April 2009 - Crown Point Community School

Inklings
Volume 73 Issue 8 • Crown Point High School • 1500 S. Main Street Crown Point, IN 46307 • [email protected]
• Monday
April 27, 2009
Tomorrow’s forecast
High 60°
Eat this, not that
Tuesday:
Partly cloudy
Low 46°
Get more for your money
with this guide to favorite
fast food items
Animal shelters provide homes
The Lake County Animal Shelter is
filled with dogs and cats (like the two
at right) looking for loving homes
page 12
Area schools find new ways
to combat underage drinking
Statistics
3
4
out of
every
students (75%)
have consumed
alcohol (more
than just a few
sips) by the end
of high school.
58%
More
than
of 12th graders
report having
been drunk at
least once in
their life.
1
5
in
every
8th graders
(20%) report
having been
drunk at least
once in their life.
In 2005,
about
10.8
million
people ages
12-20 reported
drinking alcohol in the past
month.
Information courtesy
of SADD.org
Busted
As prom season quickly approaches, area schools
are working to keep certain names out of the fun.
With the use of breathalyzers and limo searches,
‘Jack Daniels’ and ‘Captain Morgan’ will be kept out
of prom, in efforts to reduce the nearly 5000 nationwide annual deaths that result from underage drinking, according to the U.S. Department of Health.
By Cori Novelli and Megan
Binder / executive editor and
editor-in-chief
Schools like Lake Central have
added safety measures to combat
underage drinking, inspiring Crown
Point to do some of the same.
This past January at Lake Central’s Winter Formal dance, “breathalyzers” were used on all students
entering the dance. Students blew
into a cup-type apparatus (the most
non-invasive detector on the market,
according to Lake Central’s principal
Sandra Platt) and if alcohol was detected, the student was given a normal breathalyzer. Currently, these
breathalyzers are used at the school’s
three major dances: winter formal,
prom and the senior banquet.
“Every student and date is tested upon entrance,” Platt said. “It is
my understanding that if you test
one, you must test everyone, but if
and when we have reason to believe
that students are drinking during
the dance, we will test only those
who are suspicious again.”
The use of breathalyzers has
raised the issues of student rights
and right to privacy. Although according to Platt, “Our rule’s sheet
and outside date request forms
require signatures from students
and parents,” critics believe testing students is unfair. Despite this,
many students are for the idea.
“[The use of breathalyzers] is
such an awesome idea. I understand
that people want to have fun at prom,
but I’d rather have my friends alive
come Monday morning than have a
considered ‘blast’ the weekend before,” senior Liz Maxwell said.
According to Dr. Eric Ban, this
form of inspection is allowed at
Crown Point.
“Prom is a school event, and
during such occasions, the school
holds responsibility for students’
safety,” he said. “School administrators hold more authority than police
officers at such functions,” he said.
But what caused Lake Central to
start the inspections?
“Twenty-three expulsions at
prom…that is reason enough,” Platt
said. “We also had a problem at senior banquet the year before and an
“
page 7
occasional intoxication even before
that. The community knew we had
a problem,” Platt said.
Even with the breathalyzers,
Platt said check-in went well.
“Students seemed to be a little
more relaxed,” Platt said. “We also
checked coat pockets and purses.
Students knew we were going to do
this, so there was no surprise.”
Though breathalyzers won’t be
used at the doors of the CPHS Prom,
administrators will be greeting students at the door and can, with reasonable suspicion, require a student
to be checked for alcohol.
“This year we will also be looking for alcohol in limos, cars etc.,” director of security Milan Damjanovic
said.
If alcohol is found, the same
rules apply as though the student
was intoxicated at school, and they
will be expelled.
“If someone is caught they will
go to jail, not home with Mommy
I’d rather have my friend alive
come Monday morning than
have a ‘blast’ the
weekend before
senior
Liz Maxwell
“
and Daddy,” Damjanovic said.
Despite the benefits that the
breathalyzers could instill for our
school, some students disagree with
the process.
“I don’t think it’d work. It would
waste time because if students want
to drink, they’re going to find a way
to, especially after the dance when
they’d be getting in cars and [possibly] drunk driving,” junior Tyler
Dillion said.
“The breathalyzers stop students from having more opportunities to drink. If it’s less enforced, it
gives students a false sense that getting away with drinking is OK,” junior Cortney Lowe said.
“Teens can have fun without alcohol. Prom is a time to have fun and
remember good things like going to
a dance, going to Chicago for dinner,
going or going to Great America.
You can’t do these things if you’re
arrested or have died because of alcohol or drugs,” Damjanovic said.
“I think the thrill of ‘getting
away with it’ causes teens to over
drink and not realize their limitations,” Platt said.
In any event, “Having a death
on your shoulders [due to drunk
driving] is huge- it affects everyone,”
Damjanovic said.
Administration cracks down on drugs
By Deanna Sheafer /
managing editor
Because of the responses on
the student surveys at the end of
the first semester, the administration is taking steps to address
concerns about illegal substances
within our school.
“We wanted to bring some
awareness to the issue and also
continue doing more proactive
things to ensure that we have a
safe school for all our students.
Society and all schools are dealing with this same issue and we
want to be proactive with both
our actions and voice,” principal
Dr. Eric Ban said.
Some of the recent actions
have been seen around the school,
like the police dogs. Also, Ban has
addressed the student body over
Monday morning announcements
several times.
“There are venues helping to
provide information and explanations on the topic. We hope that
stopping to talk about the ‘why’
and ‘what’ will also help address
the issue,” he said.
Communication between the
administration, students, parents,
and faculty is a priority concerning this issue. With this, the administration hopes to aid those
students who need help with substance abuse.
“We are in some initial stages
of developing better awareness
and programs for students and
families,” Ban said.
Illegal substances are not the
only safety concern the school
for the school. Unauthorized vehicles in the parking lot have been
warned to leave after license plate
numbers have been run.
“We are committed to students, parents, and authorized
visitors on campus including our
parking lot. The number one concern of parents and families across
the country is that this is a safe
and secure school that promotes
a healthy and productive learning
environment,” Ban said.
To help the crackdown on illegal substances and any other
school issues, an anonymous
hotline has been created. The
hotline provides a number for
students and others to call to report any activity the administration should know about.
“It [the hotline] is used in
other schools and is a useful tool
in helping to keep the school safe
for students and staff by others re-
porting drug and alcohol use and/
or distribution, potential fights,
and so on,” assistant principal
Dave Templin.
The administration hopes
that students will assist in reporting any illegal activity so that
such activites are reduced or even
eliminated from the campus.
“The goal of the hotline is to
help us reduce inappropriate behavior. We want students to view
reporting on the hotline as a way
to keep their school as free as possible from negative actions that
are not only detrimental to the
teaching and learning process,
but to the positive image of our
school, as well,” Templin said.
He added, “We believe this
will be viewed positively by the
overwhelming majority of CPHS
students who follow the rules.”
What’s this hotline
you speak of?
• The phone tip hotline
allows students to
anonymously report
anything that shouldn’t
be in school, either
people or activities
• The hotline is available
24 hours a day
• To report suspicious
behavior, call the school
number (663-4885) and
press 9 to leave a message. Administrators
will be able to access
the information without
identifying the person.
2
save the date
5.4-5.15
AP Exams
News
Up, up, and away
April 27, 2009
5.16
Prom
Senior Kyle Land accepted to US Air Force Academy
5.25
By Megan Binder / editor-in-chief
5.26
Senior Awards night at 7 p.m.
5.27
Roots and Wings banquet for top ten
seniors at Whitehawk Country Club
in the know
Junior Ryan Farrell champion at
state Forensics competition
Junior Ryan Farrell was named the
2009 Indiana High School Forensics Association State Champion in the discussion category. Farrell competed against
more than thirty discussion students
from around the state to win the champion title at North Central High School in
Indianapolis on March 21. Farrell is the
third state forensics champion in Crown
Point history and the first since 1982.
Guitar Hero competition
A Guitar Hero competition started
last Friday, April 24. Space is limited,
but there is no charge to enter. Sign up
by calling the Mayor’s Office of Special
Events at (219) 662-3290. The competition is running in conjunction with 4th
Friday Arts in historic downtown Crown
Point. Semifinals are being held on May
22 at Carriage Court Pizza. A second
competition is on June 26 at the Coffee
Cup; What’s the Scoop. Semifinals for the
second round are on July 24 at Carriage
Court Pizza. The final round is on August 28 at Conservative Cafe.
Academic Superbowl team places
at area, advances to state
The Academic Superbowl team
placed in five of the six competition areas
at their area meet on Tuesday, April 21.
The English, Science and Interdisciplinary teams placed first in their class
division out of eight teams. The Social
Studies and Math teams placed second .
The Science and Social Studies advanced
to the state competition
All of the subject areas touched on
the overall theme for 2009 of Norse Culture and its influence on the world. As a
whole, the team placed highest in total
score in their divison. The team won the
first ever DAC title for Crown Point last
month. They are coached by math teacher Jason McGee.
SAT Bootcamp prepares students
The SAT Bootcamp is designed to
give students a prep course before the
SAT exam given on Saturday, June 6.
The classes, taught by English teacher
John Lambersie and math teacher Carole Holtz will meet a total of six times in
two weeks. Each class is two hours long,
with one hour reserved for English and
one for math. The introductory session
is Wednesday, May 20 from 3 to 4 p.m.
The classes are as follows: Wednesday,
May 27; Friday, May 29; Monday, June
1; Wednesday, June 3; and Friday, June
5. The cost is $95, which includes a copy
of the McGraw-Hill SAT Prep book. Each
session covers specific topics, and strategies for success on the test. For sign-ups
contact Mr. Lambersie in C120.
As seniors start to finalize their school
choices (Indiana University or Purdue? Notre
Dame or Butler?), for senior Kyle Land that
decision includes a challenging
opportunity: the United States
Air Force Academy (USAFA)
in Colorado.
The
USAFA
is
a
demanding
school
that
only takes highly qualified
applicants. According to their
website, the average freshman
is in the top 3 percent of their
class and achieved a 1205 (out
-senior
of 1600) on the combined math
and critical reading portions
of the SAT.
“The application process to USAFA is
long and tedious because they look at every
part of a person, not just the academics,”
Land said. “In order to be admitted you have
to have a one-on-one interview with an AFA
alumnus, pass a medical exam and physical
fitness assessment, and be nominated by a U.S.
Senator, U.S. Congressman, the Vice-President,
or the President, which requires a completely
different application.”
Land was nominated by Indiana Senator
Richard Lugar on Jan. 16 and received his
acceptance on Feb. 26. Though he is as yet
undecided as to if he in fact wants to go the
USAFA (he is waiting on the University of
Notre Dame’s decision), he is leaning towards
the Air Force Academy.
“The Academy is still my top choice because
it’s a place where it isn’t easy to succeed,” Land
said. “It’s intense and it pushes you to your
limit, but if you make it, you have all kinds of
doors that open up.”
If Land decides to go to the USAFA, then
“
he has a lot of work ahead of him. USAFA
sophomore (3rd class cadet) and 2007 CPHS
graduate Kyle Smith said that cadets take about
19 credit hours a semester in addition to extra
military duties and training.
“One of the biggest
challenges for everybody
is time management,”
Smith said. “But another
challenge I know a lot
of cadets face is dealing
with failure. Most cadets
were either top athletes,
students or prominent
leaders in high school
and weren’t really used
Kyle Land
to failing. Then they come
here and are no longer at
the top. It is definitely difficult to overcome, but
it’s a good lesson for anyone in any career.”
