HILITE Carmel High School newsmagazine
AUGUST 13, 2014 Independent student musicians find conflict when choosing careers p. 8
What to expect at the Indiana State Fair p. 18
Words from this year’s student body president and speaker of the House p. 30
Recent studies indicate studying or working abroad leads to increased marketability and an advantage in the job market By Cynthia Wu pg. 12
HILITE.ORG
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just a minute
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PERCENTAGE OF GLOBAL FACEBOOK USERS WHO SUPPORTED EACH COUNTRY DURING THE 2014 WORLD CUP SOURCE: NYTIMES.COM
1%
round of 16 quarterfinals
0%
1% 1%
2%
semifinals
2%
finals
3% 3% 2%
3%
3%
8%
4%
7%
29%
26%
4%
57% 8%
9%
45%
34%
43% 32%
10%
14% 24%
10%
14% Algeria
Chile
Netherlands
France
Greece
Argentina
Mexico
Germany
Uruguay
Switzerland
United States
Colombia
Costa Rica
Belgium
Nigeria
Brazil
aug 13, 2014
contents
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2 4 Just a Minute: A data visualization of Facebook support during the World Cup
News Briefs
18 20 The Indiana State Fair will run until Aug. 17
CHS students to take part in Carmel Porchfest on Sept. 14
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Free Little Libraries, boxes housing donated collections of publiclyavailable books, are spreading throughout Carmel
21 Entertainment Briefs: Concerts at Klipsch, Flappy Bird and The Giver
The Blue Indy program to bring an electric car share program to Central Indiana
22 Recent studies show athletic participation is beneficial to students
26 27 28 29 The HiLite makes major changes to format
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Be willing to give up small freedoms for safety + Why Ann Coulter is both great and terrible
An in-depth look at the revamped HiLite newsmagazine
English classes do opposite of intended purpose
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Learn an athlete’s character before admiring his/ her talent
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12
Independent student musicians find conflict when choosing careers
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In an increasingly competitive job market, applicants with experience abroad have an edge over others
CHS students are starting to follow the new trend of CrossFit exercise
30 Student body president Bobby Greaser and speaker of the House Henry Curts elaborate on their roles for the coming school year
contents VOL. 79, NO. 1
NEWS
AUG 13, 2014
MILES DAI
NEWS BRIEFS THE BLANKET EFFECT: During a Key Club meeting, sophomores Cynthia Cahya, Micah Hardesty and Sheila Schuh cut and tie blankets together. Students made blankets that were donated to children.
Aug. 18-20 Students who are interested in joining Studio One Acts must audition at 3:30 p.m.
Aug. 22 GKOMs will host the hot dog dance for the freshmen after the first football game of the year.
Aug. 28 The PTO will host an Open House from 6 to 9 p.m. Following a meeting with principal John Williams, parents will follow their students’ schedules.
Sept. 2 NHS will host its first meeting from 3:15 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 2.
Sept. 4 Key Club will host its first meeting from 7:15 to 7:30 a.m. while TechHounds will host its first meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 4.
Sept. 5
04 NEWSBRIEFS COMPILED BY LUCUS CHENG, CHRISTINE FERNANDO
Students who are interested in joining ComedySportz must audition from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
“(THE HOT DOG DANCE) IS A CHANCE FOR GKOMS TO CONNECT WITH THEIR FRESHMEN AND LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH OTHER TO PROVIDE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR BOTH GROUPS,” GKOM AND JUNIOR GLORIA XUE SAID. “I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE OFFICERS TO HELP THIS YEAR’S NHS DONATE TIME TO THE COMMUNITY BUT IN A WAY THAT OUR NHS’ERS CAN AND WILL ENJOY IT,” JENNA FATTAH, NHS SECRETARY AND SENIOR, SAID.
AUG 13, 2014
FREE LITTLE LIBRARIES
NEWS
STEPHANIE ZHANG
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ALEX YOM
THE BOOK MARKET
LITTLE FREE Libraries spread throughout carmel L
ast May, the Carmel Clay Public Library (CCPL) partnered with Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation and Clay Township to introduce Little Free Libraries to three places in Carmel: the John W. Hensel Government Center, West Park and Founders Park, monitored weekly by CCPL. “Take a book, return a book”— Little Free Library’s saying— essentially sums up the procedure. In essence, Little Free Libraries are boxes of books, and anyone can take a book or bring a book to put in and share. Over time, as books are taken and new books are added, the assortment is always shifting and changing. CCPL Communications Manager Beth Jenneman said the new Little Free Libraries help connect the community through reading and exchanging books. “It’s a way for the community to make books and reading their own. The library does belong to the community, but these Little Free Libraries are a way for people to share the books they love with fellow members of their community directly because you bring your books there, and people take them and read them,” Jenneman said. Sarah Tinaphong, House of Books co-vice president and junior, has started utilizing these new Little Free Libraries. According to Tinaphong, unlike a normal library, the Little Free Libraries let you see what other people in the community enjoy reading. Tinaphong said, “I think overall just the whole idea of the libraries is really unique, even for students,
because it lets you have personal connections with other readers that the library doesn’t. At our typical library, we just check out books for yourself and return them, that kind of stuff, but here, you can actually drop off your favorite books and kind of connect with other kids in the school and with other people in the community just by sharing your
“IT’S A WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE BOOKS AND READING THEIR OWN,” CCPL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER BETH JENNEMAN SAID. BOOKING IT: Sarah Tinaphong, House of Books co-president and junior, examines a book from a Free Little Library at West Park. Tinaphong said these libraries serve as a convenient source of new books.
favorite books and reading some of your peers’ favorites as well.” Sophomore Anna Ding, as an avid reader, said she would like to try out the Little Free Libraries. Ding said, “I’ll take advantage of this because I sometimes (run) out of series to read, and sometimes it’s just really awkward to go around and ask people (for) their recommendations. With this, I can just go over to a (Little Free Library) and get out a book I might want to try.” Tinaphong said, “I hope that (students) will use them…. I know that lots of kids have a favorite book they really want to share, but with a normal library, you can’t really do that very well, so hopefully, students will look into this and realize that it’s a really neat way to share your passion for reading with H your own community.”
