Volume CVI, Issue 3
November 8, 2011
Eagles make playoffs after 116 years of waiting Charlie Hatch, ‘13 Sports Editor
For the first time in Walnut Hills High School history, the Eagles football team has made the playoffs, tying its own record of 8 games. “It feels amazing knowing that we’ve accomplished so much and will be a part of Walnut Hills sports history forever,” said SENIOR linebacker George Ross. “It’s extremely gratifying to know the countless hours spent practicing, lifting during the off season, and watching game film all the time for the past four years has finally built up to this great moment.” This season has been a wild ride for the Eagles, who some believed would start off the season with a loss to Wyoming in the Skyline Showdown at Colerain. But with a last minute drive, the team was able to run the ball down the field and take the lead, going on to beat the Cowboys and becoming the first undefeated team in the state of Ohio. Following the so-called upset win, the Eagles played their first game of the season at home against Western Hills and had another impressive victory. Head football coach George Kontsis told tristatefootball.com that “our guys are on a mission. When [the
LUKE KLOTH/CHATTERBOX
Walnut lines up at Colerain’s field for the second time this season. coaching staff] came here, these SENIORS were freshman, and we instilled in them what the level of expectation was, for this program, and they are rising to that level of expectation.” In weeks three and four, the Eagles took down Hughes Center and Norwood, but faced a tough opponent, Winton Woods, away from home with an undefeated season on the line. After non-stop back and forth action between the two sides, Walnut once again came out of the game with a win: 5-0.
“Some people thought the victory in the Cross-Town Showdown against Wyoming was big,” Coach K. stated to The Community Press. “This has got to be the biggest game perhaps in the history of Walnut Hills. To come back numerous times against a team that is just two years removed from winning the state championship is huge. And that goes to the leadership of our SENIORS.” The team continued their success the following week, winning
over the Wilmington Hurricanes, kicking off the Homecoming weekend on a positive note and heading into the game of the week: Walnut Hills vs. Kings at “The Castle.” Walnut got down early and continued to struggle after star running back, SENIOR Kenneth Davis, was hurt on the first offensive drive. Kings went on to beat the undefeated Eagles, but the hopes of making the playoffs were not diminished. Cont’d on page 4
Letter from the Editor First quarter is officially over and this is the third issue of the Chatterbox to come out. I am happy to say that the new staff has finally gotten a hang of things. With a class of thirty, the Chatterbox staff now has the ability to produce even more content. I encourage you to view the brand new website at <my.hsj.org/Chatterbox>, where exclusive articles and photo essays are being published daily. Already, the website has earned a respectable readership. Videos will be published soon, adding a new layer of interactive media to the Chatterbox. If you are interested in any of these endeavors, please notify any of the Chatterbox staff members or attend meetings after school on Thursdays. The Chatterbox is your voice and we want you take advantage of this opportunity. For this issue, there are two anonymous submissions, both which convey genuine emotion and real life issues that are relatable to high school students and faculty alike. You can submit articles online to cboxwalnut@gmail.com or to Ms. Gerwe-Perkin’s mailbox. Sincerely, Mia Manavalan Editor-in-Chief
Spanish students set to leave for Guatemala Sean Wood, ‘14 Staff Writer This coming summer, thirty students from Mr. Maddox’s Spanish classes and six adults are set to leave for Guatemala. During their two week stay, from June 7-21, they will be participating in a variety of activities, from talking with locals in Spanish to climbing the Pacaya Volcano. FEATURE PAGE 2 “A Score for Walnut Hills” The Renovation Series There will be new athletic spaces to accommodate future football star and basketball coach. How will they look? The details are revealed in this feature article.
The purpose of the field trip is to “break down cultural isolationism”, says Mr. Maddox, who lived secluded in the mountains of West Virginia until he was 19, and relates personally to this mission. The trip costs $1740 for students. In addition to Mr. Maddox, Right: Mr. Maddox and Ms. Wilke will be accompanying 30 students and 3 other adults to Guatemala.
“There’s No Business Like Show Business” Cast of Annie Get Your Gun Prepares
JOSH MEDRANO/CHATTERBOX
SPORTS PAGE 4 Josh Mansfield--the Interview The Chatterbox touched base with Josh Mansfield for a short interview on how he balances his time with sports and academics.
five other adults will be chaperoning: Ms. Savage-Gentrey, Ms. Ficklin, Ms. Tucker, Ms. Wilke and Mrs. Maddox. The group will have the opportunity to experience Latin American life though volunteering at a local daycare, working at a tobacco plantation, and helping locals learn English. In turn, for every hour of service they give they will receive free Spanish
instructions from the locals. Although this trip is currently only available to Mr. Maddox’s Spanish class, he has expressed interest in expanding the opportunity to the Ecology and Anthropology classes sometime in the future.
Meet Kaelyn Willingham: I’m going WillingHAM!
The Ides of March Come Early The Chatterbox reviews Ides of March which stars George Clooney and Ryan Gosling. How did the movie, set and filmed in Cincinnati, measure up?
VIEWPOINTS PAGE 3 Wally Hill In this new issue of the Chatterbox, Wally Hill gives his philosophical musings. It’s about teachers.
ONLINE FEATURE PSAT Semi-Finalists Have you met our PSAT Semi-Finalists? The Chatterbox got in touch with 10 of them. Read and view our photo-essay on my.hsj.org/Chatterbox.
STYLE AND CULTURE PAGE 6 Eastside vs. Westside An exploration of the broad diversity of Walnut Hills, compare-and-contrasting the two factions, a hotly-debated issue also roused by Cincinnati citizens.
Coming Out An anonymous letter explores the inconsistencies of today’s society and pride in being gay. Page 5
Walnut Hills High School
JUST NUTS PAGE 8 In Character: Luke Kindle Our staff took the opportunity to meet Luke Kindle.
FINE ARTS PAGE 5 SENIOR Spotlight: Hannah Firestone Meet Hannah Firestone, an aspiring graphic designer.