The USAFA opens up a range of
opportunities that are otherwise unavailable at
any other school, Smith said.
“I fly for three hours every other day for
free, and by June will have traveled to Spain,
Jordan, Rome, Israel and Germany, all within a
one-year time span,” Smith said.
The USAFA prepares cadets for a military
career, but it can be a stepping stone for any
career. The graduating class of 2008 had 88 of
its members advance to graduate and medical
schools. While Smith said he would like to go
on to graduate school to study aeronautical
engineering and work towards becoming a pilot
or possibly an astronaut, if Land decides on the
USAFA, he has a different path in mind.
“I would love to graduate from the
Academy and go to dental school afterwards
to work as a dentist for the Air Force because
a dentist in the Air Force can work all over the
world,” Land said. “My second career choice is
definitely a pilot.”
It’s intense...but if
you make it, you
have all kinds of
doors that open up.
“
No School-Memorial Day
A Typical Day
in the life of an
Air Force cadet
I usually get up around
6:30 a.m. to go to mandatory breakfast. Then I’ll
have class all day, and I fly
at the airfield every other
day for a few hours.
For lunch (also mandatory), we march to the dining hall three days a week;
otherwise, we have some
sort of briefing or training
after lunch.
After classes (about
4 p.m.), we’ll either have
intramurals or a training
session, which is a part of
freshman training, led by
upperclassmen.
After that, the rest of
the night is usually free
to study, go to the gym,
etc. Sometimes we’ll have
briefings at night, but usually it’s our own time. I try
to get to bed by midnight
every night—it really depends on that semester’s
classes.
*Special thanks to 2007 CPHS
graduate and 3rd class cadet
Kyle Smith for sharing his day
Students spend night “locked” in school
By Michele Bates / news editor
Getting locked into school could be
a student’s worst nightmare. However,
students and faculty willingly spent the
night at school to raise money for charities
and scholarship funds.
The foreign language department
sponsored a school wide lock-in event.
Forty-one foreign language club and staff
members staff attended the event on April
3-4. Students stayed at school from 9 p.m.
to 9 a.m.
According to foreign language teacher
Linda Atwood, juniors Ashley Veljko and
Tavleen Dhillon originally came up with
the idea for a lock-in.
“French club wanted to have a fun
fundraiser that involved all of the language
clubs. We also wanted somthing that no
other club has done before,” Dhillon said.
Interested participants were asked
to bring a $10 donation to help a specific
cause. According to Dhillon, students
were allowed to give extra donations if
they chose to do so.
Spanish Club raised money for
scholarships while Japanese Club used
donations for a summer trip to Japan. For
their part, French Club members used
their funds to raise money for the Save the
Children organization.
“[Save the Children] is an organization
that the French Club sponsors. The money
we raised helped children in Haiti,”
Dhillon said.
There were also a variety of events
held throughout the lock-in. Some of the
activities included badminton, movies,
and swimming. One of the main events
of the night was fencing. Spanish teacher
Photo By Jeremy Rex
Photo Provided By Brooke Fargo
A group of students plays a board game during the Foreign Language Lock-in
event on April 3-4. Students and staff members spent the night at school from 9
p.m. to 9 a.m. Fencing, badminton, and origami were some of the activities that
took place during the event.
Lori Ryser’s husband Marc Ryser coached
the students on how to fence.
Ryser is part of the Northwest Indiana
Fencing Club. He said that there are more
members of the United States Fencing
Association now then any other time in the
organizations history. Northwest Indiana’s
Fencing Club most important activity is
introducing the sport to younger people
who have never seen it before.
“By doing presentations like [the one
at the lock-in event], we are doing our
part to spread awareness of our sport.
Hopefully, we can create some new fencers
as well,” Ryser said.
Sophomore Amelia Claus said that
she enjoyed the fencing lesson conducted
by Ryser.
“It was really dangerous, but fun at
the same time. A lot of people were afraid
to try it,” Claus said.
According to Dhillon, the French Club
is hoping to plan another lock-in for next
school year.
3
News
April 27, 2009
Making an impact
Senior AP English students challenged to give back to the community
By Megan Binder /
editor-in-chief
For many seniors, the last semester is traditionally a time of
slacking off. For those students
who are already into a college or
have a job awaiting them at the
end of their high school career,
the temptation to relax can be
overwhelming. But for the seniors
in Deb Ciochina’s AP English
Language classes are not only still
working, but they are giving back
to the community in the process.
Each of the students spends
the last semester working on Personal Impact Projects (PIP), service projects created by the students. For approximately the last
six years, Ciochina has assigned
her students the task of creating a
project to serve the community.
“[The projects] started from
an idea I had. I see between 100150 students every day, and their
power is formidable, so I created
this service project for the seniors to do before they graduate,”
Ciochina said. She believes the
assignment is an opportunity for
the students to help their town before they leave for college or jobs.
“These are students who are
ready to leave their community
soon. This way, they have one
last chance to make an impact or
their own personal stamp on their
hometown. I let the students
choose what to do for their project
so it can be their passion, which
will help with the development of
their personhood,” she said.
Since students decide their
projects, a wide variety of events
and services have happened over
the years.
“We’ve had students do a senior prom, benefit concerts in coffee houses, several special needs
programs like Funfairs, and pen
pal correspondence with other
schools. You name it, we’ve done
it,” said Ciochina.
This year, the projects have
ranged as well. On April 18, from
2 p.m. until midnight, more than
100 students came to the high
school for the second annual
dance marathon which raises
money for cancer research. It began last year as a PIP for the MakeA-Wish foundation, and this year
it was headed by seniors Alex Van
Gorp, John Lannigan, and Chelsea
Langlie-Lesnik. They volunteered
during last year’s dance marathon
and decided to pick up the project
again this year, beginning work
and preparations in January.
The dance marathon featured
food, games and of course, lots of
dancing. Admission was $5 and
students were able to get community service hours for the time
they spent at the dance.
“The best part was the fact that
we knew we were doing something that not only brought joy to
over one hundred CPHS students
but also hopefully helped put an
end to cancer,” Van Gorp said.
Another group raised money
through a Catchphrase (a popular
word game where team members
try and get their team to say a specific word without saying any part
of that word) tournament. The
Photo
by
Joe Nejman
Students dance at the second annual dance marathon to raise money for cancer research. The
dance marathon was one of several Personal Impact Projects (PIP) done by AP English seniors.
group, which included seniors
Matt Cruz and Nile Sobek, raised
money for the Heifer International
foundation, which purchases livestock like goats and pigs for people in underdeveloped nations to
help improve their lives.
“We were watching Slumdog
Millionaire once day and we were
impressed and depressed by the
living conditions in some of the
slums in India,” Sobek said. “We
decided we wanted to help some-
how and when we asked Mrs.
Ciochina she mentioned organizations of this kind. We did a little
research and decided this was the
perfect way to help.”
Some students work with
existing organizations, like seniors Chelsea Gyure, Ali Martin,
Brad Hiller and Kristina Budgin,
who volunteered their time with
the American Greyhound foundation that rescues greyhounds
and hopefully finds them new
homes. They helped out at adoption days at Petco and planned a
fundraiser bake sale during lunch
hours where members of American Greyhound brought dogs for
students to pet and spark interest
in the organization.
“We were inspired by the
Lake County Fair,” Gyure said.
“Every year, American Greyhound sets up a stand at the fair
and we would visit multiple times
to pet the dogs.”
one switch at a time
Science classes encourage school to save energy
By Brittany Curtis /
feature editor
Photo by Cat Fleszewski
English teacher Kelly Bonich decorates her door with recyclable
materials in celebration of Earth Day.
Earth Hour began in Sydney,
Australia in 2007, when 2.2 million
homes and businesses switched
off their lights for one hour.
In 2008 the message had
grown into a global event, with
over 50 million people switching off their lights. Landmarks
around the world such as the
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Coliseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca
Cola billboard in Times Square all
stood in darkness.
On March 28, 2009, Earth
Hour was taken to the next level,
with the goal of 1 billion people
turning off their lights for one
hour to promote saving energy.
More than 3,000 cities in 80 countries, including 200 U.S. cities
participated. CPHS did its part
to contribute to the global event
by asking students to shut their
lights off for one hour that day.
The World Wildlife Fund’s
website explains, “Earth Hour is
World Wildlife Fund’s global initiative where individuals, businesses and governments turn off
their lights for one hour to cast a
vote in favor of action on climate
change. By voting with their light
switches, Earth Hour participants
send a powerful, visual message
to their leaders demanding immediate action on climate change.”
Students may have also noticed the “Ditch the Switch” project that is being headed by the AP
Environmental Science classes.
The classes have asked teachers
to shut off one half of the lights in
their classroom in the hopes that
they will save energy, thus helping out the environment.
Sophomore Kristin Overbey
is currently enrolled in AP Environmental Science and is one of
the students helping out with the
“Ditch the Switch” project.
“The AP Environmental Science classes are heading [Ditch
the Switch.] We asked all teachers to turn off at least half of their
light switches to try to save energy for the month of April. At the
end of the month, we’re going to
compare April’s electric bill to the
bills of past months to see how
much energy we’ve saved. I’m
really excited to see the results,”
Overbey said.
April is also the month in
which Earth Day transpires, with
the annual holiday being held on
April 22. Teachers were asked to
decorate their doors to help promote global awareness as well as
celebrate the holiday.
Earth Day was originally
started in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from
Wisconsin, who proposed the
first nationwide environmental
protest “to shake up the political
establishment and force this issue
onto the national agenda.” Now
the idea of Earth Day seems more
prevalent than ever, and 2009 introduces the launch of Earth Day
Network’s “Green Generation”
program, which will culminate on
Earth Day 2010.
The Earth Day Network’s website explains, “Generation Green
includes ordinary people who are
engaged in individual and collective activities to improve their
health, to improve their schools,
to participate in building a solution to urgent national and global
issues, such as climate change or
the world’s water crises.”
Students who are interested
in the environment should consider enrolling in an AP Environmental Science Course.
“I’ve learned so much this
year about the environment and
I would strongly suggest that any
student take this class, especially
if they’re interested our environmental situation. This class has
really changed my outlook on
things and has made me realize
my impact on the environment,”
Overbey said.
4
Opinion
Inklings
Inklings is a student
publication distributed to students, faculty
and staff of Crown
Point High School. It
is published monthly
by the newspaper and
advanced journalism
students. Opinions
expressed in Inklings do
not reflect those of the
CPHS faculty, staff, or
the administration.
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and encourages signed
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space or clarity. Letters
must be signed and
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one week prior to publications and must not
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Letters may also be sent
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Such decisions are the
sole discretion of the
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or by contacting 6634885 ext. 11213.
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and Scroll.
Inklings can be contacted at 1500 S. Main,
Crown Point, IN, 46307;
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fax 219-662-5663; or [email protected].
Editors
Megan Binder
editor-in-chief
Cori Novelli
executive editor
Deanna Sheafer
managing editor
Lauren Cain
copy editor
Michele Bates
news editor
Brittany Curtis
feature editor
Becca Duggan
Matt Smith
co-entertainment editors
Trey Aultman
sports editor
Hunter McKee
sports assistant
Anna Ortiz
graphics editor
Becca Iddings
advertising editor
Joe Nejman
Georgia Otte
Cat Fleszewski
Alex Parrish
Jeremy Rex
photographers
Staff
Colin Likas
Vinnie Needham
Kelly Rostin
Milan Savich
Nikki Sekuloski
adviser
Julie Elston
April 27, 2009
CASS truly affects
students’ lives
By Michele Bates / news editor
cartoon by
Anna Ortiz
Drugs and alcohol overshadow teen life
V
iew:
Students that
fall into the
ever-growing
crowd of
drug and
alcohol
abusers need
to step back
and examine
whether
their lives are
dominated
by decisions
inspired
by juvenile
boredom
editorial
Whether you’re in study hall or AP calculus, beginning
foods or chemistry, it is a rare Monday morning where
you will not hear the following phrase from some fellow
student behind you:
“Dude, I got so wasted this weekend.”
