Volume CXII, Issue 10
The student news publication of Walnut Hills High School
Friday March 16, 2018
WHHS Student athletes shine
(Far left) Charlotte Adams, ‘21, appeared in the May issue of Sports Illustrated after winning natinals. Adams looks ahead to future competitions. (Top Middle) Kene Henry, ‘21, attended nationals with the WHHS cheer squad. (Bottom middle) Sean Kelly Darks, ‘20, was a key component to the best regular season record ever for the WHHS Lady Eagles. (Far right) Ethan Moore stands in front of the WHHS natatorium; Moore finished within the top three at all his meets leading him to win Player of the Year for diving.
TOP AND BOTTOM MIDDLE:HAYDEN WILLHITE/CHATTERBOX TOP RIGHT:RYLEIGH SANBORN/CHATTERBOX TOP LEFT:ALLYSON GARTH/CHATTERBOX
ARCHERY Kylie Bridgemann, ‘22 For most there is one thing that brings them joy. For Charlotte Adams, ‘21, the releasing of her bow is connected with her happiness. Adams began Archery just six years a and is already claiming highly respected accomplishments within her sport. However, being a student at WHHS it can be difficult for Adams to manage her practice with her studies, especially being that she runs track and cross country on top of archery. These activities bring a lot of responsibility. To diffuse the stress and homework load Adams uses study hall to her advantage. Last year Adams was recognized in the May issue of Sports Illustrated within “Faces in a Crowd.” For only in the eighth grade she beat all but two college ladies at the indoor national
SWIMMING & DIVING championships in Mankato, Minnesota. At Nationals this year Adams defended her national title. She broke her own record of 886 for her age group(12-14) as well as the succeeding tier(15-17). Adams, now a freshman, travelled to the National Field Archery Association nationals last weekend with Cincinnati Junior Olympians where she is coached by Jim and Liz Coombe. Under her coaches she’s found most of her success shooting barebow as to re-curve which she started out with.
COURTESY OF H ALBERTO GONGORA
GIrl’s varsity Basketball Hayden Willhite, ‘18
ball since the second grade. She was a part of this years winning team. JenWHHS sports finished the winter kins believes that what led to the sucseason off with many winnings and cess of WHHS girls basketball team snatched some school records. The was, “how close knit of a family we are.” Jenkins as an individual helped girl’s varsity basketball team broke both school and personal records this season. with the success of the team by Taking a look at Coach Adam Lazar’s “Pushing [her] teammates, literally, girls basketball team at WHHS, he has [and] competing [with each other].” had his best record with this team going Beside Jenkins, her teammate Sean 25-2 this season. On top of that Lazar was Kelly Darks, ‘20, also contributed to named Eastern Cincinnati Conference this years WHHS basketball team’s suc(ECC) coach of the year and hit the 100 cess. Playing since she was four, Darks win mark. Looking back at the beginning feels this year was successful because, of the season Lazar mentions, “we are gon- “we acted as a family throughout the na make a really big run this year,” and, season, and we always stuck together.” “we hope the school is excited about us.” “I try to be a coach on the floor,” Darks The girls basketball team was named said. “Being a point guard, what Lazar ECC outright champions, as they were tells me, I relay to my teammates.” Darks undefeated in their conference and was named first team in the ECC this seawere also named district champions. son as well as second team in all district. Alysea Jenkins, ‘19, has played basket-
Ryleigh Sanborn, ‘21 This season WHHS swimming and diving teams swam away with many achievements, including boy’s coach of the year, awarded to Jen Golden. The boy’s team also received five first team honors and the girl’s team received a first team and second team honor. In addition to these awards diver Ethan Moore, ‘21, was named player of the year. Moore accredits his individual successes to hard work and experience. “I work really hard, [and] practice almost every day for multiple hours,” Moore said. Moore began diving at the age of six upon joining the team at his local swim club because he thought it looked like fun. This season Moore managed to finish within the top three at all of his meets. He also won the Eastern Cincinnati Conference ‑(ECC) Diving Championships.
For Moore, training consists of crossfit for strength, dry land for endurance and training at a gymnastics facility, each twice a week. His training is split up between his two teams, his club team and the WHHS swimming and diving team. Moore also does a lot of drills, with the goal that he will be able to perform each dive effortlessly. He also spends time perfecting and working on each element of his dives, such as the height of the jumps or his entry into the water. Moore, along with the WHHS swimming and diving team, look to replicate much of this seasons success in coming seasons.
COURTESY OF ARTHUR SHLAIN
Cheerleading Hayden Willhite, ‘18 The cheer squad at WHHS also had a successful season, by not only making it to nationals for the first time in Cincinnati Public School history, but also placing second overall in the nation. JaNasia Wilkerson, ‘21, was part of the competition squad who traveled to nationals. Wilkerson has participated in cheerleading since the fifth grade and believes her teams success comes from “our determination.” Wilkerson describes her best characteristic on the team as her perseverance. Kene Henry, ‘21, was also part of the cheerleading squad that went to nationals. Henry has played this sport since the fourth grade, and believes the success of the team comes from “practice and passion.” As an individual Henry said she helped the cheer squad by, “[practicing], and putting my heart into it.”
