The Bruin- December 2005 by Wadsworth Bruin

Wadsworth High School

Newspaper II/III

December 2005

The

BRUIN

1870 - 2005 Wadsworth City Schools: “Celebrating 135 years of Excellence in Education”

Volume XXXI No. 3

NHS selects newest members BY MICHELLE MCCUNE

Many juniors and seniors waited in anticipation during the two-hour National Honor Society Induction Ceremony on November 23. They hoped to be one of the select few chosen to participate in the club’s various activities and honors. Acceptance is a major accomplishment. Only juniors with a 3.5 grade point average and seniors with a 3.25 or higher are considered. Eligible students fill out a list of their community service and volunteer activities, leadership positions, and extracurricular activities. Teachers give reviews of the students’ characters, and a list of the chosen is compiled. Although parents are notified, the student remains unaware until his or her name is announced at the ceremony. Nineteen seniors and 53 juniors joined the 52 current members during the two hour ceremony. They will participate in the various activities that NHS organizes every year, including an upcoming blood drive and a fund raising flower sale. During the ceremony, Dr. John Solaro, a 1960 graduate of Wadsworth High, was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. He will join eight other Wadsworth alumni in this exclusive group. Since 1921, the National Honor Society has offered opportunities for its members to help both their community and themselves. Its newest members will help in continuing this tradition.

The first five people to find all the elves will win a prize!

A season for giving $1.00

625 Broad Street Wadsworth, Ohio 44281

School helps community through canned food drive, Adopt-A-Family program

kids trying to make a difference,” said Mr. Van Kirk about the sophomores, juniors, and seniors in As Christmas approaches, his homeroom. it is nearly impossible to walk Overall, 4817 items were colinto a grocery store without lected this year. hearing the familiar jingle of a “People get too caught up in Salvation Army worker’s bell. materialistic endeavors and forget The Salvation Army spearthe true meaning of the season: heads many projects at Christhelping the less fortunate,” said mastime, including the high junior Jon Losh. school canned food drive. The canned food drive is not The drive, which took place the only way that students at the from November 29 to Decemhigh school are helping those less ber 5, is an annual tradition at fortunate this Christmas. Nearly the high school. every club is adopting a needy “We can all help make this family from the Wadsworth area. a more joyful time for others,” The Adopt-A-Family prosaid Mr. Teringo, who was in gram, which is also sponsored by charge of this year’s collecthe Salvation Army, has been a tion. staple for clubs at the high school The canned food drive benfor many years. Each club is aseﬁts many families in the area. signed a family and given inforThe food is taken to the local mation, such as age and gender, branch of the Salvation Army about both the children and the and is used to supply the Wadadults. The club is also given gift sworth Food Cupboard. ideas for each member. The club At the high school, the then collects money and goes canned food drive is a contest. shopping for its family. Each homeroom collects cans, “It’s really enjoyable helping and the number of cans colothers. And the shopping part is lected is divided by the number fun too,” said Key Club President of students in that homeroom. Rachel Figliomeni. The Key Club The class with the highest avwill be adopting a family as well erage wins a pizza party. as participating in many other This year’s winner was Mr. volunteer projects for Christmas. Van Kirks’s vocational web An important part of the Adoptdesign class. It had the highest A-Family program is the sense of average of cans overall, with community. This year, 25 Wad23 food items per student. sworth families will be adopted. “They are a good group of In these families, there are about 30 total children. “It’s great for the high school family to help families in Wadsworth,” said Mr. Williams about the Adopt-A-Family program. The INTERACT club, a youth branch of the rotary club, is new at the high school These cans are just a few of the 4817 items collected by this year. These the high school. PHOTO BY LAURA MYERS BY LAURA MYERS

Arts & Clubs Page 5

Pictures Page 9

Read about the exciting lives of foreign exchange students.

Relive “The Crucible” in living color on the picture page.

Halle donates a coat to the INTERACT Coats for Kids drive.

PHOTO BY LAURA MYERS

students participate in many service activities, including this year’s Coats for Kids drive. The club made many gift boxes, which were placed in every district school. It is requested that new or gently used coats be placed in them. The holiday season is here, and with it comes a spirit of giving that has overtaken the school. The canned food drive was a huge success, and many families will be in for a much nicer Christmas due to the high school clubs. Many students can enjoy their own holiday more knowing that they helped others to enjoy theirs.

Entertainment Page 13

Enjoy a review of the latest in video game consoles.

Happy Holidays! Many holidays in December pass quietly by without so much as a mention. This year, these holidays get the recognition they deserve. December 9....National Pastry Day December 12....National Dinga-ling Day December 16....National Chocolate Covered Anything Day December 21....Look at the Bright Side Day December 28....Card Playing Day

Sports Page 15

Experience the beginning of the winter sports season with the basketball teams.

Editorial

December 2005

Letters to Santa

Last year at Summit Mall you said we would get girlfriends. Now we are upset with you because neither of us have a love in our life. David Stump, 12 Jordan Smith, 11 For Christmas, I want a credit card that has a never-ending amount of money on it! That would be a dream. Jenny Harsh, 10 This year for Christmas I would really like a car. Since you see everything Santa, you already know that I wrecked my car. So, please get me a car for Christmas. Life without a car stinks! Andrew Gray, 11 I wish that it would snow so much over break that we would have the next week off. A three week break from school would be awesome. Amanda Lorenz, 11

This year I am not asking for much. I hope both of my brothers make it home safe. I also would like to spend some time with my friends. But most importantly, I am dreaming of a white Christmas. Allison Pallija, 9

a sweet cartoon

I would like a big monster truck that I could drive to school and run over whoever is in the front parking spot. Jordan Bryson, 12 This Christmas I would like a big, red sled! Hannah O’Brien and I would be super pumped if we had the coolest, most fabulous sled on the hill! Rachel Hudson, 10 I need more Pokemon cards, a ninja costume, the Illinois quarter to complete my collection, a NASCAR hat, and a Hanson poster and CD. Nick Miller, 10

The Brewin’ Debate Should Christmas be allowed to be celebrated in public schools? BY DREW KNIGHT

YES

BY ZACK BUDINSCAK

Christmas should be allowed to be celebrated in schools. Christmas is a time of sharing and joy for everyone. Just because some people do not necessarily believe in Christianity does not mean they cannot feed off of the wonderful Christmas spirit that always comes during the holiday season. In English classes, the teachers teach Puritan literature, which includes preaching and prayer. The educational system says that is part of our history and everyone should read it. However, some people do not believe in the literature being taught. Christmas is also part of our history. Even though most of students in school believe and celebrate Christmas, some do not. This means the majority of the school is not able to celebrate this wonderful holiday during school hours. Most students believe in Christmas, so it is not out of the ordinary for them to want to celebrate their favorite holiday at school. If you do not believe in Christmas, you can still experience a different kind of culture. Just like the English curriculum, you still need to learn about other people and their perspectives and customs. Christmas should be celebrated in school.

Winter is a time when people watch the snow fall and gather with family. With the mixed cultures in today’s society, people should not specify just one of the season’s many religious holidays to celebrate in school. Today, nearly two thirds of the world is not part of the Christian religion. With this number, Christmas is not the only big holiday celebrated during the winter season. Hanukah and Kwanza are also celebrated in December and January. Instead of just celebrating Christmas, schools should consider having a holiday celebration so all religions are included. “School is about expressing your individuality, so whatever holiday you celebrate is A-okay with me,” said junior Caity Todd. Everybody should be allowed to express themselves in any way they want. The school should not allow students to celebrate just Christmas simply because numerous kids speciﬁcally celebrate the holiday. Even though it seems almost inevitable to avoid this holiday, at times schools should look past it. If they are going to celebrate during this season, they should have a neutral celebration for all of the holidays. Christmas should not be celebrated in public schools.