The words may be slightly different, but their meaning
stays the same. It often matters little whether the students
in question are on the Honor Roll or in remedial classes:
the culture of drugs and alcohol permeates (at least to some
degree) every tier of the high school. The question then
becomes: who are we that we need drugs and alcohol to get
us through the day?
The average CPHS student comes from a decent home.
The median income for a household in Crown Point is just
under $53,000, so while not everyone is coming to school
in a new Lexus, the community and family pressures that
come from a low-income neighborhood cannot be blamed
as a factor.
It comes down to the most shameful of answers: sheer
teenage boredom. The health and safety problems that
come from underage consumption of alcohol and any
consumption of illicit drugs are well-documented and wellknown among those who choose to indulge anyway. The
days of cigarette companies lying to gullible kids about the
health benefits of using their products are long gone.
The issue no longer lies with education but instead
with lack of mediation. When a student believes he can
get away with boasting about the weekend he cannot
remember, he is just as inclined to do it again. Cracking
down on students who abuse themselves and illustrating
the external consequences first-hand is often the only way
to make them understand the seriousness of their all-too
flippant eagerness to get high.
Of course, the best way to combat the problem is to fix
it ourselves. We are the generation that has been faced with
some of the greatest challenges of modern history. There is
a global recession, enemies that are rapidly increasing both
their nuclear capabilities and their hatred, and a dwindling
supply of oil and energy that will surely lead to havoc
unless we find a sustainable solution. We cannot confront
these problems if we spend every Saturday night passed
out on a couch.
If we insist on juvenile responses, we will doom our
own future far beyond anything a few shots of tequila
could fix. And in the end, despite efforts to find a different
culprit, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.
Most of us can agree
that that the transition from
elementary to middle school is
tough. We were faced with
peer pressure and tried to
find where we fit in. Middle
school students still face those
difficulties today. A couple of
months ago, I was appointed as
a CASS cadet at Wheeler Middle
School. One of my many duties
was to help prevent bullying in
their school environment.
When I walked through the classroom
doors, the students seemed genuinely happy
to see me and six of the other CASS cadets. I
have to admit though, I was a little nervous.
It’s not that I was scared to speak to them,
but I was not sure if they could relate to me.
I, too, was faced with bullying as a middle
school student. It was hard for me to open
to others and I was unsure if the students
were willing to open up to me and the other
cadets. However, my fears of them not
speaking to us were soon lifted away.
We started our session by introducing
ourselves. It was our goal to get to know
our class as well as we could. A variety
of activities such as bingo, skits, and
discussions were held to break each of the
students “out of their shell.” Once we split
into small groups, I really got to know what
was going on in a sixth graders everyday
life. One student told me a story on how
she was pushed into a locker by a careless
student. I could tell that she was hurt by the
incident. I wanted to do anything I could to
help this young girl. It was right then when
I realized how much of a difference I was
making in a sixth graders’ life.
After a second month of mentoring, our
group is continuing to make progress. Some
of the quieter students are realizing that
it is okay to share their feelings. The class
teacher Joe Balind has even told us that he
has noticed progress. Even the students that
Balind didn’t think would enjoy the program
loves it.
I would encourage everyone to join this
fantastic school organization. I have learned
so much not only about CASS, but myself as
well. After joining this group, it has made
me realize that I can make a difference in
someone’s life.
heard in the
halls
Internet Awareness
“Kids today are really dumb on that
subject. they always give too much
information. I’ve seen Myspaces where
they post their phone numbers and put
things like ‘call me.’”
junior Tyler Bowman
Teen Drinking
“I think it is really [the teen’s] problem.
They probably just do it because of things
like depression. ”
freshman Cody Garzotto
Politically informed
“ I think it’s definitely important to be politically informed because [the politicians]
are the real people that shape the world
and celebrity news is just gossip.”
junior Brittney Buhr
5
Opinion
April 27, 2009
Technological
lack of privacy
By Lauren Cain /
copy editor
Accept the change of names
By Deanna Sheafer / managing editor
By Matt Smith/ entertainment editor
In a wildly
corporate,
dog-eat-dog
world, should
long lived
tradition preside
over corporate
reality as the
Willis Group
Holdings
company buys
out the Sears
Tower?
History. Tradition. Certain things are sacred.
Unfortunately, this has all been thrown away
with the change of a historic and beloved Chicago
landmark: The Sears Tower.
The tallest tower in the United States will soon
hold the name of a British insurance giant, taking
on the title “Willis Tower.” The upcoming change
will take away a vital and integral part of Chicago’s
history and should not be tolerated by the people of
Chicagoland.
Lately, culture and tradition is being sacrificed
for the sake of name recognition and advertising.
In the past few years, these buy-outs have become
more and more excessive, and the Sears Tower
issue brings back memories of Comiskey Park.
The shift to U.S. Cellular Field was not taken
well by the public when it was announced a few
years ago. It took away a part of the Midwest and
erased a huge portion of many people’s childhood.
We have all grown up with these icons, including
the Sears Tower, and they are not only a part of the
city, but a part of our lives.
Supporters of the name change may argue
that the advertisement is supporting the economy
of Chicago, but some things should simply not be
sacrificed for the sake of money. Money and greed
have surpassed the role of culture and history in
our society. Certain things are priceless, and they
should not be taken away from the people.
The change to Willis Tower should not be
tolerated by the people of Chicagoland. By taking
away the Sears Tower, far more is being lost than
just a name. History has been thrown away. This
obsession with advertisement and greed must
end. What’s next: The Eiffel Tower? The Grand
Canyon? Mount Rushmore? They can remove the
nameplate, but to me, the historic icon will always
be the Sears Tower.
Kami Mikuta
“Yes, because it’s
easier to tell if
someone is drunk
or not.”
junior
Do you think
that using
breathalizers at
prom is a good
idea?
ssue:
freshman
Q
speak up
I
The Sears Tower is an icon
sophomore
Visualize any big city around the country. With
New York, you see the Empire State Building. With
San Francisco, you see the Golden Gate Bridge.
When people picture Chicago, the Sears Tower
is most definitely a staple. Though the name will
change, the building will not. The tower will still be
there in all its glory, so why does the name matter
so much?
When Willis Group Holdings bought the Sears
Tower, they also received the right to name their
property what they want. Obviously, they decided
to name the building after their company, as anyone
would do. It’s the perfect form of advertising.
However, the change has caused intense verbal
backlash from not only native Chicagoans but even
citizens of Northwest Indiana.
As time goes on, changes are bound to occur in
large cities, and the people are bound to whine, just
like when Marshall Field became Macy’s. But no
one went to that store purely because of the name.
Don’t the White Sox still play at the same field,
whether it is U.S. Cellular Field instead of Comiskey
Park? The scandolous news that famous company
names were being changed soon died down and
faded away. But the memories and joyous times still
exist and always will, no matter what it’s named.
Yes, the Sears Tower is an icon in Chicago. But
unless the people of Chicago have the $2 million per
year to shell out for leasing the building, they can’t
stop the change. People will still be calling it the
Sears Tower for years to come, so we’ll have time to
adjust.
As much as we don’t want to admit it, things
change. Companies buy out other companies and
name changes occur, regardless of what the people
think. Does that mean we stop our lives to obsess
over it? No.
Anna Ortiz
Jordan Barron
Nick Polission
“Yes, because it
saves people from
getting into accidents.”
“Yes, because
drinking and driving is immature
and people get
hurt.”
senior
Willis vs. Sears Tower
cartoon by
Over the past
few years, Myspace
has turned
from a hobby
into a lifestyle.
Every moment of
someone’s life can
be documented on a
webpage for anyone
to see, emphasis on the
“for anyone to see.” Generation
Y seems to get so caught up
in the fury of these social
networking sites, and doesn’t
realize the consequences.
Between Myspace,
Facebook, and YouTube, people
can now get caught in their
most intimate and vulnerable
moments. It’s almost a 1984
flashback, with Big Brother
eerily watching every mistake
we make. People no longer
have to worry about a close
group of friends finding out
about their mistakes, but rather
the whole world. Colleges and
businesses are now able to look
up applicants on the internet
to find any part of their past
left for anyone to see out in
cyberspace.
With Big Brother watching,
teenagers nationwide are
getting arrested for fights
posted on YouTube, and naked
pictures on Myspace. Even
locally, pictures of students
drinking on Myspace led
to Wheeler High School
athletes being kicked off of
their basketball team prior
to their sectional game. Our
technological advances are
going to continue growing
to the point where we won’t
be able to sneeze without
everyone knowing.
Since technology isn’t
going to adapt to our privacy,
we are going to need to adapt
to it. Teenagers are famous for
their retrospective thinking. We
don’t realize the consequences
of our mistakes until it’s too
late, but now technology
makes it unforgivable to make
such a move. Students need
to watch what they write on
Twitter, post on Myspace, and
send through AIM.
The most obvious advice in
order to thwart the unforgiving
World Wide Web would be to
think proactively. If you don’t
take the naked pictures, no
one will find them. If you don’t
drink while on a sports team,
no one will find out; simple
as that. Just remember: “Big
Brother’s watching you.”
Stephanie Mercado
“Yes, because it is
the safest way to
keep intoxicated
students out of
prom.”
6
Conducting
I
Turkish lecturer on violin
and chamber music Alper
Tunga Ozcan speaks
to orchestra students.
Ozcan is in the United
States with four other
professionals for the next
month as part of a Rotary
Club study exchange.
on
life
Ask
Laugh
Explore
Wonder
Inspire
April 27, 2009
Seniors Alex
Firchau,
Adam
DeBoth,
and Denzell
Miller act
out a satire
presentation
during Allison
Isailovich’s
English class.
Live
The price tag of prom
Students find creative ways to save money at prom
$65
$400
Instead of getting an updo at a salon for $65...
get it done at Crown
Cosmetology for $25.
Instead of buying a
dress for $400...
borrow one from a
friend.
$45
$100
Instead of getting a mani/
pedi for $45...
have a party with your
friends and do each
other’s nails.
$35
Instead of getting a limo
for $100 per person...
carpool with your friends.
Instead of buying flowers from a flower shop
for $35...
make your own bouquet
using flowers from the
grocery store.
By Lauren Cain and Kelly Rostin/
copy editor and staff reporter
Tuxedo: $80. Dress: $100-400. Limo
rental: $100 per person. Perfect prom: not so
priceless.
With the state of the economy being as
tumultuous as it is, many students are being
forced to tighten their purse strings for their
prom night. However, students are finding
ways to save and still have a great night with
creative tactics.
“Prom is very expensive with a tux, limo,
tickets, and after-dance activities. I’m going
all out on my senior prom, so I need to find
ways to save money while doing that,” junior
Eric Weed said.
Weed, along with other upperclassmen,
was seen wearing a tuxedo to school one
day. This deal was sponsored by Dunhill
Tuxedoes, and the students wearing the tux
got a deal out of it.
“I was told to hand out Dunhill tuxedo
cards. It was worth $10 off their tux with a
free Cubs or Sox shirt. Every person who
Learning
$70
Photo By Alex Parrish
Instead of buying new
shoes for $70...
use a pair from previous
dances.
brings back a card with my name on it, I get
$10 off and once I have eight cards with my
name on it, I get it free,” he said.
