Issue #5 - Sylvania Northview High School

WHAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT NV
HOCKEY
Season starts
strong with a
2-0 record
Sylvania Northview HS
5403 Silica Drive
Sylvania, OH 43560
De c ember 15, 2009
Th e
See SPORTS, PG 12
for the full feature.
Student
n Prints
Sylvania Northview
Volume 84
Issue 5
NHS Blood drive ‘finds Hemo’
SEX & NV: IS OUR CURRENT SEX
ED. EFFECTIVE?
See
COMMENTARY,
PG 6
for the full,
controversial
debate.
Benefit Ball
raises money
for Sal’s Pals
By KATHERINE CHANG
Feature s edit or
Halie Langhals
WAITING PATIENTLY TO GIVE BLOOD is senior Shane Wheatley. Wheatley was among over 230 students who signed up to donate blood.
By SARAH SQUILLANTE
Co-edit or
In a gym filled with food, fish decorations,
and a little bit of fear, Northview’s National
Honor Society held their annual Blood Drive
December 4, collecting approximately 180
units of blood, surpassing last year’s count of
about 145 units.
The Blood Drive Committee, consisting
of seniors Daniel Rhollans, Laura Guinness,
Emily Holshoe, Sarah Squillante, Neal Cousino
and Bethany Galati, started planning for this
annual event months in advance with the help
of NHS advisor, Mrs. Fran Borchers and the
four NHS officers. They decided on the theme
of “Finding Hemo”, which was carried through
gym decorations, locker signs, NHS t-shirts,
and even the movie “Finding Nemo” playing in
the waiting area.
A change in the Red Cross requirements
enabled students 16 and over to donate, but
increased weight restrictions prohibiting
some females from participating. Despite this
restriction, the Red Cross collected enough
blood to potentially save 540 lives. NHS
organized a drive that was even larger than that
of Bowling Green, according to Mrs. Borchers.
“I was extremely pleased” said NHS advisor
Mrs. Fran Borchers, “but what pleased me the
most was how the Red Cross complimented
our student body.”
The morning started early for the set-up
crew, which consisted of NHS seniors Cody
Brant, Jacob Barnes, Harry Zeitler, Matt Jahns
and Connor McEwen, who arrived around 6:30
a.m. to help set up chairs for questioning, load
in food, and set up the canteen.
NHS members were also on hand
throughout the day to help with a range of
jobs, including hand-holding, escorting donors
to the canteen, serving food at the canteen and
transporting blood.
“The first time I watched someone give
blood, it was a little creepy,” said Brant, “but I
got used to it.”
Some even sported the infamous “Buddy
the blood drop” suit.
“It [the suit] was surprisingly hot and quite
a chore, but it was worth it because I got to
cheer up a few frightened donors,” said Nate
Miklovic, “and I administered quite a few high
fives.”
Each member was required to work a three
period shift.
Food was provided by Jojo’s, Barry’s Bagels,
Brieschkie’s, Padrone’s, Sautter’s and Cici’s, as
well as NHS members and NV staff.
“It was serious, but we all had fun,” said
Mrs Borchers, “and it was such a success with
the amount of participation that we had.”
Northview students made CF stand
for Cure Found December 11 at NV’s first
Benefit Ball. Student Government hosted the
ball and provided dancing, music and food
with all proceeds donated to Sal’s Pals, a local
organization dedicated to finding a cure for
cystic fibrosis. The dance started at 9 p.m.
and ended at 11:30 p.m.
Student Government organized the
event as their charity project and designated
dance committee members to plan the dance.
Committee members included juniors Nick
Dorner, Serena Chang and Jackie Leizermen
and sophomore Taylor Weis, led by President
Katherine Chang.
“We always do a charity event and we
wanted to make it something everyone would
go to,” said Weis. “A dance was a good way to
get tons of support and raise money for Sal’s
Pals.”
The dance featured a DJ, a spectacular
light show and food donated by numerous
local businesses who agreed to sponsor the
event.
Committee members started the project
in early November. Planning included finding
a DJ, creating decorations and finding local
businesses to sponsor the event.
Members met after school on the day of
the dance to decorate. The walls were decked
in orange and white, Sal’s Pals signature
colors, and statistics about CF were also
painted on the walls.
“People were excited to go since it’s
something new and it’s for a good cause,”
said Serena Chang.
Bible Study
Music department prepares for winter season Club created
By MARY GRACE FITZGERALD
St aff writ er
With a series of concerts and events, the
Northview Music Department has been getting
ready for the holiday season.
This year, instead of simply a jazz band
holiday concert, all of the bands and orchestras
performed together Sunday. Concert band,
Concert Orchestra, Jazz Cats, Symphonic
Band, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Band and
Wind Ensemble all participated in the holiday
concert.
Three of the groups were on the gym
floor performing at one time with each band
playing two songs. The first group to play was
Concert Band, Concert Orchestra and Jazz
Cats. Concert Band played “Runway Sleigh”
and “On the Edge of the Sword”.
Symphonic Band, Chamber Orchestra
and Jazz Band played second. Symphonic
Band played the songs “Jingo Jango” and “In
the Winter of 1730”. Jazz Band played the
songs “Blues brothers” and “Birdland”. Wind
Ensemble delighted the crowd with “Chester”
and “Variations on a Shaker Melody”.
“We had practiced these songs for a while,
so I think they sounded good,” said Sarah
Hanline, who plays in the wind ensemble.
Chamber Orchestra played the songs
“Jupiter” and “Sleigh Ride”.
“We haven’t done this kind of casual
concert before,” said junior Serena Chang, a
member of the Chamber Orchestra.
After the concerts, guests and members
Haley Nelson
REHEARSING FOR THEIR HOLIDAY CONCERT are the A Capella choir women. Director
Ms. Dawn Gallehue Kingman ran through warm ups with the choir before they performed.
of the bands and orchestras were treated to
snacks and desserts in the back of the gym.
A Capella Choir and Harmony Road Show
also had a holiday concert December 10 in the
Little Theater. A Capella choir, the larger choir
group, sang the songs “Elijah Rock”, “The
Word was God”, “Bogoroditse Devo”, “Still,
Still, Still”, “Two Latvian Carols” and “Who are
the Brave”.
“We still have a lot of minor details to
work on before contest in March,” said Choir
Director Dawn Gallehue Kingman. “We are
well on our way to having a successful concert
season.”
Harmony Roadshow sang “O Na Ta
Lux”, “Acap Overtures”, “Embraceable You”,
“Little St. Nick”, “Alma Mater”, “Holly Jolly
Christmas” and “Joy to the World”.
“We have been working on these songs
since the beginning of the year for this concert
and for the New York trip,” said senior Emilly
Thomas. “We feel confident in these songs
and they are all pretty pieces that fit with our
strengths as a group.”
Northview has added a new club to
its program this year, different from any
sort before: the Bible Study Club. The club
met for the first time November 18 in Mr.
Greg Christy’s room, with 25 to 30 students
attending.
“The turnout was great,” said Bible
Study leader senior Nate Miklovic. “The
entire room was full.”
The Bible Study Club was the brainchild
of Miklovic, who has been teaching youth
groups and preaching in church for the last
couple of years.
“I felt that a lot of people would be
interested,” said Miklovic.
In early November, he asked Mr.
Christy if he was willing to donate his room
to the club every Wednesday morning
from 7-7:30a.m. After Mr. Christy agreed,
Principal Mr. Stewart Jesse approved the
new club and posters began appearing in
NV’s halls.
“Nate came sometime in October
and asked if the club could be held in my
room,” said Mr. Christy. “I agreed and I pay
attention myself to the study sometimes.”
The first meeting was a study of the
Book of John; Miklovic hopes to get through
one chapter a week in order to finish all 21
chapters of the book.
“I believe I am called to serve and love
God and I want to encourage people to do
the same,” said Miklovic. “The Bible Study
Club can help with that.”
-Sarah Fatemi
2
NEWS
December 15, 2009
World Language Clubs carol at zoo
SPADE
brings
home wins
from
Whitmer
By MEAGAN MOYER
St aff writ er
Northview Speech and Debate traveled
to Whitmer High School December 5, taking
third overall in the team sweepstakes.
Seniors Courtney Tipton placed first in
Dramatic Interpretation, Haley Nelson placed
first in Original Oratory, Sarah Fatemi placed
fourth in Impromptu Speaking, John Holler
placed first in International Extemporaneous
and freshman Mandy Binz placed sixth in
Oratorical Interpretation.
There are three kinds of debate, which
include Public Forum, Policy and Lincoln
Douglas. There are about nine speech categories
versus three debate categories; at NV, there is
at least one competitor in each one.
Three public forum teams placed. Seniors
Jacob Justinger and Alyse Rogerson placed
fourth, seniors Elizabeth Schwartz and Connor
McEwen took third and senior Haley Hofbauer
and sophomore Taylor Weis placed second.
In Lincoln Douglas, sophomore Jennifer
Deng placed seventh, and senior Haley
Armstrong came in fifth.
“I love debating,” said Deng. “It gives me
such an accomplished feeling when I completely
obliterate my opponent’s argument.”
Practices for debate are held every
Monday and Wednesday in Coach Mr. Joe
Drouillard’s room. Students use Google wave
to work together and edit cases when they are
at home.
Speech practices run Monday through
Thursday on the schedule of the students.
Sylvania
hosts H1N1
vaccine clinic
By ALEXX KLEIN
Sport s edit or
H1N1 vaccinations came to Northview’s
gymnasium this past Saturday. The Lucas
County Health Department conducted the
free clinic for Sylvania students from 8a.m.
to 2p.m. During the last two hours of the
clinic, the Health Department officials invited
community members considered to be in a
high-risk group to be inoculated, according to
Superintendent Brad Reiger.
On December 4, the faculty was informed
that they would not be permitted to be
vaccinated unless they were in the high risk
category.
“Initial information received from the
health department indicated that all teachers
would be able to get the shot because they deal
with kids,” said Assistant Superintendent Mr.
Scott Nelson. “That was changed last minute
by the health department due to the quantity
of vaccinations available and to make sure that
they were addressing the high risk groups that
they initially set out to target.”
A packet in the main office was available to
be picked up by the students with information
from the Health Commissioner Dr. David
Grossman and a parent consent form.
The swine influenza virus was first
identified in the United States in April 2009,
according to Dr. Grossman. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC)
Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices recommended that children and
young adults aged six months through 24 years
be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine became
available.
According to the CDC, other groups
recommended for the first doses of the vaccine
are pregnant women, people who live with
children younger than six months of age, health
care and emergency medical services workers,
and people ages 25 though 64 years who have
diabetes, HIV, or heart or lung disease.
Katherine Pence
PRACTICING A FEW SPANISH CHRISTMAS CAROLS are Spanish Club President senior Haley Hofbauer and sophomores Jimmy Stevens
and Bailey Feldstein. This is the first year that the Spanish Club will be having someone play guitar as background music for the carolers.
By HALEY HOFBAUER
News edit or
The Northview World Language Clubs
will invade the Toledo Zoo with holiday cheer
tomorrow night, December 16. The NV French,
Spanish and German clubs will be caroling at
the zoo at 6p.m.
In order to be able to attend caroling
at the zoo with any of the World Language
Clubs, each student was required to turn in a
permission slip December 14 and had to attend
a certain number of practices in order to learn
the songs.
The Spanish Club has been caroling at the
zoo for the four years. According to senior
Spanish Club secretary Leah Smith, the Spanish
Club goes caroling every year because it is a
great way to use the language and have a fun
time.
“The Spanish Club members really enjoy
going caroling at the zoo,” said Smith. “It’s
always my favorite activity that the club does.”
This year the Spanish Club will be singing
Cascabeles (Jingle Bells), Los Peces en el rio (The
fish in the river), Rodolfo era un Reino (Rudolph
the red noised reindeer), and a few other holiday
favorites.
Unlike previous years, the club decided
to spice things up a bit by having Mr. Jeremy
Holloway and sophomore Jimmy Stevens play
guitar to accompany the carolers. They will be
playing guitar for Noche de Paz (Silent Night) and
Vendid Adoremos (O Come all Ye Faithful).
Along with the Spanish Club the German
Club will also be caroling at the zoo December
16. This will be the German Club’s third year
caroling at the zoo.
“We’re really excited to go this year,” said
Frau Christina Forster. “Last year we had a
huge snowstorm and had to cancel the caroling
event.”
The German Club members will be singing
a few holiday favorites such as O Tannenbaum
(O Christmas Tree), Stille Nacht (Silent Night) and
Jingle Bells.
Switching things up this year, the French
Club decided to go caroling at the zoo instead
of caroling at the Kingston Senior Center. This
will be the French Club’s first year caroling
at the zoo in five years, according to Ms. Kim
Gogel.
“We decided to change things this year
because it’s been five years since we’ve gone
to the zoo,” said Ms. Gogel. “We also wanted
to share another event with the German and
Spanish clubs.”
