Volume CXIV, Issue 8 Thurs., March 5, 2020 The student news publication of Walnut Hills High School WHHSCBOX.COM
pg. 6 The club Books for Kids started last year, crafting children’s books for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
pg. 7 WHHS Art CLub collaborates with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to decorate paitient rooms with art.
pg. 3 Two College Credit Plus Students talk about their experiences in the program and problems they see.
SoleBros make a difference from head to sole MACKIENZEE RASHEED / CHATTERBOX
SoleBros SENIOR Curtis Harrison IV (left) and SENIOR Spencer Boyd (right) getting ready to air live on the Kelly Clarkson show. The two along with SENIORS, Kellen Newman and Breiland Anderson, started solebros to share the confidence they get from wearing a new pair of shoes. “SoleBros has been very humbling because I am able to give kids confidence through a pair of sneakers.” Harrison IV said. Mackienzee Rasheed, ‘20 Five years ago, three eighth graders started a non-profit organization named SoleBros. One of them being previous WHHS student, SENIOR Kellen Newman. Their organization gives new or gently used shoes to kids who otherwise couldn’t afford them. They started it so they could give other kids the chance to feel good about the shoes they wear.
Kelly Clarkson Show, the boys explained what exactly SoleBros does and some of their goals. Second SoleBro, SENIOR Spencer Boyd, from Seven Hills, said, “It was a once in a lifetime type of opportunity. I loved it. I never would’ve thought I could make national television and to do that was awesome.” SoleBros SENIOR Breiland Anderson, from Lakota West, and Newman went to LA to be on the show with Kelly Clarkson
“SoleBros has been a life changing experience because I’m doing something I love with people I love,” - SENIOR Kellen Newman They were just recently invited to be on The Kelly Clarkson Show to help spread recognition for their cause. While on The
while SoleBros SENIOR Curtis Harrion IV, from Seven Hills, and Boyd were back in Cincinnati to open a shoe drive to collect
and give out shoes. Since they have started SoleBros they have done monumental things here in their own city. “Sole bros has been a gift. It has taught me so many great lessons and has given me the opportunity to see so many wonderful things and to help so many people that need it. I wouldn’t change any of it even if I could,” said Boyd. They have done annual winter drives, annual fundraisers for people to bring donations and have a good time, and also open their shoe closet up to people that need new shoes. “SoleBros has been a life changing experience because I’m doing something I love with people I love,” Newman said. They have continued to grow their organization to what it is today. They aren’t just helping their own community, they have also given nine-hundred pairs of shoes to kids in Ghana and two-thousand to kids in Jamaica. The boys are trying to collect enough pairs of shoes to open three more shoe closets in the Cincinnati area. They have made a big dif-
ference in kids’ lives and plan on continuing their plan. If you would like to help their cause you can drop off mentary donations or shoe donations to
1580 Summit Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45237. You can also visit their instagram @theofficialsolebros or their facebook Sole Bros Inc.
NAME NAME/CHATTERBOX
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MACKIENZEE RASHEED
During a quick break from airing SENIORS Spencer Boyd, Mackienzee Rasheed, Rikki Joiner and Curtis Harrison IV are helping kids find their way around. During the shoe drive aired on the show they let kids from surrounding areas come and pick a pair of shoes to take home. “Being on Kelly Clarkson was a life changing and unforgettable experience,” said Harrison IV.
SPORTS
MARCH 5, 2020
PAGE 2
WHHSCBOX.COM
SECTION EDITORS: DREW HART
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Athletes create new possibilities for women in sports
Reinventing perceptions of women in wrestling Bobby Keegan ‘22 Typically when one thinks of girls’ sports at WHHS, many think soccer, volleyball, lacrosse or basketball, but very few will think of one of the heaviest contact sports: wrestling. At WHHS, there isn’t a girls wrestling team, there’s only a junior high boys team and a high school boys team. However, this never stopped Erin Martin, ‘22, and Hannah Lieb, ‘24. Both of them are part of the wrestling team and are out to prove that girls can wrestle too. Very few girls throughout WHHS history have been part of the wrestling team and Lieb
started when she was in the first grade. She didn’t start out wrestling but rather training in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She continued with Jiu Jitsu until she came to WHHS and was interested to see if her previous martial arts skills would benefit her on the wrestling team. “Of course I have had doubts, not necessarily because I am a girl, but a lot because I am still new to wrestling, but those doubts are what make me train hard everyday at practice,” Lieb said. Lieb’s first season on the wrestling team was unfortunately cut short due to an injury that she developed outside of wrestling. Lieb has been out of practice for a few weeks now and
“When I wrestle, I don’t see myself different from any of the boys. Boys are naturally stronger than girls, putting me at a disadvantage, but I will never ever blame my losses on me being female. I hold myself to the same standard as everyone else,” - Erin Martin, ‘22 and Martin are two of the first. “To me, being one of the only girls on the WHHS wrestling team means that I should help represent all girl wrestlers and do my best so that I don’t drag girls down and rather I lift them up,” Lieb said. Lieb’s interest in martial arts
will unfortunately miss the end-of-season tournament. Nothing has yet to stop Lieb from achieving her goals to become the best athlete that she can be in a widely male-dominated sport and this injury will not change that. Lieb, being in only the eighth
PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIN MARTIN
Wrestler Erin Martin, ‘22, standing with her coach, Matt Lindsay, after winning her first match at Moeller. Martin defeated a male opponent from Anderson High School. grade, plans to be on the wrestling team all throughout high school. The only other female on the wrestling team is Erin Martin, ‘22. Martin has been wrestling for two years now, after being the lone female on the team last year. “When I wrestle, I don’t see myself different from any of the boys. Boys are naturally stronger than girls, putting me at a disadvantage, but I will never ever blame
my losses on me being female. I hold myself to the same standard as everyone else,” Martin said. Martin also plans to continue to wrestle throughout high school. “I’m participating in the OAC Girls High School Championship on March 22 for wrestling. My coach wants me to wrestle year-round, which would attract a lot of attention from colleges. Women’s wrestling is a fast grow-
ing sport in college and right now I’m in a good position to get a scholarship,” Martin said. The wrestling team will be taking part in the ECC championship match in the last weekend of February and hope to win and advance to regionals. At the front of this fight will be two of WHHS’ fiercest competitors and strongest females, Erin Martin and Hannah Lieb.