While there are bargain options for
males like wearing the tux to school, female
students also have a few options for saving
money. Senior Holly Sheffer is making her
prom dress out of duct tape. This program
as known as the Stuck at Prom Scholarship
Contest and is sponsored by DUCK brand
duct tape. By making a prom dress out of
duct tape, applicants have the chance of
winning $3000 in scholarship money.
“When I went to gymnastics camp
sophomore year, my camp counselor showed
me a picture of her prom dress and told
me all about the scholarship. All the tape I
bought (eight rolls) cost $55 with a coupon.
So far, I’ve used half of one roll, so I’ll
probably return the rest. Prom dresses are
really expensive, so I’m sure I will save a
couple hundred dollars,” Sheffer said.
This different option has benefits beyond
the value.
“Not only will I save a lot of money, but
my dress will be one of a kind. People will
take note of its uniqueness. Whether or not
they like it, it will be talked about,” she said.
While these ideas may be a little extreme,
there are other alternatives to save money for
prom. Students can choose to do cheap things
preceding prom, such as bowling, or going
to the beach the next day. Also, they can reuse shoes and jewelry from previous dances
or borrow the items from their friends. Junior
Rachel Mauger found a bargain while searching for her prom dress.
“I don’t feel it’s necessary to spend a lot of
money on a dress for prom. I got my dress for
$75, and its beautiful. I just like to do things
cheap,” Mauger said.
Prom is something to look forward to and
is not a reason to spend a lot of money, according to Sheffer.
“Remember that prom is about having
fun. Spending a gazillion dollars might
make it more glamorous, but you can have
just as much fun for a lower cost. A dress is
something you’ll wear once, why spend all
that money?” Sheffer said.
by the
numbers
$400
price of the
average prom
dress.
67%
of teens will rent
a limo for prom.
4 million
prom dresses
were sold in
2005.
$1,300
total amount of
money that the
average couple
spends on their
senior prom.
84%
of teens who will
spend $300 to
$400 on a prom
dress.
All according to the DeBora Rachelle Prom website.
7
Feature
area animal shelters prove a great place to
April 27, 2009
Find man’s best friend
There’s no question as to why we
all get pets: they offer unconditional
love, provide companionship, and
will always cheer you up when you
have a bad day. The decision to adopt
a dog is a big one, but before you go
to the pet store to pick out your new
best friend, think about adopting
from an animal shelter first.
8-12
million
animals enter shelters
nationwide
every year
5-9
million
By Brittany Curtis / feature editor
Every year, millions of dogs and cats are relinquished by their owners or rescued from the
streets by animal control officers and private citizens and brought to animal shelters. The Humane
Society of the United States, or HSUS, estimates
that animal shelters care for 6-8 million dogs and
cats every year in the United States. Of those 6-8
million, approximately 3-4 million are euthanized. To put that into perspective, that number
is roughly the human population of the state of
Kentucky.
The Lake County Animal Adoption and Control Center in Crown Point is one center through
which animals can be adopted, but there are many
others within Crown Point’s vicinity. The Lake
County Animal Adoption and Control Center is
a non-profit organization that runs off of government grants and donations, and never euthanizes
adoptable animals. They strive to put adoptable
animals in safe, loving homes.
“We adopted our two dogs, Chuey and Suey,
from the Lake County Animal Adoption and
Control Center. When we saw them, we fell in
love with them and decided to take them home.
I would strongly recommend adopting an animal
from a shelter to anyone who is thinking of adopting a pet. You could be saving a life, and the result
is so gratifying,” sophomore Bailey Whitehead
said.
If you are interested in adopting a pet from
the Lake County Animal Adoption and Control
Center, you can go to their office on W. 93rd Ave.
or look at their website online at http://lcac.piczo.
com. You can also browse through pets that are
Dog
Tales
of those
animals are
euthanized
only 1 out
of every 10
Photo by Georgia Otte
A dog waits for a new owner at the Lake County Animal Adoption Center in Crown Point. The
Center never euthanizes adoptable animals.
How to help
• Adopt your
new pet instead
of buying
• Donate money
or supplies (like
pet toys or used
blankets)
looking for a home at www.petfinder.com. Petfinder is an on-line, searchable database of animals that need homes. It is also a directory of over
10,000 animal shelters and adoption organizations
across the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Before adopting a pet, you must fill out an
adoption application form and all potential adopters must submit to a thorough background check.
This is to ensure that the pet is going to be put in
a safe and loving home.
If you are unable to adopt a pet from the shelter, but still would like to help out, there are many
things that you can do. The Lake County Animal
Adoption and Control Center is always accepting
donations of dog/cat toys, kitty litter, dog beds,
used blankets, dog and cat bowls, and various
other pet items. They also accept monetary donations, which help them to run their office.
“Potential adopters should always do theirhomework on what type of animal might suit
them and their family and thier lifestyle before
considering adopting an animal,” John, an employee at the Lake County Animal Control Shelter, said
So before you run out to buy that puppy in
the window, consider adopting a pet from your
local animal shelter. You might find your new best
friend, and could save a life in the process.
dogs born
will find a
permanent
home
25
percent
of the dogs
that enter
animal
shelters
across the
nation are
purebred
information from the
ASPCA and Petco
Foundation
8
Feature
Students find outlet for secrets
April 27, 2009
Secrets decorate the wall of English teacher in unique project
By Anna Ortiz /
graphics editor
From scandals that cover front page
headlines to the gossip that spreads through
text messages during class, everyone has
secrets, a fact that is ironically known by
all. One only has to turn on the radio to hear
All-American Rejects blare “Dirty Little
Secret” or flip to E! Entertainment news to
realize that everyone from celebrities, to
politicians, to high school students have
their own dirty little secrets to cover up. But
what if your own secrets were posted up on
a wall for all to see? As English teacher Lisa
Landgrebe and her world literature classes
realize, sometimes it can be beneficial to
uncover them for a change.
Landgrebe thought of the idea after a
student showed her a book from the library
called A Lifetime of Secrets by Frank Warren.
The book is compiled of anonymous
postcards sent in by people across the
world containing their deepest secrets,
whether humorous, joyful or dark.
“Some of the secrets made me laugh
and some were relatable to how I feel and
gave me a sense of recognition. There’s
one written by a wife to her husband
expressing her love for him after 17 years,
and I related to it because I feel that way
about my marriage. Some of them I just
don’t understand and wonder ‘what does
it mean?’ Some of them make me sad, but it
was definitely an interesting thing to think
about,” Landgrebe said.
The project also parallels with the novel
the class was reading called White Noise, by
Don DeLillo, where a married couple holds
their darkest secrets of impending death
and love affairs from each other.
“In White Noise there are quite a few
secrets, but by the end it all comes out
into the open. That reflects on how we
brought our secrets out in the open, like the
characters in the novel, for others to see,”
senior Eddie Shermin said.
The students were asked to write at
least two secrets on illustrated postcards
anonymously and turn in a self-evaluation
sheet for a grade; however, the project
proved to have more to it than a simple
percentage.
“The project does tie into the book we
were reading, but sometimes teens just need
an outlet to express themselves; in fact,
they were the ones to suggest [the project.]
I like to try to make personal connections,
and some students even came up and told
me their secrets. A lot of them said they felt
better afterward and had a sense of relief,”
Landgrebe said.
Students such as senior Rachel
Bretzinger also found the project to be
insightful.
“I liked [the project] because I now
realize a lot of people have secrets like mine,
and I feel better because then I know others
feel the same as me,” Bretzinger said.
According to Landgrebe, the secrets
fell into two categories, funny and serious.
There were humorous sentiments relating
to childhood antics, such as the infamous
tongue stuck to frozen pole incident
experienced in the Christmas Story, and
more somber topics expressing the missing
of a lost loved one, all posted on the walls
of Langrebe’s classroom. At the end of the
year she plans to compile the postcards into
a scrapbook.
“I think that it’s really cool seeing all
of the secrets posted up. It’s like a little
window into students’ lives, and we can
compare other’s experiences to our own,”
Shermin said.
As other students saw the posted
secrets they became interested and wanted
to participate. Landgrebe wants to make
the post secret project more wide spread
by possibly setting a drop box in the
counselor’s office and collect the entries
every week to post in her classroom.
“I think it can be really hard [for teens]
to keep secrets to themselves. Sometimes
you just need to tell someone, and this
project is perfect if you feel you can’t tell
anyone, but you still need to. I think the
project gave a sense that someone cares,
and a sense of relief that someone else
knows,” Landgrebe said.
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211 S. East St. Crown Point
219-663-6551
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LET US CATER YOUR
GRADUATION PARTY!
Photo By Jeremy Rex
Senior Jeremy Schumann posts a card up in Lisa Landgrebe’s English classroom.
Students in Landgrebe’s World Literature classes were asked to submit at least
two secrets on illustrated postcards anonymously to tie in with a novel they read
in class, White Noise.
Bradshaw College Consulting
College Admissions Consulting
PSAT/SAT/ACT tutoring
Gerald M. Bradshaw
www.BradshawCollegeConsulting.com
[email protected]
219-663-3041
Crown Point, IN
Educated Advice Columnist
Post-Tribune
Crown Point, IN
Educated Advice Columnist
Post-Tribune
Feature
April 27, 2009
“Sexting” scandal heats up
9
New fad may end with teens being
registered as sex offenders
By Brittany Curtis / feature editor
Did u
c the
pics
that grl
sent?
In a small Texas city, a group
of five girls from their high school
cheerleading squad were caught with
Myspace pictures of them in bikinis,
sharing alcohol, and making sexual
gestures. What has come to be known
as the “Texas Cheerleader Scandal,”
made headlines nationwide, was
featured as a story in Seventeen, and
was made into a Lifetime movie.
The “Texas Cheerleader Scandal”
was possibly the first big case with the
internet being used as proof against
students. However, this scandal
has since developed into a series of
cases being implemented into local
schools.
“Sexting” can now be considered
child pornography, and may be
prosecuted as a state or federal
felony and can even lead to having
to be registered as a sex offender. In
one case in Florida, two teenagers
photographed themselves nude
and engaged in “unspecified sexual
behavior.” The two were tried
and convicted for production and
distribution of child pornography,
while the teen who received the
image was also charged of possession
of child pornography.
Under
federal
law,
child
pornography is defined as any visual
depiction, including any photograph,
film, video, picture, or computer
or computer-generated image or
picture, whether made or produced
by electronic, mechanical, or other
means, of sexually explicit conduct.
“We’re hearing more and more
of different areas around the nation
in which teens are being tried and
Recent Cases
• Two Wheeler High School students were removed from their
basketball sectional roster prior
to the game due to Myspace pictures posted featuring the boys
drinking alcohol.
• 14-year-old New Jersey girl
was arrested and charged with
possession and distribution of
child pornography after posting
nearly 30 explicit pictures of herself on Myspace, in order for her
boyfriend to see. She may have
to register as a sex offender.
• A 15-year-old Ohio girl had
to plead to a felony charge after
sending a revealing picture of
herself to a classmate. A teacher
confiscated her phone and found
the picture, and then turned it in
to the police. She was jailed and
is now under house arrest.
charged with child pornography
for sending and receiving nude or
provacative photos, otherwise known
as sexting,” Officer Chuck Noonan
said.
According to an online survey
commissioned by the National
Campaign to Prevent Teen and
Unplanned Pregnancy, about 22
percent of teenage girls and 18
percent of boys admit to having
“electronically sent, or posted online,
nude or semi-nude pictures or video
of themselves.”