In order to get zoo goers excited for the
upcoming holidays, the French Club will be
singing a few holiday classics and they will also
be passing out candy canes. The French Club
will be singing Le Petit renne au nez rouge (Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer), Joie sur la terre (Joy to the
World) and Mon Bonhomme de Neige (Frosty the
Snowman), among other holiday favorites.
“I love to sing and I really enjoy French
class so caroling sounded like a really fun idea,”
said freshman Meagan Welsh. “I also really
wanted to see the lights at the Zoo.”
Whether or not it’s snowing or freezing
cold, the Toledo Zoo will be filled with cheerful,
singing students of NV Spanish, French and
German clubs December 16.
Second annual Santa breakfast
raises funds for senior After-Prom
By HARLEY ROHRBACHER
St aff writ er
Northview’s cafeteria held it’s second ever
Santa Breakfast to raise money for the senior
class After Prom on December 5. The event
was held from 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and over
280 people were in attendance, according to
senior Courtney Tipton.
The Santa breakfast raised around $1,200
for After Prom, which will be on May 15 after
the seniors last high school dance. Admission to
this event was free, but if people donated money
at the door, their name was put into a raffle for
prizes that included Lights at the Zoo tickets,
the new Cosi building called Imagination
Station tickets, and Chili’s coupons, according
to Tipton. Kelly Tipton, Courtney Tipton’s
mom, was one of the many adults on the Parent
Organization committee that helped organize
this special event
While the crowd was served breakfast food
like pancakes and sausage , little kids could get
their picture taken with Santa for a fee of $5.
Many children sat on Santa’s lap and told him
what they wanted for Christmas, according to
senior Amy Mierzwiak.
“It was so fun to sit on Santa’s lap,” said
freshmen Alexis Kaetzel. “I asked him for a
new camera.”
There was also a table for crafts where kids
could make picture frames to put their picture
of them and Santa in, according to Kaetzel.
Katherine Pence
ANXIOUSLY WAITING TO MEET with Santa Claus are two children who attended the breakfast.
There were many volunteers that
included adults and students, as well as NV’s
cheerleading team.
“I definitely think it’s a good fundrasier
and we should keep doing it,” said Kaetzel,
“The kids really enjoyed it.”
BEYO n
D
v
Sylvania
contemplates
change in
school
schedule
By SKYLAR ROSE
St aff Writ er
Students may find themselves having
only seven days off of school for Winter
Break next year instead of the usual 10 as
the Sylvania School’s Calendar Committee
discusses possibilities of changing the 20102011 school year calendar.
A schedule change needs to occur due
to the construction taking place around the
Sylvania School District, according to the
Calendar Committee. Three schools are
being built and several are being renovated
over the summer of 2010 thus requiring a
later start date of September 1. To make
up for this late start, days will be removed
from winter break.
“I don’t like this idea because of the
fewer days we would have for break,” said
junior Mackenzie Reeves. “I need more
time to sleep.”
First semester is also being affected and
will have less days than second semester in
order to keep exams for the high schools
in January.
“I noticed that the first semester
would have ten less days than the second
semester on the new schedule. This means
if a student has a first semester class, their
teacher will be cramming all of their work
in because they don’t have enough days,”
Health teacher Mr. Rick Schneider said.
Principal Mr. Stewart Jesse is also
worried about the fewer days in the first
semester.
“It will be hard because the students
that have a semester class will have extra
days in the second semester as compared
to the first.”
“Sylvania Schools has a great staff and
students,” said Mr. Jesse. “All in all, we will
make this new schedule work. “
Ottawa Hills
City Council
proposes a
deer cull
By ADAM JURSKI
Edit orial s edit or
A rapid increase in the deer population
has led Ottawa Hills City Council members
to consider a village wide deer kill to help
control the population.
This proposed plan passed a huge
hurdle as the City Council voted 4-2 on
November 23 to approve an exemption
to a 1940 Ordinance that disallowed the
discharge of firearms within the city limits.
Selectively killing dear, or culling,
would be done by an outside contractor
hired by the city. The number of deer
planned to be culled would be around 50
deer. There are currently over 100 deer
in Ottawa Hills, according to The Toledo
Blade.
This proposal has the village deeply
divided. Nearly half the citizens feel there
should be a deer cull, while the other half
feels the cull is unnecessary. Supporters
say that the deer cull is necessary to keep
the citizens of the village safe from car
collisions, or ruining people’s property.
“The old Toledo dog warden should be
the deer warden; when is the last time you
have seen a herd of stray rabid dogs roaming
Toledo?” said senior Michael Dorsey.
Opponents to the cull say that the
severity of the issue has been largely
inflated and could cost upwards of $30,000
to the village. Other options, such as better
fencing or wider use of repellents, are also
being suggested as alternatives to the cull,
according to The Toledo Blade.
“It is not the deer’s fault that they are
living,” said senior Alyse Rogerson. “They
are just unfortunate to be the deer to live
in Ottawa Hills.”
If City Council passes the deer cull
within the next few months, it would most
likely begin in late February or March.
Opponents are trying to get a temporary
restraining order on the killings to delay
them until May, when the vote would go
to the people and not be decided by city
council.
Any meat from the deer would be
salvaged and given to local food pantries.
3
December 15, 2009
New librarian visits English
classes, gives ‘book talks’
By ALEXA KALANQUIN
GRABBING A
NEW BOOK TO
READ is Mrs.
Darla Omey. Mrs.
Omey, as the new
librarian, has
started “Book
Talk” in order
to encourage
students to read
and check out
books from the
school library. To
promote “Book
Talk” every so
often Mrs. Omey
goes around to
English classes to
talk about books
that are worth
reading.
St aff writ er
Once a month Mrs. Darla Omey, one of
the librarians from the Northview library,
visits each freshmen English class and discusses
books that are featured in the library. The
goal of the book discussions is to give more
exposure to the library and to inform students
of the resources available to them.
“I wanted to share the books and what
the library has to offer,” said Omey. “It’s also a
fun way to get to know the students as well as
teachers in the English department.”
Since “Book Talk” has begun, novels such
as The Secret Life of Bees and The Lovely Bones
have become popular and have even created a
waiting list.
“I thought [Book Talk] was interesting and
now I know what sections to look in for a good
book,” said freshman Laura Connor.
In the future, Omey hopes to expand her
book discussions to more grades at NV to give
the library even more popularity.
Ms. Huey
Black Friday increases holiday sales
By MOLLY PORTERFIELD
St aff writ er
Black Friday is the day known for big sales
in stores across the United States. November
27 was the day sales broke out this year. Black
Friday is one of the most important days for the
economy. This important shopping day could
make or break a store’s yearly sales. According
to The Boston Globe, the holiday season is
crucial for retailers because it can account
for 25% to 40% of annual sales. Black Friday
is considered the official start of the holiday
shopping season.
“This year was the first time I’ve ever been
shopping on Black Friday. I didn’t go until
late afternoon though, because I was afraid of
the morning mayhem. By 2p.m. things were
actually pretty calm,” said NV German teacher
Ms. Forster.
With such low prices comes a bit of chaos.
According to The Blade, at least two people
broke into six or more cars in the Toys ‘R Us
parking lot.
“I was surprised at the way people acted.
They were aggressive, greedy, and ungrateful
even though Christmas is supposed to be a
happy time”, said mall worker Elizabeth Razo.
Some stores, such as Walmart, stayed open
for 24 hours starting on Thanksgiving Day due
to the death of an employee last Black Friday.
This tactic was used to control the massive
crowds and to avoid another fatal incident.
At the Appliance Center in Maumee, 1,000
customers had already shopped by 7p.m.,
although the store normally only sees about
150 customers per day, according to The Blade.
“The crowds were insane!”, said sophomore
Stephenie Honisko.
On Thanksgiving Day, newspapers arrived
with at least three inches of advertising with
stores boasting the lowest prices. For most sales,
the earlier you came, the better the bargains. It
was reported by one observer that the Target
parking lot was full, out to Monroe street, by
7a.m. “I found DVD’s at Target for 3 dollars,”
said sophomore Brenna Welzbacher.
According to the Boston Herald, sales on
Black Friday climbed just 0.5 percent from
2008. On average, consumers spent 8.5% less
per person this year on Black Friday weekend,
according to the Advertising Specialty
Institute.
The name “Black Friday” originally came
from the nineteenth century. It was associated
with the financial crisis in 1869, according to
Wikipedia. The earliest uses of the name came
from Philadelphia and refers to the heavy traffic
on the day after Thanksgiving.
Food drive collects over 1,400 items
By SARAH FATEMI
Edit orial s edit or
For the last three weeks before
Thanksgiving break, students were urged to
bring in canned foods and toiletries.
Non-perishable canned goods, cleaning
supplies and personal hygiene items were
brought in from students all over the school in
order to help the underprivileged during the
season of giving, according to English teacher
Mrs. Samantha Stevens, who worked on the
food drive for the Connections Committee.
“We looked at the Homeroom Connections
schedule and saw that a lot of them were
around the time of Thanksgiving,” she said.
“We decided to donate to the Sylvania Area
Family Services.”
It took about a month to set up for the
drive and once it was put into full-gear, two
walk-through homerooms were held specifically
for students to drop off their donations in the
brown box inside each classroom. In order to
motivate students to donate, each student in
the winning homerooms received a free slushie
coupon.
At the end of the three weeks, the overall
count for donated goods was 1,457 items, with
Laura Guinness
ABOUT HALF OF the items collected are gathered in the gym before being picked up by the
Sylvania Area Family Services.
were awarded, according to Mrs. Stevens.
The SAFS is in partnership with Big
nine winning homerooms, one winner per
homeroom zone. Around 200 slushie coupons
Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio.
“The loaders from the SAFS workers
thought it was going to be like last year and
were hoping that they had enough room,” said
Mrs. Stevens. “It went pretty well this year.”
Yearbooks
on sale
SPECIAL PRICE
DECEMBER ONLY
:)
$60
room E-6
can’t buy after January 30th
4
EDITORIALS
December 15, 2009
Local band of NV graduates
impresses with originality
Single life never felt so good. Northview
graduates Sarah (2000) and Ben Cohen (2004)
released their first full length album, “So Much
For Romance,” with their local band The
AntiVillains at Ottawa Tavern November 25. And
who needs love when you have moody guy/girl
harmonies, catchy guitar riffs and villainous
(or are they superheroes?) instrumentals.
The band, consisting of Ben Cohen, lead
guitar and vocals, sister Sarah Cohen, acoustic
guitar and vocals, and Sam Woldenberg,
percussion, has been together since they played
power-pop songs at Northview with their band,
Drive. Since then, each member has studied
music and graduated from the University
of Toledo and has spent the past two years
perfecting the nine tracks available on the
album. During this time period, the band has
also played various shows at music venues in
Toledo and surrounding areas, making their
stage performance something to be marveled
over.
I was at first skeptical at the choice of
venue for the long anticipated CD release
party. With every concert I have attended at
Ottawa Tavern, it has become clear to me that
it is a bar first and a music venue second. The
downtown Toledo hotspot was packed with
people, but where were the fans? Would The
AntiVillains even be heard above this careless
noise erupting from the bar? Yes. I would
soon discover that not even the loudest, most
obnoxious customers that night would be able
to overcome the musical power that is the
local indie rock sensation. And to my absolute
pleasure (and somewhat relief), the fans began
to pour in.
The AntiVillains created an ambience by
hanging flowers from the ceiling, transforming
the Ottawa Tavern into their very own album
cover. It was a beautiful and creative touch,
showcasing just how important the entire
concept of the CD, from melody to artwork,
was to the musicians. As soon as the venue was
tense with anticipation, a chord was struck, that
of the very first song on the album. And so it
began. Listeners were carried through a musical
journey as the band played straight through
their album, letting loose to upbeat jazz tunes
like “So Much for Romance” and closing their
eyes during ballads such as the final track on the
CD, “To Be The One,” allowing themselves to
be swept away by Sarah’s entrancing vocals and
powerful lyrics. As an added bonus to fans who
have grown up alongside The AntiVillains, retired
band members graced the stage throughout
the night, making the event not only a glimpse
into the band’s future, but a tribute to their
past as well.
“Their music was to my soul what the sun
and sea are to the sand and the shoreline,” said
senior Ben Miller. He was among NV seniors
Travis Auckerman, Matt Mahon, Corey Howe
and Michael Stebing who attended the party.
A brief intermission took place to give
both the audience and band a chance to prepare
for the upcoming set in which The AntiVillains
would play all new music. A special surprise
was presented during this downtime in which
Ben débuted three of his new solo tracks as
“Benny Goodtimes,” his DJ/Producer-Ultra
persona. The music was set to a film which
completely embodied the theme of “So Much
for Romance,” with clips from famous romantic
films like “West Side Story.”
Round two of The AntiVillains show was
anything but sloppy seconds. I felt rejuvenated,
swimming in the sounds of the band’s latest
songs. It takes a rare ability to provide an
audience member the opportunity to escape
from the nuisances of every day life through
music. As the night ended, looking upon
everyone’s smiling and relaxed faces, I could
feel that this feat was accomplished. Now I
am only left with one question; when can we
expect the next album?