Women’s rugby team proves their place Mackienzee Rasheed, ‘20
(Left) SENIOR Lydia Hall stands with her coach at the Fortress Obetz Stadium in Columbus holding the D1 Women’s rugby state champion trophy. WHHS played in June for the state title.
This is a new year for our women’s Rugby team and with a new year comes a new coach. The new coach, Raven Jones, has been a good addition to an already successful team. “I love our new coach. She is so cool. The only thing is that she really loves fitness, so by the end of practice we are exhausted.” SENIOR Lydia Hall said. In 2019 the girls won their first D1 championship after losing the championship the previous year. They have six girls who are currently playing in college and two who are committed to play next year. This year is a big year for our women’s rugby team as they are trying to defend last year’s title as D1 state champions.
(Right) The WHHS women’s rugby team poses with their trophy after defeating St. Joseph Academy from Cleveland. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LYDIA HALL
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 Caroline Horvath,
Isabel Nissley,
Editor-in-Chief
Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Abigail Jay, Managing Editor of Current Events
Alonna Johnson, Managing Editor of Student Life
Owen Cummings, Managing Editor of Viewpoints
Delaney Owens, Managing Editor of Visual Elements
Bobby Keegan, Managing Editor of Operations
Ryleigh Sanborn, Public Relations Manager
Samantha Gerwe-Perkins, Adviser
Brian Sweeney, English Department Chair
OPINIONS
WHHSCBOX.COM
MARCH 5, 2020
PAGE 3
SECTION EDITOR: GAVIN KURSMAN
CINCINNATI, OHIO
CCP program provides much value but not in calculating GPA Otto Kindel, ‘20
During my six years at WHHS, I received a crash-course in academic competition. The fight for students to be at the top of their class and thus be competitive for their dream college is a major aspect of the school’s culture. While some aspects of WHHS’ culture are certainly valuable in preparing students for the high-stress environments of college and grad school, others have given little to the development of students. One issue that has come to the forefront in the past year is the issue of “GPA boosting” in College Credit Plus (CCP) courses. Before I continue, I must emphasize that my criticisms of the CCP program are not in reference to courses taught directly through WHHS such as Anatomy & Physiology, Engineering and Multivariable Calculus, all of which are well regarded by the student body and do not allow for the same GPA boosting as is so prevalent with other courses. I personally took three CCP courses outside of WHHS (two over the last summer and a third during the first semester). While I found all my courses to provide substantial academic value, I do question the impetus behind my taking of three CCP courses. These courses provided me with a GPA boost for comparatively less work than I would have put forth in any AP course. My “A” in my Intro to Sociology class I took online over a four week period produced the same effect on my GPA as I would have gotten from two full semesters of “A” work in an AP course. As I was optioning for these courses last spring, it became clear to me and many of my fellow rising seniors that if we did not take multiple CCP courses, our academic
standing in the class was in danger of dropping. This proved to be true as many seniors who did not take any CCP courses found their class rank take a significant hit this past September. Students should not be forced to take classes outside of WHHS to merely maintain their academic standing. Furthermore, the perception that CCP students can balloon their GPA’s on minimal work — a perception that I would contend often represents truth — is becoming more widely spread. Many of my CCP courses provided me with a great background in subjects that I
“State law should be changed to reflect the true purpose of CCP “ otherwise would not have had access to at WHHS, but other coursework was directly in conflict with what I did have access to through WHHS’s AP program. Many students use the CCP program to suffice for their government and economics requirements, however, these courses, despite their heavy weighting, are not anywhere near the equivalent of what is taught in AP US Government or AP Micro/Macroeconomics. CCP courses serve a good purpose. They give students the opportunity to take courses on subject matter that they would not have been exposed to at WHHS and receive valuable college credit for free, but counting these courses towards high school students’ grade point averages turns these courses into easy GPA boosters. As someone who took these courses, it may seem hypocritical for me to be coming out now against the inherent flaws in how the state of Ohio mandates WHHS to calculate GPA. If I was to do it over again, I would have taken the same courses, but I would have taken them solely for their aca-
demic value, not to keep pace with my classmates. This should be why any WHHS student enrolls in any class, but as many juniors and seniors will admit to, weighted GPA plays a sizable role in the optioning process. Applying to college is tough and expecting students to take classes outside of WHHS to keep on par with their peers is unfair to students already occupied with numerous responsibilities, whether it be a sport, club activities or the college application process. It’s time for the state of Ohio to look for solutions to no longer allow the proliferation of the CCP program as a GPA boosting tool or its use for students to abuse the system in order to take easy classes for heavy credit. State law should be changed to reflect the true purpose of CCP. CCP courses should count for college credit only and not be used as a means to earn high school credit or GPA consideration. This will still benefit students because they will have the ability to get out of expensive college classes while not undermining
the role of a high school education. While the last few years have provided an interesting experiment, one in which I participated, it is time for Ohio legislators to realize that the diminishing value of a high school diploma if more students continue to refrain from taking classes on campus. We owe it to our fellow students, teachers, and WHHS alumni to call for change.