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NEWS
AUG 13, 2014 S R E YA V E M U R I
SHARING IS ‘CAR’ING BLUEINDY PROGRAM INTRODUCES ELECTRIC CAR SHARE
INDIANAPOLIS PLANS TO IMPLEMENT BLUEINDY, an electric car share
program involving 500 electric cars, newly developed by the Bollore Group, a French company in charge of the program. The city has planned for the new cars to be set up in approximately 200 locations around Indianapolis starting this December. According to BlueIndy’s website, drivers can reserve a car online, at a BlueIndy kiosk or from a smartphone for either a single use or through an optional membership. These cars can be picked up and dropped off at
JAYMEE STOUT
any of the 1,000 charging stations around Indianapolis. According to junior Dana Wang, who said she plans to use the program, there are many benefits to BlueIndy. Wang said, “(BlueIndy) is beneficial to both people and the environment (because) it will give off less pollution and make Indianapolis more green. Also, by (car sharing), there will be less cars on the streets which means that traffic won’t be as bad.” Junior Marly Rizkalla, however, said she disagrees with Wang and said BlueIndy is only beneficial to those who don’t already have a car. Rizkalla said, “This program is a great benefit BLUE IS THE NEW for those who can’t afford to GREEN: BlueIndy pay for a car, but I wouldn’t ambassadors stand consider using the service. near a charging Although it’s a great deal, I station. Program ambassadors already have my own car.” are available BlueIndy’s website said everyday from 11 the new cars are 100 percent a.m. to 7 p.m. at electric, emitting no carbon 14 E. Washington St. in downtown dioxide, and they run on Indianapolis to recyclable Lithium Metal answer questions Polymer (LMP) batteries, so and give car car users are not responsible demonstrations to the public. for car fuel. In addition, the cars have numerous high-tech features, such as a navigational system and alert system. Wang said these features along with the pricing of the BlueIndy program and the fact that she does not need to pay insurance make her likely to participate. “I do agree with the pricing of (about) $13 per month for a membership because it is easily affordable for many people who otherwise would have to walk or find some other mode of transportation. By renting one of these cars, I could forgo buying a car myself, which would save lots of money that could be used for other
AUG 13, 2014
NEWS
ELLEN PENG
07
SCOTT LIU
purposes,” she said. Rizkalla said she agrees with Wang that the pricing of BlueIndy makes renting a car more appealing. Rizkalla said, “(BlueIndy) has the potential (to be) successful because maybe later on cars will get expensive and no one will want to pay thousands of dollars for a car.” Despite these various positive aspects, however, Wang said there are also potential consequences for BlueIndy. Wang said, “Some consequences include that there could be a small response to this program, which would counteract all of the time, money, and effort put into this program.” Furthermore, Wang said the program might not receive a big response because the car charging stations are only in Indianapolis so it may be difficult and costly for people who live in other cities or who travel frequently to use the BlueIndy program. Wang said, “I think the program itself is very convenient, however, only for those who live near a
ELECTRIC VS. GASOLINE CARS recharge/ refuel time
emissions
range
none
100 miles
Electric Cars Gasoline Cars
electric motor
hours to recharge 2 cents/mile minutes to refuel 12+ cents/mile
greenhouse 300+ miles gases
rechargeable batteries
controller
combustion engine
price
gas tank
household plug
gas pump
w w w . c i r c u i t s t o d ay. c o m / S o u r c e station where the cars are. For those who live further away, it may not even be worth the effort to try out the program.” However, overall, Wang and Rizkalla both said they agree that the BlueIndy program will be beneficial for Indianapolis residents and are interested in seeing how it turns out.
Wang said, “I don’t see (BlueIndy) taking over the car industry in the future because even though this is a good green effort idea, many people will find it more convenient to own their own personal vehicles for travel. But some people, (such as) students and other residents here who don’t have a car will benefit most.” H
Call center help button
w w w . b l u e - i n d y. c o m / s o u r c e
Child’s car seat anchor
Display for alert messages
OF THE FUT Y R LMP: Lithium Metal Polymer
E UR
Helps find and reserve parking
steering Airbag
THE BATT E
GPS
Audible alerts
S
On-board computer
FE ETY ATUR F A Power-assist
ES
ECTED CAR N N
S
CO
POWER CAR
100% Recyclable 150 miles with one charge
FEATURE
MICHAEL ZHAO
SCRATCH THAT: Senior Mark Matsuki cues up a track by scratching. Scratching is a technique that produces distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable.
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AUG 13, 2014
AUG 13, 2014
FEATURE
ALICE ZHU
INHARMONIOUS PATHS
student musicians FIND conflict in choosing between careers
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enior Mark Matsuki gets home, throws his backpack to the side and gets to work. Unlike typical students, his work doesn’t involve pencils or books. Instead, it involves subwoofers, speakers, flashing lights, audio controllers, turntables and launchpads. It involves hosting huge parties and performing in front of thousands of people. Matsuki is a professional DJ. Matsuki’s endeavors signal a growing trend in the field of independent musicians. According to a 2004 survey conducted by the Pew Research Internet Project, there are about 32 million people in America who consider themselves artists. An estimated 10 million of them get some sort of compensation for their creations and performances. According to Pew, the number continues to grow steadily through media such as the internet, a field that continues to be more and more accessible. Matsuki, who started DJing in 2009, says DJing to him has cultivated from a hobby to a passion. “Back when I was in seventh grade, I went to a summer camp at Northwestern University and my residential advisor was a DJ. I saw him DJing so I downloaded some cheap crappy software on my MacBook and I started to play around with different songs,” Matsuki said. “After that I started to getting a little more serious, I bought a $300 controller which cost me all my savings. I started playing at different house parties here in Carmel, played a little bit in Chicago at my friend’s house parties and that kind of stuff.” Currently Matsuki works part time as a DJ at a company called Studio 77 LLC, a production company as well as a team of Indianapolis-based DJs, that provides entertainment with mainly a focus on electronic dance music. According to Matsuki, despite the rigors of his junior year course load, he still managed to find time to DJ at various Studio 77 LLC events. “The first event I did with the company I signed with right now, Studio 77, was called the Color Run here in Indy,” Matsuki said. “About 25,000 people doing this 5K and there was a giant rave afterwards. I was placed at the starting line to DJ and, at the time, it was one of the biggest accomplishments for me.”
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AUG 13, 2014
FEATURE
10
AKSHAR PATEL
ALICE ZHU
Pros
Cons
You can pay for your hobby by doing your hobby If you are excited about your job, people will be attracted
Only 3 percent of artists make a living out of their art Your job is dangerously unstable
It is an opportunity for self-expression Creativity begins to spill over into other areas of your life
There are no weekends or holidays Artistic careers require you to constantly change
Artists find it easy to become teachers in their respective fields In the past year, Matsuki was able to open for Afroman, a rapper who was nominated for a Grammy award in 2002 for best solo rap performance, at the Purdue campus as well as place third in the Euphoria Fest DJ contest, a national competition for aspiring DJs. Yet, despite his successes, Matsuki still feels torn between choosing a career focused solely on music versus a more traditional career option. Find out more about “That’s actually a large Mark Matsuki and his point of conflict for me. Yes, music here: https:// I went from my basement www.facebook.com/ to opening for spin.with.matsu national acts in just a few years. Granted, I didn’t do it on my own, but I did it with a lot faster than I ever could have imagined,” Matsuki said. “At the same time, I’m passionate
It is hard to start a family as an artist
about business and really want to go into marketing and/or entrepreneurship. I want to maintain my engagement in music, so there might be a way for me cross those two paths together.” On the other end of the music spectrum, the band James
Winston, featuring Wesley Corey and Jacob Fields, both seniors from Hamilton Southeastern High School, and Matthew McDonald, a senior from our school, is a group of independent student musicians that specializes in loosely based improvisation music that draws from the influence of rock, psychedelia, folk, jazz and “practically everything else” according to Fields. James Winston, which, according to Corey, has its origins from the depths of Field’s mother’s basement after Corey and Fields came up with the idea of starting a band after watching a sequence of funny YouTube videos, also plays in gigs around Central Indiana. Like Matsuki, James Winston started as a hobby that later grew into a passion. “We used to not play a lot of improvisation, but we wanted to. (Corey and I) were into Phish. Matt likes the Dave Matthews band. So the improvisation ‘sea’ was always there,” Fields said. “But it didn’t really sprout until
BREAK TIME: Senior Mark Matsuki plays his guitar to take a break from DJing. “Sometimes I feel like doing one or the other. Sometimes you feel like singing and other times like dancing. It’s just a different feel and expression,” he said.
