Volume CXIII, Issue 6 Tues., Dec. 11, 2018 The student news publication of Walnut Hills High School WHHSCBOX.COM
pg. 4 FEATURES- SENIOR Chase Pope inducted into Secretary’s Smithsonian Youth Advisory Council
pg. 5 SPORTS- Inside the Varsity Lady Eagles’ secret weapon: Deter Burgin
pg. 7 FINE ARTS- WHHS’s production of Into The Woods has received multiple Cappies nominations
Young phantoms of the opera Seventh graders Nicholas Astafiev-Holmes and Mischa Sella play the lead in CCM’s The Turn of the Screw
PHOTO COURTESY OF KAELIN BUTTS
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK LYONS
Nicholas Astafiev-Holmes (left), ‘24, and Mischa Sella (right), ‘24, sing the lead role of Miles in the opera The Turn of The Screw. Describing the final performance, Astafiev-Holmes said, “It was my favorite because we all bonded for the last time and we all hugged and gave out notes to each other. It was just a fun experience to get to be at closing night and we wanted to give it our best.”
Bobby Keegan, ‘22 The audience was on their feet giving a long applause, and the two members of junior choir here at WHHS, Mischa Sella, ‘24, and Nicholas Astafiev-Holmes, ‘24, felt truly accomplished as they had just finished the last performance of the opera The Turn of the Screw, a horror novella written by Henry James in 1898 and turned into an opera by Benjamin Britten in 1954, and performed at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM) from Nov. 15-18. The Turn of the Screw is a story about two young children, Miles and Flora, who are haunted by two people who used to work as servants in their house. Sella and AstafievHolmes play the lead role of Miles. The opera ran for one weekend and the two boys alternated playing the role, every other day. Miles is the center of attention in this opera as he is fought over by one of the ghosts, Peter Quint, and a new governess who recently was hired to watch the children. “I was a little kid that was confused and ghosts were getting into my mind and in-
fluencing me. I was just a little boy that was confused and did not know and then I end up dying,” Astafiev-Holmes said about his role as Miles in the opera. Even though the opera ran only one weekend, the two seventh graders had to work l o n g hours to prepare for the performance. With school and homework, that proved to be a struggle to keep up with everything. “Some nights I had to stay up very late because I had to go to choir sometimes, so that was a struggle, but I ended up balanc-
ing it because I have second period study hall so I could just finish homework that I had not finished the night before,” Astafiev-Holmes said. The long hours of preparation were to make the opera flawless, but even having run through it many times, there was still that feeling of nervousness before the first performance. “I was definitely scared before the first performance,” Sella said. However, the two boys say the stress was all worth it because they were able to produce something truly beautiful and rewarding.
“It’s for fun, but I’m also thinking about going into a future career with some type of music.” - Nicholas AstafievHolmes, ‘24
“I felt really relieved because I could finally be done and I would not have to worry about it anymore, but I also felt like I wanted to do it a few more times because we didn’t have that many performances,” Sella said. The two boys are sopranos, which is unique even for their age, meaning they have a lot of time to do more great things as their voices develop. Sella already had played a minor part in a previous opera, and Sella will also be featured in an upcoming opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra Dec. 21-23. “I am excited to be in another opera and start the whole process over, but I do not know much about that opera yet,” Sella said. Both say they are singing in operas “just for fun” but after landing the lead role in this opera and both looking to continue, considering they are so young, singing in operas like these could turn into a lot more than “just fun.” “It’s for fun, but I’m also thinking about going into a future career with some type of music,” Astafiev-Holmes said.