All views shared in the Opinions section of The Chatterbox belong to their respective authors, and may not represent the views of the publication as a whole.
Best of both worlds: my experience as a CCP student Delaney Owens, ‘21 I tap my shoe restlessly, waiting for class to start. I always wear good walking shoes on my UC days, since this class, my favorite class, is at the top of the hill. I know the eleven students in my British Literature class did the reading last night, because nobody misses a beat when our professor jokes about conjuring the devil in our seminar circle. For the next 55 minutes we debate necromancy and The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, and I talk more than I have all day. College Credit Plus is different for all 73,152 Ohioans who utilize it,
students deserve to hear that story too. CCP was introduced in 2015, seeking to provide educational and career pathways for seventh through twelfth graders. To put education in the hands of the student. To give students opportunities to pursue their individual interests. Doesn’t that sound like the mission of WHHS? Why, then, has the WHHS community been so slow to warm up to CCP? Thirteen percent of Ohio high schoolers utilized CCP last year, and that number will only grow. The dual-credit-earning cat is out of the bag. CCP recognizes that there are politics surrounding the program, including funding, that may lead high schools to discourage it. To protect students from this, there are strict guidelines for high schools. For example, they must accept CCP coursework to satisfy graduation requirements. They are also required to weight CCP classes equally to AP classes. Some doubt how fair this weighting is, and how well CCP truly prepares students. Aren’t they better off taking AP? It is difficult to compare the success rates of AP and CCP, since every CCP student will have a different experience, while AP courses are offered as uniformly as possible across America. However, students have earned credit with a high rate of success. In 2018-19, CCP students earned 94 percent passing grades. 538 students enrolled at UC, completing 98.56 percent of credits attempted and 2,354 enrolled at Cincinnati State, completing 92.75 percent. For the record, my CCP classes are demanding, especially those that aren’t introductory-
“A fear of change should not overshadow a flexible, accessible program that changes lives.” but this is what it looks like for me. Over the last two summers I took English 1001 and Introduction to Creative Nonfiction, a special interest area of mine. Last semester I took American Politics and started the Spanish sequence that I am currently finishing along with my literature class. I take four bells at WHHS, and then leave for UC. In a word, I would describe my experience at UC as refreshing. After years of feeling academic burn-out, I get to be the wide-eyed new kid again. When I talk about CCP, I come across plenty of criticism and ignorance from classmates, teachers and friends’ parents. CCP isn’t for everyone, but it has had a truly positive impact on my life, and
level. C C P has also prepared me for aspects of college like communicating with professors, making decisions about my own schedule and learning in environments from large lecture halls to small seminars. WHHS may be resistant to CCP because our school identity is so intertwined with AP, but these programs can coexist. Dual-enrollment options supplement AP and hold it in check. There will always be a place for advanced subjects taught by high school teachers in the high school environment. However, I think many of those teachers would agree that the AP exam model can be restrictive, and students should have other options. Perhaps the most significant benefit of CCP is that I don’t pay for my classes or textbooks. One credit hour at UC costs $459 for Ohio resident undergraduates. The six classes I have taken are worth $8,262. My literature textbook cost another $84, while access codes for Spanish cost $100 each semester. With a plan, students take years off of their time in college, saving thousands of dollars. Last year, 1,906 CCP students graduated from high school with an Associate’s degree. For free. Some criticism stems from the fear that students use CCP to get ahead “unfairly” by boosting their class rank and GPA. This fear is part of a broader problem that cannot be blamed on CCP. Colleges are becoming
more selective, students are asked to think about college younger and younger, tuition is rising and the stakes feel higher than ever. It’s no wonder that everyone is looking for the one right answer. I’ve learned that there is more than one right path. A fear of change should not overshadow a flexible, accessible program that changes lives. I hope that CCP and programs like it continue to challenge the world of education and prove that the best education is not one size fits all. CCP is not right for everyone, but it is right for me. I’ve never felt more optimistic about my education and my ability to succeed in college. All views shared in the Opinions section of The Chatterbox belong to their respective authors, and may not represent the views of the publication as a whole
PEANUTS
MARCH 5, 2020
WHHSCBOX.COM
SECTION EDITOR: KAYLEE ROBBINS
PAGE 4
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Let’s mock and roll
Hajra Munir, ‘23
For years, the Junior High Mock Trial team has been a very successful group here at WHHS. As the students work hard to prepare for showcases, high scores are almost guaranteed. Rickey Harris has been the advisor for the Junior High Mock Trial team for six years now. He became interested in becoming an advisor for a few reasons. “I have always been interested in politics and government and at one point I thought I would just go into law school,” Harris said. Harris enjoys being an advisor for these young students for multiple reasons. “My favorite part about it is having the showcase, watching kids perform at the showcase, watching them take on kids from other schools and watching kids rise to the occasion.” These bright and passionate students have been preparing for an upcoming showcase with the help of Harris and other experienced individuals. “We get the case early in the year and we read it together first. We have two attorneys...and they come in at 3:30-4:30 and I work with them and then I work with the kids from 2:30-3:30. The
attorneys work with them to write good opening statements and good closing statements as well,” Harris said. They also receive mock cases to prepare for the trials. The attorneys will question the witnesses to help practice how they handle questions during the showcase. These junior high students have done very well in previous showcases. “We have won at least two awards every showcase- one best witness and at least one best attorney award,” Harris said. Because this is a middle school team and it is a showcase rather than a competition, there are no winners or losers, but they do receive scores. The WHHS Junior High team always ranks in the highest two categories. The cases are always based on a middle school novel. This year, their showcase on April 24, is based on the novel Holes written by Louis Sachar. “This year the case is a criminal case opposed to a civil case. The witness statements we receive are the only information we have on the case. We have a blue team and a gold team and each team is comprised of prosecution and defense,” Harris said.