“So Much For Romance” is available for
purchase at local record store Culture Clash
and The Happy Badger in Bowling Green.
-Estar Cohen
t he s em e s t er
R
eport
s
t
n
e
v
e
V
N
g
n
i
w
e
i
Re v
card
W ILDCAT CHARI T Y WORK
Although we could never criticize
NV’s charitable efforts, it seems the
students and staff have gone above and
beyond their call of duty.
With the recent Blood Drive
(which rivaled BGSU in its size and success
level), this past weekend’s Benefit Ball and the numerous
drives held by various NV organizations, students have
been not only diligent, but creative in their collection of
funds and their support of non-profit organizations. This
new relationship between NV and altruism is one that
should continue.
A+
HOMECOMING
When in Rome...or when in Hades?
Unfortunately, it was difficult to tell
the difference. With less than memorable
decorations and t-shirts, this year’s dance
fell short of previous years. The song choices were unpopular with most students and
problems arose with the new ID policy.
Next year, a little pre-planning would go a long way.
But then again, the student body has certainly never
been closer.
Th e
C
POWDER PUFF FOOTBALL
Our boys football team may not have
had a win-filled season, but the senior and
junior girls (along with the help of many
staff members) were able to pull off a fantastic football feat.
With the reinstatement of an old tradition,
t h e powder puff game was a good-natured, competitive way to increase school spirit (which was definitely much needed). The planning got started a little
late, which inhibited the amount of practice the girls
were able to have and it would have been nice to see
more students turn out for the game, however, it was
certainly a success for a first time event.
B
NEW GRADING SCALE
Students may miss getting a 5.0
in an honors class, but the new
grading scale has done its job in
an effort to balance GPAs.
It was inconvenient for this
change to occur for the class of
2010, but it is without a doubt less
confusing and eliminates students from having inflated GPAs.
Although the reasons behind the old system may
have been unclear, it seems to be working fine, so it
makes us wonder, why did we feel the need to change
it? We’re wondering if the hassle was worth it. This
issue definitely stands in the middle, with both pros
and cons.
B-
-Sarah Squillante & Haley Nelson
Student Prints
Sylvania Northview
High School
5403 Silica Drive
Sylvania, Ohio 43560
2009-2010
Co-Editors-In-Chief:
Haley Nelson & Sarah Squillante
Advisor: Sarah Huey
News Editor: Haley Hofbauer Photo Editor: Abbey Strick
Features Editors: Katherine Chang & Yianni Papadimos
Sports Editor: Alexx Klein Opinions Editors: Sarah Fatemi & Adam Jurski
Business Editor: Kristi Kopaniasz
Staff Writers: David Aldrich, Alex Carter, Estar Cohen, Mary Grace Fitzgerald,
Addison Hirschfeld, Margot Jacobs, Alexa Kalanquin, Nicole Mangas, Elizabeth Masson,
Amanda Metcalf, Aurora Milliron, Megan Moyer, Kelsey Pomeroy, Molly Porterfield,
Harley Rohrbacher, Skylar Rose, Mami Silver, Bridget Thomas, Brian Wadsworth, Ally Yocom
The Student Prints is the official student-produced newspaper of Sylvania Northview High School. It is distributed
monthly at no charge to serve the purpose of informing students, faculty, staff, administration and the Sylvania community of current issues. The main goal of The Prints is to present coverage of events in an unbiased and accurate manner.
The paper also respects the opinions and ideas of the entire NV community. Signed letters to the editors are encouraged
and should be no longer than 300 words. All letters can be turned into the publications room, E-6. The Prints reserves
the right to edit letters that contain grammatical errors, accuracy and profane or libelous comments. The newspaper
staff is entirely responsible for the content of the paper and supports the First Amendment to the Constitution. Unsigned editorials published in The Prints are written by staff members, and agreed upon by a majority vote of the editorial board. The Prints is carefully examined by its staff and adviser prior to publication to prevent incorrect or libelous
information. The newspaper staff does not endorse advertisements published in The Prints. Advertising specifications
may be obtained by calling (419) 824-8708.
The newspaper follows the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook guidelines for punctuation and grammar. The Prints is a
member of the National Scholastic Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and Quill and Scroll.
Black Friday
popularity
caused by
economy
Unless you have been hiding under a
rock for the past year or so, cut off entirely
from television, newspapers and society in
general, you have without a doubt heard
about the troubles of today’s economy.
It’s impossible to watch the news or
listen to the radio without hearing phrases
such as “in this kind of economy” or “with
the recession that we are in”.
That said, most people, including
myself, believed that the 2009 Black Friday
sales would be incredibly insubstantial, that
many Americans would stay home instead
of rushing out to get the best bargains of
the year.
In the spirit of The Office’s Dwight
Schrute, I say this turned out to be: False.
On the contrary, this year’s Black
Friday sales were up from last year, by .05%
to be exact, according to ShopperTrak.
More people spent the day waiting
in lines, waking up ludicrously early, and
running out of stores with bags in hand and
pure fire in their eyes, venturing on the
never-ending hunt for “the deal”.
Even more popular than store shopping
this year was online shopping, especially
after “Cyber Monday”, something that even
I, an avid shopper, had never heard of.
For any of you who don’t know what
Cyber Monday is, it is basically the Black
Even more
popular than
store shopping
this year was
online shopping,
especially after
“Cyber Monday”,
something that
even I, an avid
shopper, had never
heard of.
Friday of online shopping, and needless
to say, it was extremely successful. The
average online order increased by 35%
since last year, and the average number of
items purchased per order increased by
18% as well, according to marketing firm
Coremetrics.
The popular items on many people’s
wish lists this year included electronics,
such as flat-screen televisions, laptops and
high-tech cell phones.
My belief is that the improved sales
were not in spite of the economy, but
rather, as a result of it.
It makes more sense for people on
tight budgets to shop on one or two days
of the year with the best deals, sales and
bargains so that they can get their money’s
worth on things that they were planning to
buy anyway.
Although I spent the wee hours of
Black Friday sleeping, I was happy to hear
that so many people braved the cold and
shopped like there was no tomorrow, or
rather, no recession.
The results of the shopping-frenzy
really were an optimistic foil to what we
have generally been hearing on the news
and in the media.
I think this shows that no matter how
bad the economy gets, nothing, and I mean
nothing, can stand between America and
its fervent desire to shop.
-Kelsey Pomeroy
Something in The Student
Prints get you riled up,
make you want to scream
or do you just want to have
your opinion heard?
Then write a letter to the
editor! We will print all
appropriate letters.
Turn them in to room E-6 or
Ms. Huey’s mailbox.
If you wish to remain anonymous please
sign it, but write anonymous on the bottom
and we will keep you that way.
COMMENTARY
December 15, 2009
5
Which sex education program is the best fit?
Sex is a controversial topic, everybody has a different view...
In the wise words of Coach Carr from the timely movie
Mean Girls, “Don’t have sex. If you have sex, you will get pregnant
and you will die.” While this quote evokes comedy because of its
absurdity, it is sadly how some schools view sex education.
Coach Car is obviously a parody of the typical health
teacher who advocates abstinence as the only way to stay safe
from sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy, but this mockcomedy conveys an important message; abstinence is not the
only way to “stay safe”.
While I do attest that abstinence is the only way to have
a zero percent chance of contracting an STD or becoming
pregnant, it should not be the only method taught in schools.
The idea of abstinence as the only means of staying safe
represents more personal ideas of morality that should not be
discussed in schools. Also, when abstinence is the only idea
promoted in schools, an ignorance towards the effectiveness
of contraceptives and condoms is developed. The idea that
abstinence is the only responsible approach to sex obstructs
students’ individual interpretations of what sex means to them
and results in an uninformed student body. With this thought in
mind, safe sex should be taught in schools.
Limiting ourselves to the idea that abstinence is the only
means with which we can stay safe only instills ignorance in
the minds of students. With the advancements in medicine
and technology, the medical and health market have created
a multitude of contraceptives and condoms that effectively
prevent pregnancy and/or the transmittance of STDs. Such a
variety of pregnancy and STD prevention give sexually active
individuals more options to suit their own personal needs.
Shots, pills, vaginal rings and patches are available as forms of
birth control while there are five different types of condoms
with over ten brands, according to Dr. Rick Sowadsky.
Having sex in this day and age is no longer as “unsafe”
as it was 30 years ago. Planned Parenthood confirmed that
when used correctly, condoms are 98% effective at preventing
pregnancy and protecting individuals from STDS and forms
of birth control are 98% effective at preventing pregnancies.
Using both at the same time, the risks of becoming pregnant or
contracting an STD decreases even more.
“The reality is that teens aren’t going to stay abstinent,” said
senior Ashleigh Williams. “We should then teach about safe sex
in schools.”
Having sex before marriage or having multiple partners is
made safe to the point that the risk of pregnancy or disease is
almost eliminated from the equation. If abstinence is the only
method taught in sex ed., students will remain uninformed that
sex can be safe. Teaching safe sex allows students to know the
whole story about sex and that having it is no longer a dangerous
activity if handled correctly.
Not only does the sole teaching of abstinence promote
ignorance, but teaches moral values that are
inappropriat
inappropriate for schools to discuss. Schools
have a limi
limited jurisdiction in regards to
what value
values they can advocate. Some
societal nor
norms dealing with being an ideal
law-abid
or law-abiding
citizen can be encouraged,
but choic
choices dealing with religious and
personal beliefs must be left up to the
indivi
individual to decide. Whether the
choic
choice is to remain monogamous
or n
not, the school cannot advocate
eith
either side. The only way to remain
im
impartial on this issue is to teach
ssafe sex.
The safe sex approach
teaches sex in an objective
manner, allowing students to
m
be informed about the science
b
and risks of sex without advocating
either monogamy or sexual activity.
eith
Schools should allow students
Sch
to make this decision, without
imposing their views.
im
While abstinence is the only
way
w to be 100% sure one does
not contract an STD or become
n
pregnant, it should not be the
p
only method taught in regards
o
st
t o
staying
safe. Schools must come
to a
realization
that teenagers in
re
this day
and age need to learn about the
an
ef
effective
forms of protection
a n d
birth
control available. They
bi
must also
be given the freedom to choose
se
which
sexual lifestyle suits them, even
if
this
means
a sexually active one. Safe
m
sex needs
to be taught in order to remain
o b j e c t i ve
on the issue of sex and to inform
the student
body that sex can be safe. As
convincing
as Coach
Carr sounds, chances are
C
when done
right,
righ you will not get pregnant
and die from
having sex.
havi
-Katherine Chang
THE
PEAN
UT
GALLERY
“I believe that sex ed in
general is a good idea
because it saves you
from an awkward talk
with your parents.”
-Senior Corey Howe
Personal choice – who
isn’t a fan?
Whether you’re 16 or
60, it seems as though free
will is always considered
to be one of the most
important elements in
life. Personal choice is one
of the key foundations
of our society and of our
government.
And shouldn’t this
ideal apply to the type
of sex education taught
in
schools?
Whether
it’s abstinence or safe
sex, students need to be
educated about all the options available to them, and only then
can they make the right choice. No one has the authority to
take command over such a personal decision for another human
being, and more student freedom regarding this topic would
only improve their understanding of sex and their choices.
Students would be much more receptive to this sort of
education, often called Abstinence-Plus education, if they would
be presented with a complete range of options. Education about
all choices (safe sex, abstinence and everywhere in between) is
the only sure fire way to accomplish the goal of this education –
to cut down on teen pregnancies, the transmission of STDs, and
other related problems. It seems unfair for a school to “choose”
a path for its entire student body, at least in terms of their
education. Everyone deserves a full and all-encompassing sex
education. At Northview, our current sex-education appears to
be not quite as directed as necessary.
A prime opportunity for educators to help students
understand how many options they do have in this field exists.
Educators can help students learn about the realities of this
subject today and the repercussions of having sex. This important
learning can occur without forcing any student down a certain
road that may not fit their life or belief system.
Many may argue that, regardless, students must follow
whatever rules or plans the school lays down. This is very true
and in my experience, I have seen that my teachers and the
school in general have students’ best interests in mind when
working to provide us with a quality education. Yet, students
will be much more open to listening if they are not forced
toward a certain choice. Free will is very important.
Further, “By denying teens the full range of information
regarding human sexuality, abstinence-only education fails to
provide young people with the information they need to protect
their health and well-being,” according to a paper written by
the University of California, San Francisco Research Institute.
Thus, it appears that providing students with all the information
is much more effective than providing an abstinence only
education or safe sex only education.
It has also been found that abstinence only programs do not
delay sexual initiation or reduce pregnancy or STD contraction
rates. On the other hand, safe sex programs alone do not apply
to a wide enough demographic of students. A moderate or
Abstinence-Plus education program appeals to all students
and provides all students with a wide-ranging and appropriate
education on the subject.
