March 2010 - Crown Point Community School

INKLINGS
March 26, 2010 •
Volume 74 Issue 7 • Crown Point High School • 1500 S. Main Street Crown Point, IN 46307 • [email protected]
Drunk Driving: Police crack down on deadly trend page 3
Plastic surgery: Teens go under the knife page 6
HIGH SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS: What teens should know about their relationships
News
“Portrait of
a Graduate”
Day
Seniors visit a
college, do
service hours, or
job shadow while
underclassmen
test.
pg. 2
News
New classes
offered
Read changes
in courses for
the 2010-2011
school year.
Wrongs of
passage
What may start out as an
innocent prank can
turn into deadly
consequences
pg. 3
Feature
By Deanna Sheafer and Lauren McCarroll
co-editor-in-chief and staff reporter
Procrastinating
Hints on how to
stay motivated
through the end of
the school year.
What started out in college fraternities has
spread to high schools in America, from Indiana
to California. Hazing, as a form of initiation,
occurs in all types of groups. Publicized incidents
include binge drinking, nudity, sexual abuse, and
physical violence.
According to Alfred University’s national
survey of American high schools, 48 percent
of students have reported being subjected to
activities deemed hazing. That means roughly 1.5
million high school students are exposed to some
sort of hazing every year. Some of these rituals
have even resulted in death.
Indiana Law defines hazing as forcing or
requiring another person, with or without their
pg. 7
Feature
How to write
a scholarship
essay
page 9
consent,
to
perform
an
act that creates
a substantial risk of
bodily injury.
Unlike
bullying, hazing pertains to
a severe form of humiliation and
degradation as an initiation to become
part of a group. Of the few incidents that
are reported, one recent Indiana situation
sparked an increased awareness that may cause
schools to be more sensitive to this drastic form
of bullying.
An alleged hazing incident involving several
basketball players at Carmel High School occurred
on Jan. 22. News reports say that on the way home
from a Carmel basketball game at Terre Haute,
five students were involved in a hazing situation
that may result in criminal charges.
Three senior players were accused of hazing
two freshmen boys. Specific details regarding the
attacks have not been disclosed at this time. After
this incident was reported, another student came
forth with allegations of hazing that occurred in
the school’s locker room. Four suspensions have
resulted, as well as a police investigation.
This incident has reminded schools
throughout Indiana of the repercussions hazing
can bring.
“Carmel is a great school, and it happened to
them. If it can happen to them, it can happen to
anyone,” sophomore Justin Ham said.
To combat this sort of situation, Crown Point’s
administration has prohibited hazing at the school
and implemented various anti-bullying programs
to create safe and healthy learning environment
such as Girls Rock! and CASS. Although Carmel’s
story continued on pg. 2
Clubs join efforts for Student Olympics
The do’s & don’ts
of scholarship
essay writing
pg. 10
Check it Out!
Inklings has a
music blog!
With a wide
range of music
updated
regularly,
you’re sure to
find something
you like at...
http://inklings
music.blog
spot.com
By Kelly Rostin
opinion editor
Student
efforts
towards
fundraising
have never seemed so
passionate.
InterAct, Muslim
Student
Association
(MSA), and Key Club,
in association with
National Honor Society
(NHS) and ICE have
all collaborated to put
together the school’s
first Student Olympic
event.
“All of the proceeds
from the entrance fee,
tickets, concessions and
t-shirts will be donated
towards
the
Haiti
Relief effort,” junior
and InterAct member
Kristin Overbey said.
The event, which
took place on March
25, consisted of ten
events including Tug
of War, “Newlywed”
game, basketball game,
hula hoop competition,
pie eating contest,
dodgeball game, trivia
competition, rap battle,
dance-off, and obstacle
course. Students went
head-to-head
with
teachers in each event.
Senior president
of MSA Needa Malik,
and senior presidents
of InterAct Matt Smith
and Blake Zolfo were
in charge of this event.
Malik was extremely
excited for the event to
unfold.
“Planning events
as big as this is really
difficult because there
is so much to consider.
(Blake, Matt and I)
worked endlessly to
set this whole project
up. We were all so
excited to see both the
teachers and students
compete. It was such a
fun event.”
Overbey, who was
in charge of the hula
hoop competition, was
eagerly
anticipating
the event.
“It was really fun
to plan because it’s a
brand new event at
the school,” Overbey
said. “I was extremely
excited for the final
outcome because of
all the hard work that
everybody put into it.”
Teachers were a
pivotal part of making
this event a success.
Members
of
each
club worked hard to
“recruit” teachers to
participate.
“We had a diverse
group of teachers,”
Malik
said.
“We
personally went around
the school to recruit
different
teachers
to get involved. We
wanted a lot of teacher
participation.”
All students were
welcome to either
participate
in
the
activities or to come
and watch the events
unfold.
“It was a lot of
work organizing signups, choosing athletes,
and
communicating
with everyone, but
it was worth it in the
end.” Smith said.
InterAct sponsor
Mary Bachnak thought
that the entire event
was worthwhile.
“The
Olympics
engaged students and
teachers in a fun event
while raising money
towards a good cause
at the same time,”
Bachnak said.
Zolfo, Smith, and
Malik all hope that the
Student Olympics can
become a tradition.
They
all
wanted
as many people to
participate as possible.
Bachnak
is
proud
of the students who
worked diligently on
the project, especially
Malik.
“Needa is fantastic.
She was so well
organized and driven
to plan this event. She’s
such a good leader,”
Bachnak said.
All three students
feel
passionately
about the project that
they worked hard for
months to plan.
“I don’t know if
there was anyone more
excited than me to see
the teachers compete
in all those different
activities. I couldn’t
wait to see how they
handled a little friendly
competition,”
Malik
said.
“The fact that it
was for a great cause
was the icing on top.”
Events
Hula Hoop
Competition
Newlywed
Game
Obstacle
Course
Tug of War
Eating
Competition
Trivia
2
IN
the know
4.4
Easter Sunday
4.6
School resumes
4.14
All City Choral concert
4.20
End of the fifth six weeks
4.23
Special Needs dance; cafeteria
4.22
ASVAB testing
(must sign up in Guidance
prior to testing)
4.28
NHS Induction Ceremony
6:30 p.m.
News
Students focus on career and community
School encourages
6 C’s on “Portrait of
a Graduate” Day
By Anna Ortiz
graphics editor
While seniors were normally
planning their unofficial “senior
ditch day” activities, the high
school administration had created
an event called Portrait of a
Graduate Day that had students
thinking about their futures.
On
March
18,
the
underclassmen engaged in ACT
testing, while seniors were given
an opportunity to not attend
school on the grounds that they
either job-shadow, visit a college
campus, or gain needed volunteer
hours, all of which are part of the
six C’s.
“The intent is to provide our
seniors options to explore a ‘C’ in
the spring,” Dr. Eric Ban said.
According to Ban, college,
career, and community are
among the themes that Portrait of
a Graduate Day will showcase. It
was a product of a much thought
of decision.
“The senior class officers and
sponsor began a discussion about
Inklings ranks
with nation’s best
The 2008-2009 edition of
the Inklings newspaper earned
a top award for scholastic publications at the 86th annual Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s spring convention.
Publications were judged
on writing/editing. design, content, concept, photography, art
and graphics.
Of the 1,558 middle school
and high school magazines,
newspapers, yearbooks and online publications eligible for the
Crown Awards, 33 earned Gold
Crowns, while 110, including
Inklings, received the second
highest CSPA award of Silver
Crown.
Only four Indiana schools
earned Crown Awards, all in
the high school newspaper or
online categories.
The current edition of the
newspaper has advanced to
the finals of the Indiana High
School Press Association’s
Hoosier Star competition, recognizing the best publications
in the state. Recipients will be
announced at the state convention in October.
Photo By A. Parrish
Seniors Becca Duggan, Thomas Vanderplough and Victoria Vingua gaze at a bust of Lincoln at Ball State University. Seniors had the day off to earn a “C- Note.”
how to approach a testing day on
March 18. Through dialog and
brainstorming, the Portrait Day
emerged,” Ban said.
Students agree that this
opportunity helped them in the
long run. Senior Brittney Buher
job shadowed her aunt, who is
Wrongs of passage
continued from pg. 1
handbook forbids initiations and hazing, it
is expressed in a single line which
also prohibits horseplay and roughhousing.
Our handbook says students will not participate in
intimidation of any form, which includes hazing.
Although rules may be on the books, that alone does
not necessarily prevent hazing or raise awareness to the issue.
“Student athletes need to know that adults are mindful of what
is going on -- where they are, and what they’re doing when they are
under our auspices,” basketball coach Clint Swan said. “Boundaries
just get pushed. If you have to ask yourself if something is hazing, it
probably is.”
In many cases, including the Carmel incident, freshmen are
targeted because traditionally they have to go through certain things
as a right of passage.
“Sometimes coaches inadvertently create a hierarchy, like having
freshmen carry seniors’ bags on to the bus for example. That shouldn’t
happen. Athletes should all be treated equally,” Swan said.
Even in the past, hazing predominantly affected underclassmen.
“(Back then) it was normally the upperclassmen that did the hazing.
When I was in school there was a culture of initiation; it seems to have
changed now, but freshmen are still the victims,” Athletic Director Bill
Dorulla said. Overall, the repercussions for any actions deemed hazing depend
on the magnitude of the crime.
“If there were a hazing incident here at CPHS, it would mean
possible expulsion and criminal charges depending on the severity of
the matter,” Dorulla said.
Since Dorulla works primarily with athletes, he would handle any
reported incidents involving sports teams.
“My first action would be to do an investigation. I would bring
Business Professionals qualify for nationals
The Business Professionals of
America have qualified to compete in the national leadership
conference in Anaheim, California from May 5- 9.
Five BPA district leadership
winners, Joe Chapa, Ryan Taylor,
Fiona Alet, Lindsey Wacnik, and
Thomas Vanderplough, competed
in Accounting, Advanced Computer Applications, PC Servicing
and Troubleshooting, Interview
Skills, and Global Marketing at
the state level in Indianapolis.
Nearly 1,900 students attended the event overall. The
CP students earned state finalist
category to qualify them for the
national competition and Wacnik,
Vanderplough and Alet won top
placements in Global Marketing Team and Interviewing Skills
events.
March 26, 2010
Photo Provided
Seniors Thomas Vanderplough,
Lindsey Wacnik and Fiona Alet
pose with their awards.
“The students worked very
hard preparing for their respective events. We met many times
testing, practicing, and revising,” Mary Bachnak, BPA adviser
and CPHS business teacher said.
“Winning national placement is
a terrific honor for our students,”
she added.
Farrell takes third
at state in Speech
Senior Ryan Farrell took
third ar state when he competed
at the 2010 Indiana High School
Forensic League State Speech
Tournament at Fishers High
School on Saturday, March 20.
He received a third place trophy in the discussion event. Farrell received several first place
rankings in individual rounds
as he competed with more than
50 of the top discussion students
from around the state.
“I’m happy with 3rd place,”
Farrell said. “I beat over 40 other
people, so it’s an accomplishment for anyone. Not many
people can say they have done
that. However, I’m still somewhat disappointed. I know that
I could have done better.”
a math teacher at a Dyer middle
school.