It is important to Harris that throughout this whole process the students remember to enjoy their time and have fun with it. “I tell them to just have fun with it and do your best. It will not be the end of the world. Just try and relax and have fun with it,” Harris said. Harris acknowledges that it can be a stressful journey sometimes, even for him. “I am starting to get tense. I realized we have seven meetings left which is when I get stressed. But I realize I need to calm down. Once we get there, there’s nothing else we can do than to tell your story,” Harris said. Harris is thankful to be a part of this program. “[Mock trial] is a wonderful program and I’m very pleased to see that so many of the kids that work with me in middle school mock trial stay interested and go on to high school mock trial. It feels good knowing that I got them interested in something that will carry on. I clearly am not wasting my time,” Harris said. Zoe Schnadower, ‘25, has been a part of mock trial since the beginning of the school year. She heard so many good things about the team from her friends and decided to join. “My favorite part about it is
HAJRA MUNIR / CHATTERBOX
Junior High Mock Trial Team prepares at one of their last meetings before their upcoming showcase in April. arguing with other attorneys and witnesses to prove my point,” Schnadower said. Roman Russo, ‘25, is a defense attorney who has been part of mock trial since the beginning of the school year, and hopes to become a lawyer in the future. “My favorite part of mock trial is decoding cases,” Russo said. Russo is enjoying his first year as a mock trial team member and hopes to pursue it in high school.
“I plan on continuing mock trial in high school to continue learning about law and how to be a better lawyer,” Russo said. Russo advises future mock trial students to “stay organized and always be prepared.” The Junior High mock trial team is ecstatic to attend their upcoming showcase to show off all their hard work. To learn more about mock trial, check out the WHHS website or talk to Mr. Harris.
Counselors help with junior high stress
KAYLEE ROBBINS / CHATTERBOX
Carina Dinardo, ‘25, listens to Deniyah Parms, ’23, talk about the stresses that come with high school while giving tips and tricks to help succeed. Izzy Zinchini, ‘22 Since 1895, WHHS has been known for its classical education and academic excellence. Its students thrive on academic challenges, pushing themselves above and beyond graduation requirements.
The pressure of academic success can often be overwhelming, and junior high counselors Rashaan Williams and Morgan Taylor are here to make this big school seem a little bit smaller. WHHS is home to over 3,000 students almost every year. “A lot
of kids have a hard time adjusting here because it’s such a large school, and we always try to help them cope with that,” Williams said. Regardless of what grade a student enters, there is always a place to turn to and someone willing to help when stress becomes too much to handle. “We are able to refer [the students] to mental health agencies if we feel that it is that serious, and of course they can always come and talk to us privately if they need,” Williams said. It can be especially hard for seventh graders since most are coming from small elementary schools and the pressure of keeping up with grades, thinking about college or even just optioning for high school classes is often overwhelming. “Optioning is big, especially for the eighth graders. They’re picking out their high school courses now and seventh graders have even more options than they did when they first came in,” Taylor said. Junior high students are also able to complete some graduation requirements before they enter high school, and many of WHHS’
seventh and eighth graders take ad- of [students] coming to me asking vantage of this opportunity. about what activities there are to “Don’t stress about it. It’s go- do and how to join clubs. I get that ing to happen naturally just with question a lot actually, ‘How can I how the courses are already sched- join a club? What are the clubs?’ so uled and planned out. The easiest I always keep that as a tab,” Taylor one you can get done is gym in said. the eighth grade. Just “A lot of kids have a hard time don’t worry about it. adjusting here because it’s such a There are plenty of op- large school, and we always try to portunities to help them cope with that” earn enough - counselor Rashaan Williams credits and to be on track for college,” Taylor said. “The opWith over 90 active clubs and tioning process alone prepares [ju- 25 sports to choose from, involvenior high] students for high school ment in extracurricular activiwith a little bit of freedom and ties has never been a problem for opportunities to explore different WHHS students. The issue lies in classes and it holds them account- deciding which one to join, which able to be organized, and we do counselors can help with. have support systems for that but High school in general can be we still push them to develop those very overwhelming but especially skills on their own.” college preparatory schools, such And then of course there’s the as WHHS. Seeking out help when social aspect. “There’s lots of con- it is needed is necessary to succeed cern about making friends and just and always encouraged as WHHS’ the adjustment from big fish, small junior high students get ready to pond to big fish, ocean. I get a lot enter the world of high school.