Bruin Staff Editor-in-chief: Kate Hudson Associate Editor-in-chief: Emily Hoover Front Page: Page Editor: Laura Myers Reporter: Michelle McCune Editorial: Page Editor: Drew Knight Reporter: Zach Budinscak Opinion: Page Editor: Ryan Renacci Reporter: Rochelle O’Neil Speakout: Page Editor: Justin McInturff Reporters: Trevor Day, Scott Siesky Features: Page Editor: Emily Hoover Reporter: Aaron Mueller News: Page Editor: Courtney Harris Reporter: Kat Little Arts/Clubs: Page Editor: Claire Davis Reporter: Jesse Mooney Picture Page: Page Editor: Dan Grassell Reporter: Tommy Kaminski Photographer: Nick Jack Variety Page: Page Editor: Katy Wilson Reporter: Alli Macko Dear Daisy: Kristi Havens Sports 1: Page Editor: Shelly Anderson Reporter: Zach Berger Sports 2: Page Editor: Kyle Snoke Reporters: Cody Valiente Sports Briefs: Josh Snyder Music/Entertainment: Page Editor: Brad Mueller Reporters: Amy Jarvis, Cody Steigerwald Ads/Business Manager: Laura Hlavaty Copy Editor: Claire Davis Asst. Copy Editor: Rochelle O’Neil Proofreaders: Newspaper/Yearbook I classes Cartoonist: Courtney Mesick Adviser: John Gramuglia

‘Christmas’ sparks controversy The boisterous, crowded halls of WHS will render themselves isolated beginning December 19 and lasting through January 3. After today, students and faculty will have plenty of time to relax with friends and family, celebrate family traditions, and spend time with loved ones. Christmas Break, not to be censored by “Winter Break,” has ﬁnally arrived. In the United States, there are 10 federal holidays set by law, four of which are set by speciﬁc date. Christmas Day, celebrated on December 25, happens to be one of them. Whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Jehovah Witness, or any other religion, the fact that we are taking off school for a federal holiday does not change. However, the choice to celebrate such a holiday is up to the individual. Since not everyone in our high school is a Christian, controversy is unavoidable when referring to break as Christmas Break. By calling it this, it may be implied that we are exlcuding other religions. However, we have not heard any complaints from anyone regarding the relaxing break we

receive each year in accordance with this federal holiday. Even if the individual does not celebrate this holiday, they reap the benefits that go along with it, such as two weeks off from school. Still, separation of church and state continues to be an issue. But with Christmas Day as an official holiday, we feel it is appropriate to call it Christmas Break. We at The Bruin feel that the controversy in calling it Christmas Break is overrated. If people sincerely have a problem with it, they can politely ask those around them to respect their personal beliefs. It is also important to note that those individuals who celebrate religous holidays other than Christmas may take a leave of absence from school without penalty. This allows for a fair advantage to all those students who do not celebrate the traditional Christian holiday of Christmas. With that said, with whatever holiday you choose to celebrate this season, remember the meaning behind it. Try to block out superfluous details. Take a step back from the chaos, and really concentrate on the reason for the season.

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.

Opinion

December 2005

companies continue to Facts about Drunk Driving Alcohol advertise on television, magazines

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Of the over 159 million alcohol-impaired driving trips reported by Americans in 2002, over 44 percent, or 71 million trips, were made by moderate drinkers.

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Approximately 18 million Americans — 8.5 percent of the population — meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or alcoholism.

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Of the general driving age public, 97 percent see drinking and driving as a threat to their personal safety, and 66 percent feel it is extremely important to do something to reduce the problem in terms of where tax dollars should be spent.

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About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.

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In 2001, more than half a million people were injured in crashes where police reported that alcohol was present — an average of one person injured approximately every minute.

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Alcohol is society’s legal, oldest and most popular drug.

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The intoxication rate (those over .08 BAC) for male drivers involved in fatal crashes was 25 percent, compared with 12 percent for female drivers.

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The average person metabolizes alcohol at the rate of about one drink per hour. Only time will sober a person up. Drinking strong coffee, exercising or taking a cold shower will not help.

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The speed of alcohol absorption affects the rate at which one becomes drunk. Unlike foods, alcohol does not have to be slowly digested. As a person drinks faster than the alcohol can be eliminated, the drug accumulates in the body, resulting in higher and higher levels of alcohol in the blood. There is evidence that heavier drinkers prefer to drink at bars and other person’s homes, and at multiple locations requiring longer driver distances. Young drivers have been found to prefer drinking at private parties, while older, more educated drivers prefer bars and taverns. STATISTICS FROM HTTP://WWW.MADD.ORG/

In the spring of 2002, a national survey was given to teenagers, which a s k e d them their RYAN current OPINION STAFF favorite television commercial. The most popular commercial was Budweiser, which surpassed even Nike, Pepsi, and Levi’s. While these commercials are not meant to target a teenage audience, they are the most appealing to this speciﬁc group of individuals. However, why is it that these commercials are so abundant on television, while cigarette advertisements were banned a few decades ago? Is the government being hypocritical? For over twenty years, cigarettes were highly publicized in advertisements throughout television. However, in the late 1960s many Americans protested these advertisements because they believed they persuaded children to start smoking. In 1971, cigarette advertisements were banned on all radio and television programs broadcasted to the public. Many Americans worried that broadcasting stations would lose a massive amount of money; however, the decline in revenue was not as severe as most assumed.

Many individuals argue that tobacco products were banned because they harmed individuals, but alcohol can also be harmful. Drunk driving was the cause of the deaths of 16,694 people in 2004. In addition to drunk driving deaths, child and wife abuse are also prevalent consequences of excessive drinking. “Alcohol is one of the biggest problems in America with teenagers, and in my opinion, smoking isn’t as dangerous. You can’t die behind the wheel from the inﬂuence of cigarettes like you can from alcohol,” said junior Julie Shaffer. Another important factor is that tobacco products are legal in the U.S., just as alcohol is legal. These two substances are both very similar; they are so similar that when it comes to the restrictions of advertisements on each, they should either both be restrict-

“You can’t die behind the wheel from the influence of cigarettes like you can from alcohol.” Julie Shaffer, 11 ed or neither. When cigarette companies started advertising more and more, certain ﬁctitious characters became popular. The most popular of these characters included Joe

Camel and the Marlboro Man, which made cigarettes look fun and healthy. Many people are against promoting cigarettes with Joe Camel or the Marlboro Man, but alcohol commercials use the same type of advertising. A few years ago, I can remember seeing three frogs in a creek near a bar alternately singing portions of the word “Budweiser.” H i g h schoolers deal with the pressures of drinking many times at parties or with their friends. I strongly believe that advertisements only add to the ecouragement of teenage drinking in America.

Lack of sleep leads to real life nightmares

It is v e r y early on Christm a s morning, and I just woke up to some very peculiar ROCHELLE OPINION STAFF noises. My heart is beating rapidly as I imagine what is going on downstairs. Suddenly my eyes widen, and I think “Santa!” I am going out of my mind with excitement; I am actually going to meet Santa Claus. As I creep down the hall, very secretively like an FBI agent, I think to myself, I am going to experience every kid’s dream of meeting this amazing entity. I peek my head around the corner, ﬁlled with anticipation, and... BEEP! My alarm goes off. How can this be? I only went to bed four hours ago! Too often, I see students nodding off in class, or better yet, I see some of them actually drooling on their desks, which is quite amusing. I will not lie though. I have also fallen victim to this temptation of falling asleep in class. I must admit that it is entertaining to watch these people. The way they jerk their heads, those close calls of almost do-

ing a face slam onto the desk, and ﬁnally, their very abrupt and rude awakening is quite amusing. It seems to me that high school students have way too much going on in their lives which ultimately leads to a massive lack of sleep. I do not know about anyone else, but I laugh hysterically at the fact that a person is supposed to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. “Finding time to sleep is

“I spend too much time on the computer and listening to music.” Jenn Ballway, 10 nearly impossible. After working, I stay up way too late working on homework and studying,” said senior Anna Weant.

In a recent survey taken by 100 students, only 15 percent sleep eight or more hours each night. This alarming statistic concludes that 85 percent of all teenage students do not get enough sleep. Seven hours of sleep or less is deﬁnitely a problem, but there are also those students who stay up even later than this; nine percent of the surveyed students only get four or less hours of sleep! Because of this staggering number, it is no wonder why students are falling asleep during their classes. “With work and sports after school, it makes it hard for people to get enough sleep,” said junior Nick Burton. Some reasons students seem to miss out on these much needed hours range anywhere from mandatory reasons to personal interests. “I spend too much time on the

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GOOD LUCK GRIZZLIES!!

No, this is not a planned picture. Senior Brad Lott crashes in the Commons seventh period, apparently after a long day. PHOTO BY ROCHELLE O’NEIL

computer and listening to music,” said junior Jenn Ballway. Some of the more prevalent causes are sports, early morning practices, work, homework, and some more personal activities such as being online or late-night phone conversations. Besides these, I have no doubt in my mind that every student has his or her own reasons for staying up late, whether they are willing to share or not.

“Riley Armstrong’s song ‘Sleep’ describes me perfectly: ‘Sleep, no I never get enough, always thinking about being tired! Sleep, no I never get enough! If I don’t get up, I might get ﬁred!’” said senior Christine LaDu. Something needs to be done about this. Students should start thinking about where their priorities really lie.