“You get to have a chance to
experience a job you would like
to have or do community service
for a day and just take a day off of
school,” Buher said.
Other students took this
opportunity to visit a college
campus of their choice or to
work on gaining much needed
community service hours.
The future generation of
seniors have prospects to a
senior off day next year once
administation talks it over.
in the individuals in and find out what happened. I would also have
to talk to the coaches. For the players, it could mean removal from
the team or if it was a coach’s fault it could mean a disciplining of the
coach,” he said.
However, hazing does not only apply to those involved in athletics.
The Alfred University study found that besides sports teams, groups
involving music, art, theater, or church all had a significant amount
of students being hazed. The realization that this form of bullying can
occur anywhere, even close to home, makes people question where the
behavior is learned.
“Some kids just aren’t taught right from wrong the same anymore.
The school can’t change the way a child was brought up. Nowadays,
many people don’t realize that they must instill good values in their
kids to ensure that they do the right thing,” junior Daniela Gazibara
said.
The reasons behind hazing are complex. Hank Nuwer, a professor at
Franklin College in Indiana, wrote the book “High School Hazing:When
Rites Become Wrongs,” which delves in to some of these reasons.
According to Nuwer’s book, people who haze others are conditioned to
believe it is acceptable because they went through it as rookies too, and
it is just harmless fun. They may rationalize their actions by thinking
the initiation they went through was worse.
For those being hazed or who have seen such incidents, Nuwer’s
book suggests telling a parent or responsible adult instead of covering
it up. This will allow for schools to strengthen their policies and prevent
future wrongdoings. Nuwer also runs a website, hanknuwer.com,
which catalogs hazing incidents and offers tips for victims and parents.
These include urging coaches and sponsors to prevent hazing on buses
and trips, and rethinking traditions that may be harmful to students.
“Sometimes it’s because person doing the hazing feels they are
‘better’ than their victim, or they just know they will get a ‘comical’
reaction out of the victim. [Nevertheless,] there is nothing funny about
hurting someone,” sophomore Cassie Firchau said.
Inklings editor among
seven state finalists
for journalism honor
Inklings editor-in-chief senior
Deanna Sheafer was recognized
as an Indiana Student Journalist
of the Year Finalist at the State
House in Indianapolis.
Sheafer and the six other finalists were awarded plaques by
Diana Hadley, Executive Director
of the Indiana High School Press
Association.
Nick Clooney, long-time news
reporter, editor, and columnist,
addressed the finalists and others in attendance at the IHSPA’s
First Amendment Symposium on
March 3.
“It was really an honor to be
a part of the incredibly talented
group of finalists from all across
the state,” Sheafer said. “The symposium was beautifully executed
Senior Deanna Sheafer poses
with writer Nick Clooney.
with the students’ descriptions
of the various First Amendment
rights and the entertaining, informative speech by Mr. Clooney.”
Sheafer has been involved in
journalism all four years of high
school and on the Inklings staff for
three years.
News
March 26, 2010
New classes offered for next school year
Multitude of creative options available to students
Laws on
drunk driving
reinforced
3
By Dani McCuan
staff writer
Photo by v. needham
Junior Jared Smoot meets with his counselor to compose his school schedule for next year. Many new classes will be
available to students for the 2010-2011 school year.
By Garret Hogan
staff writer
While seniors are waiting for
their acceptance letters to their
college of choice, sophomores,
juniors, and freshmen are making
their schedules for another long
year awaiting them when they
return from summer break.
However, the scheduling process
just became more interesting yet
difficult as new courses have been
added to the list.
From Jewelry Making to
Interpersonal
Relationships,
where you are literally taught how
to make friends, the list consists
of 13 new classes to choose from.
While some students, such as
junior Katie Myers, are ecstatic
for next year to take the course,
some think differently about the
change.
“I think adding even more
classes to the course selection
makes choosing your schedule
even more difficult, and when
you find out that you are too old
to take the classes because they
are only offered to freshman it
becomes very frustrating,” says
sophomore Morgan Shawtell.
Jewelry Making, is a semester
class and has a prerequisite of
2D Art, Sports Entertainment
and Marketing is also a semester
class and has a prerequisite
of
Marketing.
Educational
Psychology is a semester class
and open to only juniors and
seniors,
Photojournalism
is
a semester class and open to
all grades, however you must
have your own digital camera,
Physical Education- Outdoor
Skills requires you to take Core
P.E. and is a semester class open
to juniors and seniors. Medical
Terminology is a full year course
that is half Chemistry which is
open to juniors and seniors only,
and Honors Chemistry is open to
sophomores, juniors, and seniors
and requires you to take biology.
These are a few of the classes that
have made their way onto the
new course list.
While Shawtell is against the
idea of new classes, sophomore
John Stern has different feelings.
“I feel like adding new classes
will help certain students help
them choose a career because now
we have the more classes to teach
new skills,” says Stern.
Completing the new courses
list is Human Biology, which is just
a name change for the previous
Anatomy and Physiology class.
It is open to juniors and seniors
and is a year long course.
Interpersonal Relationships has
been put in place of Adult Roles
and is a semester class. Early
Childhood Development is a
class in which you must have a
GPA of 2.0 and you must fill out
an application for this double
block class. AP Geography is a
year long course that requires you
to have a “B” or better in World
History, although AP Geography
is not printed on the brochure, it
will definitely be a class to choose
from in upcoming years. Lastly,
Construction Processes which
has a prerequisite of Cabinet and
Furniture class. It is a semester
class that is open to sophomores,
juniors, and seniors.
Adding new classes to choose
from is not an easy process. A group
of teachers must compile a list of
agreed classes. Before this, they
must decide who will be teaching
the courses. The list must then be
overlooked by the Principal and
discussed in upcoming meetings.
Once it has been approved it goes
through the superintendent and
Department of Education of the
state and then finally printed on
to the nice brochures we receive
in mid-February.
Teachers and administration
have also been discussing the
idea if having block scheduling
in future years. However, this
rumor is not going to be able to
happen, at least not next year.
Where the subject got started is
unknown but according to Mr.
Marcinek, there will be no block
scheduling. Yet, we can all look
forward, whether we want them
or not, to the new classes next
year to better enhance the skills
detailing from Human Biology
to Construction Processes, or to
just confuse the students trying
to choose a minimum of 7 classes
out of the possible one hundred
and eighty five.
The phrase ‘Over the
Limit, Under Arrest’ has been
used in various commercials
to deter individuals from operating motorized vehicles
under the influence of alcohol for many years.
This month, a statewide
program went into effect that
further discouraged the act
of consuming alcohol while
behind the wheel. Starting
on March 5, over 250 law enforcement agencies across Indiana participated in Operation Pullover Blitz 62. The operation, which lasted through
the 21st of March, involved a
series of special DUI patrols.
Although trends in deadly crashes involving intoxicated drivers have steadily
decreased over the past 20
years, from a high of 52% in
1982 and 1986 to 31% in 2008,
law enforcement officials
were still concerned about
road sobriety.
“We believe that aggressive enforcement of driving
while impaired and seat belt
usage will help continue the
downward trend in fatalities,” said 1st Sgt. Terrence
Weems, assistant commander
of the Lowell Police Department.
Last year, 41 fatalities occurred on Indiana roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 24% of these involved
an intoxicated driver.
Methods used to identify
drunk drivers included sobriety checkpoints, or roadblocks, set up along both
highways and city streets,
as well as saturation patrols,
which are another type of
DUI checkpoint that involve
a large number of police officers occupying a small geographic area at one time.
“Drunk driving is not a
socially accepted norm and
we want to make sure that a
drunk driver does not cause
the tragedies we’ve experienced.,” said Mishawaka Police Department Lt. Tim Williams.
S.O.S. program offers student help to soldiers
Items
Donated
•Nuts
•chips
•Starburst
•Tic-tacs
•candy
•Chap Stick
•Powdered
drink mix
•Gum
•Raisins
•Trail mix
•Dried fruit
•Cookies
•Snack food
•Beef jerky
•Magazines
•Playing
cards
By Arley Gomez
staff writer
For seven years, we have
been sending troops overseas to
fight the War on Terror. They are
fighting to give us a sense of security that events like 9/11 will not
occur again. Students have taken
it upon themselves to give a little
to those soldiers who sacrifice so
much for our safety.
S.O.S. replaced previous
years’ St. Baldrick’s fundraiser
sponsored by student council. St.
Baldrick’s is a program that raises
money for research in childhood
cancer and a cure.
“We wanted to try something
new this year and to give people
a break from St. Baldrick’s,” student council sponsor Rachele Raloff said.
S.O.S. or Support Our Sol-
diers, is a program that allowed
students to create care packages
to ship to troops in their second
hour class.
The care packages consisted
of a variety of things that can
range from entertainment items
to necessities for soldiers.
“We wanted students to bring
in a variety of items in for S.O.S,
because the needs of the soldiers
are varied too,” Raloff said.
Items that were put into the
care packages were nonperishable food, letters written by students to soldiers and other odds
and ends.
“I wrote a letter and put it
in my second hour’s box,” junior
Stephanie Burke said, “In the letter I thanked the soldiers for everything they do, and told them
that all they do gives me hope.”
Though St.Baldrick’s is not
being continued, annual Penny
Wars were resumed this year. The
profits made from the penny wars
went toward the shipping costs of
the care packages.
“Penny Wars are a fun way to
compete, and the money is for a
good cause,” junior Rachel Ferry
said.
The $2886.77 from Penny
Wars went toward the shipping
fees. There was approximately
175 total care packages.
“We were able to cover the
shipping cost with the profits
from Penny Wars,” Raloff said.
Care packages offered a
chance for students to repay the
soldiers for all they do.
“Thank you for all the care
packages and all of the the support from your school and community,” staff sergeant Nathan
Estrada said.
Photo by M.K Lemon
Junior Elizabeth Gardiner helps to collect pennies from teachers for the Student
Council sponsored Penny Wars.
4
Opinion
March 26, 2010
Give your thumbs
a break and relax
Inklings
Inklings is a student
publication distributed
to students, faculty, and
staff of Crown Point High
School. It is published
monthly by the newspaper
and advanced journalism
students. Opinions expressed in Inklings do not
reflect those of the CPHS
faculty, staff, or the administration.
Inklings welcomes and
encourages signed lettersto-the-editor. Letters may
be edited for space or clarity. Letters must be signed
and turned in to room
E107 one week prior to
publications and must not
contain personal attacks.
Letters may also be sent via
e-mail at [email protected].
in.us. Not all letters may be
printed. Such decisions are
the sole discretion of the
Inklings editors and staff.
Advertising is subject
to the applicable rate, copies of which are available
from Inklings advertising
department or by contacting 663-4885 ext. 11349.
Inklings is a member
of the Indiana High School
Press Association, the
Columbia Scholastic Press
Association, National Scholastic Press Association and
Quill and Scroll.
Inklings may be
contacted at 1500 S. Main,
Crown Point, IN, 46307;
219-663-4885 ext. 11349; fax
219-662-5663; or inklings@
cps.k12.in.us.