AUG 13, 2014
FEATURE
11
SARAH LIU
we started playing at Matt’s house. There was a sort of big freedom from playing at Matt’s house.” According to Corey, the band has improved greatly from its initial stages. “Like before, our songs would kind of just sound like crap, it would be really, really bad,” Corey said. “Then we started doing listening exercises and really started looking inwards to make everything sound a lot more tight and rehearsed.” “Practices became more than playing our repertoire, it became ‘that didn’t sound good and here’s why,’” Corey added. James Winston, similar to Matsuki, has also achieved success in their field. They’ve played gigs at numerous restaurants regularly, ranging from Mo’s Irish Pub to Teddy’s Burger Joint. They’ve even played at a wedding. In regards to going pursuing a future as musicians, unlike Matsuki, who was conflicted between different careers, members of the James Winston band seem to have adopted a “take it as it comes” kind of attitude. “We kind of never really said it out loud. It’s kind of like an unspoken thing. We’re just going to practice and hone our skills. Next year in college, we’re going to try to play in bars and trying to get a college crowd in places like Bloomington, Indiana,” Fields said. “If we tell kids who are 16 or 17 to go somewhere, they aren’t going to go. They have no incentive, unless there are girls there. But if you tell a student in college, ‘Hey, let’s go to this party, listen to this band,’ they’ll definitely come.” According to Joseph Franklin, the co-founder and owner of Studio 77 LLC, growing into the professional music industry involves many small steps. “I started off as a true free-stylist
MAGIC MIC: Matthew McDonald, member of James Winston and senior, performs at Hubbard and Cravens over the summer. In addition to his James Winston activities, he also plays as a soloist.
spoken word poet. In that business/ when I can make seven to eight world, you step up and have no clue times per hour what I make at my what song instrumental that the DJ day job,” Franklin said. “However, will give you, you just go with the I don’t think being a full-time DJ flow,” Franklin said. “I started very is a viable option for me because small and humble, throwing small I need to do more than that with international parties in the Latin, my life personally; things such as Russian, and Indian communities, programming websites and doing just a mix bag of parties that were graphic art on Photoshop.” full of students who were However, according to Find out more about James in my computer science Franklin, his decisions shouldn’t Winston and its music here: classes in college. We deter any musicians from vying https://www.facebook. spent a lot of long hours to accomplish their own dreams. com/pages/Jamesup at night listening to Instead, he encourages them international music while Winston/261972597154097 to go forth and accomplish as we programmed, and we much as they can. would trade songs.” “Even if you are a two While Franklin is the owner and on a scale from one to a professional DJ of Studio 77 LLC, 10, if I see that you he also is a computer programmer have a hunger to and graphic designer. Due to his become better, I am busy schedule he admits that DJing, out there rooting for although a strong passion of his, you,” Franklin said. “To isn’t the focus of his life. all of you guys out there working “It’s rewarding to have weeks hard, I wish you all luck.” H
KARAOKÉ On her last day in France, Leonard and her friends sing “ChampsÉlysées” in a karaoke bar.
UNITÉ Despite cultural differences, students studying abroad and their host parents are unified. Above, American students wear Spanish jerseys. Below, a Spanish host family celebrates the Fourth of July, donning American garb.
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LIFE-SIZE LEO At the Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci stayed while in France, visitors may play on life-size versions of his machines.
Why yes, i do MADELEINE LEONARD, AUSTIN ERICSON
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FLEURS
o speak ___ BOULE DE FORT
STUDENTS WHO HAVE STUDIED ABROAD ARE MORE APT IN THE WORKPLACE, HAVING HAD MORE EXPERIENCE WITH FOREIGN CULTURES. CYNTHIA WU
Leonard plays a regional game similar to bocce ball, with variations in ball sizes and weights.
Leonard buys flowers for her host parents at a florist shop on the way to lunch.
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L AST SUMMER, SENIOR MADELEINE LEONARD FLEW
halfway across the world, stepped into the home of her new family and was unable to speak English for two months. As a participant in the Indiana University Honors Program in Foreign Languages (IUHPFL), Leonard decided to travel to France to fully immerse herself in the French culture and language for seven weeks. She said her cousin influenced her to take part in the program. “My cousin went to Spain last year with the program, and it just sounded so much fun, and so I wanted to try to do it for French and (I was) really happy that I got in just because, like I said, I love to travel, and being able to go and stay with a host family (is) even better,” she said. According to an April CNN article, studying language skills but also independence, greater abroad has many benefits, particularly maturity and increased cultural awareness. Angelika Becker, world language the potential to give young adults greater department chairperson and German teacher, marketability and thus an advantage in the said she sees the benefits of participating in job market, which has become increasingly overseas programs. competitive. In a study by Global HR News, “When you study abroad and you’re immersed in the language and the culture, eight in 10 human resource (HR) executives your language skills go way up, but that’s not surveyed stated that studying abroad was a the only advantage. You get to experience major factor in jobs overseas, and 67 percent the culture firsthand, and it’s an immersion of the surveyed executives claimed that doing setting. There will be people there from other countries, and you get to experience those so distinguishes a candidate from others who cultures as well,” she said. “For our students have not had such an experience. In addition, here, they do the IU Honors program. It’s studying abroad may give students not only only seven weeks, but you are immersed in that culture, so yes, you do gain independence (and) confidence because you know you can do it. From the culture aspect, because you live there, you’re immersed, and you see the things
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that you may have learned in class or may have read in the book.” Leonard said she believes being in the program has better prepared her for various situations and the future. “I definitely think I’m more independent. I feel like (being away from home for a long time) will also prepare you well for college and dealing with new situations and people you don’t know,” she said. “(Another thing I gained was) learning how to move past some sort of social faux pas because all of us had at least one or two things that happened to us where maybe we said something or mispronounced something, and it just came out completely different from how we meant.” Similarly, Becker said she has seen students undergo positive changes after studying abroad with the IUHPFL. “It always helped young people learn more about themselves, (and) it helped young people gain that
(Clockwise from top left): Ericson and her friends stand in front of a cathedral in Leon; A small group of students in IUHPFL eat lunch at a park in Madrid; Ericson and her friends walk down a narrow street in Toledo
self-confidence because if you’ve been to a different country, and you know you can survive, you get more self-confidence, and I see that all the time when students return and they come to visit, they are really changed,” Becker said. Senior Austin Ericson, who also participated in the IUHPFL and traveled to Spain, said she decided to do the program mostly for the language but also for the life skills. “(I’ve gained) a lot of new friends, and my ability to speak Spanish is a lot stronger. I think I’m more confident because I had to do a lot of stuff in Spanish, which was really hard and scary, but now that I can speak English again, everything feels easier,” she said. “(I have also) definitely (gained) independence because you’re in a city, not alone because we had families, but we did a lot of stuff alone. We would go to school, I would take a bus, and then I would
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have to walk to school 30 minutes every day, and we would use the public transportation system. It was a lot of independence.” As more people find jobs overseas and travel abroad, studying abroad has become increasingly important. “Our economy will be more and more global, and if a company sees that you have already worked overseas or studied overseas, they know that if they need to send you somewhere that you can do it because you’ve already shown that you can,” Becker said. “Even if you don’t go overseas, even if you work here in the United States, for instance Indiana, (if you look at) how many Indiana companies have international connections, they bring people here and then you deal with customers or you deal with bosses from a different country, and having had a cultural experience that has taken you out of the United States will definitely help you in the job market. It may or may not translate into higher salaries too.” Leonard said she agrees with Becker’s views. “I think it does depend on what job you’re going into, but I do think it helps (give an edge in the job market),” Leonard said. “I think that because our world’s just become so interconnected with so many countries having so much international trade and business now that it does depend on what field you’re going into, but I feel for in some job markets, being able to say you’ve had that experience of studying abroad (is) definitely almost necessary to have on your applications.” For Leonard specifically, she said her experience may not be as useful for the job market as for college due to her aspirations of becoming a veterinarian, yet the language aspect is still beneficial. “(This experience is) definitely (useful) for college because I plan on probably going for a
