16 It`s a year of surprisesat the Australian Open

Volume 43, Issue 5
16
The Cougar Chronicle
Sports
February 25, 2011
Cougar Chronicle
The
Photos by Courtney Barnard
It’s a year of surprises at the Australian Open
Caitlin Smith
Sports Reporter
The 2011 Australian Open didn’t
exactly end as expected. The number
one seed Rafael Nadal went down in the
quarterfinals in straight sets to his fellow
countryman David Ferrar, according to
official results posted on ESPN’s website,
espn.com. Nadal’s game quickly declined
after taking a medical time-out early in
the first set. The fan and analyst favorite
World number two Roger Federer fell
in the semifinals in straight sets to the
eventual Grand Slam champion Novak
Djokovic. Djokovic defeated Scotsman
Andy Murray 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 in the finals to
win his second Australian Open title.
In Women’s singles, formerly retired
Kim Clijsters defeated Li Na 3-6, 6-3,
6-3. In an Associated Press article on
espn.com, Clijsters said that this would
probably be her last full season on the
tennis world tour.
In Men’s doubles, American twin
brothers Bob and Mike Bryan won their
fifth Australian Open title, beating Indian
team Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes
in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.
In their entire bid for the
title, the Bryans only
dropped one set, in a
match against fellow
Americans Scott Lipsky
and Rajeev Ram.
In Women’s doubles,
the number one seed
team of Argentina’s
Gisela Dulko and Italy’s
Flavia Pennetta beat the
number twelve seed team
eliminated in the early rounds of play
and her sister Serena wasn’t even able
to compete. Eighth seed Andy Roddick
fell to Stanislas Wawrinka in the fourth
round in straight sets 3-6, 4-6, 4-6. John
Isner, the man famous for competing in
and winning the longest match in Open
Era tennis, lost to Marin Cilic in the
third round in five sets, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7-5),
6-7(2-7), 7-9.
The Americans didn’t finish as well
as they may have hoped but there are
three more Grand Slam tournaments
still to come this year: the French Open,
Wimbledon, and The US Open. According
to its official website, fft.fr/rolandgarros,
the French Open for 2011 will begin on
of Victoria Azarenka
of Belarus and Maria
Kirilenko of Russia,
2-6, 7-5, 6-1.
In Mixed doubles,
number two seed
Katarina Srebotnik of
Slovenia and Daniel
Nestor of Canada
defeated the team
of Yung-Jan Chan
of Taipei and Paul
Haley of Australia,
Novak Djokovic and Kim Clijsters captured frst at the Aussie
6-3, 3-6, 10-7. The
Open. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.org.
number one seed team
of Americans Liezel
May 17, and end on June 5. According to
Huber and Bob Bryan forfeited in the
atpworldtour.com, Wimbledon will begin
second round.
on June 6, 2011, and will run until July
The first Grand Slam of the year
3. The US Open will run from Aug. 29
was not particularly kind to Americans
through Sept. 11, 2011.
in singles play. Venus Williams was
!
t
u
o
h
S
The Cougar Chronicle
Volume 43, Issue 5
News...4
Letter
f
the Ed rom
itor
When I hear the word “shout,” I
immediately think of the popular 80’s song.
Then I think of the laundry detergent, then,
finnally, I picture actual shouting. There are
so many ways to think about shouting, and
this issue features them all. Well, all except
the laundry detergent.
Find out the scoop on the shouts of
protest in Egypt, then read fellow student’s
opinions on the raging gun control debate.
Expand your musical horizons with a screamo
music review and learn how the shouts and
cheers at sporting events have taken a very
negative twist. This issue is giving a shout out
to everything that makes us shout out!
With all this shouting, this is bound
to be a noisy issue. Anything spark your
interest? Send us a shout out about it by writing to the Chronicle. Your voice just may be
heard above the noise in the next issue. Until
then, use that voice and make some noise.
Hey, no one said we had to use our inside
voices.
“A day of revolution against
torture, poverty,
corruption, and
unemployment.”
Opinion...7
You cannot invade
the mainland
United States.
There would be a
rifle behind every
blade of grass
A&E...8
Sports Editor
Tony Koch
Photo Editor
Courtney Barnard
Art Editor
Alysia Palm
Adviser
Chrystal Wilkeson
Staff
Sammy Bellis
No one seems to be asking the basic question
of whether or not our students are actually
learning as much as they should.
Student Life...12
“I only like facial hair on Jake
It creates a feeling
Gyllenhaal. No one else.”
of excitement that
gets the adrenaline
pumping.
Plushenko even went so far as to step on
the top level when his name was called,
apparently jokingly, before taking his rightful
place on the second tier.
Sports...14
The Chronicle is....