Editors
Cori Novelli
Deanna Sheafer
editors-in-chief
Michele Bates
associate editor
Brittany Curtis
managing editor
Lauren Cain
Matt Smith
copy editors
Becca Duggan
entertainment editor
Kelly Rostin
opinion editor
Hunter McKee
sports editor
Milan Savich
Colin Likas
sports assistants
Anna Ortiz
graphics editor
Becca Iddings
advertising editor
Alyssa Blahunka
advertising assistant
Georgia Otte
chief photographer
Joe Nejman
Alex Parrish
Vinnie Needham
Mary-Katherine Lemon
Donnella Casillas
photographers
Staff
Ammy Easto
Arley Gomez
Garret Hogan
Lauren McCarroll
Danielle McCuan
Marwa Nour
Haajar Shaaban
Adviser
Julie Elston
By Cori Novelli
co-editor-in-chief
V
cartoon by
Anna Ortiz
The cost of molding a plastic generation
iew:
As cosmetic
surgery
becomes
more
accessible
and
accepted,
teens are
becoming
more
entranced
with the
idea of body
modification
editorial
We’ve all heard someone referred to as fake or plastic,
but more than not it’s referring to their insincerity, not
their genetic make-up. Yet as technology and media’s
grip increases, people’s perception of reality decreases.
Companies have gone from modifying the latest cell phones,
computers, and automobiles to modifying people as well.
Plastic surgery has created a whirlwind hype, not only
from silicone celebrities but down to our own relatives and
friends. Prices can range from $150 for the elimination of
wrinkles and facial blemishes to $5,000 for a “tummy tuck.”
In total, Americans spent approximatley $12.2 billion on
cosmentic procedures last year. This new accessibility has left
us with an unreal view of what people actually look like and
have us clinging to a collective idea of beauty that can only
really be reached via scalpel. Unfortunately, this message
has been tossed to teens as well, and too often we hear of
plastic surgery as a graduation gift instead of the standard
car or college grant.
The bottom line is, let’s not buy into it and step out of
the proverbial magnifying glass. This celebrity worship has
left us, primarily girls, hopping in front of a mirror every ten
minutes like we have paparazzi hounding us with zoom-in
lenses. As teens, we have so much left to learn and figure out
to already be putting plastic surgery on our wish lists.
And those built and modeled images that we may
sometimes admire on screens and magazine covers; they
are all too often just people hiding behind their plastic
looks. We all feel the weight of self-consciousness, but we
need to realize that maybe that’s just a part of life. Because
if we pursue every self-perceived flaw and imperfection
with chemical and surgical fixes, nothing will ever be good
enough. And when we leave the house thinking, “do I look
skinny enough?,” “Is my complexion perfect?,” “does my
figure look flawless?,” then we leave behind the questions we
should be asking ourselves like “what do I want my future to
look like?,” “what truly makes me happy?,” “what can I do
to make a difference?” That’s not the people we should want
to become. When you think about it, those we really admire
aren’t the one’s concentrating on the mirror, they are the few
pushing themselves the extra mile to fight for their beliefs
or help those around them. Buying a different body doesn’t
change anything. In the end, no one can ever buy a different
personality, or talents, or friends and family. Those are things
that take building, not dollar bills, and those are the things
worth caring about, not some airbrushed, plastic ideal.
With our ability
to stay so easily
connected with the
world, it’s no wonder
people are constantly
bombarded by texts,
emails and phone calls. But when these
forms of communication overpower real,
live conversations, its time to take a step
back and appreciate the perks of talking
face-to-face.
In all honestly, I’m impressed with
those who are able to maintain a texting
conversation all class hour. I can’t imagine
a topic so intriguing that it consumes me
into a text message 160 characters long
(or less) and away from the live, human
beings sitting around me. I understand that
school can be boring, but everyday lessons
must be learned to pass the class. It’s
rude to hold a conversation out loud with
your neighbor as the teacher is talking;
isn’t texting all hour the same concept?
Plus, if chronic texters would just pay
attention in school, they wouldn’t have
to use as much time studying later. And
while they’re enjoying their free time when
not studying as hard, they can instead use
that extra time to text, or heaven forbid,
actually hang out with those people in
person.
But the texting phase doesn’t stop at
the doors of our high school. At all hours
of the day and night, we can be reached
through our cell phones, email, etc. ‘
While this may be convenient, the
blissful freedom of feeling ‘turned off’ is
never achieved. We are always so obsessed
with staying available that a solitary
evening spent with just our family or
some friends turns into a war zone the
following day at school. We’re bombarded
with angry questions as “Why didn’t you
respond?!” or “Where were you?” when all
we did was spend a night ‘turned off.’
Although technology has allowed us
the convenience to stay connected with
individuals across the globe, let us focus
more heavily on those who are tangibly
right in front of us. Appreciate the time
you have with your family and friends in
person, and then use any of your extra free
time to catch up with others farther away.
heard in the
halls
Spring Break plans
“I’m excited to go to Florida for Spring
Break. I’m looking forward to going to the
beach and catching some waves.”
junior Jeff Arseneau
Gymnastics
“I’ve been treaining hard for gymnastics,
and I made it to State, so I’m excited for
upcoming competitions.”
freshman Desi Blastic
New Classes
“The classes I’m taking next year are
preparing me for college”
sophomore Sara Heldebrandt
Opinion
March 26, 2010
5
Attack does not
change animal
rights
By Becca Duggan
arts & entertainment editor
Cartoon by Danny McCuan
Smoking ban causes fiery debate
By Matt Smith
editor-in-chief
The choice to
smoke is left to
the individual,
but a bill could
pass that
prevents people
from smoking in
public venues
because of
smoking’s
known cancercausing
properties.
Is this bill an
infringement on
smoker’s rights
or a health
movement for
the public?
By Cori Novelli
co-editor-in-chief
Smoking is harmful to your health; we all
know that. Consequently, it would make sense
that banning the act of smoking would ensure an
increase in health conditions. Unfortunately, this
may not be the case. Apart from all the economic
disasters that a statewide smoking ban would
bring, health risks for innocent nonsmokers would
still exist as well. Why? Moving the smokers out
of public is not going to eliminate them. Those
who smoke will just continue smoking but around
different people—their children, spouses and other
loved ones at home.
Then, as the restaurants are losing profits from
fewer customers, they lose money that would have
been used to pay their employees. Less workers in
the job field means a lower production rate. This
would, in turn, hurt the economy even more.
But apart from these risks, a smoking ban could
actually create more litter as well. It was thought
that an elimination of smoking would eliminate
their dirty byproducts. Instead, as people are forced
to stay several hundred feet from the building (and
several hundred feet from that garbage bin next to
that building) they’ll be more inclined to lazily toss
their cigarette butts on the surrounding sidewalks
and streets. It would take more work and effort to
clean these areas, which means more money used
for street cleaners and janitors.
Overall, the smoking ban does not solve the
health problems of smoking; it just moves them
somewhere else. Instead, Indiana should use
the money it will lose from this ban and fund it
towards products that can actually help people stop
smoking. A ban does not eliminate smokers; it only
moves these people around, possibly out of Indiana
for good.
Junior
Freshman
Sophomore
America is the land of freedom—freedom to
speak, to vote, to live life to its fullest. However,
when one person’s actions interfere with another’s
right to freedom, something must be done. When
a person steals, he or she takes away the victim’s
right to property. When a person kills, he or she
takes away the victim’s right to live. In the same
way, when a person smokes, he or she takes from
everyone in the vicinity the right to clean air and a
healthy lifestyle.
The smoking ban, which recently passed in
the House of Representatives, is not simply taking
away freedom from smokers. It gives nonsmokers
the freedom to walk into a restaurant and breathe
without inhaling a cloud of smoke. It gives them
the freedom to come home from work without
smelling like cigarettes.
The ban is not only an issue of freedom, but
an issue of health. In a 2002 study by the World
Health Organization, it was concluded that
secondhand smoke is carcinogenic to humans and
also has links to a host of problems, including
coronary diseases, asthma, and other respiratory
conditions. If someone is exposed to secondhand
smoke in a public place, they are at risk for each
of these diseases. Smokers have the right to
compromise their own lives and health by smoking,
but by smoking in public places, they endanger
every American citizen who chooses not to smoke.
The Indiana smoking ban was inevitable. In
fact, it should have been passed earlier. It protects
the rights of every Hoosier as they go through their
everyday life. Smokers may have the right to fill
their own lungs with tar, but not the rest of Indiana
citizens’.
speak up
Is hazing
a problem
at public
schools?
I
ssue:
Statewide smoking ban is
not the solution to stop
secondhand smoke
Senior
Smoking ban needed to
protect health of
non-smoking customers
The tale
of Free Willy,
the friendly
whale that
audiences fell
in love with
in theatres, is
widely known.
A question that never seemed to
arise was- why was Free Willy so
friendly? The answer lied right
in his name- Free Willy was, in
fact, free.
Recently, a killer whale
at Seaworld killed a worker.
This is not the first time such a
thing happened. Additionally, a
handful of cases were reported
wherein a whale injured or killed
an employee. This pattern does
not implicate blame toward the
whale despite popular belief.
The blame should be directed
at people instead. Humankind
knows which animals to
domesticate- dogs, cats, certain
birds. We also believe we know
which wild animals to keep in
captivity- lions, tigers, whales.
However, we cannot expect these
two classes of animals- wild and
domestic- to act the same.
Wild animals, even in zoos,
will not bend to our every whim
and needs. They are untamed, for
that’s how nature intended for
them to be. So we cannot blame
the wild animal for its behavior,
for it is acting as it naturally
should. We are the ones who put
the whale in a foreign habitat
that it was not meant to be in.
In this whale’s effort to adapt to
its new, unnatural environment,
it is understandable that it has
unpredictable behavior. Because
it is in an environment that is not
natural, its behavior will not be
natural either.
Of course, we should not
take the incident lightly. We
should morn the tragic loss of
life, and we should move to
amend this devastating cycle.
I am not advocating releasing
all zoo animals into the wild;
I realize that parks and zoos
do help some animals survive
longer. However, with recurring
incidents like in the case of the
killer whales, we need to realize
that there are certain species
that will pose a threat if kept in
captivity. We need to gradually
keep these animals in the wild
so this threat will lessen. After
all, Free Willy was such an
inspiring story because of the
freedom that he represented, and
we can make similar inspiring
stories by allowing whales to
live peacefully in their natural
environments.
Vance Walczak
Dan Fair
Evan Henderlong
Brenna Wermers
“No. There’s no reason to beat up other
students.”
“I don’t think it’s a
problem because it
has never happened
to me before.”
“I believe hazing
is not a really big
problem, but it is still
here at CPHS.”
“I’ve never had any
experience with
hazing or know
anyone who has, so
no.”
Celebrating
I
on
Sophomore Alexa Grzych celebrates St. Patrick’s
Day by passing out incentives to the crowd of
people while representing St. Anthony’s Hospital.
by the
numbers
life
Ask
Laugh
Explore
Wonder
Inspire
Live
March 26, 2010
Learning
6
Japanese exchange students learn about
Easter traditions during a welcome party. Students learned traditions such as egg dying.
