Volume CXII, Issue 11
The student news publication of Walnut Hills High School
The Children’s Hour
Friday April 13, 2018
noun 1. a play (1934) by Lillian Hellman.
ISABEL NISSLEY/ CHATTERBOX
SENIOR carpenters Seth Carter and Jared Carden said that set building involves a lot of math. Builders have to consider things such as the “allowable variant,” which can pose many challenges.
ISABEL NISSLEY/ CHATTERBOX
ISABEL NISSLEY/ CHATTERBOX
SENIORS Meghan Cholak, Brigid Hackett and Kendall Young are all a part of The Children’s Hour cast as Karen Wright, assistant director and Martha Dobie, respectively. “My favorite part is how relevant [the play] is to things that are happening today in society,” Young said.
Isabel Nissley ‘20 The after school sounds of feet on linoleum fade and the fluorescent light of the hallways dim as one enters the black box theater. Squeaking shoes are replaced by the music of laughter and a single table lamp casts a warm glow upon the space. Although this place may seem like an oasis of calm, once three o’clock rolls around, students transition roles and the theater becomes a place bursting with betrayal and the pain a rumor can cause. With a small set mimicking a classroom and a cast of less than 20, the WHHS Theatre program is putting on a production of the play The Children’s Hour. “It takes place in the 1930’s and two friends who are
schoolteachers at a boarding school for all girls are falsely accused of being a lesbian couple. In the 1930’s this was not acceptable and the story just follows what happens after this lie comes out about them,”SENIOR Brigid Hackett said, assistant director of The Children’s Hour. The plot of the play is based on a true story. The Columbia University Press attributes the inspiration to two Scottish school teachers in 1810, Jane Pirie and Marianne Woods. Pirie and Woods were accused by Jane Cumming, a student with powerful familial ties, of having an affair. Because of this, Cum-
SENIOR Joseph Stanichar plays Dr. Joseph Cardin in The Children’s Hour, a serious character. “It’s kind of different than the roles I’ve played before. I’ve played a lot of comedy roles or that of big, bombastic characters,” Stanichar said.
ming convinces other students to leave the school, ruining Pirie and Wood’s livelihood. Not only did the story make waves in 19th century Scotland, but also in 20th century America. “There’s a lot of historical significance as well, being one of the first gay shows to be brought to the Supreme Court,” Matthew Eggers, ‘20 said. The Children’s Hour highlights not only LGBTQ+ issues which are still relevant today, but also the power that one rumor can have. The accusation of Karen Wright and Mar-
“This show really captures what it means to be human,” SENIOR Brigid Hackett
tha Dobie being lesbian leads the school teachers to lose their relationship, jobs and eventually something more precious. “I hope the audience takes away that there is not only a need for watching what one says to other people and always monitoring one to be their best self, but also being thoughtful of others and be considerate and don’t spread rumors,” Eggers said. From April 19-21 The Children’s Hour will be performed in the WHHS Black Box Theater. Tickets will be available during preceding weeks during lunch or online. Disclaimer: SENIOR Joseph Stanichar is a member of the WHHS Chatterbox staff.
Senior Showcase: WHHS students pursuing art in college
Katharine Coleman
Joseph Stanichar ‘18
HANNAH BUNDSCHUH/CHATTERBOX
“I definitely like a lot of retro and old-looking kind of outfits, but in terms of my fashion and my style, all the way in every different area,” said Coleman. She expresses this style in her work with the WHHS Fashion Club.
SENIOR Katharine Coleman has always been interested in design, but it was when she went to a DAAP (Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning) camp at the University of Cincinnati that she discovered fashion design as her true passion. “I was just so amazed by all the work that they had done, and like how it had been five years, and some people had gone from never sewing to making these beautiful garments, and I was like, that is definitely what I want to do,” Coleman said. Coleman will attend the University of Cincinnati DAAP program for fashion design. While she is still considering different options for potential careers, she definitely wants to do something with sustainability in fashion design, as it is one of the most wasteful industries in the world. While Coleman is just getting started with fashion design, she is sewing her own prom dress. If you see her there, you’ll be seeing some of her first work. Disclaimer: SENIOR Katharine Coleman is a member of the WHHS REM staff.
