10.24 Issue

hilite

CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL NEWSMAGAZINE VOL. 84, NO. 3 OCT 24, 2019

CHS community reduces waste, becomes more aware of the impact of trash PAGE 26

SOWMYA CHUNDI

table of contents NEWS 6

6 NEWS BRIEFS 7 WALK THROUGH NATURE 8 JUULSUIT Students, staff, medical professionals discuss recent e-cigarette issues

9 SAFETY FIRST 10 ALL IN THIS TOGETHER 11 COLD TURKEY

FEATURE 12 12 SOMETHING WICCAN THIS WAY COMES

14 FOR THE LOVE OF DOG

Students compare the benefits and drawbacks of having pets

16 WORLDWIDE WELCOME 18 A LITTLE EVERY DAY

STUDENT SECTION 22 22 SILLY OR SCARY? Take a look at the winners of the HiLite’s pumpkin carving contest

23 CREATIVE CARVINGS 24 TREAT YOURSELF 25 HUMANS OF CHS

COVER 26

26 NO TIME TO WASTE CHS community reduces waste, becomes more aware of the impact of trash

ENTERTAINMENT 32 32 LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU Marching band director, students explain set, theme for this year’s show

34 A SPOTLIGHT FOR ALL 36 START OF SOMETHING NEW 38 MUSICIAN SPOTLIGHT 39 ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS

Contact information: Mailing Address: 520 E. Main St. Carmel IN 46032 Phone: (317) 846 7221 Ext. 7143 Website: www.hilite.org Email: Staff members may be contacted by using their first initial and their last name appending @hilite.org The HiLite is a student publication distributed to students, faculty, and staff of Carmel High School with a press run of 4,500. Copies are distributed to every school in the Carmel Clay district as well as the Chamber of Commerce.

City Hall and the Carmel Clay Public Library.

The paper serves as a public forum and two-way communication for both the school and the community. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are not necessarily those of CHS nor Carmel Clay system faculty staff or administration.

Credentials: The HiLite belongs to the Indiana High School Press Association, Quill & Scroll and the National Scholastic Press Association.

Advertising: Businesses may advertise in the HiLite if their ads adhere to guidelines. The advertising policy is available in Room C147 or at www.hilite.org/ads-info.

Editor in Chief Entertainment Da-Hyun Hong Tessa Collinson Managing Editors Natalie Khamis Riya Chinni Sports Aditi Kumar Angela Li Raphael Li Uday Lomada Hari Patel Karen Zhang

Front/TOC/JAM Robbie Ge Gray Martens

News

Josie Cruzan Pranav Jothirajah

Feature

ANUSHKA DASGUPTA PHOTO

SPORTS 40

49 SEEN BUT NOT HEARD 50 YOU’RE CANCELED

40 IN IT FOR THE LONG RUN 42 PARTICIPATION PROBLEM 44 STARTING FROM SCRATCH

52 THE RIGHT OUTFIT

After a tough season, women’s basketball strives to come out on top

53 DEVELOPING CARMEL

46 BUMP, SET, SPIKE! 47 SPORTS BRIEFS

PERSPECTIVES 48 48 SHARING IS CARING Although current parking pass system suffices, allowing students to share parking pass spaces would be more efficient

51 DROP THE BEAT

15 MINUTES 54 54 BIKING TO VICTORY Senior Ellie Dyas participates in road, mountain bike and cyclocross racing

54 @hilitenews

@hilitenews

@HiLiteOnline

Lillian He Wendy Zhu

Ads Team

Brian Zhang

Student Section/15 Minutes

Sarah Kim Ashwin Prasad

Perspectives Marvin Fan Calina He

Litebox

Maddie Kosc Shruthi Ravichandran

Social Media

Kassandra Darnell Hannah Gretz Anna Klauz Lily McAndrews Marissa Ryan

Web

Livvie Hurley Avery Thorpe

Adviser

Jim Streisel

Kris Otten Angela Qian

Principal

Rhea Acharya

Michael Beresford

Cover

Thomas Harmas

Superintendent

Responding to the HiLite: Letters to the editor will be accepted for the Nov. 15 issue no later than Oct. 30. Letters may be submitted to Room C147 placed in the mailbox of Jim Streisel, emailed to management1920@hilite.org or mailed to the school. All letters must be signed.

Names will be published. (Letters sent via email will be taken to a student’s SRT for them to sign). Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual and may be edited.

Corrections and clarifications: In the Sept. 20 issue, on page 34, for Studio One Acts, all 3 oneacts are performed each night, versus a different one every night. On page 39, CHS Community Night was listed as beginning at 5 P.M. instead of 6 P.M. On page 8, the Stop the Bleed Program was listed incorrectly as Stop the Bleeding.

The HiLite strives to correct its errors. If you notice any inaccuracies in this or past issues, please contact management1920@hilite.org.

ROBBIE GE FRONT COVER PHOTO

04

OCT 24, 2019

The Rising Cost of a College Education

Public College Costs

In-state public college costs have increased by

163% Since 1988

8x

With the upcoming Early Action college deadline, learn how affordability of secondary education has changed over time, how it affects students COLLEGEBOARD, NBC, MARKETWATCH, FORBES SOURCES GRAY MARTENS GRAPHIC

Public 4-year Tuition Increases by State (2010-2018) -5-0%

faster than wage growth

3.2%

0-5% 5-10% 10-15% 15-20%

Average public college price increase in 2018

20-25% 25-30%

$8900 Room and Board

30%+

$16,460

$7560 Tuition and Fees

2008

Average Indiana public tuition from 2010-18 increased by

Notre Dame*

2010 Tuition: $39,919 2018 Tuition: $53,391

2.77%

33.7% Increase

Purdue University

Ball State University

2010 Tuition: $8,544 2018 Tuition: $9,992

$11,140 Room and Board

2010 Tuition: $7,830 2018 Tuition: $9,896

16.9% Increase

$21,370 2018

26.3% Increase

IUPUI

$10,230 Tuition and Fees

Indiana University

2010 Tuition: $7,523 2018 Tuition: $9,334

2010 Tuition: $8,613 2018 Tuition: $9,210

24.1% Increase

6.9% Increase *Private school for comparison

College Costs in the 2020 Election

Bernie Sanders

Elizabeth Warren

Donald Trump

Free college for families that earn below $125,000 per year

The government won’t make money from student loans

More jobs to reduce college debt, no reliance on government programs

Lower federal student loan interest rates

Government should expand student loan forgiveness

Proposed ending student loan forgiveness program

Reform of refinancing for student loans

Increase taxes to provide for student debt relief

Reduce government role in education

HILITE.ORG

05

Student Debt After College

44.7

$29,800

million Americans have student loan debt average student debt per borrower

*each person represents 1 million people

How much do former students owe in loan debt?

27% 19% 17% $1-$5k

$5k$10k

19% $10k$25k

$25k$50k

8% $50k$75k

$75k$100k $100k- $150k- $200k+ $150k $200k

4% 3% 1% 2%

Effects of Student Debt on Later Life

Among adults with student loan debt...

56% 42% 40% 26% 19%

80%

cannot afford to save for retirement

cannot afford to buy a house

cannot afford to buy a car

have not achieved career goals

put off having children because of debt

put off marriage because of debt

Speak-Ups How does the cost of college affect your college choices?

“When it comes to looking at colleges I’m potentially interested in, while cost is certainly a consideration, it’s not the only thing that I consider and look at when making that decision.”

Junior Donald Barnhart

“The cost of college is obviously a huge factor in my decision for where I’m going to go... but there are a lot of merit and financial scholarships out there, so I make sure that schools I’m applying to have those (scholarships) and a lot of schools are becoming loan free, so that’s a good thing to look out for too.”

Senior Layla Qureshi

GRAY MARTENS SPEAK-UPS, PHOTOS

70%

Of students graduate with debt

news

OCT. 24, 2019

News Briefs

Today

CCRC College Application Help

CADENCE ARMSTRONG BRIEFS

Time: SRT Location: MultiMedia Lab in the Media Center

Saturday

Ghost and Goblins Run

Description: 2k or 5k race for people of all ages

Time: Starts at 9 a.m.

Location: Main Cafeteria

gotta ghost

Saturday

5K

Take a look at the courses for the Ghost and Goblins 2K and 5K.

Trick or Treat For Riley Description: Event held by student government where kids can attend various Halloween themed stations Time: 1 pm - 4 pm Location: Freshman Cafeteria

Carmel High School Main Street

2K SETTING UP THE RUN: Senior Jaehee Kim spends time setting up for the Ghosts and Goblins race. The race will take place on October 26 at 9 a.m. and will include a 2k and a 5k race.

Particpants must arrive at the Main Cafeteria to participate in the race.

MADDIE KOSC PHOTO

Carmel Elementary School Carmel United Methodist Church

TESSA COLLINSON GRAPHIC CARMEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION SOURCE

11/2

10/31

How to prepare: Take practice tests Read books Attend prep classes

Things to Do: Go Trick-orTreating Pass out candy Attend Halloween parties

SAT Testing

Halloween

11/11

Veterans Day Things to Do: Attend the Veterans Day Ceremony Watch CHS Wind Symphony perform

HILITE.ORG

07

Walk Through Nature

Senior Paige Fulkerson discusses improved Hiking Hounds club LAASYA MAMIDIPALLI PHOTO

Q&A

VIYANG HAO Q&A

Paige Fulkerson, senior and Hiking Hounds president

What is Hiking Hounds?

“Hiking Hounds is just a pretty casual club. We meet every other week or every few weeks on Monday mornings or Monday afternoons but we just discuss planning hikes and what we’re gonna do; it’s just to get outside.”

How did the club start?

“It was actually because I wasn’t having fun at cross-country. We were doing a really hard workout and I was like, ‘Man, I really hate running, I wish I could just join a walking team’ and then I was like, ‘Wait, I could start a hiking club or like a walking club,’ and so I decided to talk to (club sponsor Sharon) Wellbrook and I was like, ‘Dr. Wellbrook, I have this amazing idea, I wanna start this club and will you be the sponsor?’ and she was like, ‘That’s so fun!’”

Why should students join this club?

“Students should definitely join this club because it’s just a good, fun time and maybe motivation to just get outside or hang out with Dr. Wellbrook; it’s just fun.”

safety first

Check out some tips to keep in mind while going hiking Follow the trail signs and stay on the specific trails and paths

Keep an eye out for animals during your hike

Bring plenty of water as hydration is a big safety concern

PRANAV JOTHIRAJAH GRAPHIC WINCHESTEERHOSPITAL SOURCE

PLAN NING THE HIKES: Paige Fulkerson, senior and Hiking Hounds president, leads the first Hiking Hounds meeting of the year.

According to Fulkerson, the club’s call-out meeting took place on Oct. 8.

What are some of the your club goals for this school year?

“For this school year, I really want to go on a hike. We (only did one) last year and it was just me and two of my friends, but (our goal is) hopefully to get a lot of people at that hike and to have a good time hiking. Not only that, but we will also have more people joining and attending the club, (so) the hikes will become better and more frequent.”

08

OCT 24, 2019

Juulsuit Community members debate teen vaping epidemic following Carmel family lawsuit KASSANDRA DARNELL STORY

T

JOSIE CRUZAN GRAPHIC

he number of vaping related fatalities has increased to 33 as of Oct. 17, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC reported up to 1,479 patients affected by vaping-related illnesses, feeding into what they have called an epidemic among teens, with nearly 21% of high school students saying they vaped in 2018.

Parents, like Thomas McCullogh, the parent of a Carmel teen, have gone as far as attempting to take legal action against ecigarette companies, such as Juul Labs.

Petra Davison, registered nurse and assistant professor at the University of Indianapolis, said many teens don’t understand how the use of nicotine alters their brain chemistry. Addictive drugs, like nicotine, affect the pleasure centers of the brain and rewire how dopamine is released into those centers.

“Basically, it recalibrates how much dopamine is being excreted in light of the nicotine and those natural rewards that you normally found pleasurable decrease,” Davison said.

“Those kinds of natural rewards are basically replaced by the new nonnatural reward. When someone uses nicotine, it starts to stimulate that part of the brain, so we want to continue to do it. And in many ways, we have a hard time fighting it.”

Davison said the altering of those pleasure centers isn’t the only major health effect caused by using e-cigarettes. Many teens have been suffering from “popcorn lung,” a condition that changes the shape of the smallest airways in the lungs, making it difficult for them to function properly and can be caused by inhaling harmful toxins.