Going under the knife
Plastic surgery procedures become more common
147
By Haajar Shaaban
staff reporter
percent increase
in plastic surgery
procedures since
1997.
10.5
billion
dollars spent on
plastic surgery
procedures in 2009.
2,557,068
Botox injection
procedures were
completed in
2009.
Despite the recession,
there was only a.
2
percent decrease in
the number of plastic
surgery procedures in
2009.
311,157
breast augmentation
procedures were
performed in 2009
All facts from the American Society
for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Nip, tuck, done. Plastic surgery has become a cheaper, easier, and increasingly popular procedure among men and women all over
the world.
According to The American Society for
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), cosmetic
procedures can cost as low as $150. With easier
accessibility and prices lower than they’ve ever
been, millions of Americans are altering their
appearances with surgeries every year.
However, contrary to popular beliefs, not
all plastic surgeries are for appearance enhancing reasons.
There are two categories of plastic surgery:
cosmetic and reconstructive.
“About 15 to 20 percent of my patients are
cosmetic, but the rest are reconstructive. In a
typical week, I will do 15 to 20 surgeries and
see 125 patients in the office,” plastic surgeon
Nick Retson of Crown Point said.
Cosmetic (also called aesthetic) procedures
change a part of the body that the person is
not happy with. According to the ASAPS,
the most common cosmetic procedures in
America include rhinoplasties (nose jobs),
breast augmentation, liposuction, and blepharoplasties (eyelid reshaping).
On the other hand, reconstructive procedures are done for medical reasons. They can
correct defects on the face or body, such as palates, or severe injuries from bites or burns.
Some other common reconstructive surgeries include tumor removal, laceration and scar
repair, hand surgery, and breast reduction for
back pains
Although there are many types of medical
plastic surgeries, countless Americans who undergo plastic surgery do not get it for medical
reasons.
“Many times, people seek plastic surgery
because they are unhappy with their appearance, unhappy with themselves, and seeking
fulfillment in the wrong places. As a society,
we place far too much value on outward youth
and beauty, which distorts one’s perceptions,”
school psychologist Katherine Huls said.
Self-esteem refers to the degree to which
people are satisfied or dissatisfied with themselves. If people were satisfied with themselves
and their bodies, they would have no need for
cosmetic surgery.
For this reason, it is considered that selfesteem and appearance go hand in hand. Plastic surgery is frequently viewed as a quick and
easy fix for someone who is unhappy with the
way they view themselves.
Another reason one could get plastic surgery would be to get attention.
“A lot of girls aren’t positive, and think they
need to look better,” sophomore Aly Schultz
said. “Also many of them are trying to impress
boys.”
According to American Society of Plastic
Surgeons (ASPS) statistics, more than 219,000
cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed on people age 13-19 in 2008. Two of the
most popular plastic surgeries among teens are
liposuction and breast implants.
“I think that in today’s society, many young
women have unhealthy body images and con-
sider plastic surgery as an option,” Huls said.
However, the opportunity to transform a
teen with low self-esteem into someone with
self-confidence can be justified, because a timely procedure could prevent eating disorders,
self mutilation, and bullying.
So if plastic surgery can improve your
looks and health, what is the problem with
undergoing plastic procedures?
What people forget is the keyword:
surgery. It’s not a risk free procedure, especially with young people.
Many times, doctors do not perform certain procedures on teens until they are sure that the person has
stopped growing.
“For cosmetic surgery, it is best if
the patient is fully grown at about age
16 to 18,” Retson said.
Modern procedures have significantly diminished many risks. Complications in surgery are rare, but
they can occur. They could also be
more probable with certain health
conditions, such as diabetes.
Ultimately, surgery, according to many, does not even help
with self-esteem issues.
“I don’t think that a plastic
surgery will cure low self-esteem. The individual typically
finds another quality with
which they are unhappy,” Huls
said.
Before thinking of plastic
surgery, one should seek out help
from a counselor or other trusted
person. There are many other options to consider before plastic surgery.
And at the end of the day, no
matter how many surgeries one gets,
the person will still be the same underneath it all.
“Someone could get plastic surgery and become totally different on
the outside, but they will always still be
the same person on the inside,” Schultz
said.
However, for non-cosmetic procedures, plastic surgery can literally affect
someone’s quality of life.
For example, if one gets in a bad car accident or badly burned, body parts can be reconstructed with plastic surgery.
Retson’s favorite reconstructive procedure
to perform is cleft lip surgery. He travels on
trips 2 to 3 times a year to various countries
around the world to perform the surgery. He
will be completing his 30th trip this April. Some
of the countries he’s traveled to include Mexico,
Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador, and India.
“The first trip was out of curiosity; after that it felt like the right thing to be
doing for the right reasons,” Retson
said. “Many of the people we treat
have never seen a doctor before
and have no other way of
getting surgery that
they desperately
need.”
Photo by Georgia Otte
7
Feature
March 26, 2010
The answers to help stop procrastination
Students share their ways to stay focused when the weather is warm
By Marwa Nour
staff reporter
March 2010
myself slacking, I stay motivated
by thinking about who I want to
be,” sophomore Jacob Suson said.
But staying motivated can
be hard when distractions get
in the way. Beautiful weather,
fatigue or plain laziness can cause
procrastination in anyone.
“It’s hard to get motivated
when I am dreading the
assignments or things I have to
do,” junior Alyssa Bostick said. “I’d
rather be sitting outside instead of
working inside,” Bostick said.
Rather than enjoying the
“
95 percent
of people
are prone to
procrastination.
Amongst them,
20 percent
are chronic
procrastinators
weather and ignoring tasks and
responsibilities, find a way to
compromise. No one said that the
great weather can’t be enjoyed
while finishing up some work.
“I am a procrastinator most
of the time but the nice weather
actually keeps me focused,”
sophomore Deanna Bade said.
Finding ways to work around
the temptation to procrastinate
and go outside can be difficult, so
students find their own ways to
conquer said temptation.
“I tend to procrastinate when
“
As the snow melts away and
the sun begins to shine, spirits are
lifted in hopes for spring and the
long awaited warm weather. With
the vanishing snow and shining
sun comes the desire to be outside
enjoying the weather and ignoring
any other responsibilities.
Unfortunately,
that
isn’t
an option if grades need to be
maintained and jobs must be
done. This can be achieved with a
few simple ways to keep on track
and some motivation to keep
spirits up, as well as grades.
According to USA Today,
psychologist William Knaus,
who has written several self-help
books on fighting procrastination,
estimates that as much as 95
percent of people are prone to
procrastination. Amongst that
percentage, 20 percent are chronic
procrastinators. To avoid being
grouped into such statistics,
some students find that being
motivated to finish a task really
helps to avoid procrastination
and get things done.
“I stay motivated because my
mom gives me money if I make
the honor roll, and I can do my
work outside on my hammock,”
sophomore Bethany Debok said.
Motivation doesn’t always
come in the form of money, other
students found motivation in
simple pleasures.
“I avoid procrastination by
listening to music. And if I find
William Knaus in
“USA Today”
there is a long deadline,” senior
Nicole Reid said. “So instead, I’ll
take my homework outside and
get it done.”
Sometimes procrastination
creeps up when least expected.
Lack of sleep, after school jobs,
and great weather play a factor in
this problem.
“I procrastinate more often
during periods one to three
because I feel like sleeping even
though I might have slept well.
I’m not a morning person,” senior
Greg Birmingham said.
After school jobs can be great
when pay day comes around,
but they can also lead to late
hours during the week which can
ultimately lead to procrastination
in one form or another
“I procrastinate more often
during the week because I feel
like with work and school, I’m
too tired to do any homework,”
senior Haley Webb.
Another way students can
avoid procrastination is doing
their work in a clean, organized
environment.
“I work better in a clean
environment
because
it
helps me stay focused,” junior
Rachel Wiltjer said.
Now that the weather is
getting nicer and the school year is
coming to a close, procrastination
becomes more common. But the
school year is not over yet, and
neither are your classes. So find
a way to stay motivated, stay
focused and finish out the year
strong.
Ways to avoid procrastinating:
• Incorporate 5-10
minute break times into
your work schedule to
break up the monotony.
• Make a list every
morning of what you
need to accomplish
throughout the day.
• Reward yourself
each time you achieve
a goal. You’ll feel
more accomplished.
• Set a goal. Stay focused on one task at
a time to avoid feeling
overwhelmed.
• Find a way to be
comfortable while doing
work. Sit outside; listen
to music.
Feature
8
March 26, 2010
Killing too many birds with one stone
Multitasking proves inefficient if trying to accomplish too many goals at once
By A. Easto and M. Bates
staff reporter and associate editor
You hear the clicking of a pencil, the
tapping of a shoe, the faint sound of music
in the background. Gestures all different
but yet all intertwined. These things somehow, although maybe subconsciously, help
us focus on homework, tests, and other important activities. The urges lurk behind
every corner anxiously awaiting the opportunity to feed teens distractions.
“
I recommend that
students set aside a block
of time for studying each
day; try to find a quiet area
where you are unlikely to
be disturbed.
“
School psychologist
Dr. Katherine Huls
Though seeming productive, a recent
study showed that a person might not be
accomplishing as much as they think they
are. According to the New York Times, scientists found that these types of personnel
often struggle with cognitive or memory
distractions versus those whom perform
one task at a time.
“Humans are conditioned to multitask.
We’re always drawn to the more interesting activity,” school psychologist Katherine
Huls said.
Senior Samia Khan said she finds herself multitasking several times a day. Eating dinner while doing homework was a
prime example in her busy lifestyle.
“With the tennis season starting, I have
to multitask in order to get things done on
time,” Khan said.
Multitasking through the years has risen to become a huge part of teen’s lives. A
study by the Kaiser Family Foundation re-
cently reported that kids ages 8 to 18 spend
an average of seven hours and 38 minutes
doing activities such as watching television, text messaging, or going on the computer every day. And since all time is being
wrapped up in such activities, where is the
studying supposed to squeeze itself in?
“I recommend that students set aside
a block of time for studying each day; try
to find a quiet area where you are unlikely
to be disturbed. Turn off the electronics
and put them out of arm's reach. Tell your
friends ahead of time that you will not be
available during this time period. When
you have finished your studying, reward
yourself with your electronic activities,”
Huls said.
Although multitasking does raise concerns, some students say that they have to
multitask in order to concentrate. Perhaps
this new electronic age is more than just
addiction and more of a subconscious focusing mechanism; perhaps teenagers are
right in this fight.
“Music distracts me from my random
brain thoughts. Personally, if I was allowed
to listen during tests, my tests scores would
rise,” junior Katrina Hoernig said.
Senior Tyler Dillon said in his hectic
household it’s easy to get distracted and it
keeps him focused on the paper in front of
him.
“I have different music for different
subjects. Upbeat, pop, or musicals, mean
math. Classical is more of an English
genre,” Dillon said.
History teachers Denise Vance and Jim
Inglehart both do not let students listen to
music while taking exams. Inglehart said
listening to familiar music improves performance on many tasks. However, Vance
had a differentiating opinion.
“Students who listen to music while
doing homework are hurting themselves,”
Vance said.
