sept. 14, 2011 i vol. 76 i issue 2 Carmel High School i 520 E. Main Street i Carmel, IN 46032 i www.hilite.org
e is? See pag What’s th information 3 for more
*Carmel High School’s student newsmagazine
Also in this issue...
The face behind @GMN_Sports - See page 15
WHEN THE TOWERS FELL
Ten years after 9/11, how does the new generation view the day it can hardly remember? Join the conversation. Follow HiLite online.
Page 2 | Table of contents | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
4
news Following the state fair misfortune, CHS administration looks at evacuation strategies.
cover story
16 8
feature Students reflect on trauma in wake of the recent tragedy at the state fair.
24
sports Seniors prepare for their final Homecoming football game.
Ten years after 9/11, several consequences still affect students today, but the way younger generations view the attacks has changed.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Editor in chief Laura Peng addresses the importance of reacting to news despite its omnipresence.
perspectives
28
The HiLite staff remembers 9/11: the event and its effects.
Feature editor Ryan Zukerman encourages the appreciation of musical artists from older generations. Sports editor James Benedict reflects on his transition from downloading music illegally to legally.
entertainment
20
Choir members weigh in on the ongoing “Glee� phenomenon.
CONNER GORDON / COVER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
Reporter Shayan Ahmad and news editor Andy Yang comment on the current desensitization to disasters.
15 minutes
32
Freshman Jack Denger enjoys juggling competitively.
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | just a minute | Page 3
From then… 9/11 Memorial
The Freedom Tower To open in 2013, the newly constructed One World Trade Center is nicknamed the “Freedom Tower.” Take a look at its layout:
Where the original towers once stood is the 9/11 Memorial that opened to the public on Monday.
At the tip of the tower is a rotating beacon that will flash the letter “N” for New York in Morse Code. Floors 103 to 104 Mechanical
Two reflecting pools are set within the footprints of the original towers. A cascading waterfall is in the center of each pool, which is about one acre in size and can hold up to 50,000 gallons of water (enough to fully fill the pipes of 50 Empire State Buildings).
1776 ft.
The tower, whose height represents the year of this country’s independence, will be the tallest building in the United States.
Floors 100 to 102 Public space Floors 89 to 99 Mechanical
More than 400 swamp oak trees surround the pools. They were harvested from a 500-mile radius around the original World Trade Center site. Additional trees came from Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. to commemorate the victims of the United Airlines Flight 93 attacks.
…to now
Floors 65 to 88 Offices Floor 64 Sky lobby Floors 20 to 63 Offices
Floors 1 to 19 Base
Melinda song / graphic 911memorial.org, Nyc-Tower.com / sources
What is a QR code?
Step-by-step instructions for finding additional HiLite coverage online According to qrcodeguide.org, the QR code, short for “Quick Response” code, was created by the company DENSO WAVE in 1994. The code is a twodimensional symbol that stores and encrypts information, which a QR code reader can then decode.
STEP 1:
Check to see if your smartphone already has a QR code reader. If not, you can download a free QR code-reading application.
STEP 2:
Using your phone’s QR code reader and camera, either scan or take a picture of this code:
STEP 3:
Wait. It may take 5 to 30 seconds for the application to decode the QR code. Once the application finishes processing, enjoy additional content online.
Page 4 | news | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011
NEWS
SUBMITnews@hilite.org | twitter.com/Hilite_news
Dates to remember: Sept. 16: Homecoming game Sept. 17: Homecoming dance Oct. 12: PSAT testing Oct. 15: Yearbook sales end
Did you know... The NCAA Hall of Records attributes the first Homecoming game to the University of Missouri in 1911 university of minnesota / source
News Briefs State fair accident pushes CHS
Summarizing newsworthy content found daily at hilite.org
Film Club will have its second meeting on Sept. 15 in Room E150. Film Club meets on the first and third Thursday of every month to watch a movie. Students wishing to join can drop by E150 to vote on upcoming movies and pick up a permission slip for rated R movies. The CHS marching band’s next performance is scheduled to occur during the Homecoming football game against Lawrence North on Sept. 16. Members of the band will perform their competition show, “Going Viral” during halftime at the game. Kinsey Wallace, Carmel Aquatics Center director, said that Family Fun Night will take place on Sept. 24. From 6:30 to 8 p.m., the pool is open to the whole community. Admission is $4. Choir classes are preparing for their first concert, “In Concert”, on Sept. 27. All 12 choirs will be performing about two to five songs in an approximately 90-minute concert, according to choir director Lamonte Kuskye. According to Arthur Shou, orchestra council president and senior, there will be two concerts. The first, on Oct. 15 will be a joint concert with Pioneer Orchestra from Ann Arbor, MI, and the second will be this school only on Oct. 17. At least four members with a GPA of 3.0 or lower are needed in order for Academic Decathlon to compete in their annual Regional competition on Jan. 21, 2011. Participants may be in any grade. Students need to have their medical information updated online at myCCS or else nurses will not be allowed to give students any medication, according to Carol Gelatt, nurse in the main building. Otherwise students may not receive any medicine from nurses. For more news briefs and full stories, go to Hilite Online at
www.hilite.org
to evaluate its emergency plans Administrators say they have made minor adjustments to this school’s current procedure by ben anderson banderson@hilite.org
T
“The plan can cover anything from a storm, a fire and crowd control.” The way emergency action plans work is that the police would get reports, for example, of a severe storm or tornado through broadcasts or the National Weather Service. The athletics director and the local police then deliberate on the possible danger of the storm hitting the stadium. If that Continued on next page danger is imminent, then the guidelines
he state fair incident was a disaster that shook the very foundations of whole country, but even more it affected Hoosiers who have been going to the fair for years. It served as a wake-up call for some organizations to promote safety in all kinds of incidents. Carmel is one of these organizations. Just days after the incident, some administrators and directors conducted a meeting to address Carmel’s emergency policies. Athletics Director Jim Inskeep was one of the administrators at the meeting, and he also had a meeting with a representative of the city police. What they found overall, according to Inskeep, is that this school’s emergency plans are effective. “We made two minor adjustments to communication during and following a situation but stand firm on the plan we currently have in place,” Inskeep said. Though this meeting may have been provoked by the state fair incident, administrators normally have a meeting concerning emergency policy at least once a year. Typically, these meetings are at the beginning of the school year. According to school resource officer Phillip Hobson, almost every large public event has an incident action plan, which is based off of a rough outline of emergency protocols, commonly referred to as the National Incident Management System (NIMS). This system originated in the years after 9/11 by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) under Homeland Security. FEMA created this set of basic guidelines for incidents that can be fitted into all kinds of forms and natures of emergencies. As a result, henry zhu / photo local law enforcement agencies can SAFETY FIRST: Students exit the building during a fire drill on Aug. change and alter these guidelines 30. Indiana requires schools to have at least one tornado drill and one according to specific emergencies. man-made occurrence drill per semester in addition to five fire drills Hobson said that the incidents during the school year. that covered by this are very broad.
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | news | Page 5 of the emergency action plan take immediate effect. The plan primarily deals with how local police utilize the resources they have available. According to Hobson, “NIMS is the way you manage roles, language, and different emergency departments. A lot of it is resource management, allocating resources for different scenarios.” Senior Class President Hannah Larson is one of many Hoosiers who was deeply affected by the stage collapse that occurred at the state fair. However, Larson said she does see a silver lining to the tragic incident. “It was so special to see all these people helping each other at the fair, so many medically-trained people offered their services right then and there. It is super cool to see everyone pull together in a tragedy and Continued from previous page
not apart.” Larson said that she believes CHS does a competent job of both informing and enforcing fire and tornado drills so the students know what actions to take in these given instances. “I believe that the policy is as good as it can be with more than 4,000 students. It is efficient and does the best that it can to keep everyone safe,” she said. Hobson said he feels confident in the Carmel police force’s ability to handle emergencies, as they have had these plans in place for years to prepare for such events. Inskeep said, ultimately, it is important for students to stay alert in the event of an emergency. “In the event of a disaster, it is important to stay calm and take direction from local rescue workers and other personnel trained specifically for such an occurrence,” Inskeep said. “I am confident we would be able to enact our plan.”
In the event of a disaster, it is important to stay calm and take direction from local rescue workers and other personnel trained specifically for such an occurence. I am confident we could be able to enact our plan. Jim Inskeep
Athletics Director
Week comes with new policy, ‘surprise’ By Taylor acton tacton@hilite.org Senator and senior Sarah Alonso said she is working hard with the other senators to make this years Homecoming week great. Along with the spirit days, they have planned the 5K walk/run, penny wars, “what would you do for a” Klondike bar games, decorating contests and playhouse building. The school plans to hold the much-anticipated trike races on Wednesday. During the school convocation on Friday, the trike race finals will take place at the stadium. According to Alonso, Friday will be a “Green Day” combining all blue and gold classes into one day. A convocation is scheduled for the afternoon to get students excited for the football game. Assistant principal Amy Skeens-Benton said that there will only be a few alterations from last year. “We are bringing back a Homecoming tradition this year that Carmel hasn’t done since 2001. I can’t say what it is yet though. It’s a surprise,” Alonso said. (As of our Sept. 9 press deadline, the Senate had not yet released information about this surprise.) The Homecoming game will feature Carmel facing off against Lawrence North. Although the time is subject to change, the game is schedules to begin at 7 p.m. On Saturday at 8 p.m., the Homecoming dance will take place. The theme this year is “Peace, Love and Greyhounds.” CHS has recently adopted a new policy that allows only students attending this school to attend the dance and restricts outside students from participating. According to SkeensBenton, there were 3,400 students at the Homecoming dance last year, which caused concerns among administrators about safety and security. “We went and discussed the situation with the PTO, and it got to the point that safety had become a major concern. The only solutions were either to limit the dance to specific grade levels or to limit the outside guests, and so we made the second choice,” Skeens-Benton said. However, Alonso said she thinks the new policy might upset some students, especially for those who are used to bringing people from other schools. “I think that this new policy about not being able to bring people from other schools is a huge bummer,” Alonso said. “I know a lot of people who have boyfriends or girlfriends at other schools who aren’t even going to the dance now because they can’t bring them. I think we will see a lot of upperclassmen choosing not to go this year, thanks to this new rule. I was very
Homecoming Day Schedule 2011 11:20 a.m. Lunch begins based on students’ G2 class.
Start here
1:25 p.m. G4 will last for 25 minutes.
7:50 a.m Classes begin with 20 minute periods.
1:50 p.m. Club booths providing food and bands
2:25 p.m. Trike races will begin
Go to the game
2:50 p.m. Dismissal back to school
andy yang / graphic Amy Skeens-benton / source
shocked when it was announced because I brought some of my best friends from Brebeuf to Homecoming sophomore year. I wanted to share such an awesome experience with them. I think it’s sad that people won’t get to do that anymore.” Despite the changes, Alonso said she looks forward to the
rest of the week. Alonso said, “It will be an eventful week that students at Carmel get to participate in. I dare say this will be the best Homecoming week we have seen in a while. I truly can’t wait.”
Page 6 | news | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011
New system alters setup The school lunch system has moved to a new MealpayPlus system, new lunch arrangement and new look. By Rochelle Brual rbrual@hilite.org
S
chool lunch at CHS has received a back-to-school makeover. The biggest change is that students can now sign up for MealpayPlus, an online payment server that gives parents the option to put money in their student’s lunch accounts using credit or debit cards. “We had a lot of parents say, ‘Can I use a debit card? Can I use a credit card?’ (MealpayPlus) gives them access to do it from home, and it also gives them the ability to see what their student’s eating, so it kind of tracks where money’s being spent,” cafeteria manager Anne-Marie Woerner said. When a student’s lunch account reaches a certain amount, MealpayPlus will automatically withdraw money from the account it’s set up for. As a result, according to Woerner, a student will never run out of lunch money. If a student has an empty account and has forgotten lunch money at home, a phone call to a parent who can add money to his or her student’s lunch account online will fix the problem. This has a 20-minute turnaround, but Woerner said there
have been a few cases in which lagging has occurred. There have also been instances in which a student and his or her ID number didn’t match in the new system. However, the number of complaints is lower from last year, which used the MyLunchMoney system. Woerner said the school cafeteria uses a new point-ofsale computer system to go hand in hand with MealpayPlus. Previous years have seen theft from students using other students’ ID cards or ID numbers. In order to prevent this, students’ pictures appear on the computer screen, and cafeteria workers can match the purchase to the picture of the students’ face when they scan their ID cards. Greyhound Station also has a new look. The prior orientation of the long serving line changed into two full serving lines. There is also an additional cashier, which now brings the total to four. Additional tables have replaced two knocked-out kiosks, and the cafeteria seats about 32 more students. Woerner said she has now built out all the space she can in Greyhound Station. Senior Kieran Fiems said he still prefers main cafeteria over Greyhound Station due to the food choices, but he said he acknowledges the fact that the two lines have made Greyhound Station speedier than last year.