COURTESY OF GAN KHOON LAY
OPINIONS
MARCH 16, 2018
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WHHSCBOX.COM
SECTION EDITOR: NICK ROBERTSON
Salaries for College Athletes Jeresa Anderson, ‘18 Many young athletes dream of one day playing in the big leagues. Many parents spend thousands of dollars on clinics and select teams to enhance their child’s skills with hopes that colleges will recruit them. These athletes put in work day and night and sacrifice their blood, sweat and tears to put their schools on the map. The NCAA should pay them for their toil. An article from The Guardian reports that college coaches make between four and nine million dollars a year. In most states, they are the highest paying state employees. According to the same report, some college football programs, such as the University of Texas, profit more than some NFL teams. Yet the players on these teams see none of this money. To many student athletes, receiving a full scholarship to do something you love is a dream. They won’t live in debt after graduation, they’ll have opportunities to travel and they’ll get a shot at playing professionally. But this lifestyle isn’t all peaches and cream. Many college athletes live without basic necessities being met and are just as broke as the average college student. College athletes are held to high standards, to maintain humility and poise on and off the court while balancing school with their respective sport. But according to the NCAA’s website, there is less than a 2 percent chance of most college athletes moving on to a professional league (excluding baseball players who have an 11.6 percent chance). That means that most of these athletes will be at a disadvantage in life because they spent so much time out of class on their sport. The college process is stressful and difficult for anyone who doesn’t have their life completely figured out. Hundreds of thou-
sands of college students struggle financially and go thousands of dollars into debt. Ultimately, everyone has the same goal of finding a career after college. But unlike other students, college athletes bring in millions for their schools and get no compensation. Student athletes in the NCAA are not allowed to work during the season and can only work for close to the federal minimum wage during the summ e r. They
Schools paying athletes could lead to several legal issues, one being Title IX ramifications, a federal civil rights legislation. Title IX would force schools to ensure every athlete is paid fairly. This would include gender equality, which would be hard because there are significant revenue differences between the two groups. However, schools should not necessarily be forced to pay college athletes. Saying colleges should pay athletes implies that this route would be simple. Most of the money generated from athletics comes from men’s basketball and football programs, but what about other sports programs? Would the best male basketball player be paid the same as a top rower? Would lower performing athletes get paid less, or at all? The most compensation a student athlete should receive from their schools is tuition. But, they should be able to make money outside of their schools. NCAA restrictions make it virtually impossible for stua r e a l s o dent athletes to make money, like not allowed to use their talents any other college student would to make money, meaning no be able to do. If the NCAA does tours or summer coaching posi- not want them to make money tions. This severely limits how outside of school, they should athletes can make any money, re- provide compensation or at least sulting in many “ In basketball, only 1.2 per- ensure all athletes’ not having their needs are met. own needs met. cent of male and 0.9 percent No student, no The NBA re- of female college players play matter what their quires basketball focus is in college, players to be at pro ball; for both, only 0.03 should go hungry least 19 years percent of high school play- or feel like their old before they basic necessities ers make it.” enter the league are not being met. so that they will College athletes have played at National Collegiate Athletics bring in so much least one year money for their Association in college. One schools, they would hope this would ensure should at least receive monetary that athletes get an education, compensation from the NCAA but it’s actually a way for the to maintain a healthy lifestyle. NCAA and the NBA to protect their interests. This rule has All views shared in the Opinions secshown just how motivated by tion of the Chatterbox belong to their remoney these organizations truly. spective authors, and may not represent They just want to ensure that the views of the publication as a whole. people play college ball so they can profit from their talents.
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Letter to the Editor To The Chatterbox, I was looking at the Chatterbox’s Feb. 16th edition and read the article “A Look at Pippin”. I’m offended by the photograph of the lighting crew on page 5. The photo depicts the designers sitting back to back simulating to be holding up handguns. With everything going on in the world today, especially school shootings, I feel this photo is not ‘cute’ and simply is in bad taste. Guns have nothing to do with the plot of Pippin nor does it have anything to do with lighting design. I’m disappointed Chatterbox selected this photo to represent Walnut Hills students. Guns have no place in schools, not even in a mocking manner. Best, Karen Robertson An issue has been brought to my attention regarding a picture that we placed in the Pippin Spread of Issue 8 of The Chatterbox. In light of recent events, I understand why you may voice concerns with the image. I acknowledge that the timeliness of the image and what the underlying implications are would be enough to cause concern in our audience. For this, I sincerely apologize.
