Hannah Gibson, 10 Dear Editor, I think that there needs to be more stories about the students and staff in our school. The Bruin is deﬁnitely in need of student stories. I think that the reporters need to go around the school more and get information about students and staff. Frank Sano, 12 Dear Editor, It’s been disappointing at how much school spirit we are lacking. We have had one pep rally, and even then the student body didn’t quite show their colors. Now with a new season it is time to support the winter sports. Anna Carpenter, 10

Dear Editor, We are dedicating this letter to Mr. Magnacca. Thanks for everything that you do to make our school a better place to be. YOU ROCK! See ya in the halls! Sarah White, 10 Lindsay Kelly, 10 Dear Editor, I’m walking my girlfriend to her class and gave her a hug before the bell, and an unnamed teacher tells us to “break it up.” Wow. That’s ridiculous. I gave her a HUG. Compared to so many other couples in the school, this technically is a minor offense. Teachers need to be more consistent with their criticisms and really… just lighten up. We are aware of the policy with PDA and most agree, but some teachers take “hugs” to a new extreme. Dan Cooper, 12 Dear Editor, Freshmen boys basketball team has started its games, so come out and give some support. It ‘d be nice to see some other students supporting instead of just parents. Thanks. Tyler Perry, 9

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 adviser. 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

THE BRUIN

December 2008

Terrorist acts in Mumbai, India shock world; bomber arrested, cooperating BY KAT SAUNDERS

When terrorists wreaked havoc on Mumbai in 10 separate attacks on Nov. 26, at least 188 were conﬁrmed dead and more than 200 others injured as a result. Now, the perpetrators of the event are widely believed to be militant Pakistanis. United States Intelligence has targeted the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has headquarters in Pakistan. Furthermore, former soldiers of the Pakistani Army are suspected of aiding the terrorists, and there is also a possibility that Indian citizens were trained in Pakistan to help contribute. The terrorists arrived in Mumbai on a hijacked boat and posed as students. The group attacked hotels, a hospital, a cafe, a movie theater and a site near St. Xavier’s College. Bombs detonated at the docks and a ﬁnal attack was made on a taxi cab. The targeted victims were those who appeared to be American or British. Hostages were taken in the famed Taj Mahal hotel. Though Mumbai has been the site of several bombings over the

since 2002. The ultimate goal of the group is to bring Islam to Southeast Asia, while continuing to challenge India’s sovereignty. Because of this motivation, question has been raised as to whether or not the attack was ordered by Pakistan, in order to wage war against India. “Come, kill and die after The only certain perpea killing spree. By this trator of the attack is Ajmal Amir, who remains in one will become famous Indian custody. Amir is a and will also make Allah 21-year-old from the Pujab Province of Pakistan. He proud” comes from a poor fam-Mohammad Ajmal Amir ily, left school at 13 and resorted to a life of crime. sponsibility. However, the sole Some reports claim that he joined surviving terrorist of the attack, Lashkar-e-Taiba to support his Mohammad Ajmal Amir, re- family. He was trained in a mounvealed in his confession that the tainous region in Pakistan, endurgroup he belonged to, Lashkar- ing psychological brainwashing, e-Taiba, was responsible. This basic combat, spiritual counselgroup is recognized as a terrorist ing and advanced training. From group by India, the United States, the group of 25 he initially trained the United Kingdom and other with, 10 were selected to carry nations. Formed in the 1980s and out the Mumbai attacks. From his funded by the Pakistani govern- jail cell, Ajmal Amir is cooperatment to ﬁght the Soviet Union, ing with ofﬁcials, claiming that Lashkar-e-Taiba has since been his motivation was not entirely banned from Pakistan, effective spiritual, his loyalty was to any-

past few decades, the most recent attack was the most deadly. Historically, the high tension between Pakistan and India provides the motive for the terrorists’ actions. Immediately following the attacks, a radical group called Deccan Mujahideen claimed re-

PHOTO BY TIMOTHY SMITH/MCT CAMPUS

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice meets with Pakistani citizens in October to discuss the tension between India and Pakistan, just weeks before the bombings.

one who would provide him with shelter and regular meals. In the wake of the attacks, the world has rallied around India, condemning the attacks. President George W. Bush spoke out about the events, stating: “We pledge the full support of the United States as India investigates these attacks, brings the guilty to justice and sustains its democratic way of life. The killers who struck this week are brutal and violent, but terror will not have the ﬁnal word. As the people of the world’s largest democracy recover from these attacks, they

can count on the world’s oldest democracy to stand by their side.” There may be no end in sight to the war on terrorism, and many questions remain in explaining the events of Nov. 26. Whether the Pakistani government had any involvement remains unclear. Amir’s cooperation with the Indian government may answer some of these questions, but most likely, the mystery will remain. This latest attack speaks further to the lack of security in establishments that should be safe and enjoyable.

News Briefs

Giant Eagle will be moving across town to a new location in Wadsworth Crossings. The company’s decision to move and expand to the new 92,350 square foot facility most likely comes from the fact that the old facility is becoming aged. Along with the new Giant Eagle, we can expect Key Bank and Great Clips.

From Your Principal Mr. Magnacca The holiday season is an excellent opportunity to say thank you to all the students and staff who walk the halls at WHS. Students: You continue to impress me with your positive attitudes, your generosity and your willingness to help each other and the staff. Staff: You are professional and truly care for our students and community. Families: We are very fortunate to have families who value an education and support their children as they focus on the future. I am thankful for the generosity of our staff and students as they provided a merry Christmas for over 20 families and 15 individual children through our Share-a-Christmas Program. I am thankful for our students and staff that collected over 5,700 cans for the pantry to help those in need. Lastly, I am thankful for staff and students who have donated numerous hours to community service projects, including “Ringing the Bell,” over this holiday season to beneﬁt several non-proﬁt organizations in Wadsworth. On behalf of everyone at WHS I wish everyone a joyful, safe and happy holiday season! Mr. Magnacca

The annual WHS Science Fair will take place again this year on Feb. 21. If you would like to be a judge in the 2009 Science Fair, please contact Mr. John Burton by phone or email. You may also sign up on the Wadsworth High School’s homepage.

Congratulations to Mr. Roger Havens, Principal at Franklin Elementary, for writing his new book Santa’s Incredible Adventure in Wadsworth, Ohio. The book was sold at the Candle Light Walk on Nov 21.

The annual Free Care Fundraiser luncheon was held in the Wadsworth High School gym on Monday, Dec. 8 for the Children’s Hospital. The fundraiser was a huge success. Four people were killed on Mon, Dec. 8 when a U.S. Marine Aircorp F-18/D ﬁghter jet crashed into a crowded residential area. The pilot ejected and parachuted to safety.

Somalian pirates continue to cause problems BY MATT O’NEIL

When thinking of pirates, one probably envisions wooden ships, cannons, swords and eye patches. That is how they have been portrayed in movies and the modern media. However, pirates still exist today, and they are becoming more and more of a threat in certain parts of the world. “Nobody even believed me when I said pirates still existed,” exclaimed senior Cole Oberli. Pirate attacks have surged all over the world this year, up about 75 percent since last year, with a total of 97 total hijackings. The

shores of southern African countries such as Nigeria and Somalia are particular hot spots with 24 reported attacks off the coast of Somalia, and 18 off the coast of Nigeria this year. The money made from attacking and ransoming ships has become a regular source of income for pirates in the war-torn country of Somalia. It has been without a functioning government since 1991. Some of the most extreme cases of these pirate hijackings have occurred just within the past few months. The Ukranian freighter MV Faina was taken captive in

PHOTO COURTESY MCT CAMPUS

A map of Southeast Africa shows the hot spots for pirate hijackings. The Gulf of Aden is a major shipping passage for ships en route to Europe and America.