“Because of the anatomical change to the lungs, it changes how our lungs are able to breathe, which can lead to lung illnesses or even death, such as in the case of certain substances being added to these electronic devices,” Davison said. “(The smallest airways) tend to look like popcorn and that’s why they call it popcorn lung.”

by the numbers

80%

of victims of reported vaping related illnesses are under 35

17

age of the youngest person to die from vaping related illnesses

26

deaths from vaping related illnesses in the United States

1100 reported U.S. cases of vaping related illnesses CDC SOURCE

clear the smoke

Student Resource Officer Shane VanNatter said via email he wants to stress how serious it is to use e-cigarettes as a minor, not just medically but also legally. If a student is found accepting, possessing or purchasing e-cigarettes, the legal implications can be extensive and expensive. He said the infraction not only goes on their school record but also on their legal record. Multiple offenses or mitigating circumstances, such as selling the products to other students, can increase the fine amount.

Senior Madison Diehl is a theater student involved with Red Ribbon Players, students who go to the elementary and middle schools to perform plays about making responsible choices. Diehl said she believes these performances are a great way to prevent e-cigarette use.

Diehl said, “We’re trying to teach them in a way that doesn’t sound preachy or like we’re forcing it upon them; we don’t want that.”

“We’re told all our lives that cigarettes are the bad thing,” she added, “but Juuls come out and we think it’s not as harmful, but it’s still harmful. That’s the main idea we’re trying to teach the kids but also teach within ourselves.”

Davison said because of the rise in vaping-related illnesses and certain patterns she’s seen in her patients that have dealt with nicotine addictions, she questions the research behind the safety of e-cigarette use.

“Even though these electronic devices were made to help people stop smoking, there are a lot of people who still smoke cigarettes and vape at the same time,” Davison said. “My question is how much research and development went into vaping before it hit the market. It’s an idea that was good, but it’s playing out in society in a different way. I just really encourage youth to do their own research on these things before they begin to indulge in them.” h

Take a look at where the vaping epidemic is having the biggest impact across America Number of Vaping-Related Illnesses Cases Number of Vaping-Related Deaths

none 100-149 50-99 10-49 01-09

CDC SOURCE

none 03 02 01

HILITE.ORG

09

Safety First Carmel residents to vote on school safety tax referendum on Nov. 5

O

n Nov. 5, Carmel residents will vote on a proposed school safety referendum to improve school safety. The district proposed this in light of the lawmakers passing Senate Bill 127 during the 2019 Indiana legislative session.

Superintendent Michael Beresford said, “On July 1, a law went into effect and Senate Bill 127 made it through. It was a specific referendum for communities that can choose to tax themselves in order to pay for school safety things only.”

The school can use the funding for mental health programming for students, increasing the amount of school resource officers (SROs), and school safety professional development and training for staff.

“There are two trends going on right now, both in our local community but also nationally that are scary.

The first is the spread of school violence...you can’t watch the news now without seeing shootings every week somewhere—this violence continues to escalate and because of that we have to put more layers of safety in place for our kids’ sake,” Beresford said. “The other trend that is alarming is the number of kids who have mental health needs, those numbers continue to rise higher and higher, and also the ages of the kids who are suffering from anxiety, depression and other mental issues are getting younger and younger.

This is a bad combination so we want to put layers of support for mental health.”

The district aims to use the referendum funding to hire 11 to 13 new SROs, one for each building in the district. They also plan to hire more mental health providers to provide therapy within the school. The referendum funding would not pay for the therapy sessions themselves, but is aimed to eliminate the barrier of students having to get there.

School board president Mike Kerschner said, “If (kids) need to have therapy, if it works out, they can have it at the school and only have to miss the 40 minutes, or however long their session is, and more students will be able to go more consistently.”

The school also plans to use referendum funding to increase social workers’ salaries in the district and implement school safety programs, such as the STOPit app or

CADENCE ARMSTRONG STORY

NOT SAFE FOR WORK: Superintendent Dr. Michael Beresford gives a presentation about the upcoming school safety tax referendum appearing on the Nov. 5 ballot at Creekside Middle School on Oct. 3. Beresford addressed parents and teachers to help the community feel more comfortable with the proposed changes.

RAY MO PHOTO

awareness measures, like waiting for an administrator to confirm the existence of a fire drill or actual fire in the event of an emergency.

Referring to the increase of students, parents and community members with concerns regarding school safety, Associate Superintendent Roger McMichael said this school put a high priority on safety for students and staff. “We know that students will not perform to the level they are capable of unless they personally feel they are in a safe environment,” he said.

While the new law permits school districts to impose a maximum tax of ten cents for every $100 of assessed valuation, which is good for eight years, Carmel is only asking for five cents for every $100.

Beresford said, “We don’t want to collect more than what we need and have it pool.”

Ashley Blake, police explorer and junior, said the proposed referendum and the actions to improve mental health services taken by the district makes her feel safer. “(The referendum) does make me feel a lot better knowing that they are working towards hiring more SROs, working towards school safety,” Blake said in regards to the changes being made. “It lets us all know that they have our safety in their minds.” h

Scan this to read about national safety concerns following the Parkland shooting

10

OCT 24, 2019

All In This Together Key Club launches new inter-club service initiative CADENCE ARMSTRONG STORY

K

ey Club is introducing a new initiative to help centralize volunteer hours at CHS by organizing the various service clubs the school offers. The initiative, Serve Carmel, will be rolled out over the next school year.

Allyson Ward, Key Club cosponsor and social studies teacher, said, “This initiative is a way to link all the different service-type clubs together and to make that information more available to all students to get involved... so it doesn’t just have to be just a Key Club project (or another club’s).”

Approximately every one or two months, a representative from each club involved in the initiative will meet to discuss possible joint efforts and report upcoming volunteer opportunities they would like to share. These will be posted on the Clubs Canvas page according to Logan Tullai, Key Club Outreach Coordinator and junior. Tullai’s position is new this year and was added for the new initiative.

According to Abinay Devarakonda, Key Club president and senior, one of the primary reasons for creating the initiative was to help the incoming 2020-2021 freshman class become familiar with all of the clubs at the school.

Regarding the freshmen, Devarakonda said, “A lot of freshmen don’t really know what they are doing because there’s so many different clubs available specifically to CHS, and they are kind of overwhelmed, so, by creating a centralized list of all of the

volunteering opportunities, we hope to help them out.”

In addition to centralizing volunteering hours, this new initiative aims to help smaller service clubs gain exposure and more members.

Devarakonda said, “(The smaller clubs) don’t have a lot of membership... we want to take all of these clubs and promote their activities so it is open to more than just the 10 or 20 people in their organization. Key Club is a great way to do that because we have around 200250 members.”

This initiative came from a project current Key Club members and alumni created the summer of 2018 through expanding on the Butler Way Leadership Camp.

Devarakonda said, “We had to come up with a solution to a problem TODAY’S TO-DOS: Abinay Devarakonda, Key Club President and senior, writes the agenda for the day on a white board during SRT in the Key Club office. The Key Club officers were assigned to that SRT because it allows them to easily coordinate events and activities.

RAY MO PHOTO

by the numbers

83

student interest clubs at CHS

32

school sponsored clubs at CHS

25

service based clubs at CHS CHS SOURCE

within CHS and me, the past president, the past vice president and current outreach director chose this.”

According to Zainab Idrees, Key Club member and sophomore, Serve Carmel will also help Key Club members meet their hours, as they are required to have 20 group hours and 20 individual hours for the school year.

Idrees said, “I think this initiative will help me get to my required hours easier by providing more opportunities to serve and get connected within my community.”

While there is not yet an official roster of clubs participating in the new initiative alongside Key Club, they are already working with UNICEF Club on the trick-or-treat fundraising boxes and aims to do similar projects like this one with other clubs in the future. h

HILITE.ORG

11

Cold Turkey New Hamilton county animal care laws to go into effect VIYANG HAO STORY

S

tarting on Nov. 9, Hamilton county will start to enforce a new animal ordinance that focuses on improving the penalties for animal abuse, neglect, and endangerment, which includes leaving animals outside in extreme weather conditions.

According to the Hamilton County website, the revised ordinance includes updated and clarified definitions of “appropriate breeder,” “puppy mills” and what is considered “adequate” food, water, shelter, space, ventilation and veterinary care. The ordinance also addresses regulations that owners must meet when leaving pets outdoors in extreme temperatures. In addition, the policy states that those who inflict neglect and cruelty onto an animal can be fined up to $2,500.

According to Rebecca Stevens, President and CEO of the Humane Society of Hamilton County (HSHC), the change to the animal ordinance comes due to multiple reports from this year that brought light to the lack of animal care regulations.

This led the Hamilton County Commissioners and HSHC to update the policy as needed.

Despite this, Stevens said this was not the only time an animal abuse incident had been reported.

According to Stevens, an animal named Harlow was a part of a purposeful and violent vehicle accident, but has made a full recovery and has been adopted.

Jade Mehta, volunteer at the Humane Society of Indianapolis (IndyHumane) and sophomore, also re-

called a time of where she saw animal abuse and neglect first hand.

Mehta said, “My next-door neighbor has a sweet dog who was left out in freezing temperatures and left inside a crate in the garage all day, if not left outside. My family makes an effort to interact with her but just as one can read people, you can quite clearly tell that it has put an emotional strain on a dog that used to be so friendly but now fears humans.”

Maya Prabhakaran, aspiring veterinarian and senior, said she found that updating the policy is “extremely necessary” for Hamilton County.

“Especially in Indiana, I know that there are a lot of puppy mills and illegal breedings that are going on and so the animals are not taken well care of,” Prabhakaran said.

Although the new ordinance will go into effect in two weeks, these changes only impact unincorporated areas of Hamilton County, according to Stevens. The new ordinances do not include Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville or Zionsville.

“While we have gotten this ordinance passed by the Hamilton County Commissioners, it’s important (that people) understand that this is only the first step,” Stevens said. “Every city has its own ordinances, so (the Hamilton County Commissioners and I) h still have some work to do.”

14

Read a story about the responsibilities of owning and taking care of pets

it’s the law

Look at how Hamilton County’s new animal protection laws compare to other counties TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS must be inside during a wind chill or heat advisory must be inside when it’s below 32 or above 85 degrees must be inside when it’s below 41 or above 80 degrees No Restrictions REQUIRED CAGE SIZES Must be able to stand up, lie down and rotate Must be able to move and exercise freely No Restrictions REQUIRED LEASH LENGTHS 12 feet long At least three times the length of the animal 15 feet long No Restrictions 15 feet long JOSIE CRUZAN GRAPHIC HOWARD, MADISON, HAMILTON, MARION, TIPTON, HENDRICKS COUNTIES, OTIS SOURCES

feature O C T 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

Something Wiccan This Way Comes

With Halloween around the corner, practicing Wiccans, Pagan debunk stereotypes around their religions EMILY CARLISLE, TESSA COLLINSON STORY

M

any people associate the word “Wicca” with witchcraft and characteristics such as “evil” or “Satanic,” while others see Wiccan practices as similar to those of cults. Few people picture a 16-year-old girl walking down the street, registering a goddess in the world around her as she says small prayers, gives thanks to the Earth and wears crystals to draw positive energy from nature. But for junior Olivia “Via” Sarjent, this is a part of her everyday life experience and with it come the stereotypes of being a practicing Wicca.

“People usually get Wicca and ‘witchcraft’ mixed up,” Sarjent said.

“Wicca is religion based in nature and worships a mother goddess and a horned god, while witchcraft is its own separate thing. (Witchcraft is) doing spells and charms and stuff, and (Wicca and witchcraft) go really hand in hand, which is why people think that they’re the same a lot, but for me (the Wiccan religion is) an easy going kind of like nature-y kind of thing that I have going on in my life where I know that it’s something I can rely on. It’s definitely not evil like people say (when I ask what) they think about it.”

The Wiccan religion was founded in the 1950s by Gerald Gardner as a form of modern Paganism. Over time, it has become a largely female-dominated religion. This is what Sarjent said drew her into Wiccan practices.

“I first discovered Wicca because I grew up in a household that wasn’t overly religious but still had a lot of Christian beliefs and values put into life,” Sarjent said. “I never really agreed or felt like I connected well with those beliefs and values and so I went on to research other

(Wicca) is a loving religion and it (follows) more along the lines of giving back.

DEB BURTON TEACHER AT MAGIC CANDLE

religions and read books on them and stuff. I found one (religion); I found Wicca, which I just felt fit me very nicely.”

Junior Skylar Greaves’ experience is similar to Sarjent’s, as she said she discovered Wicca through research as well.