OPINIONS
DECEMBER 11, 2018
WHHSCBOX.COM
SECTION EDITOR: ISABEL NISSLEY
PAGE 2
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Students left in dark with early school start times Sofia Tollefson, ‘21
When I walk down to the bus stop at 6:30 a.m., it’s still dark outside. Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I walk past dimly lit houses whose inhabitants have not yet awoken. My commute to school, just like many others, starts very early in the morning. But does it have to be this way? Should it be? The debate over school start times has been a long and complicated one. A majority of WHHS students have consistently supported moving school start time to 8:30. Surveys conducted by The Chatterbox during the 2017-2018 and 20182019 school years showed that a majority of students support the change. This sustained support suggests a need for change. But there are concerns, too. Some worries revolve around how extracurricular activities, jobs and other afterschool programs will be affected. But, Jilda Vargus-Adams, a WHHS parent and proponent of later start times, explained that “Many of these concerns are less salient within CPS because there is already a significant portion of the high schools who have an appropriate high school start time. There is a clear demonstration that you can still have a football team, the orchestra can still play, students can be in sports, have jobs and all of those things and attend a [CPS] high school that starts at 8:30 or later.” Woodward Career Technical High School is a Cincinnati Pub-
lic School beginning at 8:30 with about 992 students enrolled, according to U.S. News and World Report. Woodward offers more than 20 after-school clubs as well as over 10 athletic opportunities, showing that after-school activity is not decreased based on a later start time. Additionally, starting school at 8:30 offers a greater possibility for clubs to be hosted
to Andrew Fuligini, a professor at UCLA. Not only does more sleep improve students’ welfare, but the economic gain is also significant. A major concern of starting CPS later is the Metro bus company losing “tens of millions of dollars,” according to CPS. However, overall national positive economic trends could outweigh this cost. According to the Rand Corporation, after only two years of schools starting at 8:30, the U.S. economy would gain $8.6 billion. And after a decade, later school start times would contribute $83 billion to the U.S. economy. Dean Beebe, the director of the Neuropsychology Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, explained that later school start times are so vital to students during adolescence since internal body clocks shift later. However, schools don’t adjust with students’ body clocks leaving many teenagers sleep deprived. At the end of the day, lack of sleep for students is a very serious problem. As Vargas-Adams explained, “If there were a chemical in the water at [WHHS] that created those negative effects for most of the students we would spend any amount of money to remove that threat. So we just need to do the same thing for [this] public health crisis.”
“What is so remarkable, is that when you move school start times, kids sleep more. Students who are well-rested or even just plain less sleep deprived do better, they are happier, better adjusted and more resilient.” - Jilda Vargus-Adams both b e fore and after school. While the time for after-school activities is a concern, it is also easily addressed. The necessity of sleep for students, however, outweighs many other arguments. The benefits of students sleeping more are numerous, and range from improving mental and physical health to gaining billions of dollars to the U.S. economy. When students sleep more, the risk of anxiety and depression decreases severely, according
2 out of 3
WHHS students surveyed believe that decreasing the homework load will increase the amount of sleep they get
BLUE FIGURE, PHOTO COURTESY OF Clker-Free-Vector-Images, BLACK FIGURE, PHOTO COURTESY OF AIGA
Should school start at 8:30 instead of 7:30? WHHS’ Opinion 2017-2018
WHHS’ Opinion 2018-2019
I don’t 3.6% know
Maybe
No
31.5%
0 1020 30 40 50 60 70 All views shared in the Opinions section of The Chatterbox belong to their respective authors, and may not represent the views of the publication as a whole.
29.2%
No 64.9%
Yes
Data collected from 416 WHHS student responses
13.5%
56.9%
Yes
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Data collected from 504 WHHS student responses
Donald Trump does not care about the military HE’S GREAT AT TALKING THE TALK, BUT HE CAN’T WALK THE WALK
REHME LEANZA/CHATTERBOX
For Veterans Day, President Trump planned a grand military parade in Washington, D.C. WHHS honors its own veterans with a memorial in Blair Circle. Nick Robertson, ‘19 The President of the United States doesn’t care about America’s military. He has made fun of them, ignored them and disrespected them so many times that it’s easy to lose count. Unlike any president before
him, Donald Trump has disregarded the most important part of his role as Commander-in-Chief, leading by example in supporting the men and women who put their lives on the line for our country. On Oct. 31, Donald Trump ordered 5,200 military personnel to be deployed at the U.S.-Mexico border
to stop migrants from entering the country. A caravan of between 4,000 and 5,000 migrants from Central America, mostly Honduras, have been traveling toward the U.S. border, planning to apply for political asylum. The migrants made their way to Mexico City, where they rode on buses to Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego. They now line up at the border every day, awaiting their chance to enter the United States and apply for asylum, though legal ports of entry only allow 50-100 asylum claims per day, according to Nov. 26 BBC coverage. The deployed troops, however, are all along the border with Mexico; in Texas and Arizona and New Mexico, many of them hundreds of miles from where these migrants would cross. “This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!” Trump tweeted on Oct. 29. This is just one example of the many political stunts Trump has used the military for, and because of him, many of these troops were not able to see their families for Thanksgiving. The troops were stuck in large tents that lack air condi-
tioning and electricity, according to a Nov. 10 New York Times article. While campaigning for president, Trump regularly put down his opponents, even declaring that “I like people who weren’t captured,” in reference to Sen. John McCain, who had survived torture as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. He even put down a Gold Star family who gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention in July of 2016. Trump said of the family, who lost their son in the Iraq War in 2004 and are Muslim, that the mother “was not allowed to speak,” implying that it was because of their faith. He later wrote the family an apology letter for his statements. In October of 2017, after three Green Berets were killed in an operation in Niger, Trump had to apologize to the family of Sgt. LaDavid Johnson. According to Johnson’s widow, Myeshia, Trump could not recall LaDavid’s name during her phone call with the president, also saying that Johnson “knew what he signed up for,” downplaying the incident that resulted in Johnson’s death. Trump himself never served in
the military, which is not unusual for presidents, and has been accused of dodging the Vietnam draft by submitting false doctor’s reports. He deferred from the draft five times, once citing a medical issue, bone spurs in his feet. When questioned about the medical issue in 2016, Trump could not remember what foot the bone spurs were in, despite his own claim of having “one of the greatest memories of all time,” stated in an Oct. 27, 2016 campaign rally. These instances show, once again, that President Trump has no real respect for America’s military, only using them as generic subjects of pathos, or triumphs for his own ego. The men and women who put their lives on the line for our country are more than props, more than people who “knew what they signed up for.” They are America’s heroes, and should gain the respect of every American, let alone the basic acknowledgement of the man in charge of commanding them. All views shared in the Opinions section of The Chatterbox belong to their respective authors, and may not represent the views of the publication as a whole.