There is no excuse to condone the behavior, and I wholeheartedly agree that weapons of any kind have absolutely no place in an academic setting. It is our job as the student produced newspaper to offer accurate and factual content, and to minimize harm in any way possible. While we may have failed in doing so by placing that image on the spread, we must take this as a growth opportunity and use it as an example to better our publication. This situation may have been avoided had we spent more time thoroughly reviewing the images. As a result, I plan on increasing our proofreading efforts to look more closely at everything that we put onto the page to ensure that an issue like this does not happen again. I invite anyone with further concerns to email The Chatterbox at cboxwalnut@gmail.com. Our audience is our number one priority and we hope to encourage your participation in the journalistic process by voicing your opinions on how we can better improve our publication. Thank you, Hannah Bundschuh Editor-in-Chief, The Chatterbox
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Ohio State University plays Clemson in the 2014 Orange Bowl. The Buckeyes defeated Clemson 40-35. The NCAA has six bowl game playoffs between the country’s best college football teams, bringing in millions of dollars in broadcast rights and other sales.
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 Hanna Bundschuh, Editor-in-Chief
Matthew Youkilis, Managing Editor of News and Features
Caroline Horvath, Managing Editor of Student Life
Camille Williams, Managing Editor of Opinions
Hannah Reinhardt, Managing Editor of Visual Elements
Aaron Espelage, Business Manager
Emma Heines, Video Content Manager
Amanda Anderson, Online Content Manager
Samantha Gerwe-Perkins, Adviser
Dawn Wolfe, English Department Chair
WHHSCBOX.COM
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MARCH 16, 2018
Bang for your books Courtside
Delaney Owens, ‘21 Students search for books, essays roll off the printer and a soft chatter echoes around the dome. Just minutes after the library doors are opened each morning, the space is already alive. The library is at the heart of WHHS, both literally and f ig u rat ively. Members of the WHHS community can give back to the library by shopping at the sale from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 3 and 4. “It’s a great place to get last minute Mother’s Day gifts,” librarian Sally Barringer said. Students can also find summer reading materials at the sale. Anyone who wants to support the library can also help by donating their items to be sold. Most of the donations are books, both fiction and nonfiction. Textbooks, DVDs and CDs are also usually big hits at the sale. “The first year I was here, someone donated a Wii and a whole bunch of games,” Librarian Acacia Moraes Diniz said. According to Diniz, the li-
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SECTION EDITORS: KEEGAN SULLIVAN
brary gets plenty of donations in the start of the year, then fewer and fewer as the year continues. The library has started to receive some in the last weeks, especially from alumni and parents. Donations will be accepted until the sale and can be brought into the m a i n off ice. Most items are priced at one dollar or fifty cents. At the end, shoppers can take advantage of the “bag sale” and buy a grocery bag to fill up with as many books as they can fit. The library donates a n y items t h a t are not s o l d to the Canton County public library. With the funds they receive from the sale, the library staff
purchases everything from magazine subscriptions to hand sanitizer to security tags for each book. The majority is spent on buying new books and replacing the damaged copies. “We obviously have the fines that end up giving us a chunk of money, but [the book sale] is the only real solid fundraiser that we get,” Diniz said. The sale also helps them work toward their goals for the future. “Personally I would love to have, not necessarily more computers, but have them be resurfaced and make sure that they’re all working well,” Diniz said. “We’ve been having a lot of trouble with the computers lately.” A few days before the sale, students in study halls will have a chance to volunteer and help set up for the book sale. Parents can contact Diniz about setting up or working at the checkout during the sale. The library will send out a sign up form for parents in the coming weeks.
“We obviously have the fines that end up giving us a chunk of money, but [the book sale] is the only real solid fundraiser that we get,” Acacia Moraes Diniz
DELANEY OWENS/CHATTERBOX
questions
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX CLINE
The team had a 10-1 record this season and recently won the ECC championship. This photo was taken after their win at the championship. NO: Yes. Elizabeth Cline, ‘23 The following is an interview EC: How did that feel? of Nija Olagbemiro, ‘23, a previous NO: It felt great. It felt good player on the seventh grade girls when I heard the buzzer ring. EC: What positive effects 2017-2018 basketball team.. did this team have on you? Elizabeth Cline: How long NO: They knew when you were have you played basketball? upset and tried to help out. Nija Olagbemiro: Since I was 5. EC: Were there any negative effects? EC: When you were on the team NO: I was sore, a lot. What advice would what position did you play? EC: NO: Point guard. you give to anyone considEC: What was it like on the team? ering to try out next year? NO: It was a nice feeling, like NO: It’s a great experience you had twelve to thirteen sisters. and you’ll meet a lot of new EC: What was your favorite friends. It feels great to win, too. thing about being on the team? EC: What was the most imNO: Probably getting to portant thing you learned know the people on the team. from this experience? EC: What was your NO: The most important thing least favorite thing? I learned was that you can’t NO: I don’t really have one. do everything by yourself. EC: What was the coach like? EC: Is there anything else NO: He wasn’t too bad but you would like to add? he yelled a lot. He was a good NO: Go Eagles! person and a good coach. Disclaimer: Elizabeth Cline is a memEC: Your team won the ber of the Chatterbox and the seventh ECC championship, correct? grade girls basketball team.