September along with its cargo and crew. The ship has been confirmed to be carrying 33 Ukranian T-72 Battle Tanks along with spare parts and ammunition, ordered by the Kenyan government. This could be a very deadly cargo if it ends up in the wrong hands. The pirates have only asked for a ransom for the captured ship. Under the watchful eye of the USS Howard Destroyer, they have agreed not to attempt to unload the cargo off of the ship, anchored off the coast. After two months of negotiating, a ransom deal has finally been agreed upon, although an amount has not been released. However the biggest take was captured on Nov. 15. The Saudi super tanker, Sirius Star, was loaded with $100 million worth of crude oil, their biggest prize yet. A ransom amount has been set for the ship at $25 million. The pirates have gotten more and more daring with each hijacking, despite stepped-up patrols in the area from several countries and the UN. A fleet of ships from countries such as the United States, Russia, Great Britain, France and more patrol the area, but say they cannot possibly

patrol all 2.5 million miles of water at once. The question is, what does this have to do with us in America? The answer to that can be found by examining the area where the attacks are occurring. The coast of Somalia is off of the Gulf of Aden, which is the opening to the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal connects the Gulf of Aden to the Mediterranean Sea. It helps cut off almost two weeks from a ships journey from the East to Europe or America by allowing them to avoid having to sail all the way around Africa. Senior, Andrew Gipson, said: “America’s interest in the Somalian piracy situation is due solely to the fact that we will be economically affected by the attacks.” The pirate attacks have caused many companies to pay the extra costs to sail around Africa instead of taking the Suez Canal and risking a hijacking. Theses extra costs could potentially impact the costs of the products these ships are carrying, including crude oil. Pirates are no longer a thing of the past or of Hollywood. They are real, and becoming increasingly stronger.

O PINION 1

THE BRUIN

December 2008

This has turned to madness Another teenage fad has set in, and many students c o u l d vouch that it is here to stay. This new craze ALI is not a OPINION STAFF fashion trend or a new top-of-the-line cell phone, but a series of books titled Twilight. It would be hypocritical of me to say that the books, written by Stephanie Meyer, were bad since I read and loved them. However, the four books and their content is not the point behind this article. I want to point out the foolishness brought out as a result of the series’ release. The hallways have been ﬁlled with chatter of the main characters Bella and Edward Cullen and their unusual romance these past few weeks. The ﬁrst few days it was tolerable, but after the fourth it started to become annoying. It is completely unnecessary for every topic of conversation throughout the hallways and classrooms during the seven hours that we are in this building

to include the characters of Twilight. It is not only the students of WHS to which Twilight has become an obsession. Across the United States, this book and recently released movie has taken the media by storm. I realize that the anticipation of the movie was overwhelming for some of the fanatic Twilight fans. However, teenage girls’ obnoxious screams is not how I wanted to hear the movie. Not only was the noise irritating, it was also completely avoidable. Anyone girl who has seen the movie can say that yes, Edward is handsome. With that said, I must point out that no one wants to hear that every teenage girl (and even some of their mothers) want to marry the good-looking Cullen. Here is a reality check to those of you out there: he is a ﬁctional character. If he is not real, then for the sake of most human sanity, please stop declaring your love for the character of a book. No real person is that perfect. What was originally a teenage book geared for girls is now a book read by a variety of ages and even boys. This phenomenon has turned to madness. “Some girls got the idea of not tanning to have the perfect pale skin of a vampire,” sophomore

What is your favorite Christmas Movie?

Elf

36%

A Christmas Story

17%

“It is a great movie that combines great actors, a funny story and Christmas cheer.” Andrew Long, 11

“It is very funny. Everytime I watch it I laugh. My favorite part is when he gets the bunny suit.” Alyssa Horton, 9

The Grinch

16%

“It is a classic and never gets old. Now with the new version I can watch two different ones! Go Dr. Suess!” Krista Wintersteller, 11

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

16%

“I have seen it a million times and still laugh at every line!” Lauren Steidel, 12

Home Alone

“I have been watching all the Home Alone movies each year at Christmas since I was about seven years old. It cannot help but be my favorite.” Daniel Hofstetter, 9

The Santa Clause

“It is a good movie and is very comical.” Emily Stout, 11

It’s a Wonderful Life “It is a classic and I watch it every year!” Taylor Connolly, 12

2% Survey taken out of 83 students

Mallory Gruich commented on the issue. This Twilight mania has reached insanity. Girls will not stop tanning when they are aware that it has been proven to cause cancer, but they will stop when vampires become popular? What has the world come to? In the classrooms, there is a definite separation between the Twilight lovers and haters. This speciﬁc series of books has become a strong topic of conversation. “It’s an over-the-top fad that does not deserve that much credit. In my opinion, in a couple months, there will not be anything left to talk about anymore after this fad ends” sophomore Evan Dammarell stated about the phenomenon. Much like the Harry Potter books, I believe that this series is in the spotlight now but will eventually fade. Luckily, the books did not become popular until after the last book was released, otherwise this period of madness could have been much longer. In conclusion, I just ask that the Twilight fanatics of WHS try to minimize their conversations to one period a day instead of seven. No one wants to hear about your love for the characters every waking hour. Give it a rest, please stop talking about the Twilight saga.

PHOTO BY ALI MCNUTT

The Twilight series came out in 2005 and has become a phenomenon within the United States. Since its release, the series has taken teenage America by storm with its famous characters.

Socialize my health care

The current system does not work. What can be done to ﬁx the medical malfunction? S ocialized medicine, the phrase s e n d s shivers down the spines of most conservatives JOE in this OPINION STAFF c o u n t r y. Horror stories from our northern neighbors advise us to shy away from their system. People in Canada claim that they have waited months to get the health care they need. Plus, they complain about not being able to pick their doctors. But to say that the health system we have now is adequate would be a huge understatement. Sure we have more choices, but how many Americans do not get any health care at all. What will happen when WHS students graduate and are in need of health care? If you are not familiar with the idea of socialized health care, let me explain. Socialized medicine is a very broad term. It can range from situations in which the government controls hospitals and health organizations to programs in which there is national universal health care which all citizens beneﬁt from. The money for these programs comes from the taxes of the citizens. With these taxes, the government provides health care to everyone. The main problem in America today is the lack of access to care

for low-income citizens. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 15.3 percent of Americans lack health coverage. Now imagine if 15 percent of students at Wadsworth High School were not provided with desks for their classes. This would be approximately 250 students standing all day. This is how some Americans feel about their care. “That’s a staggering amount of people! I’m not sure why we haven’t done anything to change these statistics,” said junior Sean Leahy. Another issue that concerns me is greediness. I thought health care was made to help people. Instead, you see doctors rolling into a hospital parking lot in a $50,000 Lexus. I do not want to say students apply for med school just to make money, but I think that is usually the biggest motivation. (And it is understandable when you consider the years spent becoming a medical doctor.) Socialized medicine would standardize the salary of doctors. Many would ﬁnd this less desirable. There would be less people scrambling to become doctors. In turn, the cost for med school would go down. Then, you would see far more doctors. These doctors would be the ones that actually want to help people. Doctors would not have to stop making money. In fact, they might even get paid faster. If doctors knew there was a set price for a certain procedure, say an x-ray, they would not have to ﬁght insur-

ance companies to get the money they think they deserve. Instead, everyone would know what they are paying. When you go home today, ask your parents if they know what the price is to go get a physical. Chances are they will think that is a dumb question. Prices differ from doctor to doctor. And doctors have no need to have competitive prices because patients almost never “shop around” for health care. Patients have no need to think about prices because their insurance will cover it anyway. Now imagine your car insurance covering the cost of gasoline. You would drive more than you need to. That is exactly what is happening in America. People will demand treatment that they do not actually need because the money is not coming out of their pocket. And why would doctors want to argue with them? They can report a loss every time a patient’s insurance company refuses to pay the doctor’s price. In the end I believe that health care is a service that ultimately needs to be supervised by our government. Saying that socialized health care would create an industry without competition is totally ignorant when you consider that doctors have no need to have competitive prices now. Our government should not have full control over our hospitals, but it should standardize some aspects of national health care, such as the prices for certain tests and procedures.