“I read a lot and a lot of my books are about magic and alternative religions,” Greaves said. “A lot of the stories I read were about Paganism so I started researching a little bit about it and I found out about Wicca and I really like the ideas behind the practices and the beliefs that they have.”

According to Sarjent and Greaves, Wicca is an individual practice, with only a few shared characteristics from person to person: a goddess as their main deity, a 366-day training period to fully understand Wiccan practices, the threefold rule, which states “anything you do to harm others will come back

to you threefold” and the Wiccan creed, which states, “In ye do what ye will but will not harm none.”

Wiccan beliefs can range from polytheism to pantheism and even to monotheism.

Greaves said she is drawn in by the individualistic aspects of Wicca.

She said she likes the freedom to believe what she wants to instead of having to follow a specific set of rules and regulations.

“I generally follow eclectic Wicca, which is where you kind of make (the rules) for yourself,” Greaves said. “You take from each different practice and pull it all together. You can choose what you believe rather than having to adhere to something strict. I like to be open to everything so I will accept what (someone) believes and I’ll take that into consideration. I do practice with two

ANGELA CHEN GRAPHIC WICCA LIVING SOURCE

Scan this to go to the Magic Candle website and learn about Wiccan and Pagan classes they offer

In the loop, the larger circles show a major festival

Sabbats are seasonal festivals that are celebrated by many modern Wiccans and Pagans. They are occasions to celebrate the sun and the earth and arise out of the metaphorical mythology that Wicca is founded in. Sabbats make up the “wheel of the year” which keeps followers in tune with nature.

HILITE.ORG

other girls and we have to agree on everything that we want to include.”

Both Greaves and Sarjent said Wiccan practices have had a positive impact on their lives, encouraging them to be a source of positivity to others and find the good in their everyday routines. “(Wiccan practices) really made me see things in a different way because I (try) to find more of the good in things and see how I could put good back into the universe because Wicca is all about taking universal energies and making them good and putting them towards something helpful,” Greaves said.

Wheel of the Year Yule

WICCAN RITUAL: Juniors Olivia “Via” Sargent and Skylar Greaves hold hands over a pentagram of crystals.

Greaves said that Wiccan practices channel a more spiritual and earthy aspect of witchcraft.

SOWMYA CHUNDI PHOTO

Deb Burton, a teacher at the Magic Candle, a shop and school dedicated to helping others learn about Wicca and Paganism, said she agrees Wiccan practices are more helpful than harmful. While Burton is not a Wiccan herself, she follows Paganism, a religion similar and often confused with Wicca.

“I consider myself Pagan more than Wiccan,” Burton said. “It’s an earthbased path that I walk which means I honor the Earth and work with its nature and energy. It’s a spiritual path, so it would be considered my religion.”

Burton said she discovered Paganism through researching herbs and investigating how to give back to the Earth, which led her to the Magic Candle. She said as she became more comfortable on her own path, teaching became a natural next step for her. However, her journey did not come without hardships.

“The hardest part is reflecting back on my experiences and looking within at who I really am and I what I gained from those experiences and forgiving people, especially myself,”

13

Burton said. “(I’ve been) working through guilt. I am releasing that and I have to control everything.”

Burton also said she recognizes there are difficulties when explaining Wicca and Paganism to others due to stereotypes of the religions.

“I think there’s a lot of negative reactions to (Wicca and Paganism),” Burton said. “A lot of people see it as devil worship and it isn’t. I see Hollywood giving people the idea that you can twitch your nose and get your house cleaned and it’s not the way it is. It is a loving religion and (follows) more along the lines of giving back.”

Sarjent said she admits she has faced hardships on her journey as well, but she finds the pros outweigh the cons.

“Every time I mention (I’m Wiccan) to somebody, their first thing is, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so weird,’” Sarjent said.

“Like, ‘What are you doing with your life?’ So I feel like I have to explain myself more often. But I feel like overall, it’s just been really good and it’s nice to have something I just really believe in h and can work towards.”

Take a look at the eight major sabbats celebrated by Wiccans

Imbolc

Ostara March 19-21

Dec. 20-23

Beltane April 30-May 1

Feb. 1-2 -focuses on return of light -commonly celebrated quietly, indoors at home

Samhain Oct. 31-Nov. 1

-focuses on renewal, birth -common decorations include candles and snowdrop flowers

-focuses on balance -common decorations include fresh flowers and eggs

-focuses on vitality -commonly celebrated with fire festivals

Lammas Mabon

Litha

Sept. 21-24

June 20-22 Aug. 1-2

-focuses on endings, role of death -commonly celebrated with spiritual offerings

-focuses on appreciation -common decorations include autumnal plants and fruits

-focuses on harvest and gratitude -commonly celebrated with bread-making

-focuses on warmth -common decorations include yellow, green and blue colors and candles

For the Love of Dog Given October is Adopt-A-Dog month, students weigh responsibilities of owning pets GRACE XU STORY

S

SARAH ZHENG PHOTOS

ince 1981, the American Humane Society has designated October as AdoptA-Dog month. However, adopting a dog—or any pet, for that matter— comes with a whole plethora of its own responsibilities. Junior Alania Mastain, whose family owns a dog, three sugar gliders and two guinea pigs, is no stranger to the obligations that come with raising a pet.

“We just took my dog in last month to get a checkup. He’s doing okay, and my dog has all of his required vaccinations,” Mastain said. “(My sugar gliders) are actually going in next month to get their checkup.

As for other responsibilities, cleaning is probably the biggest one. Sugar gliders are extremely, extremely messy, so you can’t be scared to get your hands dirty.”

According to Elizabeth Morrison, medical director of VCA Companion Animal Medical Center, nonpet-owners can sometimes be quite unaware of all the responsibilities that come with a pet.

“There’s a lot of responsibilities.

Vaccinations are definitely one of them,” Morrison said. “(Spaying)

by the numbers

85

MILLION US families own a pet

1.6

MILLION dogs are adopted from shelters each year

$75100 worth of vaccines for a puppy’s first year AKC, APPA, ASPCA SOURCE

and (neutering) and controlling the pet population is another really important thing that new pet owners need to realize needs to be done with their pet… dentistry is also another very, very important thing.”

Morrison added that VCA Companion Animal Hospital actually offers many of the same services as a hospital for humans would, simply because pets do have many of the same health needs as humans—such as the aforementioned oral hygiene.

dog costs

In fact, one of the main reasons that senior Amee Punater said she does not currently own a dog is simply because of the amount of responsibility that comes with raising a pet, which Morrison said can be comparable to raising a human child.

“I’ve always wanted a pet, especially a dog. I don’t have them because my parents think it’s a huge responsibility,” Punater said. “It’s almost like having a kid. You have to be able to feed it. You have to

Take a look at the average costs for a dog in a year Collar/ Leash $10-$35

Grooming $25$1400 Food $120-$900

Vaccinations/ Wellness/ Dental $700-$1500

Total $14,000-$16,000 Toys and Treats $35-$250

LILLIAN HE,LESLIE HUANG, WENDY ZHU GRAPHIC AKC, AVMA SOURCE

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Scan this to read a story about adopting pets from shelters DOG FUN: Junior Alania Mastain walks her dog, Chief, on the Monon Trail. Mastain adopted her dog from the Atlanta Fire Station five years ago. and she said she uses the trail a lot to walk all her pets.

know its sleeping time. You have to be able to take care of it. To go out of town, you have to have someone take care of it, and you just have to make sure you know where it is because it is basically a kid.”

Because of the significant emotional and time commitment that can come with raising certain pets, Morrison said it is very important to choose a pet that best fits both your lifestyle and its lifestyle. This is where prior research into the specific pet’s habits can play a significant role.

“I feel like the most important thing is just remembering that (pets) are your responsibility and that you’ve got to make time to go back and let them out or make sure that they’re cared for if you decide to go out of town,” Morrison said.

“Make sure that you’re picking a breed or a pet that can easily be transported with you from one living place to another without a lot of stress on the animal.”

Mastain said sugar gliders are nocturnal, which she said fits into her schedule of being a student quite smoothly. Yet unlike Mastain, Punater said her parents did

not find their family’s lifestyle to be compatible with raising pets, from busy schedules to specific diets.

“I have a sister who is an eighthgrader and we just are so consumed in our own lives that it would be hard to take care of a pet. (My parents) also work so they don’t have much time,” Punater said. “Different types of (dog) breeds require different types of diets and they can be really restrictive. So, it becomes really hard once you have a pet to figure out what type of diet they are and (to understand) regular cycles of their day that aren’t the same as humans.”

Outside of the numerous responsibilities pets bring, they do offer numerous benefits as well. For one, both Morrison and Mastain discussed how pets can be a source of emotional growth and maturity. “(There are) really strong studies out there that (show) having companionship that is just non-restrictive compassion you’re pouring out to an animal (is) very good mentally,” Morrison said. “A lot of pets are used as therapy dogs, not only just for companion animals, but also going into schools, being read to, going into nursing homes, for people that are wheelchair-bound and those types of things. (Pets) are very, very beneficial mentally.”

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(Having a pet is) almost like having a kid. You have to be able to feed it. You have to know its sleeping time. You have to be able to take care of it. To go out of town, you have to have someone take care of it.

SENIOR AMEE PUNATER SUGAR GLIDERS: Junior Alania Mastain feeds her two sugar gliders, Koda and Loki.

Sugar gliders are small nocturnal marsupials that are native to Australia. They get their name from the sweet nectar that they like to eat and how they glide from tree to tree..

Mastain said she easily spent 1,000 dollars on them in less than a year, but that they’re worth it.

Mastain added that she has matured a lot and felt a sense of accomplishment from being able to completely take care of her sugar gliders.

She said she had to research in-depth before buying the sugar gliders, pay for all of their expenses—from food to checkups—and find time to spend with them on a daily basis.

“It’s a big responsibility, but I think (owning pets) helped me mature and grow a lot,” Mastain said.

“It’s made me almost feel like a mom taking care of her child because it’s a lot of responsibility. You’ve gotta be on it as soon as you get home until you go to bed at night. But they’re so adorable and fuzzy and they’re so sweet, and it’s totally worth it. It’s like an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment.”

In the end, Morrison emphasized the amount of responsibility of pets and encouraged for prospective pet owners to properly research for a pet that has a compatible lifestyle, while she also called for current pet owners to stay on top of necessary pet responsibilities.

“I think it’s great that people are realizing that pets are a lifelong responsibility for them, and that it’s not just necessarily a knee-jerk decision,” Morrison said. “There’s so much joy that they bring, but they are a lot of work as well. Physically as well as economically, there’s definitely things to consider before you take that plunge. I think we do a great job in our community with being pet-friendly and taking really good care of our animals, so I think (prospective pet owners) have a really great example set for them. It’s just up (to) everybody to continue on with that and be responsible h with their pets.”

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OCT 24, 2019

Worldwide Welcome Students serve as mentors for English Language Learners (ELL), promote CHS Culture of Care LEAH TAN STORY

S

NATHAN HUANG, WENDY ZHU PHOTOS

ince the crisis in Venezuela began, CHS has had a recent intake of English Language Learners (ELLs). In fact, the United States has seen an increase in ELLs in general. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2017, 9.5% of U.S. students are ELLs, in comparison to 8.1% back in 2000. In response, the CHS administration implemented “Global Connections,” a program that serves to help these students adapt to CHS by pairing them with other students who maintain a high level of proficiency in their native language. As of now, 40 students serve as these mentors; one of them is junior Mckensie Matthews.

TESSA COLLINSON, GRAY MARTENS GRAPHIC

by the numbers

<1%

of public school teachers in the United States are ELL instructors

41

MILLION people in the United States speak Spanish CNN, FACE THE FACTS USA SOURCES

ENGAGING IN ESPAÑOL: (ABOVE) Mentor and senior Gavin Daniels checks his homework in his IB Spanish class. Daniels said he will continue to study the language in the future and has been considering majoring in Spanish in college.

“I’ve been working with the Spanish language for about three years now and have fallen deeply in love with it,” Matthews said. “When (Cary) Schwartz (counselor and creator of Global Connections) reached out to me about this program, I remember being so enthusiastic.”

According to Schwartz, “The program was created after realizing as a community that we really needed to assist our ELLs on a more personal level. My hope as a counselor is that every first day is a good first day. Sometimes just reading signs in a different language can be extremely overwhelming, so by providing ELLs access to someone who can speak their native language, we can improve their experience.”