Editor-in-Chief
Kiersten Witkamp
Opinion Editor
Danielle Webb
A&E Editor
Chelsea Purkal
Features Editor
Danielle Faczan
Student Life Editor
Laura Schulte
Features...10
Alicia Blint
Elsa Kern-Lovick
Deanna Menke
Alex Nekvasil
Andy Schoff
Caitlin Smith
Matt Smith
Zak Zahrn
The Cougar Chronicle’s Editorial/Opinion
Policy
The Cougar Chronicle is an official publication of New Prairie
High School. The Chronicle is dedicated to providing the staff
and student body with a medium that delivers the news surrounding New Prairie High School in a timely manner. The opinions
expressed on the Chronicle’s Editorial/Opinion page are not
necessarily the opinions of the Chronicle, of New Prairie High
School, or of the New Prairie United School Corporation.
Sports
The Cougar Chronicle
15
The Packers reclaim
greatness
as long as the Packers have lived, it’s
going to be great to bring that back,”
Hawk stated.
Roethlisberger was left to
The Packers entered the
ponder what could have been his third
postseason as the six seed in the National
championship victory.
Football Conference and defeated
“I feel like I let the city of
Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Chicago to earn Pittsburgh down, the fans, my coaches and
Tony Koch
a trip to Super Bowl XLV. The victory
my teammates and it’s not a good feeling,”
Sports Editor
was especially gratifying for Super Bowl
Roethlisberger said.
Most Valuable Player, quarterback Aaron
Longtime Packers fan senior Tim
Rodgers. Rodgers threw for 304 yards and Bacon recollected the final moments of the
th
On February 6 , the Green Bay
tossed three touchdown passes. With a
game.
Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers
terrific season and a championship under
“It was cool that it was a close
31-25 in Super Bowl
game, I tried to
XLV at Cowboy Stadium
not get nervous
in Arlington, Texas. The
and when the Pack
victory marked the fourth
clinched it I just
time the Packers won the
went nuts!” Bacon
Lombardi Trophy, the Super
laughed.
Bowl championship named
On the other
after Green Bay’s famous
side, Steelers
coach Vince Lombardi. The
fan senior Shane
Steelers fell short in their
Dubich felt misery.
attempt to win their seventh
“I teared up
championship, their third in
a bit, but at least
six years.
we’ve won two
Green Bay
titles since 2005,”
jumped out to an early
Dubich replied.
14-0 lead, helped by
For the second
Steeler’s quarterback Ben
straight year,
Roethlisberger’s interception
the Super Bowl
that Packer’s Nick Collins
has broken the
returned 37 yards for a
American television
touchdown. The Packers
rating. According to
offense stalled the entire
ESPN.com, Super
third quarter, which led the
Bowl XLV had
Steelers to cut Green Bay’s
an estimated 111
lead to 21-17 entering the
million viewers.
fourth quarter. However,
The season finale
unlike previous times this
Aaron Rodgers now has a championship of his own. Photo courtesy of Creative
of MASH held the
season, there would be
Commons.org.
record for 27 long
no improbable comeback
years. Now, it’s
win for Pittsburgh. Green
ranked third behind
Bay scored ten more points, compared
his belt, Rodgers appears to have silenced
Super Bowls XLIV and XLV.
to Pittsburgh’s eight. The Steelers had
the doubters who said Rodgers couldn’t
This just proves that football is
the ball with a minute remaining and a
accomplish what Brett Favre did for the
without a shadow of a doubt, America’s
timeout, but turned the ball over on downs team during his fabulous career.
most watched sport. And it seems like it
when Roethlisberger’s pass intended for
Packers linebacker AJ Hawk
will stay that way for years to come.
receiver Mike Wallace went incomplete,
spoke of the Lombardi Trophy to
thus killing Pittsburgh’s chances of
Foxsports.com, “That is where it belongs,
winning.
14
The Cougar Chronicle
Sports
Is sportsmanship a thing of
the past?
the Winter Olympic games, after Russian
men’s figure skater Evgeni Plushenko lost
the gold medal to American Evan Lysacek,
Plushenko made many comments about
Evan needs a medal more than I do.”
According to another article on espn.com
by Jim Caple, during the medal ceremony,
Plushenko even went so far as to step on
the top level when his name
Caitlin Smith
was called, apparently jokingly
Sports Reporter
before taking his rightful place
on the second tier.
The coaches are not guiltless
Recently, more and more
in the situation either. In 2009,
stories of unsportsmanlike conduct
according to an Associated Press
from fans and athletes have been
article on foxnews.com, a Texas
reported at both the amateur and
high school girl’s basketball
professional levels. Is it a sign that
coach was fired after his team
decorum is no longer an important
beat an opponent 100-0. The
feature of the sporting event
head coach and some of the
atmosphere?
assistants did not deter the girls
During a New Prairie High
from pursuing the blow out, a
School boy’s basketball game
few even cheering them on as
against Jimtown on January 14,
the score approached 100 points.