O PINION 2

THE BRUIN

December 2008

School uniforms unite student body As I wander the grounds of Wadsworth H i g h School and become more acquainted with stuMIKE OPINION STAFF dent behavior and activity, I begin to grow uneasy with the outrageous and nonsensical choice of apparel. The increase of individuality appears to be the principal cause of disunity and a major threat to our school’s tradition of success. A new dress code must be enforced. Too many times have I heard students and teachers complain that our school lacks spirit. Yes, it is true, we are probably the least spirited student body in Medina County, but do not worry any longer. I have created the ultimate solution. Quite simply, we must increase school unity. This goal seems very broad, but with my plan of action, it is very achievable. In order to gain the necessary unity, I propose that Wadsworth City Schools

adopt a new, strict dress code consisting of school uniforms. “School uniforms are totally bogus!” freshman Josh

Kipfer cried at the thought of being similarly clothed to every other student in the school. Well, Josh, with all due re-

PHOTO BY MIKE CARPS

Senior Dave wears a kilt, a Slayer belt buckle and shirt, and a pair of boots on a regular basis to show his individuality. Students urging to rebel against conformity could be the cause of our disunity.

spect, that is where you are com- As far as I am concerned, each pletely wrong. School uniforms and every student should be a are not bogus. According to a nameless and indistinguishable 1998 Junior Scholastic Issue, component of our student body. Let me put it in simpler, more Long Beach School, who adunderstandable terms. Imagine opted the use of uniforms, has our student body as a pack of had a 51% drop in physical ﬁghts dogs pulling one sled. As all the and a 32% drop in suspensions. dogs run at a similar, steady pace, This information shows that the sled is pulled straight towards with school uniforms, we would its target. naturally become On the cona more peaceful, “If I have to wear a trary, once less corrupt people. The goal of a united uniform, I won’t be able one of the dogs destudent body has to express myself.” cides to be never been so close. d i f f e r e n t “I’m not just and outanother face in -Craig Beidler, 11 perform the the crowd. If I other dogs, have to wear a the path of uniform, I won’t the sled is altered and essentially be able to express myself,” judrawn away from its targeted goal. nior Craig Beidler argued. Based on my observations, it That, my peers, is the root of only makes sense that our school all evil at this school. Too many people are striving to put them- should seek and destroy evselves in their own league and ery trace of individualism. You step outside of the box of ordi- complain about school spirit; I nary thought. Ever since our early provide the most logical soludays of understanding, we have tion. We need unity. From color been taught that everyone is dif- and types of clothing to length ferent in their own special way. and styles of hair, it is imperaWell, I hate to break it to you, but tive that the school unites as one that train of thought must change. single-minded and spirited body.

Learn how to walk, beneﬁt the school

The variations and intricacies of the walking styles and appearances of students Have you ever bumped into someone at 7:30 a.m.? I have, and it is not exactly the most heartLAURA ARCH LOGAN warming OPINION OPINION STAFF STAFF welcoming that I could desire at the crack of dawn. It is sad to say, but different, usually troubling, styles of walking occur in every hall and at every hour of this fine institution. One of the most annoying things about student traffic is the fact that they do not know how to maximize the minimal space that we have in the hallways. For example, is it really necessary for both paths of traffic to squeeze through a single doorway when there is a perfectly capable door right next to the one being used? It is not very hard to open a door for the benefits that it provides in decreasing hallway crowdedness for the entire student population. Another factor of hallway traffic that is quite frustrating is the

lethargic pace that a majority of the students tend to travel. I am not saying we all have to be Mr. Knapp and sprint through the halls, but let us move at a faster pace than a snail. Sophomore Seth Weiss said, “I think everyone should ﬁnd an appropriate speed to walk at for the whole school, sort of like a speed limit. There needs to be a happy medium.” No matter how important it is to socialize, how much time you have to spare or how good of a friend might be walking by, do not stop in the middle of the hallway and talk to them! Trust me, if they are a good friend, they will understand if a single opportunity to address them is missed. Senior Zack Nelson expressed his concern for the crowdedness and loitering when he said, “I think the underclassmen should just step aside and part like the Red Sea so that I can get to class on time.” Another amusing thought is the various styles and methods that people choose to portray themselves through the halls, most notably being the loud, goofy,

PHOTO BY LOGAN KILBRIDE

Senior Eric attempts to sabotage senior Dennis basketball season by giving him a “ﬂat-tire” and almost spraining his ankle.

usually extremely tall people that sweep through the halls and create quite an entertaining ruckus for the student body. Other styles include the cross-armed girly sprint, two-handed book grasping, muscle-ﬂexed strut and the gangster limp.

Junior Taylor Robinson said, “I walk with my muscles ﬂexed and chest stuck-out because it makes me feel big and bad like a pit-bull.” All of these hallway issues have caused many problems for our students. They are frequently

late for class, and some students are even scared of future injury. Senior Dennis Finneran showed his concern when he said, “I thought I was going to sprain an ankle when my friend gave me a ‘ﬂat-tire’. I thought my basketball season was going to be destroyed.” Many students express themselves in different ways, but let us try to keep some common courtesy in the public hallways. Enough with the PDA, obnoxious noise, laughter, stalling, loitering, bumping, classlessness and overall impertinence. Let us make our mornings more pleasurable and our travels safer by increasing the level of order and respect displayed in the halls of our great and established facility.

December 2008

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A DS

E NTERTAINMENT Movies Coming Soon The Curious Case of Benjamin Button PG-13 12/25 Underworld: Rise of the Lycans R 1/23 Bedtime Stories PG 12/25 PG-13 12/19 Seven Pounds Nothing Like the Holidays PG-13 12/12 The Brothers Bloom PG-13 12/19 The Unborn N/A 1/9 My Bloody Valentine R 1/16 Yes Man PG-13 12/19 The Spirit PG-13 12/25 Possession PG-13 1/23 Inkheart PG 1/23 Paul Blart: Mall Cop PG 1/16 Not Easily Broken PG-13 1/9

“

Quote

I cannot wait to see Will Smith in another film. He is such a great actor and never fails to have a strong performance.

”

- Brittani Ellis, 12, commenting about the movie Seven Pounds

Coming Soon to DVD

Mamma Mia!

The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

The House Bunny Traitor Death Race The Women Saving Grace Hamlet 2 Ghost Town Burn After Reading American Teen The Duchess

December 2008

Touch-screen takes world by storm Bringing you my top ten electronic devices of the 2008 holiday season

OPINION BY JEFF GAHAN

As the giving season nears, many wonder what to buy for that special someone. I am bringing you my top ten electronic gifts for the 2008 holiday season: the hottest, newest and best-priced gadgets that are sure to help when you are uncertain about what to buy.

Movie Reviews

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: From the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story, set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918 into the 21st century. The Spirit: Adapted from one of Will Eisner’s graphic novels, it is the story of a man who fakes his own death and fights crime from the shadows of Central City. The Spirit tracks the coldhearted killer from the city’s rundown warehouses...all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill the masked crusader.

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Number 10 on my list is the Blu-Ray player. Blu-Ray is an optical disc storage medium. Its high-deﬁnition video and data storage are two main reasons for its popularity. “I think Blu-Ray players are the future of the entertainment industry,” said sophomore Tate Moore. Blu-Ray players can cost between $200 and $400, but it is worth the price. The high deﬁnition picture and extra features the Blu-Ray player brings to the table offset the high-end price. Number nine on my list is the Logitech Harmony Advanced Universal Remote. The Logitech remote can replace the dozens of remotes you use in your home. With its simple ergonomic design and its touch screen technology, anyone can use the trouble-free remote. No need to worry about a remotecluttered coffee table anymore. The Logitech remote will replace anger and frustration with relaxation. It can cost between $100 and $300 depending on the design you choose. This could be a great gift for a disorganized, busy

parent as well. Coming in at number eight on my list is the new Wii Skate It game. The Wii Skate It is an interactive game that allows you to virtually enter the skating realm. Work on your moves, and then enter tournaments to be crowned king of skate. It is a great familyfriendly game and allows kids to feel as if they are a pro skater themselves. The game will cost $49.99 and the Wii Skate It board will cost $94.50. Number seven on my list is the Garmin GPS. The global positioning system gives vocal turn by turn directions on a color coordinated touch screen. Its sleek and slim design makes it portable friendly. The Garmin GPS will cost between $100 and $400. It could make a great gift from the whole family for a traveling parent. Holding the six spot on my top ten list is the Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera. The giant three inch touch screen is my favorite aspect of the new camera. It includes face detection technology and smile shutter mode. It is very portable and petite, easily ﬁtting into a jean pocket or purse. Junior Marisa Gerace voiced her passion for the Cyber-shot. “I asked for the Sony Cyber-shot Camera for Christmas. I really hope my parents got it for me,” said Gerace. The future of book reading is hidden in my number ﬁve spot. The Amazon Kindle is a handheld reading device that holds up to 200 novels. These are easily accessed through the wireless network; each book only costing $9.99. It is lighter and thinner than a paperback book. It is as easy as click, buy and read.