Page 8
Editor-in-Chief: Mia Manavalan
Volume CVI.3
News & Features
Page 2
The Chatterbox
Update: Internet filtering at Walnut Hours after Issue CVI.2 of the Chatterbox went to press, CPS teachers received an email with instructions about how to access YouTube from school. The article “Does internet filtering hurt Walnut Hills students’ education?” indicates that teachers do not have access to YouTube. Although the Chatterbox makes a concerted effort to keep material
timely and accurate, there is inescapably a window of time that can be up to a week between the time that the Chatterbox goes to press and the time that it is distributed to the school. The nature of the print medium means that these kinds of updates are impossible to make once our publisher deadline has passed.
News Feed: What we’re reading Josh Medrano, ‘13 News and Feature Print Editor World population passes 7 billion. The world celebrated the birth of the seven billionth human being Monday, October 31 in Philippines . UN projects challenges to food production, as a result. Troops to come home from Iraq by holidays. After almost nine years, Obama said that the US and Iraq have agreed to partner and move on. The US will then shift its focus to the Pacific, especially China.
Nearly 400,000 immigrants deported from US. Even though it is only one percent increase from last year, it is the highest number recorded ever by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Study shows cell phone use not linked to cancers. The New York Times, however, points out that the “largest study ever” failed to count non-subscribers and corporate cell phone users.
Libyan dictator Gaddafi shot in head. Rebels say that their reputation is “a little stained.” Gaddafi is now buried in a secret grave. Tunisia holds its first free election after beginning of “Arab Spring.”
Student wounded in high school shooting. Cape Fear High School in North Carolina was placed on a lockdown immediately. Two teens have been put to custody the next day. Following this, a series of shootings happened Friday, October 28th in ten high schools in South Carolina.
Israeli solider Gilad Shalit is returned home. In exchange, Israel is releasing 1,027 Palestinian prisoners of war, causing controversy among UN members and the Israeli High Court.
Steve Jobs passed away. Following Jobs’ resignation as CEO in August Apple also released the iPhone 4S, which included minimal features and left many fans disappointed.
The Chatterbox Editorial Staff Mia Manavalan, Editor-in-Chief Tanner Walters, Senior Managing Editor Emily Friedman, Junior Managing Editor Ayana Rowe, Copy Editor Jonah Roth, Design Editor Kemarca Wade, Web Designer John Butler, Assistant Web Designer Luke Kloth, Print Photo Editor Signe Schloss, Online Photo Editor Garret Oester, Business Manager Akilah Phillips, Subscription Manager Page Editors: Josh Medrano, News & Features Print Editor Jessica Fan, News & Features Online Editor Jessie Heines, Viewpoints Print Editor Sierra Kingston, Viewpoints Online Editor Jenna Weber, Fine Arts Print Editor Amanda Dias, Fine Arts Online Editor Charlie Hatch, Sports Editor Joe Neidhard, Style & Culture Editor Dominick Clark, Just Nuts Print Editor Jaylen Hill, Just Nuts Online Editor JP Schmitz, Cartoon Editor Cody Stayden, Chatterbox Archivist Advisors: Samantha Gerwe-Perkins annd Dawn Wolfe Front page masthead adapted from the Chatterbox of 1927. Photo by Jonah Roth. Illustration by Sarah Davidoff.
A score for Walnut Hills
The renovation features a brand-new gymnasium building
Calendar November 2011 Wednesday 11/9, 6:30-9:00
Marching Band Banquet
Thursday 11/10
PLAN for 10th Graders, Lunchroom
Friday 11/11
Veterans Day, NO SCHOOL
Thursday-Saturday 11/17-11/19, 7:30 pm
Annie Get Your Gun, Auditorium
Monday 11/17-18 and 21
Fall Art Show Forum
Monday 11/21
Fall Sports Awards Banquet, Auditorium
Wednesday-Friday 11/23-11/25
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS
Tuesday 11/29, 7:00 pm
Steel Drum Concert, Auditorium
Walnut Hills High School
SHP LEADING DESIGN
An artist’s rendering of the new gym, which will incude increased seating capacity, an exclusive Nut House section and a competition-sized swimming pool below. Garret Oester, ‘14 Business Manager The new athletic spaces will be state-of-the-art, with a new Varsity gymnasium, a competition-sized pool and locker rooms which will accommodate P.E. students, athletes and visiting teams. The entrance will feature an arcade-like interior with display cases, brick walls, and a concession stand. The highlight of the space is the gymnasium. This space
will feature an increase in seating capacity, including the new Nut House section devoted to students. The plan calls for neutral, sandstone colored walls with blue seats to convey school spirit. The roof will have 360° windows. Under the gymnasium is a new competition-sized swimming pool. This improves over the current pools, which are not the proper length for competitive swimming. They are classically-styled with
blue and yellow pool tiles. The locker rooms will also be an improvement, featuring new lockers, benches and fixtures. The current gymnasium is also getting renovated. It will have features similar to the new gymnasium. Where the pools currently are, there will now be a multipurpose room, allowing for many different activities: guest speakers, class presentations, performances, and small assemblies.