Omeed malekmarzban / photo
NEW TECH, NEW LUNCHES: Senior Katie Ayers purchases lunch at the main cafeteria in the “Chicken Etc.” line. The cafeteria’s system of purchasing lunches has changed greatly, implementing new technology into the cafeteria checkout lines that make purchasing lunches quicker and easier.
Woerner said the changes to the orientation of the lines have caused minimal disruptions. “The biggest disadvantage I have right now is that because of the two lines, I don’t have a lot of counter space because of the a la carte items . . . and I can really only serve ice cream from one line because the way the line is configured,” she said.
People were telling me they were tired (of the home-style food) all the time. Well, let’s try it every other week then. That way, you’re not sad we’re not having it, or we’re not having it every Monday. Anne-Marie Woerner Cafeteria manager
“There’s not much room on the other side. But those, to me, are very small issues. I think the biggest advantage is that we can service kids faster with an actual lunch in front of them. We don’t have that massive, ancient drink cooler that used to be in here.” In main cafeteria, Woerner said the only change was the home-style line, which has changed to a two-week rotation as opposed to the same meal every week. Woerner said, “Everything else is on a weekly basis. People were telling me they were tired (of the home-style food) all the time. Well, let’s try it every other week then. That way, you’re not sad we’re not having it, or we’re not having it every Monday.” Although Fiems said he knows about the changes in the home-style line, the changes don’t affect him as much because he frequents the chicken line. In order to improve preparation of the school lunch, Woerner said she has bought four combination ovens, which combine steam and convection cooking. A 20-pan unit now resides at Greyhound Station. Although the combination ovens along with the new computer system are expensive, Woerner said she is satisfied because some of the cooking equipment in the cafeterias, especially in the main cafeteria, is 15 to 20 years old. According to Woerner, she is not planning on any other changes in the school lunch this year. Freshman Cafeteria is the same as last year and has no changes. “Probably my biggest complaint about my job is that I get very little feedback from students. They don’t tell me if they like it. They don’t tell me if they don’t like it. They’re just in, they get their food and leave . . . I haven’t had anyone say they hate it. Let’s put it that way,” Woerner said. Senior Brett Fischl, who buys the school lunch every day, said, “It’s pretty good for a school lunch right now. I don’t really expect any more.”
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | news | Page 7
Tax caps not harming construction budget Despite state curtailing funding for other schools, Carmel’s tax rate keeps it below the maximum. By Aruni Ranaweera aranaweera@hilite.org When Greyhounds arrived at CHS on the first day of school, many were in for a surprise. A series of renovations, from new floors for the B-hallway and catwalk to new paint on the E-hallway lockers, greeted students as they headed to class. But some students, like sophomore Shelby Zann, weren’t just surprised by the school’s new look. Zann says she questioned how the school was able to pay for the new construction. “I was very surprised because I didn’t think the school had the money to (renovate),” Zann said. “I just didn’t think they could afford it.” Many schools in Indiana have had shortages in construction funds due to a recent property tax cap placed in the State Constitution. However, according to Roger McMichael, assistant superintendent in charge of business affairs, CHS has not been severely affected by this cap due to the relatively low tax rate already existing in Carmel as well as the high value of property in Carmel. According to McMichael, the rate has now been lowered to 1 percent for residential property, 2 percent for farmland and rental property and 3 percent for business property. In Carmel, however, the tax rate had already been below this cap. “They put this maximum cap over what the tax rate could be,” McMichael said. Although this tax cap did not impact Carmel, many other districts in Indiana have felt its effects. Lowering the tax rate saves property owners money, but institutions that depend on tax dollars, like schools, suffer when tax caps are placed. “There are a variety of governmental units like the schools, the city government, the county government, the library, and all of those receive (property) tax dollars,” McMichael said. “When those institutions receive less tax dollars due to tax caps, they are required to make proportional cuts in their budgets.” The property tax dollars that schools receive go to schools’ capital projects funds, the funds which pay for building maintenance and classroom
equipment as well as debt service funds, pension debt funds and transportation and bus funds. Property tax caps, therefore, result in schools having to make budget cuts in all those groups. Schools throughout Indiana have had to adjust to this cut in funding. For example, the new property tax cap has caused Franklin Township to cut its school bus transportation system. Students in Franklin Township schools must now pay to ride the bus to and from school, and those who do not pay must find other methods of transportation. Schools in Eastern Howard, East Allen and Muncie have had to put off building maintenance. Beech Grove City Schools have limited floor waxing and lawn maintenance. Instead, Carmel Clay Schools has been able to function on this same tax rate for many years. According to McMichael, this is due to the high value of property in Carmel. “You start with the fact that Carmel has one of the highest assessed property values per student in the state,” McMichael said. “It’s not just because we have big homes. It’s significantly because we have a lot of commercial property. The high rises and the buildings you see along highway 31 (U.S. Route-31), for example, generate millions of dollars worth of tax revenue.” Carmel Clay Schools is then able to use the portion of this tax revenue it receives to fund areas of its budget like the capital projects fund. “For Carmel Clay Schools, we raise about 15 million dollars a year for our capital projects fund,” McMichael said. “So we use those funds to buy everything from computers to the flooring work that you saw at the high school.” Zann said she believes Carmel is fortunate to be able to have the property value and funds in order to renovate the school. “I think that Carmel is really lucky that they can do the renovations,” Zann said. “At first I felt that the renovation wasn’t that good of an idea because of the costs, but now that I really think about it, I’m glad that they did it.”
Where the money’s been spent First floor
3.
4.
2.
1. 4.
1. 2.
3.
(Counterclockwise from top left): 1.New landscaping at the main entrance, 2. upgrades to Greyhound Station, 3. the floors in the varsity gymnasium and 4. new lockers in the physical education area.
Second floor
1.
2.
1.
2. 1.Terazzo flooring in the walkway (left) and 2. new paint on the lockers in the E-rooms (above) Melinda Song / Graphic Kathleen Bertsch / photos
Page 8 | feature | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011
FEATURE SUBMITfeature@hilite.org | twitter.com/Hilite_news
Did you know? Half of all Americans will suffer with some form of mental illness in their lifetime.
CDC / SOURCE
Go online To read more about the recognition ceremony honoring the DiCarlo brothers, visit hilite.org.
Inability to respond may be linked to previous experiences, studies show CHS students share their experiences with the shock of stress at the state fair incident By Sheen Zheng szheng@hilite.org
H
e remembers the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles. He remembers the chaos. But most of all, he remembers the faces of the injured–so helpless and desperate for someone to come. Junior Samuel “Sam” DiCarlo left his shift at the 4H Exhibit Hall on Aug. 13 in the hopes of attending the much-anticipated Sugarland concert. At the time, the idea of a stage collapsing and taking the lives of six never once crossed his mind. But four hours later, after a gust of wind brought down everything, he and his twin brother Andrew Joseph “A.J.” survived through a night of soothing the living, saving the harmed and praying for the lost. For a week after the calamity, his memory recollected the flickers of the evening when a stage hurled through the sky and fell upon a startled audience. “It lingers in the back of my mind,” he said, his eyes
focused on the carpet below. “Every time I see the screaming crowd on the news (and) every time I see the fallen stage in the paper, my mind goes back to the hours when I tried to save those injured people.” Sam is not alone. According to the fourth edition of The Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, 8 percent of Americans from the ages of 15 to 25 have experienced acute stress reaction, an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. Addressing the condition of his psyche since that night, Sam said he suffers from only a mild case of the disorder. But even he admits that at times, his mind replays the moments from that Saturday night. Mark Bruns, an adult physician at IU Health, said some of the symptoms of acute stress disorder include anxiety, loss of sleep and constant reminders or flashbacks of the actual trauma that had occurred. “It becomes more symptomatic,” he said, “when the condition begins to interfere with daily life, such as school or work. The condition may develop into Post-traumatic Stress Disorder if it continues for more than a month.”
Henry Zhu / Photo
Reflecting on the Aftermath: Samuel “Sam” DiCarlo and Andrew “A.J.” DiCarlo look at images of the State Fair Tragedy. According to Sam, “There’s no way to move past it, yet. Sometimes, it leaves my mind only to be brought back by (news) coverage of the event.”
A week before the accident, sophomore Rachel Krieger had begged her father to purchase tickets for the family after hearing that Sara Bareilles would open for Sugarland. At 7:30 p.m., two hours before the tragedy occurred, the Krieger family took its seats with hopes of a show that held surprises and twists along the way. Two hours later, they got their wish. Still unable to understand what went wrong, Krieger said, “I was there to hear music, not screams and thunder and crashing metal. But I did. And I’ll never forget what I heard.”
Surviving the Crash
As panicked Hoosiers fled the scene, the DiCarlo brothers ran in the opposite direction–toward the accident and the chaos. The two were separated for the next three hours. Almost instinctively, Sam charged towards the stage. He saved a woman with a dislocated ankle and tried to soothe her as she whimpered from the pain; the bone had protruded from her skin. He aided another suffering from a head injury and facial lacerations, staying by her side until she was stable. “As we tried to the save her, I was checking to make sure she was still there, that she was still alive,” he said. Calm and collected throughout the night, the brothers represented a minority of the population. In her book The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes–And Why, author Amanda Ripley explains that many often surrender to panic during crises and, in effect, experience three stages of response: denial, deliberation and the decisive moment. During the denial phase, people often find themselves unable to move quickly. The event has not registered in their minds, and reality blurs with fantasy out of shock. Because the collapsed stage was so unexpected and so sudden, it sent Krieger into the denial phase. “The shock. The desperation. Wondering what I could do,” she said. “I kept whispering to myself, ‘This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.’” Minutes after the disaster, according to Kipley’s book, the deliberation phase will settle in with people realizing the devastation that has occurred and losing their sense of reason as well as the ability to take in their surroundings. Sitting in bleachers that had towered the stage, Krieger said she saw the events pan out before her, like a movie she had never wished to see. “No words could come to mind as I watched the horror ensue before me. Although I was in a position to see everything clearly, I still couldn’t register what was happening,” Krieger said. And finally, according to Kipley’s book, in the decisive moment, many are sent into a state of paralysis and become incapable of reacting to the trauma. The mixture of the crashing stage and the terrified shrieks from the crowd traumatized Krieger and hurled her into Continued on next page the final phase of response, she said.
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | feature | Page 9 “I sat there, paralyzed, as my mom, so terrified and shaken, threw her arm around us,” Krieger said. “My sister Lauren burst out sobbing, harder than I’ve ever heard her sob in my life. We were all cowering in fear.” Krieger’s reaction was a typical one, and many had stood there paralyzed in the seconds following the crash. Yet the DiCarlo brothers took no time to analyze what had happened, for they were busy trying to salvage the aftermath. “I guess God put us in that place for a reason,” Sam said. “All along, we were put there to pick up the pieces.” Perhaps the reason the brothers were so quick to react dates back to two years ago when students Jordan Moss and Jordan Poirer had lost their lives after a police chase. The DiCarlo family was one of the first to hear the news and spent time in the hospital to offer comfort to the worried mothers and fathers. Perhaps the previous trauma prepared them for ones to come. Perhaps that is the reason why while Krieger seems to Continued from previous page
remember only quick flashes of that night, time seems to have eased to a stop for Sam. “When I see videos, everything happens so fast. But in that moment, every second passed so slowly,” Sam said. “There were officers everywhere, and everyone was yelling something different.” According to a recent article from Forbes.com, the very act of surviving one crisis helps one survive another. Even if the two incidents differ, a person can still respond more efficiently if he has experienced heavy amounts of panic in the past. “(That night at the state fair) was a chance to help people,” Sam said. “Fear wasn’t running through my body. It just had to be done.”
Dealing with the Aftershock
Like the others who attended the Sugarland concert, Sam said he has struggled to go a day without reliving the horror of the fallen stage. He said the evening news is a constant reminder of what he’s trying to move past. So is the daily newspaper.
“There’s no way to move past it yet,” he said. “Sometimes, it leaves my mind, only to be brought back by (news) coverage of the event.” According to Bruns, two main treatments for acute stress disorder exist. One involves sharing thoughts of the anxiety with a professional, which is sometimes referred to as ‘talk therapy.’ Another method, which can be done at the same time as counseling, is with prescribed medication. For Krieger, the support of her friends and family enables her to cope. “It helps to be able to talk to my friends about it and write it down, just to get things straight in my head,” Krieger said. “Also, my family is always there for me whenever I need them.” Weeks later, Sam said he expects to be reminded of the incident as only a hazy memory, as a time when he was able to lend a hand to those who needed it. He expects to be just as thankful that he left the scene unhurt and to grow stronger from it in case he is thrown into yet another disaster. “In the end,” he said, “time will heal the wounds.”