An Abstinence-Plus program at Northview would
provide students with a realistic and applicable look at sex, its
repercussions and personal choice. Such a moderate program
would acknowledge the
realities teens must face today
regarding sex, while
also providing all student
students a
look at their
many, many options.
Students
will open up to learni
learning
more readily
if a more effective and aallencompassing
ssex
education can
be provided. So, wheth
whether
t h e
right choice for you is
abstinence, or perha
perhaps
safe sex is the bett
better
route for your life, one
o
power
cannot deny the pow
of personal choice. Free
Fr
will and a detailing of all
the options will serve as
the best teachers for any
a
student.
But then again, tthe
choice is yours.
-Haley Nelson
Nels
“He loves me. I won’t get pregnant. We’re being cautious,
but am I really ready for this?” She said.
“It’s going to be fine. I’m using a condom,” She said.
Nearly half (46%) of all 15-19-year-olds in the United
States have had sex at least once, according to guttmacher.
org. This raises questions such as: What have they been taught
about “safe” sex? What does it even mean to be “safe”? Do
those 46% of teens understand the risks associated with sexual
activity? All of these questions can all come back to one
source: health class. At Northview, Health is a required course
during the freshman year of a students’ high school career.
“I teach about both being safe while having sex and
completely abstaining from sex,” said NV Health teacher Rick
Schneider. “My goal in teaching this class, which will affect
the students for the rest of their lives, is to not only impart
knowledge but to also stress the importance of making good
decisions in life especially in sexuality issues.”
Health teachers need to emphasize that the best way to
not get pregnant or acquire a sexually transmitted disease or
deal with the emotional stress is to practice abstinence. Since
so many teenagers are having sex, it is important to stress the
importance of remaining abstinent. The best way to encourage
abstinence is to tell them what risks are associated with having
sex. Many adolescents know some of the risks with having sex,
but think, “that could never happen to me”.
Each year, almost 750,000 women aged 15-19 become
pregnant. Overall, 75 pregnancies occur every year per 1,000
women aged 15-19, according to guttmacher.org. Any sexually
active teenager could be apart of those 750,000 adolescent
pregnancies. One’s life changes drastically once a baby
becomes part of their life, but that is a well-known fact.
Another well-known fact is that there is a possibility
that you can acquire an STD from being sexually active.
Many students are aware of this, but yet again think it could
never happen to them. On the contrary, STD’s are the most
common types of infections in the U.S. today, according to
worththewait.org. Acquiring an STD can become life altering,
according to worththewait.org.
Teachers should also explain how having sex will affect
students emotionally. After having sex for the first time,
there are multiple hormones in the brain that causes you to
become emotionally attached to that one person. Sex changes
everything, according to awomensview.com. Many teenagers
become emotionally attached after sex. Typically, both people
in the relationship become very attached to the other; which
can result in a loss of friends and missing out on normal high
school activities. Health teachers also should express how
special your virginity is.
Do you want your life-partner to be the first person you
have sex with? Are you
u mature enough
to deal with the
emotional stress that occurs while
in a sexually
active relationship? Do
o you want
to possibly
get pregnant or a STD?? Health
teachers should ask all the above
questions.
Students need to realize
ze that
all these
possibilities are very real.
eal. They
could
easily happen to you iff you
have
sex. It is such a speciall
thing and teachers need
ed
to
emphasize how great
sex can be if you wait
until you are married.
If you wait, then you
will be giving your
virginity to the love
of your life. You will bee
sharing that with someone
eone
who loves you for exactly
ctly
re
who you are. Also, there
ou get
will be no worries if you
pregnant because you have
someone who will be there
e. In
for better or for worse.
and or
addition, if your husband
o wait,
wife has also chosen to
there will be no issue about
D. The
possibly having an STD.
iated
emotional issues associated
ot be
with having sex will not
present because you will be
ne you
sharing it with someone
ife.
are committed to for life.
Health teachers need to
ance
emphasize the importance
t. The
of remaining abstinent.
only way to have truly safe
ve it.
sex is to simply not have
-Nicolee Mangas
WHAT SEX EDUCATION PROGRAM
DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST
EFFECTIVE FOR HIGH SCHOOL?
“Schools need to stop
preaching abstinence-only
because it’s not working.
People will have sex whether
we tell them to or not; they
might as well make it safe. ”
-Junior Kevin St orer
“I’ve always believed in abstinence so I think that’s what
should be taught, but then
again, this is high school so
we need to be realistic.”
-Senior Kat e Mut chler
“Our bodies tell us to have
sex, so it’s eventually
going to happen. For that
reason, I believe schools
should teach students
about safe sex. ”
-Senior Taylor Heninger
6
December 15 2009
EDITORIALS
Class rings: important piece of Foggy days
dangerous
high school or waste of money?
Each year, high school students across
the country purchase class rings, buying
from representatives including Herff Jones,
ArtCarved, and Northview’s own sales rep,
Jostens. Such companies manage to promote
and advertise how class rings are a perfect
way to display the summary of a student’s high
school experience. Class rings supposedly
provide a way to record top activities, clubs,
sports and most of all, memories.
However, with price tags on class rings
often amounting to hundreds of dollars, many
students and their families are asking if this
widespread trend is actually worth the money.
The history of the class ring can be traced
back to the United States Military Academy,
otherwise known as West Point. In 1835, a
batch of cadets from the academy began the
class ring tradition, which symbolized unity
and honor.
Class ring advocates today would agree
that rings are a wonderful way to honor our
high schools, but also to celebrate high school
memories and experiences. The rings seem to
supply a testimonial pertaining to a student’s
high school encounters, as they are personalized
accordingly. Class rings bestow and express a
student’s sense of pride towards their school.
“I love my class ring,” said junior Kaylie
Martinez. “It offers me a way to show and
express my high school experience with
others.”
On the contrary, some students may find
that there is a negative connotation when
wealth is associated with class rings. Depending
upon whether a student has an endless or
limited amount of money to spend on a ring
is a major factor in determining whether one
should be purchased.
For instance, if I was told that I could buy
any class ring that I desired, no matter the
to drivers
Ms. Huey
‘I LOVE MY class ring! Every time I look at it I think about the great experiences I’ve had
here at Northview,” said senior Nicole Mangas. “I wear it all the time.” This year many
Northview sophomores bought class rings of their own despite the expensive cost.
expense, I would already be wearing a rock
on my finger, engraved with the year 2012.
Unfortunately, I do not have that kind of money
to spend, and neither do many of my peers.
Instead of spending several hundred dollars
on a ring, many other students, myself included,
have a more practical outlook. Saving that extra
cash for a car, or perhaps even a down payment
to a college fund is a better alterative.
“Class rings are too expensive, especially
when I feel like I would not wear the ring long
enough to make the cost worthwhile,” said
sophomore Sarah Powazki.
Purchasing a class ring can be seen as
a risky move, as it may be misplaced, or
interests change throughout high school. The
solution to the many factors pointing against
the possession of class rings is to find a more
meaningful, and less expensive alternative.
For example, keeping a journal or portfolio to
record different activities and memories is not
nearly as costly and definitely more vivid and
telling then a class ring.
Are class rings essentially worth the
money? Like most other things, it comes down
to the individual.
-Bridget Thomas
Proper way to decorate your
house for Christmas season
When is the best time to put up Christmas
lights? That is a big question that most people
have not been able to answer yet. I love
Christmas as much as the next person, but to
put up lights and blow up animals all over your
yard before Thanksgiving is ridiculous.
Thanksgiving is a holiday that should be
celebrated and not be forgotten because the
Christmas lights must come up. As I drove
around Sylvania during Thanksgiving Break, I
noticed more houses were decorated earlier
than last year. It feels like Thanksgiving is being
forgotten more and more as the years pass.
First, never ever put up lights before
Thanksgiving. This is too early and not very
festive. Decorations should be put up the day
after Turkey Day.
A second idea is not overloading your yard
with various blow up Santas and animals. This
makes your yard look tacky and overdone. No
one wants to be neighbors with the house that
looks like a Winter Wonderland, especially if it
looks like one in October.
Thirdly, no music is needed with your
decorations. Having speakers play Christmas
music 24/7 is overkill. No one wants to be
neighbors with this house either.
Also, after Christmas, the lights must come
down. Leaving them on for another month or
two is not cool or acceptable. Christmas is over
and so are decorations. An acceptable time to
take lights down is the week after Christmas
ends. New Year’s Day is probably the best day
to take all of the blow up animals off the yard
and the lights off the trees. Keeping all the
decorations up for another month or two also
makes your house look bad.
If you follow these guidelines you should
be fine on Christmas decorating. Doing this
will still show your Christmas spirit without
being overdone.
-Aurora Miliron
It is 7:10 in the morning as I inch my
way down my street. The misty haze, also
known as fog, has formed an impenetrable
blanket around my car. The neighborhood,
full of houses, people and cars, is now
nonexistent. All that can be seen is the little
patch of pavement in front of me. It is like a
wonderland until I turn around a corner. I
almost hit a car head on because we cannot
see each other. This scary situation (that
has happened all too often this semester)
is all because of one thing: fog.
“Why didn’t we have a fog delay?” said
freshman Derek Reiner as I drove him to
school. I am unable to answer because the
question baffles me as well.
Being a senior, I can remember plenty
of fog delays but there have not been any
this year. In addition, the foggy days there
have been this year are significantly worse
than any fog delay I can remember. Then
why wasn’t there a fog delay?
The superintendent may delay the
opening of school when such an alteration
in the regular session is required for the
protection of the health and safety of
students and staff members, according to
the Sylvania City School District bylaws
and policies.
I understand that the superintendent
probably had a good reason for not calling
these delays, but Sylvania is a big school
district. It is the administrator’s job to
drive around and assess when the weather
is safe enough for all students and staff to
drive to school throughout the district not
just in one area, according to the Sylvania
Schools district website. It makes me
wonder where exactly the administrators
go to check the weather.
Normally on my drive to school, the
fog gets thinner as I get close to Northview.
Out where I live (by Pacesetter Park) the
fog is dense and thick. It makes it almost
impossible to see when driving.
This area probably is not checked
because if it were, there would have been a
fog delay. There are so many NV students
that live in the Cobblestones, Twelve Lakes,
and Edgewater Place neighborhoods that
I cannot keep track on all my fingers and
toes. These students, like myself, had to
inch their way through the fog. I would
deem the days when such fog rolls in that
a delay is “required for the protection of
the health and safety of students and staff
members”.
“Senior Meredith Wagner drives me
to school every morning. One morning, it
was so hard to see she almost drove right off
the road,” said freshman Abby Masters.
Fog reduces the visibility and thus
contributes to accidents. Thankfully, no
one has been in an accident due to the
fog on one of these days. Regardless, I was
almost in a head-on collision and I am sure
there were other close calls as well.
The administration needs to do
a better job of assessing the weather
situation, especially the fog. Many students
have been at risk because of delays that
were not called. The lack of delays is just
simply unacceptable.
-Nicole Mangas
Animals treated unfairly at the Circus,
from their performance to their upkeep
It started out as a day just like any other. I was browsing
through The Toledo City Paper in my kitchen and stumbled across
an ad for the Ringling Brothers’ Circus. The show was in town
and I was excited to make plans to go that very night. I had seen
the circus once when I was a kid but I still wondered what I had
been missing for all of these years. I got to school and discussed
how much fun it would be to see the circus with my friends
in Commons. I decided to ask senior, Alex Kruger to escort
me to “The Greatest Show On Earth”. He eagerly accepted my
invitation and we headed downtown.
Alex picked me up at around seven. By the time we arrived,
the circus had begun. There were flashing lights and vendors
selling peanuts and cotton candy.
For the first act, the ringmaster brought out the horses. The
horses were so enchanting, with acrobats doing tricks on their
backs. Everything looked beautiful. Next they brought out the
cutest little white ponies. That’s when the “trouble in paradise”
began. The ponies were instructed with a whip to run around
in circles numerous times. All resembling one another, they
were then told to line up and trot off the stage. Next were the
mini-horses, like the ones on “The Rob and Big show.” These
small horses had a wooden board tied to their backs with goats
standing on the board. The goats looked frightened and had
their feet attached to the board so they wouldn’t fall off.
The next act featured various clowns dancing around to a
song that had the lyric “over the top” in it repeatedly. Little did
I know these simple lyrics would apply to what I would view for
the rest of the show.
The worst was yet to come. Alex and I decided to stretch our
legs and take a look around. We felt obligated to do the original
circus act of buying a bag of peanuts. We sauntered back to our
seats to wait for the next act to begin. We discussed our views
of the performance thus far and concurred that up to that point
the circus was only worthy of an “it was a lot better when I was
six” rating. We both agreed the animals did not seem willing to
do these tricks. The lights briskly went dim and we were back to
watching more of the animals’ misfortune.
The next thing we saw were about eight black, wooden
boxes all lined up in a row. The ringleader picked up the wall on
the first box and about eight tigers filed out into a large metal
cage. There were pedestals lining the cage where the tigers
went and obediently perched. The animals were confined to the
small surface areas of the pedestals and looked uncomfortable
and ashamed. They played what looked like a game of musical
chairs. The trainer whipped them, directing each one to their
assigned platforms.