minor in French, if not necessarily a major,” she said. “I think that being able to speak a different language is definitely a plus, even if like me, it’s not going to be readily applicable, but I know that there was a number of kids who were in the program who wanted to go into business, specifically international business, or wanted to be an interpreter (or) translator. You can find paths where you language skills will be applicable.” ALONG WITH BENEFITS IN THE JOB MARKET, ERICSON
said she thinks studying abroad could help with college and beyond as well. “I think definitely I’ve thought about it for colleges, because college essays will probably have a lot to do with stuff like that. For jobs, I think they like to see people who are not only wellrounded, but they’ve traveled and they know things about other cultures. I think they like to see that you have stepped out of your country,” she said. “I think that the language aspect will be helpful when I’m looking for a job (because) I want to look for a job where I can use the language. Because (I studied abroad) in high school, I’m still pretty young, not 18, so I think that’s one thing that will make me stand out.” Although the cost and time away from school may deter some students from participating in overseas programs, Leonard said she would encourage students to travel overseas. “I think more people should do it because even if you don’t go into some sort of international business or don’t get a minor or major that relates to where you studied abroad, I think it can just help expand your views on the world as a whole, and it can just make you see different things in a different light so that way you get different views as to how different cultures would respond to a piece of news or something like that. You definitely will become better at the language, even if it’s not necessarily full immersion like the IU program was, and you’re going to meet some of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet in your life. You’ll be able to share experiences which not many other people will be able to relate to, so you’ll just be that much closer. I’ve definitely gained friends and relationships that I never would have had without this program. All of (the other students) were just some of the nicest people I’ve ever met and being able to get to know them in a different language was really interesting, (and) I plan on staying in contact with my host family,” she said. “If you’re able to
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(study abroad), you definitely should look into it. Even if it’s not (From left to right): A scenic point near the caves of Valporquero; A bike rests on a windowsill of one of the oldest cobblestone full immersion and even if it’s going to another place that speak streets in Spain; A stream flows through two roads in a English, you should definitely try to do it if you can.” pueblo near Gijon, Spain; A view of an old chateau undergoing Ericson also said she would recommend the experience to others. restoration “For me, I just think it’s important to get out and see the world. I think if you want to see the world, then studying abroad is a really good way to do it,” she said. “The benefit of the program (is) learning about a new culture. I think that just that kind of benefit is something you don’t get from University of California, merced, goinglobal / sources reading a book. You learn so much and you meet so many different students people who teach you things you studied abroad could’ve never known. Being able from 2011-2012 to speak to a lot of people and knowing more about cultures is really good, (as is) seeing how people live in a different part of the world. I think (studying abroad) 1. United Kingdom is important for whatever you’re 2. Italy doing because it kind of brings a 3. Spain different point of view from the 4. France 49% 97% vs. world, seeing how other people 5. China view things and the world, not just how you’ve always been brought up. It opens your eyes.” Study abroad Normal college Ultimately, Becker said the students graduates benefits of doing such programs would outweigh the cost and time in the long run and encourages students to go abroad. Post study-abroad, compared “I think you can’t even put a to those of students who money value on the life experiences stayed in town you gain from there. Yes, it’s a little more (money), but I think in the big nearly three in four global picture you will make that up later human resource executives cited on in life by more earning potential = $7,000 more annually and if you see that over the 40 or study abroad as important when 50 years you have to work, it is well = $567,500 more over a career looking at a resumé worth it,” she said. “Just do it.” H Scott liu
288,332
employed within 12 months of graduation:
top five destinations for US students:
2x
rate of GPA increase
25% higher starting salary
ENTERTAINMENT
AUG 13, 2014
STEPHANIE ZHANG
THE STATE OF THE FAIR
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EVENTS TO BE HELD AT REOPENED COLISEUM
he annual Indiana State Fair returned to Indianapolis on Aug. 1 and will end this Sunday, bringing with it both traditional and novel events and activities, one of which includes the re-opening of the Coliseum after its renovations. Michelle Leavell, director of event services, said, “This year is the Year of the Coliseum. We just got done spending $63 million renovating our Coliseum, so this year we’re proud to have it and showcase it by having livestock events and many concerts.” According to senior Celina Traggeser, an annual Indiana State Fair visitor, the return of the Coliseum would create more opportunities for visitors to explore the fairgrounds. She said, “Now that the Coliseum (will be) open this year, it’ll provide more areas for shows to happen since it was closed last year. People can go there, and it’ll probably be less crowded and allow for more people to explore.” Despite the new modern additions, the Coliseum will still retain its traditional events, including live concerts and livestock shows, according to Leavell. “It’s going to be a more renovated and modern facility…. But for the rest, like the traditional feel of the building when it was built back in ‘39, so it still has sort of a hometown, traditional feel that it’s always had even though it has been renovated,” Leavell said “But for the new renovations, like the elevators and the better sound
quality, those will hopefully enhance the whole experience for visitors in the building.” In addition to shows in the Coliseum, the Indiana State Fair is home to other activities, including free entertainment in the Dow AgroSciences Celebration Park, rides in the Midway, the Daily Parade and Farmers’ Day Parade and the Young Hoosier State Piano Competition.
“THIS YEAR IS THE YEAR OF THE COLISEUM.” MICHELLE LEAVELL, DIRECTOR OF EVENT SERVICES However, according to her, there is just as much to do by just walking around the fairgrounds and sightseeing. Tragesser said, “I’m looking forward to getting to just walk around with my friends and see all the different people that are there and then seeing all the animals.” Despite the new events, tradition is still ubiquitous at the Indiana State Fair, according to Leavell. Leavell said, “If you want to come and just embrace the feel and the tradition of the fairgrounds, it’s wherever you go…. Everything there just gives you a great feel of tradition and pride of the fair, and, you know, H what Indiana is kind of about.”
AUG 13, 2014
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ENTERTAINMENT
SCOTT LIU, STEPHANIE ZHANG
A GUIDE TO THE STATE FAIR 10
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Along with traditional livestock events like the Swine Show and Sheep Show, both of which end on Aug. 17, the Coliseum is hosting new shows, like Jim Gaffigan’s “The White Bread Tour” on Aug. 17.
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HOME & FAMILY ARTS BUILDING The Home & Family Arts Building hosts the Young Hoosier State Piano. The Mid-Teen final competition is on Aug. 16, and the Sr. Teen & Collegiate final competition is on Aug. 17 in the third floor auditorium.
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Every night at 6:30 p.m., the Daily Parade will showcase the day’s festivities along Main Street of the State Fair.
DOW AGROSCIENCES CELEBRATION PARK The AgroSciences Celebration Park offers free entertainment daily. Shows include Flippenout Extreme Trampoline Show. At the Free Stage, free concerts are at 7:30 p.m. daily.
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MIDWAY The biggest midway in the Midwest, Midway at the Indiana State Fair will once again open its rides, including the giant Ferris wheel, and sell wristbands on the Fairgrounds for $30.
Scan this QR code for the complete schedule and extended information about the events and performances.