Speakout

December 2005

T E A C H E R

What is your favorite Christmas tradition? I love to go to church at 11:00 p.m. The world is quiet on the drive. When we get there the music is heavenly and the church is ﬁlled with so much candlelight. It is hard to go home and fall asleep to wait for Santa after all the love I feel in church. -Mrs. Mathews

Every year on Christmas Eve we all gather around the ﬁre and my dad reads us The Polar Express. No matter how old my sisters and I get, we still love this! -Miss Vlosky Going to Mass on Christmas Eve and coming home and having a huge dinner. The best tradition of all is waking up Christmas morning to see what Santa has brought my two kids, Erin and Robbie! -Mr. Lynn0.

Watching The Grinch Who Stole Christmas while sipping eggnog. Also giving coal to loved ones as gifts. Every year on Christmas Eve, if my children behave during the Christmas Eve service, Santa leaves a present while we are at church. My children Jake (23) and Alex (19) get matching PJ’s and a small toy! Alex then spends all of Christmas day in his PJ’s. One year we ﬂew to Lake Tahoe on Christmas day and Alex went all the way in his PJ’s! -Mrs. McIlvaine

-Mr. Hamilton

I have always enjoyed picking out a live tree with my family. It doesn’t feel like Christmas without the smell of pine when you walk in the door. I also enjoy decorating the tree as a family and taking a picture of everyone as they put on their ﬁrst ornament. -Mr. Austin

My favorite Christmas tradition is eating a big, juicy navel orange on Christmas morning. When I was growing up, we had little money, little money for gifts, or for expensive foods. (Back then, fruits out of season were too expensive for our meager budget.) But on every Christmas morning I can remember, there was always a thick-skinned, succulent navel orange in the bottom of our Christmas stockings. We ate them slowly, marveling at our good winter fortune, savoring the sweet, succulent sections. Today, though money is more plentiful and oranges are readily available, no matter the season, each Christmas my family still begins Christmas morning by eating navel oranges. We reminisce about our life that was, reminding each other that simple pleasures are one of life’s greatest gifts. -Mrs. Khoury

Santa always left us a lemon and a candy cane in our stockings. You cut a hole in the lemon, insert the candy cane and sip the juice through the lemon. Yum Yum. -Mrs. Kurt Seeing the excitment in my son’s eyes as he ﬁnds his pile of presents. -Mrs. Reis

In my house growing up we had part of our 2nd story cut away for a balcony. We’d get a huge 20 foot tree every year. To decorate we’d have to throw ornaments at the top and eventually they’d slide down and catch on a branch (like Plinko on Price is Right) Never pretty, but always fun! -Mrs. Farr

Attending church with my family reminds me of why we celebrate Christmas.

Going to the Christmas Eve candlelight church service with my entire family.

-Mr. Callaghan

-Mr. Kaufman

STUDENTS If you could spend the holidays with one person, who would it be and why?

I do not think I could choose just one person. I would want to spend time with all of my friends and family. -Mike Firis, 11

I would want to spend the holidays with Danielle Roberts and Brittani McCauley because I need them to tutor me. -James Petty, 12

Lanie Melton! It would be so fun to sit on an igloo and drink polar pops and wait for Santa together. -Brooke Thomas, 12

I would spend my time with Ashley Meagan Currens and Caitlin Ann Todd. We would watch “Mean Girls” and eat extra butter popcorn because that would be so fetch!

-Sarah Fortner, 9

If I could spend the holidays with one person, it would have to be Scott Siesky. Not only is he my only friend, but he works at Boston Mills and is teaching me how to snowboard.

-Alise , 12

If I could spend time with two people they would be Trevor Day and Justin McInturff because they are the cutest kids in our grade. -Jamie Stout, 12

-Chelstine , 12

I would spend my holidays with Mrs. Lance because of her illuminating smile and winning personality. -Dave , 11

-Krystal Vianueva, 11

Laura Anderson because she can teach me some mad soccer skills and she’s a very nice and caring person!

-Jimmy Miller, 11

Jamie because she is my best friend and I love spending time with her! Um... never mind, she didn’t put me down.

If I could spend the holidays with one person it would be Cole Wilson because he is so cute, and I love him to death!

The Grinch who stole Christmas. We would have a jolly time stealing from small children to make us feel better. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about? -Kyle Merrick, 12

I would want to spend the holidays with Danielle Roberts because she loves making me feel guilty. -Brittani McCauley, 12

If I could spend the holidays with one person, it would be Michael John Lehman because he is my boyfriend...duh! -Jackie Swartz, 11

I would spend the Christmas season with my girlfriend. Relationships like that are usually all it takes to put a person in a good mood and make them smile. Isn’t that what the holidays are all about? So you should spend Christmas with someone who makes you smile. -James 12

Arts & Clubs

December 2005

New clubs to satisfy students BY CLAIRE DAVIS

When making the transition from high school to college, it is apparent that there are a hundred more organizations and clubs to join at the university level. Our high school currently has 30 organizations to participate in. However, many of these clubs essentially have the same purpose: to provide volunteer hours. Moreover, since students do not have many options that pertain to their interests, they should have the opportunity to start their own clubs. How would the process of creating a new club begin? First, students would have to receive permission from the administration to start a club. This can be obtained by asking a principal. As long as the club does not discriminate against any group or consist of drugs, alcohol, or other innappropriate content, students should get the approval needed. Next, students must select an adult advisor. Theoretically, the advisor could be any responsible

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Club Reviews and News

********** Student Council Dodgeball Tournament

-December 19-22. -Cost:$10 per person -6-10 people per team. -Sign up in the library, or with Mr. Gains or Mr. Thompson. -All proceeds will go to the Salvation Army, and the top four teams will play at a school assembly.

Choir:

Choirs had their Christmas concert on December 12.

Band:

-December 2, the Symphonic Band played at the Ohio Band Directors Conference at the University of Akron. -In January, the symphonic band will play at Severence Hall in Cleveland with three other bands.

Upcoming events: Winter Break-

December 19 - January 2

Report CardsJanuart 20

adult, but most advisors work at the school. There is an unlimited number of clubs that can be created. At The Ohio State University, clubs range from karate and crew to women’s organizations and political organizations. Students have the option of choosing what they are interested in. Recently, avid Republican supporters decided to take action and start up their own club, The Teenage Republicans. The ofﬁcers are President Audrey Wallis, Vice President Abigail Ledman, and Secretary/Treasurer Beth Bianco, all members of the junior class. Mr. Burton is their advisor. Ledman said Burton signs announcements and helps promote awareness for the club. The purpose of the club is to provide an environment for kids who can not vote but want to put their beliefs in action. “I wanted to raise politcal awareness. I can’t vote, but I feel that I am making a difference, even if it is inside these doors,” said junior Abigail Ledman. The Teenage Republicans participate in parades and make phone calls at the Republican headquarters in Medina, usually around election times. Currently, members do not have to pay dues, but Abigail predicts that there might be a change

in order to keep up with costs of gas and t-shirts. In order to be a member, students just have to come to meetings, and Abigail supposes they should be a Republican. However, she said they would not turn away Democrats because they encourage controversy. “Everyone should at least come check it out once! It would be worth it, I promise!” said Ledman. In conclusion, students have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of clubs and organizations. Add administrative approval, an adult advisor, and the desire to make a difference, and the number of clubs for students to join can only escalate.

Fine Arts Student of the Month

Janet

What grade are you in? Senior

What clubs and activities are you involved in?

Art 4, Drama Club, Show Choir, Elite Choir, and National Honor Society.

What is your favorite club or activity to participate in? I really love art. It gives me an opportunity to express myself.

What activities do you have outside of school? Girl Scouts.

Juniors Beth and Abigail are proud to be ofﬁcers of the Teenage Republicans. PHOTO BY NICK JACK.

What is your favorite aspect of being in those clubs?

Meeting new people and having a lot of fun with friends.

Do you have a mentor? If so, who? Why? Mrs. Nedoh. I’ve known her for 16 years and throughout my art career she has been encouraging and helpful.

What do you plan to do when you graduate? I plan on going to college to pursue something in the art ﬁeld, possibly fashion design.

Advice for your classmates? Work hard for anything you want and pursue your dreams.