WHHSCBOX.COM
NEWS
CINCINNATI, OHIO
MARCH 5, 2020
PAGE 5
SECTION EDITOR: SHIV MALHOTRA
Influenza: a virus in our own backyards Mesgana Mekibib, ‘20
then moved on to congestion and achy body, and I had a temperature,” Kelsey June-Fragale, an English teacher, said regarding the symptoms she faced when she had the illness. “They were out for a long time, so they’re probably bad,” Annie Laursen, ‘24, said regarding the severity of flu symptoms that her fellow classmates had. The severity may also vary depending on a person’s im-
While many people are worried about the coronavirus, which is at large in Wuhan, China, perhaps they should instead be focusing their attention on a virus that they are much more likely to receive. The influenza virus, better known as the flu, has quickly been spreading around the globe due to its contagious nature. Flu season usu“Students in every one of my classally begins in October es have been out with the flu,” and can ex- Kelsey June-Fragale, AP Language tend to as late as early & Composition and British LiteraApril. This ture teacher flu season in particular has been brutal, mune system. Those with stronwith over 22 million people ger immune systems will be contracting the disease. Accord- better equipped to fight off the ing to WebMD, officials had disease. previously said that this year’s There are two strains when flu season was on track to be it comes to the flu: influenza A one of the worst in decades. and influenza B. Strain B has The flu affects the nose, been more common in young throat and sometimes the adults up to age 24, while strain lungs. Symptoms vary from A has been more common in person to person, but can in- older adults, according to Webclude fever, chills, dry coughs MD. and muscle aches, as well as The flu has taken WHHS headache, fatigue, sore throat by storm. Many students at and nasal congestion. WHHS have fallen ill and have “It started with a headache, been forced to stay home from
school until their illness has passed. June-Fragale said that “students in every one of my classes have been out with the flu.” There are, of course, multiple steps that can be taken in order to prevent contraction of the flu. “I think it’s easily preventable,” Laursen said, “if people just cover their coughs and stay home if they’re sick. And, you know, get vaccinated.” Not only that, but there are also steps teachers can take in order to ensure that students at WHHS can stay at home and still be able to manage the heavy workload. “One of the things I started doing was putting out extra instructions on Schoology for things that students might have missed in addition to the homework,” June-Fragale said. She also builds more flexibility in her lesson plans due to this issue. As it can be seen, the impact that the flu has on not only WHHS, but America as a whole, is greater than the impact of the coronavirus. Due to this, awareness of the flu is key, and if you do end up receiving it, be sure to get plenty of rest and do whatever is possible to keep it away from your family and friends.
A Biblical plague
PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM MATAN
Crops destroyed, resources deprived and lives turned upside down. All because of a small, short-horned grasshopper called a locust. Specifically, desert locusts, the most dangerous of them all. Countries all across East Africa are being forced to adapt and suppress the spreading of these pestilent insects, with many of the efforts having proved to be both unsuccessful and tedious. This situation seems to be something straight out of the
Bible, where God punished Egypt with a plague of locusts. Even so, a modern plague of locusts almost seems unreal. However, it is very much real, and very much a problem. According to National Geographic, “Desert locusts, which, despite their name, thrive in following periods of heavy rainfall that trigger blooms of vegetation across their normally arid habitats in Africa and the Middle East.” The plague has so far affected seven East African countries. Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya
This is a microscopic version of what a strain of influenza looks like. While looking small, the flu is capable of being a powerful disease, and even taking lives in extreme cases without the vaccination.
The eighth plague of Egypt returns to East Africa
A swarm of desert locusts in the East African savanna. Desert locusts live for about three months. After a generation matures, the adults lay their eggs which, under the right conditions, can hatch to form a new generation up to 20 times larger than the previous one. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said “the insects are breeding so fast that numbers could grow 500 times by June.” Azariah Cuff, ‘23
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CDC
and Somalia, in which the two of questions of why and how come into play. These periods of heavy rainfall, called “rainy seasons,” only occur once a year, which trigger large swarms of insects all across the continent. According to Social Studies teacher Sara McGuire-Jay, who lived in Southern and East Africa when she was younger, this is a common occurrence. “In Zambia, right before the rainy season, all the flying termites came out of their mounds and it literally looked like huge clouds
of grey bugs… This is something that you get used to after a while, but the fact that [the locusts] are eating the food is something completely unique and different,” McGuire-Jay said . So although different parts of Africa aren’t necessarily known for their highly abundant crops, it doesn’t mean that an insect infestation won’t occur. This particular occurrence, however, shocked the entire nation. It’s not just the humidity either. Cyclones, or large scale air masses, are also partly to blame. Two cyclones, Cyclone Mekenu and Luban, forced the locusts to spread and allowed them to breed more freely and efficiently. “If we see this continued increase in the frequency of cyclones, I think we can assume there will be more locust outbreaks and upsurges in the Horn of Africa,” Keith Cressman, senior locust forecasting officer with the Food and Agriculture Organization, said. This unfortunate outbreak cost many villages in these African countries multiple resources that they need to provide for their families. In an already poverty-stricken environment, more deprivation of basic needs, such as food, can not be sacrificed. “What usually ends up happening is multiple food shortages, and ultimately famine… and then the question becomes, where are they going to get food,” McGuireJay said.