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ENTERTAINMENT
ELLEN PENG
AUG 13, 2014
Porch Festivities
SARA KAYS (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
CHS musicians prepare for porchfest
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arly last year, citizens of Carmel started to prepare for a new music festival that would occur this year. As musicians sent in applications and the event planners rented venues, Carmel Porchfest (Porchfest) began to come together. According to Chairperson of Porchfest Sue Finkam, the event will take place on Sept. 14 in the Arts & Design district of Carmel. Finkam said the inspiration for this event came from other cities that hosted Porchfest. She said, “(Carmel) Mayor (James) Brainard learned of these while attending a U.S. Conference of Mayors event and felt it’d be a great match for our community.” To help Porchfest come to fruition, the Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council (CMYC) has worked closely with the committee in charge of the event from the beginning of the event planning process, according to Matthew “Matt” Klineman, president of the CMYC and senior. He said, “The main reason that we were brought on was to help with volunteer recruitment and registration, which won’t happen until we get closer to the event.” Finkam said the CMYC would later “provide youth volunteers to help promote the event.” Since one of the main goals of the CMYC is youth involvement in the community, Klineman said he hopes this “could be a great event for students to look forward to every year.” Klineman said, “I think this event is already perfectly geared toward
SINGIN’ STRINGS: In front of Huddles, Sara Kays, singer, songwriter and sophomore, sings and performs on her guitar. Kays started singing and playing on her guitar when she was a 10-year-old.
high school students just as it is geared to older residents because of its combination of a festival-type feeling with live music.” According to Finkam, the artists in attendance will be playing a range of music genres, and the committee in charge of the event has ensured that “some of the musical acts are younger performers.” One of the musical acts performing is Sara Kays, singer, songwriter and sophomore. Kays said, “I’ll be performing multiple acoustic pop covers and a couple of original songs.” She said she was first introduced to Porchfest by a vocal coach she used to take lessons from. In order to prepare for Porchfest, Kays said she compiled a list of songs that she would
perform at the event and has practiced them regularly. Everyone, according to Finkam, has a goal for Porchfest. She said, “We would like to provide good, clean fun and have attendees rave about the music they heard.” According to Kays, she hopes to communicate to the audience when she performs at Porchfest. She said, “I want people to see the emotion and hard work put into the music I write and play.” Klineman encourages high school students to attend Porchfest. He said, “(It) will be a unique place for them to enjoy a music festival in their own backyard. (Students will) kind of have the opportunity to plug into the local arts and music scene— something that we don’t necessarily always have the chance to do.” H
AUG 13, 2014
ENTERTAINMENT
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COMPILED BY ANNI ZHANG, JOHN CHEN AND JASMINE LAM
Entertainment Briefs The Giver’s movie adaptation will hit theaters on Aug. 15. It will star Brenton Thwaites and Jeff Bridges in leading roles, as well as Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift.
Brenton Thwaites, “ Jonas”
“We’re planning an origin story, and we’ll see how it goes.” The CW on their upcoming television show “The Flash,” based on the superhero, the Flash
Creator of Flappy Bird” Dong Nguyen has said that he is considering bringing the frustratingly addictive game back to the App Store. This should be to the dismay of some parents, who claimed that the game caused their children to spend all their time on their phones and, sometimes, break them out of anger when they lost.
Flappy Bird to return to app store... eventually
ROTTEN TOMATOES, THE FUSE JOPLIN / SOURCES
Concerts at Klipsch Music Center From Aug. 16 to 30, the Klipsch Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana will host concerts featuring classic rock bands, alternative rock bands and country singers.
August 16
Adam Lambert Lambert will perform at the Klipsch Music Center venue on Aug. 16 along with country singers Thomas Rhett and Justin Moore.
August 22
KISS, Def Leppard
August 22
Kings of Leon Kings of Leon is holding its 2014 Mechanical Bull Tour at Klipsch with alternative rock bands The Young Giants and Kongos. According to Klipsch Music Center, fans are highly anticipating Kings of Leon’s album “Mechanical Bull.”
They will launch their 2014 Heroes Tour in dedication of Kiss’ 40th anniversary performing their most recognized singles.
August 30 Luke Bryan
Bryan will perform along with Lee Brice and Cole Swindell at Klipsch as part of his “That’s My Kind of Night” Tour.
LIVENATION / SOURCE
SPORTS
AUG 13, 2014
ALLY RUSSELL
RUNNING TOWARDS SUCCESS: Junior Megan Kress runs during her track practice. Despite being a varsity athlete, Kress still manages to be in the top three percent of her class.
ATHLETICS TO ACADEMIA studies show athletics is beneficial to academics
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STORY BY EMMA LOVE
et up. Go to school. Go to practice. Do homework. Go to sleep. Repeat. This is the daily schedule during the school year of junior Megan Kress. Kress is a member of the varsity women’s cross-country and track teams and is in the top 3 percent of her class academically. This academic success, Kress said, comes from self-discipline learned through her participation in cross-country and track. Kress is not alone in her belief that athletic participation has many benefits. Some of these benefits were revealed in a recent study conducted by Angela Lumpkin and Rebecca Achen from the University of Kansas. In this study of 139,349 Kansas high school students, 44.7 percent were athletes. Overall, the athletes tested earned higher grades, graduated at a higher rate, dropped out of school less frequently and scored higher on state assessments than did non-athletes. Aside from her success, Kress said she has learned many important lessons from competing in athletics along with academics at a high level.
AUG 13, 2014
ATHLETICS TO ACADEMIA
“I think they both help each other out. I think the discipline I’ve learned in cross-country and track has helped me be disciplined in my schoolwork and studying and vice versa,” Kress said. However, in order to be a high achieving student, many people argue that it is not imperative to participate in athletics. One example is junior Jodie Kim. Kim earns high grades and is also enrolled in all advanced classes. Similar to Kress, Kim is a very successful student who is enrolled in challenging honors classes. Unlike Kress, Kim does not participate in any school-sponsored extracurricular activities. While both are very academically successful, Kress and Kim are motivated by different factors. “I am self-motivated to get good grades. Nothing really motivates me. It’s just getting an A on a report card just feels good,” Kim said. Kress, although also selfmotivated, has additional aspirations of continuing athletics competitively after high school. Kress is also motivated to help her teammates.
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ALLY RUSSELL
“One of my main motivating factors is that I want to be successful in all that I do. I also want to get into a really good college someday, and can hopefully go on and be a doctor or do something important. A lot of the girls on my team are also strong academically, so I know we motivate each other to do our best and to always give 100 percent,” Kress said.
“Athletics have really taught me selfdiscipline, how to work really hard and how to manage things, and that just transfers over to school too.” - JUNIOR MEGAN KRESS CHS Counselor David Mikesell said he has noticed this trend in other CHS student athletes as well. “A lot of our athletes have aspirations of going on and participating beyond high school, so they know the academic portion of that is directly tied into it. I don’t know if they’re much different than the majority of our student body, but I think students who are athletes, particularly here, have to be disciplined,” Mikesell said. According to Kress, the discipline that many CHS athletes exemplify ON THE RIGHT in the classroom may be a result of TRACK: Junior Megan Kress stops lessons learned in athletics. “I don’t think athletics have by her locker to pick up some books. impacted me negatively at all, but Kress manages I think it has positively because to balance her schoolwork with her athletics have really taught me selfdiscipline, how to work really hard athletics. and how to manage things, and that just transfers over to school, too,” Kress said. Similar to Kress, Mikesell said students can learn valuable lessons from participation in athletics. Most notably, time management skills. “I think what athletics does is helps with time management. They have a specific allotted time for the
athletics and they can’t afford to waste what free time they have, and so they are able to maintain focus in other areas,” Mikesell said. Kim agreed with this assessment, and said she rarely gets to bed at an early time due to poor time management skills. “I have friends who are in extracurricular activities and sports, but if anything, they seem to manage time better than I do. I think if you are involved in extracurricular activities you’re more experienced with being able to manage your time. If you’re not, you procrastinate a lot and waste time. Because I’m not good at time managing, I kind of never chose to do a sport,” Kim said. Part of being able to manage her time, Kress says, is her ability to prioritize when necessary. “Sometimes it’s putting going to bed the night before a meet before a paper that’s due next week. Or vice versa, an important test before sleeping in before a meet. Sometimes during the day on Saturday I’ll be home doing homework so that I can participate in my meets and practices in the week,” Kress said. In addition to prioritizing, Kress said she must adjust her study schedule at times. “For meets and practices, I’ll have to do stuff on the bus on the way to a meet, or in between my events at track meets,” Kress said. Despite both Kim’s and Kress’s academic success at CHS, they both agree their schedules are manageable, but athletic participation at CHS generally helps students manage their time more successfully. “A lot of people will be like, ‘How do you do all of that?’ And I’ll just be like, ‘It’s just time management,’” Kress said, “’And making sure you allot enough time for each thing and H put things in priority.”