Smartphone users tend to develop obsessive habits By Julie Xu jxu@hilite.org This school year is only a few weeks old but already, a teacher has caught freshman Colby Cronnin checking his phone during class. Ever since he replaced his regular cell phone with a smartphone, Cronnin said he has developed a habit of obsessively checking his phone. Cronnin said, “I’ll constantly check (my phone) whenever I get a text or whenever I’m just dazing off. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing; I’ll just check it every five minutes.” Cronnin is not alone. According to a May 2011 study by the Helsinki Institute of Information Technology and Intel Labs Research, obsessive phone checking habits are especially prevalent in smartphone users. The checks, on average, last for less than 30 seconds and are done every 10 minutes. The subjects of the study checked their phone 34 times a day not out of a certain need but, rather, out of habit. According to psychologist Todd Casbon, obsessive phone checking habits, particularly with smartphone users, are becoming an increasing problem, especially among teenagers and young adults. Casbon, a worker at Lifecare Counseling Services in Carmel, said, “When people get distracted, it takes time to shift their attention back to their work, so obsessive checking can cause people to be less productive.” Cronnin said he agrees with this notion that overchecking can hinder productiveness. “(My smartphone) interferes with getting my homework done. I constantly check it at home, at school and at night, so I spend a lot of my time getting distracted on my phone. I probably should be doing other things like homework and not being so antisocial.”
People overcheck their phones because (they) are just simply obsessive over their technology. William Kee
Smartphone user and senior
According to Casbon, social and interpersonal problems are some long-term effects for obsessive phone checking. Cronnin said he experiences such interpersonal problems, particularly with his parents. “My parents get mad at me for (using my phone),” he said. “I know it’s rude, but I’ll just text someone and listen to the person at the same time.” Unlike Cronnin, senior William Kee said his smartphone does not interfere with his relationships with other people because he does not have such obsessive phone checking habits. Kee said, “I keep from overchecking because I honestly don’t need a phone. People overcheck their phones because (they) are just simply obsessive over their technology.” Although Cronnin is one such person who claims to be obsessed, he said the addiction is not always bad. Still, overchecking one’s phone can certainly take on a lot of addictive qualities, according to Casbon. Often, addictions have a habitual nature to them, and overchecking a phone is a habitual kind of behavior that produces some sort of shortterm immediate gratification. Checking is slightly analogous to taking a drug, gambling or even taking alcohol, Casbon said, and every time a person uses the drug or rolls the dice, there is a possibility that something will happen shortly after to make the person feel good. Cronnin said he experiences such feelings of satisfaction when texting his friends. “I’ll just stay up really late at night texting. Why not? We have great conversations,” he said. “It’s really easy to get caught up in texting friends, checking Facebook and staying entertained.” Casbon said he agrees that such features make smartphones more addicting for users than regular cell phones. “Smartphones not only have text messaging but email and internet capabilities that old phones didn’t have access to,” Casbon said. “Plus, smartphones load very quickly, so people know that if they go on their smartphone, they can get new information instantaneously.” Cronnin said he enjoys these special capabilities smartphones have to offer. “Smartphones are convenient. Everything is within an inch of my fingertip,” he said. “It’s fast. It’s colorful. It’s everything that entertains people now compared to a regular phone that has just the basics. I didn’t use my first phone very much, but now I use my smartphone a lot for music, games and Facebook.” Kee, however, said his phone usage has remained stagnant since the time he made the switch from a regular phone to a smartphone despite being able to access information
Kathleen Bertsch / Photo
a quick glance: Freshman Colby Cronnin checks his smartphone while doing homework. Cronnin said he has started obsessively checking his cell phone, even while he is studying.
instantly. Kee said, “To me, a cell phone will always just be a way for people to know where I am. It’s just another piece of technology for me.” Although many smartphone users do not possess obsessive phone checking habits, Casbon said users who do have a significant problem with checking exist, and they may need to consider getting rid of their smartphone due to their severe effects on the users’ lives. “Smartphones may cause students to fall behind in their school work, resulting in poor grades. This makes getting into a certain college harder as well as getting a certain job,” Casbon said. “People have to break this habit; otherwise, they may suffer the long-term risks.”
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | feature | Page 11
New film highlights students under pressure Students say they feel stress, while counselor says balance is key to success BY KATIE UTKEN kutken@hilite.org
should prepare for college by adding rigor to their high school coursework. Colleges want to see that upward trend in grades as an indication that students are becoming increasingly capable of challenging themselves and will ‘peak’ in college.” To say that senior Sarah Bennett is busy is an understatement. To avoid becoming too overwhelmed, Cottone said She enrolls herself in the most challenging courses this school students need to remember that they need ample sleep and offers and crams her schedule with extracurricular activities, good nutrition and advises that they build in time for friends, including GKOM, NHS, track and cross-country. On a typical family and hobbies. day, Bennett stays at school past the 3:05 p.m. bell for athletic “It’s important for students to learn to strike a balance now, practices and works on homework around four hours per since that tends to be a lifelong battle,” Cottone said. night. Despite her hectic schedule, Bennett remains a strong While Bennett maintains a busy lifestyle, she said she has student and has become one of the best runners in Indiana. learned to balance academics and extracurricular activities “You’re told from the time you’re in sixth grade that you with her social life, as Cottone suggests. According to Bennett, need to go to college,” Bennett said. “Colleges put pressure school is not stressful because of the 10-minute passing on students to do well so that they will be admitted into the periods to talk with friends; however, the workload outside school, but for me I put all the pressure to do well on myself of school, when paired with her after school activities, can be so I can hope to someday go to a great college.” stressful. Bennett is not the only one who feels the pressure to Like Bennett, senior Michelle Xie takes difficult classes, succeed. A documentary released in Sept. 2010 titled “Race spends the same amount of time doing homework and stays to Nowhere” contends that America’s preoccupation with busy outside of class with extracurricular activities. testing and performance is negatively affecting students and Both girls said they feel that the pressure to do well comes their learning in the classroom, creating a demographic of primarily from themselves and not from an external source. teenagers who feel overwhelmed by the pressure to excel at According to Cottone, this is not uncommon. all costs. “Some students get pressured by parents or family members. In an age where college acceptance rates are decreasing, Some self-inflict stress and pressure to outperform or match many students seem to extend themselves too far in their their peers’ accomplishments,” Cottone said. “Colleges are academics and outside activities in order to build up their looking at the ‘whole person;’ not just GPA and test scores, but résumé and gain an edge over other applicants. But this mind extracurricular accomplishments, volunteerism, leadership set can have negative effects, including sleep deprivation and and consistent involvement over the course of high school. So disengagement in the classroom. the pressure to succeed is not limited to academics.” Counselor Maria Cottone said she has witnessed this mind As for the documentary’s message that the pressure to set firsthand. perform has undermined actual learning, Cottone said that “Sadly, I’ve occasionally seen students burn out before when students become too focused on learning only what they even get to college,” Cottone said via email. “Students will be on a test in order to earn top grades, they lose the advantage of rich discussion and applying themselves, which limits students. She said the best learning is through in-depth classroom discussion that requires critical thinking and expanding on concepts. Bennett and Xie disagreed with the documentary’s message that Americans are obsessed with testing and performance, but they acknowledge that pressure to succeed and excel does exist. “I feel like the stress is normally just compounded in a few weeks during a school year,” Xie said via email. “For me, end of the grading period, finals and AP testing weeks are the only ones (that are) truly stressful. Most of the time, I can get a handle on my schoolwork.” To combat this type of stress and pressure, Cottone advises students to challenge themselves with rigorous classes, but to stay Mary brooke johnson / photo within reason. “Students need to find a balance Helping out: Senior Sarah Bennett assists a freshman in her GKOM in their coursework with tougher SRT. According to Bennett, pressure from colleges has influenced her to courses in their areas of strength maintain a busy lifestyle.
The ABC’s of Educational Documentaries: Race to Nowhere (2010): This film features students who are pushed to the extreme in high school due to excessive stress and pressure and are therefore unprepared and/or uninspired for college and the workplace. Waiting for Superman (2010): Filmmakers target America’s broken public education system and seek reform so that every child can receive a quality education. They strive to raise academic and teacher standards across the country. Two Million Minutes: A Global Examination (2008): This documentary follows two former CHS students as well as several students from India and China to see how they each spend their “two million minutes” in high school and if the students are prepared for college or not. IMDB / Source
and electives that interest them and may lead them to future college choices,” Cottone said. “Involvement in clubs and athletics are important in developing leadership and staying involved in the community. “But again, it is critical to have some downtime. Family, friends, personal interests and ‘unscheduled’ time all help to maintain a solid foundation of good emotional health and the energy and motivation to tackle all the goals you have set for yourself. Be your own person; you are unique and that is what will make you a success.”
Students need to find a balance in their coursework with tougher courses in their areas of strength and electives that interest them and may lead them to future college choices. Maria Cottone Counselor
Page 12 | feature | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011
New study: Swearing may actually increase stress Despite the results, psychology teacher says the study may be far-fetched By Claudia Huang chuang@hilite.org
T
hink swearing makes you feel better? Think again. A recent study published this year by psychologists from Bristol University claims that swearing actually stresses out people more than if they did not. According to the study, using profanity causes a stronger reaction in the emotional center of the brain than if one were to use normal speech. However, sophomore Sam Pickett admits that he will say an occasional swear word when he gets injured or irritated. “I don’t try to swear; sometimes, it just comes out,” he said. Pickett is not alone. Swearing is prevalent everywhere: in music, on the Internet, on television. Anyone could stand out in the middle of a hallway in the school and hear profanity from all directions.
According to a study in Time from last year, due to an increase in vulgar language in adults and teenagers, children are swearing earlier than ever. Also, the study noted that swearing is becoming a problem that is starting at ages 3 and 4. Amid all of this swearing, the commonly held perception, though, is that swearing helps relieve pain. “In a way, (swearing) makes me feel a little better,” Pickett said. “I think that there’s a psychological effect that it decreases pain a little bit.” Previous studies published in The New York Times in 2009 even showed that cursing could increase one’s pain tolerance. Volunteers, according to The New York Times, were able to submerge their arms into a bucket of ice water for a longer amount of time if they continuously uttered a swear word, as opposed to if they just said a normal word.
Students and faculty here said they are undecided and have mixed feelings about these studies. Psychology teacher Peter O’Hara said this new study from Bristol University sounds far fetched, considering the past research done, but either side could be valid. “It is kind of like smoking. People say they smoke to relieve physical pain. Some say that there’s no way that smoking decreases stress, but some people smoke to avoid stress,” O’Hara said. On the other hand, Pickett somewhat agreed with the results of the Bristol University study, saying he could understand how the study is true. “When I’m angry and I curse, it kind of just adds to the fire and makes me more tense and riled up. It creates a strained environment,” Pickett said. On the other hand, O’Hara said he believes that there is a slight flaw in the study. “For some people, swearing is normal words,” O’Hara said. “Some people just do it all the time, anyhow.” O’Hara admits that he swears from time to time when he gets New statistics find that injured or angry. swearing is increasing in “Swearing doesn’t make me all popular sectors. Swearfeel better; it doesn’t make me ing is now more prevalent feel worse. It just makes me feel,” in younger children and on O’Hara said. television. Vulgar language no longer has the same meaning as it used to, according to O’Hara. People today have different purposes for using profanity. O’Hara said, “Some young people swear of the to Roughly because they think it day are words people say each makes them big and tough. Some older people swear words. swear because they think it makes them tough. A lot of people swear because they are ignorant and don’t know how all to use the language.” f o nt n, Despite this new study, e c r pe ariso our) O’Hara said he doesn’t think p om e, us, . people will try to change c In w ds their habits on cursing. t to ords. uns ( wor n e n o “For most people, the c w e r pe wear l pron spok first word they utter when f a s re plur ent o they get hurt is a swear word. a rds erson perc It’s a reaction. We usually don’t o w t-p p 1 s think about (what we are saying), u r fi ke we just react,” O’Hara said. “In ma psychology, I don’t know if it’s so much about what you say, but it’s that you are going to say something to release the energy and tension.” age p But Pickett said he will watch his language wo d 12 ercen rds t t more and be more aware of using profanity. or v o 19 u of pe ulg se c ople He said, “I don’t know if I would make a ar l ang urse conscious effort to stop swearing, but it’s something uag I will certainly keep in mind now and try and e. decrease it.”
We Swear, Cursing’s on the Rise
80 90
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87
Liane yue / graphic Timothy jay / source Scott counseling / source
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Page 14 | student section | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011
student section Fabulous Fashion studentsection@hilite.org | twitter.com/Hilite_news
Senior Michelle Li designs, makes Homecoming dresses
Follow Us! Follow the HiLite Twitter page @HiLite_news for updates wherever you are.
Student Responses: What is your favorite Homecoming spirit day and what’s the craziest outfit you’ve worn for spirit week? Below are the responses from the HiLite Facebook page: Nikhil Dharan My favorite spirit day was definitely Harry Potter Day. However, the best outfit I wore was for Rockstar Day: I had a really tight shirt that said rockstar, I had fake tattoos, and I had windswept hair to boot. August 17 at 10:48pm
Conner Gordon / PhOTO
Dress UP: Senior Michelle Li works on her dress for Homecoming. Many fashion students like Li are choosing to wear dresses they made themselves.