The places where the locusts are mostly infested do not have the proper technology to contain them, but the countries have all taken as much action as they can to prevent further spreading. The common way of containing the plague is an aerial spraying of pesticides, but this has not yet proven to be doing much. The Somalian and Ethiopian government called for “immediate action” and declared a national emergency in response to the crisis, while both Kenya and Uganda went the traditional route of sending aircraft carriers and soldiers to spray the affected areas. There has also been sightings of the locusts on the border of China. This isn’t unexpected considering they have been spreading more and more toward the Middle East. According to Elaine Chen, writer for the South China Morning Post, China is also dealing with it’s own internal struggles from the fact that “an economic downturn is already being made worse by the spread of a new coronavirus”. However, there isn’t going to be as much of a drastic infestation because of the “natural barriers” of the mountains, blocking the locusts all together. “It’s probably going to get worse before it gets better, and maybe that’s the interconnected-ness of how it all works… or doesn’t,” McGuire-Jay said.
FEATURES
MARCH 5, 2020
WHHSCBOX.COM
SECTION EDITOR: SHIV MALHOTRA
PAGE 6
CINCINNATI, OHIO
An outstanding performance in Mock Trial
PHOTO COURTESY OF LOUIS KE
Team Auctoritas members (left to right) Claudia Quintaba, ‘21, Srijan Kalva, ‘21, Louis Ke, ‘23, Meron Belachew, ‘22, Dagmawit Getnet, ‘21, Kayla Reidy, ‘21, Lucy Phillips, ‘21, and Taran Ghuman, ‘21, (Stephon Ridley, ‘22, not pictured) all pose for a picture after winning both trials at the Mock Trial Regional Competition at the Hamilton County Courthouse. Shiv Malhotra, ‘20 WHHS Mock Trial gives students the opportunity to learn more about various constitutional issues, as it pertains to law, court
procedures and the current judicial system. Critical thinking, debate and research skills are key to the competition in order to formulate comprehensive and cohesive arguments.
Students and their mentors typically spend hours preparing and drafting arguments as both the plaintiff and defense attorney for the case specially designed by volunteer attorneys for that year.
This year, the Ohio Mock Trial defense. Most notably, Louis Ke, case focuses on the First Amend- ‘23, won an award for Outstandment and the right of free speech. ing Witness and Lucy Phillips, ‘21, The case takes the form of a Civil won an award for Outstanding AtTrial case about the “Mock Trial is a great way to imdeprivation of rights as prove your public speaking, analytiit pertains to open demon-cal thinking and acting. This club has stration. “Mock Trial given me a great knowledge in law is a great way to and helped me become a sharp witimprove your ted person on the spot,” public speaking, analytical - Srijan Kalva, ‘21 thinking and acting. This club has given me a torney. great knowledge in law and helped “I joined mock trial this year me become a sharp witted person and I like it because I like public on the spot,” Team Auctoritas speaking and also our team pracmember Srijan Kalva, ‘21, said. tices are amazing,” Ke said. The WHHS Mock Trial team The team’s performance and recently competed at the Hamil- wins qualified them for the Ohio ton County Courthouse on Feb. State Mock Trial competition on 7 for the regional competition. March 12, where they will comOf the three WHHS Mock Trial pete with 26 other schools from teams, Team Auctoritas, Latin for around the state to advance to the Authority, won both of their tri- National Mock Trial Competition als, both as the plaintiff and the in Evansville, Ind.
Opening new doors and creating new stories Matthew Proietti, ‘20
“I mean Roald Dahl stories are amazing, but oh my God - his illustrator Quentin Blake’s pictures are also kind of one of the reasons I started this,” Shubhra Mishra, ‘21, the founder and president of WHHS’ Books for Kids club, said. Her club revolves around one idea: providing personal, lovingly created picture books for kids at the Children’s Hospital. Besides an appreciation for the stories she grew up reading, Mishra’s inspiration for Books for Kids came from the children she interacts with outside of school. “I work a lot with kids at my job at Mathnasium, and my neighbors have three little kids that are extremely adorable. And every time I’ve been with them they come up with some wild story that is crazy to try and follow,” Mishra said. She continued, “All kids have these crazy imaginations, and I wanted to translate that to a book, and that’s how the idea was born.” “When I was really little, I liked this book called Let’s Make Rabbits, where two rabbits are created, one by pencil and one by scissors, and then come to life by eating a carrot,” Sam Rosen, ‘21, said. Rosen is the current treasurer for the club and has been helping Mishra since the club’s founding in the 20182 019 school year. “It’s just a n out-
landish, fun story and thinking about it now reminds me of the books we create for the younger kids,” Rosen said. She was enthusiastic to help Mishra from the beginning because she believed it was such a great idea. Rosen and Mishra were both there to help each other fight through the nerves of pitching the club. “Originally we were going to work with kids from foster care homes, but there are some privacy issues with that. I was scared that the club would almost not be a thing before we realized that Cincinnati Children’s would be a great place for this,” Mishra said. Books for Kids works with four to 10-yearold children at the hospital. A team of WHHS students meets with an individual or small group of kids to get the children’s input and ideas for a story of their own. Then each team of artists, writers and editors takes the time to craft the perfect book, meeting again with the kids to present them with their prize after a few months. “Last year we told the story of three girls and how they fought evil Batman and an evil flying snowman with their special ice powers,” Rosen said about the types of books they create. Both Mishra and Rosen noted that the type of story they’re asked to create varies wildly from kid to kid. “The book I helped make last year was for a kid that’s passionate about the environment , so we created a story with superpowers and action
MATTHEW PROIETTI / CHATTERBOX
Two of the founding members of the “Books for Kids” club at WHHS: Shubhra Mishra, ‘21, and Sam Rosen, ‘21.