Compromise may be in order between
focusing and distraction. Multitasking is
an everyday profession without the benefits of a paycheck. What works for one,
may not for another. Choose what gets the
work done, right, and complete. And remember, multitask at your own risk.
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March 26, 2010
Feature
From class rings
to wedding rings
9
Faculty members prove high school relationships last beyond graduation
PHOTOS BY A. PARRISH
By Lauren Cain
co-copy editor
While walking through the halls, it’s
inevitable to see the typical high school
couple, holding hands and locking eyes.
They are the sole importance to each other,
which forces the question: what is the
likelihood of these relationships lasting
beyond the four years of high school?
According to statistics, 14 percent of
high school sweethearts will marry, but
only two percent will make the marriage
last without divorce.
Foreign language teacher Linda
Atwood is proof of a relationship that has
potential to last beyond high school. She
and her husband of 26 years dated since
she was 16, and got married when she was
21.
“Of course (I though we would end up
getting married). We were in love. In high
school, you think everything is perfect,
don’t you?” Atwood said.
Atwood said her secret to a successful
relationship is being smart when dealing
with problems.
“When you argue, sometimes you
have to agree to disagree and move on,”
she said.
Michelle Morris sees firsthand the
effects of high school relationships as the
current guidance intern; she also knows of
their potential ability to last since she is still
dating her boyfriend from her senior year
of high school.
“(Relationships lasting beyond high
school) is a reality, and it does happen; it’s
just not the majority. (My boyfriend and I)
stayed home for college, so the proximity
helps. Having good communication, and
being best friends helps too because then
you’re more likely to stick together through
hardships,” Morris said.
Juniors Kelly Maddalone and Jose
Andrade have been dating for over three
years, beginning in their freshman year.
“The greatest part of being in a long
term relationship would be that I know
I always have someone there for me,”
Maddalone said. “Having that support of
someone all the time helps make life not
seem so hectic and makes me feel that even
in the worst situations, things will be fine.”
As juniors in high school, a concern of
theirs is whether the relationship would
last after graduation.
“We talk about us being together in
the future, but we don’t fixate on it a ton
because we know through college it will be
tough to stay together,” Maddalone said.
“But we still both believe we will make it.”
Because Maddalone believes they will
last beyond graduation, she does not think
that their relationship will impact their
decisions when it comes to college choices.
“We both have dreams that we want
to accomplish and we aren’t going to
change those dreams just to go to the same
college,” Maddalone said. “If we couldn’t
make a long distance relationship work,
then it wasn’t meant to be.”
Morris feels that the biggest concern
when entering a long-term relationship
is making sure students know enough
about themselves so that they don’t lose
themselves to the relationship. Her sister
had a boyfriend from freshman year all
the way through college, and Morris says
that because of that, she never got to be
independent.
“You don’t need to be dependent on
someone all the time. It’s good to make sure
you know your likes, dislikes, and interests
before you get into a relationship so it’s not
all about what you guys like together. In a
relationship, you sometimes forget because
you’re trying to impress the other person,”
she said.
LISA GRADY
219-308-6237
[email protected]
Each Keller Williams Realty Office is Independently Owned and Operated
“ALWAYS WEAR A SMILE-IT IS YOUR BEST FASHION ACCESSORY”
Morris believes that while these
relationships affect students immensely,
be it academically, socially, or personally,
they also offer a learning experience for the
people involved in the relationship.
“They learn quality things, like what
they like in a person. They learn new things,
like different interests. You also learn about
yourself too, such as whether or not you’re
a dependant person,” Morris said.
Morris also said that she learned a lot
from being in a serious relationship since
high school.
“I learned really quickly that I didn’t
need to be with him all the time, where as
a lot of students think they need to be. You
don’t always have to see each other every
day and it actually makes the relationship
better if you don’t.”
If there is one thing that can be
agreed upon when it comes to long-term
relationships, it is the fact that it needs to
be taken day by day.
“It’s good for students (to date) for the
experience, but I don’t think anyone needs
to take the relationship so seriously,” Morris
said. “You can’t expect that the person
you’re dating is going to be with you for the
rest of your life. It just happens.”
10
Feature
March 26, 2010
Learn the write stuff for essays
Tips for writing scholarship essays that may help fund collegiate career
By Deanna Sheafer / co-editor-in-chief
A
fter years of writing under pressure in English class, juniors and seniors start to under
stand how to draft a perfect essay for their class. But, bring them a scholarship essay and
see the fear in their eyes as their palms begin to sweat. They often freeze up, focusing solely on the
money at stake. Besides the pressure associated with them, scholarship essays often lack specific
directions, which does nothing to calm the nerves of the applicants. Here are some helpful tips
from a senior who has written many scholarship essays picked up along the way.
1 23
4567
Know your audience
Address all aspects
Often times, the question for the essay
is very general or vague, something like,
“Describe your accomplishments, goals,
and needs.” That leaves endless possibilities, which scares some away. Narrow the focus of your essay by simply
looking at who is offering the scholarship and what they would want to read
about. But of course, remain honest in
your descriptions.
Once you get started writing, it’s hard
to stop when you’re on a roll. So,
sometimes aspects of the question are
forgotten, which will be obvious to the
reader. Look back at the question once
the essay is complete and make sure
all elements are included. If there are
many parts to the question, it may be
helpful to make a quick checklist before starting.
Proofread for errorrs
Start out with a bang
When you have just a page or two to
make an impression, every little detail
counts. The readers might be wowed
by your essay, but being distracted by
typos, grammatical errors, and spelling mistakes are common pet peeves of
many readers. A few minutes of proofreading may make or break your chances of receiving the scholarship.
Chances are that many, many students
have applied for the scholarship as well.
While the readers are pouring over application after application, you want
yours to stand out and make an instant
impression in the reader’s mind. The
first couple of sentences may be all it
takes for the reader to decide whether
your essay is special, or if it is just like
every other paper.
Keep it short
Essay readers aren’t that different
from high school students in regards
to their attention span. Just highlight
the best accomplishments instead
of sharing every detail of your life
story. That way, the most prominent
facts will stand out, and the reader
won’t loose attention.
Have a teacher read it
An easy way to prevent errors is having someone, like an English teacher,
read it before submitting. After staring at the computer screen for so long
perfecting the essay, it’s hard to catch
mistakes yourself. Teachers are willing to help with suggestions and advice. Besides, it’s helpful to have an
objective, outside opinion when cutting down on length.
Apply for all types
Many students are surprised about how
many different types of scholarships exist. Though many seem random and unusual, that may work to your advantage
due to the lack of applicants. Someone
will receive it, and that person can be
you only if you apply. So, don’t automatically think, “I’ll never be able to win
that one.” It never hurt to apply!
Student I.D. Required
Arts & Entertainment
March 26, 2010
myview
Flogging
Molly hits
Chicago on
Green 17 tour
By Anna Ortiz
graphics editor
In the midst of March, it
seems everyone’s Irish, and if
you’re not, well, the least you
can do is appreciate a little extra greenery. Putting all the
dancing leprechaun paraphernalia and screened shamrock
tees aside, the Green 17 Tour
is as Irish as you can get. Flogging Molly, a punk Irish band
from Los Angeles with humble
beginnings in a local pub (go
figure), has hit Chicago. From
St. Louis to Milwaukee, the
band traveled up and down the
Midwest to land in the aesthetically striking Aragon Ballroom
March 13, Saturday.
The relatively small venue
was packed and ready to get
rowdy as the lead singer, Dave
King, finally took stage. The
band, mostly clad in white button ups paired with suspenders
and the occasional wool cap,
took the green, country pastures of Ireland to the back alley
with their folk yet punk sound.
The traditional Celtic fiddle, accordion, and lute were strung
in with fast paced drums and
raw guitar that could only explain the band’s heritage combined with their influence from
The Clash.
And they brought it.
Booming sound, quick on the
draw limericks, crowd pleasing beats, raucous disposition and all, Flogging Molly
rocked Chicago. “Factory Girl”
and “Float” hit home for the
struggling bourgeoisie majority and raised glasses among
the crowd. Needless to say the
mosh pits were lively, and the
slower songs were all in good
spirits. “Requiem for a Dying
Song” threw the crowd into
a rowdy pub like sing-a-long
while “The Wanderlust” carried a more solemn yet beautifully melodic tone. “Rebels of
the Sacred Heart” reminisced
at King’s past as a poorly paid
alter boy and had all the biting
criticism and catchy gusto of a
Clash song.
Flogging Molly was one of
the best concerts I’ve been to
yet. Their sound pulled away
from the synthesized fad of
today’s music and brought
people to the back alley pubs of
Ireland to the bustling streets of
Chicago.
11
“Alice” remake does wonders
By Garret Hogan
staff reporter
When the 1951 Disney classic “Alice in Wonderland” came
to the silver screen it filled the
minds of many people with the
saying that “nothing is impossible.” Alice Kingsley, now a 19
year old about to be betrothed to a
ghastly man, remembers a world
which she thinks is a dream she
had as a child, “where everything
is nonsense, and nothing is what it
is and everything is what it isn’t.”
Tim Burton once again brings another classic to the theatres as he
portrays Alice, the Red Queen,
the Mad-Hatter, the Rabbit in the
waistcoat, and new character the
White Queen, played by Anne
Hathaway. The one big difference,
however, is that Alice is returning to Wonderland, or as it is now
called, Underland.
Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway
combine their years of experience
as actors to a make an unforgettable film. Carter (Red Queen)
reaches her character in a way
that is almost frightening. With
the ever popular sayings of “Off
With Her Head!” to the comical
references of big headedness, the
Red Queen is superbly displayed
by Carter in a way that would be
difficult for any ordinary actress.
It was no surprise that Johnny
Depp was picked for the part of
the Mad-Hatter, since he is known
most for his crazy roles as a daring courageous pirate, a young
man with scissors for hands, and
an estranged barber who decapitates people. It was nice to see
Johnny Depp playing a more soft
role than a character that could
easily be described as a villain.
The Mad-Hatter was a lovable
character who made you laugh
and made the movie have a sad
yet happy ending. It was Johnny
Depp who really sold the film
before it even came to theatres as
he was pictured in perhaps every
poster regarding the movie. Yet it
was most definitely worth it as he
did a fantastic job, and the movie
made a good amount of money.
Anne Hathaway was a
strange, yet extremely wise choice
for the part as the White Queen.
Known for her roles as a thriving journalist in the “Devil Wears
Prada” to the raunchy adult telephone entertainer in “Valentine’s
Day,” she is not normally one to
pursue fantasy roles; however,
she did an exceptional job. The
White Queen was new to “Alice
in Wonderland” character list. She
plays the “good” Queen, sister to
the Red Queen. She was once the
Queen of Wonderland but the Red
Queen developed a case of big
headedness and took over Wonderland, renaming it Underland,
to wreak havoc.
This movie was exceptional,
though some say that it was not
their cup of tea. It is likely because
people hyped up the movie so
much that when it did not reach
their expectations, it was automatically horrible. However, this
was not the case. The movie will
be added to Depp’s, Hathaway’s,
and Carter’s greatest works and
should be nominated for the 83rd
Academy Awards. If you’re one to
love the classic Disney movies but
in a hip, modern way, then I say
go see “Alice in Wonderland.”