2011, two Jimtown fans were
Many were outraged by the
ejected from the game after rude
performance, believing the team
behavior and comments towards the
should have taken it easier on
officials. According to a news brief
the other team.
about the incident posted on fox28.
However, the situation
com, the couple refused to leave the
presents an entirely different
gym and the man allegedly shoved
problem of where the line is
an officer that was called in to
between good sportsmanship
escort them out. It was also claimed
and playing to the best of your
that the woman smelled of alcohol.
ability. Many of the fans thought
There have been drastic
the girls’ team should have
examples of fan misconduct over
requested an early end to the
the past few years, including
game. However, in basketball,
an incident in 2007 when angry
there is no “mercy ending” as
fans rained bottles, cans, other
there is in softball.
garbage, and toilet paper on
In sports, there are rule and
Jeff Gordon’s car during a race.
guidelines
set out to organize
Plushenko’s sportsmanship was in question after the 2010 OlymAccording to an article by J. Nire on
the
event
and
keep the action
pics. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.org.
associatedcontent.com, as Gordon
fair. The second those rules
took his victory lap after earning
are ignored, the integrity of
his 77th win, fans threw the items at
Lysacek being unqualified to be the gold
the sporting event is challenged. Whether
Gordon, displeased that Gordon had now
medalist as he was unable to perform a
people like it or not, there are definite
surpassed Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s number of
quadruple jump in competition, a move
things that fans and players cannot do.
career wins.
Plushenko was known for, according to
The rules are essentials that cannot be
Even more shocking than disorderly
and Associated Press article on espn.com.
undermined.
fans is when an athlete openly exhibits
Plushenko also said through a translator,
a lack of sportsmanship. In 2010, during
“I was positive that I won. But I suppose
News
The Cougar Chronicle
3
Fixing the deficit
plan left only $1 billion in the projected
2015 shortfall and had a surplus of $96
billion by 2030. “You must weigh the
News Reporter
cost versus the benefit,” he said of his
decision process. “Are [these] things
It’s all over the news these days: the
truly worth what we pay for them? I
looming deficit, the colossal national debt,
say no. Therefore, these things must be
the holes in the budget. It’s difficult to
eliminated.”
know if there’s a difference between the
If two New Prairie students can fix, or
three, or what sort of state the country is
come close to fixing the budget, why can’t
in.
our government? Fischer had an opinion
According to treasurydirect.gov, the
on this. “People can’t agree because
federal deficit is the annual difference
different things affect different people and
between what
most people
the government
don’t want
spends and what
to get the
the government
short end
takes in through
of the stick.
taxes and other
They’d
means. Basically,
rather
however much
have the
money we
budget fixed
spent that we
without
cannot pay back
being
is the deficit.
affected by
The Center
its changes.”
for American
The
Progress says that
deficit, the
the debt is what
budget, and
the government
the debt
borrows to pay
are very
for the deficit.
complicated
There are other
and require
complicating
more time
factors, such
and space to
Congress can choose to increase or decrease spending on any discretionary programs in a given year.
as off-budget
fully analyze
Congress creates a program and then determines who is eligible for the program. How much is spent is
expenses, but
them. The
that is the simple determined by how many people will be eligible. These programs make up mandatory spending. Mandatory decisions
spending makes up about two-thirds of of the total federal budget. Information found at nationalpriorities.org
definition. The
the nation’s
budget, according
government
to The Washington Post, “estimates
$428 billion in 2013. “I didn’t think it was makes about spending and raising taxes
spending, revenue (i.e. taxes), and
really that hard [to fix the budget]; there
affect the entire country. Whoever does
borrowing levels for the fiscal year.”
were a lot of options to choose from,”
end up with the short end of the stick
The New York Times has an interactive Fischer said.
won’t be pleased, so Congress must spend
application on their website that allows
Senior Eric Barber didn’t quite fix
as much time as possible trying to find a
users to manipulate the budget to try to
the budget, but came very close. He,
compromise. It’s easy to fix the budget
fix the deficit. They use a projected 2015
too, cut foreign aid in half and reduced
if all a person has to do is press a few
shortfall of $418 billion and a projected
troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he
buttons. But when lives are taken into
2030 shortfall of $1,345 billion. They give also reduced the country’s nuclear arsenal
account, every option must be considered
users options of things to cut, such as the
and space spending. In the end, Barber’s
more carefully.
Deanna Menke
amount of foreign aid the country gives.
They also offer the choice to enact certain
things, like medical malpractice reform
or a carbon tax. Sophomore Lisa Fischer
and senior Eric Barber both went to the
website and tried to fix the federal budget.
Sophomore Lisa Fischer cut the foreign
aid in half, reduced the federal workforce
by ten percent, reduced troops in Iraq and
Afghanistan, and enacted a national sales
tax, among other things. With all of her
choices in place, she fixed the deficit and
had a surplus of $28 billion in 2015 and
4
The Cougar Chronicle
News
Peaceful protests in Egypt turn violent
Kiersten Witkamp
Editor-in-Chief
On January 25, 2011
citizens of Egypt began
protesting against their
President, Hosni Mubarak.