Joey Barnett and Ziaire Sherman
Joseph Stanichar ‘18
SENIORS Joey Barnett and Ziaire Sherman both share a deep love for jazz, and they plan to carry that passion on to their studies in college and beyond. They both write original music for their band, Schoolyard, which Barnett describes as a cross between punk and soul, with a little bit of pop. Barnett will be majoring in both music performance and music production at the University of Berklee, one of the best music-oriented schools in the country. “I think it’s going to challenge me a lot more, which will force me to get better, which is what people want,” Barnett said. Sherman studies and performs jazz, as well as producing music and records with
Anne Knellinger Joseph Stanichar ‘18
Whether it be through painting, printmaking or mixed media, SENIOR Anne Knellinger is engrossed in the visual arts. Starting from art classes in elementary school, and more recently, AP art classes, art has “just been something I’ve loved, I guess forever,” Knellinger said. Knellinger gets her inspiration from world events and different people she talks to. “[The
artists. “[Music] was just always around me. My parents were playing records, my uncle was a trombonist, my mom always sung in the choir, stuff like that, so it was just always around, and I wanted to become a part of it,” Sherman said. Sherman is double-majoring in jazz studies and music technology. “It’s about honing what you already have so that when you get out in life, you can pursue your career in the best way,” Sherman said. While Sherman is currently undecided on college, he has been accepted into every college to which he applied
people I meet] affect my art, so looking at the news and using inspiration from that to try and tell a message and make people think about what’s really happening, and to try to connect with other people,” Knellinger said. Knellinger plans on going to college to major in some form of artistic field. Once there, Knellinger hopes that “I get better at a lot of different mediums, and meet some new people and be inspired by their art.”
OPINIONS
APRIL 13, 2018
PAGE 2
WHHSCBOX.COM
SECTION EDITOR: NICK ROBERTSON
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Nba Stars have anxiety too Will Fitton, ‘20 NBA players are some of the toughest athletes out there. Night after night, they put their bodies on the line to win in the most competitive basketball league in the world. In addition to many physical injuries, they also have to make sure something else is healthy; their minds. Kevin Love, All-Star power forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has seen his share of injuries. But last year, in a road game against the Atlanta Hawks, he suffered something new: a panic attack. “It came out of nowhere. I’d never had one before. I didn’t even know if they were real. But it was real — as real as a broken hand or a sprained ankle. Since that day, almost everything about the way I think about my mental health has changed,” Love said an article for The Player’s Tribune. Panic attacks are very real; in fact, American Psychiatric Association (APA) estimates that 11 percent of the population suffers attacks each year. Slightly more common in women than men, approximately two-thirds of patients who seek help with mental illnesses including anxiety and depression are women.
PHOTOS (LEFT TO RIGHT) KEITH ALLISON, JOHNATHAN FERT, KEITH ALLISON/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
NBA All-Stars Kevin Love, DeMar Derozen and Kelly Oubre Jr. all struggled with mental illness at one point during their careers. After sharing their stories, the players hope that they can help people, players or not, overcome the plague of mental illness that affects many men across the country.
There is clearly a large disparity between the amount of men that suffer from these ailments and those who seek help for them. “Indeed, dozens of studies and surveys over the past several decades have shown that men of
DATA FROM AMERICAN PHYCHIACTRIC ASSOCIATION
all ages and ethnicities are less likely than women to seek help for all sorts of problems-including depression, substance abuse and stressful life events even though they encounter those problems at the same or greater rates as women,” the APA stated. This is what makes Kevin Love’s story more intriguing, as men are not expected to seek help or may not even realize that they need help in the first place. Some attribute this to a “Marlboro Man” sense of masculinity, that men should be tough and not show weakness. The Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. expressed this perception in an
interview with NBC Sports. “Growing up my dad always told me ‘don’t let anybody see you weak.’ Nobody sees that I’m weak, but deep down inside I am going through a lot. Hell is turning over,” Oubre said. Oubre said he was inspired to share his battle with depression by Love and Toronto Raptors guard Demar DeRozan, another All-Star, who revealed that he has also struggled with depression throughout his career. DeRozan said he felt “...pretty damn good” to be able to help his fellow players share their stories. This issue badly needed to be thrust into the spotlight. With some estimates stating that men
are three times more likely than women to commit suicide, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the NBA’s new focus on helping players with their mental health stands to assist many players in seeking treatment. Seeing All-Star athletes admit that they struggle with depression encourages others, athletes or not, to not be embarrassed or ashamed of their own issues. So in addition to helping other NBA players win their battles with mental illness, these players might just be saving lives as well.