Viewpoint: Thoughts on grief Anonymous Set the paper down for a minute and prepare yourself for an emotional journey. Everyone has gone through grief. Some of us are torn apart by our parents divorcing, others are brought to tears by a death of a close family member or friend, and still others by an ugly break up. I have gone through tough times just as much as the next guy. I’ve had some tough losses
Editor: Josh Medrano
and family struggles and being as emotional a person as I am I really let it get to me. I’ve dealt with two types of death. Both were excruciatingly painful and neither is worse to go through than the other. For the unexpected death, I spent a lot of time contemplating, dwelling and just being sad in general. I kept thinking about all the expectations this person had for me. I couldn’t think about any future. It felt like time stopped on that day, like everything would
always be the same. My calendar was based upon that day and I was surprised when it was actually three months later. I still haven’t found closure--- a hard word to define in the first place. Religion has also been a problem for me around death. I hate funerals. If people actually thought about the lost loved ones, then I might like them. Cont’d on pg. 3
Volume CVI.3
Viewpoints
The Chatterbox
Page 3
What if you read this online? Josh Medrano, ‘13 News & Features Print Editor Even though the number of people “reading” has been declining over the years, thousands of books are continually being provided for them. Technology has changed how we read books, drive cars and run schools. As a result, we are too busy to read, occupied by the inevitable distractions and excess information which deprive us of the pleasure of reading a paperback or hardcover book in our hands. I write not to explain the reasons why we struggle to read, but to present the competencies of the solution that technology in turn provides: electronic books, or e-books for short. E-books have been evolving, as the popularity of tablet computers and e-readers indicate. Tablets and e-readers have been making news
recently, especially the Kindle Fire, which is manufactured by the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon.com. In addition, several high schools and universities are now using online textbooks in their classes and classic novels can be downloaded for free. The question is: will electronic books replace printed books? An obvious benefit of an e-book is that “it has everything”: highlighters, bookmarks, post-it notes and dictionaries. It also provides portability, environmental benefits, personal customization, offline and online reading and digital preservation. Some people also buy e-books because of their lower costs. In fact, Walnut’s AP Economics classes have been using online textbooks for three years due to economical reasons. There are some disadvantages, which pertain mostly to the ereaders on which an e-book can
Viewpoint: Get over it. Anonymous
You don’t know me. You don’t know who I am at all. And I’ll tell you right now that your idea of me is way too far fetched. So I give you permission to judge me. Lesbian, dyke, gay girl, confused, loud, weirdo, annoying, dumb, ugly, skinny, black, far from normal.. yada ya.. I understand that’s only the half of what you assume to know about me through
a quick look or even a long stare. “She thinks she’s a boy,” yes, I hear that one all of the time. I’m sure the majority of us teenagers have been taught at a young age to accept all people, but we’ve also been taught to NOT be gay. In high school, I’ve gone through so many friends. I never really understood why one day we were inseparable, and the next we’ve become strangers. It was all because I was different, the outlier. I always did
be read. And while the life span, software capabilities and costs of an e-reader are main issues, the most crucial component of an e-book is whether the reader can comprehend what he reads in digital form just as equally as in print. There will come a time when one is bored reading Romeo and Juliet and will eventually be preoccupied with Facebook, e-mail and other distractions. So what if you read this online? Indeed you may have skipped this sentence because you were on Facebook. Books have been the cornerstones of our society for centuries and technology has radically changed their roles. How books will play in our future, I think therefore, is in doubt, but for now printed books will be the ones to feed our insatiable minds.
what ever just to be accepted, and still ended with being rejected. I never really knew what was wrong with me until I figured myself out. Feeling like a nobody led me to be somebody. I am brave. I am honest. I am freaking hilarious. I am passionate and sensitive. I do care. I am open-minded. I am gay. I am a girl. My name, well… it doesn’t define me. But I am me. And you aren’t.
JONAH ROTH/CHATTERBOX
Wally Hill, ‘12 Staff Writer When I was younger, I always wondered what teachers did in their spare time. Did they actually have lives? Or did they stay at school 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, forever? Did they pit the students who were not picked up after school in some form of bizarre combat when they weren’t grading papers? Did they race around the school on book carts in a manner akin to a soap box derby? For much of my life, I didn’t know and frankly, I didn’t care. Fantastical ideas would creep in to my head to fill the gaps in my knowledge. It was always funnier to concoct strange tales about crazed, school-dwelling trolls who roamed the halls at night, than it was to accept the truth. It didn’t help that I would never see them leave and I would never see them arrive at school. As far as I was concerned, they were always there. Of course, now I know that most teachers do, in fact, have lives, and that these ideas were merely the products of my over-active imagination. Yet, with almost 13 years of school (as
well as preschool) under my belt, I now realize that I’ve had some pretty loony ideas. The sad part is, that I never truly gave up these ideas, and in joking with other students, many of them haven’t either. It was always more fun to entertain the bizarre thoughts. Maybe Mr. Brokamp patrolled the halls eternally, or maybe Mrs. Donnett lived out of her mini-fridge, sleeping in the back of her class. Ironically, many of the teachers actually do stay at school until ridiculous times, sometimes later 6 pm. Yet, many others are gone at 2:31. It just depends on how much homework they decide to pile upon their students’ already chaotic and overly saturated work load. It really just depends. Whatever the truth may be, I will always hold in my heart the silly notions that teachers really don’t have lives. And I’m not the only one. I am certain, you will too. Admit it, it’s more enjoyable that way.
Viewpoint: Thoughts on grief (continued) Cont’d from pg. 2 But it seems like we spend more time praising a god then actually remembering the loved one. During the drawn out deaths, people tend to say “at least we were prepared” and that’s all well and good but it doesn’t soothe the mind. Yes, I said mind, not heart, because it is the mind that races and thinks of every memory you’ve ever had of them, everything you wanted to say, everything you wanted to do, everything you wanted to know. You see the deterioration of someone whom you love and respect especially with Alzheimer’s or dementia. My parents let me sit in on the meeting with the doctors and I was able to grasp the situation. I think that helped a lot, but I wasn’t even in the country for the death itself. I was saddened but I also felt the closest thing to closure that I think any person can get to. There is a Jewish tradition that I admire, called Shiva. A candle is lit that lasts for seven days. During this time, all mirrors are covered because we are supposed to be thinking of the dead, rather than ourselves. Friends and family come to stay with those closest to the deceased to comfort them. It actually does help to ease the
Walnut Hills High School
suffering. So now that I’ve summed up some experiences with death, I would like to give some advice: • Cry. • Have a good yell. Not a yell that comes from the throat, but one that comes from the diaphragm. It releases so much tension. I walked back to the woods that my dog and I frequent and just let out a guttural bellow. It was one of my defining moments. • Make sure your loved ones know you love them at least twice a week, if not more. • Don’t expect to find closure. Just try to come to terms with your loss. Hopefully none of you will ever need it. But for those who will, I hope this helps.