Foreign students exchange cultures

randa Borer, Martin Rekalde, and Timon Rogos. From the confuTraveling to a new country, sion and hassle of coming to a staying with a new family, and new country to the problems with living a whole new life are just communication, they have all exa few things foreign exchange perienced many new things. Turcotti, 17, is from France’s students go through when they come to the United States. They Reunion Islands, located in the encounter many challenges Indian ocean off the coast of throughout the year, while at the Madagascar near southern Africa. same time, make unforgettable She is currently staying with the memories and many new friends. Wood family. During her trip to This year, we are pleased to Cleveland, she had her ﬁrst exhave four foreign exchange stu- perience with the busy airports. dents: Alix-Anne Turcotti, Mi- Missing her ﬂight from Chicago to Cleveland, Turcotti had to spend the night in the airport by herself. “Getting stranded in the air port was my biggest challenge,” she said with a laugh. Even with that minor delay, Turcotti was very excited to Foreign exchange students Timon, Miranda , and Martin . PHOTO BY JESSE MOONEY arrive here and BY JESSE MOONEY

begin school. Her goals for this year are to improve her English and to discover a new culture.

“Getting stranded in the airport was my biggest challenge.” Alix-Anne Turcotti Borer, 15, is from Switzerland. She is staying with the Hassinger family and loving every minute of her stay in the United States. Unlike Turcotti, she has not had one major challenge, but has decided that everything here is just new. America, in her eyes, is very cool. Rekalde, 18, is from Manta, Ecuador. He is enjoying his stay in America with the Bowman family. Rekalde is having a slight adjustment problem with the weather; where he is from, it is warm. Even with the weather challenge, Rekalde wants to come back and study International Business. Rogos, 17, is living with the

Foreign exchange student Alix-Anne. PHOTO BY JESSE MOONEY

Paydo family. He is from a small town named Gummerbach, near Cologne, Germany. Coming to America, he had the common problem of communication, but thanks to his German-English Dictionary and his teachers and friends, he has learned English and has become more ﬂuent and able to communicate much easier. In the future, Rogos hopes to use this experience to work for an insurance company. Overall, all four foreign exchange students, have had a wonderful experience in America. They all wish to thank their friends and teachers for all the help and care they have been provided with.

Features

December 2005

Hard work wears out students Necessity of work felt now more than ever, yet jobs occupy student’s time to study, sleep

BY AARON F. MUELLER

Retail stores nationwide must prepare each year for the massive shopping sprees that take place during the holiday season. The day after Thanksgiving is consistently the busiest shopping day of the year, and business continues to stay strong all the way until Christmas. With the excessive amount of sales taking place, most stores must hire extra help. This is where high school students come in. Many students have recently been hired at Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods,

Kohl’s, and other local stores. While it is vital for students, especially seniors, to save for college and earn some spending money, these jobs can be extremely demanding. It is not unusual for some of these people to work until ten o’clock at night and more than thirty hours a week. Managing to go to school, go to work, do homework, exercise, and relax all in the same day is not an easy task. The effects of complicating a schedule with an after school job are both positive and negative. Grades can suffer if there is not

Junior Ben , a cook at Bob Evans, pours a cup of coffee for a customer. Ben’s culinary skills are put to the test each time he goes to work. Not only does he have to make a perfect pancake, but have it ready in less than ten minutes. PHOTO BY BRADLEY MUELLER

December Male Student of the Month

Brandon Favorite teacher: Mr. Callaghan Favorite subject: Business Management Plans after graduation: Attend either Purdue or Elon University and major in economics

enough time to study. “My grades are starting to slip because I’ve been working so much,” said senior Matt Bruce, who works 24 hours a week at McDonald’s. Also, sleep patterns often become distorted. The overall stress level one experiences can increase if there is not enough time for fun. Still, money is being made, and character is being built. If the hours are reasonable, working after school can help teach the importance of time management. “The ideal amount of working hours is probably around 12

to 16 a week. Not only do I need spending money, but time to look for a girlfriend. Work has made me a lonely man,” said senior Zach May, an Ace Hardware employee. Now the question is, “Is it worth the trouble to work after school?” Some people will say yes, and others will say no. “Of course it is worth it! Working gets me out of the house, makes me money, and helps me meet new people,” said senior Molly Gore, who works at Best Buy. The real answer depends on

Seniors Kyle D. (left) and Zachary T. (right), both employees of Ace Hardware, try their best to make their after school job a fun one. Working long hours can be rough; luckily, these two friends have one another to help pass the time. PHOTO BY BRADLEY MUELLER

Teacher shows students new slant BY EMILY HOOVER

The newest addition to the science department has much to offer students and the faculty alike. Mr. Aaron Austin has been hired to teach the physics classes previously instructed by Mr. Varner, and the recent college graduate offers a fresh perspective on the subject. Though the transition has been rocky because of the timing of Austin’s arrival, he feels that, for the most part, students are adjusting to his teaching style rather quickly. Austin is taking an interesting approach to teaching his classes. “I enjoy doing as many experiments as possible and having class discussion facilitated by demonstrations,” said Austin. So far, students have enjoyed his lectures. “He’s doing a good job applying experiments to what we’re studying,” said senior Scott Lan-

the individual. Some people really do enjoy their jobs and feel that it would be hard to quit. In some cases, parents will make their children work, regardless of whether or not it is enjoyable. As we all know, parents and teachers were students at one point too, so they should understand the rigors of a hefty work load. Hopefully, parents and teachers alike will be willing to cut the hardworking student a break every now and then. In the mean time, though, at least these people can enjoy the great feeling that comes with every pay day.

Mr. Austin has recently taken over the instruction of senior physics classes. He has degrees in physics and chemistry. PHOTO BY CODY STEIGERWALD

derholm. Austin has much to bring to his students, as his background in science is superior. He attended Bluffton University, graduating with majors in physics and chemistry and with a minor in mathematics. He will graduate from the Bachelor’s Plus education program at Ashland University in May. Austin has not always planned on becoming a teacher. Through-

out most of college he was not on track to become a teacher. However, an experience teaching in inner-city Chicago persuaded him otherwise. He taught freshman science, chemistry, and a little physics prior to accepting the position here. Besides teaching and the completion of his own education, Austin spends a lot of time working with muscle cars. He recently rebuilt a 1975 Camaro. He also enjoys sports and farming, aspires to own a hobby farm, and sponsors his church youth group with his wife. His experiences have left him with much advice to pass on to his students. “The choices and decisions that you are making now will become the foundation for who you will be tomorrow. Always keep your head up looking down the road, so when tomorrow comes you’ll know where you’re at,” said Austin.

December Female Student of the Month

Laura Words of wisdom: Never give up, and don’t be discouraged, even though grades are no longer weighted. Favorite subject: AP Chemistry, especially on lab days! Best high school memory: Going to the dances with my friends!

Variety

December 2005

Junk of the Month

BY KATY WILSON AND ALLI MACKO

Ballin’ ain’t easy when you drive cars like these. If their cars were only as sweet as their three point shots, these girls would have it made. Junior Cassie Schrock drives a 1993 Chevrolet Lumina. Despite the recent addition of a CD player for her birthday, there is nothing new about it. “The car is pretty much a family tradition. It went from being DJ’s, to Ben’s, and now it is mine,” said Schrock. Though Schrock has been driving it for about eleven months now, she has yet to put a scratch on it. “DJ broke off one of the side door mirrors, and Ben put a big dent in the front right bumper, but I am still perfect!” said Schrock. Similar to Schrock, senior Laura Falkenberg’s piece of junk has had quite the life. Her car “Big Red,” also known as “The Beast,” has had many drivers through the years. “It was my brother Dan’s car first, then Ben’s, now mine,” said Falkenberg. When the Falkenbergs first bought the car, it was five years old with “a billion” miles on it. “Somehow it survived Ben’s reckless driving, and it still manages to ‘run’ today,” said Falkenberg. Although she claims that most of the time “Big Red” is shaking out of control, that is hardly the beginning of why her car is a

classic “Junk of the Month.” “It is missing a hubcap (of course that was Ben’s fault.) The gas cap is barely hanging on any more. It is rusty. The windshield wipers do not work. The heat never gets going while I am on my way to school,” explained Falkenberg. The car is prone to danger at all times. “The door does not prop open on the driver’s side, and I have almost lost a foot because of it. The brakes do not work after it rains, and I have almost skidded into ten cars. The rearview mirror falls off all the time. The front left side of the car is smashed (Ben’s fault again). The paint is chipped on the bumper. The lining on the passenger’s side door is missing, so the rain leaks in,” added Falkenberg. Much like Schrock, Falkenberg is a master in her driving skills and has yet to damage her car. Schrock said she does not think that it would make much of a difference if she were to put a scratch on the vehicle. It would all blend in. Though they do not own the pimpest of rides, watch when they drive by. Whether on the court or on the road, you will stand back and watch in amazement as to how they get it done.