The future of television comes in at my four spot. Even though HD televisions are expensive, the high resolution picture is anything but dull. The amount of resolution lines in a HDTV is twice of a conventional television. A HDTV will run anywhere from $900 to $6,000. You will deﬁnitely get your money’s worth with the HDTV. At number three on my list is the Apple iPod Touch. The three and a half inch touch screen opens up the multimedia world. Its portable size and affordable price is why it is number three on my list. It can hold music, photos, videos and games. It also has the Internet already programmed; you just need to connect to a server. The iPod Touch will cost you $229.99 for the 8GB and $299.99 for the 16GB. Senior Jon Pope talked about his love for the iPod Touch. “The iPod Touch is a great way to carry my music and movies all in a small portable player,” voiced Pope. Number two on my list is the hot, new Blackberry Storm. The Storm is the ﬁrst touchscreen Blackberry which actually clicks when you touch it. The Storm is a Verizon Wireless phone that will cost $599.99 without a two-year plan or $299.99 with the two-year plan. The Storm has all the regular features of a Black-

berry such as e-mail and Internet. It has a 3+ megapixel camera that can capture your photos on the go. “I am asking for the Blackberry Storm for Christmas because I fell in love with it the first time I saw it,” said freshman Emily Blankenship. Bringing in the top spot on my top ten electronic gifts of the 2008 season is the HP TouchSmart PC. It has a sleek design that still includes the abilities of any HP computer. Watch your movies, look at your pictures, chat with a friend on the computer’s built-in webcam and microphone or just surf the web at the touch of your fingertips. The HP TouchSmart will cost you a whopping $1,500, but it is definitely worth the price. These ten gadgets are the future of the multimedia world. Hopefully I will be able to help when it comes to choosing that exceptional gift for that special someone. PHOTOS BY MCTCAMPUS

My Top Ten Electronics

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

HP TouchSmart Blackberry Storm

iPod

Touch

HDTV

The Kindle

Sony Cyber-shot Garmin GPS

Wii Skate It

Universal Remote

Blu-Ray Player

Contemporary ﬁlm producers hit the history books BY ZACH WATTS

The movie screens are taking a trip back through time as historical plots are becoming more and more enticing to the public eye. Hollywood is researching past occurrences and remaking them into motion pictures with every detail mastered. Many past and recent movies are based on the facts of history replaying the events that happened recently (Flight 93) all the way to thousands of years ago (The Passion of the Christ). Movie-goers are often misinformed by historical motion pictures because plots involve a false story with the background of a factual event while others retell the tale back to the last element of knowledge and detail, like in the

ﬁlm JFK. Directors are taking the plunge into the depths of time and swimming to shore with history-based, Oscar-winning ﬁlms. “Many saw evil. They dared to stop it,” reads the tagline of Valkyrie, a new motion picture that will hit theaters this Christmas. It is based on the factual events of the attempt to assassinate the most powerful dictator the world has ever known, Adolf Hitler. Starring Tom Cruise, the movie features locations spanning from the San Bernardino Mountains in California all the way to the streets of Berlin, Germany, to perpetrate the chaotic environment of World War II. The actual name of the movie is a piece of history in itself, as it was christened the name of

PHOTOS BY MCTCAMPUS

Tom Cruise stars in the new movie Valkyrie as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a German ofﬁcer who attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

the missions to execute a man known for his mass genocide. A platoon of German ofﬁcers scheme a strategy to overtake Nazi rule by exterminating Hitler. The man behind the actual attempt on Hitler’s life, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, is played by Tom Cruise. Stauffenberg was severely injured in Tunisia during

World War II, losing his left eye, right hand and two ﬁngers on his left hand which is portrayed in the movie. Stauffenberg ultimately realized the two outcomes of his heroic endeavor were either freedom from the dictating rule of the Third Reich or his public execution for his renegade acts. Valkyrie looks to inform au-

diences of a factual account of the missions taken to terminate the suppressing Nazi rule. This is just one of the many examples of motion pictures being made to enlighten viewers of the extremes taken for freedom. Senior Lindsey Tenyak stated, “Movies that are based on history, I ﬁnd interesting and educating.” Historical plots are fashioning a fresh standard of storylines in Hollywood while producers are making a history of their own. Producers crack the safe of time to discover the vast opportunities lying within the pages of our past. In an ambitious and aggressive industry, directors are scrambling for knowledge and research to reincarnate the past in the present for the future.

December 2008

P ICTURE

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Emiley 12, Britney , 12, Hannah 10, and Matt , 12, try to keep warm in the lines of Target at 5:36 a.m.

Three U.S. citizens died on November 28, 2008 as a result of the craziness known as Black Friday.

PHOTOS BY CHELSEA RAY AND MCTCAMPUS.COM

Jewelry

9:38 p.m.

By far, Best Buy was the most shopped at store on Black Friday. Of all the stores in Montrose, Ohio, Best Buy had the most impressive line the day of Thanksgiving.

“It was awesome. We woke up at three and shopped till three,” explains Samantha , 11, as she and Amanda , 11, admire the 60% off sales at Macy’s.

Purses Macy’s bags were number one on the Christmas lists of Jessica , 12, and Cassie , 12.

“We ate dinner then came here. I’m going to buy my dad an LCD TV. They’ll be about $600 off, and we’re eighteenth in line.” - Lindsay , Class of ‘07

Shoes

Alie 11, and Ashley , 11, spend their time enthralled in the shoe section of Macy’s.

Jen , 11, and Orrie , Class of ‘08, shop for their families. 7:45 a.m.

Kevin , 12, a Adam , 12, prove that guys shop as much as the ladies. 7:08 a.m.

Allisony, 10, was found at 5:42 a.m. at Kohl’s, proving that the long lines inside of Kohl’s were just as long as the one outside of Target.

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December 2008

PHOTOS AND LAYOUT BY MORGAN DUTA

P AGE

COURT VISION

- n. a playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to see everything on the court during play

December 2008

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Annual food drive gets new twist: competition with rival high school

BY ALYSSA POWELL

Rivalries exist amongst many different high school organizations, and this holiday season will see another kind of competition: the canned food drive as a contest between two Suburban League schools. The holidays are about giving and sharing, and Wadsworth High School and Highland High School are taking it to a new level. This year, there is tension between the two schools as they see who can obtain the most canned goods and other non-perishable food items. With any good competition, there must be a satisfactory reward. The school that wins the competition will require the losing school’s student council to sport the winning school’s shirts for a day. In addition, a congratulatory announcement must be displayed outside of the losing schools building. If Wadsworth wins, high school administrators have agreed to subject themselves to undisclosed embarrassment during the assembly that will take place on the last

I like the canned food drive because it gives me the opportunity to give back to my community. -Kory Jensen, 11

Most high school students leave their mark after graduation by their academic or athletic achievements. Other students take a different route by pulling off devious pranks that still have not been forgotten. A number of graduates have accomplished historical jokes ranging from masses of ping -pong balls pouring out of a student’s locker, to a car in the courtyard. Main Ofﬁce Secretary, Mrs. Susan Fisher recalls the ping-pong prank as one of the most memorable events in her 15 years of employment. “It was funny because the pranksters did it to their friend as a joke and not to be mean, but I still have no idea how they got those ping-pong balls in the locker,” she stated. Present students may be inspired by some earlier practical jokes and have started to form their own. “One prank I’ve wanted to do is kidnap Mr. Lynn and keep him locked in a hanging bird cage until Mr. Coop ﬁghts a bear in front of the entire school,” declared junior Taylor Robinson. This prank may be unrealistic, but many students have been suspended, expelled, and even arrested for the shenanigans they commit.