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MATTHEW DEL BUSTO
AUG 13, 2014
ALEX YOM
Students get involved with new crossfit trend
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magine a warehouse. A big, open space. Hard floors and garage doors. Now imagine a warehouse with a dozen panting, grunting, yelling men and women, all grimacing and sweating from every pore in their bodies. This is CrossFit. There’s not a bench or squat rack in sight. Dumbbells? No way. Treadmills are nonexistent. Instead, one sees bumper plates, pull-up bars and kettle bells. This is not an ordinary workout. Last winter in advanced physical conditioning (APC), students started doing CrossFit on Fridays. Ryan Moriarty, football player and senior, said APC was the first time he had ever done CrossFit. “It was difficult, but after (I) completed it I felt accomplished and proud of myself.” In the exercise community, Moriarty is just one of the increasing number of people including CrossFit-style exercise into their workout regimen. Greg Glassman, the founder of CrossFit, opened the first CrossFit affiliated gym in Santa Cruz, CA in 1995. There are now over 5,500 affiliated gyms worldwide, according to crossfit.com.
Just what is CrossFit? According to crossfitvirtuosity.com, CrossFit is “the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies, tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide.” As opposed to strength-focused workouts, “CrossFit’s workouts are frequently referred to as WODs (workout of the day) because, although you will see workouts repeated over time, every day is a different routine.” For example, the WOD named “Kelly” is as follows: in as little time as possible, complete five rounds of a 400-meter run, 30 box jumps on a 24-inch box, and 30 wall ball shots with a 20-pound ball. CrossFit is based on 10 fitness domains: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination and accuracy. Troy Torrence, co-owner of CrossFit Fishers, said the first words that come to mind when he hears “CrossFit” are “constantly varied, functional movement, high intensity.” “CrossFit focuses on full-joint movement; (there’s) not as much accessory
CROSSFIT CRAZE: Ryan Moriarty, football player and senior, is doing part of the Crossfit workout. Crossfit is said to help athletes train under fatigue.
work, but (the athlete uses the) full body as one,” Torrence said.
Carmel Involvement Previously, students began doing CrossFit on Fridays in APC, during which a CrossFit trainer would come and give a traditional CrossFit workout for interested students. ‘ Aaron Boskett, strength and conditioning coach at Carmel, said he likes the competitiveness of CrossFit. As APC continues this year, he said, “I would like to see different variations of (CrossFit.) You can throw different things together similar to a CrossFit workout.” Boskett said he thinks CrossFit has many applications to studentathletes in a general sense and that CrossFit style workouts are a good change-up to add to a
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AUG 13, 2014
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AKSHAR PATEL preseason workout regimen. “If you were to break up your training, I think it has a lot of good application in an offseason phase,” he said.
A competitive atmosphere According to Torrence, a unique aspect about CrossFit is the “infinite scalability” of the CrossFit workouts. He said that any person, whether 8 or 80 years old can participate in the same workout, and that one can just use different weights and number of repititions. Boskett said he likes the competitive atmosphere in CrossFit. Cameron Birch, football player and junior, said, “I like the competition of it and seeing how well I do compared to others.”
Potential Concerns Despite CrossFit’s increasing popularity, Torrence mentioned some hesitations people have regarding CrossFit. He said some people see it as a “cult” attitude. Yet what some people see a cult, Boskett said he sees a strong
What is
?
community atmosphere. “I see the word ‘community’ used a lot in CrossFit,” Boskett said. He said when one goes to a typical CrossFit gym, everyone does the same type of workout. On the other hand, he said at a conventional gym, where people are doing all sorts of different workouts, one does not usually get to know the people at the same gym. Along with doubt over the “cult” attitude, Torrence said some people are hesitant because they feel like they have to be in shape in order to start CrossFit, which he said is not true.
What are the benefits? Moriarty said doing CrossFit will have benefits for the football season. “I think it will build cardiovascular endurance. It builds muscular endurance to hit for a long time and take more hits,” he said. “CrossFit separates the men from the boys...it challenges every athlete physically and mentally.” Birch said, “It’ll help me with endurance...being able to go in
CrossFit is a class where your coach decides what fitness schedule is best for you.
CrossFit has recently emerged as a go-to fitness program for many athletes worldwide. Here is a breakdown of some of the important aspects of CrossFit. CrossFit is ideal for getting into shape and staying in shape. c r o s s f i t. c o m / s o u r c e
CrossFit emphasizes form, not how much you lift.
TOUGH TRAINING: Moriarty practices CrossFit often. It is said to help athletes train under fatigue.
CrossFit is designed around lightweight Olympic lifting. CrossFit is not about building physique but about building cardiovascular endurance. In CrossFit you are not exercising for a goal; exercising is your goal.
practice longer and sustain how well I do for an extended period of time. (It will) affect how long and hard I can go during practice.” Moriarty said, “It depends on (the) sport, but generally (I) think it’s one of the better things because it encompasses a variety of physical activity that can help really any sport because of the different movements.” Torrence said CrossFit helps athletes be more aware of themselves conditioning-wise and helps athletes train under fatigue. As for Moriarty, he said CrossFit is something he would be interested in pursuing outside of APC with a group of friends or family members. On the other hand, Birch said he would not choose to do CrossFit outside of the realm of APC. “Outside of APC there are not as many people to compete with and CrossFit is something to do with other people to make it more competitive.” All in all, Moriarty summed up CrossFit succinctly. “It helps your mental stability when the going gets tough.” H
PERSPECTIVES
AUG 13, 2014
HELENA MA
REDEFINING THE HILITE.
A
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Newsmagazine MAKES MAJOR CHANGES TO FORMAT
S YOU PROBABLY NOTICED when you picked up your HiLite this morning, the issue looks different. Last spring, the staff decided to undergo some major changes to our print publications and website, the most obvious being a switch from a tabloid format to a mini-tab (shorter and more narrow, like a magazine). The amount of content will remain roughly the same; to account for the smaller pages, we increased the number of pages from 32 to 56. We’ve also decided to switch to HiBrite paper: whiter, higher quality paper that will make colors appear more vibrant. For the past five years, we’ve had the tabloid format and we saw many benefits of switching. The smaller pages allow for more liberal design, fullpicture spreads, and a cleaner, more breathable use of space. The smaller magazine dimensions also allow you to stack your HiLites just like any other assignment; you no longer have to fold up an issue to fit in your backpack. In addition to the print changes, we are working to revamp the website. As more media companies rely on online coverage to provide news for their readers, the HiLite staff is following this trend by embracing the web more. Check out the website hilite.org and you’ll find a completely changed design with a new theme that allows for a bigger display of pictures, color-coded sections and an Editor in Chief Helena Ma emphasis on visual content. Our better use of visuals is meant to capture your attention and help you remember the information we’re providing. Acumen has undergone some major improvements as well, including a new website specifically for Acumen and an expanded print publication. How is this better for you? We hope these changes will appeal to you and cause you to become more interested in our newspaper. These fresh designs and cool website are like cheese on top of broccoli, making what’s good for you more palatable. The HiLite itself has not changed. We will continue to cover everything from club meetings to in-depth, controversial stories and we will continue to maintain our journalistic fundamentals. However, with more reader-friendly services, we are giving you, the reader, a cooler, more visually appealing venue to the news you need. H The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Helena Ma at hma@hilite.org.