She & Him release sophomore album
By Brittany Curtis
managing editor
She & Him may be grammatically incorrect, but there
is nothing wrong about their
sophomore album, “Volume
Two.” Aside from their quirky
name, She & Him also provide
an album that is nothing if not
charming.
The band is a collaboration
of indie actress Zooey Deschanel
(known for her roles in Elf and
500 Days of Summer) and Matthew Ward (known by his stage
name, M. Ward) that brings
the listener to “a never-ending
springtime.” Their first album
“Volume One” was released in
2008 and since has had listeners
begging for more.
Their sophomore album
“Volume Two” was released on
March 23 and evokes the same
bittersweet, naïve romanticism
Sony Playstation Move
The Nintendo Wii finally
has a competitor in the area of
motion-based gaming, and its
name is the Playstation Move. The
Move is similar to the Wii in that it
allows the game player to combine
their body movements with the
happenings in a video game. The
difference between the two consoles
is how the Move provides more precision in its gameplay; participating
in a table tennis video game becomes
eerily akin to the real thing when the
player’s smallest wrist movements
change the angle of the ball’s direction.
The new system is sure to give Wii a
run for its money.
as “Volume One.” She & Him
stick to what they know bestDeschanel’s catchy song writing
with Ward’s intricate harmonies.
Deschanel’s song writing has
definitely grown, and is beautifully showcased in tracks like
“Don’t Look Back” and “In the
Sun” that provide a sweetness,
but not without a cutting sarcasm.
Along with their own originals, “Volume Two” follows the
same route as “One” with their
covers, most prominently showcased with their spot-on cover
of Skeeter Davis’s “Gonna Get
Along Without You Now.”
“Volume Two” is good-time
music; music that you would
want to play with the top down
during the summer. “Volume
Two” is appropriately titled, as
it expands upon the same feeling
given by “Volume One” while
still providing its counterpart.
a few of our
favorite
things
“House Rules” by Jodi Picoult
Winter 2010 Paralympics
Not to be confused with the Special Olympics,
the Paralympics include athletic competitions for
athletes with physical and visual disabilities. The
events were hosted at Whistler, British Columbia
in Canada. A particular highlight was that Canada’s skier Lauren Woolstencroft brought in five
gold medals, a new record for the Paralympics.
Information compiled by
Inklings Editors
Jodi Picoult is famous for her
examinations of delicate social
issues such as terminal illnesses,
suicide, and mental diseases. In
House Rules, Picoult tells the story from the perspective of a boy
named Jacob Hunt with Asperger’s Syndrome, which inhibits
his social skills. Because of his
disease, Jacob is wholly fixed on
one hobby- investigating crimes.
This interest becomes ironic when
he is accused of murdering his tutor. The book brilliantly and thoroughly covers the difficulties in
dealing with a mental illness and
adapting Jacob’s special case to
the complex legal system.
Arts & Entertainment
12
March 26, 2010
CW returns after winter hiatus
Network brings back viewer favorites for spring season
By M. Bates and B. Curtis
associate editor and managing editor
By Becca Duggan
entertainment editor
90210
The CW is known for their hit television shows
such as “90210,” “Melrose Place,” and “Gossip Girl.”
After a brief winter hiatus, these shows returned with
all-new episodes and interesting story lines. The network also introduced “Life Unexpected” in January
which has been delivering great ratings. Two Inklings
editors viewed each show and offered their input on
what they think of the new spring season.
Tuesdays @ 7 p.m.
Melrose Place
Tuesdays @ 8 p.m.
There are some shows on television that make viewers question
why it is still on air. “Melrose
Place” is unfortunately one of
them. The March 23 episode deals
with the end of two relationships.
Ben realized that he had feelings
for his co-worker Riley after he
kissed her on a business trip in
Washington D.C. When Ben decides to start a relationship with
Riley, Amanda finds someone to
take pictures of the new couple.
Riley is embarrassed about the
pictures that were taken and she
decides to quit her job and relationship with Ben. Lauren also
decides to end her relationship
with David even though he is trying to get his life back together. After viewing the episode, I’ve realized
that this show lacks an interesting story line and deep characters. The
question is if this show will renewed. In my opinion, I highly doubt it.
After airing three episodes of the spring season, many questions
have been answered since the Winter Formal. Navid came back to
West Beverly High School after getting suspended for the possession
of drugs. He is still planning revenge against Jasper for what he did to
him and other students at school.
Relationships are also a main focus this season. Teddy and Silver
decide to give their relationship a shot. However, since Silver can’t
seem to trust Teddy with other girls, Teddy decides to break-up with
Silver. Viewers also learn that Dixon’s birth mom Dana gets back into
contact with him. Dana stays with the Wilson’s for a few days and
Dixon couldn’t be happier. However, Debbie Wilson is a little hesitant
to have her son be talking to his birth mom again.
Annie continues to try to get over Jasper, but Jasper doesn’t seem
to want to let her go. He follows her almost everywhere she goes, but
Annie is afraid to report him to the police. She is worried that Jasper
will reveal “the secret” that she has been hiding ever since prom night.
With some great story lines for each character, I have been really impressed of the season thus far. Each character has an intriguing story
line that make the viewer want to keep tuning in.
Gossip Girl
Life Unexpected
Mondays @ 7 p.m.
Mondays @ 8 p.m.
After a two month hiatus,
“Gossip Girl” has returned, and
with its new episodes comes a
whole new batch of drama. In the
new episodes, Vanessa and Dan
are dealing with the aftermath of
their relationship, while Serena
and Nate are just beginning theirs
after the departure of Nate’s cousin, Tripp. Chuck meets a mysterious new woman who he eventually finds out is his mother.
However, she may be scheming to take over his hotel with his
conniving uncle Jack. Blair and
Chuck’s relationship continues on,
but the producer has been quoted as saying that that will soon
change because Chuck did something unforgivable. Lily and Rufus are
going through turmoil, with the threat of breaking up nearing the horizon, possibly involving Serena’s dad.Jenny meets a new boy who gets
her involved in an underground drug ring, and we see “Little J” spiral
downward, much like she did in season two. But, she can’t fall too far
because Rufus is constantly supervising her.
What’s on
your iPod?
Amoré offers
gourmet Italian
food, romantic
atmosphere
Although it may not have
gone on a hiatus, “Life Unexpected” still premiered during the January season and has been making
waves at the CW. “Life Unexpected” is charming to say the least,
and brings back some of the vibe
of the old WB. Although it isn’t
nearly as fast-talking and witty
as Gilmore Girls, it still has some
moments that seem to shadow the
funny parent- teen relationship.
“Life Unexpected” follows the
story of Lux, a girl who was given
up for adoption by her then-teen
mother, Kate and an unknowing
father Baze, who was oblivious to
the fact that Kate even had their
child. Lux seeks to be emancipated
from her foster family, and in order to do that she must find her birth
parents and have them sign a form. Showing up at Baze’s doorstep,
Lux’s sarcastic banter provides comic relief to what would be an incredibly uncomfortable situation. Lux’s plan backfires, however, when the
judge decides that Lux would be better off in Kate and Baze’s care.
With a McDonalds and
Burger King around every
corner, it is refreshing to come
across an original new dining
experience. Such an experience is offered at Amoré, the
new Italian restaurant on the
square.
As the Italian name suggests, Amoré serves a variety of
Italian dishes such as spaghetti
and fettuccine alfredo. But the
eatery is not lacking in its variety; in addition to fresh pastas,
Amoré offers gourmet salads,
decadent sandwiches, and
mouth-watering sushi. The diversity of food is but one of the
many advantages of Amoré.
When a customer first
walks into the dining area,
they are welcomed by friendly
faces and a warm, comfortably
formal atmosphere. The dim
lighting and brick walls give
the room almost a romantic
“Lady and the Tramp” impression, making Amoré the perfect
place to bring one’s love interest. The service is swift and
attentive, so the customer does
not have long to wait before
a plate of hot
bread is placed Review
before them.
Upon looking at the menu,
a customer will find ample
delicious options; however, do
not expect this place to have a
dollar menu. As a fancier dining restaurant, there are higher
prices. If looking for cheaper
items, a customer can just look
to the sushi menu; some items
there are as low as $4.
Enhancing the romantic
feeling further is the live musical entertainment. If there is a
band playing, plan to sit near
the door. Otherwise, you will
find yourself shouting over the
melodies. Despite its volume,
the music gives the establishment a more welcoming,
cultured feel.
At the end of the meal, fulfilling foods, friendly service,
and a pleasant atmosphere
make Amoré worthwhile. If
nothing else, a student could
visit to make a meal out of less
expensive but delicious sushi.
Despite its elevated prices,
Amoré adds sophistication to
an otherwise relatively bland
repertoire of local restaurants,
and a price should not hinder
an enjoyable dining experience.
Eric Huttel
sophomore
Alex Kleeman
junior
Ruben Barajas
senior
Bedrock
Young Money
Drop the World
Lil’ Wayne
I’m Yours
Jason Mraz
Telephone
Lady Gaga
Spotlight
Gucci Mane
Forever
Drake
Viva La Vida
Coldplay
Robocop
Kanye West
All the Way
Turned up
Roscoe Dash
Bedrock
Young Money
Fall For You
Secondhand
Serenade
Paranoid
Kanye West
Selina Gomez
freshman
Sports
March 26, 2010
Baseball prepares for tough schedule
Scrimmage tonight; opening game Tuesday in Illinois against Sandburg
By Hunter McKee
sports editor
With the opening game
against Sandburg next
week, the boys baseball
team are looking to put the
final pieces together for the
regular season.
“I think our pitching
needs to keep strong and
our hitters need to keep
hitting well,” senior Scott
Donley said.
According to head
coach Steve Strayer, the
Bulldogs will need to improve their mental toughness in order to improve
over the course of the season.
“Physically we are in
pretty shape, but our mental toughness has to get a
lot better,” Strayer said.
“We have a ways to go in
this area. We will find this
out in the first few weeks
of the season.”
In the ’09 season the
Bulldogs finished 30-3;
however, improving that
record will be difficult to
do with a tougher schedule.
“We will have a chance
to do well, but there are a
lot better teams this year
compared to last year. It
will be tough to go 30-3,”
Strayer said.
Two of the teams that
the Bulldogs are looking
forward to playing are
Sandburg and LaPorte.
“Sandburg
and
Boys Basketball
LaPorte-56
CP-46 (Mar. 2)
(Sectional Opener)
Boys Swimming
50th @ State Finals (Feb.
26-27)
Wrestling
Mishawaka-45
CP-19 (Feb. 27)
(Team State Finals)
Gymnastics
7th @ Sectionals (Mar. 6)
schedule
Photo
by
Vinnie Needham
Senior Nate Hasse takes practice swings during a practice. The Bulldogs’ preseason will conclude tonight
in a scrimmage against the Andrean 59’ers. The Bulldogs will open their regular season by traveling across
the border to Illinois to play in a game the Sandburg Eagles.
LaPorte will be our toughest opponents. Everyone
will have to play well together, and our pitchers
will have to throw strikes,”
Donley said.