Students select dream presents

With Christmas just around the corner many kids and adults alike are wishing they can get the newest and coolest presents. The problem is you cannot always get the presents you want. Here are a few gifts that students want, but cannot get. Junior Ginger Escudero wants, “A pretty carousel that my friends and I can ride all day.” Junior Ryan Durbin wants, “An autographed Lebron James basketball, that I would never play with, but would just admire it.” Senior Harrison Miller wants, “ A plane because I already have a truck and a boat, so the plane would make traveling the world that much easier.” Freshman Cody Fox wants, “ A brand new Tippmann A-5 paintball gun.”

PHOTO BY ALYSSA POWELL

A day’s worth of canned items waits in the lobby to be taken on one of many trucks used to deliver all non-perishable items.

day before winter break. Even though the economy has been rough as of late, the Wadsworth community is ﬁnding many ways to reach out and make the holiday season a more enjoyable one for the less fortunate. This year’s canned food drive was set up as a competition in order to further motivate students to bring in that extra canned good or two. Students and staff alike pushed for more and more canned goods each day with the help of announcements, posters, and word of mouth. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” said junior Anina Sansonetti.

Wadsworth’s drive took place from Dec. 2-9; Highland’s drive took place the following week. At press time, results were not yet available. Even though the canned food drive is only a few weeks, there is always the chance to help the less fortunate by taking goods to places like the Salvation Army at any time of the year. All competition aside, the canned food drive is a tradition that continues to help those in need each year. “I think that the canned food drive is a nice chance for people to reach out to the community and help others,” commented sophomore Dom Owens.

The Chicago Tribune issued a story on a senior prank tradition that led to ﬁve seniors convicted of felonies. At St. Charles East High School, seniors stole a golf cart as a prank before graduation. They planned on plummeting it into the school maintenance pond, but when the school staff caught them in the act a police chase began. A police veteran allegedly suffered a fatal heart attack while chasing a student, and all students involved were charged with felony attempt burglary and felony possession of burglary tools. “I personally would never do anything like those [St. Charles

East High School] seniors, but some kids at Wadsworth should think about what could happen even from a harmless joke,” commented junior Kalee Curtin. According to the Wadsworth Student Handbook the Wadsworth City School District Board of Education has a “zero tolerance for violent, disruptive, or inappropriate behavior.” This may cause high jinks of any nature to lead to the perpetrator being punished severely. Wadsworth students should begin to consider the type of joke they are willing to play and think about the cost of their actions before they perform the prank.

School pranks come at high costs BY MADISON GABROSEK

F EATURES

PHOTO BY MADDIE GABROSEK

Taylor attempts to kidnap Mr.Rob Lynn for his practical joke by sneaking up behind him during class.

Holiday Happenings: Career Day Friday, December 19. Cheerleaders, Band, and Show choir performed Monday, December 8 for a fundraiser. First Priority helped host the Childrens Free Care Luncheon on December 8 Show Choir performed at the Galaxy for Lion’s Club on December 11,and they also perform at OJ Work Auditorium on the 15 for it’s annual Christmas show. Winter Break falls early this year from Sat, Dec. 20 to Sun, Jan. 4. The high school band performed their Winter band concert on Tues, Dec 9 at OJ Work Auditorium.

H EALTH Dry winter skin causes problems for its victims BY JACKIE LOWDERMILK

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night, digging your nails into your skin because the irritation is so intense. You wake in the morning only to ﬁnd scaly red patches all over your body that throb throughout the day and interfere with simple activities. Dry skin is a problem that millions of people are faced with particularly during the winter season. Dry skin occurs when the outermost layer of skin, the stratum corneum, does not have enough water to function . There are natural oils that make up the stratum corneum which keep skin feeling smooth and soft. Dry skin often worsens in the winter when the humidity is low, thus causing the skin to dry out. Since the stratum corneum does not have enough water to function, hydrate it to get your skin back to normal. A common misconception is thinking that adding water alone to your skin will moisturize it back to health. After a tiresome day of shoveling pounds and pounds of snow, most of you would take a long hot shower to warm up. Do not do it. The heat from the water dries out the essential skin oils that actually trap water in your skin. Also, soap should be used sparingly. Minimize the temperature and length of your shower, and stay away from harsh soaps. After showering, you should apply one of four main types of moisturizers to relieve and heal your dry skin. The best type of moisturizer to use is an ointment. Although ointment moisturizers seal in the moisture, they often have a greasy feeling which is why they are the least popular. Oil moisturizers are almost as effective, but less greasy than ointments. Cream moisturizers are admired more than oils because of their ability to disappear when rubbed into the skin without leaving a greasy feel. However, most people tend to use lotions rather than the other three moisturizers. “I like to use Neutrogena lotion for my rosy cheeks,” stated senior Garrett McComas. To be effective, you should moisturize your skin no less than three times a day. As a rule, the greasier the feel of the moisturizer, the better it locks water in the skin. If you do not experience any improvement from using over-thecounter products, you may have to see a dermatologist to diagnose your skin condition. Dry winter skin is an exasperating problem with a usually easy resolution.

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December 2008

Studies show supplements to be helpful, harmful when misused

PHOTO BY BENJAMIN BENSCHNEIDER/MCTCAMPUS

Jesse Marunde tops off a huge breakfast with more than two dozen vitamin, mineral, antioxidant and growth supplements, including a swig of liquid glucosamine chondroitin for large farm animals.

BY KYLE DAVIS

As steroids in professional sports frequently arise in the news, young people may ﬁnd themselves tempted to use bodyenhancing drugs or supplements to further their athletic careers or improve their physiques. Stores like General Nutrition Centers (GNC) and Vitamin World sell a plethora of supplements and dietary products to meet the speciﬁc needs of costumers. There has been much debate over whether any of these products actually work and how they affect the human body. Health and Exercise Physiology teacher Bobby Jones discourages the use of certain supplements. “Do they work?” he asked. “Yes, however, the health consequences of some products are not worth it to me.” Although some performance enhancing drugs are illegal, like steroids and Human Growth Hormone (HGH), hundreds of products are sold over-thecounter at pharmacies and stores like GNC. While these products can be bought by anyone with enough money to purchase them, many legal supplements have possible health risks. Even though pharmaceutical com-

panies are required by the Food and Drug Administration to provide accurate labels and prove the effectiveness of their products, there are no regulations on dietary supplements. Some supplements contain dangerous chemicals, like ephedra, which is recorded by the FDA to be associated with 81 deaths and 1,400 cases of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke since the 1990s. Another supplement that people take to boost their performance is creatine. Creatine, which helps to supply energy to the muscle and nerve cells, is an organic acid that is found in the human body and normally obtained from eating foods like beef and ﬁsh. As it is shown by a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) study, creatine is a relatively safe substance. People do run into problems, however, when the directions for taking the substance are not followed. Dehyrdation and cramping are some of the side effects to taking creatine. “If you do take a supplement while working out,” said senior Cory Hymes, “make sure you take it with a lot of water to ensure that you do not get dehydrated!” According to WebMD, research is mixed on creatine substances. While most researches believe it

does help muscles to recover more quickly after a workout, increase lean muscle mass and improve strength, they believe it has no effect on endurance. So sports like weightlifting may have a use for creatine, but track and cross country runners may not beneﬁt from taking this particular supplement. Also, taking other drugs while on a creatine diet may cause dangerous side effects. Certain medications like diuretics and acetaminophen can have dangerous reactions with creatine supplements. Other things like the aforementioned ephedra and caffeine can make you more susceptible to side effects. As there is much debate on supplements, it is up to the individual to decide whether or not the possible consequences are worth the reward. There has been a great deal of research on products like creatine, protein and other dietary supplements to see what truly happens to the body after usage. At times they may be beneﬁcial, but other times there may be serious health consequences. “Stick to the basics,” said Jones. “Hard work and a proper diet are the best supplements that I can recommend.”