After the brief game of “musical chairs” the tigers each
did a separate talent, received a piece of meat as a reward,
and headed back into their boxes. The last tiger did his talent
perfectly. He looked toward the trainer for his piece of meat and
calmly found that he had been tricked. There was not a piece of
meat for him. The trainer stuck the prod in the tigers face until
he disgracefully shuffled back into his dark wooden box.
This small part of the circus almost brought me to tears.
The act that followed caused me to leave the circus early. The
elephants. They were all marched out wearing humiliating
headpieces with sparkles and feathers.
The elephants were commanded to sit on these small
pedestals, to stand on one foot, roll over, lie on the ground,
immediately get back up and walk from pedestal to pedestal.
All of these activities were obviously very difficult for such a
large animal to accomplish.
The elephants looked sorrowful and tired. Watching the
elephants struggle to get up off the ground was what forced me
to leave.
The trick that the animals were forced to do were so
humiliating and degrading. Not one of the animals seemed
willing to do these things. We saw the cargo trailers that
these animals were being kept in on our way in and we were
apprehensive. Living a life like this for the animals sounds in no
way enjoyable.
As I watched the elephants get up I immediately did the
same and left the arena. Outside we were stopped by a woman
who was an advocate of People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals, (PETA) which is an animal rights group, she politely
handed us a flyer. We walked and read the flyer. This is when we
discovered the horror.
The Ringling Brothers’ Circus has been cited by the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), numerous times for
failing to provide veterinary care, minimum space, exercise and
drinking water for the performing animals. The USDA warned
them about endangering animals and the public has also cited
them. The brochure stated two tigers and a two-year-old lion
had suffered injuries and heat exhaustion being transported in
poorly ventilated boxcars. The Ringling Brothers got a warning
after they shot and killed a caged tiger. According to PETA.
The elephants were the next victims we read about. Ringling
trainers have been videotaped viciously hitting elephants with
sharp metal bull hooks. The brochure told us that elephants
in the wild walk up to 30 miles per day. The elephants in the
Ringling Brothers circus are shackled 96% of the time and are
only able to move three feet forward or backward. Most of the
elephants in the Ringling Brothers Circus were caught in the
wild. The circus has been warned by the USDA for injuring
two baby elephants by forcibly pulling them away from their
mothers.
The Ringling Brothers’ employees have been arrested
for assorted things, such as sexual battery, possessing child
pornography, assault with dangerous weapons and aggravated
bank robbery according to PETA.
This experience has really affected the way that I look at
the circus. I used to love it when I was little. Now it seems to
be an awful place. Watching these animals being mistreated
and degraded was so upsetting. Try and attend only animal free
circuses and encourage the people around you to do the same.
You can visit circuses.com to see the video footage that shows
the Ringling’s inhumane treatment of their animals.
-Margot Jacobs
FEATURES
arts &
entertainment
University of Toledo
Holiday Concert
Review
It was the worst of times and it was the
worst of times. The University of Toledo’s Jazz
Holiday Family Spectacular was held December
5 in the Doerman Theatre on campus. The two
of us, juniors Margot Jacobs and Estar Cohen,
attended the concert to support Northview
graduate of 2004 Steve Knurek playing stand up
bass in UT’s premiere student jazz ensemble.
Upon entering the building, we were
greeted by a long line of disgruntled college
students. Grumblings of, “I don’t want to
be here” and “I can’t believe my professor is
making us see this,” swept the hallway. This
thoroughly confused us for we were very
excited to attend the concert. After all, how
could a performance featuring jazz legend,
Jon Hendricks, be so torturous? How little we
knew.
We were presented with the pleasant
surprise of a $5 ticket price instead of the
original $10, being mistaken for UT students.
It was a wonderful lack of understanding that
led us to believe the night would be a satisfying
one. Unfortunately, it all went downhill from
there.
As we took our seats, we opened up our
programs, anxious to see what the night had in
store for us. We expected nothing less than a
professional showcase of the student ensemble
and a wide range of music. The cover read,
UT Jazz Holiday “Family” Spectacular. We
were not exactly certain what this could mean.
Jazz is often family friendly and we could not
understand why it may be necessary to be put
in the title. We decided, however, to ignore it
and continue on through the program, only to
be confused once more when we realized the
whole performance was completely comprised
of Christmas songs. There was little time to
mull this over for the concert soon began with
the musical stylings of Em Mossblad, a violinist
playing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
But wait, this little person was much too short
and much too young in his sound to be a part
of the UT Jazz Ensemble. This is because he
was not.
He was, in actuality, a faculty member
Gunnar Mossblad’s son. To some in the
audience, this was a sweet gesture and we
would agree if it had not been for the following
events. To our dismay, the concert continued
on similarly with sporadic appearances of
the faculty’s children, hence, the “family”
spectacular. This participation included a
rendition of “We Three Kings” performed by
Isabella Weik, accompanied by her father Jay
on jazz guitar and a Santa Claus gimmick in
which all faculty children were invited onto
stage to receive goodie bags and inform the
audience what they would like for Christmas.
Once again, a sweet gesture, but completely
overdone.
The children were probably on stage for a
total of five minutes, but this was immediately
followed by the kids pacing up and down the
aisles, chatting with “Santa” and passing out
gift bags. This completely drew away from the
music that was being played by the UT Jazz
Ensemble, which is why we gathered in the first
place.
The music itself, (when played by the Jazz
Ensemble), was up to par. It was apparent that
the students were talented and passionate.
And for many, the showcase was completely
acceptable. After all, the venue was striking
and the theme of Christmas is often very
popular. But, as we left the concert that night,
we could not help but feel dissatisfied with the
lack of diversity in holiday music and annoyed
with the childish distractions.
-Estar Cohen & Margot Jacobs
7
December 15, 2009
What your Boy or Girl Wants this
Holiday Season
Follow the Arrows to Find the Perfect Gift
For Your Boy
10
Brian Wadsworth
3
kets to a Pro Game or Concert- Take
kets
An iPod/MP
iPod/MP3 shower radio- I know what Tickets
you
ou might b
be thinking: how much will that
cost me? But don’t you worry because these
are actually very inexpensive. They usually run
under $30 and are a great gift for that guy in
your life. Think about it. Wouldn’t you rather
be listening to your iPod or radio instead of
having to pass the time listening to your own
voice?
ice?
ce? Thi
This might be a no-brainer.
9
8
Customized
ustomiz
T-shirts- Clothing can be a
greatt id
idea but it may be time to take it to the
next level. Guys have a certain ego complex
but believe me it’s not our fault. Try helping
that self-esteem with a custom t-shirt with his
name
me on it.
it
Bacon
acon LLi
Lip Balm- This might be one of my
favorites
vorites
orites but
bu I’m not sure yet. This is just a little
something to top off an already much larger
gift. No more fruity flavored chap sticks and
lip balms! Time to get something you both will
really enjoy, together, with each other, on a
nice candle lit evening, together.
7
Season
eas
ason Set of his Favorite TV showNow
ow
wo
on to a more serious note with something
that the both of you can enjoy. Over the winter
break there will be those nights when you just
want to stay in and watch television. With this
gift idea you will be able to just stay in together
and watch TV all night.
6
Framed Picture- Now with this gift I am not
Framed
really
ally th
thi
thinking along the lines of a regular photo
but more to try and boost that ego he has. This
works especially if he is an athlete. Try and find
one of his favorite photos of himself playing his
sport. Blow this image up to a larger scale and
frame it for him. Trust me with this.
5
Butt/Face Towel- Now wait a second, let me
Butt/Fa
try
ry and eexplain this one to you. It is a bathroom
towel with the word “FACE” at one end and
“BUTT” at the other. Definitely a humorous
gift indeed, but the best part about it is that he
will actually use it.
Basically
asically Anything Flannel- Flannel is
pretty
tt universal
i
I would say. In the tough
winter weather, I see no better way to stay
warm and stylish than in a nice flannel shirt.
The rugged “lumberjack” look is starting to
catch on so help that boyfriend of yours to stay
p
in the loop.
3
Gunmetal
unmetal Mesh ID Bracelet- This is more
than
an
n like
likely going to cost you a trip online as
it will be difficult to find in any shop. An ID
bracelet is a perfect way to make sure that you
got him something legitimate for the holiday
season. Have his name printed on the bracelet
and you will have success this season.
her to a Walleye
W
game or her favorite band.
This is something you can both enjoy, while
being together. Make sure you get tickets for
something you both enjoy, so it’s not a miserable
night for one of you.
2
Bag of
of He
Her Favorite Things- Hers could
include gift cards, pictures, chocolate, and
flowers. You’re probably thinking, how big of
a bag? It’s not the size of the gift that matters,
it’s the thought that you put into it. If you put
all of her favorite goodies in, it will make her
holidays happy.
1
Datee nnight- Take your girlfriend out to
dinner
er aand a movie. Don’t be greedy and let
her pick! Of course you have to pick up the
check, but the benefits will out weigh the
cost.
The Top Gifts
Disco
coo Ball- You are most likely reading
this gift
gif right now and thinking to yourself,
“what the heck is this guy thinking?” But let
me paint the picture. You and your boyfriend
are exchanging gifts with each other at one
of your respective houses. You open your gift
and to no surprise you find out it’s something
not so great because let’s just face it: guys are
not the best gift givers. But then you hand him
your disco ball gift. He opens it and of course
the immediate reaction is either laughter or
suspicion because he has no idea what you
were thinking. But then you install the disco
ball, turn off the lights, put on some Marvin
Gaye and before you know it the two of you
are dancing the night away. The perfect gift for
your holiday needs.
2
A HatHat-- N
Now this is a very broad gift idea
but it will be simple and easy based on your
boyfriend’s taste. If he is a sports fanatic then
getting a hat should be simple as you can just
get one of his favorite team. If he has already
decided on a college then a hat of the specific
college should do just fine. Also, stocking caps
and other outdoor gear will certainly suffice.
For That Girl
4
Skylar Rose
Jewelryewelry- A heart necklace is good, but don’t
ewelrybe corny with the “you+ me = love.” Get
her something that she could wear even on a
casual occasion. This doesn’t have to be very
expensive. You could get a plain piece of
jewelry and get her name engraved on it at
“Things Remembered” in Westfield Mall.
5
PerfumeP
Perfum
erfum “What if she thinks I think she
smells
ll b
bad?” If you and your girlfriend have
been dating for a while, you should know what
kind of perfume she likes. She won’t take it
offensive if you get her the fantasy smell. Don’t
get her something fruity or a body spray. Man
up and get her the designer label.
6
Spa Gif
Spa
Gift Card- Girls love to get pampered
and
nd this is
i a perfect gift that will make them feel
good. This gift is not cheap and will certainly
meet your “girl’s” needs. You can get this gift
card at David Broadway and Reve.
7
iTunes Gift Card- This is not a bad gift!
Everyone loves listening to music, so just make
this an extra gift to get her. Be sure it goes
along with something else. Get her a $15 card,
not $50.
8
9
Sports Team Apparel- Is she a big sports
fan? Get her an OSU sweatshirt or her favorite
professional team t-shirt. Make sure you talk
to her parents about what size to get her so
that you don’t buy an offensive size.
Chick Flicks- Let her pick the movie to go to.
Don’t moan and groan about her taking you to
a romantic comedy or chick flick! Don’t show
any emotion about not wanting to go to her
choice of movie. Your girlfriend will be mad
and all girls don’t like it when they don’t get
their choice of events to go to!
10
CD’s- Make her a CD of all the songs that she
likes. Also, be sure to mix in some that remind
you of her. No, we won’t think that this is stupid
and lame of you. Your girlfriend and her friends
will realize that boys do in fact have emotions
and are sensitive humans. This gift will lower
the stereotypes that most guys portray.
Holiday Fun Across the City
7 Toledo Activities to do During Winter Break 77
7777
Let’s face it. We all love winter break and
look forward to it weeks in advance, but year
after year, it slips by us too quickly and we
feel that we haven’t enjoyed it as much as we
could.
“There’s nothing to really do in Toledo
over break besides go to the zoo, which gets
old,” said junior Ellen Drabek.
Although it may not appear so, Toledo
gives many different opportunities to have fun
during the winter season that are not widely
known to students at Northview. It’s time
to break out of the lazy routine we develop
during break and visit one of the many winter
activities that Toledo has to offer.
One of Toledo’s oldest traditions,
Children’s Wonderland is back and going
strong. Many people stop going once they hit
junior high because they think they are too
old, but sitting on Santa’s lap and taking rides
on the Wonderland Express will always be fun.
Children’s Wonderland is a great place to take
younger siblings or to just go with a bunch of
your friends. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for
seniors and $3 for children.
“I love going to Children’s Wonderland.
It’s fun,” said junior Ashley Yeager. “I didn’t
know it opened again.”
Tired of the same crowded sledding at
NV’s hill? There are plenty of other sledding
hills available around the Toledo area.