Protests escalated until they
became full-fledged riots,
reaching their worst point
on January 28 and then
maintaining a high level of
violence and intensity ever
since. Dubbed “a day of
revolution against torture,
poverty, corruption, and
unemployment,” the riots were
inspired by the recent riots in
nearby Tunisia, according to
Yahoo News.
In an attempt to maintain
his power and gain the support
of the army, Mubarak ordered
his advisors to resign and then
appointed army officials to
the recently vacated positions,
reported the New York Times.
Omar Suleiman, the Head
of Military Intelligence, was
appointed as vice president
while Ahmed Shafik, the Air
Force Chief, was named as
prime minister.
The attempt was not enough
to placate the angry nation,
however. According to the
New York Daily News, the
army said on January 28 that
it would not stand in the way
of the protestors, claiming
that they had “legitimate”
grievances.
Wanting to at least retain
power until the end of his
term as president, Mubarak
announced on Wednesday,
February 1 that he would not
be running for reelection in
the next presidential election,
reported CBS news. President
Posters were popular ways to get a message across during the
recent Egyptian protests. Photo taken by Nick Bygon.
Obama strongly encouraged
this declaration from Mubarak,
an action that has sparked
controversy in the U.S.
“I think it’s stupid that
people are trying to push our
leaders to choose a side,”
commented senior David
Pietrzak.
Though this declaration by
Mubarak is the closest the
President has come to stepping
down, demonstrators were still
not pleased. Crowds ranged
anywhere from 800,000 to
2 million at Tahrir Square,
a popular gathering place in
Cairo, meaning “liberation
square.” Much of their unrest
stemmed from poor economic
conditions in the country.
According to Yahoo News,
approximately 40 million
Egyptians live under or just
over the poverty level, which
is set at $2 a day, roughly half
the population of the African
country. A high unemployment
rate and high food prices also
fueled the revolution.
Adding fuel to the
protesters fire were the recent
elections held in the country.
Mubarak’s party, the National
Democratic Party, won all
but a small number of seats
in Egypt’s form of congress,
leading to widespread belief
that the elections were rigged.
Not the entire country was
against the almost 30-year
president. On Feb. 2, Mubarak
supporters started protests
of their own, reported the
New York Times. Violently
attacking the anti-Mubarak
demonstrators, 3 people were
killed and more than 600 were
wounded, on Feb. 2 alone.
The death totals for the week
reached 150 by the morning of
Feb. 3.
While most of New Prairie
is unaffected by the events in
Egypt, a few students do have
opinions.
“If the president leaves,
the price of gas will skyrocket
because the U.S and [President
Mubarak] are allies. If
someone else comes in, it will
most likely be a dictator and
he’ll want the most money he
can get out of us,” said senior
Brian Jaybar.
The riots finally ended
on Feb. 11 when President
Mubarak officially stepped
down. Control of the country
has been given to the military
who is already developing
methods to give the people the
change they want. Student Life
The Cougar Chronicle
13
The circle of promise
Laura Schulte
Student LIfe Editor
Abstinence is a touchy
subject in high school. Some
teenagers seem to not be able
to grasp the idea, while others
seem to know exactly what
it is. Purity rings seem to be
becoming more popular among
the students of New Prairie.
A purity ring is a ring, worn
on the left ring finger that
signifies the choice to stay pure
until marriage. When one gets
engaged, the ring can then be
replaced with an engagement
Art by Alex Nekvasil
ring. While purity rings gain
more popularity, students are
willing to share their opinions.
“I wear my ring as a
reminder of my personal
beliefs and my life choice,”
said junior Allyson Smith.
“It’s a way to remind yourself
what your values are. It’s a
way to say no.”
This is a choice that is
debated by many people.
Continued from page 5
“I don’t think that [purity
rings] mean anything,” stated
junior Alyssia Smith, who
had a very different opinion.
“It’s not going to do anything,
because it’s just a ring.”
“They’re pointless,” junior
Alicia Borden agreed. “You
don’t need a ring to keep that.”
“I really don’t believe in
it. It just depends on your
family,” said senior McKenzie
Schulte: What is your favorite sport to go
to games for?
Charlie: Football games are my favorite
because of the fans.
Schulte: Where does your school spirit
come from?
Charlie: I go to the game and I suppose I
have to do something. The spirit doesn’t
really come from anywhere.
Schulte: What is your favorite memory as
the Cougar so far?
Charlie: I landed a flip at the varsity game
Friday [1/28]. Wait, actually I landed two.
Schulte: Which sports events do you
attend?
Charlie: I go to boys varsity games, and
boys J.V. games if they’re right before the
varsity games.