“You might think it’s fun and
exciting to give your boyfriend
pictures of yourself like that, but
you never know where and into
whose hands those pictures will
end up. As young adults, students
have bigger and more difficult
challenges ahead of them, and you
don’t want to have to worry about
where those photos will end up.
You should never want to degrade
yourself in that way,” Noonan said
In another New Jersey case, a
14-year-old girl posted 30 explicit
nude pictures on Myspace for
her boyfriend. The girl was
then arrested and charged with
possession of child pornography
and
distribution
of
child
pornography, but was released into
her mother’s custody.
“In this school, gossip spreads
so fast. If you’re going to take a
picture of yourself like that, there’s
a good chance that more than
the person you send it to will see
it. That’s the kind of thing that
spreads like wildfire,” junior Ali
Van Cleef said.
Sexting is not the only way for
students to get into trouble through
digital photos.
At Wheeler High School in
Valparaiso, Indiana, two seniors
were removed from the varsity
basketball roster for posting pictures
of themselves drinking on Myspace
in their basketball jerseys.
“Students should be wary of
what they post on the internet and
what they send to your friends. You
never know where it could end up,”
Noonan said.
omg
yeah.
i think
every1’s
seen them
Photos by Jeremy Rex
Student authors pen original works
By Nikki Sekuloski / staff writer
Christopher Paolini, Anne Frank, and
S.E. Hinton. What do all these people have
in common? They all wrote books at a
young age: Paolini at 15, Frank at 14, and
Hinton at 16. Students at CPHS seem to be
following in the same footsteps as these
high-acclaimed authors.
Senior John Lanigan is currently in the
process of writing and publishing a book.
He is working on a book titled EQUATOR.
There are three plots involved in the book.
The main plot deals with scientists who
find a cure for cancer and other diseases.
This leads them to finding a mysterious,
uncharted island. The second plot is about
a military group that travels to the island
and gets stranded there. Lastly, the third
plot is about a corrupt agency that has ties
to everyone and is stealing information
from the scientists for their own gain. To
go along with the plots, he created themes
that help move along the book.
“Some of the main themes are that
everyone has secrets, good things do
not always happen to good people, and
emotions are the key to everything,”
Lanigan said.
Although the general genre of his book
is science fiction, it also contains elements
that make it seem like a thriller, mystery,
and action, with a little bit of comedy and
romance all mixed into one.
Intro to junior Zack McGann’s story, Vanish
I awoke when it was still slightly dark. I lay flat, in a straight position, my legs
together and my arms at my sides. To my left, the sun was starting to cascade over
the horizon. To my right, half of the moon still hung in the sky. I opened my eyes
when a drop of cold rain hit my forehead. A shiver started at my feet and arose up
through my entire body, forcing me to twitch a little. I turned my head back and
looked up at the sky that was half full of gold, and the other half a deep silver.
“The sky?” I thought to myself as my eyebrows frowned. I moved the fingers
of my right hand. I felt what I thought were dull needles beneath me. I gripped my
hand. I felt around using both hands now, patting the space around me. Suddenly
I rose up in shock. My room was nowhere in sight. I was lying outside. My eyes
widened as I finally realized, I was in a meadow. I had done it again.
“I usually like to write mysteries and
thrillers, but this book has a little bit of
everything,” he said.
Lanigan has many reasons for why he
decided to write the book. Besides the fact
that he feels he has a lot of creativity, he
also has emotional ties for why he choose
to write about this specific topic.
“I dedicated my book to my aunt who
died of breast cancer and my grandpa who
died of lung cancer. They were both very
emotional times for me, therefore my book
is mainly based off of emotions I felt and
cancer in general,” Lanigan said.
Another reason he wrote this book was
because he plans on being a writer on the
side in the future.
“There is nothing I love more than
writing, but it is a hard career to be in.
There are a lot of harsh critics out there,”
he said.
So far, he has done research on editors
and publishers to decide who he plans on
working with on his book. He has spoken
with people in different corporations, but
he has not made up his mind on what and
who he wants to go with. However, he
does have plans for the book in the future.
“Once I am finished, I plan on
getting an editor to go over the book with
me. Afterwards, I will be looking for a
publisher,” Lanigan said.
Junior Zack McGann also has a
passion for writing. His book is a science-
fiction tale that also has romance, fantasy,
and adventure. It is about a girl named
Serinity who goes backpacking with
her family. She wanders off alone and
stumbles upon a cave that is actually
the entrance to an ancient academy for
people who are considered “special.”
“I don’t want to give it all away, but I
am going to say that the students at the
academy are not exactly human. Let’s just
say that they can sprout wings and breathe
fire,” McGann said.
He eventually hopes to get his book
published and even write a book that
contains short stories he has written.
“I want others to be able to read and
enjoy my work. I would hope to be an
inspiration to other writers,” he said.
One of his reasons for writing is that
he always has ideas. He would also love
to be a writer one day whether he would
be writing short stories, books, plays, or
screenplays.
“I’m full of ideas, and I would love to
see them go somewhere one day,” McGann
said.
As of now, he has let a few close friends
and family members read teasers of his
books and stories. He usually only gives
them little bits of the story because he likes
to keep people wanting more.
“So far they have all liked what I
wrote, so that is definitely motivation to
keep writing,” he said.
10
Arts & Entertainment
April 27, 2009
Twilight convention allows fans to bond
Photo By Cat Fleszewski
Fans of the Twilight books series by Stephenie Meyer gathered in the media center on April 8 for the Twilight convention hosted by the Book Club. The convention involved trivia,
improv games, and discussions all based on the popular series that focuses on a girl named Bella Swan who falls in love with a boy who turns out to be a vampire.
Test your knowledge with
Twilight trivia
questions
1. What does Bella’s
mom do for a living?
2. How many sets
of chromosomes do
vampires have?
3. What is Bella’s full
name?
4. What brand of car
does Edward drive?
4. Volvo
1. Kindergarten teacher
Twilight fans’ love for the
popular fantasy books still lives
even after the series has technically ‘died’- much like how vampires live even after their bodies
technically die. In order to share
ideas and express their love for
the books, some Twilight fans organized a Twilight convention.
“We saw so many people
wearing Twilight shirts in the
hallways, and we wanted to get
the whole school involved, even
freshmen,” junior Tavleen Dhillon
said. “That’s why we made the
Twilight convention.”
The Twilight convention was
held on April 8 at 2:30 PM in the
media center. Attendees were invited to stay as long as they wanted before the media center closed,
according to Dhillon. Dhillon first
had the idea to host the convention and put the plan into action
with the help of Nikki Sekuloski,
Stephanie Sekuloski, media specialist Janna Carney, and others.
The convention was held in honor
of the bestselling Twilight series,
where a normal, somewhat clumsy girl named Bella Swan moves
to a new town called Forks and
meets an unpredictable student
named Edward Cullen, whom she
soon discovers is a vampire.
During the convention, attendees’ knowledge of Twilight
was put to the test. Various trivia
and charade games make students guess the names of characters based on clues or figure out
the right answer to specific trivia
questions. There was also discussion of books and characters
throughout the event.
Junior Britney Buher came to
the convention because her best
friend and the announcements informed her of it.
“The convention was a bunch
of people who really love the
books,” Buher said. “The talking
and games were fun, though the
trivia was hard.”
Buher explained why she
thinks the Twilight is such a success.
“You get the stereotypical,
grim vampire into your head,
2. 25 sets 3. Isabella Marie Swan
By Becca Duggan /
co-entertainment editor
but Twilight has a big plot twist
where that’s not true. The books
have so much romance and drama; it draws you in so you can’t
put it down,” Buher said.
Even though the fan base of
Twilight is generally stereotyped
as female, there were two male attendees at the convention. Junior
Andy Koval and senior David
Parks offered their viewpoint on
the series.
“I came to the Twilight convention not knowing what to expect,” Parks said. “It opened me
up to what Twilight is.”
Koval agreed with Parks and
said that Twilight was different
than what he was normally interested in.
“I like sports, not intellectual
stuff like that,” Koval said. “It’s
opening our minds to a new perspective.”
Both students believe they
understand why girls particularly
are attracted to Twilight. According to Koval, the atmosphere and
point of view of the series are the
reasons.
“Twilight is gloomy and ro-
mantic,” Koval says. “It also puts
girls in the shoes of Bella, whose
relationship is perfect except he’s
a vampire. Everlasting boyfriends
are appealing to girls.”
Parks felt Twilight was similar
to the attraction to other works,
such as The Notebook.
“The Notebook and Twilight
can be comparable. They’re both
inspirational to girls because they
show you can get whomever you
want,” Parks said.
Despite the differences between how they viewed the series,
one thing was agreed upon- that
girls thought Edward Cullen, the
series’ main male character, was a
desirable boyfriend.
“Edward is the ‘ideal man,’”
said Dhillon. “Guys should read
the books if they want girlfriends.
Most girls like Edward.”
At the end of the convention, members shared some final
thoughts about their love of the
series.
“Twilight is a great series
to get lost into,” senior Courtney Russ said. “It’s a great series
where true love exists.”
Twitter gains popularity and influence with students
Celebrities’
Latest Tweets
• Michael Phelps: “Gone
swimming. Start a healthier
lifestyle! Healthy Eating and
Healthy Living!”
• Taylor Swift: “On the bus
to Indiana. Wearing a giant
sweater and debating with
my mom on the bus temperature. Ahh, back to the good
old days.”
• John Mayer: “I must have
owned over 5,000 guitar
picks and claimed my life to
only three.”
By Michele Bates /
news editor
With popular websites such as
Facebook and Myspace, another
social networking has been gaining popularity. Twitter has been
around since 2006. However, it
recently made headlines after U.S.
congressmen were updating their
Twitter during Barack Obama’s
presidential address. A Twitter
account can be made in a matter
of minutes and over six million
people have joined the latest micro-blogging site.
By signing up for Twitter, users can send messages (known as
“tweets”) to inform people what
they are doing at that moment.
Messages can be sent through
Twitter’s site, text message, and
even through an I-Pod Touch or
I-Phone. However, updates can
only be made in 140 characters or
less. Users can also “follow” other
Twitter users to see what they are
doing as well.
Senior Jaclyn Sarnecki recently joined Twitter a few weeks ago.
Sarnecki said that she found out
about the social networking site
from her aunt.
“I update my Twitter about
once a week. Twitter is different
from Myspace and Facebook because you can’t really comment
people. It is basically just your
status on what you are doing at
that moment. It is definitely a site
I could see become the next big
thing,” Sarnecki said.
Social media coach Kathy
Sipple teaches a variety of Twitter classes. Some of her classes
include “Twitter 101” and an Advanced Twitter class. Sipple also
conducts a Northwest Indiana
Tweet-up that takes place in Valparaiso.
“The Northwest Indiana
Tweet-up is for local Twitter users.
You can meet people online, however this [event] brings people face
to face,” Sipple said.
Sipple said that Twitter is different from other social networking sites because it allows you to
express yourself in 140 characters
or less. She said that some of her
class visitors have found out about
Twitter through the news outlets
such as ABC and Nightline.
“People are curious and want
to find out more about [Twitter],”
Sipple said.
According to Sipple, Twitter
has had a 1,000 percent growth
since last year. Celebrities such as
Britney Spears, Lance Armstrong,
and President Barack Obama have
joined the site.
“[I think celebrity involvement] popularized [Twitter]. It
gives a fan a pretty unique insight
to get to know that person,” Sipple said.
Recently, actor Ashton Kutcher challenged CNN to see who
could get 1,000,000 followers first.