The Chatterbox Policy Statement The Chatterbox has been guaranteed the right of freedom of the press through the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The administration of Walnut Hills High School is thus bound to support and protect the Chatterbox’s inalienable rights as a free press. As an integral part of the Walnut Hills High School community, the Chatterbox has the responsibility to report in the most comprehensive and objective manner possible. Students,
parents, faculty, and administrators are encouraged to use this publication as a forum to express any ideas or concerns, whether they be personal or of local, national, or international scope. Journalists are required to work under established guidelines. Invasion of privacy as a means of news gathering is prohibited. Articles found to be discriminatory, libelous, or unnecessarily obscene (as determined by the editors or the advisor) will not be published. Finally, journalists are granted the right to keep private the name of
a source from whom they received information with the understanding that the source was to remain anonymous. The role of the newspaper advisor will be to provide counsel and criticism pertaining to the newspaper’s content and production. Although both the advisor and the administration hold certain powers regarding the Chatterbox, both must respect the paper’s autonomy. No student shall be prevented from joining the staff on the basis of sex, race, creed or national origin.
SARAH DAVIDOFF, ‘13
The Chatterbox Editorial Staff Matthew Youkilis, Editor-in-Chief
Amanda Anderson, Managing Editor of News and Features
Grace Berding, Managing Editor of Student Life
Ibrahim Munir, Managing Editor of Viewpoints
Caroline Horvath, Managing Editor of Visual Elements
Nick Robertson, Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Allyson Garth, Business Manager
Emma Heines, Video Content Manager
Samantha Gerwe-Perkins, Adviser
Brian Sweeney, English Department Chair
WHHSCBOX.COM CINCINNATI, OHIO
NEWS
DECEMBER 11, 2018
PAGE 3
SECTION EDITOR: DREW BROWN
Staff share thoughts about synagogue shooting Chyna Smith, ‘22 On Oct. 27, 2018, Robert Bowers opened fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11 people and wounding four officers. As Bowers was leaving, he encountered the police, exchanged gunfire and barricaded himself inside a third floor room. He then surrendered with multiple gunshot wounds. According to CNN, Bowers told police during the shootout, “I just want to kill Jews.” According to Vox. there were 1,986 anti-Semitic incidents in 2017. This is a large part of the nearly five percent spike in hate crimes in 2017. Also a staggering 19,000 Anti-Semitic tweets have been written on Twitter, according to CNN in 2017. Adviser of the L’chaim Club (formerly the Jewish Culture Club) Susan Donnett
shared her thoughts on the anti-Semitism that is still happening in the United States. “[This is not] the first time in the history of the Jewish people. This is a common occurrence that doesn’t make it any easier. It doesn’t make it any more correct,” Donnett said. She also explained her perspective on the response to the shooting, saying, “The message that came out in the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh was that love conquers hate, hate eats you up alive and love keeps you alive.” And it was not just the Jewish community that came together. “The Muslim community and the Christian community all show that we share an understanding of God that is one of love and compassion,” Donnett said. When asked if there have been antiSemitic activities at WHHS, Donnett said, “We have had anti-Semitic activities here at
Walnut Hills High School over the course of my years here. To the credit of the school and to the credit of the administration, they have always been addressed properly.” In considering this, Donnett said, “And that’s part of what you have to do, you have to face hate down and face discrimination down and show them that you will not be bullied because people often who do these horrible things feel that they have no power. They want to feel that they have power and this is how they show.” When asked about how the shooting affects the Jewish community at WHHS, counselor Renita Brooks said, “I think they [students] might be concerned for their safety because of this example of injustice against Jewish people. And in another part of the country, especially one that’s so close
to our city, probably makes them feel uncomfortable. And it makes them feel like it can happen here at home,” Brooks said. She also added, “Just like we always heard about mass shootings everywhere else, and you didn’t think it would happen here. And then we have what happened at the Fifth Third Bank. So I’m sure it makes them uncomfortable.” In spite of this, Donnett and her club have been very welcoming to outsiders. For people interested in Jewish culture, she said, “We would strongly encourage any student [who] wants to come to our meetings and join our cooking and our dancing and the different activities that we do. It is not a religious leader based club meeting, but it is based upon the ethics of our faith.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOVERNOR TOM WOLF/ WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
A mourner holds a candle at the vigil for the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting held by Governor Tom Wolf. Advocates against anti-Semitism are hoping to take this tragedy and turn it into an opportunity to raise awareness around anti-Semitism today and in the future of the United States.