“NV’s hill is too crowded,” said junior
Allison Ormsby. “It would be nice to go
someplace new and different.”
Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon has a
hill that is purported to be the highest elevation
in Lucas County. This 70 foot tall slope,
appropriately called the “Big Hill”, has a nice,
slightly steep ride on one side. The other side
is unmowed, much steeper and full of prickly
weeds for the more adventurous sledders.
Nona France Recreational Area in
Whitehouse has a hill with a steeper side that
provides a fast and bumpy ride for those speed
demons, and a gentle, enjoyable ride for others.
This man-made hill is 60 feet tall and provides a
fun ride for everyone.
For those people who don’t like tall hills,
Fort Miamis Park in Maumee has a series
of gentle hills for sledding. These hills send
sledders on a ride that flies up and down over
bumps. It’s described as “sort of like a bobsled
track that shoots you down a path” according
to sledriding.com.
Love the snow but tired of just sledding or
making snowmen that seem to melt in a few
days (thank you Global Warming)? The Chalet
in Mill Stream Run Reservation, located in
Strongsville, is home to two 1,000 foot toboggan
runs. These refrigerated slopes are made out of
ice and do not require snow to run. They are
open Thursday through Sunday and tickets can
range from $3 to $8. The lines can be long, but
the ride is well worth the wait.
If you’re looking for a more exciting way
of picking out a Christmas tree this year, head
on down to Whitehouse Christmas Tree Farm.
This farm is open Thursday through Sunday
and provides each group with a saw to cut
down their very own tree. While searching
through the trees for the perfect one, you
can sip on complimentary hot chocolate and
snacks. Trees range from two feet to 45 feet
and a wagon ride through the entire farm is
available for children.
The Medina Ice Festival is a unique
experience to enjoy after winter break is over.
Open February 12-15, this festival showcases
local artists’ talent in the public square of
Medina. To escape the cold weather, visitors
can duck into many unique shops to warm up.
Although many students at NV
may complain about the lack of available
activities in the 419, there are actually plenty
of opportunities to live up the winter besides
visiting the infamous Lights Before Christmas
for the seventh year in a row. Try going
tobogganing or extreme sledding, and actually
enjoy your winter break.
-Amanda Metcalf and Ally Yocum
8
FEATURES
December 15, 2009
Volunteering at Northview
By Elizabeth Masson
Need volunteer hours? While volunteering at a local hospital or nursing home is always a good option, many
students don’t realize that Northview also offers a variety of volunteering options that allow hours to be earned during a commons or study hall. Whether you like working in busy or quiet environments, with teachers or students, or
simply spending time in a cozy, quiet library, NV has a job for you.
Guidance Aids
Teacher Aids
Guidance aids are responsible
for running passes, organizing files,
greeting visitors, helping counselors, running errands as needed and
performing miscellaneous tasks. Students work Monday through Friday
during their free periods, according
to Guidance Secretary Mrs. Kim Pietrykowski.
“(Working in the Guidance Office) looks good on a college application,” said senior Shane Wheatley,
“and you are helping teachers.”
Those wanting to work as a
Guidance Aid should talk to Mrs. Pietrykowski. Aids are also sometimes
selected by counselors or students
are notified of open positions during
commons or study hall.
“All different office aids are a
good option because it helps the
school and gives an opportunity to
see how the school functions,” said
Mrs. Pietrykowski. “You get to deal
with different people and learn new
things.”
Lab and teacher aides perform
a wide variety of tasks specific
to the teacher they are assisting.
For example, lab aids to Mr. Andy
Roth wash dishes, help with grading, set up equipment, perform labs
and complete miscellaneous tasks.
Days worked vary depending on
the student, but most work Monday
through Friday. Becoming a lab aid is
great opportunity because students
can review chemistry and see it in
a different light, while also learning
new levels and aspects, according to
Mr. Roth.
“It’s an excellent way to volunteer because I can brush up on my
chemistry for the AP Chemistry test
not only by doing the work and making solutions for Mr. Roth, but also
by listening to the chemistry class
he teaches while I work,” said senior
Haley Armstrong.
Students interested in becoming
a teacher or lab aid should meet with
their preferred teacher and fill out
a form in the Guidance Office. Any
teacher can have an aid.
Photos
by Halie
Langhals
Peer Mentors
Peer mentors are responsible for working with and tutoring students in Regular Education or Special Education
classes, particularly in harder classes. Volunteers work up
to five days per week and have the option of working more
than one period a day, according to Intervention Specialist
Ms. Christine Saverstorm.
“(Volunteering as a Peer Mentor) was a good learning
experience because you can see what they do,” said senior
Carmen Watson.
Interested students should meet with Ms. Saverstorm
to begin planning a volunteering schedule.
“This is a good opportunity if anyone wants to make
a decision or whether to teach or work in an educational
field, work with differently abled students, or broaden their
perspectives,” said Ms. Saverstorm. “It gives people a diverse
aspect of life and opens their mind to different people.”
PICTURED FROM TOP LEFT TO RIGHT: Amanda Metcalf, Michelle Vince, Amber Ulrich, Kelsey Rentner, Roger
Guilford, Zach Walentowski, Emily Snook and Andrea
Kimmet.
PICTURED FROM BOTTOM LEFT TO RIGHT: Sia DuFour and Kate Benham.
Library Assistants
Student Library Assistants deliver materials to teachers,
shelve books, check books in and our and help other students
as needed. Assistants usually volunteer throughout the week
although this schedule can be changed if necessary. Volunteering in the library is a good opportunity because students gain library experience that can be used throughout their life, as well
as learn to interact with other students and teachers, according
to Library Media Specialist Mrs. Darla Omey.
“It’s great because I like communicating with people and
helping teachers out,” said senior Lindsey Yost.
Any student wishing to become a Library Assistant should
meet with Mrs. Omey to determine a volunteering schedule.
Corner
A New York Times Bestseller and
now major motion picture, Sapphire’s
PUSH is a blunt and straight-forward
story of Claireece Precious Jones.
Precious, her name throughout the
novel, has been sexually abused since
age seven, forced to bare her father’s
children at the ages of 12 and 16
and is constantly abused by her lazy,
welfare-dependent mother.
However, when this gritty,
strong-minded protagonist is sent
to an alternative school to fit her
educational needs, she learns what it
is like to feel loved and appreciated
for the first time.
With the help of the other
“I asked you to come so I could
watch you live” may seem like a dull
if not corny phrase, but in Nicholas
Sparks’ newest novel, The Last Song,
these words are enough to make you
cry for the last 90 pages.
17-year-old Ronnie, short for
Veronica, is forced to visit her father
in North Carolina with whom she
guiltlessly hasn’t spoken to in three
years. In trying to avoid her father,
she meets the rich Will Blakelee, who
definitely is not her type. Despite
this, she begins to find herself falling
in love with him. Slowly, she begins
girls at the “Each One Teach One”
school and a compassionate teacher,
Precious learns that there have been
great injustices in her life and she
needs to free herself. Finally fed up
with the abuse, Precious decides to
escape from everything and everyone
that has ever made her feel “stupid.”
Written in the broken English of
a partially illiterate, hardened-by-thecity teenager, PUSH is a challenge to
read. In some ways the lingo brings
the story to life, but in many cases
the flat vernacular is confusing and
fails to create a 3-D world for the
reader.
It is obvious that Sapphire is
De x te r by De s ig n
Dexter Morgan, the protagonist
in Jeff Lindsay’s newest novel Dexter
By Design, is not your average hero.
By day he seems like a perfectly
normal guy, he has a job at the Miami
Police Department with a new wife
and two step children. He brings
in doughnuts to work and is always
polite to everyone. However, as fans
of Lindsay’s series of Dexter novels
or the Showtime television show
“Dexter” know, Dexter is in fact a
serial killer. Don’t worry though, he
is still a very entertaining narrator
and he only kills people who really
deserve it.
The story begins with Dexter
on his honeymoon in Paris with his
new bride Rita. After seeing some
famous and disturbing artwork,
Dexter returns to Miami to his day
Office Assistants run passes, help with filing, change the
large outside sign and aid in various office tasks. Most students volunteer Monday through Friday, although days can be
tailored to fit a student’s schedule, according to Attendance
Secretary Mrs. Bonnie Kobee.
“Working in the Attendance Office provides me with an
opportunity to learn life-long values,” said sophomore Joe
Masson, “and allows me to meet many great new friends.”
Interested students should talk to Mrs. Kobee or Assistant Principal Mrs. Amanda Ogren. New volunteers are accepted every semester.
“It gives students a good opportunity to see how the other side works,” said Mrs. Kobee, “Sometimes it opens their
eyes.”
T he L a s t So ng
Reader’
Re
a de r’ss
PU S H
Office Aids
job as a blood spatter analyst and
his nighttime hobby of murdering
people, carefully following his
father’s code to make sure his victims
truly deserve it. Dexter is busy with
his job and family as well, looking
after Rita’s two children, Astor and
Cody, who, after much abuse from
their imprisoned father, have begun
to show signs of becoming just like
Dexter.
As if all this was not enough,
there is a new killer in town that uses
bodies in a new, disturbing way and
Dexter’s sister, Sergeant Deborah
Morgan, turns to Dexter to figure
out whom this new and strangely
artistic killer might be.
Dexter By Design, the fourth book
in the series, is a great improvement
over the previous installment, Dexter
to respect her father once again, but
loggerhead turtles, beach volleyball
and liar’s poker are not enough to
keep the summer joyous. A group
of pyromaniac teens continually
attempt to ruin Ronnie’s summer,
and a secret that is being kept from
her causes everything to crash down
on her at once.
Unlike Sparks’ previous topselling books, The Last Song chronicles
various events during a teenager’s life
rather than a love story between two
adults. One would assume that the
lack of comfortable ground would
be evident in Sparks’ writing, but he
succeeds in intricately presenting
the importance of young love and
the love between family and God as
well. Sparks proves that he not only
understands the love that adults
can hold for one another, but that
he also understands a teenager’s
vulnerability in love and maturation.
Along with Sparks’ other novels
that have been adapted into films,
The Last Song has been produced
into a motion picture starring Miley
Cyrus and hits theaters in April.
~Amanda Met calf
unable to tell Precious’ story with
this flattened English at times
when Precious, who talks about
being unable to read for 16 years
and who confuses “insect” with
“incest”, breaks out of her character
by making very well developed
comparisons, such as “I feel like my
blood a giant river swell up inside
me and I’m drowning.”
Nevertheless, PUSH is an
incredibly moving and powerful
novel. It is written to capture the
hearts of middle-class readers who
can scarcely imagine the hardships
that occur in places such as Harlem,
the setting of PUSH. People tend to
push the bad and the ugly under the
carpet and only focus on the good.
This novel, however, pushes
the bad and ugly to the forefront,
demanding that people take notice.
It is a wonderful story of hope and
accomplishment told through abuse
and conflict; it will make the reader
laugh and cry all in the same sitting.
Though the dialect is dull and
Precious’ random character breaks
are strange, this thrilling blend of
the compassion of a child and the
rage of an adult leaves no doubt that
Sapphire’s PUSH will give the reader
some food for thought.
~Mamie Silver
in the Dark. The new book returns to
a more reality based story compared
to the third novel’s somewhat silly
,supernatural theme. The plot has
its twists and turns like all mystery
novels and the novel begins well with
a humorous, bizarre description of
Dexter’s honeymoon.
The middle of the novel
however starts to lag and become
a bit repetitive. At least one plot
development involving a trip
to Havana seemed somewhat
unnecessary and could have been cut
to lead up faster to the conclusion,
which is a thrilling climax to the
story and finishes the book on a high
note.
The truly interesting part of the
novel is that Lindsay has committed to
developing his characters more fully
than in his previous novels. Dexter,
funny and entertaining as always,
seems to reveal that he may actually
not be an emotionless monster as he
himself believes. He might actually
have some human feelings, but he
would never admit it.
His sister Deb, who found out
what Dexter was in a previous book,
has to deal with the fact that her
brother is a murderer and struggling
to decide whether to let him be or
arrest him. Also, Rita, a character
who previously had been seen by
Dexter as stupid, revealed she may
be smarter and more complex than
Dexter previously believed.
Dexter By Design is a very
entertaining read despite some
lulls in the plot during the middle.
The development of the characters
and their interaction with each
other is what really makes the novel
impressive and will keep readers
waiting for the next installment to
hit the shelves.
~David Aldrich
FEATURES
December 15, 2009
NV Holiday Edit ion
Top Ten Gifts for the Holidays
By Bridget Thomas & Molly Porterfield
Staff Writers
10. Clothing
Us teens love keeping up with the latest trends. The
cold weather can be cured with a cozy, warm sweater.
Many gift cards to American Eagle, Hollister, and
Abercrombie will be on student’s lists.
9. The world’s largest gummy bear
Candy is a must during the holidays. Vat19.com boasts
having the gummy bear to cure all of your sugar
cravings. At nine inches tall and five pounds heavy,
this 12,600 calorie monster candy can be shared with
the whole family.