Truths about bottled water BY LISA KAUFMAN

Is bottled water always guaranteed safe? This is a question that is pondered over by many. In the past 10 years, bottled water sales have tripled to $4 billion a year. According to the studies of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), this may not be a good thing. There are many myths about “safe” bottled water that people do not know. Although many people assume that bottled water is clean and healthier than tap water, this may not be the truth. In recent tests, nearly 22 percent of the sampled bottled waters violated the state of California’s bottled water limits for arsenic or cancer-causing agents. Nearly one out of every five tested waters contained more bacteria than allowed under the microbiological-purity guidelines. A summary of one-third of the tested waters violated a state standard, microbiological guideline or both. “I never thought that something known for being healthy such as bottled water could be so terrible, I usually drink it all the time,” said junior Kayla Veal. The plastic in these bottled waters can potentially be considered harmful. People do not think of tasting the plastic in their bottled water, but the chemicals in the plastic should be looked at carefully. In a selected sample of the tested bottled waters, a chemical called phthalate showed up. Phthalate is a carcinogen that is recognized from plastic. This carcinogen is at a level twice past the tap water standard, but there is no standard for this chemical in the bottled water, therefore putting people at risk for cancer related problems. There are 35,000 pesticides which contain 600 chemical compounds. Only six of these are required by municipal water systems to be tested for, even though many of them can cause birth defects, nerve damage, sterility and cancer. This leads to the thought that the only safe source of water may be from good water filters. Installing a filter in a home can ensure that your water is safe as long as it removes the largest spectrum of contaminants. When people think that their tap water may be contaminated, bottled water is usually their next source. This water costs up to $1.50 per gallon compared to (relatively free) tap water. Companies advertise by saying that their water comes fresh and direct from mountain streams. The truth is that many companies process the water that they sell. This provides evidence that water processed through filters is safer to drink than fresh. While many Americans choose bottled water due to the convenience, taste or alternative to tap water, bottled water can clearly be contaminated. Everyone has the right to clean and safe drinking water, and should know what they are consuming when they purchase bottled water.

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December 2008

Green Tip of the Month

Replacing stove-top kettles with electric kettles and updating your kitchenware to ENERGY STAR rated models are both small ways you can reduce energy used in the kitchen.

BY BROOKE BERGER AND MORGANN PRIEST

“The duct tape, the overall grossness, the smell on the inside and the scratches on the back,” are all things that Tony Becker feels set his 1999 Toyota Corolla apart from other cars, and make it “Junk of the Month worthy.” Becker has owned the car for about a year now and has had an array of experiences with it. He explains one particular instance saying his “hood ﬂew up and crashed into the windshield, shattering it.” Since the car has been through a lot

since being in his possession, Becker said the condition is “terrible on the inside but definitely dependable.” Aside from the numerous mishaps, what really makes the car a prime candidate for Junk of the Month? For one thing, the hood is currently being held down by duct tape, the bumpers are uneven and Becker states that “pretty much everything” is a wreck. Although the car has seen better days, if one looks past the flaws, they can see that, according to Becker, the vehicle is “hood as can be” and “fresh and fly all wrapped into one.”

M ONTH

TEACHER FEATURE OF THE MONTH

Cut down on greenhouse gas emissions

JUNK OF THE MONTH Tony 1999 Toyota Corolla

THE

MRS. PARSONS 1. What inspired you to become a teacher?

My excellent high school math teachers-thanks Mr. Postak, Mrs. Barlow, Mrs. North and Mrs. Baxley.

4. What is your favorite activity to do outside of school? Run, shop, watch TV and memorize the digits of pi.

2. Was there a speciﬁc reason why you chose the math ﬁeld? Because it’s the best and obviously the most fun. I could do proofs all day long.

3. What is one interesting fact that people would not know about you?

I ran the Boston Marathon. The students I taught at the time gave me a pi shirt to wear during the race, but unfortunately, it was too cold to wear it. But I do like to do math problems in my head when I run.

5. How would you compare WHS to other schools?

Wadsworth has a lot more community support than the other schools I’ve been at. It’s great having so many people at the plays, athletic events and choir concerts.

6. Being a math teacher, how do you keep your students interested?

What do you mean? Math is always interesting! Math sells itself.

PAY IT FORWARD PAY IT FORWARD

Tony shows off his 1999 Toyota Corolla after its countless mishaps.

PHOTO BY BROOKE BERGER

students of the MONTH Julie Jack What are your plans after high school?

To go to The Ohio State University or The University of Dayton to study premed.

What is something you enjoy doing outside of school?

I love going to Sandusky and boating with my friends and family.

David Kauffman What are your plans after high school?

Attend Ohio Northern University to study civil engineering.

Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Hutchinson

Favorite Class: Senior study hall

Fine arts

career tech

Caitlin Powell & Nathan Ott

Tiffany Schleigh & Phoenix Ramsey

With the holidays just around the corner, many families are in need of some extra help. Wadsworth High School students, staff and clubs all joined together in an effort to help make these families have a great holiday this year. Adopt-A-Family is a program that helps low income families provide an enjoyable holiday for those close to them. This year, the band, Yearbook, Student Council, Foreign Language Clubs, Interact Club, CADD classes, the Business Management classes of Mrs. Beth Lance, the guidance department and several staff members all took part in the Adopt-A-Family program.When asked what the beneﬁts of students helping out with the Adopt-A-Family program, Lance said “It is better to give than to receive, and it is good for students to help kids in their own age group who couldn’t have a Christmas otherwise.” In the past Lance has adopted a family and provided them with a Christmas dinner. This year, along with her Business Management students, she adopted a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old. Her classes are one of the many participants in Wadsworth High School who are helping out families in need this holiday season. Instead of thinking of themselves this holiday season, students and staff are giving back to their community.

We carry name-brand consignments!

Clothes, coats, shoes, formals, suits & much more!

50% OFF Select items!

www.dejavuwadsworth.com

131 College St., Wadsworth

330-336-8439

Mon.-Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-4

A DS

THE BRUIN

Patrons 2008-2009 Al and Donna Whitacre Allison Parsons Amy Lamonica Amy Broadhurst Andy and Lori Watts Barbara McConnel The Barlow Family The Barnett Family The Baxley Family Bev Valentine The Benya Family The Berg Family The Berger Family Bill and Jean Mosier Bill and Sharon Powell Bob Davis Brad and Sue Fisher Brian Madigan The Booth Family Carl Lorubbio Carolynn Jackson Crystal Ake The Casalinova Family The Croyle Family The Csaky Family The Dammarell Family Dave and Nancie Smith Debbie Britton Debbie and Gary Lake Denise Russo The Dennison Family Doug and Kathy Maple Drs. Joseph & Susan Arpad Dwain Kibler The Duckworth Family The Duta Family Elizabeth Khoury Eric and Diane Smith The Fortner Family The Gahan Family The Goddard Family The Gramuglia Family

The Hanna Family The Hamilton Family The Henry Family The Hlavaty Family J. Teringo Jeff and Kathy Priest Jim and Addie O’Neil Jim and Julie Winkleman Joe Gabrosek Joe and Phyllis Berger Joe and Wendy Gains John and Juliee Saunders Joyce and Walter Henschel Joyce Bock Julia Ozbolt The Jack Family The Kauffman Family Karen and Chuck Powell Kathie and Bob Engler Kathy Bergen Kim and Jim Perkins The Keener Family Leslie North Lloyd and Betsy Yoder The Lumsden Family The Lance Family The Lanson Family M. Tognett Marie Lowdermilk Mark and Faith Williams Mark Schoonover Matt and Kristin Hutchinson Melissa Eaton Michelle Farr Michelle DeAngelis Mike and Katie Recupero Mike Schmeltzer Sr. Miss Reagan Dr. and Mrs. Manning Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Mr. and Mrs. Frank Vargo The Kaufman Family

The Magnacca Family The McIlvaine Family The McPeek Family Mr. Shepherd Mrs. Nedoh The Pallija Family Patricia Bathurst Peggy Browning The Prechtel Family Peggy Browning Randy and Robin Kilbride Rebecca Dills Rich Berlin Robinson Eco-Water Systems The Roberts Family Robert and Ruth McGough Rod and Wendy Kaufman The Snodgrass Family The Stitzel Family Shawn VanDyke Sra. Mateos Steve Moore Tammy and Dwight Foore Tammi House The Tenyak Family Thompson Excavating Tim and Judi McNutt The Tollett Family Tom and Tracy Penrose Tom and Beth Gaborcik Tom Evans Trish and Dave Swanson

The Bruin thanks you for your support!