Jewish students reflect, strive for change Conrad Kleiner, ‘19 Every week, millions of Jews around the world begin their routine to attend synagogue or other community services. They get dressed, brush their teeth, maybe even cook a family meal. And now, many are adding something new to their routine: checking exits at their synagogue to make sure they don’t get shot. This is the reality that Jewish community members around the United States now face after the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh that took place in October, and it’s also a situation that many of our own students at WHHS have been forced to confront. “People feel not scared, but disappointed and angry that we’ve gotten to a place where this can happen,” Bettina Ernst, ‘20, said. Ernst is an active member in her Jewish religious classes and local youth group. She believes that this shooting and other hate crimes like it are innate in American society, explaining that this kind of bigotry has been present in America since its inception. Of course, this shooting didn’t come out of the blue, and to many, it has become just another in a series of tragedies due to gun violence. But this shooting in particular begs the question: Is anti-Semitism in America on the rise? Ernst argues that it is. “Statistics show that in the past recent years hate crimes have gone up in general and hate crimes against the Jewish community have also gone up. Instances of anti-Semitism have risen,” Ernst said. Ernst is right. According to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents surged
57 percent in 2017, reversing a long downward trend of incidents in the United States. Despite this, many community members view and experience anti-Semitism not as a new issue; rather, it’s been a lingering force against the Jewish people for quite a while. “I think the statistics may say that there’s a rise [in anti-Semitism], but I think the problem is that anti-Semitism is a problem that’s not new. It’s a problem that’s gone on since basically Jews have been a race or a religion,” SENIOR Ben Spector said. Spector has been attending the same s y nago g ue since he was born, and in recent years has taken up a leadership role in local Jewish youth communities. And because of his strong Jewish identity, he, like many others, has been the target of a myriad of Holocaust and anti-Semitic jokes told by his peers. “We’ve all had Jewish jokes pointed at us for a long time since I came to Walnut. Ever since seventh grade, I’ve had to cope with that and understand that people might not be as culturally sensitive as I may be or may not understand that millions of people
died in the Holocaust,” SENIOR Brad Gallop said. Gallop spent his elementary years at a private Jewish day school, and has been a participant in his youth group since the eighth grade. And ever since he arrived at WHHS, he wondered how people can be so casual about anti-Semitism, and even joke about such tragic events. Considering WHHS students organized walkouts for gun control and initiatives for racial justice, it is unclear why this form of intol e r a n c e is so much m o r e prevalent, and often accepted . Spector believes that this is because of the nature that religious intolerance has taken on. “Religious persecution takes a much different form than it used to. There’s no longer Cossacks coming to raid your village or Nazis coming to round up your family and destroy your business. Today it’s more of a battle of language... When we have experiences like Charlottesville, where you had alt-right people coming in saying Jews will not replace us, or obviously this most recent Pittsburgh attack, there’s some element of
“One change makes a difference. One person can make a huge difference, because if one person who acted culturally insensitive realizes what they’ve done, says sorry and then tries to work to raise cultural awareness, that could be huge.” - SENIOR Brad Gallop
action, but for the most part it’s just hate speech, and ultimately there’s nothing you can do against hate speech,” Spector said. Can you do anything about hate speech? Until it incites violence, the Supreme Court has ruled time and time again, in cases such as the 2017 case Matal v. Tam: no. But cultural change doesn’t begin in the law books. “If you educate people and if you expose them to other cultures and give them the chance to appreciate all the positives in other faiths, other races, other religions, that’s how they will grow to understand. It’s not a problem that can be stopped by making a law... But if you educate people there won’t be a need to make a law,” Spector said. On an even more personal level, change in local communities can occur with the actions of even just one individual. “One change makes a difference. One person can make a huge difference, because if one person who acted culturally insensitive realizes what they’ve done, says sorry and then tries to work to raise cultural awareness, that could be huge,” Gallop said. No change is going to be immediate, and any push for acceptance will always be met with challenge. This, however, is no battle that the Jewish people haven’t fought before, and there seems to be no community more strong or loving than the united Jewish community. “There’s a Jewish value called Tikkun Olam which is ‘repairing the world’ that says that even though it’s not our responsibility to completely repair the world and finish the work, it’s our responsibility to take part in it and at least try,” Ernst said.