By KAtie Utken kutken@hilite.org
W
hile most girls have been scouring department store racks as they attempt to find the perfect dress for the Homecoming dance, senior Michelle Li can skip all the hassle. This year, Li made her own outfit from scratch. “It fits perfectly to you instead. If it’s a store-bought dress, you don’t know if it’ll fit you perfectly,” Li said. “You can just get it right where you like it.” According to Judy Fisher, fashion and textile foundations teacher, Li is not the only one who takes on the task of assembling her own garment for the Sept. 17 dance. Fisher said each year the number of girls who make their own dress varies, but it is usually between five and 10 students. Li said she attributes this growing phenomenon to the rising popularity of the fashion classes at CHS. The process is relatively simple for Li, who completed Fashion and Textile Foundations 5-6 her junior year. She purchases the pattern and fabric she likes, cuts out the pattern pieces and follows the detailed instructions that come with the pattern. From there, Li sews the dress together and fits it. According to Li, the one-shouldered white dress she made
this year costs about $30, which is significantly less expensive than the average manufactured dress. Fisher added that other benefits of making your own dress are students can make the garment look exactly like they envisioned, and it will fit perfectly since it is custom made, in addition to the fact that it provides a sense of accomplishment.The students can create the dress they want to wear. “It will be unique; they won’t run into five other girls at the Homecoming dance wearing the same dress that everybody bought at Von Maur,” Fisher said. However, there are drawbacks when students take on such a large project. Both Li and Fisher said the primary disadvantage of making your own dress is the process can be time-consuming, although Li estimated it took her only a week to finish her piece. “I guess it kind of stresses you out sometimes because you’re like, ‘Okay, I need to get this done before Homecoming.’ But for a store-bought dress you just buy it and you’re done with it,” Li said. “Like for this dress I’m making, you always have to be thinking about it; it’s always in the back of your head.” Despite the planning involved, Fisher said the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. “It allows students to use all their creativeness and their creativity,” Fisher said. “Fashion is a form of art. It’s a wonderful outlet for the creative side of a personality.”
Nina Underman ‘11 Uh, not sure if I’m allowed to be doing this, but I saw it on twitter, I’m bored.... oh well. If I win, you can give my ticket to someone else. As a senior I wore an inflatable cow suit (cowboy day), a zebra snuggie (pajama day), and goth attire (color day ..seniors wore black). My favorite was BY FAR Harry Potter day my junior year when I dressed up as the golden Snitch in a costume made of cardboard. WalMart almost didn’t sell me the gold spray paint because I wasn’t 18 and they thought I’d huff it. I had to take the costume off to sit down but it was awesome. On a side note, hope everyone at the HiLite is having an awesome year! Laura Peng will lead you to glory! August 18 at 12:31am William Kee My favorite spirit day was pajama day, and I haven’t really done anything for any spirit week. August 21 at 10:28pm
Want to be in the next issue?
Go to the HiLite Facebook page and answer the questions for a chance to be in the next issue of the HiLite! Facebook / source
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | student section | Page 15
This issue’s Twitter account: @GMN_Sports
The Face Behind the Tweets Each issue, we’ll highlight a particularly newsworthy Twitterer from Carmel High School. This issue we’re featuring Stuart Jackson, multimedia editor and senior.
Live game tweets, sports updates, scores. GMN_Sports is a Carmel student’s home for all events sports-related.
Your Sports, Man Senior Stuart Jackson tweets for CHS sports under the new GMN Sports umbrella By Sarah Yun syun@hilite.org What is the Greyhound Media Network?
The Greyhound Media Network is the communications department’s unified approach. Rather than competing with each other to tell the same story, we are working together to do just that.
How did you get involved with the sports tweeting under the Greyhound Media Network? I got involved with the Sports tweeting for Greyhound Media Network through my role as features director for WHJE. I was controlling the first broadcast of the season and asked HiLite advisor Jim Streisel what the information was for the Greyhound Media Network Sports account. After getting the correct information, I took it from there.
Why do you think you are a newsworthy Twitterer?
I think I’m a newsworthy Twitterer because I am very knowledgeable about each sport.
I think I’m a newsworthy Twitterer because I am very knowledgeable about each sport.
Stuart Jackson
When do you tweet?
Senior
I tweet during CHS sports events.
Do you plan to pursue a career dealing with the media when you grow older and why?
I do plan to pursue a career dealing with media later on, because I’m really fascinated by where the media is heading. I love doing media-related projects, and to have that be my full-time job would be awesome.
Hounds will take on Brebeuf Jesuit HS tomorrow night at the Eric Clark Activities Center. Sept. 6
Final, notable stats: Skjody, Stebbins each had 4 kills. Boy and Merk 3 each. #GreyhoundVolleyball Sept. 6
And that’s game! Carmel wins 3rd and final set 25-12 off a block. Sept. 6
Despite being unhappy with that last call, Coach Coleman’s Hounds are one point away from winning the match Sept. 6
Hounds Coach Rich Coleman: “Please tell me you’re joking” Sept. 6
Do you only tweet for sports? Why?
Yes, I mainly focus on sports when I am tweeting. I mainly focus on sports because that subject is what I am most knowledgeable with.
Why do you think people should follow you on twitter?
If they would like to be up-to-date with greyhound sports, and if they want live updates during different CHS sports events, they should follow the twitter page.
After a great kill, Megan Flatley leaves the game and Gabby Arroyo enters. Hounds lead 23-11 Sept. 6
Which sport do you enjoy tweeting about the most and why? Football, because that is what I know the most about between each sport.
What are the benefits of using Twitter as a way to inform others?
With Tim Page entering the game, Coach Wright has played all 4 of his QBs. Aug. 19
About Stuart Jackson by Stuart Jackson (in 140 characters or fewer): Henry Zhu / PhOTO I would describe myself as someone who Liane Yue / Graphics Twitter / Source loves sports.
Vogel looks for open receiber but loses ball in process. Another fumble recovery for the Hounds! This one mad by Sam Bennett. Aug. 19
Twitter is fantastic for getting brief, timely updates out to others. Because you can get twitter updates via text message, it allows for much faster and up-to-date information than most other websites.
Page 16 | cover story | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011
9/11
9/11 Ten Years Later A decade after the terrorist attacks, students, who were between 4 and 8 years old in 2001, struggle to comprehend the tragedy because they lack the memories of older generations
TEN YEARS LAT L BY HAFSA RAZI hrazi@hilite.org
ike the rest of America, freshman Sarah Kalthoff watched as the World Trade Center towers came crashing down on Sept. 11, 2001. But unlike most others, she said she did not wrestle overwhelming feelings of shock, fear, anger and sadness. Since she was only 4 years old at the time, Kalthoff said for the most part, she just felt a sense that something had gone wrong.
“I don’t remember a lot,” Kalthoff said, “but I do remember standing with my brother, standing with him in front of the TV in my parents’ bedroom after we’d taken a bath and just watching all the smoke and the towers just falling.” During the 9/11 attacks 10 years ago, current high school students would have been between the ages of 4 and 8. While their parents struggled to deal with the tragedy, students like Kalthoff didn’t fully understand the enormity of what happened that day and what would follow. As a result, their memories and experiences of that moment are far different from those of older students and adults. According to a Pew Research Center survey released earlier this month, 97 percent of Americans who were at least 8 years old during 9/11 said they remember where they were when the towers collapsed, and 75 percent said the attacks affected them a great deal. But most current high school students fall beneath that age range, with most freshman having been 4 or 5 years old. But even if students cannot recall exactly what changed after 9/11, according to Karen Taff, U.S. History and American Studies teacher, those changes have become integral parts of their lives. Taff was a U.S. History teacher at this school in 2001 and was proctoring the ISTEP+ when the planes flew into the World Trade Center on 9/11, she said. She happened to take a break from supervising the students, she
said, and saw the first tower on fire on a TV in the “I was also watching while the second plane “and at that point, like everybody, I realized tha an accident.” Later that day and in the days that followed footage from the World Trade Center. Her stude she said, reactions of confusion, anger and fea teachers the difficult task of explaining what h teachers were still trying to find answers for the draining experience for her. “I remember that it was a Tuesday, and I rem through Friday, like everything in there, the wor about it, watched a lot about it, tried to carry on, but certainly by th exhausted, traumatic state.” According to Kalthoff, she believes that any fear or anxiety she comparison to the feelings of those who were older and more aware. “I think it would have been a lot more scary to understand that this i you’re little, you’re kind of oblivious to everything,” Kalthoff said. For senior David Sutton, the mere experience of seeing the planes h in how he understands the attacks. Sutton was in second grade at the tim after school that he found out what had happened and saw the attacks on explain what was going on, Sutton said, he didn’t quite understand, but “If I didn’t have that memory of coming home and seeing the seco a different experience,” Sutton said. “Remembering feelings and rem two different things.” According to Sutton, while he comprehended little of the magnitud younger sister, freshman Jill Sutton, probably understood even less.
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | cover story | Page 17
TER
e social studies office. flew into the second tower,” Taff said, at this was something larger than just
d, she said, she and her class watched ents had similar reactions to the adults, ar. However, she said, they gave their had happened and why, even though emselves. All this, Taff said, was a very
member that for most of the next week rld just stopped,” Taff said. “We talked he end of the week, we were in a very experienced after the attacks pales in
is real and it’s happening, because when
hit the towers played an important role me, but it was only when he came home on TV, he said. When his parents tried to he still felt sad. ond tower go down, it would have been membering facts are
de of the attacks, his
Continued on next page
jiva capulong / graphic
Page 18 | cover story | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011 Jill said she was most attuned to the fact that the adults around her were so afraid. According to her, she thinks she understood what happened more than other children her age did because she has five older siblings and parents who were very open with her. However, Jill said, her older siblings comprehended more because they were aware of world events in general. Also, she said, the fact that New York was so far away from her made the attacks harder to understand. “Because I wasn’t there in that general area, it was hard to put the numbers to life,” Jill said. Like his sister, David said for the next year he noticed adults around him being afraid and uptight. According to David, he remembers that every time his teachers perceived a remote threat they would cancel recess. According to Taff, students who were young children on 9/11 often remember that day in terms of what concerned them at the time, like recess. She said she notes a contrast in how her daughter, who was in fourth grade, wanted to know what was going on, while her son, who was in second grade, was upset that the attacks were all that played on TV. “I distinctly remember him saying, ‘I don’t want to watch any more of this,’” Taff said. Part of her son’s distress was the fact that Taff herself was so upset, she said. According to Taff, many of her students were troubled because they saw that their parents were troubled. In general, Taff said, the nation fell into fear, which led to expanded funding for security in airports, post offices and even schools. While this school had already revamped its security after the Columbine shootings in 1999, the security cameras installed throughout the school were set up only after 9/11, Taff said. While the situation did warrant a certain amount of fear, Taff said many people wanted more assurance of their safety than was necessary. “(There was) a desire on the part of administration and school leaders to be able to demonstrate that they had taken concrete measurable actions to provide security,” Taff said. According to Jill, people became more mistrustful after 9/11 as part of how afraid they were, citing heightened scrutiny and security at airports as one indication of this. “You can’t judge that people are terrorists, but you can’t say no one is (a terrorist),” Jill said. Security, however, was not the only change that occurred Continued from previous page
henry zhu / photos
the day that shook the world: Freshman Sarah Kalthoff examines a display of newspaper and magazine coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the E hallway. Although Kalthoff watched the events on television as they unfolded, she is part of a new generation that grew up without fully comprehending the enormity of 9/11. in the school after 9/11. According to Taff, she herself has changed how she teaches her history classes because of the questions raised by the attacks. “In the last 10 years, we’ve fought two wars. And I have students who are serving in the military right now. And of course we have a colleague here at the high school who lost her son in Iraq,” Taff said. “So the notions of what does it mean to be an American, what is America about in terms of our history and traditions—I think I try to bring a greater sense of urgency and reality (to that).”
According to David, this sense of what it means to be American was one of the most important consequences that came out of the 9/11 attacks. “Immediately after 9/11, patriotism skyrocketed. We were all on the same side, and most of the world was with us. It was very unifying,” David said. Now, 10 years later, David said patriotism has waned with skepticism after years of war overseas. Continued According to Kalthoff, though, on next page
How much do you know about 9/11?
Test your knowledge with this quiz based on intelligence gathered by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States 4. The New York Fire Department’s response began within _____ seconds of the first crash. a. 5. b. 60. c. 45. d. 30. 5. Who was the lead agency dealing with alQaeda? a. The CIA. b. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency. c. The FAA. d. The Department of Defense. 6. The first two hijackers flew into the United States from what country? a. Afghanistan. b. Indonesia c. Germany. d. Italy.
7. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed stated that his hatred of the United States stemmed not from his experience there as a student, but from his disagreement with U.S. policy towards the ___________. a. Africans. b. Germans. c. Palestinians. d. Koreans. 8. Who was never fully engaged in countering al-Qaeda before 9/11? a. The Department of Defense. b. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency. c. The FAA. d. The CIA. Answers: c, a, c, a, a, b, c, a
1. What was the name of the Iranian-supported worldwide terrorist organization? a. Jemaah Islamiya. b. Al-Qaeda. c. Hezbollah. d. Muslim Brotherhood. 2. Who was the mayor of New York City? a. Rudolph Giuliani. b. David N. Dinkins. c. Michael Bloomberg. d. Madeleine Albright. 3. On Sept. 11, 2011, the nation suffered the largest loss of life on its soil since the Civil War, losing ____ people. a. 1592. b. 1342. c. 2973. d. 2030.
bookrag.com / source
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | cover story | Page 19
Percentage of People who Know Where They Were during... 97%
95%
81%
72%
9/11 attacks
JFK assassination
bin Laden killing
MLK assassination
58%
fall of Berlin Wall
pew research center / source
whether they lived in New York at eighth grade. the time or know people who were According to Kalthoff, her teachers started talking about affected or aren’t directly connected 9/11 around third or fourth grade. These lessons often took to the attacks at all, 9/11 affects the form of extra moments of silence on the day of Sept. 11 all Americans, which led to the immediate outpour of and reading articles about the events of that day. For Kalthoff, patriotism and unity. comprehension of the magnitude of 9/11 came only when “You live in the United States so it she was in seventh grade. affects you. You live in the same country “It was the day of Sept. 11, and that day in school we had as all these other people who are going talked about it, and we had done an activity in class and stuff. through this, so even if you live 3,000 So I decided to come home and actually watch footage of (the miles away, it still feels like you’re right attacks) again because I hadn’t really watched it in a long time,” next door…Unity has played a really Kalthoff said. “I just remember sitting at the computer and important role (in post-9/11 America),” crying because it was so scary, and I just can’t image all those Kalthoff said. “That’s what I got out of people—like, it makes me feel helpless just watching it 9/11—the positive side out of the tragedy.” happen. And I didn’t have anything to do with it, but For Taff, patriotism manifested itself on the I just felt right there with them. I just remember Wednesday or Thursday after the attacks, she feeling sad and really just angry, too, at the people said, when she came home feeling especially who were so sick-minded to do that.” emotional and drained. She went down to her According to Taff, revisiting the lifebasement to retrieve an American flag she changing events of 9/11 is an important task for had stored there, Taff said, and as she took it all current high school students. She said she outside to wire it onto her mailbox, she saw encourages students to take the opportunity of her neighbor making that same tribute. the 10th anniversary of 9/11 to read and “There was a line in a Bruce Springsteen watch and learn about the attacks. song from his album, ‘The Rising,’ which is all “Pick out—because every about 9/11—‘The sky was unbelievably blue,’” network’s going to have one—the 1. Department of Taff said. “And there were no planes in the sky. best, most objective documentary Homeland Security And looking up and the flags flying—there was special and dedicate yourself to just something I’ll never forget—the emotion sitting down and watching it from 2. Wars Abroad of that moment.” beginning to end and learn about it High school students now, however, likely did from the perspective of not a 7- or 83. Airport Security not experience moments like this. For many, like year old, but a 17-year-old,” Taff said. David, life post-9/11 is all they know. According Learning about 9/11 now as young adults, 4. War on Terror to David, he hardly remembers his life from Taff said, will help students understand what before the attacks. happened that day in terms of history and 5. Patriot Act This sentiment is shared by Kalthoff, who said, how it affects them today. “I don’t remember a lot of change (after 9/11)…I From Kalthoff ’s point of view, this 6. Prejudice think it’s just kind of there.” 10th anniversary provides another sort of Against Muslims According to Taff, this lack of recollection is opportunity for Americans looking back at one of the major differences between the older and the tragic event of 9/11. 7. Restrictions younger generations. “I hope that this 10th year of remembering on Immigration would be blessed, and that people who were “So much of what you have to ask and so much of the coverage that’s going to be happening (this affected and even people who weren’t— 8. Greater month) is how have we changed,” Taff said. just everyone in the nation—would Emergency “For (current high school students), there’s understand that this is our past but Preparedness been no change because that’s been the also know that the people who died static of your life. You’ve always lived with are remembered and loved,” Kalthoff the post 9/11 world.” said. “Part of the future is working 9. Civic Engagement In the years after 9/11, students to make sure that these things often had to wait before they don’t happen again. I think that 10. Increase in Charitable actually learned about the attacks. 10 years have gone by, and we Donations For David, it was not until fourth haven’t had another one, so I grade that he ever talked about 9/11 think people need to make sure apa.org, npr.org / sources in a school setting. Jill said she learned they keep faith and they remember, victor xu / graphic about 9/11 in middle school, mostly in but they also look forward.” Continued from previous page
Ten Changes since 9/11
Media center, senior AVID class collaborate on 9/11 display by claudia huang chuang@hilite.org To mark the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, the senior AVID class and media center are working together to create a commemorative display. The display consists of staff memories and opinions regarding 9/11 and memorabilia from the event. Also, the first three hours of the CNN coverage of the day will be played on a monitor on repeat. The Senior AVID class asked all of the faculty and staff in the building to write about their memories of the day and how America has changed their perspective, according to AVID teacher Tony Willis. “We want to show students now, who may not have a clear memory of the day, what people who experienced it thought it was like,” Willis said. “We’re almost to the point where seniors were in second grade and freshman were in preschool where no one’s going to remember 9/11.” Willis asked the senior AVID students to bring newspapers from 9/11 and other keepsakes from the generation-defining event. Brooke Knauss, AVID student and senior, said, “I think it will be a really good thing for the school to see and walk by. Just reevaluating, like relooking, at what happened in our past will be nice. 9/11 was something that really affected everyone, in a sense.” Taking on projects of this size is not new to the AVID program. Willis said, “Every year that I have taught AVID, my class has done something like this, where we take on a project for the school. This is just in the AVID tradition of always doing community service and being a part of the community.” Knauss said this display will benefit the school. She said, “It’s a little bit of a depressing fact to look back on, but it really puts your life in perspective.”
HiLite’s 9/11 Issue
Check out the issue we published on Sept. 13, 2001 on our website and at issuu.com/hilite.
Page 20 | entertainment | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011
Entertainment ‘Glee’ked Out submitentertainment@hilite.org | twitter.com/Hilite_news
Sept. 22-24, Studio One Acts Oct. 6, Fall Band Concert Oct. 17, Fall Orchestra Concert
As “Glee” grows in popularity, CHS show choir members consider how characterizations from the show affect perceptions of show choir at this school By Olivia Weprich oweprich@hilite.org
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he new season of “Glee” starts next Tuesday night, and Kari Baker, member of the Ambassadors and junior said, “I can’t wait for the new season of ‘Glee’ to start. Only a few more days, and it’s back on every week.” Baker says she connects with the characters on the show because she has been performing with show choir and dance all her life. “Glee” is one of her favorite shows because of the drama, characters and music. However, the only aspect of the show she said she doesn’t like is how “Glee” portrays show choir differently from how she experiences it. Baker is not the only student who feels this way; many of the other show choir members have trouble explaining the fun
they have behind hours of rehearsal and cheesy smiles. “Glee” creates its own images about show choir that at times can accurately portray choir here at CHS, but that may not be an accurate depiction of show choirs anywhere. That perception affects the views of non-choir members throughout the school, both positively and negatively. Especially since the fictional rival school against which the “Glee” characters compete is named after CHS, those perceptions are even more vivid.
Show’s popularity spills over
On the positive side, the songs from “Glee” and their popularity help the image of show choir, according to Baker. “I know a lot of people watch ‘Glee’ only for the story, but others just want to listen to the songs,” Baker said. “I
have almost all of them on my iPod and sing them around the house. Some people might not say that they do too, but if more people start singing in their rooms because of ‘Glee,’ they might want to join choir to see what it’s really like.” In addition to popularizing and covering songs, “Glee” also has some choir members dreaming of a life like the show. Madeline Brown, member of Accents and junior, said sometimes choir class gets boring with the same types of songs and jazz hands, but with “Glee” she can escape. “Mostly I just watch the show ’cause it’s fun to imagine performing all those songs, and I bet there are other people in choir and some people not in choir who imagine the same things,” Brown said. Choir director Lamonte Kuskye said the show has not had quite the effect that Baker and Brown dreamed of, but the effects have been nothing but positive.
“Glee”ful realizations
Mikaela George / Photo
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: The Ambassadors practiced on Aug. 24 for their performance during Open House night on Aug. 25. They have weekly rehearsals every Wednesday after school from 6 to 9 p.m. “Glee” skips over practices, which inaccurately portrays the amount of hard work choir students put into each routine.
According to Kuskye, although show choir has been popular in the Midwest for a while, “Glee” only helps that popularity spread across the country. Without the show’s popularity, many choir students were already interested show choir. This heightened interest in show choir also helps to spread the name of the Carmel Ambassadors and Accents, not only because the show references Carmel, but also because the two competition show choirs are two of the best in the country. Now, people want to be associated with top show choirs, according to Kuskye. “Soon after ‘Glee’ first aired, I started getting calls from MTV, ‘America’s Got Talent,’ and companies from L.A. wanting to do reality shows based on Carmel,” Kuskye said. “(The other choir directors and I) started joking about who would call next because there were so many calls. Unfortunately, all they wanted was drama, and I didn’t want them to make things up about the kids just to get good ratings. But it’s still a thrill to know that it’s our name people are seeing everywhere, and it’s all because of the show,” Kuskye said. Kuskye also said that the reason the show isn’t having too much of an effect here is because show choir and other performing arts are already so important in this community. He said the talent has always been here, but “Glee” Continued is putting show on next page
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | entertainment | Page 21 choir into the spotlight for everyone everywhere to see. Even without the show, people are still interested in singing, but he said there are probably a handful of members who joined because of the show’s influence on peoples’ views of show choir. Still, although “Glee” has had many positive effects, many show choir members here said they don’t like some of the images the show creates. According to Marissa Ehrlich, member of the Accents and senior, “Glee” doesn’t relate to Carmel that much. Ehrlich said, “The main similarity is that it shows others how fun show choir is. I love it because I love all the characters and it exposes others to show choir, but if you think that’s all there is to show choir, then you really have no idea. ‘Glee’ exaggerates everything way too much, and it’s not an accurate portrayal of show choir, at least not choir here at Carmel.” Continued from previous page
Some perceptions are just not true
Ehrlich said she doesn’t like that the “Glee” characters have a reputation of being inferior because it might make people look down on the choirs. However, Kuskye said he doesn’t think the negative views of the characters carries over to Carmel. Kuskye said the idea that show choir kids are inferior has to do with show choir’s reputation over the years, but at CHS, choir kids don’t need to worry about making up the bottom of the pack. Even without “Glee,” Kuskye said that the school respects the Carmel choirs. Baker, Brown, Ehrlich and Kuskye all said they agreed that the amount of rehearsal time on the show doesn’t compare to how much choirs here rehearse. However, the amount of time given in an hour-long episode is not enough time to show the hard work put into each Ambassador and Accent performance. During competition season, the competing choirs rehearse at least twice a week after school in addition to normal class every other day, according to Kuskye. Individuals also practice to make sure every last step is up to expectations.
Major characters -Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) is a young Spanish teacher who fearlessly leads the glee club. -Rachel (Lea Michele) is still determined to be popular, even if it ultimately casts her in a negative light. -Finn (Cory Monteith) is the average high school football star, but he just happens to be in show choir. He continues to struggle with his personal life.
NOT TONE DEAF: Ambassadors choir director Lamonte Kuskye plays a piano accompaniment during rehearsals. Kuskye asked Ambassador and senior Larrisa White to observe during a run-through of the pieces, so she could critique her fellow choir members. Practice is common here, but not in “Glee.”
Ehrlich said, “(The characters) just know the entire songs and choreography in two seconds like it just popped into their heads at the same time. I know it’s only a show, but they could try and make it seem more realistic. Any (CHS) choir member would say it takes more work to be in one of the two top choirs (at CHS) than the amount of work the kids do on “Glee.” Still, students said they continue to watch the show for several reasons. The plot’s originality may be one of the reasons students tune -Kurt (Chris Colfer) happens in season after season. Kuskye said to be a talented singer who much of the interest is probably looks young, but has a fullybecause “Glee” is the only show out developed vocal presence. there about show choir, but it also -Mercedes (Amber Riley) has relates to teens. While it focuses on a diva like voice with a strong choir, the show keeps its relatability with drama, Kuskye said. attitude comprable to many For Baker, the show is one of her musical stars. favorites because it’s fun to watch, -Artie (Kevin McHale) has a but it also helps other people see killer voice and doesn’t let his why singing and performing are physical disability get in the worth the effort. It also gives fans way of his dreams. He wants who aren’t members of a show to be able to dance. choir a larger appreciation of the effort that goes into making only one Biggest conflicts performance great. As well as the typical high She said, “Yeah, I guess ‘Glee’ is school drama, “Glee” adds just a show about singing and show more quarrels. Teen problems choir, and, I mean, most of it would are much more dramatic. The never happen in real life, but it’s not last season ended as Rachel too different from Carmel. The ‘Glee’ lacks motivation to reach her kids do what they love, and so do we. dream, but after she met a Even if watching doesn’t make you role model, she promises she want to join show choir, at least it lets won’t give up. people understand show choir a little fox.com / source bit better.”