In the pre-season
rankings by the IHSCBA,
the Bulldogs are ranked
number one in the state
*Story and predictions made prior to tournament start
Hunter’s Picks
Kansas
Kentucky
Kansas
Kentucky
Kentucky
Villanova
Mil’s Picks
W. Virginia
Kansas
Pitt
Pitt
Purdue
Purdue
Pitt
Colin’s Picks
Ohio St.
Kentucky
Kansas St.
Kentucky
Kentucky
Kansas St.
Duke
*Predictions not made prior to tournament start
Frank’s Picks
Kentucky
N. Iowa
N. Iowa
Kentucky
Kentucky
Syracuse
S
scoreboard
at the 4A level. However,
the ‘Dogs do not believe
that this accolade will help
them reach their ultimate
goals.
“Players and coaches
realize rankings mean
nothing,” Strayer said. “It
is a nice compliment, but
it doesn’t help us reach our
goals, which is winning
championships.”
Their ultimate goal
is to be successful during
post-season play.
“Our team goal is to
win state,” Donley said.
Tonight the Bulldogs
will wrap up their preseason with a scrimmage
against Andrean. The
game is scheduled at home
for a 4:30 p.m. first pitch.
On March 30 the Bulldogs will travel to Orland
Park, Ill. to match-up
against Sandburg High
School.
The ‘Dogs start DAC
play Portage on April 13.
March Madness brings competition to CPHS
Kansas St.
13
St. Mary’s
By Frank Strino
guest writer
March Madness or
the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, is a huge
spectacle in America. The
tournament started in 1939
and has been watched by
college basketball fans ever
since. People from young
to old fill out brackets for
fun and or money.
For many Crown Point
High School students, the
NCAA tournament seems
to be a simple way for them
to make money.
“I enter my NCAA
bracket into a pool to win
money,” freshman Jacob
Carey said, “This year I
think Kentucky, Kansas,
Vanderbilt, and Purdue
will make it to the Final
Four.”
Sophomore Jacob Lindeman also likes to enter
pools. “I like to make my
money,” he said .
Senior James Haworth
finds the NCAA tournament as an event to show
his dominance over his
friends in sports knowledge.
“I fill out brackets for
the thrill and for the chance
to win money, it allows me
to prove my superiority
in sports compared to my
friends.
Students like to watch
the games from an array
of viewing scenes, ranging
from their own houses to
the event itself.
“I like to watch it from
my house. It makes the experience better,” Lindeman
said.
“I usually go to my
grandparents’
(house)
to watch the games, but
sometimes I go to a friend’s
house,” Carey said.
Though not everyone
cares about the money,
many students play Freshman Steven Thill believes
that the NCAA tourney
brings college hoops fans
together.
“I like March Madness
because it brings people
together. It could be either
family, friends, and even
the athletes.”
Then there are a select
few who take the opportunity to attend the NCAA
Tournament.
Social Studies teacher
Russ Marcinek has attended the Final Four games
for many years and will
continue during this year’s
Final Four games in Indianapolis.
“I’ve been going to the
Final Four the last 14 years.
I go with a group of friends
and fellow coaches, and I
enjoy traveling to various
cities that host the Final
Four,” Marcinek said. “My
favorite cities are New Orleans, San Antonio, and Indianapolis,” he added.
Being a general college
basketball fan, Marcinek
does not have a preference
of who makes the Final
Four in Indianapolis.
“I’d like to see a Big
Ten team reach the Final
Four, perhaps Purdue.”
Marcinek said. “I also like
teams that bring a lot of fan
support. Over the years the
schools with the best fans
have been Oklahoma State,
Kentucky, Michigan State,
Kansas, and UCLA,” he
added.
The NCAA is pondering the idea of expanding the tournament to 96
teams. Marcinek does not
enjoy the idea of a 96 team
tournament because “it
would render the regular
season meaningless.”
Though Marcinek has
been going to the Final
Four for a long time, he
says he is still not good at
picking who will win. He
enjoys attending games because he likes to see what
will happen.
“It is a neat experience
to be at the games because
there is tremendous spirit
with the four schools represented. However, because of the TV timeouts,
Saturday turns into a very
long day,” Marcinek said.
Tonight concludes the
round of the “sweet sixteen” with key match-ups
between Northern Iowa
and Michigan State; also
Purdue faces off against
Duke.
The “Elite Eight” starts
tomorrow and ends Sunday afternoon.
The Final Four starts
April 3.
Baseball
vs. Andrean (Mar. 26)
@ Sandburg (Mar. 30)
vs. Elkhart Memorial (Apr. 3)
@ Highland (Apr. 5)
@ Lowell (Apr. 6)
Softball
@ Hobart (Mar. 29)
vs. Penn (Apr. 1)
@ Merrillville (Apr. 6)
vs. Lake Central (Apr. 8)
Boys Track
@ Proviso East Relays (Mar.
26)
DAC Indoor Finals @ Portage
(Mar. 30)
vs. Munster, East Chicago,
and Hanover Central (Apr. 8)
vs. Valparaiso and Merrillville (Apr. 13)
Girls Track
@ Cabin Fever Classic (Apr.
3)
@ Merrillville w/ Valparaiso
(Apr. 13)
@ Lowell w/ East Chicago
Central and Hanover Central
(Apr. 15)
@ Midwest Prep Invitational
(Apr. 17)
Girls Tennis
vs. Hobart (Apr. 12)
@ Munster (Apr. 14)
@ Culver (Apr. 19)
@ Highland (Apr. 21)
Boys Golf
@ Rensselaer Quad Meet
(Apr. 19)
@ Boone Grove (Apr. 21)
@ CP Invitational (Apr. 24)
@ Lowell w/ Hanover Central (Apr. 26)
14
Sports
March 26, 2010
Track teams begin indoor seasons
By Colin Likas
asst. sports editor
As the weather warms up,
the girls and boys track teams are
opening their indoor seasons and
preparing for their outdoor ones
as well.
The Lady ‘Dogs are coming off a season that included a
runner-up finish in the sectional
round and a ninth place finish in
the regional round.
The team will have a strong
freshman contingent this season.
Coach Lindsay Hattendorf has an
optimistic outlook for her team.
“We can have a great season,”
Hattendorf said. “We’re going to
try and compete at the best level
that we can.”
Returning to lead the team
are some state qualifiers from last
year. They include sophomores
Whitney Michell and Abi Small
(4x400 relay), fellow sophomore
Madison Koch and junior Laicee
Pierce (4x800 relay), and junior
Augusta Schrader (300 intermediate hurdles).
The girls opened their indoor portion of the season with a
home meet against Lake Central
and Clark on March 3. This was
followed by an indoor contest
against Merrillville on March 16.
Both meets were unscored.
Between these two meets
was the Harrison State Relay Trials, held on March 13 at Purdue
University. Individuals and teams
that met a certain time or distance
standard or finished in one of
the top spots of their respective
events moved on to the Hoosier
State Relay Finals.
Pierce was the only individual to advance to the finals and
qualify in the 3200 meter run. At
the finals, she finished in second
place in a time of 11:02.91.
The 4x400 relay and 4x800 relay also qualified for the finals for
the Lady ‘Dogs. The 4x400 team,
consisting of Small, Mitchell, and
freshman Bailey Beckham and Ki-
kayla Marcinkowski placed 12th
of 23 teams.
The 4x800 team finished 14th
out of the 23 teams competing and
consisted of Pierce, Koch, freshman Allison Wortel, and sophomore Lauren McCarroll.
“The girls did well,” Hattendorf said. “There were a couple of
personal records, and overall they
did a good job.”
The results of the girls’ most
recent indoor meet, a contest at
home against Lowell, did not finish in time for this release.
On the boys’ side of things,
the ‘Dogs are also coming off of
a successful season. Similar to the
girls’ team, the boys finished second to Merrillville in the sectional
round, while taking fourth overall
at regionals.
Junior Israel Mercado, who
could take on the role of leading
the sprinters this season, is the
only returning member from last
year’s state-qualifying 4x100 meter relay team.
Also returning this season are
seniors Kyle Davis, Andrew Facemeyer, and Chris Shellenberger,
who were all part of the statequalifying 4x800 meter relay team
last season.
“We have a mainly young
team,” head coach Keith Iddings
said. “Our core group of upperclassmen should continue to improve throughout the season.”
At the HSR Finals, Mercado
struggled in the 55 meter dash,
finishing in a time of 6.97 seconds.
The 4x200 relay team, consisting
of Mercado, junior Joel Johnson,
sophomore Tyler Wells, and freshman Zack Sneiderwine, placed
15th of 18 teams, partially due to
some difficulties during handoffs.
The ‘Dogs competed in a
meet at Merrillville on March 16
to open their indoor campaign.
The meet was unscored.
The boys will compete at the
Proviso East Relays in Illinois today. The results of this meet were
not available at press time.
Girls tennis looks
for back-to-back
winning campaigns
By Colin Likas
asst. sports editor
Photo PROVIDED
Photo by joe nejman
Senior Kyle Davis runs his leg of the 4x800 meter relay in a
meet against Merrillville. The relay finished in first place overall.
The meet, which took place on March 16, was unscored.
HSR Finals Results
BOYS
GIRLS
55 meter dash
Israel Mercado--6.97 sec
3200 meter run
Laicee Pierce-- 11:02.91
4x200 meter relay--15th
Israel Mercado
Joel Johnson
Tyler Wells
Zack Sneiderwine
4x400 meter relay--12th
Abi Small
Whitney Mitchell
Bailey Beckham
Mikayla Marcinkowski
4x800 meter relay-- 14th
Laicee Pierce
Madison Koch
Allison Wortel
Lauren McCarroll
Last season, the girls tennis
team responded well to a coaching change. Now, in Brian Elston’s second season at the helm,
the team is looking for another
winning season.
“The little things won’t be so
difficult for me this season,” Elston said. “It’s my second year, so
I’ve been there and done that.”
The Lady ‘Dogs took down
their 13th sectional title in school
history last season. The girls hope
to repeat, as well as improve on a
5-2 record in the DAC.
“We feel like we have big
expectations this season,” senior Hannah Tokoly said. “Even
though we were second in the
conference last year, we’d like to
keep improving.”
Tokoly and four others will
be returning this season. The
group includes seniors Chelsea
Viers and Needa Malik and juniors Kelly Gross and Gabby
Touchette. Elston expects the five
to be team leaders this upcoming
season.
Most of the returning group
was the reason that a sectional
title was able to be captured last
season, as well as the reason they
could repeat this year.
Malik won a marathon singles
contest to officially get the win
for the Lady ‘Dogs. Tokoly and
Gross were part of one winning
doubles team, while Touchette
was part of another (with thensenior Dana Andreoli).
“We want to at least do as
well as we did last year in the
conference,” Elston said. “We’re
going to try and win the sectional
again too.”
The first match of the season
will be at home against Hobart
of April 12. The conference portion of the schedule will open on
April 22, with the girls taking on
Merrillville.
Sports
March 26, 2010
15
Softball returns several players, looks to improve
The worst
of sports
franchises
By Hunter McKee
sports editor
By Hunter
McKee
sports editor
How awful
can a team become? In some
cases, losing has become a
fine art. For a few teams,
the feeling of bitterness and
defeat is left resonating
for many seasons and or
decades.