Editor: Jessie Heines
Volume CVI.3
Sports
Page 4
The Chatterbox
Boys Soccer: The Final Champions
Charlie Hatch, ‘13 Sports Editor After months of hard work and dedication, the boy’s varsity soccer team were the Fort Ancient Valley Conference champions for the first time since Walnut Hills entered the conference. “Coming into the season, we certainly had high expectations, but I was surprised by the quality of soccer we were able to play as a team,” said SENIOR Max Pescovitz. “Our hard work in the preseason definitely paid off.” The team started undefeated, and at one point were number 2 in the city for D-1 soccer rankings, only to trail Moeller. Perhaps the biggest win came from a game early in conference play, when the Eagles traveled to Milford, and at one point were losing 3-0. But, under the leadership of the SENIORS (Will Hellmich, Andre Lewis, Max Ziemba, Alex Moore, David Wiers, Carson Browne, Eric Lockett and Max Pescovitz), Walnut came back to defeat Milford 5-4 thanks to a goal from Moore and four by
VALENCIA BROWN
Pescovitz, the city’s leading scorer. In his third-year as head coach, Eric Rothwell wanted his last year coaching this group of SENIORS to be memorable and something everyone on the team could be proud of. Captain Will Hellmich made sure the team would understand the message. “Our goal from the beginning of the season was to win the league and we [SENIORS] all wanted to end our high school careers with something memorable, so it was a rewarding feeling knowing that all of our hard-work paid off,” explained Will. “It was also nice knowing we won [the FAVC] over our rivals, Turpin.” The Eagles managed an almost undefeated record in conference (other than losing to Turpin), and played well on the road to pick up wins against Loveland and Wilmington, to help secure the league title. “It felt good to accomplish winning the league and it felt like we were being rewarded for our hard work,” said junior Harrison Hildebrand. “I felt that we really deserved it and we truly were the best team.”
Walnut ended the regular season with ten wins, three ties, and three loses (10-3-3) and was able to clinch a bye in the first round of the tournament. “As far as the regular season, I felt we did well to take every game one by one,” SENIOR Eric Lockett explained. “We stayed focused, determined and hungry for success throughout the entire campaign and frankly, we deserved to win the league.” In the second round, the Eagles took down the Sycamore Aviators 2-0 at home, despite the loud and at some points obnoxious Aviator fans. Walnut showed their class though, and didn’t receive a yellow card while their competitors had nine. The third round match up had the team faced off against Mason, who defeated the 2009-2010 Eagles in the same round. Sadly, the same result occurred, and the Comets pulled off a 2-0 victory knocking us out of the tournament. Although the end was depressing, the overall mood of the season was positive, and one that should be acknowledged by all. “It was an amazing feeling once we clinched the conference title, especially since it was my SENIOR season,” said Pescovitz. “It was our first time ever winning the FAVC after the new alignment, and it’s certainly a great way to cap off my soccer career at Walnut.”
SENIOR Mansfield runs, flies Kibret Alem, ‘14 Staff Writer SENIOR Josh Mansfield sat down with the Chatterbox. He is active in more than three clubs, two sports and is a National Merit Semifinalist. Chatterbox: Give us a little background of your self and what activities are you part of at WHHS? Josh Mansfield: As sports go, I’m a member of the varsity Cross Country and Track teams, and I’m also a member of our varsity Academic Quiz Team. As for clubs, I participate in Quidditch club, CAT (Community Action Team), math team and the applying for college club, which I feel applies to any SENIOR. CBX: Are you the seeker of Quiddich Club? JM: Close, but my main position is actually as the Snitch Runner (the person the seekers have to catch). Since we don’t have actual enchanted balls in Quidditch, I have to dress in gold and run around until one of the seekers can catch me. I’ll play any position though, because in Quidditch, anyone can really do anything. We’re pretty laid back and pretty much play for fun. CBX: What do you think of using a real Nimbus 2001 for Quiddich? JM: While I would love to use a real Nimbus 2001, I don’t have
Walnut Hills High School
my own Lucius Malfoy to purchase it for me. If Mr. Brokamp wouldn’t mind investing a couple thousand galleons in getting the brooms for us, I certainly wouldn’t mind. CBX: On top of being a seeker of Quiddich Club, you’re also a SENIOR member of the Cross Country team? How do you handle both sports? JM: Cross Country always comes first for me. I’m the SENIOR captain of the team, so my priorities have always been there. However, the Quidditch practices didn’t overlap, and the running I did with Quidditch is always beneficial for Cross Country, too. CBX: How’s the Cross Country team doing so far? JM: Our season just finished last weekend, but I think for where we are, both teams have done very well. The boys have a lot of young guys who I’ve really seen improve this season, and the girls team dealt with some bad injuries in an incredibly inspiring way. It was a great last season to have. CBX: What’s your priority as far as attending college? Does your future include Cross Country?
JM: As for college, my main priority is attending a university with a great program for Biology, which is my intended major. Due to the size of the schools I’m looking at, it doesn’t look like I have the
talent to run on any of their cross country teams, but I’m certainly going to keep running on my own, and hopefully increase my skills for that. CBX: You performed your first stand-up comedy at the second annual Walnut24 Walkathon. What did you think of that, and did you enjoy it?