Need to catch up on “Glee”? Here’s what you need to know. Basic plot “Glee” is a musical comedy that follows the ‘New Directions’ show choir throughout the ups and downs of high school. With the premiere of the first season in 2009, the show quickly became a pop cultural phenomenon.
mikaela george / photo
“Soon after ‘Glee’ first aired, I started getting calls from MTV, ‘America’s Got Talent’ and companies from L.A. wanting to do reality shows based on Carmel… Unfortunately, all they wanted was drama, and I didn’t want them to make things up about the kids just to get good ratings.” Lamonte Kuskye Choir director
Want to see the real deal? Upcoming choral concerts Fall Choral Concert • Sept. 28 • Dale E. Graham Auditorium • 7:30 p.m.
‘Holiday Spectacular’ • Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, Dec. 3 to 4 • Dale E. Graham Auditorium • 7:30 p.m. — Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 3 • 2 p.m. — Dec. 3, 4
Performing arts department / source
Page 22 | entertainment | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011
Put Your Records On
Vinyl sales are on the rise, but what’s the hype and will the trend continue? having something that’s actually in your hands is even better. It’s like you’re holding a little piece of history.” Mike Contreras, a clerk at the record store Indy CD and Vinyl, said he has also observed the trend with similar reasoning. “You can’t hold an MP3 in your hands,” he said. “It’s more inyl records are usually thought of as antiquities than just the music; having the vinyl itself gives an even better owned more by the fans of the 1960s than any feeling than just a file.” other demographic. Or at least that was the case Contreras said he also finds the bonus attachments of until a few years ago, when record sales, without vinyl to add to the incentive of buying it. With the purchase explanation, began to rise again. of vinyl, there are more collectables than with CDs or a music In 2007, vinyl reached its tipping point, to quote author download. “Buying records comes with a lot of cool stuff,” he Malcolm Gladwell. Disc Jockeys and record collectors said. “You can get the liner notes, posters, and at this point most records come with a code so you can get the MP3s for the songs as well.” In addition to the bonuses received from the purchase of vinyls, Deogracias said he believes the listening experience is much more satisfying with record players too. “The whole listening experience is different. The fact that it’s played in stereo to the whole room as opposed to just your ears or one place gives it a whole new feel and vibe,” Deogracias said. “And you can’t forget the crackles and pops that come with old age.” Junior Connor Hitchcock, another record enthusiast, has similar feelings as Deogracias when it comes to the competition between CD and vinyl sales. “It’s different because you can’t just listen to it in the background,” he said. Corey Deogracias “You actually have to take the time to sit down and take the Record collector and junior effort to really hear the song.” Hitchcock also attributes the rise in vinyl sales to the historical value of the music form. In other words, the rarity of the vinyl increases its popularity. “The fact that it’s not normal gives it more value,” he said. “It gives it more of a vintage feel and brings back a feeling you really can’t get in any other way.” spurred the vinyl epidemic; ABC News reports that vinyl This phenomenon also appeals to Deogracias, who agrees sales went up by over 90 percent from 2007 to 2009 and have older music is better than more modern music. “I like older continued to rise since. music, so it makes more sense to use records,” he said. “It also Junior Corey Deogracias contributes to this trend, having makes it a neat thing to collect because of how a lot of people collected over 100 records himself. Part of the reason for his are into older stuff.” affinity, he said, is the tangibility of records. To him, the ability This is also why he said records should have a higher to carry a record is worth more than a song on a computer. value than CDs, not to mention digital downloads. “CDs are “Having music as a file is okay,” Deogracias said. “But newer, but a record is like an artifact of history,” Deogracias said. Contreras also explained the greater value of vinyl in much simpler terms. “Who the hell has a CD player these days?” he asked. Contreras also said he finds the better understanding of vinyl by listeners to be a reason for the trend. “The music is embedded in the wax, right there for you,” he said. “With MP3s it’s all zeros and ones, nobody actually understands that kind of stuff.” Deogracias said another cause which could explain the rise is the collector’s value of records. “Vinyl will actually become more valuable over time because of the fact that it’s sometimes one of a kind,” gavin colavito / photo Contreras said. “Limited edition IN RECORD TIME: Mike Contreras, a clerk at the record store Indy versions, if they’re kept long enough, CD and Vinyl, sorts records at work. According to ABC News, vinyl will become more and more valuable sales increased by over 90 percent from 2007 to 2009. to collectors.”
By Shayan Ahmad sahmad@hilite.org
V
“The whole listening experience is different. The fact that it’s played in stereo to the whole room as opposed to just your ears or one place gives it a whole new feel and vibe.”
According to Contreras, major record labels are also feeding into the trend, capitalizing on the rise of records. In turn, this will increase profit and continue to introduce a younger generation to vinyl. “A lot of top artists and labels are joining the bandwagon in an attempt to make more sales,” he said. “So now new music is also being released in this form, so music from all times is now on records.” The sales, however, have not been rising at a similar rate as they once were. According to NPR, record sales only grew by 14 percent in 2010, a significant drop in comparison to the years past. Record sales are still on the rise for now, but the trend could fade. Contreras also warns that, although this trend is recent, it cannot stay forever. “The trend is new; it only happened about two years for us here at Indy CD and Vinyl. But people move on fast, find a new thing to think is cool,” he said. And if there’s one thing that’s unpredictable, Contreras said it is what is cool and what is not. “It really is impossible to know what’s next,” he said. “You never can foretell what will be cool.”
For the Record
These are the top-selling albums of all time. Do you own any?
1. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds
3. The Beatles Revolver
4. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Want to see more of the top 10 selling albums of all time? Check them out at www.hilite.org.
5. The Beatles Rubber Soul
Rolling stone / source
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | entertainment | Page 23
BAND OF THE ISSUE: DEAD RINGERS
‘Dead Ringers’ for musicians Sophomores in rock band have a sound like Green Day compiled by lindsey walker lwalker@hilite.org Band Members:
Ben Thrasher: vocals, Max Holtman: guitar, Drew Phillips: bass, Ryan Walstrom: drums and Tim Graupner: keyboard. All are sophomores.
What’s in a name?
According to Phillips, the name “Dead Ringers” came from the chorus of an Anti-Flag song called “State Funeral.”
United in harmony
“In November of (my) freshman year during biology class, Drew and I decided we would just, like, jam in a music store, and then from there we decided to make a band. We added (Walstrom) and (Thrasher) first and then later Tim was just hanging out one day and wanted to join,” Holtman said.
omeed malekmarzban / photos
ROCK ON: Dead Ringers drummer Ryan Walstrom practices to get the song just right. Walstrom was one of the first members added after the band was formed.
Rolling in dough
The Dead Ringers play shows about once every two weeks and either divide the money up equally among themselves or put the money in their band bank account. So far they have about $200 saved up toward buying some drum microphones and more amps.
Where they rock out
A lively future
Makin’ music
Phillips said his mom’s boyfriend is currently working to get them some time to record a demo CD at the Static Shack in hopes that they might get signed to a record company in the future.
The band plays at Houndstock, Ben & Ari’s (in Fishers) and the Falls Café (in Pendelton). The Dead Ringers have a repertoire of about 20 songs with five originals. All members contribute creating the original songs. “We all put ourselves into the song to make it reflect each of us, musically,” Phillips said.
Sounds like…
Foo Fighters, Green Day.
Mixing it up STRUM that bass: Drew Phillips plays the bass at practice with his band, Dead Ringers. The band named itself after the chorus of an Anti-Flag song called “State Funeral.”
“We try to keep changing our sound. We’ll play almost any type of rock music, other than metal or scream-o. If you come see us play you’d see that we do like a really good mix of alternative rock, like ’90s rock and modern but then also ’70s classic rock. I think one of the reasons people like us is because of our variation in sound,” Phillips said.
Want More?
Watch the Dead Ringers on YouTube. Just scan the QR Code to the left and enjoy the show.
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Page 24 | sports | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011 Go online Follow us on twitter @GMN_sports and visit our website at greyhoundmedia.org/sports for more Greyhound sports coverage.
Their time to shine Years of hard work pay off for seniors as they play in final Homecoming game By sean truax struax@hilite.org
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enior Brandon Denning has played for the Carmel Greyhound football team for the last four years and has gained an impressive amount of experience from watching his teammates. The last two years, Denning has watched the Homecoming game from the sideline, patiently waiting for his time to show fans his talent. However, this year is different for Denning. He moved
from the sideline to the huddle this season and will start for the Hounds as they take on Lawrence North Friday night in the Homecoming game. Denning started playing football when he was in elementary school, starting with Carmel Dads’ Club. Before high school, he said he did not care which position he played as long as he found a spot on the team. In high school, he began on the freshman team as quarterback and worked his way up to junior varsity as a sophomore. As a junior, all of his hard work started to pay off as he earned a spot on the varsity squad. Now, after a summer of workouts and pre-season training, Denning holds the starting position as the team prepares for Homecoming. “When you get out there on the field on Friday nights, all the practices and hard work are worth it. It is a real adrenaline rush for me when I have the chance to go out on the field. I just want to show the coaches and fans what
Hounds in action today - Women’s soccer v. North Central - Men’s soccer v. North Central - Men’s tennis at Brebeuf - Women’s volleyball v. Guerin
Mary Brooke Johnson / Photo
Break away: Senior Brandon Denning (17) evades a tackle against Valparaiso as senior Adam Kehoe (4) blocks. Denning and Kehoe helped to lead Carmel to a 49-0 victory. I can do,” Denning said. Denning is not alone in starting his first Homecoming game as a senior. On Friday night, 11 seniors will make their first ever start in a Homecoming game. According to head coach Kevin Wright, this is an increase from past seasons. Although experience is an important part of a football team, Wright believes there are positives to having first year starters on the team. “There are always advantages to having a big group of seniors on the team,” Wright said. “This group Continued of seniors is hungry to prove their on next page mark, being first year starters. They
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | sports | Page 25 have been through the program, so we aren’t losing too much experience.” The other players on the team agree with Wright on the fact that the team will still be competitive even with a lack of experience from their seniors. Like Denning, senior Adam Kehoe is a player who worked his way up the ranks and will make his first Homecoming start for the Greyhounds on Friday night. “I think the players and team will perform well without much experience,” Kehoe said. “The summer workouts and preseason practices helped us fit into our roles. By the time the Homecoming game takes place, we will have already played four games and be comfortable with the system.” Denning and Kehoe will be two important senior leaders for the team this year. Since Denning is the quarterback, he has already accepted a natural leadership role just by playing that position. Some players may feel nervous in this position as a first year starter, but Denning embraces the opportunity. “It is finally my time to set an example for all the other players on the team,” Denning said. “The team relies on me to perform my best and I like that feeling. That will be my favorite part of being a senior leader this year.” Although the team’s lineup will look very different for Homecoming this season, the routines on and off Continued from previous page
the field will be the same. According to Wright, Carmel’s Homecoming tradition is the reason why it is one of the best in the nation, and it offers an experience almost equal to some colleges. “Homecoming in Carmel is still very special to the players, student body and citizens of Carmel,” Wright said. “The whole student body is involved and very few high schools in the nation can say that.” The spirit week and anticipation that lead up to the Homecoming game excites the students, teachers and players alike and, although fun, Kehoe said it is important to stay focused on the game and not get caught up in all of the pre-game hype. “It will be important for us as a team to block out the distractions before the start of the game,” Kehoe said. “The emotions will be higher because this is our game to win, but we have a consistent routine that the players and coaches will follow to help settle down before kickoff.” As the Homecoming game approaches, players and coaches will have to begin their pre-game planning. Wright says he understands the significance but is going to treat it like any other game. For Denning, the most important part of preparing for a game like this is mental. “A big part in preparation for me is the mental aspect of things,” said Denning. “These things include watching film and knowing all of my assignments before stepping
From the sidelines to the spotlight
I have wanted to play football since I was a toddler; my whole family loves the game, so naturally I wanted to play as well. It’s finally my time to lead the team in front of my peers and be looked up to as a leader. Brandon Denning
Starting quarterback and senior on to the field.” Although many would say that Denning deserves the starting role because of the amount of work has put in,, he is still pleased with his opportunity to start this year.. “I have wanted to play football since I was a toddler; my whole family loves the game, so naturally I wanted to play as well,” Denning said. “It is finally my time to lead the team in front of my peers and be looked up to as a leader.”
Many seniors have taken the back seat until this year. Now they are the driving force of the Carmel football program.
Senior Swag: (Top) Carmel gathers at the middle of the field before the game vs. Valparaiso. Head Coach Kevin Wright brought the tradition of carrying the flag out of the helmet before each game. (Far right) Brandon Denning and Adam Kehoe cheer on their teammates from the sideline. The Greyhounds rolled to a victory against Valparaiso, winning 49-0. (Near right) Wright tries to call timeout during a game. Wright looks to get his second Homecoming win in as many tries this Friday v. Lawrence North.