Kutcher ended up winning the
challenge. This makes Kutcher
the first person to have a million
followers on Twitter. However,
the microblogging site has noticed
a significant amount of growth in
the last week. Oprah Winfrey had
350,000 followers after only two
days on Twitter.
Twitter also allows its users to
post pictures on one of their partner sites called TwitPic. When
someone updates their status, users can attach a link to their Twitpic album.
According to Nightline, one
of the first pictures of the Hudson
River plane crash was uploaded
onto TwitPic. Pictures can be uploaded through www.twitpic.com
or through an I-Phone.
Like Facebook and Myspace,
Twitter also allows people to restrict who views their profile.
“I think that it is great that
Twitter gives you an option
[to have your Twitter account
blocked],” Sarnecki said.
11
Arts & Entertainment
April 27, 2009
Sole Mates boutique
Store behind Schoop’s holds unique goods for low prices
By Cori Novelli and Kelly
Rostin /
executive editor and reporter
A bird’s eye view of the first floor of the boutique. Items
ranging from clothing and shoes, accessories, and home
decorations can all be found throughout the store.
“
Everything here
makes for a
unique look
“
While still keeping the essence
of a “hometown feel,” Sole Mates
offers an array of goods including
homemade chocolates, handmade
jewelry, locally made perfume,
and natural toiletries. Other knickknacks including greeting cards
and home decorating items can be
found dispersed throughout the
shop in addition to the boutique’s
wide range of unique purses, belts
and shoes.
“We also consign local artists
to show off and display their
work on items [found throughout
the store],” owner Jill Visak said.
While not everything in the
shop is homemade, Visak still
sells many items representing
different individual personalities
and styles differing from the
conformity of the mainstream’s
style.
“We [my husband and I] just
wanted Crown Point to have a
unique place for our area, so I’m
constantly searching the internet
for online companies that I like,”
Visak said. “Everything here
makes for a unique look.”
Past the huge variety of
trendy jewerly appropriate for any
occasion, women’s shoes (even
ones sold at Charlotte Russe) can
be found in another section of
the shop. Boots, classy heals and
fun sneakers are all available for
exceptionally low prices.
On the second floor, added
later after Sole Mates originally
opened in June of 2004, a clothing
boutique can be found featuring
unique clothing styles from Los
Angeles that Visak describes as
“eclectic” and “a mix of retro and
contemporary”. Decorated jeans,
funky dresses, and snazzy tops
owner Jill Visak
can all be found amongst the hip
funiture and decorations.
Along with the unique
accessories are more popular
brands such as the infamous
Crocs- now sold in their own
separate room added onto the
store’s original frame just last
year.
“Originally we started with
just Crocs [in the store], but the
store eventually grew to the wide
variety that we have available
.Sole Mates offers...
chocolates
Disney’s Earth movie
Disney’s
first
ever nature documentary style film
opened Wednesday,
for Earth Day. It’s
message is as simple
as the title: it’s about
our planet.
The
movie follows three
animal families, polar bears, whales,
and elephants as
they live their lives.
It was filmed at the
same time as Planet
Earth, an Emmy
award winning TV series shown on the Discovery channel. It’s even been hailed as the new
March of the Penguins.
now,” Visak said.
Many versions of Crocs
in a variety of colors are sold
along with the original version
including men’s and women’s
boots and flip flops, high heals,
and ballerina flats.
Visak’s styles appeal mainly
to customers ages 15 and up, but
she still holds items appropriate
for customers at any age. Prices
of all the items range anywhere
from $2 to $125, with the chocolate
being cheapest and watches as the
most expensive.
Visak even plans for the shop
to include a new clothing line, a
new chocolate brand (featuring
chocolate pizzas), and the addition
of a small café.
“We’re always changing. You
never know what you’re going to
find in here,” she said.
handmade
jewelry
Information
1122 N Main St
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 661-0116
unique purses
home accessories
a few of our
favorite
things
ThinkGeek.com
ThinkGeek is a company
that caters to “geeky” social
groups with products inspired
by science and pop culture like
Star Wars. Products include Tshirts and apparel, computer
accessories, caffiene, candy,
books, and self proclaimed
“geek toys.” Where else could
you find plush creatures made
to look like different microbes
including toxic mold and the
plague? On the more practical
side, ThinkGeek offers mugs
and glasses featuring designs
such as a caffiene molecule and
online gamer terms.
Hannah Montana
movie show proves
successful with
audience
By Lauren Cain /
copy editor
As a self-admitted
Disney fanatic, I had no
other thought in my mind
than to see Hannah Montana:
The Movie on its premiere
date. I went with my
friends to go see this movie,
and we were one of the few
groups of people over 4
feet tall. However, Hannah
Montana: The Movie had a
theme and story line strong
enough for any age group
to follow.
In the beginning of
the movie, audiences may
be stunned to see that
Hannah’s typically modest
attitude in the show turns
into a diva-like façade. Her
ego has clearly grown to
giant proportions, which
is why Robby Ray Stewart
(played by Billy Ray Cyrus)
takes Miley back to her
home in Tennessee. Miley
is strongly opposed to the
idea of leaving her starstruck lifestyle she’s become
accustomed to.
Most people would
probably assume that
this movie would be
musical like, seeing as
the pseudonym Hannah
Montana was created
so that Miley could be a
singing star. This is far
from the case, though. The
music all ties very well
into the movie, and is only
used in times when it’s
necessary. No one busts out
in choreographed dance
scenes like in High School
Musical, believe it or not.
After seeing the movie, the
18 song soundtrack is a
must-have.
This movie was as
good as one could hope;
two thumbs way up. No
matter what age viewers
are, they’re sure to find
something about this movie
to love. Even Hannah/
Miley haters may be forced
to change their tune after
seeing Hannah Montana: The
Movie.
StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon is a
downloadable tool
bar that allows users to access random web pages,
photos,
and
videos. When
a user clicks the
“Stumble” button, StumbleUpon chooses a
page and the user
can say whether he
or she likes the content. If rated a thumbs
up, then more similiar articles appear in the future. If it receives a thumbs-down, similiar pages are taken out of the mix. Toolbar versions exist for
Internet Explorer as well as Firefox and otherindependent
Mozilla-based browers. It’s a fun way to waste time and experience often undiscovered web pages.
Information compiled by Inklings editors,
photos and logos used with permission
12
Arts & Entertainment
Eat this, not that
By Deanna Sheafer / managing editor
With the economy on everyone’s mind, saving money and
doing without are constant concerns. Still, there’s no reason to avoid eating out or grabbing some food on the run,
particularly if you know where the best deals are.
Jr. Bacon Cheese
Wendy’s has a new “3conomics”
deal. This value menu includes
the junior bacon cheeseburger, the
junior double cheeseburger, or the
crispy chicken sandwich for one
dollar a piece.
$1.00
vs.
vs.
vs.
Why pay more? True to the Taco
Bell slogan, the cheesy double beef
burrito is cheap and filling, loaded
with cheese, meat, and rice.
$0.98
McDouble
The McDoubles are a new hamburger on the value menu that has
two beef patties, a slice of cheese,
and the usual condiments. It replaced the Double Cheeseburger.
$1.00
Oberweis
Just down the street from Coldstone, Oberweis offers a huge variety of delicious ice cream. Portion wise, Oberweis is a better deal
than Coldstone.
$1.99
Quizno’s
$3.89
Best Deal
Jr. Bacon Cheese
Grilled Stuffed Burrito
A large sized sub sandwich at
Quizno’s is one inch smaller than
Subway’s, and costs more. Subway is the clear winner price-wise,
especially considering Subway’s
new one dollar sides like chips or
drinks.
$6.89
Again, value menus really mean
value. In relation, are the larger
sandwiches really worth it? You
can always get more of the cheaper priced items for about the same
price.
Like the McDouble, get 2 beef burritos instead of one grilled stuffed
burrito at a cheaper price. That
way, you have the same amount
food for less.
$2.69 Double Beef Burrito
Big Mac
If you’re craving hamburgers, the
cheapest option is to get two of the
McDouble burgers instead of one
Big Mac. You save over two dollars
by doing so.
vs.
vs.
Zodiac cafe offers
unique dining
experience
By Anna Ortiz / graphics editor
Double Jr. Cheese Deluxe
Double Beef Burrito
April 27, 2009
$4.79
Coldstone
A Like-it size of ice cream (the
smaller size) without mix-ins is
roughly equivalent to a kid’s scoop
at Oberweis, but the Like-it costs
$1.50 more.
$2.50
McDouble
Oberweis
Kids’ Scoop
Subway
The five dollar footlong deal has
changed the world of sub sandwiches. Now that every footlong is
five dollars, competitors like Quiznos have to lower prices or lengthen subs because right now, Subway
is the best deal.
$5.00
Subway
Next to the ever popular Main
Street Café, a structure of dark espresso wood and gleaming windows peaks
out from what use to be the clothing
store, Amour Paris. This new arriving
business will be the European style
Zodiac Café, opening mid to late June.
“[As inspiration for the restaurant]
I am trying to bring European style
and culture to Crown Point,” owner
Mike Pappas said. Pappas’s family
also owns Main Street Café, as well as
Twelve Islands.
Sandwiches, various European
style desserts, and an array of coffee
drinks will be available at the new
café. The hours will be late, beginning at 4p.m. to 1a.m., providing night
owls a place to visit while most other
places in the square are closed. After
six months of work to open the café,
Pappas looks forward to providing a
good setting for leisure.
“I want [the café] to be a nice place
where people can relax and enjoy
Crown Point while enjoying a different sort of atmosphere,” Pappas said.
Pappas plans on having different
activities to attract customers as well
as local bands.
“We will probably have a small
stage for live entertainment, like a
band or a DJ,” Pappas said.
In nice weather the doors will
be open and chairs and tables will be
available outside the café. The Zodiac
Café has potential to provide a new
summer hangout for teens and adults
alike on the Crown Point Square.
For those in the Cedar Lake area
The Lighthouse Restaurant, located on
Constitution Ave. near the Cedar Lake
police department and park department, offers a different type of dining
expirience. Newly opened in early
April, the Lighthouse is complete with
a scenic dining area and patio overlooking the lake and a banquet hall
upstairs. It is open Mon thru Thurs
4pm-10pm; Fri thru Sat; 3pm-11pm,
and Sun, 3pm- 8pm.
One acts feature students as both directors, actors
“It’s cool because students-even if
they’re the same age-look up to you for
leadership,” St. Aubin said.
Not only do seniors have roles of reDespite not having the hype of a play
or musical, one acts are a popular and be- sponsibility, but younger students have
loved set of plays that allow students to be leadership positions as well.
“I’m an assistant director for Chrissy
the ones directing actors for a change.
“One acts are cool and fun because it’s Kvachkoff,” junior Blake Zolfo said. “I
write down the information
a whole new perspective on
Chrissy dictates to me, I type
theater,” senior Trevor St.
up things, and I occasionally
Aubin said.
• Friday, May 8 at 7
give direction.”
One acts are a series of
p.m. in the CPHS
Zolfo recently starred as
small plays that take place
auditorium
Lumiere in the school producover a two hour time pe• Tickets are sold at
tion of Beauty and the Beast.
riod. Theater Department
In the past, he has played in
Chairperson Kit Degenhart
the door at 6 p.m.
various roles in school plays
created the one acts pro• Tickets are $5 for
and musicals, such as Jimmy
gram in 2003, making this
all ages
in Thoroughly Modern Millie
the seventh year of one act
and Ken in Rumors. However,
performances. Like other
major school productions, the plays are act- Zolfo enjoys the other end of the acting
ed out by students of all grades, but instead spectrum as well.