In order to achieve this, one of the main responsibilities the mentors of Global Connections have is to build personal connections with ELLs. “It’s really scary for these students to come into an environment where they aren’t comfortable with the primary language,” Matthews said. “I feel like having us students as a mentor and friend to guide them throughout the year allows them to feel more comfortable and at home.”

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However, the mentors’ responsibilities can incorporate more than just the students themselves.

Mentor and senior Gavin Daniels said, “You can be assigned a student or responsibility any time throughout the year, so even if a family shows up sometime during the school year, we will be given the job of helping guide all of them.”

Furthermore, Schwartz said she has a goal to have Global Connections eventually expand into the community, although it’s primarily focused within the school campus currently.

“The one wish I have is that this program starts to reach more towards the Carmel community, specifically with helping families get connected with one another,” Schwartz said. “Because immigrants enrich our culture so much, the more we can normalize the way we treat those who don’t speak our language, the more we can impact the culture within our building and community for good.”

This program is a significant step for helping ELLs within this school; according to the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), “The first intensive federal monitoring of No Child Left Behind Act waivers shows states struggling to help English learners adjust to new standards.” Often, this is because of language and cultural barriers, which alone can impact the students academic and social life. According to the IDRA, only 8% of ELL students were considered collegeready in math and English compared to 56% for all students and they averaged lower scores on standardized testing. Thus, with mentors to break these barriers that inhibit the ELLs’ academic and social life, positive impacts are inevitable.

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a whole new world Learn about mentors’ roles in the new Global Connections program for ELL students at CHS

Counseling

Lunch

Check students in with counselors, introduce them to administration

Explain how the lunch line works and help them find a seat

Setup Set up students’ lockers, Canvas and PowerSchool accounts

CHS GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

Learning Layout

Activities Introduce students to extracurriculars, sports and other activities

Help students learn the layout of the building and get ID card CARMEL CLAY SCHOOLS SOURCE

LET’S LEARN: Junior Mckensie Matthews (LEFT) helps junior Natalie Hanna with Spanish.

Matthews said she loves using the language to help others.

Although both Matthews and Daniels have yet to be assigned a student, both said they already foresee Global Connections as promising and applicable to their future.

“I want to go into interpreting or teaching another language, specifically English in another country, so being able to assist others by breaking the language barrier is incredible,” Matthews said. “In general, being able to make someone feel at home as a new student, The program let alone another country, let alone another primary lanwas created guage is just indescribable.” after realizSimilarly, Daniels said, “I want to get a certificate or ing as a commajor in Spanish, and since munity that the United States is gradually becoming more Hispanic, I we really think it’s really beneficial to needed to asbe able to converse with this language. The fact that I’ll sist our ELLs have an opportunity (to do on a more this) within the school really gives me hope for my paspersonal sion and my future.” level.

Because this is the first year the program is active, COUNSELOR AND Schwartz said she would CREATOR OF GLOBAL welcome any changes that CONNECTIONS CARY will help foster its growth SCHWARTZ and development.

“If you are proficient in a language, reach out to Mrs. Schwartz and get involved,” Matthews said. “It’d be great to really expand the program so that helping others can become more of a norm.”

Schwartz said, “As (Superintendent Michael) Beresford says, we’re better together, and so by helping these kids assimilate into our culture, we only make ourselves better.” h

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OCT 24, 2019

A Little Every Day With Inktober in full swing, students, teacher reflect on influences of online challenges on art, life SOPHIA HAWKINS STORY

RAY MO PHOTOS

E

ach year since 2009, artists all over the world pick up their pens every day in October to draw. They may be following a prompt or they may simply be drawing whatever comes to mind, but all are part of the international Inktober challenge.

In 2009, Jake Parker, Utah-based illustrator, writer and teacher, started Inktober as a way to improve his skills with ink and develop better habits. Every year, an official prompt list is posted on the Inktober website and social media with one word to inspire each day’s drawing. This year’s first prompt, for example, was “ring.” Participants may then interpret that prompt however they like, and draw something in ink based off of it. Many choose to post their work on social media.

Freshman Lizzie Farrell said she will be participating in the Inktober challenge this year for the third time.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Lexi Carter, Art Club president and junior, finishes her Inktober drawing.

Each day of October has its own Inktober prompt. Carter’s prompt on Oct. 2 was “Mindless.”

UMA KANDALLU GRAPHIC

“I think (Inktober is) a good thing to participate in, ” Farrell said. “I really like Inktober because if you’re (in) an art block, it kind of helps you if you need a little step (or) a push. I’m not in the most creative mindset right now (and) it helps you come up with ideas.”

Inktober is not the only challenge on the internet promoting positive habits and practice. In 2010, the “Piano Explorer” magazine challenged piano students to practice their instrument for 100 days in a row, and then, with the help of their teachers, submit their names to be published in the magazine. Now, it’s possible to visit the Piano Explorer’s website and find hundreds of names listed by year and number of days, displaying the achievements of students who have practiced for as many as 2,000 days in a row. The challenge has extended to others as well. Violinists, cellists and even actors make the commitment and share their progress on social media.

Another such online challenge is National Novel Writing Month, also known as “NaNoWriMo.” Officially taking place in November, the challenge encourages authors of all ages to write every day of the month in order to finish a novel by December. Every year, over 300,000 people participate, and NaNoWriMo is now a nonprofit organization that, according to the website, “runs year-round programs across 646 regions around the world and in thousands of classrooms, and empowers nearly half a million people to access the power of creative writing.”

When junior Isabelle “Izzy” Woodward was in eighth grade, she was given a choice. For points, she could either write a book report or a NaNoWriMo project with a goal of 10,000 words per day. Woodward chose NaNoWriMo. Even after eighth grade, she continued to write.

creation challenge Take a look at a calendar of some social media art challenges

Jan. 100 Days of Practice musicians practice for 100 days and share their progress

July Oct.

Feb.

March

May

June

MerMay artists draw a mermaid daily in May

Aug.

Junicorn artists draw a unicorn daily in June

Sept.

Inktober: artists

Nov. Dec. complete an ink drawing each day of October

THEMUSICCONNECTION, DESIGN.TUTSPLUS SOURCES

did you know?

A study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania showed that the use of social media can promote positive behaviors by motivating people to exercise more frequently.

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY SOURCE

“Freshman year, I wanted to start writing a little novel just for fun. And (NaNoWriMo) just kind of helped progress it because it gave me a time that I needed this many words by, or by so long and how many words I had to write a day,” Woodward said.

Online challenges like Inktober, 100 Days of Practice and NaNoWriMo can have a number of benefits for artists and students.

Jennifer Bubp, art teacher and Art Club sponsor, said that she is considering implementing aspects of Inktober into her classes and the Art Club’s regular activities.

“I just love the idea of having a space where students can just create,” Bubp said. “I love the idea of—even at home, maybe it’s just a five minute homework prompt—(taking) time out of your day and (being) in the

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19

STATE OF THE ART: Lexi Carter, Art Club president and junior, sketches out a drawing for Inktober. Inktober is a month long challenge encouraging artists to build positive habits through ink drawing.

It’s really nice for people to get into a routine of having that habit they do every day.

It just ends up progressing into this thing that only gets bigger and better.

ART TEACHER AND ART CLUB SPONSOR JENNIFER BUBP

moment, and it helps you to center.

Maybe something in your room or a shoe in your closet, something to just kind of bring you back to the now rather than worrying about the future (or) thinking about the past.”

On top of that, it can be helpful for students to practice their art— whether it is in a written or visual form—every day.

“It’s really nice for people to get into a routine of having that habit they do

every day,” Woodward said, even if that just means taking a 10-minute “brain break” after school to write. “It just ends up progressing into this thing that only gets bigger and better. And so it helps people mentally if they have that routine. Like, I know I have this routine, even if everything else goes wrong.”

Lexi Carter, Art Club president and junior, said she is using Inktober this year to build her portfolio and her skills.

“I’m starting to do more painting and working (on) expanding my mediums,” she said. “I’m (also) working on a portfolio for AP Studio (Art), and when projects take a really long time, I feel like I need to fall back on a medium that I can do quickly, but still get good results from.” She plans to bring some of her work from Inktober to national portfolio day, in which students meet with colleges to show their art.

Perhaps, to some, making the commitment to take time for practice every day may seem impossible. But Farrell assured that there is no reason to rush. “(Inktober) brings everybody together because we’re all doing it together and able to see other people’s (work),” h she said. “It’s really a fun time.”

Q&A violinist and sophomore abby ko WENDY ZHU Q & A, PHOTO

Have you ever participated in the 100 Days of Practice Challenge?

Not formally, but I (have a practice account on Instagram). When I was first starting it, I was at a point where my practicing was very distracted, and I wanted to make it as efficient as possible.

I stopped posting regularly, but if I want to show something that I’ve accomplished or something I still need to work on, then I’ll post that. I’ve stopped posting regularly because (I don’t want to) start comparing myself to others who have really, really successful practice accounts.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a practice account?

I’d say go for it, but if you are making the account only to gain followers and more recognition, I don’t necessarily think that’s the best way to do it. But if you want to do it purely for your own practice and improvement, just go for it. It can be pretty fun, and I know it’s motivating for a lot of people.

PRE-NURSING 3+1 PURSUE NURSING AT TAYLOR UNIVERSITY.

GRADUATE IN 4 YEARS WITH TWO BACHELOR DEGREES AT A COST COMPARABLE TO ONE 4-YEAR DEGREE. ENGAGE YOUR FAITH. LEARN MORE AT TAYLOR.EDU/NURSING

Y E H !

3 THINGS:

Remember to get a yearbook! Having a yearbook is always a great way to reflect and remember all the memories you created at CHS. Order at www.yearbookordercenter.com search for Order Number 17177 OR pick up an order form at room C145.

Price: $52

DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 14, 2020

SENIORS:

Buy a senior ad! Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re an amazing and unique gift to any senior. Go to www.carmelyearbook.com OR pick up a form outside of C145.

DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 6, 2019

Online Registration Now Available!

OCT 24, 2019

FREE NHS TUTORING

AA Indiana Driving School IN BUSINESS SINCE 1945

Online • In-Car Instruction • Road Test www.indianadriving.com Wilson Office Plaza 949 Keystone Way Carmel, IN 46032 (317) 844-5542

Ask your SRT teacher for a pass!

Available to all students in core

Students must be at least 15 years old to participate

academic areas.

60

SRT | Room E138

80 100

40 20 0

Late Starts | Media Center

Silly or Scary?

CHS students recount their experiences at different haunted houses MARISSA RYAN SPEAK-UPS

SENIOR BENJAMIN “BEN” SINGLETON HEADLESS HORSEMAN AT CONNER PRAIRIE Scan this to read more haunted house stories

INDY SCREAM PARK “When I went to Indy Scream Park, they had this clown event where I wore 3D glasses that made everything tilt and spin; it was really disorienting, which was really awesome because it felt super realistic. Overall, it’s a great experience and it’s definitely different than most events because it’s Halloween-themed, so it’s only around once a year. It really puts me and my friends in the Halloween mood.”

“My favorite part about Headless Horseman (at Conner Prairie) is definitely the hayride; when you’re standing in line for the hayride they have people out in period costumes, which is (in) 1816 and they have them singing, dancing and telling Halloween stories. It’s a really cool vibe and it’s just good anticipation for the hayride you’re going to go on. It’s definitely not a super scary event, but it’s a really fun event if you just want to get a group around and go and do some fun fall festivities. It just gets you in the Halloween spirit.

SENIOR RUBY SANDERS

student section

OCT 24, 2019

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Creative Carvings FIRST PLACE SCARY PUMPKIN WINNER

Q&A junior cherish deford

What inspired you to create this design?

Take a look at winners, runner-ups of HiLiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pumpkin carving contest ANNA KLAUZ Q&A, PHOTOS

RUNNER-UP SCARY PUMPKIN Freshman Elyse Wiener

My dad recently bought a book with a ton of different pumpkin designs, and I chose this one.

How do you use the pumpkin leftovers?

This year I made pumpkin bread with the inside leftovers.

What is your favorite part of the carving process?

My favorite part is probably carving out the design.

RUNNER-UP CUTE PUMPKIN Junior Logan Cutsinger

FIRST PLACE CUTE PUMPKIN WINNER

Q&A

senior samantha mears

What inspired you to create this design?

Our family has always had a tradition that each person creates a differently-themed design.

I picked scary and have been carving different designs each year.

How do you use the pumpkin leftovers?

My mom roasts the seeds from the pumpkins to snack on.

What is your favorite part of the carving process?

I think my favorite part would be outlining my design and getting the design perfectly measured.