Fa c eb o ok lo s e s u s er tru st NICK ROBERTSON/CHATTERBOX
Wally Hill
I don’t have a Facebook account, but I’m definitely not getting one now. Cambridge Analytica, a British data firm, harvested data from more than 87 million Facebook users, through the accounts of 200,000 people who downloaded a personality test app connected to Facebook. Even though everyone is crying “delete Facebook,” Facebook does not sell user data to other companies for ads. Yet Cambridge Analytica followed Facebook’s policy when they collected user data. Way back in 2015, when Facebook first learned that Cambridge Analytica accessed user data, the firm assured Facebook that they deleted all the data. Now, however, Facebook seriously regrets not conducting an audit on them. Cambridge Analytica cofounder Christopher Wylie said that once the data leaves, it is “very difficult to verify” where
the information ends up and how it’s used. Therefore, we cannot estimate the extent of exploitation that has, is, or will target Facebook users. If this does not sound unsettling yet, President Trump is involved. The billionaire who owns Cambridge Analytica, Robert Mercer, supported Trump and Breitbart News, a far-right conservative media outlet ran by Steve Bannon, a former senior advisor to Trump. Bannon was the Vice President on Cambridge’s board during the election. Yikes. We already know the Trump campaign used Cambridge Analytica during the election for strategizing functions and analyzing where to focus their efforts. But according to Wylie, Russians may have accessed the data, too. The FBI is still investigating how Russians pumped Trump propaganda and fake news to millions of Americans on Facebook throughout the 2016 election. As Mark Zuckerberg testifies before Congress, he is taking the
The views expressed in the Opinions page belong to their respective authors and may not represent the views of the publication as a whole.
blame for breaching the trust of more than 87 million people, undermining American democracy and possibly affecting the election. That’s definitely not what Mark Zuckerberg had in mind when he launched an online college student directory in 2004. Many people have said that it’s Facebook users’ own fault their information got stolen by posting too much personal information on social media. But there is a difference between Facebook ads telling me to download Grammarly or shop at my local hardware store, and news articles manipulating my political beliefs. Before the Cambridge controversy hit the public, The New York Times covered a groundbreaking and terrifying technique Cambridge Analytica (which they called a “little known firm” at the time) was developing called psychographic profiles. Psychographing allows data firms to categorize people into personality types to understand their emotions, behaviors,
fears and political leanings. When I say data, I don’t just mean things people typed in their Facebook profile like their birthday or relationship status. It’s also what they like, comment, what links they click, what their friends do and what the friends of those friends do. Phone numbers, emails and websites that give the option to login with Facebook automatically connect private activities across social media platforms to Facebook. Privacy on social media is never truly a guarantee. When Cambridge Analytica compiles all this data with voter history and commercial records, they have enough information to know who you are as a person and manipulate you. Cambridge Analytica claimed that they did not use psychographics during the 2016 presidential election, and rather used traditional marketing techniques. Yet as psychographing technology advances, the temptation for both Democrats and Re-
publicans to use social media to persuade political opinions will be hard to resist. Beyond political campaigns, many companies will want access to this technology to target consumers as well. The scandal has left many people wondering if privacy is an illusion. The answer is yes, but it’s not worth sacrificing the 21st century digital social experience. The U.S. government and Facebook could tighten up privacy policies to prevent widespread abuse like this, but if something like this happens again, hopefully it doesn’t also fill the American people with political propaganda and fear. This is just one more reason not to get all your news from social media. And to be honest, I’ll still probably get a Facebook account. Sincerely, Wally Hill
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
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NEWS
APRIL 13, 2018
PAGE 3
SECTION EDITORS: IBRAHIM MUNIR
As the news cycle proceeds at a rapid pace, it is important to continue to recognize how national stories affect us, students, directly. The Chatterbox looks into four such issues and the impact they can have on children in Cincinnati and across the country.
The impact of four political stories on students Students and the opioid epidemic
Federal education funding falls
ERIC MOLINA/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
A needle used to inject heroin lies on the ground after being used. Heroin is just one type of opioid that has been abused in recent years as the opioid epidemic gets worse, even affecting students. Matthew Youkilis, ‘19
Over the past several years, the state of Ohio has become a deadly poster child for the opioid epidemic in the United States. In 2016, Ohio was second in the nation in overdose deaths per capita, with 39.1 fatalities per 100,000 people, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The term “opioid” encompasses many different drugs. Some opioids, such as heroin, are illegal, while others are prescription pain relievers, which are legal. These prescription pain relievers can have a major effect on young adult and student populations. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, in 2016, 3.6 percent of individuals aged 12-17 reported misusing prescription opioids. However, the broader opioid epidemic can also have a major effect on children across the United States, including in Cincinnati. When Donald Trump announced a Public
Health Emergency for the opioid crisis in October 2017, he said, “Some of these children will likely lose one or both of their parents to drug addiction and overdose.” Trump’s statement is a reminder that opioids can ruin children’s lives, as a result of their own use or a relative’s use. The Public Health Emergency, which allows very limited funding for opioid abuse treatment, was extended in January and is set to expire on April 23. Even with the law, many lawmakers have urged the President to allot greater funding toward treatment and education in their constituent communities. This funding would go toward prevention campaigns, treatment drugs and law enforcement assistance. This funding could ultimately help students, such as those at WHHS, even more, because nearly everyone has been touched by the opioid epidemic.