Senior, Laura (left) and Junior, Cassie (right), sit on their pieces of junk. Although their cars aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed, their ballin’ skills on the one hundred percent better. PHOTO BY KATY WILSON

Winter weather brings harsh reality to many student drivers BY KRISTI HAVENS

While walking in a winter wonderland may be a beautiful sight, driving in one is not. As a matter of fact, crash rates and related injuries are higher in the winter than any other season. With winter approaching, this can be an especially risky time for inexperienced teen drivers. The leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. Preparing your vehicle for the winter season and knowing how to react if stranded or lost on the road are the keys to safe winter driving. Te e n a g ers tend to be more irresponsible when it comes to driving. But are they really aware of the possible consequences they may .

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face if they do not improve their driving habits? There are many common driving habits among teens that may result in a fatal crash during poor winter weather. Teens tend to drive fast, make fast stops, tailgate, and among all these faults, they also have a lack of experience. It is important not to pump your antilock brakes. When sliding, in the snow, it is important that you use the brakes as if you did not have any. Using your brakes can lead to your car spinning out of control. “I was going down a hill, pressed my breaks, and I completely lost control of my car and did a donut. Luckily, there were no other cars involved, but there were a few unfortunate mailboxes,” said junior Chris Glockner. In order to decrease crash rates during the winter season, students must become aware that they could hurt themselves and others if they are not careful behind the wheel. It would not be a bad idea to take your car and practice in an empty parking lot. There is no better way to enjoy the beauty of winter than to travel safely and without any accidents. Just remember to keep your eyes on the road and not the snowmen in yards on the side of the road.

Safety Tips for Drivers * Begin by clearing all ice and snow from the windows, hood, roof, trunk, turn signals, taillights, and headlights of your vehicle. * Slow down! Posted speed limits are for ideal conditions. * Leave plenty of room for stopping. * Brake early and carefully. Do not pump antilock brakes. * Watch for slippery bridge decks, even when the pavement is in good condition. * Do not use the cruise control in slippery conditions. The short touch of your brakes to deactivate the cruise control can be enough to lose control of your car. * Remember that trucks are heavier and need more room to stop and maneuver. It also would not be a bad idea to put something heavy in the back of your truck. * Look further ahead in trafﬁc than you normally would to see the situation in front of you.

Picture Page

December 2005

Christmas Cheer

Q: What did the big furry hat say to the warm woolly scarf? A: “You hang around while I go on ahead.” Q: What do you get if Santa goes down the chimney when a ﬁre is lit? A: Crisp Cringle Q: What do snowmen eat for lunch? A: Icebergers Q: How do you keep from getting cold feet? A: Don’t go around BRRfooted!

Q: Why does Santa have 3 gardens? A: So that he can hoe, hoe, hoe. Q: Where do polar bears vote? A: The North Pole! Q: Why was Santa’s little helper depressed? A: He had a low elf esteem. Q: What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? A: Claustrophobic

9. 8.

10.

Happy Holidays from the Picture Page!

1. Local houses in the community show off their Christmas spirit with outdoor light displays. 2. Seniors Katier and Tara enjoy a friendly snowball ﬁght. 3. Nutcrackers are always a favorite to decorate for the holidays inside your home. 4. The Christmas tree in the center of downtown Wadsworth that has been decorated with various homemade ornaments. 5. The gazebo downtown has also been decorated for the holidays. 6. First Merit Bank, on the square always wraps their building like a gift for the Christmas season. 7. Wadsworth even goes as far as to put decorations on the light poles in the community. 8. Senior Natemakes a snow angle in a pair of his favorite snake skins tights. 9. Christmas wreaths can be seen all of the town on local businesses. 10. Juniors Meganand Mike take time out of Spanish class to get a quick picture with Sra. Mathews

Picture Page

The Crucible

December 2005

BY D. GRASSELL AND N. JACK

Members of The Crucible spent many hours preparing for this dramatic play. All of their hard work obviously paid off, when one of the largest crowds ever showed up for the drama. “Seeing that many people at our school play really makes performing more enjoyable,” said Sara Bowen. The play tells the story of what happened in the small town of Salem, Massachusetts, in late 1692. The daughter of the Reverend Parris, the town’s minister, becomes deathly ill. Many of the townspeople immediately think of witchcraft, and the whole town goes into a frantic state. A reverend specializing in witchcraft visits the small town to see if there are witches among them. He then tells the people that he sees signs of deﬁnite witchcraft. A group of teenage girls send numbers of people to jail for suspected witchcraft. The main character, John Proctor, realizes that the entire town has gone crazy and will not lie or confess to witchery to save

himself from being hung. Cast members met every day, Monday through Friday, to do a run-through of each act, making sure their performances would be perfect in time for the play’s opening night. Many students were impressed with the performances of the actors. Some even say that they deserve an Oscar. The student actors made the play very worthwhile to see, and each actor contributed their many acting

talents. Hopefully, we can count on these actors to continue their participation so that the drama department can entertain for many plays to come.

THE END 5.

8. 7.

1. John Proctor (Aaron ) and Elizabeth Proctor (Robin ) share a moment alone. 2. John Proctor holds back Giles Corey (Tim from attacking Thomas Putnam. 3. John Hale (Matt ) pleads with Danforth (Matt ) for a more just trial. 4. Mary Warren (Sara ) prepares to give her deposition. 5. John ponders his decision. 6. Rebecca Nurse (Kim ) refuses to confess to witchcraft in front of John Hale. 7. John Proctor tears up his confession to save the reputation of his name. 8. Thomas Putnam (Justin ) and Francis Nurse (David ) listen to the court hearing. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MRS. CSAKY

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December 2005

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Dick and Judi Jones Roger and Sharon Wright David Justice Dale and Kathy Yaussy The Kaminskis Roseann Ziraks Mr. Larry Kaufman and Family Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Zvada The Keener Family Elizabeth Khoury Dwain Kibler Debbie and Gary Lake Joe, Sue, Patrick&Cody Lamielle Jim and Karen Little Rich and Cheri Long Mr. and Mrs. Lumsden Paul and Kathy Macko Brian Madigan Bruce and Joanne Manning Barbra McConnell Steve and Sarah McIlvaine Mr. and Mrs. McInturff The Mooney Family Steve Moore Nancy Mueller Ralph and Karen Myers Mrs. S. Nedoh www.wadsworth. Roger and Leslie North The O’Neil Family k12.oh.us Todd and Kelly Osborn John and Laurie Pierrot Bill and Sharon Powell Don and Alice Robinson Mike Schmeltzer Linda Siesky Jesse and Cathy Smith Billy and Debbie Snodgrass Joe and Lori Snoke Dan and Karen Snyder The Stano Family Cheryl Steigederwald The Stitzel Family The Stugmyers Mr. and Mrs. Al Sullivan Trish Swanson and Family Bonnie and Kevin Sypolt J. Teringo Clarke and Shawn Van Dyke Thomas VanMil Anne Vlosky Dana Weber The Wienecke Family Brian Williams and Family Mr. and Mrs. M.D. Wilson

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December 2005

News

December 2005

Online shopping sites become more convenient

BY COURTNEY HARRIS

With the holiday season just around the corner, shopping is on everyone’s mind. Shopping has now become even easier, even to the point where you do not have to leave the comfort of your own home. Online shopping has become more popular than ever. The concern about credit fraud is at an all time high of 47 percent, while 32 percent are worried about sending personal information across the World Wide Web. A government launched campaign to try to boost internet shopping suggested that there is less fraud online than out on the streets, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. Online fraud affected 2 percent of shoppers compared to 3 percent that were affected on the streets. This year there will be a lot more to consider besides credit fraud. In the Northeast, we have some of the most brutal winters. Depending on the weather, many may not be able to go out. Along with the still unsteady gas prices, online shopping with free shipping eliminates both problems. Factors driving shoppers to make online purchases include: convenience of online product searches and comparison shopping, competitive pricing, and Web-only sales promotions or products. More appealing reasons are the hours available

to shop online due to the Internet “never closing” and the avoidance of the hustle and bustle of the rowdy crowds. This season, online shopping is expected to increase 25 percent from last year according to a recent survey done by MyPoints.com. Shoppers plan to do 54 percent or more of their holiday shopping on the Internet. Online shopping is mostly done by women, 62 percent versus 38 percent of men. Top shopping categories include apparel, holiday and seasonal items, and videos and DVDs. According to JuniperResearch, a division of Jupitermedia Corporation, it is forecasted that the 2005 holiday sales season will reach approximately $26 billion in the United States alone. Of the people surveyed, 48 percent plan to give gifts to between five and 20 people outside their families and close friends. The most common present given will be gift cards, the more casual gift-giving present. However, online shopping has not stopped shoppers from going out and getting certain holiday specials. For example, people decided not to miss out on the infamous “Black Friday,” one of the biggest shopping days of the year occurring on the day after Thanksgiving. The first Monday after Thanksgiving is known as “Cyber Monday,” the unofficial beginning of