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OCT 24, 2019

Treat Yourself With fall in full swing, celebrate with three fall-themed treats HANNAH GRETZ RECIPES, PHOTOS

PUMPKIN TRAIL MIX

CINNAMON APPLE BREAD INGREDIENTS 1 cup oil 3 eggs 2 cups sugar 1 tsp vanilla 3 cups apples 3 cups flour 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease 1 or 2 loaf pans.

3. Combine the oil, eggs, sugar and vanilla.

4. Sift flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.

5. Add all dry ingredients to the oil mixture.

6. Add apples and nuts.

7. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.

INGREDIENTS 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds 1 tbsp olive oil Kosher salt to taste 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 1/2 cup whole or sliced almonds, toasted 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet.

2. Combine pumpkin seeds with olive oil and season with kosher salt.

3. Spread onto baking sheet.

Toast for 8 minutes.

4. Combine pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, almonds, cranberries and ginger.

CARAMEL APPLES INGREDIENTS 4-6 apples of choice 1 (14 ounce) package of individually wrapped caramels 2 tbsp milk 4-6 craft sticks INSTRUCTIONS 1. Remove the stem from each apple and press a craft stick into the top. Grease a baking sheet or lay out parchment paper on the tray.

2. Mix caramels and milk in a pan and stir until melted over medium to low heat. When completely melted, let cool very briefly.

3. Roll each apple quickly in the caramel sauce until well coated. Place on greased sheet to set.

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25

Humans of CHS

CHS students share stories of their identities, spontaneous moments THEA BERTOLINI, EMILY SANDY STORY, PHOTOS

“I went bungee jumping one time. They had this ropes course, and at the end, you could either choose to walk across the path or bungee jump down, and I decided to bungee jump. It was called Go Ape. It was a really interesting experience. You just felt like you were dropping. It was an interesting feeling (to let go), not having anything in your way and just falling down.”

SOPHOMORE CAROLINE HOUCK

FRESHMAN SARAH ALHADDAD “I’m probably most proud of where I’m from.

I’m from the Middle East and I’m also Muslim so I try to make that a part of my identity as much as I can. Since I’m living in a Western culture and civilization, I attempt to keep myself grounded with that and not really forget who I truly am. My religion doesn’t affect me a lot in my day-to-day life, but some things (do), like I don’t have the same philosophies and mindset as everyone else, so I try to take my religion and apply it to my life in a way that I can still function normally.

I always try to be nice to everyone and be judgment-free and treat everyone equally—I really take that to heart.”

Scan this to read more Humans of CHS stories

SENIOR BRANDON MATURA “I’ve been playing football for over four years. It’s a grind for sure, but keeping yourself humble and working every day with the rest of your teammates is really something that I am proud of and the rest of the team is proud of. It’s built me up as a person, and I use it to humble myself and look at situations in a different light. I think I’ve looked at situations more maturely (because of football). Instead of being rash about making certain decisions, I use what I’ve learned from my coaches and other players: that you can take a step back and think more and make a more well-thoughtout decision.”

SENIOR KATE KALTHOFF “I was chosen to be part of the German National Honor Society and it’s a really exciting thing because I’m a big German nerd and I’ve worked at the Christkindlmarkt before and it’s just what I do. It’s just an honorary thing and it’s called Delta Epsilon Phi, but it’s high school and middle school and I just think it’s cool.”

no

w

time to

s e a t w After Indianapolis designated one of most wasteful American cities, Carmel community works to spread awareness, defy stereotype SOWMYA CHUNDI STORY

RHEA ACHARYA, CALINA HE PHOTO

28

OCT 24, 2019

I

n his free time, sophomore Ethan Stoehr is an avid recycler and plastic collecter. In his room, Stoehr has bins full of plastic waste spanning from salad forks to shampoo bottles. He said that by creating a “plastic stockpile,” he’ll try and convince his mom to stop buying plastics once she notices the massive amount.

Stoehr said that as he started to learn more about the negative impacts plastic has on the environment, he realized he couldn’t just wait around for the world to perish and he needed to take action.

He said, “A lot of people are against the whole idea of caring for the environment. They’ll say things like, ‘Oh, I’ll be gone before then so it doesn’t matter’ or ‘I won’t be able to make that much of an impact alone.’ But I’m not like that; I refuse to just sit around and watch.”

This waste doesn’t just end up in landfills—it covers streets and roads of heavily polluted countries and seeps into the world’s oceans and ecosystems, harming its inhabitants and biodiversity.

Along with Stoehr, several multibillion dollar corporations have agreed to change their methods in order to be more environmentally conscious.

For example, National Geographic no longer uses plastic wrap around its magazines. Coca-Cola broke ties with the Plastics Industry Association and started an initiative to make all of its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable. However, with all of this positive change going around,

China pulling away from dealing with the United States’ trash will become a wake up call for us because now we have to take responsibility for our own waste that we’re producing.

SOPHOMORE ETHAN STOEHR

BIKING FOR A CAUSE: Sophomore Ethan Stoehr rides his bike to the library. Stoehr said he prefers biking over driving because it wastes less resources and emits less greenhouse gases.

CALINA HE PHOTO

the environment is still in danger. The unfortunate truth is that there’s too much waste and too little happening to see a quantifiable difference.

The world of waste has vastly changed in the past few decades as trash becomes more apparent in our everyday lives. In addition, with the ongoing United States-China Trade War, plastic has become an even bigger problem for Americans. According to the South China Morning Post, for several years, China imported the

majority of plastic from around the world and processed it into higher quality material that could then be reused by manufacturers. However, as tensions with the United States grew, in 2018, China refused to import anymore plastic waste from the United States in an effort to improve its own environment and to protect its people’s health.

Stoehr said, “Before, we’ve always relied on China to take care of our recycling for us, so people have definitely turned a blind eye towards the plastic waste problem. I think China pulling away from dealing with the United States’ trash will become a wake up call for us (the United States) because now we have to take responsibility for our own waste that we’re producing.”

road to recycling Learn the process behind recycling and the amount of time it takes landfill products to decompose

RILEY TERBUSH GRAPHIC ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, HAMILTON COUNTRY GOVERNMENT SOURCES

The truck delivers recyclables to a material recovery facility (MRF) where both machines and people sort the materials into groups and remove non-recyclable materials

Biodegradability time in years NON-RECYCLABLES

RILEY TERBUSH GRAPHIC

A recycling truck picks up curbside recycling and slightly compacts it

500 years

500 years

Non-recyclable materials are considered as “contaminants in a group of recyclables” and must be removed Plastic bags

Stryrofoam container

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accumulation nation

See the amount of plastic generated and sent to landfills in the United States over the years =plastic sent to landfill =plastic generated

35

millions of tons

30 25 20 15 10 5 0

1960

1970

1980

1990

RHEA ACHARYA GRAPHIC

Stoehr said he believes that recycling is a very difficult and fragile process for people to do on their own, and the United States does not have the right infrastructure to take care of the problem.

“Recycling is a fragile process; there are so many places where things can go wrong and even more trash ends up in landfills or the ecosystem, and some of it is due to citizen handling. We hear so often about how only a small percentage of what we recycle is usable. Whole batches of recycling are thrown away if there is a non-recyclable contaminant in there because most people don’t have the time to clean off their trash.”

2000

2005 2010

He said plastic is the biggest culprit for the majority of issues with recycling—and he’s completely right. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, of the 8.3 billion tons of plastic, 6.3 billion tons have been discarded as plastic waste. Of that waste, less than 9% of trash has been recycled, and the vast majority is gathering in landfills or the natural environment. But what makes plastic so difficult to recycle?

Stoehr said that for many companies, recycling is just not as profitable because the process is so much more intricate and complicated.

1 million years The MRFs sort plastics, metals and glass into recycling bales and send them to manufacturers

OTHER CONTAINERS

450 years

Yard waste

did you know?

Plastic waste composes 16.7% of Indiana’s landfills: one of the highest percentages in the United States.

INDIANA GOVERNMENT SOURCE

Manufacturers melt metal, glass and plastic at high temperatures and reform them into new materials

All non-recyclable materials are sent to a landfill

Paper mixes with water to turn back into pulp to make new paper 1 year

2015

“Glass and metals are infinitely recyclable, while paper and plastic are not. Plastic is really just one or maybe two times if we’re lucky.

There are so many issues with using plastic today because it’s a myth that it’s completely recyclable,” Stoehr said. “Plastic takes an incredibly long time to biodegrade because many of its components are unsuitable for recycling.”

The difficulty of the recycling process isn’t the only problem, Stoehr said; most plastics that are produced are “single use,” which means they’re used only once in things like utensils, grocery bags and shampoo bottles.

“People have called for bans on single use plastic, but there are so many things that need to be single use, like medical equipment to keep it sterile,” Stoehr said.

Stoehr said although the plastic problem is present on a global scale, there is a lot more we can be doing locally to help it. However, despite massive efforts to better the environment, Indiana still lags behind in recycling and in waste management.

The Indianapolis Star reported in January that Indianapolis has become one of the most wasteful big cities

1 million years

3 weeks

PAPER

2014

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SOURCE

15 years

Building materials and debris

varies depending on food

Materials with food and oil

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30

OCT 24, 2019

trash exports Take a look at where the United States primarily exports its plastic waste

5% 4% 7%

2017 379,380 tons

VIETNAM 48,898 tons 2017

2018 30,248 tons

66,714 tons 2017

40%

.5% OTHER

2018

INDIA 71,220 tons 69,707 tons

U.S. WASTE EXPORTS IN 2017

CHINA

27%

HONG KONG

2018

2017 257,663 tons THAILAND

2018 60,453 tons

U.S. WASTE EXPORTS IN 2018

4,388 tons 2017 91,505 tons

2018

11%

MALAYSIA 2017 42,170 tons 2018

5% 9%

14% OTHER

157,229 tons 24%

10%

JACKIE HUR GRAPHIC GREEN PEACE SOURCE

in America, recycling less than 7% of trash when the national average is 35%.

Suzi Denton is a Premier Account Executive for Ray’s Trash and Recycling Service and takes care of all of the schools’ and universities’ trash here in Carmel.

“The biggest difference between Carmel and Indianapolis is that Carmel has a really great curbside recycling program, and in Indianapolis, not everyone has access to free or easy recycling,” Denton said. “At Ray’s Trash, we don’t own a landfill, so almost

Scan this for a video about how CHS students reduce waste

none of our trash directly ends up in the ocean or environment.”

However, Denton said she still agrees there are several issues with the recycling process today even in Carmel.

She said that this school’s biggest problem in waste management is the exorbitant amount of trash produced in the cafeterias and from food waste.

“I think Carmel schools altogether are making really big efforts to recycle, but the one thing we run into is the fact that there’s so much contamination especially in the food waste. Once we get to the stuff that’s contaminated and can

no longer be recycled, it has to be destroyed, which defeats the whole purpose of recycling. The big thing is getting people to do it correctly.

A lot of the times it’s just easier to throw away everything into the trash rather than separate recyclables from the trash, or wash food waste from recyclables. Once we streamline this process and make it simpler, we can definitely make much more progress,” she said.

Stoehr and Denton both said they agree food waste is where Carmel lags behind the most in the recycling process.

Q&A What is the library doing to reduce waste?

Why did you change this?

My big thing this year is the laminating machine. I made a change in policy that moved a laminator into a locked room, and the students are no longer allowed to use it.

Additionally, staff (should) reconsider if you really, really need to have this laminated.

This piece of plastic and the trimmings around it will last for a thousand years. Your great-great-great-grandchildren will still have this piece of plastic. A piece of paper you can throw on the ground and it will be gone in six months max.

terri ramos, department chair for media and communications

RHEA ACHARYA Q & A

CALINA HE PHOTO

“I think, at Carmel especially, we make an effort to recycle and not be as wasteful, but it often backfires.

Think about how much waste is being produced every time someone throws away a bag of chips or a carton of milk. There is so much food garbage that’s being produced in the lunchrooms and none of this can be recycled because it’s all contaminated by food,” Stoehr said. “That’s the issue with the recycle bins inside of classrooms too. If someone accidentally drops a can of soda in a recycling bin, the other materials are no longer recyclable. All in all, I think the biggest culprit of our waste is food waste and we should be doing a lot more to change that.”

On the other hand, this school has made an effort in the past to increase recycling. For example, last school year, they eliminated the use of trash cans in classrooms.

Felipe Martinez Guimaraes, copresident of the Green Action Club and junior, said his club is trying to do a lot more to fix the issue of food waste and correct the wasteful culture, along with several other environmental problems.