Effect of environmental changes in US
ANDREAS PRAEFCKE/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
THE WHITE HOUSE/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Donald Trump, Eduaction Secretary Betsy DeVos and other Trump administration officials meet with students. With the government spending changes recently, funding toward education has derceased. Ibrahim Munir, ‘19 President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget calls for major cuts to existing education programs and a huge increase for school-choice initiatives. The first cut would most likely target public schools, cutting discretionary spending of the education department by 5.3 percent, about 3.6 billion dollars off a 63 billion dollar budget. Two programs that would face the blunt of this cut are Title II, which is used to recruit and retain teachers and support principals, and the 21st Century Learning Center block grants, which pay for after school programs, primarily in high poverty communities. The budget proposal maintains current funding for Title I programs, which help children from low income families, and programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Funding for career and technical schools would also remain the same.
According to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, the proposal aims to “expand education freedom for America’s families while protecting our nation’s most vulnerable students … by consolidating and eliminating duplicative and effective federal programs better handled by the state or local level.” Other goals include ending student-loan forgiveness for individuals who choose careers in public service, consolidating several income-based repayment plans and expanding ways students use federal Pell Grant funds to pay for post-secondary education. Although Trump’s budget plan proposes some major changes, history has shown that the budget plan Congress ultimately approves and what the President proposes are usually very different. However, his proposal highlights the priorities in his agenda, such as supporting school-choice initiatives, career and technical schools, and handing off more responsibility to individual states.
The significance of voter suppression
PETE SOUZA/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Smoke rises from a Volkswagen factory, polluting much of the air around it. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency has reduced environmental regulations for companies including Volkswagen.
President Barack Obama votes in the 2012 U.S. election. Voting has become more difficult for many sectors of society in recent years, including minorities and young people, because of voter identification laws.
Ibrahim Munir, ‘19
Matthew Youkilis, ‘19
In the past year, the United States has seen major rollbacks through the Environmental Protection Agency that could worsen the global epidemic that is climate change. The Trump administration has brought both expected and surprising changes to the U.S. environmental policy, many of which are a step backwards from Obama-era policies that aimed to limit environmental pollution. In 2012, rules were finalized for new car emissions standards that would require cars and light-duty trucks to have average fuel efficiencies equivalent to 54.5 miles per gallon by model year 2025. The program would have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 6 billion metric tons. Many auto manufacturing companies spoke out against this, believing the new standard was unrealistic and expensive. The Trump administration has piggybacked off these criticisms to announce that they will rollback this program, but
have yet to release their new standards. Air pollution can be extremely harmful to many Americans, especially children, the elderly and people with asthma. So far, the Trump administration has sought to reverse more than 60 environmental rules that could be detrimental to the environment, but beneficial to many businesses. One example is overturning a rule that prevented coal companies from dumping mining debris into local streams. Coal companies complained the rule was overly burdensome, and called it part of the “war on coal.” According to the EPA, if current pollution trends continue, Cincinnati would experience hotter summers, dangerous storms and flooding and new threats to agriculture. Ohio could also face heat waves of historic proportions, similar to the one that killed hundreds in Chicago in 1995. Though the private sector may benefit, these natural disasters will only continue to get worse if action against climate change is not taken.
In the past several months, there has been a major push across the country for citizens legally allowed to vote to register, especially among young people. This push has been largely driven by the 2018 midterm elections, which occur on Nov. 6, as well as the primary elections for them, which will occur May 8 in Ohio. At WHHS, registration booths have been set up at several events throughout the school year to encourage students who will be 18 by Nov. 6 to register to vote. However, the United States has seen several instances of alleged voter suppression in recent years. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, in attempts to prevent voter fraud, many states have passed legislation that makes registering to vote and the act of voting itself more difficult, such as requiring voters to have voter identification cards. Many believe this rising trend dispro-
portionately affects minority and lowincome populations. This is because, as several studies have shown, poor individuals and minorities have less access to photo IDs, according to The Washington Post. These laws can also affect younger populations. The New Hampshire House of Representatives passed a bill that, if put into effect, would change residency requirements in the state, which could disproportionately hurt young people, according to Demos. Though these factors can be more harmful to students than other populations, students 18 and older should still take advantage of their opportunity to vote. Register online at https://olvr.sos.state.oh.us to vote in special and general elections. You can also register in person or through mail. You can register, change your address and obtain absentee ballots through a page on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, <MyOhioVote.com>.