Schulte: What does it take to be the
cougar?
Charlie: It takes endurance, strength,
flexibility, energy, and school spirit. Oh,
and it takes a lot of sweat.
Photos by Courtney Barnard
McKnight. “It just depends
on family, religion, and on
yourself.”
Purity rings aren’t just
popping up at New Prairie,
either. A web search for
purity rings brings up many
sites where one can research,
browse, or buy the ring of your
choice. According to the New
York Times, between 1996
and 2005, some 50,000 teens
started wearing purity rings.
While this number seems high,
the truth is that a large number
of teens don’t wear purity
rings, and don’t ever plan to do
so. What it all comes down to
is what your beliefs are.
Furry
Voice
Student Life
trend hits
New Prairie
The facial hair of NPHS
Photos by Sammi Bellis
Teacher Kim Zhart
Junior Jay Rose and Senior Jacob Mireles
Sophomore Paige
Smales remarked that, “Facial
hair… is fantastic.”
Health academy
teacher Tonya Aerts claimed,
“ I only like facial hair on Jake
Gyllenhaal. No one else.”
It seems that the
reason for guys to grow facial
hair is either out of laziness, or
to start a new trend. Girls seem
to think it’s either gross or drop
dead sexy. Whether one likes
to grow a long facial mane, or
carry around a Schick razor to
shave each strand off, there’s
no doubt the new popularity is
facial hair.
I think it’s really
showi ng that democracy is a good thing.
People want democ racy
over there. -Senio r
Patric k Andre ws
I think it’s sad that he’s not
doing anything about the
poverty and unemployment and that he’s not taking care of his people. They
have a right to be upset.
-Junior Clare Maki
I think it’s good because if
they didn’t [protest] he’d
be in power and they’d
be unhappy for the rest of
their lives. -Senior Bianca
Salgado
They need to get rid of
the current government
and get a new government that understands
what people really need
and not a dictatorship.
-Junior Samantha Jones
I’m glad the President stepped down.
-Senior Chad Wines
If tensions don’t
shape up, we’ll
have World War
III. -Senior Eric
Barber
The spirit of high school sports: Charlie Cougar
Senior Sebastian Heyn
Since the beginning
of mankind, men have been
growing hair on their faces.
Each man has a certain pride
in their facial hair; they like
that I have facial hair. Shaving
is a burden.”
“I think facial hair is
pretty much the coolest thing
ever,” junior Trent Mellinger
pronounced. “I can’t grow it
very well but I do my best.
My goal is to bring back the
mustache.”
Senior Brian Jaybar
mentioned, “It makes you look
tough, like a wild animal.”
But when New Prairie
girls were asked, they had
mixed opinions about men
with facial hair.
Sophomore Haley
Sheedy stated that, “Furriness
is gross!”
Students speak out about
controversy in Egypt
Senior Alex Macleod
Matt Smith
Student Life Reporter
to grow it in their own unique
style, whether it be a goatee,
a mustache, lamb chops, a
chinstrap, the fu man chu, the
Mr. Miagi, the cop stache, the
classic Grizzly Adams, the
trash stache, the Castaway
beard, or one can just be babyfaced. When asked what they
like about facial hair, here’s
what New Prairie guys had to
say.
“I just don’t want to
cut it. I want to see what it’ll
look like after seven months,”
announced junior Jay Rose.
Senior Sebastian
Heyn stated that, “It’s itchy,
and it’s just because I’m lazy
5
The Cougar Chronicle
Charlie Cougar has come to be an
expected fixture at New Prairie sports
games. He brings spirit to the crowds
of fans in the bleachers while our team
plays to victory. Whether he’s doing flips
or just hanging out in the crowd, Charlie
is there with his spirit. That’s why he’s
been given the spirit award in this issue
of the newspaper! Recently the Cougar
Chronicle got to sit down with him for an
exclusive interview.
“
Schulte: What is your job as the Cougar?
Charlie: My job is to entertain people. I hold kids,
give high fives, etcetera. Oh, and I also do flips and
other cool stuff.
“
12
The Cougar Chronicle
Trying to pump up the
crowd - thats what I’ll always remember, pumping
up the crowd.
Continued on page 13
6
The Cougar Chronicle
Opinion
A goal for America
Features
Accents liven up everyday activities
Danielle Faczan
Features Editor
Danielle Webb
Opinion Editor
From the beginning of Barack
Obama’s presidential campaign platform
he clearly stated his goal of passing a
national healthcare bill. Many presidents
have tried, but President Obama has
actually taken tremendous steps towards
accomplishing this goal.
However, this goal will continue to be
blocked by people who constantly argue
it. These are the same people who can’t
accept change. Their arguments are getting
tired; they keep stating points that have
already been stated.
44th President Barack Obama
Between
its being “too expensive, or giving too
much control to the government, as well
as it is socialism.”