Piper Peanut period problems Dear Piper, I’m terrified of getting my period. I’ve heard it hurts really bad. Most of my friends have it and I’m worried mine will never come. I don’t know how to deal with it. And what if I get it at school? What do I use to control it? That would be so embarrassing. My mom gets so moody on her period and I don’t want to be like that. I am just so confused as to what happens. Can you help? Period-paranoid Penelope Dear Penelope, Of course I can help! Such a big change can be terrifying at first, but really, periods are nothing to be afraid of. Because it’s such a needlessly taboo subject in our culture, young women can be really confused as to what happens. That’s why we have anonymous advice columns. Your period doesn’t always hurt, especially the first few years. If it does hurt, it isn’t because of the actual act of bleeding. It’s what is commonly referred to as cramps in your lower abdomen, lower back, hips, or all over your body. Vomiting, nausea, di-
arrhea, and other symptoms can also occur. Some women can’t feel them, other women can’t get out of bed for the first few days. Some women also get cramps during ovulation, the discharge of ova from the ovaries. Many women experience a period disorder referred to as dysmenorrhea. According to The Guardian, “up to 20 percent of women suffer from cramping severe enough to interfere with daily activities – and many grimace through it without ever speaking up.” If your cramps are that severe, talk to your doctor to discuss options. There are many ways to deal with cramps including medicine (for example midol, painkillers or birth control), hot water bottles, baths, teas, stretches or exercise, drinking extra water, or having a close friend or family member learn some massage techniques. Many believe that each period should last exactly one week, but this is false. The first two years of your period is often irregular, and each woman is different. Just because your period is shorter than your friend’s doesn’t mean either of you are unhealthy or something is wrong. The average age to get your period is 10-15
years old, so just because you’re first or last in your class doesn’t mean something is wrong with y o u . Periods usually last 3-10 d a y s
CAMILLE WILLIAMS/CHATTERBOX
and cycles, the time between each period, is usually 28 days, but can be different depending on the person. Tracking your period can be very helpful for you and your doctor (they’ll often ask when
your last period was). There are plenty of period apps to help you, or you can use a calendar. This can help prevent a school surprise, but they can happen and must be dealt with. The first option is to roll some toilet paper as a makeshift pad until you can get a pad or tampon. The nurse has them, the secretaries in all the offices can help you, and your friends probably have a few extra. It’s always a good idea to pack a period bag with pads, tampons, underwear, and anything else you may need. The nurse also has extra leggings in case you bleed through your pants. There are many different period products available to you. The two standard options are pads and tampons, but there are many alternative options that can be better for your body and/or the environment. But ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what you’re most comfortable with. The most important thing to know about pads and tampons is to not use scented options because they can cause infection or discomfort. Many women start with pads because they’re simpler to use. They attach to your underwear, and many women prefer the “winged” kind that
have small flaps to help keep it in place and prevent leakage. Tampons are small, bullet-shaped cotton balls that insert into the vagina with a plastic or cardboard applicator to catch the flow before it leaves the body and can be very helpful for girls who swim or are especially active. Fun fact, in World War I, tampons were used in bullet wounds until a very smart nurse started using them for her period. They can be difficult to use, so ask a woman you trust to help you learn, or you can use one of many different instructional pamphlets and videos. There are different sizes, absorbency levels and brands to try and find the right kind for you. If neither of these are right for you, or if you’ve had practice with them but want a different option, you can use a menstrual cup, period panties, cloth reusable pads or sea sponges. These are all great options. I hope I answered all your questions and concerns! If you have any more questions about periods or life in general email me at piperpeanutcbox@gmail.com. Sincerely, Piper Peanut
NEWS
MARCH 16, 2018
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SECTION EDITOR: IBRAHIM MUNIR
WHHSCBOX.COM
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Students from across Ohio shake up Statehouse
ALLYSON GARTH/CHATTERBOX
ALLYSON GARTH/CHATTERBOX
Students meet with State Senator Joe Uecker who represents Ohio’s 14th district. They discussed potential plans of action on gun control.
Matthew Youkilis, ‘19, addresses State Senator Cecil Thomas of Ohio’s ninth district with a personal anecedote about gun violence. The senator and students were receptive and attentive to new ideas.