Safe Holiday Online Shopping Tips

1. Try using search engines to find certain stores or products. But be sure to make sure that the sites coming up have a good reputation and products. Some companies pay the search engines to place their sites first on the results list, regardless of the company and quality of products. 2. Do your homework when using small stores rather than large retailers . Check sites like www.ecomments.com to see if anyone has complained about the company or their products. Also, look for a real address and telephone number to make sure they are a legitimate company 3. Make sure to check out the return policy. Know the time lines for returns, restrictions, and potential fees. 4. According to the National Consumer’s League, credit cards are the safest way to shop online — you are liable for $50 maximum if you are billed a fraudulent charge. If you are dissatisfied with the Web site’s service or the products delivered, using a credit card gives you some recourse. Since the credit card funds are not immediately withdrawn from your account, you can dispute a charge using all the muscle of Visa, Amex, or MasterCard. 5. Shipping will also be a big problem this year. The United Postal Service becomes bogged down with too many packages, so be sure to allow the right amount of time for your deliveries. the online holiday shopping season. They estimated that 52 million people at least browsed that day. According to MSN.com, as the week wore on, shoppers seemed to lose interest in the deals. Combined sales for November 26 and 27 were down from last years numbers by .5 percent to 13.4 billion. Analysts said

there was heavy shopper trafﬁc for the day after Thanksgiving, but consumers apparently lost their enthusiasm once those early bird specials were over. With the days till Christmas slowly dwindling down, make sure to get your orders in online or head to the stores for the best deals and newest items.

Cell phones create problems in schools this rule is in effect, many still have found ways to use their cell Everywhere students and phones throughout the school teachers look, there is at least one day. It is very common for stuvisible cell phone. One cannot go dents to send and receive both to a store or drive down a street text and picture messages to and without seeing a student on a cell from friends during class. This is phone. You are even starting to especially true when they are in study hall. see cell phones S o m e being used in “Cell phones are a great schools. methods stucommunication tool be- dents use to Even though tween parents and chil- hide their cell cell phones were created to help dren, but not between phone usage people keep in are hiding it the hours of seven and under the desk touch, they have created some or using it in three. “ unforeseen probthe restroom lems. These proband then using lems are in every it there. They aspect of a student’s life. This is will put their head down and hide especially true in schools and at it under their the workplace. arm. Cell phones give a student the One way ability to both send and receive that students texts and pictures to and from get caught with their friends and family. This is their cell phones great, but it is happening at times is that they forwhen students should be focused get to put it into on other things, like their school- silent or vibrate work and jobs. mode. When Here at the high school, the it goes off, the cell phone policy states that teacher knows. cell phones are not permitted in This does not school. They should be turned off always work for and placed in your locker during the teacher since the normal school day. The hours many students are able to hide the from 7:30 a.m. to 2:38 p.m. are fact that it is their phone. Others problems with cell considered a normal school day. If they are seen, the policy phones occur in many other public states that they will be conﬁs- places. These include cell phones cated. ringing in movie theaters or resEven though students know taurants; this is distracting to the

From your principal

BY KAT LITTLE

Juniors Matt , Nate, Ben , Nate and Ben all use their cell phones. Photo By Jesse Mooney.

other people. Students talking on the phone while they are driving has also caused many problems. These include accidents and tickets because they were not paying attention to driving, and they did something that was not smart. Another problem is that people talk on the cell phone rather than to the salesperson that is waiting on them in a store. This is inconsiderate behavior. Even though cell phone usage has these problems, they are still a great way for parents and students to keep in touch with each other, given that the situation is appropriate. School is simply not one of those times.

The holiday season is the perfect opportunity for me to count my blessings and say thank you to the many wonderful groups at Wadsworth High School. First, I would like to say thank you to the many wonderful students at Wadsworth High School. I am always impressed with your positive attitudes, your generosity and your kindness toward your classmates and teachers. Second, I would like to thank the entire staff at Wadsworth High School. You are one of the most professional and caring staffs I have ever worked with. Next, I would like to thank the parents and families of our community. We are very fortunate to have families that value and support the education of their children. On behalf of everyone at Wadsworth High School, I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous holiday season. - Mr. Williams

News Briefs - Supreme Court battles over Roe v. Wade ruling from 1973. - The Pennsylvania September 11 Memorial will be redesigned. - Fierce storms kill ﬁve in the plains due to slipper roads and one in Arkansas due to a tornado. - Ford Motor Company will cut 25,000 to 30,000 jobs. - Air marshals shot and killed Rigoberto Alpizar on an American Airlines ﬂight for “using threatening words” including those to the effect of him “having a bomb.”

13 Next generation in gaming has arrived Music/Entertainment

BY BRADLEY MUELLER

Here come the holidays, and here come the toys. The wait is up for the next generation gaming systems, along with the question, “Which to choose?” Ever since the days of Nintendo, gaming has become a large part of people’s lives. With advances in technology, gaming’s popularity has grown exponentially, but many wonder if it will level off. This is where innovation begins, adding another element to the competition. The Xbox 360 was recently released just in time for the holiday rush. Those who really wanted it were willing to pay the high price, if they could get their hands on one because of the low stock. Raising the prices from the last generation, the Playstation 3 is expected to be about $500, and the Xbox 360 starts around $300 for the core system and $400 for the whole package. The core system includes the console, one wired controller, and the composite TV connection. The whole package includes the console, a wireless controller, a detachable 20GB hard drive, a HD component A/V cable, Ethernet connectivity cable, a headset, and a remote control, making the $400 worthwhile. Microsoft also made Xbox Live a now standard and free feature. However, it has limitations which promote people to subscribe to Xbox Live Silver and Xbox Live Gold. Sony’s Playstation 3 is to be

released in early 2006, posing as Microsoft’s main competitor. This eight processor, full-fledged computer system brings technology of the future to the present, introducing Blu-ray discs to the public. These CD’s have a storage capacity equal to ten DVD discs, allowing games to be much larger, more complex, and of higher quality. Sony’s system supports up to seven wireless controllers, is backwards compatible, and can be displayed over two high definition TV’s, along with digital surround sound. The Xbox 360 supports four wireless controllers, is limited with backward compatibility, and can only be displayed on one TV, yet it has its advantages. According to IGN Entertainment, the 360 has three times more general purpose processing power than the PS3, making the overall aspect of gaming better. Also the PS3 has less than one fifth of the bandwidth of the 360, causing 3-D rendering to break down and not reach the GPU’s potential. Despite the figures, the PS3 promises to make up for it with its eight processors. Trailing away from the performance competition, Nintendo’s Revolution has one processor with 512MB of RAM and the ever so familiar memory cards for storage. Improving from the Gamecube, the Revolution will support DVD’s and is backward compatible all the way to the original Nintendo. It also features wireless in-

December 2005

ternet and a pair of USB 2.0 ports. The secret to the significance of the name is right in your palm... literally. The Revolution’s revolutionary controller has builtin motion sensors, allowing the p l a y e r ’s motions to control the game. Possibilities are possibly endless with such an innovation, truly changing the definition of the video game controller. As attractive as these systems appear, things like these tend to have a down side. A significant amount of complaints were reported to Microsoft regarding crashing Xbox 360’s and many other glitches involved. Hopefully, the PS3 and Revolution will not have those problems. With high prices come high expectations, and many wonder what to expect. Truly this generation of gaming systems makes a great leap forward, reaching a whole new plateau by finding other advances in technology to improve the world of gaming.

Laser Quest seeks to supply good time

Questing not only fun and challenging, but sure to please the most picky taste BY CODY STEIGERWALD

Fast paced, high energy excitement, ﬂashing lights, pounding music and plenty of fog. These are descriptions that bring to mind the sweeping craze of Laser Quest. From the youngest enthusiast, to the retired veteran, LQ has something for everyone. It requires nothing in the way of special equipment you need to buy, and at seven dollars a game for non-members, it is reasonably priced for the amount of entertainment supplied. While our staff game was snowed out, the few that showed up found enough to do while waiting to play a game that never happened in their sleek, up to date, and expensive arcade. Dance Dance Revolution: Remix capti-

vated our staff. Albeit, the meat and potatoes were missing from our sampling

The friendly staff at LQ. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CODY STEIGERWALD

of LQ; past experiences have been in general, have met with positive feedback. It meets many tastes, as there are basically two styles of play available for anyone to chose from in a range of combinations. Personally I like to run around the entire maze and upper areas tagging anything , whether it moves or not. As it turns out, many of the smaller questers unite at one sector of the course, standing in one place with a perimeter of defense or constant attack. Neither style of combination seems to be better than the other: it is all up to whatever ﬂoats your boat. Whatever style you choose, the point is to have fun, play hard, play smart, and play to survive. Laser Quest will continue to provide plenty of fast paced action for all the e-weekend warriors out there. Good luck!