Caduceus,Symbol for medical science
Democrats, thankfully, are celebrating
the landmark bill that was passed to be a
$940 billion measure.
Numerous times skeptics have given
explanations of how they will benefit our
country. Yet these skeptics only hear what
they want to hear. America was the only
industrialized country that did not have
some form of universal healthcare. Why?
Why can’t a country as great as ours, try
to better itself? Why are some people in
expensive suits determining if this is right
for our country?
The health care bill will help every
American; help the economy, and even
small business’s.
This would benefit any small business
company that does not provide health
insurance. They’ll be able to factor in this
new benefit in deciding what to do. With
the money they save, employers are able
to cover an additional worker and even
hire an extra employee.
With this new bill, small businesses
are immediately eligible for a tax credit
covering 35 percent of the premiums paid
to help cover workers, according to CNN.
Our nation is divded there are forces
in America trying to prevent health coverage to every Americans. Why does income
have to determine the health coverage
you get? Is it fair to deny decent medical
attention to every person, regardless of
the money you make? No, and this is why
universal healthcare can benefit America
on a higher level.
Progress is well on its way for each
American to be allowed to reap the
benefits of this bill. Obama joked around
with CNN and stated, “So after I signed
the bill, I looked up to see if there were
any asteroids headed our way. I looked at
the ground to see if the cracks had opened
up in the earth. It turned out to be a pretty
nice day. Nobody had pulled the plug on
Granny. Nobody was being dragged away
to be forced into some government plan.”
11
The Cougar Chronicle
Countries around
the world have their
own specific accents,
though some are more
well-known than others.
Many of them are popular
amongst New Prairie
students, who enjoy
copying foreign accents
for entertainment. They
are used for games,
during conversations, and
to mess with friends.
“Accents are a free,
simple way to have
fun,” stated freshman
Jennifer Cowger, who
enjoys imitating British,
Jamaican, and southern
accents with her friends.
“And I really want to
have an English accent.”
“I get bored, so
sometimes it’s just fun
to pretend to be someone
else,” added junior Kala
Erickson.
Among the various
accents used by students
at New Prairie, British,
Australian, Arabian, and
Russian were mentioned
most. Senior Andrew
Saylor uses a New
Zealand/Australian accent
because of his heritage,
while senior Shawn
Fleming made up an
Arabian/Russian accent
while playing monopoly
with his friends.
Though it’s clear
that Americans enjoy
imitating accents,
there are millions of
people inhabiting other
countries. Unless one
visits or has friends in
those countries, it’s hard
telling whether copying
accents is popular there
as well. Saylor believes
they don’t, because when
he visited New Zealand
no one tried to copy his
accent. Sophomore Kyle
Kenyon disagreed.
“I think they do. It just
seems to be entertaining,
so it could be a universal
thing that everybody likes
to do.”
“The U.S. can’t be
the only country to do
it,” added junior Moryah
Richardson simply.
In fact, it is not.
Melissandre Francois,
a second year student
at Saint Adjutor High
School in France,
explained that imitating
accents is just as popular
in Europe.
“I used to speak in
French with a Chinese,
German, or Spanish
accent. Sometimes I
[copy] the English one,
too. Some [of my] friends
can [imitate] the African
or Algerian [accents].
That is so much fun! We
Art by: Alex Nekvasil
10
The Cougar Chronicle
Features
Opinion
The Cougar Chronicle
Study shows lack in students’
education
Elsa Kern-Lovick
Features Reporter
In a recent study done and
published by Richard Arum
and Josipa Roksa, authors of
Academically Adrift, it was
found that college students
may not be learning and
gaining as much from college
as one would, and should,
expect.
Despite the fact that
tuition costs are soaring, and
the percentage of students
attending college grows
annually, no one seems to be
asking the basic question of
whether or not our students
are actually learning as much
as they should. According
to Arum and Roksa’s results
in their research, the answer
seems to be no. As The
University of Chicago Press
reports, the research behind
Academically Adrift consisted
of survey responses, transcript
data, and the “state-of-theart” Collegiate Learning
Assessment. This assessment
is a standardized test given
to college students during
their first semester and then
administered once again at the
end of their second year.
Their results yielded
this: “Of more than 2,300
undergraduates at twenty-four
institutions, 45 percent of
those students demonstrated
no significant improvement
in a range of skills.” These
skills include critical thinking,
complex reasoning, and
writing. The study also showed
that many students graduated
without knowing how to
differentiate between fact and
opinion.
As troubling as these
findings may be, Arum and
Roksa argue that “for many
faculty and administrators
[the data] will come at no
surprise. Instead, [the data is]
Art by Alex Nekvasil
the expected result of a student
body distracted by socializing
or working and an institutional
culture that puts undergraduate
learning close to the bottom of
the priority list.”
InsideHigherEd.com reports
some results of the research.