Nick Robertson, ‘19
150, SB 219 and SB 260. SB 150 would prevent people convicted of domestic abuse from buying guns, SB 219 would ban “bump stocks” that increase a firearm’s fire rate dramatically and SB 260 would ban assault-style weapons completely. Ohio State Senator Cecil Thomas, who represents Cincinnati, said of SB 150 “When I introduced [SB 150], I couldn’t even get a hearing in this chamber.” Another controversial bill, HB 228, known as the “Stand Your Ground” bill, which would make it easier to use lethal force in self-defence, has already been tabled after Gov. Kasich’s promise to veto it. Kraus said that the group would also lobby against the bill. With his promise to veto HB 228 if passed, Kasich broke his eight year promise to “sign every 2nd Amendment bill” during the last few months of his second term. State Representative Alicia Reece, who also represents Cincinnati, said of the Governor’s decision “He would of not of done that without you guys.” Thomas said to a group of WHHS students “What we’re doing now is looking at ways to make you all feel much safer in your schools.” Marmer and Kraus, when speaking to lawmakers, advocated against allowing teachers to have guns, a bill just being passed to allow it in Fla. last week. The pub-
lic is widely split on the issue, with 50 percent of voters for the measure and 43 percent against it, according to a Feb. 26 Politico poll. Thomas also spoke about specific measure he is looking for in upcoming legislation in the State Senate, “I want to close all the loopholes in the .. gun shows... I’d like to raise the age. You gotta be 21 to buy a firearm... I want to ban assault rifles, we don’t need AR-15 assault rifles in the hands of folks, it’s a weapon of war.” With young people now participating in the political process more than any time before in recent history, lawmakers must pay attention. Marmer, when asked about students’ impact on their legislators, said, “I think we are harnessing this energy that we gathered... and that can translate into positive action.” Rep. Reece said “[WHHS students] are actually now making history, are are now apart of it.” Reece also noted the partisan divide present in legislators’ stances on these proposed measures, “I think there are some on the other side that want to make a move but are afraid that in an election year that they could lose because the NRA would put money up for their opponent.” Continuing their efforts, other WHHS students along with school officials have planned a bus trip to Washington, D.C. on March 24 to participate in the March for Our Lives, a national march on the Capitol Building led by
survivors of the Parkland shooting in Fla. The March for Our Lives’ purpose is to “demand that [students’] lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today,” according to their website. Kraus said about the D.C. march, “I think it’s great ... there’s going to be a huge amount of people, and it’s very powerful to have so many young people...” Both Marmer and Kraus plan on attending the D.C. march. Over 500 “sister marches” are planned worldwide, including one in Cincinnati. Cincinnati’s march will start at 11 a.m. at City Hall on March 24. Senator Thomas said “There is a movement afoot and these young people are the ones that created that movement.” Since the school shooting in Parkland, WHHS has hosted its own walkouts, and it proves that this country’s youth is now demanding change. It is now up to Congress to heed these warnings, and make the change that is now loudly demanded.
dents possess when citing this case. In the case of Tinker v. Des Moines, where students took their school to court after being barred from wearing armbands displaying peace signs to protest the Vietnam War, the Supreme Court ruled that a student’s first amendment rights still apply even within the school building. This is now cited as the vindicating ruling that students can use when their acts of civil disobedience comes into question, but this isn’t actually true. The court decision states, “School officials could not censor student speech unless it disrupted the educational process.” These walkouts and protests are meant to be disruptive, which means that if they felt so inclined, administrators can bring punishment against every student that walks
out. However, students who choose to walk out can’t be punished more harshly than if they had normally skipped classes. This is already happening in states such as Texas where Curtis Rhodes, the superintendent of the Needville Independent School District threatened to suspend students for three days if they participated. This may stop some students, but a vast majority are willing to suffer the consequences. However, these consequences may not have the repercussions for their future that the same consequences would have in a different situation. Even if students are given detentions or suspensions, many colleges and universities have vowed to dismiss this disciplinary record when considering them for admittance into their institution.
In an effort to contribute to the “Never Again” movement, colleges are doing their part by promising to not take any suspensions or detentions that are acquired by a student due to protests into consideration when viewing their college transcripts. Students who wish to participate in this movement may now do so without worrying about the repercussions they may face from their schools. By allowing students to protest without concern, these colleges and universities have contributed in their own way and shown their support for and helped to strengthen this movement.
Following the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. that killed 17, SENIORS Em Marmer and Micah Kraus had an idea. An idea to send kids from all around Cincinnati and the state to Columbus to lobby the statehouse with the help of Reform Ohio, an advocacy group led by Jewish Rabbis. On March 14, following the 17-minute walkout in honor of Parkland’s victims, Marmer and Kraus led a group of nearly 40 WHHS students on a school bus bound for Columbus, along with about 70 other students from around the city. They went to the statehouse not to protest, but to lobby. They met with many state representatives and senators, and tried to influence their opinions on gun control. Kraus said, “We were very inspired by the students in [Parkland] Florida, especially the teens that went to the statehouse in Tallahassee to lobby.” Marmer said, “For a while now, [our Jewish youth group] has been discussing doing something like this... and we thought this would be the perfect opportunity...” It is still unclear if real change will be made, but this visit can really affect current legislation in the statehouse right now. Kraus noted that a few pieces of legislation that the group is really advocating and lobbying for are SB
Disclaimer: Matthew Youkilis, ‘19, Amanda Anderson, ‘19 and Ibrahim Munir, ‘19 are members of the Chatterbox staff.