NBA lockout, no end in sight Alina Tashjian, ‘14 Chatterbox Staffwriter
The trend for this year seems to be lock outs. The NFL finally ended theirs, but the NBA continues to remain under lock and keyand the end is not in sight. Due to the inability of the players and owners to find a common ground on October 10th, NBA commissioner David Stern had to cancel not only the rest of the preseason, but the first two weeks of regular season as well. The last time that the NBA could not play all of their games was the 1998-99 season when it was reduced to 50 games, and the pressure is on to keep it from happening again. Lost games aren’t the only thing the teams will have to deal with; it is projected that they will lose up to $350 million each month that the players don’t play. Although it may seem like a rush job, NBA President Derek Fischer says, “They have to be respectful of the process and cannot rush through it for the sake of ramifications in years to come.” But just how long can they afford to? Some players are seeking alter-
ALINA TASHJIAN
natives to this, and their answers might just be across the oceans. Many players have considered playing on foreign teams. Deron Williams, for example, plays in Turkey and is being paid $5 million for the whole season--- as compared to the $16.4 million he was projected to make with the Nets. That is quite the difference, but the promise of a for sure season is just too sweet to pass up. Kobe Bryant has also been in discussions to play in Turkey until the National Basketball League can sort itself out. The most recent meeting on October 19 isn’t holding much weight. The only thing promised for the future is the possibility of games being cancelled until Christmas. With that obstacle facing the players and owners, will it speed up their decisions or will the NBA nation have to wait until next season to cheer on their teams? As the lockout continues into the coming weeks and college basketball starts up, it will be interesting to see if the popularity of the NBA will transfer to the NCAA. But the only thing that is certain is that many fans aren’t happy and won’t be anytime soon.
JM: It was an incredibly nervewracking, stressful event, and I loved every second of it. I don’t think I’ve got a real future in doing stand up, but it was incredibly fun to do, and I hope a couple of my jokes got some legitimate laughter. CBX: Congrats on being a National Merit Semifinalist. What were your thoughts when you heard the news? JM: Honestly, I didn’t think much of it. I’m definitely very happy and thankful I qualified, but I have more pride for the things I’ve done that have required more work than sitting and testing for a couple hours. CBX: Thanks Josh. We wish you luck in Quiddich, Cross Country and the rest of your SENIOR year. JM: Thank you, I look forward to it. To view more of this interview, visit the Chatterbox online at <www. walnuthillseagles.com>.
Editor: Charlie Hatch
Eagles make playoffs (continued) Cont’d from pg. 1 The following week, the Eagles hosted the Turpin Spartans with a mindset of “now or never” on making the post-season. Sadly the team continued its losing streak, with a heartbreaker in the dying moments of the game after an interception. Junior offensive lineman Eric Haas delivered the perfect words to describe the secondstraight loss. “Hey, you can’t win them all and I was really proud of the way our team played.” Even though the fans had a little doubt as to whether the team would make the playoffs, the final outcome was not set in stone. In week nine Walnut soundly defeated West Carrollton, and beat Little Miami at home for the final
game of the year, “Senior Night.” When asked about the feeling of making the playoffs for the first time in school history, Kenneth Davis told the Chatterbox, “Just to know that your hard work has paid off feels…amazing. To be able to have a chance to make the playoffs and do things that no other team has done in this school’s history [is extraordinary].” This season is one that belongs in the history books for Walnut Hills athletics and should be shared by the team, the school, and all of the fans who were a part of it. Junior lineman Austin Railey described the mood of the season: “It feels amazing knowing that we’ve accomplished so much and will be a part of Walnut Hills sports history forever.”
Volume CVI.3
The Chatterbox
Fine Arts
Page 5
There’s No Business Like Show Business
The Altered Statesmen Mia Manavalan, ‘12 Editor-in-Chief The Altered Statesmen is a new student band that is rising in popularity at Walnut Hills. The band comprises of SENIORS Taylor Walters and Tommy Borders, as well as junior Austin Carey from Purcell Marian (a former Walnut student) and SENIOR Sam McHugh from Seven Hills High School. While not completely sure as to what genre they fit in to, Borders and Walters agree that they were not trying to fit a specific style, but many might consider them to be part of the Indie Garage Rock genre. Even though not all the current members of the band have been part of this endeavor from the beginning, they are still able to click and find their own talents and roles within the band. Taylor Walters sings and plays guitar; Tommy Borders plays the keyboard, sings, and is in charge of effects; Sam McHugh is on drums; and Austin Carey plays bass guitar. The band members collaboratively write music together and say that the lyrics are the reason for the band’s name. They are about looking at things from a different perspective
Terrin Bates, ‘13 Staff Writer
HELEN ADAMS
The members of The Altered Statesmen: Taylor Walters, Tommy Borders, Sam McHugh, and Austin Carey. and the band members consider themselves the leaders of this enterprise; hence, the name, The Altered Statesmen. While plans for the future are still tentative, Walters wants to study at a university in the Chicago area and Borders hopes to stay near him so that they can continue to write music together and perform. When asked what advice they would give to other student bands, Walters responded,
SENIOR Spotlight: Hanna Firestone
“Do it with your best friend. Listen to music you really enjoy and don’t force yourself to enjoy anything that doesn’t fit you. Also, never throw your old music away.” The band performed at the Walnut 24 Walkathon on October 15, 2011. More gigs are soon to come and Borders hopes to play at the Mad Hatter sometime in the near future. “I’ve been in bands since 3rd grade and I’ve always loved it. I
never thought about being rich or famous,” says Borders. “All I want to do is get our name out there.” The band has already released a 5 song EP titled The Altered EP with an album cover created by SENIOR Jeremy Siegel. Interested buyers should contact any of the band members to purchase a CD for $3. To listen to music by the band or acquire additional information, visit the band’s SoundCloud, Facebook, or MySpace websites.
Gleam club meets Tuesdays at 2:30 in Mr. Taylor’s room. Bring poetry and artwork for a chance to be involved in this historical publication.