“It’s a lot harder,” Zolfo said. “I’m only
of Degenhart as director, groups of seniors
take the leadership role in the productions. an assistant, and it’s rough. There’s so much
The plays will be ready for audiences to think about. You have to be responsible
at 7 p.m. on May 8. In one acts, even though for several lives.”
In addition to having different responthe individual plays themselves, they are
shorter than full-length productions (the sibilities, Zolfo feels that one acts themaverage one act is about 20-30 minutes selves are significantly different from regulong), the collection of smaller plays culmi- lar plays and musicals.
“If you’re a lead, it is an easier job to
nate to a two-hour event.
According to St. Aubin, senior direc- handle; it is a lot less stress and songs to
tors are in charge of scheduling practices, memorize,” Zolfo said.
Despite the student directors having
casting, making new ideas and giving dinewfound leadership roles, Degenhart
rections to their actors.
By Becca Duggan /
arts & entertainment editor
See the shows
Photo by Georgia Otte
Students act out scene a in senior Marissa Feliciano and Mike Chlebowski’s one
act play. Seven student-directed plays will be in the auditorium on May 8 at 7
p.m.
still helps with the productions. According
to St. Aubin, Degenhart helped him with
scheduling and considers him the “daddy”
of the directors.
The day before one acts premiere, Degenhart sits in the audience and watches
each of the short plays twice, critiquing the
performances and offering advice.
“I serve as an advisor for each of the
directors,” Degenhart said. “I observe and
critique at least two rehearsals for every
one act. I offer comments and make suggestions to the director and the actors.”
In the future, Zolfo strives to become
a senior director because of the enjoyable
time he is having this year.
“I want to write my own play,” Zolfo
said. “It makes it that much more personal,
and it’s more of an accomplishment. It’s a
goal I want to achieve before I die.”
April 27, 2009
Sports
Baseball off to perfect start
Bulldogs find success early in season through pitching and offense as schedule heats up
13
Grubnich leads
golf team to
first win of ‘09
By Milan Savich /
reporter
Photo By Trey Aultman
Junior Jeff Limbaugh warms up at first base for the Bulldogs before a game against South Bend Clay. The Bulldogs
won by a score of 13-1 in the first part of a double-header last weekend. The Bulldog baseball team is currently 10-0.
By Hunter McKee /
asst. sports editor
The boys baseball team is off to an
undefeated record thus far, standing second in the DAC and second in the state
poll by the Indiana High School Baseball
Coaches Association. Most of this early
found success can be contributed to the
team’s pitching.
“Our pitching has been good for
the most part of the season,” head coach
Steve Strayer said.
On April 17, junior Josh Negle took
the mound against the LaPorte Slicers.
Negle’s first pitch of the game was a hit to
left field, and from there on out he threw
a perfect game.
“It went really well. The key was
that I hit my spots and never missed my
spots,” Negle said.
“[Negle] threw extremely well; he
was locked in on every location,” Strayer
said.
The ‘Dogs were able to beat the
Slicers by a score of 11-0 in only five innings.
The next day the ‘Dogs again would
find another shut-out win, this time
against Hanover Central.
The Bulldogs tallied up 24 runs behind a shut-out performance by sophomore Michael Manion. Manion pitched
for three innings, allowed three hits and
one walk, while recording six strike-outs.
As for hitting, the Bulldogs had a field
day. Senior Mike Kozlowski and sophomore Brian Holloway both homered once.
Doubles were earned by Manion, Kozlowski, and junior Nate Hasse (2). Soph-
omore Jose Andrade had the only triple of
the game.
On Saturday, April 18, the Bulldogs
would have another fine pitching performance, this time on a day of a doubleheader.
The first game was against the South
Bend Clay Colonials. The Bulldogs won
by a score 13-1. Freshman Jake Lindeman
took the mound en route to a one hit, five
strike-out display, for his first win of the
season. Junior Scott Donely and Kozlowski both homered in the game.
The following game against Mishawaka was once again completed in only
five innings. The ‘Dogs beat the Cavemen
13-2, giving them their tenth win.
Today the Bulldogs will travel to
Chesterton to take on the Trojans. The
game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.
After getting a taste of success from
the 2008 season, the boys golf team is
looking to repeat that success as well as
move further individually and as a team
during the post season.
“Our main goals this season are to
win sectionals and to move on and place
in the top three at regionals,” head coach
Del Kutemeier said. “We want to qualify
for state, finish as one of the top teams in
the DAC and improve on our 19-8 record
from last year.”
Even though the Bulldogs graduated
Nico Drackulich and Ryan Levin from last
year, they are returning many key players
such as sophomore Nick Grubnich, who
placed third in the state on 2008.
“My goals this year are to win state
and go undefeated as an individual,”
Grubnich said.
Grubnich, whose pre-season ranking was sixth in the area, shot a 38 on
Monday, April 20, contributing to the
Bulldogs 181 score victory over Benton
Central, North Judson and Rensselaer at
Curtis Creek.
“As a team we need to work on our
short game and recovering from bad
shots,” Grubnich said. “Coach Kutemeier
told us to play our own game out there,
and try not to worry about anything except yourself.”
In addition to Grubnich, the Bulldogs also return 2008 regional qualifiers
seniors Ryan Qualizza and CJ Balmes,
as well as sophomore Broc Jackson. The
Bulldogs also host a large group of underclassmen.
“The team is a very talented group
of student-athletes and they are willing
to work hard to make themselves better.
They are a high achieving group on the
course and in the classroom,” Kutemeier
said. The Bulldogs will continue regular
season until post-season play begins in
June. At the time of press the Bulldogs
held a current record on 2-0.
14
Sports
April 27, 2009
Boys, girls track teams kick off outdoor season
Both teams see early success at Lowell, Midwest Prep Invitational
By Colin Likas / staff reporter
As the weather begins to warm up, the scene switches for the boys’ and girls’ track teams. It’s official: outdoor season has begun.
After successful indoor seasons for both teams, athletes are preparing for the grind of the outdoor season,
which includes eight regular season meets for the girls
and ten for the boys. The girls are coached by Patty Begley, who was able to lead her girls’ cross country team to
a state berth in the most recent season.
The girls team is led by sophomore Laicee Pierce in
distance events, senior Dominique Dvojacki in middle
distances, freshman Michaela Prough in sprinting, senior Alexis Villarreal in the pole vault, and junior Ashley
Torres in the long jump. Pierce returns as a state qualifier last season in the 3200 meter run, and Dvojacki returns as a state qualifier last season in the 800 meter run.
The girls also have half of their state-qualifying 3200
meter relay back in action (Dvojacki and senior Maggie
Schwuchow) as well as a part of their state-qualifying
1600 meter relay team (Dvojacki).
“We have a good chance for success this year,” Dvojacki said in regards to this season, “We have quite a few
freshmen and they have stepped up to the plate.”
The girls team opened their outdoor season on April
14 at home against fellow DAC teams Merrillville and
Valparaiso. They were able to defeat Merrillville, but
they fell to Valpo.
The season continued on April 16 with another
home meet, this time against Lowell, East Chicago Central, and Hanover Central. The girls were able to pull
out the win.
Some of the girls also qualified to run at the Midwest Prep Invitational on April 18. Prough took seventh
place in the 100 meter dash with a time of 13.12. The 800
meter run was led by Dvojacki (2:32) and fellow senior
Maggie Schwuchow (2:27). Pierce ran a 12:25 in the 3200
meter run, while Toress finished sixth in the long jump.
On April 22, the girls faced DAC rivals Chesterton
and Michigan City at Michigan City. Although they were
able to defeat Michigan City, they fell to Chesterton by
two points. Although the team has done well thus far,
Dvojacki said the team has the potential to perform better.
On the boys side of things, their recent meets ran
on a nearly similar schedule to that of the girls. They
also opened their outdoor season against Merrillville
and Valparaiso at Valpo. The team struggled and was
defeated by both Merrillville (80-52) and Valpo (99-33).
They were led by seniors Brian Witt, who won the 1600
and 3200 meter runs, and Brady Schuster, winner of the
400 meter dash. Junior Brad Pusateri led the ‘Dogs in the
shot put.
The boys were able to rebound with wins against
Photo By Joe Nejman
Sophomore Ryan Santelik runs his leg of the 4x800 meter relay at Lowell on April 18. The boys’ team won the meet
against teams from Lowell High School, Hanover Central High School, and East Chicago Central High School.
Lowell, Hanover Central, and EC Central at Lowell on
April 16. The 4x800 meter relay team took first while the
4x400 meter relay team took second by a fraction of a
second. Witt and Schuster also repeated their winning
feats from Tuesday. Schuster currently holds the fastest
time for the 400 meter dash in the area.
“It’s cool to hold the record right now,” Schuster
said. “I’d like to keep improving and make it to state.”
Head coach Keith Iddings felt much better about the
results of the meet at Lowell than those of the meet at
Valpo.
“Valpo and Merrillville just have much more talented teams,” Iddings said. “The weather also cooperated
with us for the meet at Lowell.”
On April 18, a select few from the boys team also
qualified to run at the Midwest Prep Invitational. The
4x800 relay team, consisting of Witt and juniors Kyle
Davis, Chris Shellenberger, and Andrew Facemyer, took
12th place in a time of 8:31. The 4x400 relay team, consisting of Schuster, seniors Denzel Miller and Nate Haverstock, and sophomore Israel Mercado, finished second
overall in a time of 3:31. Schuster and Miller also placed
second in their respective individual races, the 400 meter dash and the 300 meter intermediate hurdles. Witt
also ran the 3200 meter run in a time of 10:52.
“I thought the boys did very well against some of
the best competition in the midwest area,” Iddings said.
The most recent meet for the boys’ team was on April
22 against Chesterton and Michigan City at Chesterton.
They defeated Michigan City by a score of 90-48. Despite
winning multiple relays, the boys were still unable to
take down Chesterton, falling to them by a score of 7161. The ‘Dogs also scored victories in the high jump and
long jump.
April 27, 2009
take 5 with TREY
NFL broadcasting
legend retires
Softball starts season strong
Pitching, big hits help young Lady Bulldogs team to 7-1 start to the 2009 season
By Trey Aultman /
sports editor
By Trey Aultman /
sports editor
Any sports fan
knows what a good
commentator can do
for the people watching the game at home.
The insight that these
announcers provide
is usually knowledge
that only they have.
Last week, one of the
greatest commentators
of NFL history called it
quits.
Hall of Famer John Madden decided
to hang up the microphone and retire.
For someone who watched little sports,
Madden’s sometimes insanely simple
observations were the best to help learn
the game. Not only was Madden one of
the best commentators in the booth, but
also a great teacher.
Madden may be most well-known
to our generation for his work on ABC’s
Monday Night Football from 2002 to
2005, and for NBC’s Sunday night football for the last three seasons. However,
he was also a coach of the Oakland
Raiders, which is why he is in the Hall
of Fame. His .750 winning percentage
stands as the highest percentage by any
coach in NFL history.
Of course, Madden was also good
at what he did in the booth. He was a
broadcaster for over 30 years. In that
time, he called eleven Super Bowls, and
was nominated for 18 Emmys, 16 of
which he won. Just as an insight as to
how respected he was; the network let
him pick his own replacement.
If you never heard Madden in the
booth, you missed out. He knew more
about the game than any human should.
One of my favorite things about Madden was his refusal to ride in a plane.
He missed a couple of games in recent
years to save himself from several crosscountry trips in a row. He had his own
bus that he drove from game to game,
and always had stories about his travels.