December 2008

Kitchens, Baths, Oﬃces, Libraries, Entertainment Centers, Bars, Residential & Commercial - Quality Cutsom-Made Cabinetry Reﬂecting your Personality Built by Local Craftsman

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December 2008

SPORTS SHORTS

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C.C. SABATHIA AND THE NEW YORK YANKEES HAVE SIGNED A 7 YEAR/$161 MILLION CONTRACT AGREEMENT.

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THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS ARE UNDEFEATED AT QUICKEN LOANS ARENA SO FAR THIS SEASON.

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THE ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE IS CONSIDERING SUSPENDING THE 2009 SEASON IN ORDER TO WORK TOWARD A “MORE UNIFIED LEAGUE”.

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THE CLEVELAND BROWNS ARE EXPECTED TO FIRE CURRENT HEAD COACH ROMEO CRENNEL AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 2008-2009 SEASON.

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NFL IS LAYING OFF 150 LEAGUE EMPLOYEES DUE TO THE TOUGH ECONOMIC SITUATION.

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THE NBA’S ALL STAR SATURDAY NIGHT IS HITTING THE BIG SCREEN THIS YEAR. THE FEB. 14 EVENT WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE TO 80 THEATERS IN 35 STATES IN 3D.

S PORTS 1

THE BRUIN

Greenlees contract not renewed

acquire the head coaching job at Wadsworth. She left medical school after three years to start a Another unexpected move was coaching career. Greenlees and made recently by the Wadsworth her husband made the decision athletic department. This time, to make Wadsworth the place to the victim is the volleyball pro- raise their family, which consists gram. The administration decid- of four young children. She is ed not to renew head coach Jen also a science teacher at the high Greenlees’ contract, making it the school. This news, for now, will second time in two years a coach shake things up for her and her has been let go. She ended her family. five-year career as Wadsworth As for who is going to replace coach with an overall record of Greenlees, nothing is certain. 92-37, the best in school history. “I am interested to see who The news came as a shock to will replace her,” stated sophomany around Wadsworth. more Megan Crawford. “It will “I was completely shocked be tough to find a coach who is as when I heard the news,” said se- qualified as Greenlees.” nior Kristen Bennett. “At first, I Crawford’s former teammate thought it was a joke. It was a to- Bennett agrees with her. tal surprise.” “Coach Greenlees knew so It was a surprising move only a much about volleyball; I think few weeks after it will be hard to the season endfind anyone like “I was completely ed with a 19-6 her. She has expeshocked ” record and secrience playing in ond-place Subcollege at the divi-Kristen Bennett, 12 urban League sion one level and finish. It is also knows a lot about surprising that she was fired while volleyball. Her knowledge of the currently holding the second-best game will be missed.” winning percentage in Medina Currently, the search for a new County volleyball history. coach is still in the early stages. Greenlees has led two teams to “To a certain degree the process the regional tournament, one of has gotten underway,” said athletthree local coaches to accomplish ic director Mr. Rich Berlin. “We the feat. Her numbers may appear are still in the process of sorting impressive; but, nevertheless, that things out. It is in the works, but did not earn her a renewed con- more definite answers are coming tract. in the near future.” Greenlees had made many So, what is in store for Greenchanges in her life in order to lees? Many feel she should conSPORTS OPINION BY ANTHONY LORUBBIO

PHOTO BY ALYSSA ROBERTS

Jen Greenlees gives coaching tips to her team during their game at home against Cloverleaf. Just a few weeks after ﬁnishing second in the league to the regional runner-up Colts, Wadsworth administrators decided not to renew her contract.

tinue her coaching career. “She is deﬁnitely qualiﬁed and should keep coaching,” said senior Emily McMillan, a former player of Greenlees. Greenlees molded the volleyball program at Wadsworth. Previously, volleyball was just an afterthought. Through her efforts, she has brought the program to prominence. Two regional appearances and a league title in 2006 top the achievements of her career. A record of 92-37 is not a desolate detail either. A year ago, former basketball coach Scott Callaghan’s contract was also not renewed, even though he led the basketball team to two consecutive district tournament runs. Again, this was a

Tattoos become symbols, strategy for athletes SPORTS OPINION BY DANNY FOORE

What do superstars LeBron James, David Beckham, Manny Ramirez and WHS Junior Louden Gordon all have in common? A piece of body art; in other words a tattoo. Tattoos have become more popular in a sports world today. With more and more athletes experimenting with unique tattoos, it cannot help but raise the question of the meaning behind them. Professional athletes are known to have a big inﬂuence on young athlete’s decision of whether or not to get a piece of body art. This can be a good or bad thing. Professional athletes are looked upon by many young athletes as role models. If a pro athlete has an inappropriate tattoo, teens could be tempted to follow in their favorite athlete’s foot steps and duplicate their actions. The good in all of this body art is getting to express yourself in more ways than one. It is a chance to let others know something personal about you and your lifestyle, good or bad. The fact of the matter is the symbols on your body mean something to you and that is all that counts. Gordon has a tattoo of his last name on his tricep. So what does his tattoo mean to him? “ My tattoo is a special part of me, it’s with me for the rest of my life and to me, just expressing my last name on my tricep means a lot,” said Gordon. Another reason athletes get

shock around Wadsworth. Since that time, he has accepted the job as head coach of the Copley basketball team. Also, long-time boys basketball head coach John Martin was forced into resignation three years ago. Shortly after, he accepted the job as girls basketball coach at Northwest High School and led the team deep into the state tournament. Like Callaghan and Martin, Greenlees holds an impressive resume. This is good news for her; it opens up the opportunity to ﬁnd another coaching job in the area. A precedent has been set by Callaghan and Martin: success follows adversity. Greenlees will likely fulﬁll this precedent.

E H T Y B S R E B NUM

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The Cleveland Cavs record when scoring over 100 points.

The number of ﬁeld goals made so far this year by Browns kicker Phil Dawson PHOTO BY TOM FOX MCT CAMPUS

LeBron James’s tattoos ﬂash up and down his arms during an Olympic game this summer. Many professional athletes are opting to get tattoos for a variety of different reasons.

tattoos is the simple factor of intimidation. The intimidation factor comes into play at all levels of sports. I would not say that having a tattoo gives you an advantage in a sport, but it may give you a little mental edge needed for almost all sports. Sophomore Alfredo Gray agrees, saying “ I do think in a way tattoos give you a mental edge. It gets into my opponents’ heads.” Almost all sports begin with mental preparation. Tattoos are becoming an increasingly im-

portant part of an athletes mental preparation. I believe that when athletes see another athlete with a tattoo, it makes them think that athlete is tough. Another word to describe an athlete’s reaction would be nervousness. Yes, nervousness. An athlete’s mind is very creative, and the nerves will run wild sooner or later within an athlete. All athletes see these nerves, and they mainly occur before the actual sporting event. They experience the feeling of nerves, and tattoos can play a big part in cre-

ating these feelings. To all athletes considering getting a tattoo, take in these few helpful tips before getting a permanent work of art on your skin: get something that will mean something to you 50 years down the road, not something that you will regret, or have second thoughts of. Next, do not get a tattoo if you’re only thinking of the negatives. Think of the positives, and eliminate the negatives. Just take in these two important tips, and it will make your decision process much easier.