8. Laptop
With college approaching for most high school
students, many are wishing for a laptop to help them
stay organized and. Not to mention how great it is to
have your own computer and your own online freedom.
7. Modern Warfare II
Between practicing your aim and enjoying the new
maps, Modern Warfare 2 will definitely cure your
gaming fever. A compelling gun game that feels like
you’re actually in a battle is sure to grant all of your
holiday wishes.
6. The Beatles Rock Band
Students are very excited about this new game. The
songs of the band that started rock and roll can now
be played in your own living room.
5. Money
Tired of receiving all those gifts you do not need or
want? Sometimes it is just better to buy what you
really want for the holidays instead of explaining your
list to your relatives.
4. Books
Cold? Wrap up in a warm blanket and settle down with
a good book. The Twilight and Harry Potter Series
will surely warm you up. From Steven King to Nicholas
Sparks, our favorite authors are great for relaxing
during the holidays.
3. Digital Camera
The best way to spread holiday cheer is to take
pictures for all to hold dear. A digital camera is the
perfect gift for capturing those Kodak moments
during the seasons.
2. Automobile
This gift won’t exactly fit underneath the tree, but
a big bow on top will do. At least you can now say
goodbye to the days of driving the family mini-van.
Students are hoping to kick off this cold, winter
season with a hot, new ride.
1. iPod Touch
The iPod keeps getting better and better. As the
holidays approach, students want nothing more than a
new high tech music, movie, and gaming device.
A Festivus for the Rest Of Us
As all of you saps out there
prepare for your simple holidays
of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa
etc. We anxiously await December
23. This day is called Festivus: the
holiday for the rest of us. Your
limited mind probably can’t even
comprehend what Festivus entails,
but that’s why we’re here. As avid
Seinfeld viewers for most
of our lives, we feel we
are more than qualified
to introduce to you a
holiday that you should
already be familiar with.
Much like the other
holidays, Festivus begins
with a great feast known
as the Festivus meal. During
this meal, family and friends
enjoy each other’s company
but only for a short while.
Then, the Airing of Grievances
begins. This fun holiday
activity allows all at the table
to tell everyone how they have
disappointed them in the last year.
To some this may appear cruel and
perhaps a little confrontational.
We see it as shoveling the driveway,
cleaning the whiteboard, starting
over if you will. This tradition
may take awhile depending on the
deformity of your family and friends.
The decoration of choice during
this holiday is much simpler than most
others. Festivus doesn’t demand a
bright and flashy display of lights,
tinsel or nutcracker dolls. Instead, we
display the Festivus Pole. The name
generally explains the definition of
the decoration. The Festivus Pole
(which is 100% aluminum) illuminates
neighborhoods and lights a fire in the
hearts of many.
Moving the holiday along, we
come to the Feats of Strength. As
the Festivus Meal and the Airing of
Grievances come to an end, the head
of the household chooses his victim.
He challenges him to a wrestling
match, if you can even call it that.
The holiday technically does not end
until the head of the household is
pinned. If the challenger fails to pin
the head of the house, then they find
themselves in an unfortunate place.
The modern day punishment of a tenminute time-out in the cold winter air
cannot be compared to the ancient
Festivus punishment of banishment
from the holiday.
You may find this holiday
to be somewhat bitter or even
vindictive, but there is a soft
side to Festivus: the Festivus
Miracle. Nobody knows how or
where these little miracles
come from, but certainly not
from some fat, bearded cookie
monster. All we know for sure
is that they exist. They can
come in any shape, size or
material and are guaranteed
to cheer you up when you
need it the most, like the
unknown gooey center of
a filled donut.
On December 23 as you
rush to get your Aunt
Millie her annual 8-pack of glue sticks
and you by chance pass the home of
the Hirschfelds or the Stricks, you
may be blinded by the brightness of
the Festivus Pole. Your ears may ring
with the sound of disappointments
and your hearts may fill with the true
meaning of the proclamation, “It’s a
Festivus miracle!”
-Abbey Strick & Addison Hirschfeld
9
10
SPORTS
December 15, 2009
sport switch
with Addison Hirschfeld and Yianni Papadimos
Two student athletes take a crash course in an unfamiliar sport
A Day at Diving
After a long day of
school, and two hours of
vigorous basketball practice,
there is nothing more that
I would rather do than go
home and flop on the couch.
Unfortunately, this was not
the case when, last week,
gym shorts turned into board
shorts, basketball shoes into
bare feet, and hard wood into
a glassy flat bed that is the
Northview pool.
Last week I had the
opportunity to test out my
sea legs by practicing with the
Northview Diving team. As
basketball practice concluded
at around 5 o’ clock, I rushed
to the natatorium anxiously
wanting to get into the pool.
My mind was turning, for I
had no idea what to expect.
The only experience I ever
had with diving boards was
the sun-soaked summer days
at the Jewish Community
Center. Considering that my
family’s membership at the
JCC ended long ago, I would
venture to say that the last time
I had stepped foot on a diving
board would have been at the
meager age of 11. The scene
was set for embarrassment.
As I opened the doors
to enter the watery world, I
was immediately slapped in
the face with the bold hand
that rules the pool: humidity.
Perspiration met me almost
right away as I found myself
disgusted at how sticky the air
was. My feelings of discomfort
quickly changed gears, as I
noticed that I was the only
person in the pool who was
not almost completely naked.
Speedos filled my vision as I
felt all eyes turn to the only
kid with clothes on: me. After
meeting the dive coach, Phil, I
rushed to the boys’ locker room
to change into my swimming
trunks in hopes to feel a little
more comfortable.
My pale body shimmered
gently through the natatorium
as I stepped out of the locker
room sporting my Pacsun
board shorts. Coach Phil
immediately made me feel
like a part of the team, as he
demanded that I get warmed
up. In diving, warming up is
simply diving into the cool
water off of a starting block.
After
observing
the
seasoned divers, I attempted
to imitate their ways. With the
help of my new teammates and
Coach Phil, I was learning the
basics of diving fairly quickly.
However, my confidence
quickly diminished as I made
the move from the block, to
the diving board.
A couple of pencil dives
got me comfortable with the
springy “fiberboard.” Shortly
into practice, however, I
noticed that I lacked a key
athletic talent that was very
useful in the art of diving.
Balance was not my ally. One
ABBEY STRICK
would not expect fatigue to
be a factor in diving, but I
was surprised at the breath
it took to continuously pull
myself out of the water after
every dive attempt. Sooner
than later, I found myself
asking for athletic advice from
sophomore girls, needless to
say it was an embarrassment
for a two-sport varsity athlete.
As practice resumed,
Phil increased the difficulty
of the dives he was having me
perform (or at least attempt).
Back dives, front flips and
back flips increasingly became
easier for me to perform.
I surprised myself, and
coach Phil, at how naturally
the sport of diving came to me.
The number of boys on the
dive team this year is very low
and Coach Phil, sarcastically
of course, asked me if I would
join the team. I suppose that
I impressed him, although the
dives I conquered were very
simple in comparison to those
that true members of the team
JUNIOR JOHN JOSEPH and sophomore Jeff Small give junior Yianni Papadimos points on shooting a basketball during his sports swap.
PREPARING TO DIVE into the pool is junior Addison Hirschfeld.
HIRSCHFELD STRETCHES OUT before diving practice.
PAPADIMOS CONCENTRATES while Coach Shadle explains a play to the
team in preparation for their game against Perrysburg.
perform.
So now I was feeling
confident, and I had a swagger
like I’d been there before
as I continued to improve
my diving skills. Needless
to say, I was setting myself
up for disaster. Coach Phil
suggested that I attempt a
spin along with a front flip,
and immediately my “Yes I
can, I’m Addison Hirschfeld”
attitude devoured all of
my reasoning. Somewhere
between my dismount and
my collision with the water,
something went wrong.
In attempting to spin
synchronistically with my front
flip, I ended up attempting a
“double”, which is two front
flips. This intricate move
should end with the diver
entering the pool elegantly
feet first. Unfortunately,
elegance and grace are not
words that describe any of my
movements in any sport. The
attempted “double” left me
crashing back first onto the
deceivingly solid water. Not
only was my pride broken, but
my back was as well.
With the conclusion of
my last dive, Coach Phil and
I decided that my practice
should end before my life did.
As I walked back to the locker
room, with my back aching
and red, I decided that diving
is a very physically demanding
sport.
The amount of
concentration, balance and
technique that goes in to being
a successful diver is amazing.
Compared to my experiences
with football and basketball,
diving is just as difficult but
for different reasons. Diving’s
difficulty compliments its
excitement as you twirl
through the air knowing that
your landing will be soft,
almost always. So if I find
myself on a diving board next
summer, I am certain that I
will be able to impress, at least
myself, with the skills that I
learned at diving practice.
-Addison Hirschfeld
A Day at Basketball
The echoing screeches of
rubber soles on hard wood is
an after school sound we often
take for granted. A week ago, I
spent an afternoon practicing
with the generators of this
sound, the kings of the sky, the
NV Boy’s Basketball Team.
Coming into the practice,
I was not incredibly sure of
what to expect having not
touched a basketball since
the sixth grade. Nevertheless,
I held my head high and
prepared for what was to
come, whether I was to be
humiliated,
shunned,
or
possibly successful. The team’s
response, as they came out of
the locker room, was not at all
what I had expected.
I was quickly passed a
basketball by one of the junior
varsity players and before I
could ask any questions, I
found myself being put in
position to shoot a free throw.
Guiding me were several
junior and sophomore players
who, without my prompting,
began giving me tips as to how
the shot was correctly made.
I failed miserably multiple
times, only managing to hit
the backboard, net and wall
behind the basket.
“You can’t just throw
it,” said junior John Joseph.
“You’ve got to shoot it up.
Flick your wrist.”
After a few more airballs, things started to line
up and before I knew it, I
had officially sunk a basket. I
was quickly brought back to
reality by the congratulations
from the players around me.
This is what helped me to
understand that this group of
students was more accepting
than expected. If they were
able to take kindly to an idiot
such as myself, they must have
had a strong sense of fraternity.
That was certainly true.
As we circled up to begin
pre-practice stretching, I was
shocked when Head Coach
Terry Shadle handed me the
Perrysburg scouting report.
As the team stretched with the
senior players in the center,
I became lost in the report’s
details and was almost to the
point of wondering who I
would be guarding before I
realized that I would not be
playing in the game the next
day. It was fascinating to be
aware of the lengths to which
the coaching staff went to see
that their players knew what
they were up against. They
even went so far as to assign
certain players to whom they
would be guarding. This is
something apparently done
often.
“We get the scouting
reports almost every game,”
said junior Jacob Sturt, “and
they really help us get ready.
It shows that the coaches are
dedicated to the program.”
After
becoming
sufficiently
limber,
we
proceeded to do baseline drills
from one end of the court to
the other. The team went in
two groups recognizing the
hierarchical arrangement that
comes with having a varsity
and junior varsity team. I made
the mistake of leaving with the
varsity players. Surprisingly
enough, I managed to scamper
along, keeping up (for the most
part) through the high knees,
karaokes and butt kickers.
It was then that the actual
“practice” part of the practice
began. Being the eve of their
game against Perrysburg, the
team took the floor to practice
plays. Not their own, but those
of the Yellow Jackets. With
the JV players positioning
themselves as the opponents,
the varsity team prepared for
the game by running the plays
they would come across the
following night.
My time spent with the
Boy’s Basketball team was
enlightening. I learned how
to handle a basketball and the
logistics that go into a practice.
However, I also witnessed first
hand the sense of brotherhood
these young men share. After
spending a practice with
them, I can confidently say
that this team makes their
own opportunities. They are
able to open their own doors
and fight to win.
-Yianni Papadimos
SPORTS
11
December 15, 2009
Boys and Girls Basketball look
to dominate the competition
NV swim
team gets
new coach
By AURORA MILLIRON
St aff writ er
Dominating the Northern Lakes League
with a first place standing is the Northview
Girl’s Basketball team. They won their first
game against Perrysburg November 28 with a
score of 62-36.
This was a major game for the LadyKats
since Perrysburg has beaten the girl’s team
three years in a row. The Yellow Jackets won
the NLL last year and are picked to finish
second this year.
Leading the team in points were
sophomores Skylar Rose, Miriam Justinger, J.J
Jessing, and senior Hannah Small.
“Hard work and team work was a big factor
in our win against Perrysburg,” said junior Tori
Busby.
A main struggle for the offensive was
rebounding, but they were able to overcome
this weakness and win.
On November 30 the LadyKats faced
Libbey High School. NV found themselves
in a tighter game than with Perrysburg, but
managed to come away with a 69-62 win.
The team started out slow but was
able to come back and win by seven points.
According to Small, everyone worked really
well together.
December 4, the LadyKats won yet another
game against Anthony Wayne. The score was
another dominating one with the LadyKats
defeating the Generals 60-37.
Staying down on defense was one of the
things the girl’s had trouble with, according
to sophomore Courtney Hendrix. In the end,
they still were able to dominate the game.