Colleges contribute to #NeverAgai n movement Amanda Anderson, ‘19 With the wave of student-led walk out and marches making its way into WHHS, many students have joined in the protests without a second thought. The opportunity to make a stand and show their solidarity with their peers is something that many students are willing to take a risk for. However, when it comes to WHHS students, no punishment has been brought against those who protest, even though it can be. Many students cite the supreme court case Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) as the justification for why they are allowed to protest and voice these opinions without reparation. However, there is a common misunderstanding that most stu-
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FEATURES
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WHHS clubs bring home (blue and) gold Robotics
Mock Trial
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKY TEKULVE
On Dec. 3, 2017, the WHHS NUTS! Robotics team place third out of 24 teams in the West Virginia State Championship tournament. They were also finalists for the Think Award, which awards excellence with the engineering notebook. They also competed in the Dayton, Ohio Regional Qualifier, winning the Inspire Award, the highest award a team can receive at a competition.
Model United Nations
PHOTO COURTESY OF RILEY TAYLOR
WHHS’s Model United Nations club participated in a conference at Miami University March 3-4. Club members were divided into committees with students from other schools, each dealing with a different global issue. WHHS won nine awards at the conference, including four best delegate awards for Brenden Pulte, ‘19, Rithu Rajagopala, ‘19, Nick Robertson, ‘19 and SENIOR Amilcar Torres.
Junior Classical League
PHOTO COURTESY OF TARA LIGON
WHHS’s JCL team participated at the Ohio Junior Classical League Convention March 9-11 in Columbus. Club members competed in a wide array of competitions, from creative arts to academic tests, and won awards in many of them. As a whole, WHHS placed second in academic per capita and first in Certamen.
Math Team
GRACE SUBLETT/REM
About 100 WHHS students participate in both onsite and offsite math competitions each school year, many of whom are part of WHHS’s Math Team. Five students on Math Team won awards at the annual Rose Hulman Math Institute competition in November; four won awards at the Ohio Council of Math Teachers Tournament in February and three teams received Superior scores at the UC Math Bowl March 3.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NICHOLAS VOSE
The Ohio Mock Trial offers an innovative approach to learning the legal system. High school students argue both sides of a simulated case in courtrooms across the state. Out of 350 teams that compete, the final 36 compete in Columbus at the Statehouse. The WHHS Mock Trial team Rivalitas went 1-1 at the State Finals. Bengy Mitchell, ‘19, won best attorny and Malak Alwawi, ‘19, won best witness.
Science Olympiad
PHOTO COURTESY OF SANDEE COATS-HAAN
The Science Olympiad team recently scored fifth as a team overall at the Regional level compeition, qualifying them for the state tournament on April 28 at Ohio State University. They scored second and fourth place in Experimental Design, fourth in Fermi Questions, third in Helicopters, fifth in Herpetology, sixth in Microbe Mission and fourth in Thermodynamics.
Junior Engineering Technical Society
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURIE COTTON
WHHS’s Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) teams competed at the TSA Teams Competition on February 26. Team A placed second in their division and Team B placed first in their division. Placing sixth out of all teams in the competition, members of Team B were awarded a $3,000 scholarship to the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
INTERAlliance
PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAM GORDON
The TechOlympics, an annual IT convention for high school students at the Millennium Hotel in Downtown Cincinnati, occurred the weekend of Feb. 24. During the convention, students met IT professionals, learned about internships and attended breakout sessions. Several WHHS students in the INTERAlliance club created a presentation of a web product they designed that helps analyze school stress levels.
Disclaimer: Nick Robertson, Shiv Malhotra, Matthew Youkilis, Ibrahim Munir and Kasey Shao are members of one or several of the clubs above and are members of the Chatterbox staff.