One such result was that 45
percent of students “did not
demonstrate any significant
improvement in learning”
during the first two years of
college and that 36 percent of
students did not demonstrate
improvement in learning over
four years of college. Although
these numbers and results may
be daunting, there were some
positive results as well.
“Students who study
by themselves for more
hours each week gain more
knowledge, and students
who engage in off campus
or extra-curricular activities
(including clubs and volunteer
opportunities) have no notable
gains or losses in learning,”
according to InsideHigherEd.
com.
Some New Prairie
students shared their opinions
concerning the research and
statistics.
“The statistics were
shocking, but it’s not really
surprising because many
students have a problem
with socializing instead of
focusing on school work,” said
sophomore Melanie Toledo.
Sophomore Andrew
Andy Schoff
Musgrave suggested, “Maybe
the teachers should use
different methods on how they
teach, and socializing isn’t a
problem just in college.”
There were differing
opinions from students, and
some questioned the accuracy
of the research and were quick
to remind that the statistics are
only statistics.
“You have to remember that
[the data is] based on averages;
the information only applies to
a majority,” said junior Mark
Cichos. Senior Shane Dubich
agreed.
“My brother was in a
fraternity for his five years of
college, but it didn’t mess with
his education.”
To some, this study and its
results may come as a surprise
and to some, it may not. Either
way, this issue has proven
itself to be a pressing issue in
today’s education system, and
the authors who conducted the
study, Arum and Roksa, have
brought it to light.
Opinion Writer
Gun
control is a
very important topic of
debate in today’s society.
According to
www.dosomething.org,
over 3000
young people
were killed by
firearms in the
United States
during 2005,
and over 80%
of murder
victims aged
12 to 24 years
old were
killed by firearms. Because of the second
amendment of the Constitution, we as
Americans reserve our right to bear arms.
But do Americans in today’s society actually need guns, or are they just an unnecessary cause of death?
Many Americans today would agree
that guns are not necessary for the public.
“Guns need to be controlled. Most
teenagers who get a gun probably don’t
have a good purpose for them,” junior Cris
Shumate commented.
According to www.wikipedia.org, firearm related deaths are the second leading
cause of death for people under 19 in the
United States, with car accidents in first
7
Gun control;
good or bad?
place. Just about 34 percent of American
households own a gun, which translates to
about one gun for one in every ten families.
Without proper gun control laws, we may
see an increase in firearm related homicides
and suicides within our lifetimes. More strict
gun control laws may be a way to help keep
young people safe. However, some disagree.
Junior Troy Scott stated, “I don’t think
gun control laws would help, there’d still be
ways to get guns.”
A lot of Americans would also agree that
guns should not be controlled. According
to www.gunowners.org, people use guns in
self defense about 2.5 million times per year,
that’s about 6,850 times per day. Thanks to
concealed carrying permits, crime rates have
also dropped substantially. In 2006, because
of concealed carrying permits, the rate of
murders and rapes dropped by about 25%.
There are plenty of facts supporting both
sides of the argument for gun control. Guns
have molded American society into what
it’s become today, it has also shaped
the world around the United States. In
a quote from Japanese Naval Marshal
General Isoroku Yamamato, he said
“You cannot invade the mainland United
States. There would be a rifle behind
Photo by: Alysia Palm
every
blade
of grass.” Regardless of the truth of his
statement, the people who founded our
country gave us the right to bear arms.
Whatever it’s hunting or even self defense, we as Americans reserve the right
to own guns if we wish. Our founding
fathers reserved us the right to protect
ourselves with firearms. As long as the
second amendment remains, and we are
still living in a free nation, guns will
remain a part of our society.
Arts &
Entertainment
Cowell. A year ago, Paula Abdul retired
from the judges’ stand and was replaced
by songwriter Kara DioGuardi and talk
thoughts about their new zodiac signs.
“I don’t like the new change because
they
have been the old way for so long
One’s zodiac sign is determined by
and
everyone
is stuck on their sign,”
when they are born and this is one thing
began
junior
Allyson
Smith. “Even if
that stays with a person for their whole
you
don’t
believe
the
zodiacs come true,
life. So why change it now? According to
it
was
just
a
thing
you’ve
had that’s been
the washingtonpost.com, Parke Kunkle,
the
same
for
a
long
time.”
a board member of the Minnesota
Senior Eric Barber stated, “I think it
Planetarium Society, discovered the new
shouldn’t have
changed, I was
born a Virgo
Capricorn: January 20-February 16
and I’ll always
Aquarius: February 16-March 11
be a Virgo.”
A big part
Pisces: March 11-April 18
of the whole
Aries: April 18-May 13
debate comes
from a divide in
Taurus: May 13-June 21
the astrological
Gemini: June 21-July 20
world: tropical
Cancer: July 20-August 10
vs. sidereal
zodiac.