AUG 13, 2014
PERSPECTIVES
SACRIFICING FOR SAFETY
MADISON ADZEMA
#ACTIVISM
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ASTER SAMUEL
SACRIFICING FOR SAFETY.
Be willing to give up small freedoms for safety AT
Managing Editor Madison Adzema
THE
END
of last school year, I felt as though students shared the idea that Carmel High School is a “prison.” I heard it in the halls, read on Twitter and felt as though I couldn’t escape the idea. It may seem that it is true CHS monitors its students more than other schools although administrators do so with the best of intentions. It is their job to make sure that by the time students graduate, they are upstanding citizens. If a strict dress code, searching the wi-fi or periodic drug searches make students accountable for their actions, then so be it. The truth of the matter is, the mistakes that we make now do define us for the rest of our lives. While we are young, and it is time to make mistakes, we have to make sure that the mistakes do not haunt us for the rest of our lives. It’s easy to make a rash decision and unfortunately, it
is able to follow you the rest of your curricular opportunities and teachers life. It is teachers’ and administrators’ that care are some simple rules then duties to hold us to these standards I am willing to pay. Administration is and make sure that students do not to just trying to protect the students and anything regrettable. Carmel’s reputation. The other The amount of truth of things I have heard the matter THE TRUTH OF THE peers complain about is that we MATTER IS, THE with Carmel in my are Carmel. MISTAKES THAT WE three years as a student Other schools MAKE NOW DO DEFINE baffles me. Since my are just first day here, I have waiting for US FOR THE REST OF understood how truly us to mess up OUR LIVES. lucky each and every and for the student that walks opportunity to make us feel inferior. through the doors is. Having to give Carmel has high standards and a up small freedoms to make sure reputation to maintain. It is no surprise each student is safe and protected is that administrators work to maintain something everyone should be willing this remarkable reputation. As hard to do. I challenge everyone this school as it can be for students to believe, the year to appreciate Carmel for the great rules, searches and trips to the deans’ school that it is and realize that CHS is offices do have a purpose. They aim to absolutely nothing like a prison. H keep Carmel the outstanding place it is, and to keep thew student body full of outstanding young adults. The views in this column do not necessarily If the price we have to pay for a reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach top-tier education, hundreds of extraMadison Adzema at madzema@hilite.org.
#ACTIVISM.
Why Ann Coulter is both great and terrible.
230 schoolgirls, as reported at cnn.com, were kidnapped by the Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram. The entire world reacted in horror and shock at the abduction. People all over the world took to the Internet, uniting under the rallying cry #BringBackOurGirls. People directed photos, comforting words, and prayers toward the families of the victims in addition ON
Managing Editor Aster Samuel
TUESDAY,
APRIL
16,
to words of outrage and demands for action to be taken. Ann Coulter, an American political and social commentator, gained infamy by mocking the movement and posting an image of herself holding a sign that said #BringBackOurCountry. Coulter had taken the hopes and ideas of a global community and manipulated them to draw attention to herself and her ideas. Her motives were purely
selfish and distasteful, and the online community let her know it. However, here’s why Coulter’s tweet was brilliant. Thousands of people responded to her post and retaliated online, commenting angry rebukes and posting parodies of her original post, leading many to believe Coulter’s hijacking had backfired on her. However, that is exactly the response Coulter wanted. Her goal of drawing attention
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OPINION
AUG 13, 2014
ENJOYING READING
to herself and her party’s beliefs was met, all through the manipulation of the phenomenon social media activism. Many are quick to dismiss social media activism as fake activism, some going so far as to call it ‘slacktivism. This is an easy accusation to make as the effort put into hitting the ‘retweet’ button or liking a Facebook page seems to pale in comparison to all the energy expended by generations before us who stood outside for days chanting and waving signs
CHRISHAN FERNANDO
to encourage change. It does also has provided a platform through have flaws like lacking long-term which individuals can express their sustainability as well. However, beliefs globally. Underestimating social media activism is not to be social media activism and scorning underestimated. The participants for community provided SOCIAL MEDIA putting in less by the internet effort is antiquated. ACTIVISM IS NOT provides for easy Activism isn’t SOMETHING TO BE some roller coaster crowdsourcing of thoughts and ideas UNDERESTIMATED. with a height limit in addition to the allowing only the instantaneous spread of information. most fanatical activists to participate. It allows for overwhelming support It exists in many forms, all of which H for movements that force action to be are valid and respectable. taken and inspire change. The views in this column do not necessarily Technology has allowed reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach for widespread involvement in Aster Samuel at asamuel@hilite.org. international matters. Social media
ENJOYING READING.
English classes should emphasize fun of reading RECENTLY
I
WAS READING
Managing Editor Chrishan Fernando
a piece of literature when I came upon a surprising realization - I was actually enjoying what I was reading. That’s actually not a common occurrence for me. Well, perhaps my reading habits aren’t as healthy as they should be. Honestly, my reading habits are akin to how I pursue the opposite sex rarely and reluctantly. But that wasn’t always the case. I remember a time far gone when I’d read voraciously. When I was in elementary school, I would stay up far into the wee hours of night, reading my beloved series like the “Hank the Cowdog” series. However, English class had to ruin everything. It’s an ironic idea that the subject that is supposed to foster and enhance a person’s literary ability actually alienated me from the passion of
reading. But it’s true. As I grew up, my English classes began to feature “assignments” and “worksheets” designed to “strengthen” my learning experience. Soon enough, I couldn’t open a single book without being expected to scour the text for a literary device. And I highly doubt Mary Shelley hid literary elements into “Frankenstein” specifically for desperate high school students to ignore the story and scavenge for worksheet filler. I’ve seen this misery in other students as well. There have been far too many times when I’ve heard classmates claim that literary classics like “Great Expectations” or “As I Lay Dying” simply “sucked” (it’s a wellknown fact that those books are the bomb.com). Sometimes, I’ve shared these sentiments with my classmates, but when I look back at the novels I’ve read in English class, I realize that I may have enjoyed them more than I thought I did. Furthermore, I’ve come to realize
that lots of people harbor a love for reading somewhere within their souls. I noticed this when the English department gave away free books late last year and I saw people flock to the books with enthusiasm I rarely see in English classes. Some may think that if English classes did away with worksheets, my problems would be solved, but that’s not the case. We need assignments to help us learn literary ideas that we wouldn’t be able to learn by simply reading alone. However, a change in the frequency and nature of worksheets could be beneficial. If English teachers gave assignments that focus on the hardest and most important material while leaving out simple and menial topics, then students could learn while doing what’s most important when reading H - enjoying the novel. The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Chrishan Fernando at cfernando@hilite.org.
AUG 13, 2014
UNPROFESSIONAL CHARACTER
PERSPECTIVES
MATT DEL BUSTO
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D E N N I S YA N G A N D M I R I A M H U
UNPROFESSIONAL CHARACTER.
Learn an athlete’s character before admiring them Every year, I attend a few Pacers games. At the games, I always see many jerseys of popular Pacers players from the present and past—Paul George, David West and Reggie Miller, just to name a few. This year, however, some Lance Stephenson jerseys have been popping up. The fans, especially the young ones, who wear the jerseys, obviously admire the players whose jerseys they wear, leading me to wonder the character of the players they admire. This begs the question, should we actually look up to professional athletes? Managing Growing up, I have always looked up Editor to my parents. As an athlete and sports Matt fan myself, I also looked up to famous Del Busto professional athletes. Looking back, I wonder if looking up to professional athletes was a good decision, as they often seem to get involved in drugs, crime and shockingly immature behavior. As I followed last year’s Pacers through their eventual Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Miami Heat, I was always closely watching and reading about none other than Lance “Born Ready” Stephenson. Stephenson, a Brooklyn native, excelled for his high school basketball team and was named the state of New York’s Mr.