DECEMBER 11, 2018
PAGE 4
FEATURES
SECTION EDITOR: DREW BROWN
Chase Pope
WHHSCBOX.COM
CINCINNATI, OHIO
SENIOR inducted into the Secretary’s Smithsonian Youth Advisory Council
ESSAYE TEKIA /CHATTERBOX
SENIOR Chase Pope has distinguished herself as a high achieving and socially conscious student, as exemplified through her acceptance into the Smithsonian Secretary’s Youth Council, a selective organization that seeks to give youth chances to express their opinions on and influence what they do at the institution. Essaye Tekia, ‘19 SENIOR Chase Pope was one of 10 students nationwide to be inducted into the Secretary’s Smithsonian Youth Advisory Council. The Secretary’s Smithsonian Youth Advisory Council is a program that was started in April 2016. It’s one of the countless programs that exist at the Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum and research facility. The Smithsonian values the opinions of its participants, especially the youth. This is reflected in the large amount of youth programs at the Institute. According to the the Smithsonian website, the Smith-
sonian Secretary’s Youth Council “ensures that the thoughts and ideas of the young people in our community help guide the important work we do at the Institution.” Pope first heard about the council through the youth docent program at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. “I volunteered there this summer and the coordinator of the program selected two people out of the 18 docents to apply,” Pope said. The process itself was relatively simple, according to Pope. She had to fill out an application, listing the museum she volunteered at, and write an essay on a topic of choice. Pope chose to write about racism and
the prejudice she has faced from both the white and black communities because of the way she chooses to speak. “I had read very many books as a child, and as a result I was made fun of by my black peers because I talked ‘white,’ as well as by my white peers because of my skin tone,” Pope said. Pope described her apprehension as she was submitting her application. “When I heard how selective the program was, I almost cancelled my application,” Pope said. “When I was accepted, I was ecstatic, my whole family was with me and we all started screaming.” “Chase is a girl that’s never been afraid to try new things,” her grandmother, Loretta
Gray, said. She has been in a variety of extracurriculars at WHHS including Marching Band, Mock Trial and Black Culture Club. She is also co-captain of the Varsity Bowling Team, Vice President of Chinese club and Lead Pianist in Jazz Ensemble. Pope has already done video calls with the group, and they have discussed a variety of topics. She plans on discussing racial equality and mental health during meetings. Pope says she’ll be meeting with the group in Washington, D.C., in April on an all expense paid trip, and she is greatly looking forward to the opportunity.
SPORTS
WHHSCBOX.COM
DECEMBER 11, 2018
PAGE 5
SECTION EDITOR: RYLEIGH SANBORN
CINCINNATI, OHIO
The spark behind the Lady Eagles’ fire A look into the Lady Eagles secret weapon: Deter Burgin
ZACH BAHRI/CHATTERBOX
ZACH BAHRI /CHATTERBOX
Deter Burgin (left), ‘20, and Miyah Brooks (right), ‘20, watch as their teammate shoots a free throw. The team took on conference rival West Clermont.
Coach Adam Lazar calls a time out to stop the momentum of their opponents, and talks to his players about tactics. It took everything they had to clinch the victory away from home.