“Our club focuses on doing various projects around the school that can make us more environmentally conscious. For example, we’re trying to implement solar panels on the roof of our school and start composting some of the food waste that doesn’t get used from our cafeterias,” Martinez said.

Stoehr, Denton and Martinez all agree that trash and plastic waste has become a huge issue both globally

What was it like before?

The amount of plastic waste here daily because of the laminating machine was just copious. All the garbage cans out here would be filled with plastic everyday. We went through thousands of feet of laminating plastic.

TAKING GREEN ACTION: Felipe Martinez Guimaraes, copresident of the Green Action Club and junior, takes notes during a project planning session. He said his club focuses on making the school more environmentally aware.

WENDY ZHU PHOTO

and locally. However, Martinez has implemented a different approach to fixing the problem.

“I think there’s really two ways to help any sort of environmental crisis: treatment and prevention. A lot of initiatives today, like reducing and reusing, will just lessen the amount of waste we have, but won’t do anything to get rid of the existing waste. That’s why we (Green Action Club) focus more on research projects and things that can help treat waste and plastic, like recycling and composting. I think at the end of the day, it’s not going to be just recycling that fixes our plastic problem, but something really innovative and new,” he said.

Denton said that in terms of prevention, he thinks there is more we could be doing to prevent the problem from advancing.

COPY THIS: Terri Ramos, department chair of media and communications, uses the laminator. Ramos said in an effort to reduce plastic waste, students cannot use the laminator this year.

CALINA HE PHOTO

Scan for an editorial about the impact of the new recycling processes implemented last year She said, “I really think that of the three R’s—reducing, reusing, and recycling—our first priority should always be reducing. Recycling is very much a last ditch effort, and if we reduce and reuse correctly then we may not even have the need for recycling. We’re a very disposable society, we throw everything away. It’s definitely our responsibility to change that.”

Stoehr said he believes that even if scientists are working on a solution to plastic waste, everyone individually should make an effort to take care of the environment.

“I recycle and try my best to take care of the environment because it’s my job. It’s probably the least I could do,” Stoehr said. “If you think about it, we as individuals have produced so much trash throughout our lives and it’s just continuing to pile up more and more. If all of us just contributed a little more to helping the environment then we wouldn’t need to struggle as much to take care of it in the future.” h

entertainment

OCT 24, 2019

Let Me Entertain You Marching band students, director expand on new symphony for this year’s show, includes melodies from Queen songs EMILY CARLISLE STORY

CLARE DIERCKMAN PHOTOS

I

f you saw the marching band’s halftime performance at the Homecoming football game then you likely realized you recognized a melody or two. That is because this year, the band chose a new route rather than using a straight symphony for its set. The marching band was performing a symphony, written by Tolga Kashif, that incorporates popular melodies written by the band Queen.

Queen has gained more recognition among younger generations in the past year due to the release of the hit movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” on Nov. 2, 2018, with the band being featured on items such as t-shirts. However, this is not why the directors chose to perform the symphony this year. According to Chris Kreke, director of the marching band and performing arts department chairperson, he and the other directors saved this set for a time that just seemed right.

Kreke said, “(The directors) first heard the symphony in 2003 when it won a Grammy. We had been talking about using that music for a long time. But it just seemed to fit this group really well. We’ve got an incredible french horn soloist, senior Claire Fisher, who we wanted to feature (in some capacity) and there are some incredible parts in the symphony for that. We also just felt like we needed to do something that kept some of the character of what we’ve been doing the last few years but also made it a little bit more accessible for the audiences.”

With the rise in Queen’s popularity, it is likely many people watching the set will recognize some of the melodies hidden in the symphony. The full symphony includes 14 Queen songs, including some of the band’s most recognizable songs such as “We Are The Champions,” “Killer Queen,” “Radio Gaga,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and, of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Devin Pote, trumpet player and senior, said the audience may take a while to catch on, but once they realize where they know the songs from, they will really enjoy it.

Pote said, “I think that (Queen’s music) is really popular. So I think that is going to help connect the audience to the music. Once that melody kicks in, people are (going to) realize, ‘Oh, that’s Queen.’”

Grant Herrmann, baritone player and sophomore, said he agreed with Pote because people tend to connect with things they can recognize.

ROYALTY FREE: Sophomore Grant Herrmann plays his baritone in marching band’s new show, “Eternal Beloved.” The show includes excerpts from Queen songs such as “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

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Herrmann said, “Although most people will be familiar with the music, it is not note-for-note Queen. I think that when people can pick out the few notes they know, it will really engage our audience and draw them into the show as a whole.”

The story throughout the show follows Fisher and Matthew Beavan, color guard member and junior, through a love story involving vampires and immortality. Fisher is immortal and the color guard, including Beavan’s character once he is bitten, are vampires. Fisher’s character has the choice to become mortal and live out the rest of her life with Beavan’s character or to stay immortal and watch him die. Kreke said the major reason for the plot was the prominence of the song “Who Wants To Live Forever” in the symphony.

Herrmann said, “It is truly just a complicated love story.

Once you pull back from the vampires and immortality, it is a story of love and compromise for those you love.”

This idea presents a much different atmosphere from last year’s set, “Voyage to Valhalla”, which was about Norse mythology and Viking ships. “Eternal Beloved”, this year’s set, has more fantasy and fictional aspects than last year’s. The shift in narrative has led to a change in scenery.

Last year there was a giant Viking ship that was moved throughout the field, but this year there are smaller pieces that make up a large picture.

I think that when people can pick out the few notes the know, it will really engage our audience and draw them into the show as a whole.

SOPHOMORE GRANT HERRMANN

FULL REHEARSAL: Senior Devin Pote rehearses choreography at an after-school rehearsal. He said he believes the use of popular music will resonate with audiences.

33

Kreke said the story and all of the intricate details involved in each performance would not be possible without the support of the community.

“The parents have been doing a really incredible job of building stuff for the set,” Kreke said. “(Students) probably haven’t seen any of that at football games because we haven’t really brought much of that out yet. But there are a lot of faux stone archways and walls and pillars and things everywhere. They’ve been doing a really incredible job of building all of that for us. So I’d like to give a big h thank you to everyone who has helped out.”

all set Take a look at some props from this year’s marching band set Arches and walls made of foam stand in the back of the field, meant to emphasize the theme of eternity.

An altar made of wood is used throughout the choreography. Hidden shelves in the back are used for costume and equipment storage.

CHLOE SUN GRAPHIC KATY CARSON, MALORIE PALMER SOURCES

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OCT 24, 2019

A Spotlight for All Student, parent, teacher describe benefits of arts for students on the autism spectrum TESSA COLLINSON, MICHELLE LU STORY

F

or junior Jack Sandifer, performing is more than just singing and dancing on stage; it is his way of expressing himself to and communicating with others. Jack has Asperger Syndrome, a condition on the autism spectrum which affects one’s ability to socialize and communicate.

Jack is a singer for Blue and Gold and he’s also a performer in the Carmel Spectrum Players, a new theater group for young performers who happen to be on the autism spectrum.

The group was created two months ago, and will have its inaugural show, the Carmel Spectrum Players Cabaret, on Nov. 1 at the Cat Theatre.

Jack will be among the many performers in the Cabaret, but he said this performance is about more than singing; it’s about motivating others to take the opportunity to shine. “(Since) I have Asperger’s, my mom has learned how while some people

KIMMI VASIL PHOTOS

may be different, they can still be just as special as anybody else,” Jsck said.

“For those who never really had the opportunity to be in performing arts, my mom made the Carmel Spectrum Players to give them more of an opportunity to participate.”

The Carmel Spectrum Players is part of a larger organization called The Jacksonville Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to serve the families of those on the autism spectrum through access to theater and performance. Both were started

by Jack’s mother, Mari Sandifer, as she believed access to a stage fosters the use of creative expression and enriches the lives of individuals.

“A lot of times, people might not be aware that (students on the spectrum) have these hidden talents, even the child might not know they’re good at something until they’re given the opportunity to do it,” she said.

“Anytime someone has a chance to

about autism

Learn more about the autism spectrum.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is an umbrella term for several disorders involving a lack of social awareness and communication, impaired language development, and repetitive behaviors.

3.5 million Americans live

with an autism spectrum disorder

Autism Spectrum High Functioning Autism lacking social skills and noticeable repetitive behaviors without support

Functioning Autism lacking social skills and noticeable repetitive behaviors with support

Severe Autism lack of social skills and repetitive behaviors interfere with daily life

OLIVIA CHILDRESS GRAPHIC AUTISM-SOCIETY SOURCE

step onstage, it gives them a lot of confidence that they can use going forward in their life.”

Quentin Mullinix, a special education intense communications instructional assistant at CHS, said he also believes performing arts help students on the spectrum. He said these activities are more attuned to the senses, which helps them expand their views.

“They still have experiences and that will impact them in various ways; those that can communicate, they can usually have some level of reflection they can communicate,” Mullinix said. “We could say, ‘Hey did you enjoy that?’ ‘Yes.’... One of the greatest clues that we know that’s true even though they can’t fully articulate it, is the fact that they want to return. ‘You wanna go to choir?’ ‘Yeah!’ If they don’t like it, they’ll tell us typically in one form or another. We know that it’s making some kind of an impact.”

While being able to perform has an impact on the students, Mrs. Sandifer hopes it also changes the way the Carmel community perceives the students and the world that surrounds the autism spectrum.

“I want the show to bring awareness to community that kids are on

AND A ONE: Junior Jack Sandifer prepares to practice the song “She Used to Be Mine” from The Waitress. He said he is passionate about being on stage and finds inspiration from his older sister, who is currently pursuing performing arts at Ball State.

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the spectrum,” she said. “(I want) to make the community aware that it is a large spectrum. These kids are very talented and they have a lot to offer.”

Mrs. Sandifer also believes participating in the Cabaret can encourage participants to develop close relationships with one another.

“I think anytime a group of people get together and put a show on, it bonds them in a certain way because they’re all working toward a goal,” she said. “Hopefully there’ll be some friendships formed and hopefully, there’ll be some opportunity for these kids to see that they do have a talent that can be shared and give them some self-confidence.”

Mullinix said there are many benefits for people not on the spectrum to work and interact with these students as well. “(Working with students on the spectrum) teaches us patience,” he said.

“It helps us understand that people are so much more capable of things than we realize... It gives us an appreciation for the human condition regardless of what disabilities they have.”

Jack said support from others has helped him develop a voice and work to his potential.

“My older sister is a singer and a performer and she inspired me to join musicals, participate in choir and to do all sorts of fun activities,” Jack said. “It’s helped me learn how I can be more expressive and it’s also helped improve my ability to sing.”

Likewise, the benefits of the interaction between students on the spectrum and performing arts is farreaching. Both Jack and Mullinix agree that it develops important qualities for both students on the spectrum and those who work with them.

“Anybody who’s interested in pursuing (working with kids on the spectrum), I think it’s a worthy thing to pursue because you can really gain a lot out of developing

these friendships,” Mullinix said.

“Again, it’s a great teacher for us to learn to be patient because every one of us, if we decide to get married and have children someday, we have to learn to be patient with our children just as much as with special ed students, so this in one sense is really good training… I think it’s a really good challenge. It helps stretch us as human beings.” h

35

Scan this to buy tickets for the Carmel Spectrum Players’ Cabaret 5, 6, 7, 8: Junior Jack Sandifer practices dances from other groups performing in the upcoming Carmel Spectrum Players Cabaret.

He grew up in choir and performed in numerous musicals.

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OCT 24, 2019

Start of Something New Students new to music learn how to play instruments in high school RILEY HAMILTON STORY

O

CHLOE SUN PHOTOS

n Oct. 25, Katy Carson, baritone player and senior, will perform at Bands of America Super Regional competition with the marching band. She is not the only baritone player in marching band, but she is unique because the first time she picked up a baritone, it was in high school.

Now a senior, Carson is in marching band for her fourth year.

Compared to most of the band and orchestra students who started taking the beginning classes in middle school, she learned how to play when she entered high school. The opportunies provided by the CHS

KEYS TO SUCCESS: Sophomore Ore Adeola practices the piano during her piano and electronic keyboard class.

Currently, CHS offers beginning, intermediate and advanced courses open to all grade levels for piano and electronic keyboard.

performing arts department allowed her to learn how to play a whole new instrument.

In middle school, Carson played the string bass for her school’s orchestra. Her older brother, who played the trumpet in the school’s marching band, was a big influence in pushing Carson to join band.

When she entered high school, the band needed a replacement—a new member for half the semester—so she decided to join.