Cole World: The Sideline Story is a great accomplshiment
It’s that time of year again! For those of you who stay after school, you will soon hear the sounds of show tunes ringing from the auditorium. Don’t be alarmed. It’s only the rehearsals for the upcoming senior musical, Annie Get Your Gun. Loosely based on the life of legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley, an Ohio native, it tells the story of Annie’s rise to fame as she deals with her love for her fierce rival, Frank Butler, played by SENIOR Paul Linser. The Chatterbox recently spoke with Paul about landing the lead role in his final Walnut performance. He reflects, “It’s very melancholy, a little bittersweet, but I am extremely excited that I got the lead role.” With so many characters in the production, those who auditioned had a better chance of landing a part, which makes for a diverse cast. “The overall cast is really cohesive,” says Linser. “I like the fact we have new students in lead roles. We’re all working really well together.” The production also includes a great storyline and wonderful staging. Linser observes, “It’s such a lively show with great music, and I think the audience is really going to enjoy it.” Those familiar with the musical will enjoy singing along to its most memorable numbers like “Anything You Can Do” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Performances begin Thursday, November 17 and end Saturday, November 19.
Terrin Bates, ‘13 Staff Writer
COURTESY OF HANNA FIRESTONE
Kayla Boggess, ‘14 Staff Writer SENIOR Hanna Firestone is an active student in the Walnut Hills High School art programs. She is currently enrolled in Ms. Williams’ Studio Art class and takes classes at University of Cincinnati, such as Art in the Market, in which students draw murals in Findlay Market. Where did her inspiration to create art come from? Firestone was influenced mostly from music, song lyrics, and prompts used during class time. She prefers to create realistic style pieces and often takes pictures to refer to. Taking photographs helps her because she has a hard time thinking of things to draw from memory. The atmo-
Walnut Hills High School
sphere of Walnut also helps, she says, “Walnut’s art programs are amazing because artists not only get feedback from the teachers, but also from students.” Firestone grew up in a very artistic setting. Her aunt is a fashion design teacher and Firestone began as a model for her class. Her actual art career began with a helpful grade school art teacher, who introduced her to art. She began drawing in seventh and eighth grade, but she never really delved into it until her junior year. Firestone wants to attend UC’s DAAP Program and study graphic design and then proceed to design book covers.
For Jermaine Lamarr Cole, a.k.a. J. Cole, getting off the “sidelines” and into the competitive game of hip-hop was a lengthy process. But with determination and a dream, all of his hard work paid off, resulting in the making of his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story, released this past September. The music is a reflection of Cole’s life and beliefs. The topics discussed on the album range from girls and relationships to addiction and abortion. The honesty in the lyrics along with Cole’s melodic flow creates brilliant stories that make the album relatable to listeners. Not only a lyricist, Cole produced the entire album himself, with some help from high-profile producers like No I.D. Cole has been perfecting his production skills since the age of 15 in his hometown in North Carolina. The songs are smooth yet raw, with a heavy use of drums, piano, and 808s. The standout tracks are “Can’t Get Enough” featuring R&B crooner Trey Songz and the bonus track “Work Out,” which samples Paula Abdul’s 1988 hit “Straight Up.” Other shining moments on the album include “Mr.
Editor: Jenna Weber
Nice Watch”, an electro-inspired track that exudes arrogance and features Jay-Z, and “Breakdown”, an emotional record that deals with feelings over an absent father: “When it was just me and my brother and my mother played father, cause no other man bothered, not even my biological, it never seemed logical...” Overall, Cole World: The
Sideline Story is a great debut album. It establishes J. Cole as one of the breakout artists of the year, and has already spent a week at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It is one of the many accomplishments this talented artist has made, and there are sure to be more.
Volume CVI.3
Style & Culture
Page 6
The Chatterbox
East side and west side collide Tanner Walters, ‘12 Managing Editor Two factions exist in these very halls, deeper than any other in the school. No, I’m not talking about Democrat or Republican, or rich or poor, or even Team Edward or Team Jacob. Of course, the true distinction, as any student here knows, is east side versus west side. The issue is one relatively unique to Walnut because of the diverse student body. While other high schools in the area attract local students, Walnut’s magnet program draws students from as far east as Indian Hill to as far west as Sayler Park (not to mention the various Kentucky and Indiana natives who pay tuition to attend). For many students, 7th grade is the first time the two factions really met. As with any group, stereotypes abound between the two cultures, forming an almost yin-yang perspective of the city. Where the west side is largely conservative,
the east side is liberal. Where the west side is viewed as sportsoriented and blue-collar, the east side is artsy and white-collar. One anecdote heard around Cincinnati is that, when asked where he or she went to school, an east sider will name a college, while the west sider will name a high school. For those without a response to the ubiquitous “What side of town do you live on?” question, the answer is not always cut and dry. For years, many considered Vine Street the boundary, but most believe that it is I-75 that separates the Montagues from the Capulets. Still other areas, like Clifton and Northside, are a kind of “no man’s land”. “We are neutral territory,” says SENIOR Grace Counts, a Cliftonite. The topic is one that arouses pride and contention among any long-time Cincinnati resident, and each side is quick to slam the other. “The west side is scary,” laughs
The Ides of March comes early Joe Neidhard, ‘12 Style and Culture Editor Perhaps you’ve heard of this movie that’s out right now, The Ides of March. If you haven’t, then you probably moved to Cincinnati over this past summer. Filmed and set in the Queen City late last winter, the George Clooney-auteured-film has been nothing short of buzzed about in and out of the halls of Walnut since the first calls went out for extras. Ryan Gosling sightings were being reported everywhere. Finally, Cincinnati’s favorite almost-native was coming home. This movie means a lot to the people of Cincinnati, and to ease anyone’s anxieties, it is worth it. Ryan Gosling plays Stephen Meyers, a youthful, talented campaign consultant for Pennsylvania governor Mike Morris’s (Clooney) run in the Democratic presidential primary. Clooney gives Morris the necessary bravado of a politician as well as the insincerity. He is ambitious, very liberal, openly nonreligious and is not afraid to express his “real” opinion (basically, no one who would ever get elected in reality). Convinced that his campaign will cruise into the nomination, he gets a surprising lunch invitation from rival campaign manager Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti) who tries to convince him to switch sides because he claims his candidate secretly has the advantage in the upcoming primaries. Evan Rachel Wood, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei round out the cast respectively as a campaign intern, manager and a persistent Times reporter. The cast gives you what you should expect. That is, between
Clooney, Gosling, Giamatti, Hoffman, and Tomei, the cast boasts eleven previous Academy Award nominations (Clooney owns two other nominations for writing and directing, which he also took up for Ides). The performances are fantastic throughout and you can look for that number to be higher than eleven by the end of January. Though the film has its share of clever, well done shots, the movie is much more about the dialogue. The story is moved along by conversations rather than actions. In that way it is much like an hourand-a-half episode of The West Wing, but not in a bad way. Look at it as a grown up version of The Social Network. Besides the success of the film as a whole, Walnut students can rest assured that they will not be underwhelmed by our city’s presence in the movie. It’s not just a quick establishing shot of the skyline and then a half-hour of interior scenes. Cincinnati is everywhere in the film. If it hadn’t been shot in gloomy February, you’d almost think the film was a local tourism video. Despite my best efforts I couldn’t help myself from getting excited in seeing Music Hall outside a window or flat-out pointing at the screen to my friend and whispering, “Dude, I swear, that was my church in the background!” Not many reasons come up to not see this movie. Being a political thriller, plot twists will abound, but in ways that are appropriate to the film, not for the sake of getting a rise from the audience. The movie is worth the time spent and could be one to remember around awards season.