FINE ARTS
MARCH 16, 2018
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SECTION EDITOR: ISABEL NISSLEY
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Jake Speed and the Freddies Joseph Stanichar, ‘18 At WHHS, Jeremiah “Jake” Riordan is known for his enthusiastic teaching in English classes for both seventh graders and SENIORS alike, but some might not know that he has a second job: the leader of a band. Riordan performs as both the lead singer and guitarist of “Jake Speed and the Freddies,” although he has also played such i n st r u ment s as the kazoo, washboard, watering can, and even a library desk help bell. “I began playing punk rock music in high school; I wanted a ‘fast’ name that suggested the fast-paced music of punk. Thus, ‘Speed,’” said Riordan. “Our band’s name is Jake Speed & the Freddies. Since our folk band used to play a lot of songs about trains, we went with The Freddies because a FRED... stands for Flashing Rear-End Device. Essentially, we’re Jake Speed & The Flashing Rear-End Devices.” The band plays traditional and original American folk, country blues, and
ragtime music. Riordan writes all of the original songs performed by the band, while the other tunes are covers of traditional folk and blues songs. Riordan has advice for those with musical pursuits of their own. “I would advise a young band to begin writing [their] own songs,” said Riordan. “I am not a very talented singer or guitarist; my main talents lie in the songwriting realm. Nature seems to imbue only a few of us with those truly breat htaking voices or virtuosic instr ument abilities. However, we all have a message that we feel passionate about, and we can control the delivery of that message in our own songs.” Likewise, Riordan has some words for those aiming to pursue personal projects outside of school. “During my senior year of high school, I knew that I wanted to pursue music and form a band,” said Riordan. “Therefore, I took a lighter load for my schedule. In life, something has to give, so students who want to pursue
“Nature seems to imbue only a few of us with those truly breathtaking voices or virtuosic instrument abilities. However, we all have a message that we feel passionate about, and we can control the delivery of that message in our own songs,” Jake Riordan
PHOTO COURTESY OF: WWW.FREDDIESMUSIC.COM
Jake Riordan, pictured far right with the Freddies, is a WHHS English teacher by day and musician in his free time. Sometimes the two professions merge, causing him to play music during his classes.
PHOTO COURTESY OF: WWW.FREDDIESMUSIC.COM
Riordan’s main musical passion is singing and guitar. However, in the past, he has played “fiddle, banjo, harmonica, kazoo, washboard, watering can, pig horn, bicycle bell, library desk help bell,” said Riordan.
PHOTO COURTESY OF: WWW.FREDDIESMUSIC.COM
Jake Speed and the Freddies was formed between 2000-2001. “We’ve had a lot of different performers over the years, but we actually called ourselves the Freddies sometime in 2001. Our first album, Queen City Rag, was released in 2002,” said Riordan.
The art of the steel pan Music with a history beyond the halls of WHHS
Isabel Nissley, ‘20 Trinidad and Tobago is 2,429 miles away from Cincinnati. But the large ocean in between does not stop its traditions from thriving in the WHHS music wing. This Caribbean island is the birthplace of the steel drums or pans, a percussion instrument which Edward LeBorgne teaches to students at WHHS. LeBorgne established the steel drum classes at WHHS in 2002. However, the tradition of steel drums began long before that. In the 1940s, the political climate in Trinidad and Tobago was uncertain, causing many people began to develop new ideas, not only in politics, but also in music and culture. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, this experimentation resulted in musicians using abandoned oil containers to make songs. This genre of music began to evolve into an integral part of the culture and eventually became a staple of the Carnival Festival. Carnival is a celebration which comes before Ash Wednesday. It is similar in scale to New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration. People flood the streets in brightly colored masquerade costumes as bands perform steel pan music as a cel-
ebration before Lent begins, explains Gale Student Resources in Context. LeBorgne visited Trinidad and Tobago “two years ago for Panorama, [a competition] which is part of Carnival. It’s their steel pan festival.”
Only Trinidadian bands are able to compete, but foreigners are allowed to join in with them. LeBorgne did just that and played with the “Birdsong Orchestra”, which included steel drum players from
PHOTO COURTESY: REM
Above is a group shot of the 2016-2017 Steel Drum Band. The WHHS Steel Drum Band is taught by Edward LeBorgne, who learned the art himself when he was working on his masters degree at Miami University. Clearing up misconceptions, LeBorgne said “Most people in the States refer to it as steel drums. In Trinidad, which is where they were originated, they call them pans, or steel pans. If you’re in Trinidad and you call it a steel drum, you will not be looked highly upon.”
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countries ranging from Sweden to Australia. The experience opened LeBorgne’s eyes to not only the rich culture of Trinidad and Tobago, but also the poverty which is present there. Upon return to the U.S., LeBorgne implemented the things he saw in Trinidad into his teaching of the steel drums. “I did share a lot more about the culture,” said LeBorgne about how his teaching changed after going to Trinidad and Tobago. He also includes more of the history of Trinidad itself as well as videos from Panorama. The steel drums courses at WHHS focus on most aspects of the art of steel drums, and perform a range of style of music on them. At the concert on March 8 students “will be performing a mixture of Calypso music, which is island music and Soca, it’s kind of a mixture between soul and Calypso, so like 1970 disco music and Calypso evolved into this type music,” LeBorgne said. The band will also perform on April 25 at the 20th Century Theater. To any students interested in steel drums, “Sign up. We’re always looking for more players, you don’t need any musical background, if you have some it’s helpful, but none necessary,” LeBorgne said.
WHHSCBOX.COM
ARCADE
CINCINNATI, OHIO
MARCH 16, 2018
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SECTION EDITOR: DELANEY OWENS
Spring br eak adventu r es What sprin g brea k adventures a re you goin g on?
Find your way to the treasure!