Jackson Dunbar ‘19
as a hard worker and good basketball player around then and it felt good to be an important part of a team finally. So, I started really getting into it and I’ve loved the game ever since,” Burgin said. Burgin’s WHHS varsity career began her freshman year when Coach Lazar took note of her tenacious defending. As a sophomore, she averaged 2.5 steals per game, really becoming an x-factor for the Eagles. It’s her positive energy and fire that inspires the team to ignite a competitive edge on the court. “Deter is everything to our team. She is hard-working, caring and fearless. She is also willing to do anything for the good of the team,” SENIOR
The WHHS Girls Basketball squad is coming in confident as ever after last year’s historic season, going 25-2 in the regular season, the best record in school history. They advanced five rounds into the Sweet Sixteen in the postseason until being beaten by an elite Lakota West team. This devastating loss gave the team more incentive to improve. “It’s just motivation at this point that this whole season we gotta work on getting thirty points better. We all want to come out on top this year,” SENIOR forward Zuri Williams said. In past seasons the Eagles have been a rather young team, but
are now loaded with ten experienced upperclassmen and three returning starters. The team has many talented players, some even looking to further their basketball careers at the collegiate level. But without one significant player on their roster, they would have trouble piecing it together. “Deter Burgin is the spark our team needs to be successful,” Head Coach Adam Lazar said. Guard Darian “Deter” Burgin, ‘20, started playing basketball when she was five years old, due to her parents “forcing” her to be active. However, she didn’t find the passion for the game until she began her WHHS career in seventh grade. “People started to recognize me
center Kennedi Myles said. Burgin is the type of player that will dive after loose balls and fight until the whistle blows. Burgin credits older players for her incredible mentality. “Emma Mertes and Regan Anderson were amazing role models for me, taking in their attitude and high intensity really made me into the person I am today on and off the court,” Burgin said. Burgin has the same goal as the rest of her team: reaching the state finals and winning. Chemistry and leadership are the foundation of the Lady Eagles. The will to win combined with talent and a fostering coach is the recipe for a special team. “We can be the best team out
there when Deter is motivating us. When she brings her spark to the rest of the team, everybody feeds off it. It’s something I’ve never seen before. Her energy gives us fight and when it’s completely present, I don’t believe there’s a team in the world that can beat us,” Lazar said. The team next tips off at home on Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in a conference game against Milford. Grab your friends and come see Deter and the rest of the Lady Eagles in action.
ZACH BAHRI/CHATTERBOX
Coach Adam Lazar shows his dismay after a questionable call from the official. After a close game with the West Clermont Wolves, the WHHS Lady Eagles won 49-41.
LEFT: SENIOR Kennedi Myles wins possession of the ball for the Eagles to start the game. Additionally, she scored her 1000th career point for WHHS late in the game.
ZACH BAHRI/CHATTERBOX
RIGHT: Deter Burgin, ‘20, drives down the court against West Clermont looking to gain an early lead. As the starting point guard, she played a very important role in their victory over the Wolves.
ZACH BAHRI/CHATTERBOX
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STYLE & CULTURE
DECEMBER 11, 2018
SECTION EDITOR: DELANEY OWENS
PAGE 6
WHHSCBOX.COM
CINCINNATI, OHIO
JUUL vs. FDA What’s the buzz about? Elizabeth Ramos, ‘20
In light of the recent controversies over underage nicotine usage, the Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on e-cigarette companies. Targeting JUUL, one of the most eminent e-cigarette franchises currently on the market, the FDA’s plan for action is leaving many people with mixed feelings. Introduced by PAX Labs on June 1, 2015, the e-cigarette company JUUL has made a monumental impact on the nicotine industry. JUUL announced itself as an independent electronic cigarette company in July 2017. “Everything is electronic now so now no one is smoking cigarettes anymore. For instance, girls would never smoke cigarettes, but a large majority of teen girls will use a JUUL,” SENIOR Spencer Person said. Since becoming an independent company, JUUL has made an estimated revenue of around $1.1 billion. Research by the FDA indicates that inhaling vaporized liquid nicotine is, to some extent, healthier than inhaling burned tobacco. Although the creation of electronic cigarettes has significantly helped adult smokers abandon traditional cigarettes, a new concern has arisen due to the exponential growth in use amongst minors. Seeing the rapid increase of youth smokers sparked major concern for the FDA. The FDA’s commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, reported that he is considering it to be a dangerous public health problem. “In order to close the on-ramp to ecigarettes for kids, we have to put in place speed bumps for adults,” Gottlieb said. The debate centers around the topic of e-cigarette flavors along with packaging and widespread advertisement of the