The number of WHS wrestlers that placed in the Ironman wrestling tournament.

The number of years in a row that the Ohio State football team has made a BCS bowl.

S PORTS 2

THE BRUIN

December 2008

BCS troubles beg for playoff system

PHOTO BY SHARON M. STEINMAN/MCTCAMPUS

Colt McCoy throws a pass against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The Texas Longhorns came out with the 45-35 victory during that game, but came short of grabbing the number two spot in the BCS rankings. The controversy sparks a common debate among college football fans lobbying for a new playoff system. BY TYLER JACK

Say goodbye to Saturday football college football fans, and say hello to this year’s bowl games. This season in particular, has had controversies involving how teams should be ranked. This problem begs for the adoption of a new playoff system in college football and an end to the BCS bowl projection system. The BCS, or Bowl Championship Series, is a complicated system involving many different factors which judge what teams are picked to appear in the bowl game. The different factors that go into making the ﬁnal ranks include: computer ranks, the coaches’ polls, the AP poll and other aspects like strength of schedule.

BCS BOWL GAMES BCS Championship:

#1 Florida vs. #2 Oklahoma Jan. 8

Rose Bowl: #8 Penn State vs. #5 USC Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl: #10 Ohio State vs. #3 Texas Jan. 5 Sugar Bowl: #4 Alabama vs. #6 Utah Jan. 2 Orange Bowl: #19 Virginia Tech vs. #12 Cincinnati Jan. 1

It is easy to see how many teams can have unfair advantages over the other. In college football a majority of the teams do not have a chance at a bowl game from the very begining of the season. If the team is not in one of the major BCS conferences, then it is most likely not going to see a chance of making it to any bowl game. That same non-BCS team could go undefeated the whole season, blowing out every team they play, but still be denied the privileges of playing with the larger conference teams. The reality is tough, and it shows some major ﬂaws. Throughout the ten-year history of this system, it can be agreed upon that some teams have gotten shot short of their goal of reaching a bowl game. For instance the

most recent team to face this harsh system was the Texas Longhorns. In week 14 of college football the Oklahoma Sooners jumped over the number two ranked Longhorns to gain a National Championship birth. The problem with this was just three weeks earlier the Longhorns defeated the Sooners 45 to 35 on a neutral ﬁeld. One might believe that because the Longhorns won they should be placed ahead of the Sooners, regardless of the Sooners record and their season. This past week, the National Championship game was decided, and the teams that made the two spots were the Florida Gators and the Oklahoma Sooners. Both football teams have just one loss like Texas. The weird thing was

the Longhorns were ranked third and the Sooners grabbed the number one spot after Alabama was defeated by Florida. “I think the Longhorns got the unfair deal in the BCS last week,” said sophmore Alex Tokar. BCS problems call for a playoff system. While the set up and overall structure of how the system will work is uncertain, many college football analysts have their opinions and ideas. Even President-elect Barack Obama has the opinion that there should be an eight team playoff system. All of the major sports and other college sports have an end of the season playoff system to determine who the best is. The only sport that does not have this is the NCAA college football.

Of course this playoff system will have its ﬂaws. When you think about it, the BCS system was created to bring in money and fans to large attractive games. The top two teams were the only ones that had something on the line. The problems arise when the fans of each team would have to worry about traveling to one state to watch a playoff game one week and then turn around to go to another city for the next playoff game. Many fans cannot afford this. The possibility would be pleasing to many teams that want to prove their worthiness. Overall, the playoff system is widely encouraged and is on the minds of many college football fans this season.

BY LUKE WILLIAMS

the Red Bulls during the game. The match began with the Crew taking control of the field and keeping the ball in play on the Red Bulls’ half. The Crew scored first after 31 minutes of play. Guillermo Barros Schelotto passed the ball to forward Alejandro Moreno. Moreno took a shot from the right side of the field, and the ball snuck into the goal around the Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero. The score marked the first time in the postseason that New York trailed another team, and they let in their first playoff goal in 206 playoff minutes. However, the Red Bulls recovered and quickly scored against the Columbus defense in the fifty first minute. John Wolyniec, New York forward, was the one to

score the tying goal from Dane Richards’ pass. Although the Red Bulls were able to recover, the Crew took less than two minutes to muster up a reply. 87 seconds after New York scored their tying goal, the Crew responded with a score of their own. Schelotto took a corner kick during the ﬁfty third minute and with the assistance of a header from Chad Marshall the Crew retained the lead. The 87 seconds between scores marked the third shortest interval in MLS history. The Crew would go on to score one more goal in order to seal the win against the Red Bulls. Once again, Schelotto was the menace to the Red Bulls and assisted his team in scoring their ﬁnal goal.

Schelotto made a chip shot over the New York defense to Frankie Hejduk who headed it past the New York keeper in for the final score of the match. Schelotto was awarded the game’s Most Valuable Player with all three assists for the game, an all time record in Cup history. This was the third time in Major League Soccer history that a player was awarded the MLS Cup MVP as well as the league’s Most Valuable Player. This monumental victory by the Columbus Crew is the first championship won by an Ohio team in five years. The Crew began the season with the best record in the MLS and finished their post-season on top with their three to one victory over the New York Red Bulls.

Crew victorious in MLS Cup The Columbus Crew, Ohio’s professional soccer club, became the ﬁrst team from Ohio to win a national title since the Ohio State Buckeyes won their national championship during the 20022003 season. The Crew defeated the New York Red Bulls with a score of three to one. The Crew also ﬁnished the season with the best record in Major League Soccer. Junior Jake Sussman expressed his excitement over the big win for the Crew and the rejuvenation of Ohio sports when he said, “One small step for the Columbus Crew, one giant leap for Ohio sports.” The Crew displayed their superior tactics during the championship match as they manhandled

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One year, my husband Jim and I gave a very good friend of ours tickets to Jimmy Buffet. Not only did we give him tickets to Jimmy Buffet, but the concert was in Texas so we ﬂew down there with1 him as well. -Mrs. Lance 1 Part of my husbands Christmas gift one year was when I made him a shirt. He never wore it and later I found out that I sewed the sleeve on backwards. -Mrs. Bock

-Mr. Yaggi

According to my husband, the best gift I have ever given is an autographed picture of Joe Montana. He collects autographs and last Christmas I added that picture to his collection.

Last year, on New Year’s Day I gave my girlfriend an engagement ring!

-Mrs. Eaton

-Mr. Flaherty

The ofﬁcial Red Rider, carbine action, 200 shot range model air riﬂe with a compass in the stalk and this thing that tells time. “You’ll shoot your eye out kid.”

Some really nice jewelry and a teddy bear that says “ I Love You” and spend at least $350.00 minimum on me. You have to buy my love.

A gift certiﬁcate to Taco Bell and a diamond heart locket with D.J. and Oliver engraved in it so they are always close to my heart.

-Danielle , 11

-Olivia, 12

11 Nothing, so when I would get that person something it would make me look like the better person. They could just give me the money they were going to buy the present with. -Nick , 9

What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?

A Daisy BB Gun!

What would you suggest the opposite gender to get you for Christmas?

Teachers:

Students:

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December 2008

-Mr. Lynn

Lottery tickets in stockings and myself to my wife! :) -Mr. Goddard

A trip out of Wadsworth!

Jewelry or a gift card to my favorite place.

- Dan , 12

-Claire , 10 9

8 I am not normally one to ask for a lot, but it would be awesome if someone spent their entire paycheck on a snowboard for me. - Josh , 12

I would advise the opposite gender to get me something that deals with athletics. Any guy usually loves sports, so clothes or even products that deal with sports would do the job. Even comfortable clothes would be great. -Paul , 12

14 ALL PHOTOS BY SARAH FORTNER OR EMILY HANNA