“Right away, I just fell in love with (marching band),” Carson said.

“I loved the people and everything about it so I wanted to do it again.”

She joined the private lesson program the band provides, and she learned how to play the baritone. She continued in marching band her sophomore year and the following high school years ahead.

Andy Cook, low brass teacher and one of the band directors, was a big influence on Carson’s marching band experience.

“During practice he would pull me aside and give me advice,” Carson said.

“He was a very big help.”

Similarly, sophomore Ore Adeola began playing the piano her freshman year.

I always had wanted to play the piano but I never really had enough resources. When I found out there was a class at CHS that teaches piano, I was very excited.

SOPHOMORE ORE ADEOLA

“I always had wanted to play piano but I never really had enough resources. When I found out there was a class at (CHS) that teaches piano, I was very excited,” Adeola said. “Every time I was frustrated or couldn’t understand anything (piano course teacher Jilaine Jarvis) would calm me down and tell me I was going to learn it eventually,” Adeola said.

Teachers like Cook and Jarvis help other music-loving students like Carson and Adeola to allow more musical opportunities in their lives. Jarvis teaches piano and keyboard for all of the piano classes in the building. For the past four years, she has taught the beginning piano class, the intermediate advanced piano class and two music theory classes.

Jarvis said, “I love teaching kids. It doesn’t matter what class—it’s having the job of giving students these musical experiences that will last a lifetime.”

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According to Jarvis, most of the performing arts teachers use a method called recruiting, where they travel to the Carmel middle schools and promote the idea of joining performing arts programs.

However, Jarvis said the piano classes specifically do not recruit students because all three piano courses offered in the program of

studies is full with about 25 pianists in each room.

“A lot of it is word of mouth,” Jarvis said. “There are many pianists who aren’t in band or orchestra, so they have the opportunity to come here, have a different experience and have a chance to do this for themselves. Some students who are still musically enlightened don’t

tips and tricks Want to learn how to play an instrument?

Here are some helpful tips to get you started:

1

Pick an instrument that is simple to learn. Here are some examples:

Piano or Keyboard:

C

D

E

F

G

A B

notes laid out in front of you Ukulele: C

D E

F G A B

Harmonica: portable size surrounding

holes form intune chords

small in size only four strings

frets to guide finger placement

2

FOR THE BAND: Senior Katy Carson plays the baritone during marching band rehearsal. She said she was motivated to learn to play the instrument after joining the band.

Find a private lesson teacher to help guide you:

Meridian Music: Cost: $ Instruments: Strings, Piano, Guitar, Winds, Brass, Voice

Carmel Violin Shop: Cost: $$ Instruments: Strings *contact performing arts department for a list of private lesson teachers NATALIE KHAMIS GRAPHIC MERIDIAN MUSIC, CARMEL VIOLIN SHOP, TAKE LESSONS SOURCES

37

have a place to connect or plug in, and I think this gives them a way to be very connected to the performing arts department.”

The large performing arts groups like choir, band and orchestra provide a different experience for other musical students like those in smaller piano classes for example.

However, Carson said her time in marching band has impacted her high school experience.

Carson said, “A lot of the friendships you make in performing arts, especially in marching band, are really, really important. The people I’ve met in band are my best friends, and the band really becomes your family.”

Jarvis explains that different instruments—like the piano, flute, violin, cello, woodwinds etc—all have their own characteristics and capabilities. Students wanting to learn music in high school have many options to choose from, and teachers, families and friends are a big influence on many of the students’ decisions.

“Music itself is very therapeutic,” Carson said. “I’ve said it many times but I’ll say it again, music helps with literally everything.” h

Musician Spotlight SoundCloud artist, junior Jiwhan Kim creates, publishes unique music

CHRISTIAN LEDBETTER Q&A JIWHAN KIM SUBMITTED PHOTO

How would you describe the genre of your music and your style?

“It would definitely be like rap, trap or hip hop.

But I’m not always (doing) rap, trap, or hip hop.

I love every genre of music; I respect every genre of music, and I feel like I have my own vibe in the music. If someone listens to my beat, I think I always put a thing to identify that beat as my beat.”

Who are your inspirations, and what about their work made you want to implement part of that into your music?

“My idol is Metro Boomin. He was a producer like me in high school and (his) parents didn’t let him do music. He had to work hard on studying like me and he (produced) music staying up late at night.

He’s now at the top of the game and that really inspires me.”

What do you hope to accomplish with your music?

“Honestly I just like music; that’s why I make music. It would be nice if I could inspire others like Metro Boomin inspired me. It would be a really nice story if I later succeed and somebody looks up to me for inspiration.”

GRIND NEVER STOPS: Jiwhan Kim, SoundCloud artist and junior, creates music at home using a microphone and computer software.

Kim said his love for music motivates him to create beats.

Scan this to listen to Kim’s music on SoundCloud

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Entertainment Briefs

39

NATALIE KHAMIS BRIEFS

Marching Band

BANDS OF AMERICA SUPER REGIONAL Saturday to Sunday Lucas Oil Stadium Time: TBD BEST OF QUEEN: Michelle Hong, color gaurd member and senior, performs during the Bands of America (BOA) Kentucky Regional on Sept. 21. The marching band will perform at Lucas Oil Stadium this Saturday for the BOA Super Regional competition.

NICK BECKMAN PHOTO

Community Events FIFTH ANNUAL ACCENTS’ PRINCESS ACADEMY Nov. 2 Freshmen Cafeteria 1:30 to 4 p.m.

PRINCESS FOR THE DAY: Emma Heyl, former Accents member and junior, sits with two girls at the Fourth Annual Accents’ Princess Academy last year. Children are invited to spend the day with the members of Accents, who will dress up as princesses for the event.

SHRUTHI RAVICHANDRAN PHOTO

MEET ME ON MAIN Nov. 9 Carmel Arts & Design District 5 to 9 p.m.

Visit the Carmel Arts & Design District for live music, food, face painting and caricatures every second Saturday of the month CARMEL ARTS & DESIGN SOURCE

sports

OCT 24, 2019

In It for the Long Run

Q&A with ultramarathoner, sophomore Kaitlyn Varghese ADAM SPENSLEY, SATVIK KANDRU Q&A AVERY THORPE PHOTOS

How did you get into running ultramarathons?

When do you run most of your races?

I did my first half-marathon in fifth grade, and after that I got kind of addicted to running half marathons and I just kept progressing, and as I went further distances I learned about people who went even further distances and I thought it was really cool. I met a few people at a marathon that I did and they told me about this 50-mile race they ran and I just thought it was incredible; it was a crazy thing for them to do and I thought one day I could do it.

The last few years I started out by mostly centering around half-marathons and I got really consistent running those every weekend or so, and I’ve done about 44 of them. This year I cut down the amount I was racing a lot, but the distances were a lot longer; so I’d say I do ultras about one to two times every month during the summer, but during this time of year when I’m training for longer ultras I have them maybe once every two months.

What motivates you to do this sport and continue in it?

I was on the track team and I wasn’t very good at running those short distances so I thought maybe I’d be good at running longer distances. I’m a lot better at just enduring for a longer amount of time and I find it a lot more relaxing than the quick few minutes of pressure, there’s a lot less pressure; taken off of you and the community is very welcoming for people who do longer distances and I just really enjoy the atmosphere.

How do you train for longer distances?

Over the summer, I do a lot of weekly running on the treadmill, but I’d say where I get the most amount of training done is on the weekends during other small races. I have a ton of half-marathons and marathons over the course of the year almost every weekend that really helps me train for longer distances. Something that really helped me train over the summer for the ultra distance was doing some all-night runs. So they’re 10 hours and 12 hours where you just start at 6 p.m. and you either end it at 4 a.m. or you end it at 6 a.m. and just run the whole night.

That’s what really helped me train.

Where do ultramartathons take place?

When I started out I did a lot more in Indiana as half-marathons and marathons, but as the distance progresses there are less and less in Indiana so I do travel outside of the state a lot. The most common places I’d say are Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio, I do a lot of races there. I’ve been to a lot of parks to run in which I really enjoy; a lot of ultramarathons are set in state parks because there is a lot more distance you can put into a state park rather than shutting down streets and roads. Once you get to the ultramarathon distance, it’s more trail running.

What have you learned from training for ultramarathons?

One (thing) I learned is to be patient, because when I first started running, I would go out really fast and get burned out really quickly and I had to learn that I needed to be patient and that it takes time to improve and to get better and that you can’t get up and run 30 miles overnight without taking time to practice and you just have to be patient and let things progress.

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41

a running start

Learn about the different types of long-distance races HALF-MARATHON: This race is 13.1 miles long. A popular local halfmarathon is the Indy Mini Marathon hosted in May. MARATHON: A marathon is 26.2 miles long. The Boston Marathon, requires racers to reach a certain time in order to qualify.

ULTRAMARATHONS: Ultramarathons are any races that are longer than 26.2 miles. Varghese said most ultramarathons occur out of state.

STRETCHING OUT: Ultramarathoner and sophomore Kaitlyn Varghese stretches before her run. Varghese said training for these long distances has helped her with valuable life skills such as patience. She added that it was important to gradually build up mileage to avoid injury and leave room for improvement.

AVERY THORPE PHOTO

SARAH KIM GRAPHIC RUNNERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WORLD SOURCE

just keep running

Learn about the most important muscles to a distance runner Types of muscles used in running CARDIAC Involuntary, pumps blood to other muscles.

Hip Flexors FUNCTION Move legs forward and back, stabilizes hip.

ISSUES Most overuse injuries due to weak hips.

Hamstrings FUNCTION Facilitates knee bending.

ISSUES Usually weak compared to quads, causing hamstring tears.

IN TO THE WOODS: Ultramarathoner and sophomore Kaitlyn Varghese runs in preparation for an ultramarathon.

Varghese said that she usually runs ultramarathons one to two times a month. She added that she also runs half-marathons and marathons to help train for these longer distances.

SKELETAL Voluntary, controls most movement.

Focus of this graphic.

Big Toe FUNCTION Stabilizes foot in every step.

ISSUES Shoes usually squeeze toes during running, causing injury.

Gluteals FUNCTION Provides most of the power used in running; stabilizes the spine and pelvis.

ISSUES Often weak, inactive due to sedentary lifestyle.

Quadriceps FUNCTION Bends and extends the knee when running, absorbs impact shock.

ISSUES Can be disproportionally tight, causing overuse injuries.

EDWARD DONG GRAPHIC MEDLINEPLUS, TRAININGPEAKS, RUNNERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BLUEPRINT SOURCES

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OCT 24, 2019

Participation Problem Despite decreases in national high school sports participation, CHS athletics continue to show consistent increases in participation ANIKET BISWAL STORY

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ecently, a study conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) found there has been a significant drop in teenage sport participation from 2018 to 2019. In fact, there were about 43,000 fewer teens playing sports in 2019 than in 2018, 70% of which were from football. This is the first year in the last 30 years in which a drop in participation occurred on a national level. Experts say this drop might become the new norm, as parents are becoming increasingly worried about the safety repercussions from participation in high school sports.

However, in contrast to the national statistics, this school has shown a consistent pattern of increased participation in sports.

Athletics Director Jim Inskeep said, “At Carmel High School, our numbers continue to increase overall each year in participation. Right now we are at 1,500 student athletes in our program which includes all of fall, winter, and spring.”

Inskeep said he thinks the main reason behind this increase in numbers at CHS is the push by the student body and faculty to become more involved in activities.

Additionally, Inskeep said he believes the consistent participa-

HUDDLE UP: The women’s cross-country team meets before practice.

Elle Nichol, varsity crosscountry runner and senior, said she believes that the team spirit is the main reason behind the growth in participation for the team.

VERONICA TEETER PHOTO

tion in sports at CHS could also be attributed to the positive experiences these sports provide.

“I think the experience that students have is generally positive which means they continue on through high school. Although some students drop (athletics) after freshman year, most sophomores usually grind it out through senior year,” Inskeep said.

Graham Seaver, men’s swimmer and sophomore, has been swimming for both the Carmel Swim Club and swim team since sixth grade.

He said, “I have definitely seen an increase in numbers over the years. For example, the freshman

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boys team has 60 members this year, but last year, they had 40 members.

There was a 20-person increase in one year alone and (it) has been growing ever since I joined.”

Seaver also said he thinks the growing success of the swim team for both men and women has been the driving factor for the increase in numbers over the years.

“The boys team has a streak of five State championships in a row, and the girls have more than 30.

These awards have shown that our school is successful, and I think that is what is drawing more people in toward swimming,” Seaver said.