Leo: August 10-September 16
According to
Virgo: September 16-October 30
Eric Francis of
Planet Wave,
Libra: October 30-November 23
“Kunkle is
Scorpio: November 23-November 29
describing what
Ophiuchus: November 29-Decemeber 17 is called the
Sagittarius: December 17-Jamuary 20 sidereal zodiac:
the backdrop
of the stars. It’s
not the zodiac
used
by
most
Western
astrologers;
it’s
changes with the zodiac signs. These
the
one
used
by
Vedic
astrologers,
the
signs were created some 2,000 years ago
kind in India, and a few in our part of the
by tracking where the sun was in the
world. Here in the West, we use a zodiac
sky each month. However, the moon’s
that follows the seasons. It’s called the
gravitational pull has slowly moved the
tropical zodiac. It’s based on the position
Earth in its axis, creating about a oneof the Sun’s rays and the tropics -- that’s
month bump in the stars’ alignment.
why it’s called tropical.” With that
Now, during what we think as the month
thought, we can put aside the new zodiac
of Pisces, the sun is actually in the sign
signs and go on living under the sign
of Aries. Also, a thirteenth zodiac sign,
we’ve always been.
Ophiuchus, has been added.
New Prairie students have many
Chelsea Purkal
A&E Editor
New zodiac signs
create controversy
Alicia Blint
A&E Reporter
Many reality shows give people
chances to make their dreams come
true. As with anything, adjustments
to each show are made as the years
go by. However, the changes that
they make are a gamble sometimes.
American Idol is a reality
television competition to find
solo singing talents. According
to Nielsen ratings, it is the mostwatched TV series. American Idol
was created by Simon Fuller as
a spin-off from a British reality
show called Pop Idol. The reality
television show gives just about
anyone a chance to make their
dream of singing come true.
The contestants must first face
three judges to receive a golden
ticket to go to Hollywood and then
try to earn millions of viewer’s
votes to win.
The original judges of American
Idol were Grammy Award-winning
record producer and music manager
Randy Jackson, Grammy Awardwinning pop singer and Emmy
Award-winning choreographer
Paula Abdul, and Award-winning music
executive and music manager Simon
singer/actress Jennifer Lopez and lead
singer of Aerosmith Steven Tyler,
according to New York Times. As of
January 2011 the only one left of the
original judges is Randy Jackson. The
leaving of Paula Abdul and Simon
Cowell made a big change for the
reality show, but not very many liked
the change.
“I don’t like the change up in the
judges,” began junior Faith Temple.
“The originals are what gave the show
their big hit and personally, to me, it
was all about the judges.”
Freshman Alexis Luke-Gouger said,
“I don’t think that Paula and Simon
should have left. Simon was a classic
and he pushed the contestants to try
harder. I love American Idol and I think
that not many teens watch it anymore
because of the judges.”
“I only watch the auditions because
that’s the best part. American Idol isn’t
the same without Paula and Simon
and I think that’s why teens don’t
watch it as much,” added junior Katie
McKnight.
Sometimes a change could be good,
but in this case it may not had favored
so well for American Idol.
Music: the expression of oneself
through sound and something many
people in the world enjoy. Music comes
in many different styles. For instance,
rap, metal, and country are all different
forms of music that people enjoy. And
for good reason. Music has the ability to
bring out the best, and worst in people,
sometimes helping us understand certain
life situations. Screamo music is no
different, though it uses some very
different techniques.
“I don’t mind it,” said senior Kaite
Garoutte. “ A little bit is tolerable in some
songs.”
When some people think of screamo,
they think just that: screams. It does
indeed involve screaming, though
not always as much as people think.
Some bands, A Day To Remember, for
instance, does quite a lot of clean vocals
as well as screams. It creates a feeling
of excitement that gets the adrenaline
Zak Zahrn
A&E Reporter
pumping.
“I think it revolves around gothic, emo,
depressed, angry people,” said junior Tim
Starkey.
Screamo songs can give off a sense
of anger, with open notes and growls
however that is not the only feel it gives
off. Junior Tiara Degroote said she listens
to screamo music “to get pumped up
about something,” as well as to release
anger. Many people yell and scream out
of excitement, whether it’s at a football
game, or from getting a car for ones 16th
birthday. Screamo bands just take that
excitement and put it to music.
“Not so much around here, moreso
in LaPorte,” said senior Bianca Salgado,
when asked if she thought screamo music
was becoming popular. Not many people
enjoy the growls and gulterals screamo
music brings to the table, but more and
more are beginning to see that it isn’t all
angry and demonic. Some bands actually
do sing about morals, and never giving
up. In reality, it is just music, like all other
forms.
Screamo music takes
center stage
show host/actor and comedian Ellen
DeGeneres. Simon Cowell retired the
judges’ stand, only to be replaced by
Art by: Alex Nekvasil
American Idol makes a change
8&9
The Cougar Chronicle
Art by: Alysia Palm