SENIOR Jeremy Siegel. AP Economics teacher Jim Martin, a long-time resident of the West side, says of the issue: “I believe people on the east side think people on the west side are not as intellectual.” But do some stereotypes hold validity? “West siders are much more into tradition than east siders,” Martin says. Each area is associated with certain negative notions. The east side, home to many affluent areas like Indian Hill, Amberly Village, and Hyde Park, is often viewed as a land of snobs, whereas the west side for some has the unflattering image as a home of backwards hicks. These perceptions are especially clear when the time for SENIOR Superlatives rolls around; some students vie for the titles of “Most East Side” and “Most West Side.” Flipping through past yearbooks, I found that 2010’s west side couple are shown with a yard rake in a portrait reminiscent
Style Tips FOR HIM: #576. Learn what chambray is. Buy some.
of “American Gothic”, while the east side pair are seen standing in preppy clothing by an expensive sports car. The pose of 2011’s east side couple is identical, while the west side couple proudly pose with “gangster” gestures. Though both sides may bicker, in the end, Walnut Hills is not a neighborhood school-one of its more appealing qualities for many students. “I tease the west side a lot, but I honestly think it’s just
another place to live,” says junior AJ Schwartz. For Walnut students, Cincinnati is just that: many places to live, but only one place to go to school.
#trendingtweets
A hashtag (#) symbol on Twitter is a way of categorizing tweets - but users often get creative with them. Here are some of the editors’ recent favorites: #whitegirlproblems #firstworldpains #youcanthaveswag #thatawkwardmoment #sorrynotsorry #awkwardgirlproblems #chocolaterain #notgonnalie
It’s raining boots
Convenient footwear for Walnut students
#362. Unless you are performing in a jazz band concert, avoid wearing black dress shirts. #583. Tight pants: only if you are really skinny. FOR HER: #927. Feeling a t-shirt today? Add a scarf to add zest to your outfit. #725. It’s getting cold out. So that means it’s time to substitute your daisy dukes with winter shorts and tights. #382. There’s a thin line between Bohemian and homeless. Do not cross it.
I give it 8 nuts out of 10
Walnut Hills High School
JESSICA FAN/CHATTERBOX
Editor: Joe Neidhard
HANNAH SHAW/CHATTERBOX
Freshman Liea Mack is prepared for any weather, rain or shine. KeMarca Wade, ‘13 Web Designer Everyone has their own ways to “grin and bear it” during rain, and we seem to be getting a lot of it these days! Rain boots are among the more popular ways to make sure the wetness doesn’t seep through as it does in other footwear such as gym shoes. Unlike sandals or moccasins, these rain boots protect from the cold and wet rain even when it’s at its worst. The prices range from around $25-$35 at places such as Walmart to $225 at Nordstrom. Even though temperatures are on a continuous downward spiral, the stylish shoes are still being worn along with a thicker jacket.
During the upcoming winter days, these shoes may be used to battle against light snow before being replaced with snow boots. “They’re ugly, but they do their job well,” says junior Sydne Long. Sophomore Jada Booker agrees saying “They’re not my style but they come in handy.” Some people might not think rain boots are the best looking footwear around, but people agree that they do know how to protect when things get wet.
Volume CVI.3
The Arcade
The Chatterbox
Page 7
Play-Offs?
Student Submissions
JP Schmitz, ‘12 Cartoon Editor
If you have art (poetry, cartoons, etc.) that you would like to have featured in the Chatterbox, submit it to the Chatterbox Mailbox in the Main Office or, send a digital copy of your work to cboxtoons@gmail.com. (Print images will appear in black and white)
Student Cartoon
“Well gee, I’ve never hit that before,,,”
Brandon Wagner, ‘12 Chatterbox Contributor
Featured Horoscope JP Schmitz, ‘12 Cartoon Editor
Scorpio You’re being a bit too ambitious lately, and your friends are getting annoyed. Harvard is above you, so calm down. On the bright side, your bristly and affrontive personality contrasts well with your odd love for show tunes. You’re like a huggable porcupine. Stay away from Saggitarius but make friends with Taurus.