STYLE & CULTURE
APRIL 13. 2018
PAGE 4
WHHSCBOX.COM
SECTION EDITOR: GRACE BERDING
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Music, fashion intertwines Vibes with Voidz, Virtue review
CANCHAGENERAL/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Julian Casablancas, the lead singer of the Voids, performs at the 2014 Lalapalooza in Chile. The Voidz new album, Virtue, is their second studio album and takes influence from another popular rock band, The Strokes. SYDNEY RHONE/CHATTERBOX
SENIOR Micah Payne wears highly coveted Sean Wotherspoon Air Max 1/97 SWs. Payne won these sneakers in a competition. “They’re my new favorite cop; the [out]fit is based off the shoes.” Camille Williams, ‘18 SENIOR Micah Payne is using his last year at WHHS to make a statement. Rap culture has not just inspired his sense of style, but has also led him to design clothes and make music of his own. “I’ve been rapping since fifth grade, but didn’t start taking it seriously until tenth,” Payne said. His older brother inspired him to start making music. This year he began releasing music under the moniker, Yung E$cobar, using Soundcloud, an online audio distribution platform. He describes his music as “rap with some harmony” and a “new wave of rap”, combining what he knows from current rap culture
with his own style. “I try to gain influence from all artists I listen to but I’m pretty versatile in my lyricism, so I’m not influenced by specific artists,” Payne said. In addition, Payne invests in his personal style. He won his Sean Wotherspoon Air Max 1/97 SWs in a competition. “I woke up early one morning and got on the Nike Snkrs app, entered ‘The Draw’ closed the app, prayed to God, reopened and ‘Got ‘Em’ popped up and I started screaming,” Payne said. Payne plans to continue his music in college and remains open to the idea of pursuing music as a career. SYDNEY RHONE/CHATTERBOX
Nick Robertson, ‘19 American experimental rock/art pop band The Voidz, led by Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, released their second album, Virtue, this month, four years after their debut LP Tyranny. The album moves away from the band’s previous music, leaning more towards experimental and art pop, versus the more hard rock influences of their previous project. Many songs on the album take imspiration from Casablancas’ work with The Strokes, which he has led since 1998. The leading track, “Leave It in My Dreams”, takes heavy influence from the Strokes, which was
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one of the groups that paved the way into modern 21st century rock in the US. This leading track was my favorite from the hourlong project, and is one of the best rock songs to be released recently. The second track, “QYURRYUS”, paints a completely different picture, however. It embraces the experimentality of The Voidz with frequent use of intentional autotune and other electronic effects, distorting the sound of the track. This sets the stage for an album that lacks a central theme, filled with tracks ranging from modern rock to experimental psych rock. The first three tracks alone go from modern rock to art pop to experimental hard rock. No matter the variance in styles on the album, all the tracks are very solid with great instrumentation. Additionally, the signature sound of Casablancas’ singing brings the whole project together. Overall, this album is a great listen to any fan of The Strokes, or any music fan looking for something a little different from what’s out there right now in the rock world. I give this album an 8/10, definitely the best album that I’ve heard come out in March of this year, and a landmark album for the young group.
WHHSCBOX.COM
FEATURES
CINCINNATI, OHIO
APRIL 13, 2018
PAGE 5
SECTION EDITOR: IBRAHIM MUNIR
Student Congress candidate profiles EXECUTIVE BOARD PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT Brenden Pulte Shelby Ewing
Bengy Mitchell SECRETARY/TREASURER
Jack Garry
CLASS OF 2019 PRESIDENT
Zuri Williams
CLASS OF 2021 PRESIDENT
Alexandra Nelson
Kasey Shao*
TECHNOLOGY MANAGER
Sasanka Bobba William Culbertson Nick Robertson*
CLASS OF 2020 PRESIDENT
Emmanuel Gebremeskel
Gibson Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Malley Kirsch
Tahonne Konare
CLASS OF 2022 PRESIDENT
Kylie Bridgeman*
Sophia Rooksberry
Kiara Pfister
Yousuf Munir
Ambrose Corless-Smith
Learn more by attending debates the week of Apr. 16 and by visiting whhscbox.com!