scenes but also a small, impactful environmental message,” Mishra said. Sometimes it’s difficult to integrate all of a kid’s requests into a single passage, but Rosen said it’s just a matter of finding ways around those problems so everything meshes together. Creating the illustrations is another challenge entirely. The artists have to take the kids’ requests into account while also having their own consistent style, which often involves the use of various forms of art. “Last year we had multimedia illustrations. My partner used watercolors for the background, and I drew the characters and effects digitally. I had to put in hundreds of individual dots for the fairy wings. All the girls had to have fairy wings, by request,” Rosen said. “Most of it is working by yourself. Our [club] meetings are usually to set and remind people of deadlines,” Ainsley Lauer, ‘21, the club’s marketing manager, said. Lauer was an author last year and has primarily focused on illustrations this year. “We’re allowed to do whatever we want creatively, as long as we incorporate what the kids want. It’s a really great surprise when we give the books to them because they’ve pretty much forgotten about it by then. They usually don’t get to see themselves as a hero, too,” Lauer said. Last year Books for Kids created nine books for 11 kids. This year, the 35 club members are working on 14 different stories. “If you’re going into art or writing, it’s a great opportunity because it exposes you to working for different age levels. A book for a four-year-old is very different than a book for a 10-year-old,” Mishra said. The independence of the club allows for students to create, on their own time, something that they like and their prospective readers will like, but that doesn’t mean they can slack off on meeting their objectives. “You get the sense of deadlines and how to keep up on your own part. You learn to stay on pace with your work and do what you need to be doing. It’s the whole process that really brings stories to life for the kids,” Rosen said. When it came to presenting their final projects to the children at Children’s, Mishra admits she didn’t know what to expect: “It was a big stressful moment, finding the lunchroom and everything. But once all the kids were in and our students started talking to them there were a lot of smiles around the room. They’re
MATTHEW PROIETTI / CHATTERBOX
The Intersecting World, written by Azariah Cuff, ‘23, and illustrated by Iris Andrews, ‘21, was created for one of the children in 2018-2019 school year.
MATTHEW PROIETTI / CHATTERBOX
The Rocket Kids Save the World, written by Kate Gilliland, ‘21, and illustrated by Calliope Ferencak, ‘21, was created for kids Katherine and Wyatt at the Children’s Hospital in 2019.
eating snacks, they’re talking about their favorite characters and they’re very happy. It’s a good time.” You can find Books for Kids on Instagram at booksforkids.whhs and online at booksforkids.club/ for more information.
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FINE ARTS
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MARCH 5, 2020
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SECTION EDITOR: NADYA ELLERHORST
Mosaics: Patient work worthy of the PICU
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Honora Martin, ‘23, works alongside artist Suzanne Fisher to put together one of the 10 inch mosaics. Martin uses Art Club as an outlet for her creativity, and she appreciates the chance to use art to make others feel better. Alonzo Montgomery, ‘23
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has put out a call to 12 of Cincinnati’s finest artists. Children’s is building a new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, or PICU, for kids with conditions that require around-the-clock care. They want to have art in the rooms to help the kids feel better and give them hope.
The hospital is decorated from top to bottom with different types of art. Whether it’s pictures that ask to find hidden objects or statues of orange armadillos and purple caterpillars, the playful art brings a little joy to the faces of the patients there. To continue this artistic initiative, Children’s called together local artists of Cincinnati to help decorate the PICU.
One artist is Suzanne Fischer. Fischer is a self-described “mixed media painter and mosaic muralist.” Fischer has enlisted the help from art teacher Kim Watling’s students and the WHHS Art Club. She has teamed up with Watling’s students before. Together, they created the mosaic mural outside Watling’s room near the Triangle Courtyard called “Where Eagles Dare
to Fly,” which was funded by the alumni class of 1995. The current project is called “Kaleidoscope.” The art is based off of the the “children’s toy with a little pieces of broken glass that have mirrors inside, and when you turn it and you see lots of beautiful colors and patterns,” Fischer said. She has created one design that will go inside three circles of varying sizes. One is 10 inches, the second is 14 inches and the third is 20 inches. Each circle will focus on a part of the original design, and will simulate the different patterns one would see when they turn a kaleidoscope. As the circles get bigger they will focus on other parts of the design. Children’s Hospital has certain guidelines as to what the art can contain. These guidelines were shared with the artists so that they wouldn’t depict anything they weren’t supposed to. That is when Fischer came up with the idea of using of magical landscapes. “I figured that children and parents that are dealing with a critical illness needed a place to sort of escape. So these are like little worlds, outside of whatever they’re dealing with,” Fischer said. Mosaics take a lot of work and patience to put together. However, the artists have another name for
assembling mosaics: “Art Surgery.” In fact, the word mosaic “comes from the Greek word meaning ‘patient work worthy of the Muses,’” Fischer said. The artists are providing a little bit of happiness into the lives of sick children and their families. “Just knowing that children who are in bad situations and who are there for unfortunate reasons are to be able to view and admire and have your art make them happy and just brighten up their situation,” SENIOR Ashley Veldhaus said, expressing how she felt about getting to be a part of the project as an Art Club member. This project has a special meaning to other students, including Honora Martin, ‘23. Martin said that she likes being a part of the project because “hospitals can be a hard place to be for many kids, so if the comfort and beauty of art may help them do better, then it makes me feel good.” The WHHS Art Club has been doing many incredible things in the school this year, such as tackling vandalism in the school’s bathroom. Now, alongside other students and local artists, they are spending time doing something good for others in surrounding communities.