“I’m going to go to North Carolina with my uncle and my cousins for a couple days. Then I’m going to Miami...I’m going to go to the beach, parasailing, swim with the dolphins, stuff like that.” Blake Ware, ‘19 DELANEY OWENS/CHATTERBOX
“I’m going to Gatlinburg. We will probably zipline and hike. There’s a lot of hiking.” Lily Barger, ‘23
Spring break wordsearch CAROLINE HORVATH/CHATTERBOX
“I’m going to D.C. I’m excited to see the famous places and go around the city.” Toby Knueven, ‘20 HANNAH BUNDSCHUH/CHATTERBOX
“I’m going to Louisiana to revisit where I was born and where I am from originally. I’m actually very excited, I haven’t been in Louisiana in 11 years.” Chloe Goodman, ‘23
Sudoku
CAROLINE HORVATH/CHATTERBOX
“I have a soccer tournament the first weekend, for the rest I’ll probably just hang out with my friends and stuff like that.” Marie Carter, ‘23
ADVENTURE APRIL BEACH CRUISE
CAROLINE HORVATH/CHATTERBOX
PASSPORT, PALM TREE AND SUN COURTESY OF MADE/NOUNPROJECT, SOCCER COURTESY OF NIKITA KOZIN/NOUNPROJECT, PIRATE COURTESY OF MARK WATERHOUSE
FLORIDA FRIENDS HAWAII MARCH
MEXICO RELAX ROADTRIP SLEEP
SPRING SUNSHINE SWIMMING TRAVEL
TRIP VACATION VIDEOGAMES WASHINGTON
MARCH 16, 2018
PAGE 8
STYLE & CULTURE
SECTION EDITOR: GRACE BERDING
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CINCINNATI, OHIO
Black Panther takes the world by storm
SYDNEY RHONE/CHATTERBOX
(From left to right) Salome Tregre, Le’Asia Oliver, Zoe Cummings, Kenneth Gaines and Malcolm Bossie, ‘22, strike the popular “Wakanda forever” pose from Black Panther. Many fans are using it to show their support for the film. Drew Brown, ‘20 Black Panther, the first Marvel movie to reach $1 billion in box office worldwide, changed the movie industry through loads of Black representation and influenced audiences around the world. “It’s just nice to see an almost all black cast in a super great movie,” Le’Asia Oliver, ‘22, said. The film and its plot line stands due to its focus on African culture and inclusion of a predominantly African-descent cast. Black Panther supports the imagination of Afrofuturism, in which an African nation untouched by colonialism, rises higher economically and socially than any westernized country. Erik Killmonger, the antagonist played by Michael B. Jordan, believes Wakanda should give weapons made out of vibranium, a powerful mineral native to Wakanda, to all oppressed people. This idea conflicts with those of King T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, who believes Wakanda should remain isolationist and use vibranium to continue enhancing their own country. Multiple African cultural aspects were il-
luminated in Marvel’s Black Panther to show the beauty of Africa unseen in previous films. The mind and research of production designer Hannah Beachler shaped the aesthetic of Black Panther. In order to determine the African identity to incorporate into the movie, Beachler travelled and researched many tribes residing on the African continent such as the Mursi, who are distinguished by their lip discs. Beachler also utilized Basotho Blankets, traditional face paint made and worn by Turkana women, and otjize, a hair coating worn by Himba women in Namibia. These cultural aspects native to Africa enrich the story to give audiences a true understanding of Africa’s beauty. The movie also includes strong female roles, such as influential scientist and sister of the Black Panther, Shuri and General of the Dora Milaje (an elite group of all female bodyguards), Okoye. Many Marvel movies center around a theme of some rejection of change. For instance, in Guardians of the Galaxy, Yondu (Michael Rooker) scolds Star Lord (Chris Pratt) for his sentiment in wanting to save the world. Again, in Thor: The Dark
World, Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) seeks to overthrow Odin’s peaceful, established regime by introducing eternal darkness to create a new order. In Black Panther, the theme from past Marvel movies of a villain being evil is not true. T’Challa channels his “true king”, sympathizing with Erik’s past and wishes to right past wrongs, however, they are unable to find compromise and conflict between the two continues. During the movie’s resolution, T’Challa acts on the ideas that Erik had to improve Wakanda, something that has never been done in the history of Marvel movies. Black Panther impacted more than just the movie industry, with rapper Kendrick Lamar producing an album inspired by Black Panther and featuring many other artists. The movie has also opened up dialogue about black identity, especially in America through the hash-tag: “WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe.” Being the first Marvel movie to grasp a billion dollars and the first Marvel movie to hold the #1 movie spot for four weeks in a row, Black Panther will influence the movie industry and the world forever, because #WakandaForever.
PHOTO COURTSEY OF COMICLIST.COM
The poster art above for the movie Black Panther depicts several important characters from the film. Black Panther has opened up many opportunities for African American representation.