Of their 39 years in the
NBA, the Los Angeles Clippers have made the playoff
only four times. In those
four visits to the playoffs,
the furthest that the team
was able to take its postseason run was the second
round.
Given that the Clippers
are currently 26-45 and their
attendance rating is near the
league’s lowest, it does not
appear that things will begin
to improve soon.
The Detroit Lions.
Whenever you hear this
team name, one cannot help
but to laugh. The Lions have
built up their resume to put
themselves atop the “laughingstock list” in all of sports.
The Lions have not accumulated a winning record
since the beginning of the
decade. Even in the ‘90s
with the great Barry Sanders
playing for them, the Lions
still only amassed four winning seasons.
Michigan was the state
that was affected worst by
the recession, and the Lions
can’t win enough games to
shed some positive light on
the Michiganders.
The Washington Nationals (formerly Montreal Expos) are consistently horrific
enough to place themselves
as the worst team in MLB.
The best season for the
franchise was in 1981, when
the Expos ended their season
at the conference championship.
Obviously, baseball did
not fair well in Canada and
the franchise relocated to the
U.S. in 2005. Still the team
has not improved much, if
at all. The Nationals have
finished last in their division
each year with the exception
of 2007, when they finished
fourth out of five.
These teams have become the epitome of “losers”.
The Clippers, Lions, and
Nationals have brought losing to an art form. The economic rationalization was
not thoroughly considered
and their respective sports
did not, nor will they ever,
flourish within their cities.
For the Lady Bulldogs, the
2009 season brought many successes; they finished with a 20-4
regular season record, a 12-4
mark in the DAC, and were conference champs. The 2010 Lady
‘Dogs are confident that last season’s accomplishments will be
repeated this year.
“I think we are totally capable of repeating last season,
however, our goal is regionals
and state,” junior centerfielder
Gabby Raspopovich said.
The Lady Bulldogs’ coaches
are confident in the varsity lineup.
“We are looking good, we
have a lot of returning starters
and a lot of talented youngergirls,” assistant head coach Ginger Britton said.
Due to a new rule change,
the girls’ hitting and fielding will
be altered. The pitching mounds
are being moved back to 43 feet
to create a safer playing field.
“It will be more of a defensive game and less of a dominant
pitching game,” Britton said.
As a pitcher, senior Taylor
Perry is not bothered by the rule
change.
“I am used to 43 feet distance
because I play travel ball and the
mounds there are 43 feet, so it
won’t affect my pitching,” Perry
said.
However, the team will need
to improve its hitting.
Photo
by
Vinnie Needham
Senior pitcher Taylor Perry prepares to throw a pitch in a scrimmage against Lowell on Wednseday. The Lady ‘Dogs open up their season on Monday at Hobart. The home opener is on April 1.
“You have more time to react
to the ball and hit it, but also the
pitches have more break on them
so they will curve more,” Perry
said. “As a team we will look to
improve our hitting,” Raspopovich said. “With the pitching
mounds being moved back, we
will have more time to watch
the ball so the opposing pitchers
will try to throw many different
pitches.”
The girls finished their preseason with a scrimmage against
Lowell. Now the Lady ‘Dogs are
looking to start their regular at
Hobart. However, the girls are
most excited for games against
conference rivals Lake Central,
Chesterton, and LaPorte.
“To do well against these
teams, it will take a lot of defensive play,” Britton said.
Throughout the course of the
season the senior girls will be expected to lead the team.
“Our seniors are expected to
do well. They have a good work
ethic and they want to win; they
want to push themselves harder
than last year,” Britton said.
The girls will open up their
regular season on Mar. 29 at Hobart. The girls’ home opener is on
April 1 against Penn at 5 p.m.
By Milan Savich
asst. sports editor
your groove back.”
Last year, the Bulldogs finished up the regular season with a
record of 17-7. However, the team
has lost two key senior leaders
from last year, Ryan Qualizza and
CJ Balmes. This year team will be
lead by Grubnich and made up of
primarliy underclassman.
“I tell the freshman and sophomores not to get too far ahead of
themselves,” Grubnich said. “To
play well we just need to stay in
the moment and play our own
game.”
The Bulldogs first match isn’t
until April 19 at Rensselaer, nevertheless the team is excited to
begin the season and has been hitting the greens of Youche Country Club everyday in anticipation
of meeting their competition.
“I’m really looking forward to
this year,” Grubnich said. “Hopefully, we’ll make a good run and
have a solid season.”
The Bulldogs open up their
season April 19 at the Rennselaer
Quad Meet.
The Bulldogs first DAC
match is April 30 at LaPorte.
Golf team starts swinging early, preparing for Rensselaer Quad
Photo
by
Vinnie Needham
Senior Scott Rykovich tees off at Youche Country Club. The
Bulldogs open up their season April 19 at the Rennselaer Quad
Meet.
Indiana, or the “Cross Roads
of America” as it is know is host to
many thrilling sights and events
such as The Indy 500, The 2010
NCAA Final Four and the filming of “Public Enemies” among
other things. But none may be
as impacting as the expirience of
the blistering, freezing cold, imfamous region winters.
“The weather here is always
so iffy,” junior Nick Grubnich
said. “Because we start golf in
the early spring, it’s hard to get
out a play a lot before the season
begins.”
Grubnich, a two-time allstate golfer, will be returning for
his third year on the varsity golf
squad.
“The harsh winters make it
difficult to get out and swing the
club,” Grubnich said. “As soon
as it warms up just enough to
go hit some balls I try to get out
there and get back in form. When
you don’t play for a long period
of time it’s really hard just to get
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Educated Advice Columnist
Post-Tribune
16
Personalities
Ostazewski twins shine in extracurriculars
March 26, 2010
Getting to know...
Foreign Exchange Student
Lina Phillips
PHOTO
M.K.
LEMON
photoBY
by
M.k
Lemon
Seniors Melissa and Sarah Ostazewski work on their paintings during Karen Cox’s AP Studio Art class. The sisters like to express themselves through art, sports and fashion.
By Lauren McCarroll
staff reporter
Twin sisters, Melissa and Sarah
Ostazewski, seniors, have art work
that can be found all over the media
center, and in the main office. Their
pieces range from vibrant peacocks,
to self portraits, and from water colors to acrylics. These girls seem to
have a passion for painting which has
been shown through their success.
“The art work in the media center is chosen by the [art] teachers. To
be put on display their work must be
the crème de la crème,” Art teacher
Karen Cox said.
Though their artwork may come
out good enough to be put on display
it is not an overnight process.
“I try to spend at least two hours
every day on my artwork, but I have
much more time on the weekends,”
Sarah said.
In their artwork an array of
colors can be found but one of the
brightest pieces is “On the Ganges.”
“It is completely colored pencil
work with a peacock in is natural
environment. I worked on it for six
weeks about an hour everyday, and
it’s so vibrant. That is probably why I
like the piece so much. I really put a
lot of effort into it,” Melissa said.
Though both of the sisters are involved with art classes, and spend a
lot of time on their own drawing and
painting, they have different techniques.
“Melissa’s painting skills are
more precise, she works well with
acrylics, but I think I prefer water
color,” Sarah said.
The twins spend the majority of
their time with one another, yet they
have individual interests as well.
“I have so many interests, like
art, cross country,health,work and
Japanese. I think all of these have
helped shape my own personality. I
just have to try my best in everything
I do,” Melissa said.
Through all the hard work and
little rest Sarah relies on her inner
strength to keep going.
”I think my motivation and determination to do well in antything I
do defines me,” she said.
Out of all of their activities there
are different aspects to each that they
enjoy.
“I love art and running, both
hobbies are relaxing,” she said, “As
for school, I love certain classes (such
as Japanese) but my schedule is definitely not relaxing,” Sarah said.
There are only so many hours in
a day and with a schedule as busy
as the Ostazewski sisters they don’t
have much time for sitting around.
“This year it’s especially hard to
balance both schoolwork and other
interests I have. There just needs to
be more time in the day,” Melissa
said.
Somehow throughout the business of their day these girls still have
time to take an interest in fashion.
“I just wear clothing I love. The
cut of the fabric, the print; it’s the way
you put different, unusual pieces together that can be unique.”
photo by d. Casillas
How many years have you taken English?
I have taken English for about nine years.
How was your journey to America?
It was exhausting, but we had extra room on
the plane so we could take naps on the empty
seats. Not mention we had very small lunches,
and the cups we had our drinks were so tiny
that we had to ask for something to drink every five minutes or so while we were traveling.
How long was your trip?
It was over nine and a half hours for the whole
trip. As I said before, it was exhausting.
Do you plan on visiting America again in
the future?
Of course, but only if I have the money to
come back. If money was not a problem, I
would definitely visit on my own time or when I
was older.
Now that you have been at CPHS for over a
week, have you met any new friends?
Yes, but I still do not know a lot of people. In
short, I don’t know everyone I see in the halls.
Certified Driving School
865 Madison Street Crown Point, IN 219-662-7733
(One block west of Broadway on the corner of Summit and Madison)
Program Overview:
30 hours classroom plus 6 hours of driving (home pick-up for most drives)
Licensed by the State of Indiana’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Dept. of Education
The State of Indiana requires all Driver Education classroom and driving must be
completed in a maximum of 120 days!
Student must be 15 years of age (until July 1st, 2010 then 15 years 6 months old) &
show copy of birth certificate
Cost: $365.00 (check or cash only)
CLASS OPTIONS
(ALL CLASSES ARE ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASES)
EVENING CLASS: 3 DAYS A WEEK FOR 5 WEEKS
MONDAY & WEDNESDAY 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
SATURDAY 10:00 a.m. – Noon
(NEW CLASSES START EVERY MONDAY)
2 DAYS A WEEK FOR 7 ½
TUESDAY & THURSDAY 6:00 - 8:00 P.M.
START – APRIL 15, 2010 TO JUNE 3, 2010
WEEKEND CLASSES: WEEKENDS FROM 1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
START
END
SATURDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2010
SATURDAY, JUNE 5TH, 2010
MIN. 15 STUDENTS NEEDED
(NO CLASSES – MAY 9TH, MAY 29TH, & MAY 30TH, 2010
SUMMER CLASSES:
MORNING - 10:00A.M. TO NOON
START
END
JUNE 7
JUNE 14
JUNE 21 JUNE 28
JULY 5
JULY 12
JULY 19
JUNE 25
JULY 2
JULY 9
JULY 16
JULY 23
JULY 30
AUG 6
AFTERNOON – 1:00 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M.
START
END
JUNE 14
JULY 12
JUNE 25
JULY 23
*IMPORTANT INFORMATION*
If you don’t have a license in your hand by close of BMV business day on June 30,
2010, your permit would have had to be held 6 months (180 days) to obtain a license
(pertains to all ages.)
April 30, 2010 – Last day to have 60 days for permit
May 30, 2010 – Last day to be 16 years old
June 30, 2010 – Last day to get permit age 15
Fully licensed by the State of Indiana’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Department of
Education.
All instructors are teachers certified in driver education.