And if you missed out on his T.V,
time, you had to of heard of his video
game. The Madden videogame series
is the number one best selling game of
all-time with over 65 million sold in its
20 year series.
Being an owner of at least ten of
his 20 games, I can say I’m a bit of a
Madden nerd, having the 2010 game
reserved already. What can I say, I am a
huge fan of John Madden, and it is going to be hard to watch a game without
his voice coming out of the T.V.
Photo By Trey Aultman
Junior pitcher Jackie Beilfuss throws
in her perfect game against the Hobart
Brickies, a 10-0 victory for the Bulldogs.
The Lady Bulldog softball team has
been challenged from the start of the
season.
“We have had a pretty good start,
against some pretty good programs,
but there is a lot more work to do,”
head coach Brett Crutchfield said.
The softball team, with only three
seniors, has started the season 7-1, and
3-1 in Duneland Athletic Conference
play.
In only the second game of the season, the Lady Bulldogs suffered their
loss. The team fell to Lake Central by a
score of 7-6 despite senior Jessica Martinez and senior Kara Gulvas going 2-2
at the plate and scoring two runs each.
The next game for the Lady Bulldogs was against conference rival Merrillville. The Bulldogs shut out the Pirates 16-0 behind junior Taylor Perry’s
five innings of pitching, giving up only
one hit while striking out 11. In the
game Perry helped her own cause by
going 4-4 with two doubles and a home
run.
Next up for the Bulldog softball
team was the Munster Mustangs. Junior Jackie Beilfuss pitched all seven
innings for the Lady Bulldogs in their
5-0 win. While Beilfuss pitched seven
innings and gave up only four hits and
two walks while striking out 11, she
also had three runs batted in.
Another win for the Bulldogs came
against the Hobart Brickies. In the
match-up, Beilfuss pitched a perfect
game (allowing no hits or walks) in the
10-0 shutout victory. She also struck
out 15 of the 18 hitters she faced.
“Everything was working,” Beilfuss said. “They were just swinging
and missing.”
Perhaps one of the biggest games
this season came against Lowell. The
Red Devils were highly ranked in the
area when they came to Crown Point
on April 18. The Bulldogs were able to
defeat them by a score of 3-0.
In the game, Perry pitched seven
innings only giving up three hits. On
the offensive side, Perry added a home
run and Martinez and sophomore Jessica Palm added doubles to drive in the
other two runs.
The Lady Bulldogs also took on conference opponent Valparaiso last week.
The team won in a close one by a score
of 1-0 in 11 innings. The Lady Bulldogs
were led by Perry, on the mound, who
pitched nine innings giving up two hits
and striking out 13. Also, junior Katrina
Klingberg added a double.
“We need to work on executing in
general,” Crutchfield said. “When we
stop executing, teams take advantage
of our mistakes.”
The Lady Bulldogs look to keep up
the winning ways in the remaining 16
games of the regular season.
Tennis starts under new coach
By Vinnie Needham /
reporter
After last year’s loss to Highland in
the regional round, the girls’ tennis team
started off their 2009 season with a win
against Lebanon, and have built a record
of 1-2 as of press time.
In the opening match, senior Dana
Andreoli defeated her opponent by a
score of 6-4, 6-0. (Also, senior Amanda
Halsted with scores of 6-0, 6-0.)
The doubles teams also contributed
in the victory over Lebanon. The number
one doubles team, consisting of junior
Hannah Tokoly and sophomore Kelly
Gross, won 6-2, 6-1. Also, the number two
doubles team, consisting of senior Hannah Jaranowski and sophomore Gabby
Touchette, won their match 6-4, 6-2.
“It’s neat to have won our first game,”
coach Brian Elston said. “It builds confidence which is very important.”
This is Elston’s first year as head
coach at Crown Point. He has previously
coached tennis for five years but only one
has consisted of coaching girls.
“Coaching tennis is different than
coaching any other sport,” Elston said.
Quick Hits
“When the match is started it’s their game,
a coach can’t dominate it.”
Junior Hannah Tokoly states that
having a new coach can be change for the
good.
“It took a while to get used to but I
think having [Elston] as a coach is great,
he’s more focused, but yet he has obstacles
to over come like every other coach does. I
think this program will grow and get better with him as a coach,” Tokoly said.
The Lady Bulldogs were shut out 5-0
by Munster and lost to Highland 4-1.
In the match against Highland, Halsted defeated her opponent by a score of
6-1, 6-3. Also the doubles team of Tokoly
and Gross won 6-4, 6-1.
“We were expected to win that game.
It was a good match up,” Elston said.
In the previous season, the girls were
defeated by Highland in both the regular
and regional round. The Trojans are one
of the team’s biggest rivals.
“It is a shame we keep losing to a team
that we have the potential to be greater
than,” junior Chelsea Viers said.
The Lady Bulldogs have eleven
scheduled matches remaining They will
start the post season with the sectional at
home.
4.27.09
Up
-Varsity/JV Boys Golf vs. Lowell/
Hanover Central (Youche Country
Club)...4 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Girls Tennis vs. Rensselaer... 4:30 p.m.
-Freshman Boys Baseball vs.
Highland...4:30 p.m.
Coming
-Senior Daniela Tarailo has
committed to play basketball
at the University of South
Carolina Aiken. Tarailo joins
the Division II school that
went 22-12 last season including a 12-8 record in the Peach
Belt Conference.
-Senior Jon Cooke will
continue his football career at Carthage College
in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Cooke will play in
offensive line for the
DivisionIII Redmen
under coach Tim Rucks that
was 5-5 last season.
-Senior Matt
Senior Daniela Tarailo
Zurbriggen will
continue to play
baseball at the collegiate level at Trine University in Angola, Indiana. Zurbriggen will
continue to play catcher for the Thunder
that is currently 7-20 in the 2009 campaign.
15
Sports
4.28.09
-Varsity/JV Boys Golf at Lake Central with Chesterton... 4 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Girls Tennis at Merrillville... 4:30 p.m.
-Freshman Boys Baseball at Lake
Central... 4:30 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Boys Baseball vs. Lake
Central... 4:30 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Girls Softball vs. Lake
Central...4:30 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Girls Track vs. Lake
Central and LaPorte...4:30 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Boys Track at Laporte
with Lake Central...4:30 p.m.
4.30.09
-Varsity/JV Girls Tennis vs. Portage... 4 p.m.
-Freshman Boys Baseball vs. Merrillville... 4:30 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Boys Baseball at Merrillville... 4:30 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Girls Softball at Merrillville... 4:30 p.m.
5.1.09
- Varsity/JV Boys Baseball vs. Illiana Christian... 6:30 p.m.
5.2.09
- JV Girls Tennis at LaPorte JV
Invite... 9 a.m.
-Freshman Boys Baseball vs.
South Bend St. Joe (DH)... 10 a.m.
-Varsity Boys Baseball at Hammond Morton... 10 a.m.
-Varsity/JV Boys Track at The
Kokomo Relays... 11:30 a.m.
Photo By Vinnie Needham
Junior Chelsea Viers returns a serve
against Highland. The Bulldogs lost 4-1.
5.2.09 cont.
- Varsity/JV Boys Golf at K.V.
Invite... 8 a.m.
5.4.09
-Varsity/JV Girls Tennis vs Kankakee Valley... 4:30 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Boys Baseball at Michigan City... 4:30 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Girls Softball vs Michigan City... 4:30 p.m.
5.5.09
-Varsity/JV Boys Golf at Michigan
City with Portage... 4 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Girls Tennis at Michigan City... 4:15 p.m.
-Varsity/JV Boys Track vs. Portage... 4:30 p.m.
For more information on
CPHS sporting events, visit
www.HighSchoolSports.net.
16
Personalities
April 27, 2009
Ready for their close-up
Megan Dean
freshman
Senior Becky Cygan, junior Angela Roberts win spots on billboard
Photo By Jeremy Rex
If you could travel
anywhere in the world,
where would you go?
I would travel to Italy. I
think it would be absolutely
beautiful there and I would
love to experience the culture
as well.
Senior Becky Cygan (far left) and junior Angela Roberts (second from left) join Lexi Elisha, Taylor Marcus, Alicia Vega, and Samantha Zahran in the Vanis billboard campaign. Finalists were treated to a free hair cut and make-up application courtesy of Vanis.
Vanis has locations in Crown Point, Schererville and Valparaiso.
What is your greatest
accomplishment?
By Michele Bates /
news editor
Maintaining good grades
throughout my life.
What about you is unknown to most people?
My ears don’t match.
What is one of your biggest fears? Why?
Losing my family. I would be
lost without them.
Name a major issue you
believe teens deal with
everyday.
Peer pressure.
What is your fondest
high school memory?
Going to Schoop’s after
football games with friends.
Photo provided by Vanis Salons
Some girls fantasize what it
would be like to be a model. For
junior Angela Roberts and senior
Becky Cygan, they recently got
to experience what the “model
treatment” is really like .
Recently Vanis Salon & Day
Spa chose several local teenagers
to appear on their salon’s
billboard. Roberts and Cygan
were two of the seven girls that
won the Vanis Salon & Day Spa
Billboard Contest.
The billboard contest started
in October. Like most salons,
Vanis typically uses professional
models for their billboards.
However, Vanis decided to take a
different approach for this year’s
theme and look for local talent.
“We have always done teens
in the past, but we never focused
on that particular theme. It was a
“ This will be an
experience that I will
never forget.
senior Becky Cygan
fun idea to get the young people
involved,“ Vanis owner Chris
Valavanis said.
Interested participants were
asked to write an essay explaining
why they wanted a Vanis Salon &
Day Spa makeover. Applicants
were also required to include a
picture with their application.
“A family friend e-mailed
the information [about the
contest] to me and I felt like being
spontaneous,” Cygan said.
Vanis narrowed down the
“
100 applicants to 25 finalists. The
finalists were treated to a free
hair cut and make-up application
courtesy of Vanis.
“I had told [Vanis] that I did
not care what they did and that
I trusted them completely. My
stylist was excited to try a new
look. I love the hair cut and I
am really happy with the [final
product],” Roberts said.
After the makeover, Vanis
chose seven girls to participate in
Vanis’ billboard campaign.
“I was surprised and excited
that they called [to tell me that
that I won],” Roberts said.
The photoshoot for the
billboard took place on Jan. 25
at the Schererville salon. Vanis
closed down the salon for the day,
allowing the girls to spend the day
taking photos. Cygan said that the
best part of the shoot was taking
the photos for the billboard.
Billboards are now appearing
around the Northwest Indiana
area. Some of the locations
include Main St. in Crown Point
and along U.S. 30.
Roberts’
individual billboards are already
up, while Cygan’s billboard will
be appearing later next month.
Both Cygan and Roberts
agreed that winning the contest
was a great experience.
“I think this will be an
experience that I will never forget.
I am very fortunate to have this
opportunity,” Cygan said.
BRONKO’S
RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE
IN THE JEWEL OSCO - MARKETPLACE PLAZA
1244 NORTH MAIN STREET
CROWN POINT
Open 7 days a week
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Banquet facilities
PIZZA
CHICKEN / FISH / RIBS / SANDWICHES
CROWN POINT PHONE (219) 662-0145
BRONKO’S PIZZA
IN HEBRON (219) 996-6559
BRONKO’S PIZZA
IN LOWELL (219) 696-6372
It’s a Strack & Van Til Thing.
Crown Point
(2 locations)
200 Franciscan Dr. (219) 663-0304
10851 Broadway (219) 661-4144
Merrillville
7201 Taft St. (219) 738-2150