Overture Awards finalists off to Aronoff Center Otto Kindel, ‘20 While a great deal of attention is brought on WHHS’ sports stars, renown is not something that should exist merely in Marx Stadium. WHHS’ artists have been putting on amazing performances as well. Nowhere is it more obvious than in the success of two students at the recent Cincinnati Overture Awards. Two WHHS students, SENIOR Gaby Chiong and Kasey Shao, ‘21, have risen to the top of their art fields in visual art and instrumental music, respectively. They will be showcasing their work to Cincinnati’s art community on March 7 at the Aronoff Center. It will be a culmination of their work as artists and recognition on a major stage. The Overture Awards are a multi-stage arts competition. This program shows the great emphasis Cincinnati places on the arts. High school students can compete in a variety of categories including creative writing, dance, instrumental music, theater, visual art and vocal music. The competition consists of three rounds, with the third being the upcoming final round. Each round, artists are met with new levels of critique. After a grueling competition among many well-acclaimed artists, four finalists in each category have been chosen to showcase their work in the final round. Finalists earn a thousand dollars for getting this far in the competition, certainly praise well deserved. Chiong has previously won
NADYA ELLERHORST / CHATTERBOX
NADYA ELLERHORST/ CHATTERBOX
Kasey Shao, ‘21, who began playing piano at age six, is no stranger to competition, having won awards at many national and international music competitions. Shao will utilize her musical talent in the Overture Awards’ final round on March 7.
SENIOR Gaby Chiong poses next to the sculptures she entered into the Overture Awards, currently on view in the Arts and Science building. As a finalist, her art, based on well-known fairy tales, will be on display in the Aronoff Center’s Center Stage Room from March 3 to 7.
awards for her work in visual art. Since being introduced to the medium this year in her AP 3D Art and Design class, she has won praise for her work in sculpture. Her ability to pick up the new form so quickly is a testament to her skills as an artist. Chiong is excited to pursue her skills. “I know I’m going to definitely do art in some form in college,” Chiong said. Chiong is taking what she has learned in the classroom as well as her own discovery and is putting it into her sculpture work. Shao, an accomplished pianist, has excelled in mastering some of the most intricate piano pieces
ing a finalist for this competition, being awarded this prestigious title last year. For the Overture Awards, Shao chose a varied repertoire. In the first round, she played Chopin’s Nocturne No. 2 and in the semifinals, she played Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 3. Shao was limited in what she could play by the competition’s strict five minute limit on all music pieces, but nonetheless her performances still managed to wow the judges. Shao and Chiong are two finalists out of a wider pool of competitors. Shao encourages more students to try the Overture Awards.
since she started playing at the age of six. The Overture Awards give Shao local recognition, but her success has exceeded beyond Cincinnati. She has taken home the highest award at many competitions, coming in first place at the Crescendo International Music Competition and the Princeton Festival Piano Competition. She additionally took home the top prize from the National YoungArts competition, Steinway Society of New Jersey Young Pianist Competition and the National League of Performing Arts. This is not Shao’s first time be-
“If it’s something that you love and it’s something that you put your time into then definitely go and show your art. The Overtures is a really great program and offers a really great opportunity to show your art,” Shao said. Chiong and Shao will be competing in their respective disciplines for a $4000 prize. Yet, in many ways, the final round will prove to be less of a competition and more of a celebration of these two artists’ work. The stage will be due recognition for two promising students who exemplify WHHS’ valuing of artistic achievement.
ARCADE
MARCH 5, 2020
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Perspectives on clubs
RYAN HELTON / CHATTERBOX
RYAN HELTON / CHATTERBOX
“We have a large amount of clubs so someone can find something they are interested in if they feel like one club doesn’t fit them exactly.” -Bre Cannon, ‘21
“I think there should be more help for clubs that want to do more stuff like field trips to certain places.” -Claire Evans, ‘24
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“Being able to discuss your interests with like-minded individuals and having a space where you can make friends with other students.” -Lily Chandler, ‘24
Basketball Word Search THREE POINTER LAYUP FINAL FOURS SWEET SIXTEEN BRACKET CINDERELLA ELITE EIGHT BASKETBALL THE BIG DANCE SEEDS SELECTION SUNDAY ONE AND DONE FIRST FOUR ONE SHINING MOMENT CUTTING DOWN THE NET
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