Melanie Mitchell
Genesis Hernandez
*Is a member of the Chatterbox staff **No class of 2023 president candidates
SPORTS
APRIL 13, 2018
PAGE 6
WHHSCBOX.COM
SECTION EDITOR: RYLEIGH SANBORN
Nick Presley
CINCINNATI, OHIO
WHHS baseball player strives for professional success
RYLEIGH SANBORN/ CHATTERBOX
Nick Presley, ‘21, has been playing baseball since the age of three. Presley wants to attend Vanderbilt University to pursue baseball professionally. Kylie Bridgeman, ‘22 High energy can sometimes be the most pivotal aspect of a sports team. Practices and rituals from locker room pep talks to the routine cheer you say before, after and during every game are what motivate players to go out on the field and play their hearts out. The junior varsity baseball team is close-knit according to centerfield Nick Presley, ‘21. According to coach Cody Kuzniczci, Presley acts as a leader to his team. They all push each other to continue getting better, but when someone makes a mistake and is feeling down about their performance, they do not hesitate to pick each other back up. The team is always communicating with one another through their group chats about what uniforms they are wearing and where the games are. Without the chats the program would not run as smoothly. The team gets ready for a really big game or a very important practice by listening to some hiphop or even from time to time a
little traditional hispanic music. There’s no particular song or artist that hypes them up the most but Meek Mill frequently makes an appearance on the team’s playlist. Presley depicts both himself and his teammate Max Stojanovic, ‘20, as “super competitive.” Presley
fessionally in the future. Having a good career in sports and a healthy family are two things Presley looks forward to. Achieving this goal doesn’t come without a lot of practice. Kuzniczci feels Presley is “a versatile leader who leads by example through good work ethic.” For Presley, sports can frequently create conflicts with school. Having to do homework in hotel rooms while he is out of town for baseball makes it really difficult to focus. However, he perseveres through the pressure and gets it done because according to him, he “doesn’t really give up easily.” Presley sometimes struggles to meet the expectations his family sets for him. “I have to be top notch,” Presley said. “My family has sky-high expectations, but I can’t always be there, where they want me to be.” No matter how much stress and pressure baseball brings into Presley’s life, he will always have a love for the game that he puts so much work into succeeding at. To him, baseball is more than a game.
“I want to be the best player I can be” Nick Presley and Stojanovic, are close friends who often help each other out . “We are friends but we still have to bring out the best in each other,” Presley said. He feels that his coaches match the high energy the team has and they also do not hesitate to help him or any of his teammates out when they are struggling to apply a new concept. Presley wants to play baseball pro-
DAVID WHITTAKER/ REM
Nick Presley, ‘21, often acts as the leader of his team and hopes to continue playing baseball professionally after school. Presley’s teammate and close friend Max Strojanovic, ‘20, support eachother on and off the field. “We are friends but we still have to bring out the best in each other,” Presley said.
Boys varsity lacrosse hopes to scoop up a playoff win Hayden Willhite, ‘18 Starting off with a new season, WHHS boys varsity lacrosse are working to get a striking first playoff win. Lacrosse is consists of ten people from each team playing each other on a field. The players use a lacrosse stick and a ball to score a point in the opposing team's net. The lineup of the 10 players consist of three offensive attackmen who can only stay on their side of the field, and three defensive attackmen. There are three players called middies who play both offense and defense.
Before the match begins the middies start in the middle of the field and fight for who gets the ball first. Two of them are on the ground with their sticks in their hand, as the referee puts the ball in between the middies’ lacrosse sticks; they then explode as they try to get the ball for their team. One player that has been playing lacrosse for WHHS since seventh grade is Kameron Smith, ‘19. Smith’s biggest accomplishment playing lacrosse has been making the varsity team this year. “I like the team's chemistry, and the physicality,” Smith said. Smith also likes having a coach
like Conor Peck, because he is younger and thus he can better relate to the players. Wanting to improve this season, Smith plans on working on his “left hand skills and staying healthy.” A teammate playing alongside Smith is Theo Faherty, ‘19, who has also been playing lacrosse since seventh grade. Faherty’s biggest accomplishments playing for WHHS, like Smith, has been playing on varsity. Looking into this season of lacrosse, Faherty hopes to win a playoff game, a goal that has never been accomplished by the WHHS lacrosse team before.
The coach this year is favored by Faherty because “I feel we are all very close and get along and laugh while still working hard. We feel we can talk about what we want to do more of and what we should work on, and he listens to us.” Beginning a new season with incoming varsity players, the WHHS lacrosse team is in pursuit of a first-time playoff win. With players like Smith and Faherty working on themselves and reaching new goals, the WHHS lacrosse team strives for a successful season.