507 Total number of NFL arrests in 2010
Violence/ Murder #1 reason for the majority of arrests in NFL, NBA and MLB
Drug Use 2nd highest reason for arrests in NFL, NBA and MLB USCOLLEGESOURCE. ORG / SOURCE
Basketball after his senior year. After playing one year at the University of Cincinnati and being named Big East rookie of the year, he bypassed his final three years of college and entered the 2010 NBA draft. Certainly, his basketball talent is admirable—but his attitude and offcourt decisions are questionable, to say the least. After an altercation with a teammate in high school during 2008, he was suspended for two games and five days from school. The same year, he faced a Class B misdemeanor sexual assault charge after he was charged with groping a 17-year-old in high school. In 2010, after allegedly pushing his girlfriend down a flight of stairs, he was arrested for third-degree assault. Despite all this, in the winter of 2011 he made his NBA debut for the Pacers. So, he did some stupid stuff in high school and college, but now that he’s professional, he’ll straighten himself out, right? I wish. After no technical fouls during his first two professional seasons, according to espn.com, Stephenson received 6 during the 2012-13 season and 14 this past season, including one ejection—a concerning upward trend toward more out-of-control behavior. During game 5 against the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, he comically listened in on the Heat huddle and later blew air into All-star Lebron James’s ear. While he is an excellent basketball player and certainly entertaining to watch, Stephenson should be no role model. Sports are a large part of many Americans’ lives, a trend which I too embrace. Yet, to everyone who watches sports, especially kids and teenagers, we must remember the character of the people we are watching. That is not to say that just because one plays sports he or she is an uneducated, drug-dealing thug—I vehemently disagree with that stereotype. Yet, we must understand the concerning trend which many young and talented athletes seem to follow. As their talent propels them into the professional world, their maturity level has not fully developed, and foolish decisions are often the result. So, the next time Stephenson’s antics make headlines, I challenge you to think—is that really the name you want on the back of your jersey? H The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Matthew Del Busto at mdelbusto@hilite.org.
15 MINUTES
AUG 13, 2014
BOBBY GREASER, STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
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SARAH LIU
LEA
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AUG 13, 2014
15 MINUTES
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SARAH LIU
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR SBP/SOH? VISIT HILITE.ORG/ ARCHIVES/36241 AND HILITE. ORG/ARCHIVES/36248 TO READ THE REST OF THE Q&AS
HENRY CURTS, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
BG: I felt with my experience with student government in
the past as well as my leadership experience outside of student government such as with Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council, I felt like I would be able to lead Senate efficiently and effectively. It’s that I just think that it’s a position I’d be well suited for because I like talking to people, and I have lots of new ideas I think would be good. HC: I decided to run because I’ve been a two-year Cabinet member, one-year House member, and I am very passionate about what we do in the room, service to others, and especially to Riley Children’s Hospital because I am a Riley kid, so I am very passionate about giving back after what they have given me.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR AS SBP/SOH?
BG: I
think the biggest thing is that we just need to continue the tradition of excellence that our student leaders have set in the past. To me, that’s the number one priority. Then, you know, we have to build on them, you know, we have to try to think of new ideas and ways to keep the student body involved and engaged with student government activities, figure out what the students want, give the students what they want, and best serve the student body to the best of our abilities as a group. HC: I just hope to obviously make student government stronger, but also, one of my personal goals as speaker of the House is to reach out to non-student-government members to get more involved because although our House is over 500 kids, which that is a lot of kids, that’s only a fraction of the whole school. There’s tons of kids who I think could get involved, and by doing that, we could obviously provide service but also make the school closer together and make it a better place.
MEET YOUR
EADERS
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE STUDENT BODY TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
BG: I’m a very approachable guy. Don’t ever be
afraid to come up and talk to me if you see me in the hallways. If you have something you want to say, feel free to tell me. I don’t want to be scary, I want to be as approachable of a person as possible. I don’t bite. HC: Although I might be speaker of the House, which is a big position, I’m an easygoing guy; I think I’m an approachable guy. You can come to me for stuff, and I’ll listen. Any ideas for events, stuff like that, well, we have an open door coming with us now. H
Know anyone who should receive their 15 Minutes of Fame? Tweet your suggestions to @HiLite_news using #15minutes or contact 15 Minutes of Fame editor SARAH LIU (sliu1@hilite.org).
AUG 13 2014
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BACK COVER
STAFF LIST
HILITE, REDESIGNED
In with the new
THE OLD The new dimensions paper type
The old-fashioned, thin and gray paper that always was finicky with colors. Yellow was especially problematic: it always came off looking like a pee stain.
bleeds
11.25’’ x 12.915’’
Fold vertically? Too tall. Horizontally? Too wide. OK—we get it, the old size was a little bit awkward. But have no fear, we have a new size here!
Okay, okay, slow down. What are bleeds, you ask? It’s simply printing into the margins. In the past, we’ve only been able to bleed through the center margin on center spread.
Newsprint
Center Spread
7.875’’ x 10.625’’
Closer to the size of print paper, these smaller dimensions make the HiLite easier to carry with the rest of your papers.
Hi-Brite
Sadly, no—this isn’t named after us. It’s just a whiter and thicker type of paper. We can be more artsy with our usage of white space and all that. And of course, we’re cool with yellow now.
All Pages
Because of the page size and the cutting options, we can now bleed across any and every page. This gives more freedom in design and allows for more full photo spreads.
P.S. Print isn’t the only part of HiLite that has undergone some major makeovers. Check out www.hilite.org to see our redesigned website.
Editor in Chief Helena Ma Managing Editors Madison Adzema Matt Del Busto Chrishan Fernando Aster Samuel Accountant Ellen Peng Acumen Lauren Lu Stephanie Zhang 15 Minutes of Fame Sarah Liu Beats/Calendar Natalia Chaudhry Alex Yom Creative Director Dennis Yang Cover Story Aaron Shi Entertainment John Chen Lianne Yu Feature Michelle Dai Cynthia Wu Front Page Scott Liu Alex Yu Graphics Haley Bracken Jiva Capulong GMN Liaison Arsalan Siddiqqi News Christine Fernando Laxmi Palde Perspectives Maham Nadeem Sriya Ravi Photography Nivedha Meyyappan Alice Zhu Sports Emma Love Shakeel Zia Social Media Sreeti Ravi Ally Russell Student Section Jessica Tao Web Adit Chandra Kevin Fei Miles Dai Willie Zhu Online Directors Jason Klein Rushi Patel Reporters Divya Katie Summitt Annamalai Angela Sun Tyler Baumann Deepthi Thadasina Natalia Chaudhry Sarah Tinaphong Lucus Cheng Kari Truax Asim Sitha Dhungana Vallabhaneni Daniel Goldberg Sreya Vemuri Matthew Han Kyle Walker Olivia Jacko Gabriella Wang Mike Johnson Annika Wolff Nida Khan Jacob Worrell Jason Klein Angela Wu Haley Klezmer Tiffany Xie Jasmine Lam Melissa Yap Joyce Lam Sara Yin Dara Levy Alex Yom Katherine Long Cynthia Yue Aneesh Luthra Sara Yung Madeline Michael Zhao McClaughlin Grace Zhang Anuj Patel Anni Zhang Akshar Patel Matthew Zheng Photographers Kyle Crawford Miles Dai
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Writing Coach
Miriam Hu Kyle Walker
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Jim Streisel John Williams Nicholas Wahl