“Our strength is not counting on just one
person, but each person has a role to play,” said
junior Valerie Sohasky.
NV won their fourth game in a row on
December 7 against Bowsher with a score of 7035. Again, defense was one of the weaknesses
By LAURA GUINNESS
Phot ographer
Ohio State University graduate Stephanie
Raezer has accepted the position of 2009-2010
Northview swimming head coach. The quest
to find a new coach ended two weeks before
the start of the season when Raezer stepped
up to lead the team. Raezer swam at OSU and
was the assistant coach for the University of
Toledo’s women’s swimming team.
Q.
What previous experience do you have
as both an athlete and a coach?
A.
As a lifetime swimmer, a collegiate coach,
and an age-group coach, I have learned so many
great things. For me, swimming was my life; I
loved every piece of it. I hope I can pass on
some of that love to each of these swimmers
now.
DRIVING HARD TO THE HOOP is senior Jacob Zureich in the team’s game against Southview
December 5 . The Wildcats were defeated by a score of 80-64 in a tough season home opener,
but look to improve as their season moves forward.
in the usually strong team.
According to Small, even though the team
is young the upperclassmen are stepping up.
Last year, the LadyKats finished third in the
league with a record of 17-6. This season they
are picked to win the league title.
Much of this success can be attributed
towards the leadership of the two senior
captains, Olivia Fouty and Small.
The girl’s went into their next game
against Bowling Green December 11 with an
undefeated record of 4-0.
However, the Boy’s Basketball team has not
been as successful. On their first home game
against Southview they suffered a 80-64 loss.
The leading scorers were junior Jacob Sturt
and seniors Jarred Bowens and Jacob Zureich.
“Southview is a team that I want to beat.
It is a good thing we face them twice so we
can have another chance to get revenge,” said
Bowens.
On December 8, they faced league rivals
Perrysburg. Losing at halftime by a score of
24-14, the boys struggled to make a comeback.
The final score ended up being 64-34. Sturt
and Zureich were once again leading scorers.
According to Zureich, the reason they lost
was because there are a lot of young players
who do not have a lot of varsity experience and
are not adjusted to the speed of the game yet.
The next game for the Wildcats is at home
December 12 against the Bowsher Rebels.
Winter sports teams begin seasons
Dance Team, Wrestling and Gymnastics start competing
By ALEXA KALANQUIN
St aff writ er
As the fall season concluded, winter sports
started their seasons.
The Wrestling team is led by captains senior Bobby Callejas and juniors Billy Sargent
and Jake Martinez. No tryouts were held, but
the team trains after school. The first meet was
at Northwood December 4. Callejas placed
fourth and Todd Enis took second.
“As a team we didn’t do very well, since
we only had two people place. There were 18
teams there, which made it a very tough tournament,” said Sargent.
The team’s biggest rivals this year are
Southview, Perrysburg, and Bowling Green.
The NV SV match was December 10, with
SV winning 40-23.
“We came into the meet prepared, but we
knew we were the underdogs,” said Sargent.
“The team is pretty inexperienced,” said
Sargent. “We need to change our mentality
into being more aggressive.”
Dance team held tryouts in May, and the
team now practices three days a week. The captains on the team are seniors Melissa Rondinelli, Morgan Melchert and Lauren Cowell.
The team performs at half time at the varsity Boys Basketball games as well as at two to
three competitions in February. The girls performed a hip-hop dance to a 90’s dance mix
for the first game of the Boys Basketball season
against Southview.
“We have a few new additions to the team
and they’re doing very well,” said junior Bailey
Whitman. “We have some sweet new dances
coming up as well as neat costumes.”
The next performance by the Dance Team
was December 12 during halftime of the NV
vs. Bowsher game.
The Gymnastics team held tryouts the
week of November 9 and have their first meet
tonight at Fort Meigs YMCA. The seniors are
Hailey Nowak, Alex Melick and Chelsie Parton.
The GymKats are coached by Mrs. Heather Tussing and their biggest rivals this year are
SV and Whitmer, according to sophomore Katie O’Keefe.
“My goal is to improve my skills from what
they were last year,” said O’Keefe. “I don’t really have a favorite event though, it just seems
to be whatever I’m good at that day.”
“We have a pretty strong team this year,
better than the past two years, and ultimately we hope to send some girls to states,” said
Nowak.
Q. What made you want to coach NV this
year?
A.
I really love coaching… and this gave me
a great opportunity to work with a number
of kids who really work hard and want to be
better.
Q.
Have you worked with specific coaches
who have influenced you as a coach or have
encouraged you to take a head coaching
position?
A.
Lars Jorgensen (UT headcoach) is my
biggest influence. He is not only a great coach
but also a wonderful teacher. He encouraged
me to take this position and gave me the
motivation and encouragement to do a great
job.
Q.
When are you looking forward to most
this season? How do you hope to improve as
a team?
A.
I am looking forward to working with
each swimmer and helping them reach their
individual goals and I want to have a team go
to the state meet! As a team I would love to see
leadership and maturity, there is nothing better
than seeing your team improve all around, in
the water and out of the water.
Q.
What was your specialty/stroke in high
school and college swimming?
A.
In high school I was a 500 and 200 yard/
meter freestyler. In college I was a distance
swimmer! I also swam the 400 IM religiously.
So every meet I swam the 1,000/ 1,650, 500,
and 400 IM. I loved every minute of it.
Q.
What types of training will the team
experience this year?
rtrsialPro wrestling deserves more notice
Spdo
A.I’m not sure what the training has been
e ito
in the past but I hope they will learn to be
I have been a professional wrestling fan for
a couple years now. Many people, including
myself, had previously thought that wrestling
is stupid, or at least something that I would
not be interested in. Now I have realized that I
was wrong and feel that it is a superior form of
entertainment.
Unfortunately, pro-wrestling is not really
considered “cool” in today’s society. It is the
target of ridicule from many people and is
targeted unfairly. Wrestling is a legitimate form
of entertainment and is watched by millions of
people every week all over the world. For some
reason, I feel ashamed to be a wrestling fan,
like it is something I have to keep secret or else
be subjected to looks of confusion or derision.
Wrestling is just like any form of
entertainment today. There are several
companies active today including World
Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop
Action Wrestling. The big argument against
wrestling is that it is fake. Well, most other
things of TV are fake as well and it is unfair that
wrestling gets faulted for being scripted when
sitcoms and dramas are scripted as well.
Some would argue that pro-wrestling
is not a sport. While it is not a competitive
sport, it should be considered in the realm of
sports. It is thought of as sports entertainment
and involves physical activity even though the
ending is predetermined.
Wrestling has something that other sports
do not have. A wrestling match creates drama
and involves storylines and frames it around
action in the ring. The storylines can involve a
wrestler betraying his friend, two guys fighting
over a girl, or two wrestlers trying to outdo the
other in the ring. Good wrestling storylines
can provide definite quality entertainment,
something that regular sports cannot do. A
football or baseball game can be enjoyable and
exciting to watch, but it also could be a bad
or boring game, something the producers of a
wrestling match can easily avoid.
Good wrestlers are able to either get the
crowd to boo or cheer for them based on what
they do in the ring. They also use what they
say on the microphone during promos to get
a reaction and some are very talented actors
and, like Dwayne Johnson, have gone on to
have careers in movies.
The main part of wrestling is the
matches themselves. Although the ending is
predetermined and some maneuvers may not
be entirely real or inflict any pain, wrestlers
still take risks when they go out to perform
and they often do not get the respect they
deserve. They put on an exciting form of
physical entertainment and are similar to any
action show but are not treated as such because
wrestling is “fake.”
Wrestling features entertaining storylines
and performers just like any other form of
television entertainment. Hopefully people
will see wrestling for what it truly is, not a fake
sports show but real entertainment.
- David Aldrich
tougher, more confident, and swim with better
technique. This team will be challenged every
day to do something better and faster, making
them the best athletes they can be.
Q.
What is one goal you would like the team
to work towards?
A.
1.)Great technique
2.) Solid unity as a team
3.)100% best times
Q.
How do you think the team is looking so
far? What do you see that you would like to see
changed or improved?
A.
I have seen a lot of improvement already!
What we need to work on includes turns, starts,
race strategy, oh and technique, technique,
technique!
Q.
What are your future goals involving your
love for coaching? Do you wish to stay with NV
for years to come or do you have other plans
for your coaching career?
A.
I’ve missed coaching and I have never
coached high school before. So I’m anxious to
see how the whole season plays out, but so far
I love it! All I can hope for is that I can teach
this team to be better swimmers, that they can
at least walk away faking something they’ve
learned.
12
5
SPORTSVIEW
December 15, 2009
Things You Didn’t Know
About Northview Hockey
1
The locker room? Awesome.
Unlike any other team who calls Tamo it’s
home, the NV hockey team’s locker room is
outfitted with it’s own workout room, couches,
televisions, stereo, chairs and computers.
All of this was acquired from donations from
people in the NV community, alumni and former coach James Cooper. Most players arrive
early for games to relax and get focused.
2
Ay ziggy zoomba.
NV celebrates after a victory with a postgame song thought up by Coach Jones. It is
modeled after the Bowling Green fight song
and as the team huddles after a win, they
sing, “Roll along you Wildcat warriors,
roll along and fight for Northview High
School,” according to junior Tyler Harding.
3
4
They can’t be touched.
Like most sports teams, the Wildcats have
a pregame ritual. Before every game, NV
warms up and stretches out. They gather
in the locker room and listen to “Can’t Be
Touched” by Roy Jones Jr. Then, the players
and coaches say a prayer in honor of former
player Jake Thornton. “Jake was really close
to everybody on the team and we want to
honor him before our games,” said junior
Drew Korn.
St. Francis is on the
top of their hit-list.
“We are looking forward to the St. Francis
game the most because people think they already have the state ring on their finger,” said
Harding. Prior to this past weekend’s play, NV
was 2-0-0 in the league and St. Francis was
1-0-0. The Cats play SFS January 30 at Tamo.
“They [St. Francis] are undefeated and everyone says they are so good. We want to beat
them,” said junior captain Nolan Culver.
5
LINING UP FOR the National Anthem are juniors Ryan LaPlante, Nolan Culver,
Graham Kelsey, Tyler Harding and Aaron Booth. These five were the starting
line-up in their season opener against St. Johns Jesuit High School.
BATTLING AGAINST THE BOARDS with a St. Johns player is sophomore Zach
Felser and Kelsey. The Cats had a significant victory against the Titans after their
appearance in the Frozen Four last year.
CHECKING A ST. JOHNS player to stop the impending goal is Harding. The
Wildcats won their season opener 5-2. “Everyone was pumped, even the new
kids because it was their first ever league game, but all the others from last
year’s team were so excited for this game because it was the perfect chance to
get back at St. Johns,” said Culver.
SKATING BACK for the puck is senior Jordan Jones. Jones is a four year member of the team.
PHOTOS BY ABBEY STRICK
Thursday means team dinner.
Every Thursday the team gathers for a home cooked
meal at one of the player’s houses. “I look forward to
team dinners every week because the food is always
really good,” said junior Graham Kelsey. “It really
brings us closer as a team.”
-Alexx Klein and Abbey Strick
Tiger is a cheater; not in golf, but with women
By BRIAN WADSWORTH
St aff writ er
Say it isn’t so Tiger! Woods is a dirty, dirty
man. We thought he was a straight shooter
hitting the fairway every time. But no! He is in
the trap and I am not talking about the sand.
The PGA golfer was investigated after
crashing his Escalade on November 27
outside of his home in Orlando, Florida. After
numerous reports, ten women have spoken
up that they have had an affair with Woods,
according to CBSsports.com
Life was great for the profound golfer:
winning tournaments, endorsing sponsors,
and being a role model for children across
the world. Now with all that has happened to
Woods, PGA professional golfer, his reputation
is tarnished and now the rebuilding will begin.
Woods has been on his scandalous run for
at least three years now, according to Fox News.
The famous athlete has been married for five
years to Swedish model Elin Nordegren.
Woods has been the feature star for
sponsors such as Nike and Gatorade for several
years but with this latest scandal, Gatorade has
decided to drop him.
Woods has been an icon in the golf world
for about a decade now. He has been the face
of the PGA tour and a role model for kids
everywhere. His incredible attention to detail
and his endless pursuit of being the best has
been a model for not only up and coming
golfers but also other athletes.
This latest episode just proves that no one
is perfect. All the role models you might have
once loved to see succeed you now love to see
lose. Tiger Woods is not the only celebrity
to mess up and certainly will not be the last.
Superstars like Alex Rodriguez and Kobe
Bryant have their baggage. It is a shame to see
Woods’ name linked with them now.
He has tarnished his long lived reputation.
However, I think it is safe to say that his golfing
reputation might survive.
Many analysts have started to move past all
the scandal and have begun to think about how
this will affect his golf career. Will it motivate
or will he crumble under the pressure? But
honestly people, he is still Tiger Woods. The
man that won 54 times in a row when having a
54-hole lead. He will become even better now.