WHHSCBOX.COM
PEANUTS
CINCINNATI, OHIO
APRIL 13, 2018
PAGE 7
SECTION EDITORS: KEEGAN SULLIVAN
New place for lunch puzzles students
KEEGAN SULLIVAN/CHATTERBOX
Students gather around one of the 19 small benches that are positioned in the arcade. During lunch, the arcade fills with people and the students who aren’t lucky enough to get a seat on one of the benches must either stand or sit on the floor. Ashley Wiles, ‘21 seventh graders and 505 eighth graders hand and I’m [going to] get upset.” The arcade is a hallway with 19 short Keegan Sullivan, ‘18 at WHHS, the new eating arrangement can make it difficult for kids at lunch. benches as the only seating areas. Multiple In the past, seventh and eighth gradWhen asked if she preferred lunch kids try to jam themselves on the benchers had the option of eating in the caf- in the gym or arcade, Kylie Bridgeman, es which make sitting uncomfortable. eteria or the gym during the cold months ‘22, said, “I prefer the gym because it “When you do try to sit on the of winter. Now, the administration has was easier to eat. I like salads. I can’t eat benches [in the arcade] people push changed the eating areas to the arcade or salads at lunch anymore because some- you off of them,” Bridgeman said. the cafeteria. Considering there are 503 body [is going to] knock it out of my While students who stand attempt to eat
Peanuts Perspective By Lulu Cline, ‘23 Seventh graders come in very different shapes and sizes. WHHS has almost 3,000 students and at times the hallways can be a bit crowded and overwhelming for those who have never had to navigate crowded hallways on a daily basis before. What is it like from the view of a seventh grader? For shorter seventh graders it can prove difficult to maneuver through the crowded halls. Adeleigh Karoutchi, ‘23, standing at just 4 feet 8 inches, describes the hallways as “scary, tall for sure, and demeaning,” which is understandable for her size. For a seventh grader of average height it can still be a bit difficult. Emma Stratton, ‘23, at a height of 5 feet 3 inches, said the hallways are “crowded, loud, but at least visible.” This description is probably what it is like for most seventh graders. On the other hand, the hallways are probably easy to maneuver through when you are very tall. Mercer Luniewski, ‘23, who stands at above average 6 feet 3 inches, said the hallways for him are “short, easy to get through, and have small people.” Even though hallways are a bit cramped for everyone, try to be considerate of who is around you, especially those new to these crowded hallways.
their lunches, they get bumped by other students trying to reach their friends. Anyone who does not get a seat must either stand or sit on the ground with friends. Ava Stanard, ‘22, enjoyed sitting in the gym more than the arcade because there was more room. “The arcade is really crowded. Sometimes we have to sit on the ground,” she said. Although some students who don’t like the new lunch arrangements, some students aren’t opposed to it. “I feel like you have more room [in the arcade] than the gym because everyone is all crowded together [in the gym],” Isabella Zinchini ‘22, said. One of the reasons that the administration made the decision to move was to better accommodate the gym classes. The gym classes must be held in the gym during the colder months when they cannot access the outside field, and ensuring they had a clean space directly after lunch was beginning to be a struggle because of the amount of trash left behind. “ To the credit of the seventh and eighth grade they have handled the switch to the arcade really well. I was little bit surprised since it isn’t as structured as the gym but they have left the arcade in really good shape and we [the administration] are really proud of them for that. They have the chance to stand up and move around a little bit. They have the option of the cafeteria if they like a more traditional lunch,” Assistant Principal Kathy Restle said. Disclaimer: Kylie Bridgeman, ‘22, is a member of the WHHS Chatterbox staff.
Piper Peanut Everybody hurts Dear Weeping Willow,
HANNAH BUNDSCHUH/CHATTERBOX
Many students get overwhelmed and find themselves crying from time to time. The important thing to remember is that it is not a sign of weakness and that it is okay to cry, no matter who you are. Dear Piper Peanut,
Sometimes when I get stressed out at school and I can’t help but cry. I’m really worried about people seeing me cry, but I don’t know if I can always hold it in. What should I do? Weeping Willow
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“ I didn’t know why I was going to cry, but I knew that if anybody spoke to me or looked at me too closely the tears would fly out of my eyes and the sobs would fly out of my throat and I’d cry for a week. I could feel the tears brimming and sloshing in me like water in a glass that is unsteady and too full.” Sylvia Path We’ve all been there, too, Weeping Willow. Crying is a perfectly acceptable and healthy way to release emotions. A good rule in life is to not care about what people think of you. Anyone who makes fun of you for expressing your emotions might be insecure themselves. Between long classes with short breaks and the constant presence of people, high school is not the optimal place to cry. But for when the tears start to well-up, here are some tips. When you can’t exit a tear-inducing situation, it can be hard hard to keep the floodgates from breaking. Focus on your breathing, or distract yourself with a funny joke, lyrics to a happy song, or physical movement. You can move the pressure away from your eyeballs by squeezing your hands, legs or a stress toy. The bathroom is the classic school-day cry destination, but pick your bathroom wisely.