Mary Brooke Johnson / Photos
Page 26 | sports | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept. 14, 2011
Kings of the Court Men’s tennis team looks to continue to a second undefeated season under strong varsity leadership By ANDREW WANG awang@hilite.org
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his year’s men’s tennis team is supposed to be one of the best in school history. Following last year’s undefeated season, expectations for the team this year are high. On Aug. 24, Head Coach Mike Bostic said via email, “We have set very big team goals this season. At the top of the list is the State championship. Close behind are winning the John Shirley Invitational, the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC) Championship and going undefeated at the varsity and junior varsity levels.” So far the team has met some of its goals, such as winning the John Shirley Invitational. Last year’s team set high expectations for this year, but Mihir Kumar, co-captain of the varsity team and senior, said he is not worried. Kumar said, “We’ve worked hard. Our team has a lot of talent. We’ve practiced a lot. And we believe in ourselves. So I think that we will be able to live up to the expectations. “Although each person on the team has individual goals,” he said, “this year we are trying to focus a little more on team bonding. It’s pretty good that tennis is a year-round sport because most of the guys on the team are already pretty good friends, and we are just getting to know each other better.” Even though last year the team was undefeated, Kumar said he thinks this year’s team is even more competitive than last year’s team. “The younger guys have really been stepping up this year, and they have had to step up their play a lot to try to get a spot on the team. It’s really competitive since everyone is trying as hard as they can to make the team.” The expectations that others have for the team are high, but some of the members of the team also have set high personal goals. Elliott Yee, a captain of the varsity team and senior, said, “Personally, I want to be a key member of a State championship team, singles or doubles. As a team, we hope to win State, win games with dominance—like not losing a
Personally, I want to be a key member of a State championship team, singles or doubles. As a team, we hope to win State games with dominance, not losing a match and to establish a dynasty. Elliott Yee
Co-captain of varsity team and senior
HENRY ZHU / Photo
VARSITY VOLLEY: Co-captain and senior Elliott Yee volleys during tennis practice. Yee said he and his teammates look forward to the postseason with high aspirations.
match—and establish a dynasty.” This year, some of the seniors have stepped into a bigger leadership role for the team. “It’s good to see how the team has grown the past few years that I’ve been on it,” Kumar said. “This year I’ve had to step up as a leader since I am one of the seniors, and it feels pretty different.” Although the team has to follow in large footsteps, according to Bostic, the team this year is possibly the deepest, most talented team he has ever coached. Yee said he agrees with Bostic. “This year’s team is definitely one of the best, if not the best team that I have played for,” he said. “We have a lot of really improved players and some great new freshmen too.” Despite the fact that the players on this year’s team are supposed to be some of the best yet, they have not really changed their training routines. According to Bostic, the coaches are all approaching the season the same way. “We are going to approach this season with intensity, focus, determination and most importantly a team-first attitude,” Bostic said. Yee said, “We had conditioning for a couple of weeks to prepare, and we are playing a lot of matches now to stay competitive.”
According to Kumar, the team this year hopes to go undefeated once again, but some particular matches carry more weight to him than others do. He said, “I’m looking forward to the Park Tudor match since they have a pretty good team and we are always looking for a challenge. “Also, their number-one guy is one of my good friends, and of course I want to beat him. Also, we are always looking forward to playing North Central since they are our rival, and there is definitely no love lost there.” Yee said he is also looking forward to playing North Central and Park Tudor since those games are at home, and the teams are the biggest competitors for State this year. Even though the tennis team last year was undefeated, Kumar said that not too many fans showed up. “I want tennis games to become a bigger event, something like football games are like right now at our school,” he said. “I really hope more people come out this year and give us some more support, and as a team we will try to make it a lot more fun to come out to games this year.” Kumar is not the only one who thinks that more people should come out to tennis events. Yee said, “People need to come out to the games so that they can really see how good we are. We want the games to be loud and exciting. Plus, I’ll be on court.”
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | sports | Page 27
Bobby
browning Sports reporter / bbrowning@hilite.org
Be more than a Friday-night fan. This school’s other sports deserve your spirit and support, too. Out of the 112 State championships this school has earned in athletics, 106 come from sports besides football. But ask yourself: When was the last time you attended a sporting event that wasn’t football? The men’s tennis team has a chance to be one of, if not the, greatest tennis team Indiana has ever seen, looking to defend its State title this season. The women’s crosscountry team placed seventh in the nation last year and is poised to defend its State title this year. The women’s swimming and diving team has won 25 straight State titles. According to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Carmel has the best women’s soccer team in the entire nation. However, I highly doubt that many of the students at CHS have attended any of these great teams’ games or meets. With the amount of students at this school, the bleachers at every sporting event should be full. Administrators and student leaders talk about how much school spirit we have, but after football season, a vast amount of that spirit goes away. Look in the stands at men’s or women’s soccer games, and you’ll be hard pressed to find more than 10 students in the stands. These teams all contribute to Carmel’s great sports history; they deserve to be recognized by the student body. Even this year, attendance at basketball games was not nearly what it used to or should be. The way games used to be, if you were not at the game a half an hour early, you would not be able to find a seat. The atmosphere was electric. Now? Students and parents wander in at halftime to find a gym that is only halfway full. Sports teams feed off the energy from fans. Any athlete will tell you that there is no better feeling than when you make
a great play and look up to hear people cheering for you. However, for most athletes, these fans are not their classmates. That is not how it should work. After scoring a goal, a soccer player should be able to look into the stands to find them packed with students screaming for him, chanting his name. A cross-country runner should be able to hear his classmates cheering during the grueling last stretch of a race. A swimmer deserves the chance to hear students cheering his name as he is called to step onto the podium. The next time a tennis player makes a great play on his home court, there should be a roar coming from the student section. A volleyball player should hear a cheer as she finishes the match with an ace. When the buzzer sounds at the end of a home basketball game, the gym should shake with the sound of screaming students. These less popular sports among the students account for most of the State titles at this school. These sports deserve more attendance from our student body. And athletes, this goes for you, too. If you want your peers to come support you, you should go support them first.
Tennis players, go watch a soccer game. Soccer players, go to a volleyball match. To get the support from our athletes, you are probably going to have to show that you care about other sports too. I bet you’ll be surprised at how much fun you can have watching your classmates succeed. Just imagine, a school where every single sporting event has the stands packed with students. No other school has close to the amount of students as we have, so we should show that we have more spirit than any other school. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t go to football games. Rather, the atmosphere at all sporting events should be as electric as the atmosphere during a home football game. You have your first chance tonight. There is a home women’s soccer game against North Central at 5:30 p.m., followed by a men’s soccer game at 7:30 p.m. Spend an hour and a half away from homework and just have a good time with your friends while watching your classmates succeed. And I expect the crowd to be the craziest it has ever been for the Homecoming football game Friday against Lawrence North. Prove me wrong CHS; show me that students do attend sporting events besides football games.
These less popular sports among the students account for most of the State titles at this school. These sports deserve more attendance from our student body.
Sports Scoreboard
Follow us on Twitter, too We live tweet from several Carmel events throughout the year. For more info, check out the Student Section Page 15. Follow us @GMN_Sports
The most recent scores, records and upcoming events as of press deadline. For new updates, be sure to go to the GMN Sports website at www.greyhoundmedia.org/sports.
Men’s Cross-Country State rank: Second Upcoming: Sat.: Trinity Invitational in Louisville, KY (9 a.m.)
Football State rank: Second Upcoming: Fri.: v. Lawrence North at Carmel Stadium (7 p.m.)
Men’s Tennis State rank: First Upcoming: Today at Brebeuf Jesuit, Tomorrow at Cathedral (4:45 p.m.)
Men’s Soccer State rank: Fourth Upcoming: Today v. North Central at Murray Stadium (7:30 p.m.)
Women’s Cross-Country State rank: First Upcoming: Sat.: Trinity Invitational in Louisville, KY (9 a.m.)
Women’s Golf State rank: Fifth Upcoming: Fri.: Sectional at South Grove Golf Course (11:30 a.m.)
Volleyball State rank: Sixth Upcoming: Today v. Guerin Catholic at Eric Clark Activity Center (6:30 p.m.)
Women’s Soccer State rank: First (also ranked first in the nation) Upcoming: Today v. North Central at Murray Stadium (5:30 p.m.)
Jiva Capulong / Graphic
Carmel High School / Source
Page 28 | perspectives | HiLite | hilite.org | Sept.14, 2011
perspectives
GAMING GURU: Online blogger Matt Barnthouse talks all video games all the time at www.hilite.org.
SUBMITperspectives@hilite.org | twitter.com/Hilite_news
Speak Up!
Staff Perspective
Students: Take time to remember, spread awareness about 9/11 Ten years and three days ago, many current CHS students sat cross-legged on their elementary classroom floors listening to the news that would transform the nation for good. On Sept. 11, 2011 at 8:46 a.m., an airliner plowed into the North tower of the World Trade Center, preceding by two other terrorist attacks on the United States. According to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, more than 2,600 people died that morning at the World Trade Center, surpassing the death toll of Pearl Harbor. A decade later, those students who are now juniors and seniors remember the day when the news that would change a nation came to them. The details of where they were, who told them and their first reactions are clear in their minds, especially because of the impact the event has had on the whole nation. However, some students do not have this recollection. They were only 4 or 5 years old after all, and 9/11 is a distant memory and the emotions associated with the event are not any clearer. When he was recently on “The Today Show”, Xavier Montjoy, who was born on 9/11, said, “In my life, it’s just not a big deal.” Despite having little memory of the actual event when it occurred, the act of terrorism that transpired on 9/11 is indeed still a big deal. Students should remember 9/11 as more than a date or event in history books and take into consideration the important consequences of that unfortunate day. Furthermore, older students who experienced 9/11 first-hand should take the time and spread awareness to younger students who might not regard it with the same passion or reverence. Just as the memories of Pearl Harbor and the excitement when Neil Armstrong first set foot on the Moon have been passed down to us, 9/11 is our generation’s burden and our responsibility. Although this day has passed and the United States commemorates the 10th anniversary of 9/11 this year, this generation needs to keep alive the value of that day. Since 9/11 is a recent but significant event in U.S. history, students should treat the day with more reverence and consider what is behind the date and objective information in textbooks. 9/11 was not merely a part of a series of historical events that led to certain changes in this country, nor is the event just significant for what analytical value it has for historians. The loss of innocent lives, the attack on the American way of life and the changes that affect students’ lives right now are what make 9/11 prominent. While in history class objectivity is the best way to look at such events,
when it comes to remembering this tragic day, displaying emotion and opinion is important as well. For example, the generation who experienced Pearl Harbor regarded it as a complete catastrophe for the United States, but for students now it is just another section of history, just something else to memorize and regurgitate for test day. This mindset, however, is a mistake and students should stop it from happening to 9/11 as well. The day symbolizes more than just the event itself and students should make sure to remember what is behind the date. In addition, 9/11 deserves students’ recognition because of its impact on the nation and the effects many Americans have to face today because of it. In addition to the pain and suffering caused by the loss of loved ones, the U.S. government has implemented changes due to the terrorist attacks on that day. For example, the War in Afghanistan is one controversial issue that was a result of the attacks, and a decade later, even students can feel the impact it has on society and individual lives. Airplane safety surveillance has become another hot topic after 9/11 and security has become so rigid in some areas that privacy issues are now a concern. Although the vivid memories of 9/11 fade farther and farther away as time goes on, the outcomes of that day continue to be growing issues in society and American lives today. Ultimately, though, students need to keep in mind that they are a part of the generation who needs to keep the significance of 9/11 alive for those who are too young to remember it. It is no longer acceptable for younger students to be unaware of the importance of 9/11 and treat it as any other event. Those who vividly remember the day need to share their knowledge, and those who don’t need to be willing to learn from them. The only way preservation and remembrance of 9/11 will occur is if students keep the memory alive for generations to come.
Students should remember 9/11 as more than a date or event in history books.
compiled by omeed malekmarzban
How have you been affected by 9/11? There are more security tests to make sure no one has bombs or weapons. FRESHMAN CAMERON KIRKBRIDE
I feel a lot safer to fly after all of the security checks even though it may take a bit longer in line. Sophomore Noah lybik
I personally didn’t have any loved ones killed in the attacks of 9/11, but I know of some friends who have. Junior Jacqueline Mchaffie
My grandmother who lives in California can’t come down to visit us as often because it’s a hassle.