products. Tobacco companies argue that flavors are not targeted at youths and the elimination of certain flavors could potentially cause a setback in the adult smokers transition from tobacco cigarettes. While Gottlieb agrees that it may negatively affect adults, he offers that there is a misconception perceived by kids that these e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to smoking, but claims that beginning at such a young age can lead to a lifelong addiction posing various health risks with the capacity to develop a move to standard cigarettes. In April 2018, the FDA first publicly announced that they deemed this escalation of popularity in such devices as an epidemic as they began their plans for a serious crackdown. Months later in September, Gottlieb declared his warning to JUUL Labs, along with several other isolated e-cigarette companies, notifying them that they had 60 days to create a plan proving that they are capable of keeping their devices away from minors, and that failure to comply or successfully initiate change would risk a product ban. On Nov. 13, JUUL announced that they are no longer accepting orders from retail stores for flavored pods. Removing flavors such as mango, fruit, creme brûlée and cucumber from stores, they will still be keeping their best seller, mint, along with menthol and tobacco. The FDA exempted those three flavors in their plan primarily because they are identical to the other products on the market for adult smokers. Mint, however, is not exactly comparable to combustible cigarettes, and with its popularity in sales, may soon become another FDA target. “The ban on JUUL flavor pods won’t stop minors from getting it at all. People
“To combat the JUUL epidemic, awareness towards the nicotine addiction stigma should be addressed.” Emma Martyniuk, ‘20
could order online and sell to minors, as well as buy out the flavor in retail stores before the ban,” Kristen Cathey, ‘20, said. “Even if JUUL is successful in the ban to minors, e-cigarette use will still be prevalent because there are still competing companies like VUSE and Suorin that people will switch to.” Other students have expressed similar concerns with the ban. As JUUL controls about 72 percent of the e-cigarette market, the FDA was consistent in pushing for their plan. After waiting since April, the FDA launched a surprise inspection of JUUL Labs. They confiscated hundreds of documents in order to make a conclusion on whether or not JUUL was intentionally targeting minors, and contributing to the e-cigarette epidemic among teens. EO Kevin Burns defends the company, saying that they had already handed over 50,000 documents to the FDA previously. “The way the devices are marketed and look, they appeal to many people,” Emma Martyniuk, ‘20, said. “They are sleek, they don’t appear as gross and dirty as cigarettes. That is one reason why I believe people I know started using it. To combat the JUUL epidemic, awareness towards the nicotine addiction stigma should be addressed and instead of punishing children for using, places like schools should require they take a substance abuse class.” Others agree that the actions of the FDA would be ineffective. “Taking out the fruity flavors will most likely not affect the people who JUUL now. Since they are addicted already, they will continue to buy the pods regardless of the flavor,” Stephen Staab, ‘22, said. Online purchase verifications are now going to be more thorough, according to JUUL representatives, but they have not released the complete plan. This early in the move, it is not yet clear whether or not this ban will successfully decrease the ecigarette use and addiction with minors. The FDA hopes that its plan will curb sales to youths and are going to keep a close eye on the progress, or lack thereof.
How many U.S. teens vape?
ACCORDING TO THE 2017 MONITORING THE FUTURE SURVEY
DELANEY OWENS/CHATTERBOX
FINE ARTS
WHHSCBOX.COM
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Amiah Heard, ‘19
PHOTO COURTESY OF QUINTIN COOKS
SENIOR Quintin Cooks’s National Scholastics portfolio features a series of Zak Essakalli, ‘21, sitting throughout the city. By having him keep a consistent pose, Cooks showed even though one’s environment changes, they always have support.
The National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards allow students to compete for up to $10,000 in scholarships. SENIOR Quintin Cooks has been endlessly working the past few weeks in order to get his portfolio to award-winning standards. Cooks and other AP Art seniors are expected to brainstorm and create at least eight award-worthy pieces and submit them to the Portfolio Awards by Dec. 12. Cooks is one of the many photography-focused AP Art students, while others work with painting, drawing and sculpture within their portfolios. “I definitely procrastinated a little, but at the end it worked out,” Cooks said. After sitting down with Zak Essakalli, ‘21, Cooks was able to work out his
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Walking in a winter wonderland
The future of creativity Grace Sublett ‘19
DECEMBER 11, 2018
SECTION EDITOR: AMIAH HEARD
entire portfolio in just three days. In order to perfect his portfolio, Cooks has been experimenting with various types of concentrations to find which style of photography suits him best. “Prior to the series with Zak, I did a few racial discrimination pieces. I really wanted to make an impact with what I was doing, so I thought of different types of people today who are discriminated and judged just because of things like the color of their skin or their sexual orientation. However, when I went out to shoot, I didn’t get the powerful effect I expected,” Cooks said. After all the trials, Cooks finalized his National Scholastic portfolio to be a series of photos throughout the city. “I think the main message I want to display with this series is that regardless of
the change or difference that occurs in one’s life, there will always be a constant (the stool in every picture) that sticks with them through everything as a support system. This could be your best friend, your pet, your family, etc.,” Cooks said. With thousands of dollars up for grabs and college around the corner, Cooks, as well as most AP Art seniors, is hoping to be one of the lucky artists who is awarded a scholarship. “Knowing that National Scholastics enjoyed my work so much to the extent of offering a scholarship would be unreal,” Cooks said. Cooks and other competing students will hear back from the Regional Awards on Jan. 10 and from National Awards on March 12.