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I recommend the stall nearest to the window, as natural light can improve your mood. Laughter is the best medicine. Watch vines, or look at old memes you’ve screenshot. If you have freetime, plan ahead by making your own unique vine compilation with a descriptive title, perhaps, “vines that dry my tears.” If you left during class, you should return after a couple minutes. As long as you’re not missing something super important, it’s okay to “cry now, explain later.” The class might stare at your red, puffy eyes and badger you with “are you okays,” but remember that you’re strong person. Even if you’re surrounded by people, close your eyes and ears and retreat from reality into your tears. Wherever or however you cry, just remember to eventually stop crying. Address longer and recurring cry sessions by talking to a friend, trusted teacher or administrator, the school nurse or calling a loved one on the phone. You might not always feel 100 percent after your cry, but that’s okay. Crying is about accepting your emotions and recognizing the strength to carry on. Sincerely , Piper Peanut
ARCADE
APRIL 13, 2018
PAGE 8
WHHSCBOX.COM
SECTION EDITOR: DELANEY OWENS
Which planet are you?
CINCINNATI, OHIO
You’ve been selected as an astronaut for a space mission! How do you feel?
I was born for this! Where’s my spacesuit?
Is now a good time to mention that I’m afraid of space? Would you rather deep sea dive or space walk?
Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars You discovered a new star! What will you name it? I’ll name it after my dog
Something scientifically significant
Star Trek What would be your go-to space meal? Freeze Can I bring dried pasta and astronaut Chipotle? ice cream
Neptune
Saturn
You may seem distant at first glance, but there’s more to you beneath the surface. Like a water-ammonia ocean core.
People are instantly drawn to you! Maybe it’s your magnetic field, which is 578 times more powerful than Earth’s.
dive
space walk
Do you think alien life exists? I know they’re out there
It’s not likely
Mars People find you fascinating! There’s still more to discover about you, like a cool hidden talent, or alien life forms. You’re the next big thing!
Which astronomical phenomenon represents you? a black hole
a shooting star
Pluto
Although you aren’t technically a planet, you’re a beloved part of the solar system. You have a lot of supporters who will always have your back!
Mercury
uranus
Jupiter
Venus
You might be the smallest, but you’re also the fastest. You like to fly solo, with no rings or moons. Nobody could keep up with you!
Sometimes people make fun of you, but it’s just because you’re so cool. 357 degrees below zero, to be exact.
You’re under a lot of pressure, enough to make hydrogen gas become a liquid! Take it easy, you’re kind of a big deal.
You were named after the goddess of beauty- and for a good reason! You shine so bright that you’re often mistaken for a star.
Space trivia crossword
Across 7. Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system orbits around this planet 9. This term is derived from, the Greek words for “star” and “sailor” 11. The acronym NASA stands for National ___ and Space Administration. 16. The ___ Galaxy is circular with a bulge in the center, resembling the hat it is named for. 18. Some moons of Uranus, like Titania and Prospero, are named after his characters 20. This recently deceased physicist showed that black holes emit radiation 21. The smallest planet in the solar system 22. On March 22, this inquisitive rover celebrated its 2000th Martian day Down 1. Our galaxy, or a candy bar 2. Katherine Johnson is an African-American ‘human ___’ who helped NASA get to the moon. 3. He proposed the first heliocentric (sun-centered) model of the universe 4. Veg-03 is a current International Space Station project to grow ___ in space. 5. America has left six of them on the moon, and at least five are still standing 6. a rocky body orbiting the sun 8. In 2006, Pluto was named a ‘ ___ planet’. 10. According to NASA, Jupiter has 69 of them 12. The ___ program was a series of missions to land a man on the moon. 13. This telescope was recently able to pinpoint Icarus, the farthest star ever seen 14. This famous comet can be seen from Earth every 75 years 15. The gas giants are Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, and ___. 17. The number of planets in the solar system 19. A year on this gas giant is equal to about 29 Earth years
SPACE ICONS COURTESY OF GIUDITTA VALENTINA GENTILE/THENOUNPROJECT