Violence en vogue Jacob Kroth, ‘12 Chatterbox Contributor Conquest, the MO by which we live. Destruction of the mind body and soul. We’ve usurped the Cosmic Bandit in cruelty but we don’t see the monsters we’ve become. Turn a blind eye to the pain we cause. It’s written off: Called collateral damage of the war we started but didn’t ask for. We feed on the hurt of those who didn’t ask us there, We wage war on their soil but won’t fight for those who suffer here at home. Prisoners of a war They are not intended to be part of. Not collateral damage: They are Innocent bystanders
Walnut Hills High School
caught in the conflict driven by our rapacious greed. War machine Willing to build bombs, not homes. Always throwing the first stone. War On terror On drugs But not on our own error. Utopia never realized. More warned, Don’t raise thieves and punish them for being thus. Unwilling to lend a hand to those who have theirs outstretched in fearful hope, searching for help. Asking for something, anything at all. Our hands dirty with marks of labors of war, We will wash them only On the matters of those destitute and weary. Out of touch is this plutocratic monolith By Locke’s seed and revolution forged.
Editor: JP Schmitz
Spooky High Jarod Estes, ‘17 Chatterbox Cartoonist
Volume CVI.3
Just Nuts
Page 8
The Chatterbox
I’m about to go WillingHAM! Kahvah Yisrael, ‘12 Fine Arts Writer “People now use my name as a verb, defined as ‘to go ham in math class.’ For a guy who used to be unknown, I love the publicity.” Kaelyn Willingham, ‘12, has been receiving an immense amount of attention due to his mathematic achievements. He has been “Willinghamming” math classes since he was an effie, but has most recently received the Honda-OSU Math Medal for being recognized as “the most accomplished math student at Walnut Hills.” He is also currently the president of NSBE at Walnut Hills and is participating in both the Siemens Competition and the Intel Science Talent Search for research that he has been working on for the past
nine months. Willingham himself says of his research: “[The Willingham Method] centers on graphic functions using a complex-number domain.” He says, “It sounds complicated, but it is actually very easy to replicate!” Willingham has ambitious goals for next year and beyond. “I plan to graduate in both pure and applied mathematics; I then plan to go to graduate school and continue doing research.” He is still applying to schools such as the University of Illinois, the University of Minnesota and the University of Washington, where he has every intention to raid and “Willingham” as many math classes as possible. “Most of the schools I am applying to have told me that I can send in my 20-page paper on ‘The Willingham Method’ in addi-
SIGNE SCHLOSS/CHATTERBOX
While walking around school you may observe many students wearing the shoes TOMS. Many do it to make a fashion statement, and some for the beneficial cause, maybe even both. TOMS were
SIGNE SCHLOSS/CHATTERBOX
with a problem or concept. But I continue to work at it and, with patience, I do eventually figure it out. I would also tell people to
open their minds to the wonders of math. Believe it or not, math can be beautiful and fun!” When in doubt, go “Willingham”!
Halloween Bash Best Costumes
“One for One”
Akilah Phillips, ‘12 Subscription Manager
tion to their required essays!” Through close observation, it can be found that Willingham is not a robot and enjoys doing other things besides math. “I don’t count logarithms in my sleep!” he chuckles. He enjoys football, video games and watching “random YouTube videos.” “I love comedy, so I’m always watching stand-up comedians like Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock,” he says. To all students who detest math, Willingham sends this advice: “Be patient. Frequently I encounter those who work at one problem or section in their math book and quit because they couldn’t solve or understand the concept in less than five minutes. While I do posses the ability to do both, I also may struggle
originally created and designed by the American traveler Blake Mycoskie. Mycoskie took a trip to Argentina and found that a lot of the children had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, Mycoskie designed and created TOMS. “TOMS are great and
fashionable. They’re comfortable and go with many outfits. They’re expensive, but worth it because of the cause behind the shoes. I wish there was a store because the shoes would be easier to obtain,” says SENIOR Diamond Penn. Each pair of TOMS bought is matched by another pair of shoes given to a child in need during shoe drops around the world, coining the slogan “One for One.” A year after creating TOMS, Mycoskie went back to Argentina with 10,000 pairs of shoes to give back, made possible by the TOMS customers and volunteers. Those who are interested in purchasing a pair of TOMS shoes or other products such as sunglasses, go to the TOMS official website (www. toms.com). Help support a good cause while still being fashionable.
UKNOWN
Best Female Costume: Jessica Kavinsky, ’17. (Costume: Goth Princess) Best Male Costume: Tyler Marsh, ‘17. (Costume: Mad Hatter) Most Creative: Sam Krimmer, ‘16. (Costume: Veteran Hippie)
Want to see your own masthead in the Chatterbox?
For the past year and a half, the mastheads rotating on the front page of the Chatterbox have been photos from the Chatterbox archives in the library, thanks to much help from Ms. Chiappone and Ms. Wathen. Now’s your chance to add your very own masthead to Chatterbox history! From now until February 23, 2012, the Chatterbox will be accepting submissions for the design of the new Chatterbox masthead. The design should be 10 inches wide and between 1.5 and 4 inches tall, in black and white. The masthead MUST feature the words “The Chatterbox”. No final designs should be submitted in pencil. Please write your name as you would like it published, graduation year, and 4th and 5th bell room numbers underneath your design on the page. Submit your design to the Chatterbox mailbox in the main office. The winning masthead will be debuted in Issue CVI.6 (March 2012) of the Chatterbox. You can also submit a design in one of the specialized categories: • April Fools - design a silly or unconventional masthead for the April issue (CVI.7). Deadline: March 23, 2012. • SENIORS - design a 2012 masthead for the SENIOR Issue (CVI.8). SENIORS only please. Deadline: May 10, 2012.
In Character: Luke Kindle
Elanor Eberhardt ‘15 Chatterbox Cartoonist
ELANOR EBERHARDT/CHATTERBOX
You’re modeling a new shirt for your friends.
Walnut Hills High School
ELANOR EBERHARDT/CHATTERBOX
Your best friend got into Pottermore, but you didn’t.
Editor: Dominick Clark
Luke Kindle, ‘13, enjoys painting, making art, and acting like a dinosaur in his free time.
ELANOR EBERHARDT/CHATTERBOX
Dinosaurs have invaded the earth and you have to act like one to survive.
Volume CVI.3