Next Generation systems Playstation 3 (left), Xbox 360 (middle), and Revolution (right), are being released this winter. The most noticable innovation, Nintendo’s Revolution controller, utilizes real motion to control the games. An optional joystick is also available (below). PHOTOS

COURTESY OF www. joystiq.com, www.xbox. com, www.ign.com, www. gamespot.com

Top ten new and old movies to see this holiday season BY AMY JARVIS

With the Christmas holiday rapidly approaching, many are thinking about what they are going to do over their winter break. There are many great new movies coming out this winter season. If moviegoers are not ones to go out during their winter break, they can enjoy some of the classics that many families and friends have enjoyed in past years. Watching movies is a very common and enjoyable past time shared among many families. Some even make it a tradition to spend Christmas Eve or Christmas

Top Ten Classic Holiday Movies

1. A christmas story 2. National Lampoon’s christmas vacation

3. A charlie brown christmas

4.How the Grinch stole chirstmas

5.Home alone 6.rudolph the rednosed reindeer

Frosty the Snowman

Day watching movies together. Some of the classics are A Christmas Story, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and It’s a Wonderful Life. Although these movies are some of the most highly viewed, many will ﬁnd themselves in a movie theatre this holiday season checking out some of the newest movies such as The Ringer and Just Friends. If either of these options appeal to you, then here is a list of the top ten classic movies and a list of the top ten new movies coming out this Christmas.

Top Ten New Movies this holiday

1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2. 3.

Just Friends The Chronicles of

Narnia: The lion the witch and the wardrobe

4. King Kong 5. Yours, Mine & Ours 6. Cheaper by the Dozen 2

7. Walk the Line 8. White christmas 9. It’s a wonderful life 8. Rumor has it 9. Rent 10. Miracle on 34th street 10. The Ringer The Wadsworth Literature as Film class would like to send a giant “thank you” to Mr. Jeff Davis, owner of the Great Oaks Cinema. Generously, Mr. Davis opened his heart and his theater to give our class a private showing of the latest Harry Potter ﬁlm, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Thank you, Mr. Davis. Your thoughtfulness and generosity were truly appreciated.

Sports 1

December 2005

Basketball team prepares to be threat

Hard work and constant diligence gets team prepared, focused to be quite a force to reckon with tin. “They will also have to take pride in their defense in order to While most students at WHS do well this year.” are sleeping early in the morning, The team has lost some mathe boys basketball team is work- jor players. However, there are ing hard to prepare for this season. some new faces this year that are Starting as early as 5:30 in the ready to be big attributes. Capmorning, these athletes are put- tains Zach Farver and Aaron ting in the time and effort needed Capps, along with seniors Justin to be great. As early as spring of McInturff, Cory Peters, and Jeff last year, they have been working Harsh, prepare to lead the team out and participating to success. in tournaments. “They will also have to J u n i o r s Preparation is one Contake pride in their defense sDrew of the most underrattanstine in order to do well this and Mike ed events to a sport. It lets people focus in Barlow are year.” on what needs to be going to done and the correct be keys to way to do it. The the team’s Coach Martin boys basketball team success. is prepared. What they do to Sophomores Taylor Smith and get ready is not even matchable. Joe Goddard will provide good They are taking extra time out of depth and are potential threats their mornings to improve their wherever they play. shooting abilities. “Our team not only has great “Coming in early helps the players in our seniors, we have kids develop discipline and en- great players in our juniors and courages a lot of team unity. They sophomores. They are very hard shoot two hundred shots, three working and put the team ahead times a week,” said coach Mar- of themselves,” said Jeff Harsh. BY ZACH BERGER

The team has played two games so far this season. They are 1-1. The teams they have faced were great competition and let the boys realize how quickly their hard work has paid off. Along with great players, comes great coaching. Martin still is the Varsity head coach. Although he now has Mike Sladky and Mike Schmeltzer Jr. as his assistants. “They grew up and played here. They are Wadsworth through and through. They know the traditions and what is expected,” said Martin. Many area newspaper previews feel the 2005 grizzly basketball team will be a threat to every team they face due to the players’ abilities, depth, and hard work. They will out hustle teams, and that will keep them in most games. “We are prepared to be threats to every team we play. We are going to give our best effort every game. No team will have an easy time against us. You can count on that,” said Mike Barlow.

Coach Martin and Sladky instruct the team during a timeout. Justin lays the ball into the net. Mike makes a free throw during the game. PHOTOS BY ZACH BERGER

Coach Booth implements team work, strong defense BY SHELLY ANDERSON

Name: Laura Sport: Basketball Season Expectations: We’ve set our

goals high; we expect our team to be very successful and make it far when tournament time rolls around.

Advice to other athletes:

If you really love what you do, devote all that you can to excel in it. Try to play every game like it is your last.

Name: Zachary Season Expectations: To be contend-

ers in the Surburban League, and do well in the playoffs. Play as a team and improve each and every game.

Advice to other athletes: Always give 110%. Never give up when adversity is thrown your way.

The girls basketball team has worked hard all summer to make the transition to new coach Andy Booth as easy as possible. Still in the process of team building, the team took a hard loss to Canton Hoover in their season opener Saturday. Tuesday, November 29, the team hosted Wooster for their home opener. The girls kept a lead for the majority of the game, but Wooster strung together a 13point run in the last few minutes to tie the game. Cassie Schrock hit two foul shots with less than a second to go to end the game 6765, with Wadsworth on top. After the 2004-05 season, Coach Scott Callaghan resigned as head girls basketball coach. Booth was chosen to replace him late this past spring. As soon as he was hired, Coach Booth began his work with the team. The team competed in various tournaments and camps over the summer to prepare for the season. For further preparation, the members of the team took part in a fall league. “During the offseason, we tried to give the girls as much information as possible on the way we wanted to play,” said Coach Booth. The team has a tough schedule ahead of them. So tough, in fact, that it is considered to be one of the toughest schedules in Ohio. It is complete with state powers Chamanade-Julianne, Lakota West, and many others. In addition to the tough nonconference teams, the team will see a lot of competition in the Suburban League. The team won the league last year with only a close game or two. More teams

seem to be in contention for placement this season. The team has held their own so far beating Cloverleaf and Green. The coaching staff and team members are hoping that this tough schedule will prepare them for the tournament games, come the end of the season. “We would like to add on to the great Wadsworth tradition, and, hopefully with a little push, we will deliver a trip to Columbus for our school and community,” said Coach Booth. Undoubtedly, Booth’s main focus is defense along with agression. Booth is concerned with keeping a press on the opponent at all possible times and at all costs. He shapes his entire game plan around this and saves the offense as a secondary concern. The team and coaching staff have been very welcoming to the new coach, helping to make the transition easy. In turn, Coach Booth and his coaching style have been accepted by the players and returning coaches. “He is always motivating us, and he is positive the whole time,” said junior Jen Uhl. Booth chose senior Laura Falkenberg and junior Cassie Schrock as the team captains. Both are entering their third season on Varsity. The pair expects to be very successful this season and hopes to lead their team to many victories. In addition to the captains, the team returns juniors Jen Uhl and Alli Macko. Filling the graduated positions are seniors Stephanie Prechtel and Emily Brede, junior Kristi Havens, and sophomores Chrissy Pavlik and Britt Busson. Freshmen Lindsay Tenyak and Kristen Bennett are two others new to the Varsity team.

Sports 2 Sports Briefs Wrestling

- This year’s team is returning from a 15-3 record, along with a 3rd place State ﬁnish. With last year’s State Runner-up Derek Foore, State Qualiﬁer Jordan Bryson, and State Alternate Dave Crowley, the Grizzlies look to win the SLT for the 14th year in a row. They will need some help from the underclassmen after losing seven lettermen from last year.

Boys Basketball

- Returning ﬁve lettermen from last year, the Grizzlies look to make a run for the SLT. They had an overall 11-11 record and were 8-6 in the league last year. This year’s only returning starter Aaron Capps, will have some help from seniors Zach Farver, Justin McInturff, Jeff Harsh, and Corey Peters. Mike Barlow is the only underclassman starter this year for the Grizzlies.