The Critics’ Choice For their work in the WHHS Into the Woods production, many students may be eligible for The Cappies award nominations
When: Now through Jan. 1 Cost: $30, included in zoo admission
Looking for something to do Christmas Nights of Lights over the holiday break? Check out some of the seasonal attrac- What: Two and a half miles of a drive-through lights display tions. synchronized to Christmas To see displays of Christmas music Where: Coney Island lights, visit: When: Now through Jan. 6 Cost: $6 per person Liberty Center What: 51 foot tall Christmas For other winter festivals tree, carriage rides and photoand events, visit: ops with Santa Claus Where: Liberty Center Holiday Junction at the CinWhen: Carriage rides now through Dec. 23; photo-ops now cinnati Museum Center What: Model trains in a winthrough Dec. 24 ter setting Cost: Free, though tips are acWhere: Cincinnati Museum cepted with carriage rides Center When: Now through Jan. 27 Holiday Lights on the Hill Cost: $14.50 - Adult, $13.50 What: 2 mile drive-through - Seniors, $10.50 - Ages 3-12, display of lights Where: Pyramid Hill Sculpture Ages 1-2 $5.50, Under 1 year or a member of the museum Park & Museum - Free When: Now through Jan. 1 Cost: $20 per carload Monday through Thursday; $25 per car- Kings Island WinterFest What: Rides, the Eiffel Tower load Friday through Sunday decorated as a Christmas tree, live shows and ice skating PNC Festival of Lights at the Where: Kings Island amuseCincinnati Zoo What: Lights display, train, pup- ment park When: Now through Dec. 31 pet show and s’mores stands Cost: Daily tickets as low as Where: Cincinnati Zoo and $25.99 Botanical Garden
PHOTO COURTESY OF: MIKKI SCHAFFNER
SENIOR Lydia Noll, Molly Munn, ‘20, Jack Giglia, ‘21 and Peter Godsey,‘21, pose in this production shot taken by a local photographer for Into The Woods. These WHHS students were chosen, along with many others, for Critics’ Choice. Amiah Heard, ‘19 The Cappies is a non-profit organization that reviews high school productions. There are nine chapter locations in the United States, including the local Cincinnati chapter. The high schools competing pick a production for critics of the local chapter to attend. The Cappies website reports that between 20 to 90 critics can attend a single performance. Reviews are written by the critics, and the best are sent to the local press.
In 2016, the WHHS production of playwright Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard was reviewed by 10 critics. Positive feedback was received not only from critics but also from other local high school students. Annie Feldkamp of St. Ursula Academy even said that “[WHHS] set a new level of complexity and professionalism for high school theater.” WHHS thespians involved in the recent production of Into The Woods have been given distinction with the
honor of Critics’ Choice. Receiving these Critics’ Choice distinctions are the first step in the Cappies nomination process leading up to their Gala. A complete list of the nominations can be found online at www.whhscbox.com
CORRECTION: Kylie Bridgeman took the photo of Shelby Ewing on Fine Arts (Page 7) in Issue 5 and Maggie Cavallier, Rose Airaldi and Zoe Sherman on Sports (Page 5) in Issue 2.
AMIAH HEARD / CHATTERBOX
The massive Christmas tree illuminates the center square at Liberty Center. A nativity scene is displayed inside if one walks through the tree’s interior.
ARCADE
DECEMBER 11, 2018
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Perspectives
WHHSCBOX.COM
SECTION EDITOR: RYAN HILL
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Escape the Maze
What is your dream vacation and why?
RYAN HILL/CHATTERBOX
CALEB STREAT/REM
“I always wanted to go to Hawaii because I like the ocean and I “I want to visit Dubai and see the Burj Khalifa.” - Newman love the energy and vibe.” - Audra Gerth, ‘22 Robinson, ‘24
CALEB STREAT/REM
“I want to visit Buckingham Palace in London, England.” - Natalie Scheper, ‘24
CALEB STREAT/REM
“My dream vacation is to visit Gatlinburg and to see the Great Smoky Mountains.” - Nevaeh Ward, ‘20
Winter Word Search
December Frozen Winter
Hat Coat Scarf
Icicle Sleigh Blizzard
Ice Snow