Senior Brandon smith adele zhou /graphic
Sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | perspectives | Page 29
Laura
peng History on the run. In 1998, The Lancet published the infamous study that first linked childhood vaccines to autism. Led by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, a team of research scientists analyzed 12 patients whose cases served as the foundation of the study. In response to the report, vaccination rates in Britain dropped as low as 80 percent by 2004, and in the U.S., reports of measles steadily increased and peaked in 2008. Last December, to the dismay of avid Wakefield supporters, the British Medical Journal labeled his study “an elaborate fraud.” It contended that Wakefield had distorted figures in exchange for 435,000 pounds from a law firm that intended to sue vaccine manufacturers. Since initial accusations, the General Medical Council has stripped Wakefield of his medical license, and The Lancet has retracted his paper. Due in part to incidents like this, news outlets endlessly question medical reports and statistics, and technology allows them to disseminate updates with the click of a button. However, the omnipresence of news has numbed the audience to its probes, and it grows more difficult every day to differentiate what is truly important from the less significant. Case in point: Reporters, radio hosts and TV anchors exploded in dialogue this past summer after experts of the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a possible
Editor in chief / lpeng@hilite.org
Believe it or not. Here it comes. Omnipresent news makes it difficult to determine what we should react to. link between cell phones and brain cancer. A team of 31 scientists reviewed past studies on cell phone usage and listed it in the same “carcinogenic hazard” category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform. Prior to this announcement, the WHO had yet to establish any adverse health effects from previous experiments, and this most recent statement should have sent the public into a state of frenzy. It certainly would have in 1998. Most of us, however, responded with utter indifference. The report barely managed to peak our interests, and instead it joined the mix of speculations and false alarms that have accumulated throughout the past few years. Just to give you a rough idea, I pulled a handful of titles from CNN.com: “Scientists debate possible cell phone link to brain cancer” (September 2008), “Evidence still fuzzy on cell phones, cancer” (November 2009), “Study fails to end debate on cancer, cell phone link” (May 2010) and finally “WHO: Cell phones might cause cancer” (June 2011). Oh wait, one more: “No, cell phones don’t cause cancer” (June 2011). Don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful that we have the resources to follow this development as cell phones continue to grow in importance, but at what point does the audience finally tune it out? To quantify the disinterest, Reuters released a poll in June
that asked participants: Will this announcement impact your use of mobile phones? Only 16 percent of participants responded “Yes” while 74 percent responded “No,” and 11 percent were “Not Sure.” With three-quarters of the population indifferent to the announcement, it compels me to ask: If the WHO can’t convince us to reconsider our habits, then who can? What will it take for us to react to news? With the amount of information readily available to the public and the number of contradictions, it’s impossible to know for certain. In this day and age, we must sift through the information provided, make a judgment and decide for ourselves what or not to believe, what we will or will not respond to. Although I am skeptical by nature, I recognize that a strong conviction is often necessary to make effective decisions. Parents must take a stance on the link between childhood vaccinations and autism in order to make the most informed decision at the doctor’s appointment. Cell phone users must take a stance on the link between mobile devices and brain cancer to determine their habits. Most of the time, it’s easy just to remain indifferent and inactive as news rolls in, but sometimes, life demands that we examine the available information and make an assumption. You never know, you just might be right.
GRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE Calling all Greyhounds! Interested in writing a guest column? We want to hear what you have to say! Submit a column to submitperspectives@hilite.org. You could see your name in print!
JIVA CAPULONG / Graphic
Page 30 | perspectives | HiLite | hilite.org | sept. 14, 2011
Ryan
ZUKERMAN
Feature editor / rzukerman@hilite.org “Hello, Newman.”
Let it be.
On Aug. 5, I sat on the field at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati and watched one of the greatest spectacles in the music world perform. Paul McCartney. That name might not mean much to you, but do you remember that one band from England that was kind of a big deal, The Beatles? He was one of them. I consider myself lucky enough to be a pretty experienced concertgoer, having seen almost 20, but the McCartney concert is probably the second best concert I have ever seen (second only to Bruce Springsteen in Milwaukee, but that’s another story). The way that McCartney performed was unbelievable. The power and electricity he gave off during “Back in the U.S.S.R,” and the energy and emotion in “Live and Let Die” are unmatched in any performance I have ever seen. Wait, did I mention he’s almost 70? That’s right, 70. And he played for almost three hours. Is it actually possible that a senior citizen could put on a longer and better show than the pop divas and hip hop stars that are popular today? I challenge you to find a moment more awe-inspiring than 40,000 people singing “Hey Jude” together, or that of hearing McCartney alone with his guitar playing the timeless “Blackbird.”
Roll with the changes. Students need to remember the artists that formed the foundation of their music. Now here’s my point. These legendary artists who have changed the world are still around, but if you haven’t seen them yet you’re running out of time. Chuck Berry may still be performing at age 84, and B.B. King is still touring at 85,
Why not take advantage of an opportunity to see these artists before it’s too late? but the Beatles broke up over 40 years ago, and McCartney is really the only opportunity for us to see and hear their music the way it was intended to be heard. Take, for example, Clarence “Big Man” Clemons, legendary saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band who passed away on June 18 at age 69. The loss of the Big Man sent shock waves throughout the entire music community. Never again will anyone be able to hear his
prophetic playing on “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out,” but his fans will forever immortalize him and his sound. You could argue that today’s music completely surpasses the classic artists and songs from the sixties, seventies and eighties, but if you actually think that you must not be paying attention to the music you listen to. The classic music is hiding inside. On Lady Gaga’s single “Edge of Glory,” the lyrics reflect those of her inspiration, Springsteen, and Clemons even plays a saxophone solo. He also plays on her track “Hair” and his last live performance was with Gaga on “American Idol.” Take, for example, Rolling Stone’s newest craze SuperHeavy, a supergroup formed by Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. Also please take note that a large part of the music on the hit show “Glee” was originally performed by these artists. I’m not saying that you need to pay outrageous sums of money to go see these musicians, but why not take advantage of an opportunity to see them before it’s too late? Already this year Indy has hosted Def Leppard, Pat Benatar, and Earth, Wind & Fire play. So this year, be sure to make an effort to go see these artists. Believe it or not, they’re the musicians that inspired popular artists today.
James
Benedict
Sports Editor / Jbenedict@hilite.org
You aren’t going to publish this, are you? Like many of you reading this, I used not-quite-legal ways to obtain my music fix. For the same effort, I could either pay ten bucks to buy a single album or download every song by an artist for free. The choice was an easy one for me to make. I rationalized it by saying musicians living in multi-million dollar houses won’t miss my few dollars. But that really only covers the small minority, most need every dime they get to buy such luxury items as food and rent. About a year ago I decided to stop being such a cheap person and start paying for my music. While I made the first small steps for supporting artists there was still no way I would pay $10 an album. Listening to roughly five new albums a month if I went legitimate I would be broke faster than the indie artist I was stealing from. But then I saw the shining beacon at the end of the cheapskate’s tunnel, Rdio. Rdio is basically an all you can eat buffet for music lovers. You pay a flat fee of $9.99 and get all the music your ears could ever desire. By becoming a member
Arrrdio. Tales from a former music pirate to music payer. you get access to their entire song library (roughly ten million songs) on any Internet connected device. After signing in you simply click on a song and it streams from Rdio’s servers directly to yours with great quality and virtually no buffering. If you have a smart phone (Android, Blackberry, any IOS device, and Windows Phone 7) it also allows you to sync songs onto its app, for offline listening so you never have to be without your precious tunes. Music discovery is another key feature that Rdio brings to the table. It gives you auto-recommendations whenever you log in, and allows you to follow people of similar taste in a twitter-esque manner. When listening to a new band I don’t feel rushed into making up my mind on whether to purchase it or not. The album will always be there waiting for me to get around to it, and if I fall in love with it I have that entire band’s discography for me at the touch of a finger. Rdio may not be a completely original idea. Services
like Pandora, last.fm, Spotify, or Rhapsody have all been doing similar business, however Rdio blows them away. Pandora and last.fm don’t allow you to choose individual songs or artist, just a “radio” station. The experience is much smoother on Rdio than it is on Spotify and just feels more polished. Finally Rhapsody is just Rhapsody. After trying to cancel for three straight months after horrible service, Rhapsody has earned a special spot as my most hated thing on the Internet. While all these features above are just icing upon the metaphorical cake in this situation. The true greatness of Rdio is the support you lend to your favorite musicians. Musicians work hard pouring their feeling into their songs, the least you can do is financially support them. By no means are record companies justified by suing the oblivion out of people caught pirating, but neither was I justified by pirating music in the first place. This buffet style of consummation is the happy medium where I get my unlimited music, and artists get their paycheck.
sept. 14, 2011 | hilite.org | hilite | perspectives | Page 31
shayan
ahmad yang andy
You gotta risk it to win the biscuit.
SAHMAD@Hilite.org / AYANG@HILITE.ORG
Get involved. It’s time for us to wake up and help out. In the middle of August this year, Hurricane Irene came into contact with America’s east coast. Although the death toll was relatively low in comparison to other large natural disasters, the damages have been estimated to be as high as $7 billion for our country. This weather phenomenon has been dominating news coverage, with constant updates and a regular spot on the 24/7 ticker constantly bombarding the general public. However, in regular conversation, the event has been largely unaddressed and ignored . In fact, when discussing the subject with peers, almost no one was able to say they were frequently checking in on the status and effects of the hurricane. On the surface, there is nothing alarming about general apathy for one relatively small occurrence, but with further examination, there is a more subtle and unnoticeable trend. Over the past several years, news mega-stories have bombarded us one after another; specifically natural disasters have seemed more frequent. This isn’t to say the apocalypse is looming, but the fact that there is now immediate coverage of even the slightest happening gives off the feeling that disasters are happening left and right. In fact, according to Twitter, more than 40,000 earthquakerelated Tweets were reported within minutes of the east coast earthquake last month. The International Business Times even reported that some people have even claimed that they received tweets about the earthquake before it hit them. Although the earthquake happened less than 600 miles away within US borders, we at the HiLite have yet to hear a single mention of what happened in conversation. This is only natural, though. A recent article by Patrick Cockburn in The Independent discusses how media coverage of natural disasters in our modern news cycle is wholly formulaic, following the same tone and outline each time. As a result, viewers begin to blend the past disasters, losing the ability to differentiate them from one another and often completely overlooking the effects. In essence, the coverage goes in one ear and out the other. At the time of the flooding in Mississippi and tornado in Joplin, Missouri, it was impossible not to hear about the tragedies.
After the cameras stop rolling however, as people we move on to whichever story is next. So the problem is two-fold: disasters are covered so much and so similarly, and the fast-moving news cycle pushes us into proceeding to the next major headline. There is always a major story to focus on, and when the next one arrives the last one is forgotten. This is how the modern news cycle is defined. Looking back at 2011 so far, we can condense the news cycle by each major story. From the perspective of someone who doesn’t regularly follow the news, it would appear to have been the revolution in Egypt, the civil war in Libya, the Japanese tsunami, earthquake and nuclear meltdown, Osama bin Laden’s death, the disasters in Mississippi and Missouri, the debt crisis and now Irene. Unless a viewer is paying close attention to global affairs, news is only ingested when it is overwhelming, and the after-effects and details are often ignored as a result. This needs to change, and this change isn’t going to occur at the hands of the news cycle. Only we can allow ourselves to truly become connected to the stories, and the only way to do this is to become part of them. The most effective way to understand the implications and remember the effects is to get involved by helping out in any way possible. For instance, the two of us were able to aid those affected by the Joplin tornado by personally putting together care packages. In doing so, we will always be able to relate to the disaster through personal experience. With so many disasters and so many stories, the easiest action to take is to simply move on without becoming attached. But if one of these disasters were to happen to us, we would expect nothing less than our fellow Americans to come to our side in our time of need. And if we expect nothing less from others, we should expect nothing less from ourselves. However easy it may be to continue on with our lives, the effort necessary to make a difference will have an impact on those on the receiving end and also on ourselves. By allowing ourselves to empathize, we can always keep in mind the people across the world who are affected by the stories rather than just the stories themselves. Because headlines are not just made up of words, but also the people who bring them to life.
At the time of the flooding in Mississippi and the tornado in Joplin, Missouri, it was impossible not to hear about the tragedies. After the cameras stop rolling, however, as people we move on to whichever story is next.
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A Juggling Act Freshman Jack Denger is a competitive juggler by Rochelle Brual rbrual@hilite.org Who inspires you to juggle?
Right now it’s just various people that I met through juggling. My friends that I met through juggling. I wouldn’t really give a name in particular because I don’t really have one. Sometimes I even inspire myself. I like seeing myself progress and get a lot better, and that inspires me.
How do you practice juggling?
There are a few ways to practice. I guess it depends on what you want to get better at. You can just do whatever you want with it, or if you’re working on a single trick, you can just work on it over and over and over again. It’s kind of hard to explain, but the practices can last between a couple minutes to maybe two hours.
What do you do at national competitions?
They give you two minutes to do 10 tricks, and they score how well you do the tricks and everything. There’s a lot of different kinds of competitions, like endurance (and) freestyle, whoever can do the best or hardest trick.
What are all of the objects you can juggle?
You can juggle pencils if you wanted to, but the three main things are the balls, like beanbags, and then the clubs, which a lot of people call pins, but they’re actually called clubs, and then rings, which are hoop-looking.
What’s the most dangerous object you’ve juggled?
Torches I did this summer, actually. They have torches built for it. They soak them in kerosene and light them on fire at the ends.
What should people know about juggling?
A lot of people mistake juggling for a circus art. It was originally a circus art. A lot of circuses, I think, get juggling wrong. It’s not just what clowns do. It’s actually tiring sometimes, and it’s sometimes physically challenging. And Cirque du Soleil is the only circus I’ve seen get juggling right.
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Scan this QR code to check out a YouTube video of Denger juggling.
Henry JACKSON / PHOTO