Girls Basketball

- Coming off of another impressive season, the Lady Grizzlies are trying to win the SLT for the15th time in the last 16 years. Finishing 14-0 in the league and 19-3 overall, they are returning only two starters Jen Uhl and Cassie Schrock from last year. Seniors Laura Falkenberg, Steph Prechtel, Emily Brede, and juniors Cassie Schrock and Jen Uhl will have the help of some talented underclassmen to help them along the way.

Girls Swimming

- This year’s team is returning from a 6-6 season and will continue to improve. With four girls that went to district competition last year returning, the Grizzlies look to provide for some tough competition this year in the Suburban League.

Boys Swimming

- Returning all but two of last year’s team members, this year’s team looks to take over the Sububan League Title. With seniors Chris Pecnik, Brandon Metzler, Ben Stirgwolt, Corey Durbin, and Josh Thomas leading the way, juniors Chris Jones, Ben Watts, Jake Andreasen, and Dan May look to provide some support for this year’s team.

Gymnastics

- Returning from a 5th Place ﬁnish at the District meet last season, this year’s team looks to bring tough competition. With returning letter winners Chelsea SirLouis, Caitlin Boatwright, Jesse Mooney, and Kathy Little, this year’s team looks to place at the top of the District meet this year.

15 Lebron leads Cavs to fast start December 2005

BY KYLE SNOKE

After one of the most disappointing collapses in Cavaliers history last year, Lebron James and the rebuilt, reenergized Cavaliers are back on top of the NBA. With a current record of 11-6, and the majority of the losses coming from top teams, many expect big things from Lebron and company this year. The main reason for this fast start is the new additions to the Cavs this year. Guard Larry Hughes is the ﬁrst to come to mind. He gives the Cavs another playmaker and a solid defensive presence. The other two key additions are sharpshooters Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones, who were two of the best 3-point shooters in the game last season. Add those three to an already solid team consisting of Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden, Eric Snow, and of course, Lebron, and you have a team built for a run to the NBA ﬁnals. “The Cavaliers are having one heck of a season,” said Senior Scott Landerholm. Following a rough 1-2 start,

the Cavs rattled off eight straight wins, their longest winning streak in several years. Their ten wins in November are tied for a club record. However, the Cavs have cooled off as of late, losing four of their last seven. Never fear, though, as these losses were close and to some of the top teams in

the NBA. With all these games taken into account, the Cavs are 11th in ESPN’s Power Rankings. Overall, the only thing that can prevent the Cavs from having a successful season is themselves. After starting last season in a similar fashion, injuries and poor teamwork resulted in Leb-

Lebron James shows emotion in a recent game. He is averaging almost 30 points per game this season. PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.BBALLONE.COM

ron to take it upon himself, trying to carry the team on his back to

“The Cavaliers are having one heck of a season!” Scott Landerholm, 12 the playoffs. Unfortunately, the team broke down around him after the all-star break, ﬁnishing out of playoff contention. This year is different, “I have a comfort level with [these] guys of when I come out of the game they are going to take care [of business], and are going to hold the fort down until I get back in. They do a great job,” said Lebron. Cleveland fans have been tortured so far this year after a heart breaking collapse from the Indians and inconsistent play from the Browns. Things are looking up, however, as the Cavs seem to be on pace to break this abysmal

Holiday season sparks pigskin madness BY CODY VALIANTE

In spite of the chilly air in the atmosphere, college football is really heating up. As teams press forward in hopes of achieving that illustrious Bowl Championship Series bowl bid that only a selective few attain. The BCS is what truly causes the “pigskin madness.” Teams like last years’ Auburn that go 130 are snubbed from the national championship, due to a screwy system that has failed in the past and could fail in the future. Sport commentators around the world continue to verbally bash the BCS system. The general public hate it, and the coaches despise it. Tension was released from the bowl selection committee when Alabama and Penn State suffered late season losses. Thus, creating an easy justiﬁcation for the BCS committee to situate the only two undefeated teams in USC and Texas in the national championship. Some bicker that it is easy to go undefeated when playing weaker opposition, and that the bigger schools from the Big Ten and the ACC, which have only experienced one loss, deserve to be in the national championship. But as the national championship match up seems to be the inevitable, there are still 27 bowl games left to be played. Fans can go and watch teams like North Texas and Appa-

lachian State battle it out on the gridiron in front of a lackluster crowd of around 5,000. Or would you rather go and watch collegiate powerhouse’s like Miami and Notre Dame battle it out, as they ﬁght for every inch, in front of a sold-out crowd, as they attempt to move on in a collegiate football playoff system. At the beginning of the year what is a team’s goal? Is it to play in the Campbell Chunky Soup Bowl? No, they want to be in Pasadena in the national spotlight playing for the national championship. Many argue and claim if a team goes undefeated that they should play in the national championship. That creates even more controversy, because the teams that do go undefeated usually beat up on feeble opposition. Fan favorites like Florida State and Ohio State national championship dreams are shattered after just one loss. Are we not a second chance society? Should a team really wind up in the Gaylord’s Hotel Bowl just because they stumbled and lost a game by a last minute ﬁeld goal? No, because everybody knows that a team can beat any other team on any given day. So, let’s show that good old holiday spirit and give teams a second chance, a chance they need, a chance they deserve.

Reggie Bush steam rolled to 513 total yards as USC went on to beat Fresno State 50-42. PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.CNNSI.COM

Michael J. Boyer, D.P.M. Podiatrist Sports Medicine

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Oddity

December 2005

Happy Holidays from The Bruin Across 1. Santa ________ 2. What you get if you’re bad 5. Opposite of cool 8. Polka ________ 9. It’s tied around a present 10. Heavenly being 11. December 25 13. Eaten with soup 15. Pals, buddies 16. It’s used to fasten gift wrap 18. Metallic tree decoration 20. Myself 21. He was born on Christmas 22. “Away in a _________” 23. Santa’s helper 25. Christmas plant 27. Notorious snowman 28. Decoration for a door 29. Journeys

CROSSWORD COURTESY OF SQUIGLYSPLAYHOUSE.COM

Want to win a fabulous surprise?

Use your best coloring skills to color this picture. The best entries will be chosen by the Bruin staff. One winner will be selected from each grade to receive a special prize. Turn all entries in to Coach G in Room 17 by January 6.

Down 1. Mailed greeting 2. Christmas songs 3. Adjective describing Santa 4. Red and white peppermint sticks 5. What season it is 6. Mary is this to Jesus 7. Gifts 12. Kiss under this 14. Christmas color 17. All 18. Name cards for gifts 19. ________ pole 20. Tune, melody 22. ________ Christmas! 24. Giggles 26. Outdoor decoration

Random Holiday Facts The poinsettia was named for Joel Poinsett, a U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who introduced it to the United States from Mexico in 1829. Spangler Candy Company manufactures 2.5 million candy canes per day. The common abbreviation for Christmas to Xmas is derived from Greek. X is the ﬁrst letter of Christ’s name in the Greek alphabet. For every real Christmas tree harvested, two to three seedlings are planted. The British Parliament ofﬁcially banned the celebration of Christmas in 1643. Because of time zones, Santa has 31 hours to deliver gifts all over the world. The downtown gazebo looks especially festive when covered with snow.

PHOTO BY EMILY HOOVER

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was originally created as a promotion for Montgomery Ward Department Stores. Christmas was declared a national holiday by President Grant.

What is your favorite part of the holiday season?

Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” is the best-selling Christmas single of all time. LIST COMPILED FROM VARIOUS INTERNET SOURCES

Doing Christmas shopping at the Hobby Lobby with all my friends. -Ellie Hansen, 12 Um... presents! -Autumn Healey, 9

My favorite part of the holidays is spending time with my family. -Lauren Steidel, 9

I love spending quality time with my friend Dan Rahe while baking Christmas cookies in our ScoobyDoo pajamas. -Vince Greczanik, 12

My favorite part of winter break is just getting off school. Two weeks to play in the snow is a great thing to have. -Sultan Ahmed, 10

My favorite part of the holiday season is not having school and being able to travel. I can go to Nebraska to visit my family. Plus, this year I am going to London, England for the New Year’s Parade. -Emily Brede, 12

Black Friday! Nothing beats watching a middle-aged lady ﬁghting tooth and claw for a $150 computer. It’s better than PayPer-View! -Jon Losh, 11

Wadsworth High School Marketing Education “Learn to earn and earn to learn”