Elle Nichol, women’s varsity cross-country runner and senior, has been running cross-country since sixth grade, and she said she has also seen a rise in students participating in the sport.

Nichol said, “There has definitely been increasing numbers in cross-country, specifically because cross-country is more of a team sport. We all run the same event, and we all try to reach the same goal. With all the different activities we have for team bonding and getting to know the coaches better, I think we draw a lot of people who look for that team spirit.”

Nichol also said sports that typically did not cut athletes are now having cuts, including cross-country, because there are too many students who want to participate in the activity.

Nichol said this might make it difficult to gauge future enrollment.

“It will be hard to gauge the numbers looking forward because cuts will be limiting the number of people involved in the sport,” she said.

Research from the NFHS showed students leave their sport usually due to either lack of interest or because of physical strain and safety issues. Inskeep said he thinks safety is not a huge issue at CHS since there have not been any major injuries over the years.

However, while there has been a rise in overall sports participation over the last 20 years at this school,

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: (ABOVE): Graham Seaver, men’s swimmer and sophomore, swims backstroke at the SSC Swim Fest meet on Oct. 6. Seaver said he has seen a rise in numbers for the swim team.

He added that he believes the team’s successes at State and other meets have contributed to this growth.

(BELOW): Elle Nichol, women’s varsity cross-country runner and senior, runs at practice. Nichol said that due to the rise in the number of athletes running cross-country, the team has started to make cuts. According to Nichol, crosscountry was previously a no-cut sport.

OLIVIA MCKEE PHOTOS

Inskeep said there have been some instances in which he has seen students leave their sport.

“One thing we do see is that students lose interest in their sports over time. For example, students who become the top at their activity or those who get jobs during the year tend to lose interest in their sport and become more involved in their work and not show as much interest in playing as they had before,” Inskeep said. “Another big reason why students leave is the fact that they have a lot of experience growing up in elementary and middle school and when they reach high school, they don’t feel as motivated to play as they once had.” h

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OCT 24, 2019

Starting from Scratch Women’s basketball aims to move forward from last year’s rebuild KIERSTEN RIEDFORD STORY

VERONICA TEETER PHOTOS

O

n Nov. 9, the women’s basketball team will take the court to open its 2019-20 season with an away game against Homestead High School. Due to the low-cut nature of tryouts, returning players said they had already formed a close bond as they began official practices. According to both players and coaches, this season, the athletes are focusing on bettering themselves and the team as a whole in hopes to change their ranking at the end of the season. Last season, the team dropped from first to 17th, its lowest ranking in four years.

Erin Trimpe, head varsity women’s basketball coach, said, “I think that any coach will tell you that rankings don’t really matter; what you’re more focused on is seeing improvement throughout the season and the things that we need to work on that they are getting worked on and getting improved upon. So, we don’t really pay attention to (the ranking) as we go through the season, and I think

SOFT TOUCH: Senior Kiara Gill shoots a floater during practice. Gill said the team shared a close bond even before tryouts commenced, adding that those bonds will be crucial for a successful season.

playing positions

Learn about the playing positions in basketball

most teams will tell you that same thing. The girls went through a lot last year; they had to transition to a new coach, then that new coach was injured so they transitioned to another new coach, so there (were) a lot of things beyond basketball that were going on so that was a lot of trying to rebuild and refocus everyone into the game and help them, not just as athletes, but as kids dealing with that adversity.”

Kiara Gill, point guard and senior, detailed the preparations for the season. “We have been working really hard through conditioning, and we have just been starting to put in our plays. Everyone is really excited for this year and we are eager to do well,” Gill said. “We are adding in practices for free throws, which is a really important part of the game. We all need to make sure we can have a ‘we above me’ philosophy... the whole team this year is all best friends and it’s a really great atmosphere to be around, so everyone wants to help in any way that they can.”

HOOPTACTICS SOURCE GRAY MARTENS, ASHWIN PRASAD GRAPHIC

Point Guard

Small Forward

Lead ballhandler, initiates the offense as the lead passer

Versatile wing player who shoots 3s and defends most positions

Center

Power Forward

The most important defender and rebounder, typically the tallest player

Shooting Guard

Serves as a secondary ballhandler, usually a strong scorer

Usually operates near the paint, main pick-and roll partner with guards

SHOOTAROUND: Senior Kiara Gill passes the ball during a drill as the team looks on.

The team opens the season with a long road trip to Homestead.

Breanna Bolles, shooting guard and senior, discussed the transition to a new team.

Bolles said, “We’ve been going two days a week and it’s been hard without the fall athletes, but we are continuing to put in offenses and work together and grow because we did lose four starting seniors last year so it’s difficult adjusting.”

According to Bolles and Gill, the players are also focusing on team chemistry and team bonding since they said these elements were lacking last season.

Bolles said, “I think, as a whole, we are planning on working more as a team and not as individually as we did in the past years. We’re coming from a year where we have a lot of talent but it’s just spread around the team a little bit more so I think grasping that and putting it all together will help.”

Gill said, “We all have been taking care of each other more. All of the seniors are leading our underclassmen and we have a ‘take-youunder-my-wing’ type of situation this year for sure. I love all of our freshmen and I want to make sure

that they’re comfortable with the program. They know what to expect, so we’re all just trying to have a fun time which will help us do well anyway.

“We will have team bonding in a couple weeks but just, in general, we are all just goofy; we love having fun with each other. We are going to be having a lot of sleepovers this year because we all want to hang out. We sometimes have rules where seniors shouldn’t be together and be with freshmen during certain drills or free throw time during practice just to make sure everyone is getting to know everyone.”

Bolles and Gill said they want to work on their skills not only when they are in the gym, running plays and preparing for their opponents, but also when they’re at home—they want players to focus on bettering themselves through individual workouts.

Bolles said, “We should be scouting and preparing for Homestead. I would hope we would be doing (that during the) week. After our scrimmage, we should be gearing up, learning their plays, setting up de-

by the numbers

11 losses for CHS’ team last year, more than the previous three seasons combined

21.1 points per game last season from Hune ‘19 and Berglund ‘19 combined—a figure far lower than in previous years, meaning there is a smaller load on the rest of the team MAXPREPS SOURCE

fenses and offenses and getting our scouting report under control.”

Gill said, “We all need to make sure we know what we’re doing because my coach does love plays and will have up to 20 that we’re executing in two days and we need to know how to do all of them.”

Until the season officially begins, according to Gill, the players are focusing on making the season as fun as possible as a way to help them boost their confidence and rise up through the ranks from the start of the season until the end.

Gill said, “I think this year basketball is going to be a fun experience. I think that you can see when you come to our games that we really are enjoying ourselves, whether that’s a dance or a celebration on the sideline or a huge play happens and everyone’s hype about it. I’m lucky to be a part of it this year. I’m so excited; they’re all my best friends. You don’t get to say you that you have 20 new best friends every year because of doing a sport. I think it’s just a great atmosphere, and my coach has really pushed us to create a good culture and I hope that we can do that.” h

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OCT 24, 2019

Bump, Set, Spike!

Founders of Spikeball Club answer questions about increasingly popular game ANDREW CAITO Q&AS

KAROLENA ZHOU PHOTOS

Q&A

co-founder and junior miguel ventura

Q&A

co-founder and junior kyle barbour

Why did you create Spikeball Club?

Why do you want people to play Spikeball?

I wanted to do an extracurricular activity, and I thought it would be fun (to) not really mess around but hang out with people and have fun at the same time (with) an activity, which would include outside movement and getting some exercise.

I want people to play because it’s fun and it’s a good way to meet people and it’s a good way to hang out with friends and just enjoy yourself and with all of that, you get exercise at the same time.

How do you play Spikeball?

There’s a circular disc-like object on the ground and it’s basically a little trampoline. Players spike the ball back up and then basically service (like) a volleyball and smack it against it. And you have three touches per team before you have to switch the ball to the other team, and they have to do the same thing. And whoever drops the ball or doesn’t serve it to the other team loses the point.

POWER SLAM: Andrew “Hudson” Alden, Spikeball Club member and junior, pounds a spikeball at the roundnet during a game. The unpredictable bounces off the net emphasize the importance of quick reflexes and anticipation.

What’s your favorite part of Spikeball?

Just being with my friends because we’re all really into it, and I really like being competitive, so it’s just a good time and helps me get better.

When do you meet?

(We meet) Wednesday after school. Times vary but we always meet at Cherry Tree Park; it’s really close to the school and (people can) check our Instagram @carmelspikeball for more information about upcoming times.

HILITE.ORG

SPORTS BRIEFS

ASHWIN PRASAD BRIEFS VERONICA TEETER PHOTOS

SATURDAY

TOMORROW MEN’S TENNIS

MEN’S TENNIS

What: State Singles/Doubles When: 3 p.m.

Where: Park Tudor HS

What: State Singles/Doubles When: 9 a.m.

Where: Park Tudor HS

CROSS-COUNTRY What: Semi-State When: 10:30 a.m.

Where: TBD

NOV. 1 FOOTBALL What: Sectional When: 7 p.m.

Where: TBD

NOV. 8 FOOTBALL What: Sectional When: 7 p.m.

Where: TBD

NOV. 2 CROSS-COUNTRY

COMPETITIVE CHEER What: State Prelims When: TBA Where: Greenfield Central HS

What: State When: 1:45 p.m.

Where: TBD

NOV. 9 COMPETITIVE CHEER What: State Finals When: TBA Where: New Castle HS

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL What: Varsity vs. Homestead When: 1:30 p.m.

Where: Homestead HS

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perspectives

OCT 24, 2019

Sharing is Caring

Current parking pass distribution suffices but allowing students to share parking spaces would increase efficiency HILITE STAFF EDITORIAL

I

EDWARD DONG GRAPHIC

n late September, the student services office distributed the remaining available parking passes by the school to applicable Transition to College Program (TCP) students. Questions of how many were available and how they were assigned arose among students.

According to Rita Winters, secretary of student services, there are five categories for student parking passes at the top of the trail: medical, class awards, K-8 mentors, TCP and miscellaneous—which includes certain student government positions and activities. Only TCP students with second and third-block releases are eligible. Since there are allotted parking spots for K-8 mentors who leave school every Gold Day during third period, this limits the number of passes available on those days.

Therefore, the system splits the semester in half—the first batch spans from the beginning of the semester to Oct. 18 while the second starts Oct. 19 and ends Dec. 20.

Despite the myriad of complaints the student services staff receive on a regular basis, the HiLite staff commends them for all the effort they put into distributing such a limited number of passes to an overwhelmingly large student body.

Although it seems that all driving students will never be satisfied until the trail from the stadium is turned

our stance The HiLite Staff commends the school for organizing the current parking pass system, but suggests sharing of passes be allowed.

into a moving walkway with a roof, we believe there is another possible system that student services should take into consideration.

An aspect the current parking system tends to ignore is the ability for students to share parking spaces.

Many students carpool to school on a daily basis and if the option were available for more than one permit to be registered per parking spot, more students could take advantage of the opportunity. Many universities allow multiple vehicles to be registered under a single pass and a similar system could be implemented at this school. Similar to how seniors can sign up to share senior hallway lockers with a friend, eligible TCP students could register to share their parking spaces with another designated student.

This does pose a new problem of multiple cars trying to park in the same spot if there’s miscommunication between students, but if both drivers are held accountable for parking violations—meaning both students would face the consequences regardless of which individual committed the violation—they would be more compliant to the regulations in order to keep their parking privileges. This shouldn’t be an issue as long as clear consequences are outlined and enforced the same way current regulations have always been.

We acknowledge the parking system is complicated and that it’s impossible to please the needs of every student, but by allowing students to share, more students would have the opportunity throughout the year to avoid the seven-minute trek up the trail and it would also encourage carpooling, which is better for the h environment as well.

This Staff Editorial represents the consensus views of the HiLite Staff

parking passes Here are answers to some common questions on parking options Majority of Students Students should park at the stadium All drivers need to apply for a parking permit and clearly display it on their rearview mirror Parking permits can be picked up at the Activities Office after applying

Scan to see parking permit application.

Parking passes by the school Transition to College Program Students with a release on second or third block receive an email if they are eligible for a parking pass Special Medical Needs Submit requests to student health Doctor’s note center Requests Requires doctor’s parking pass note Time frame Students must pass is be able to drive needed themselves to obtain a pass Not transferrable to other students Class Awards Seniors receiving a department class award in their senior year can receive a parking pass Senior lottery Seniors are no longer in a lottery for parking passes due to unavailability this year CHS PATHWAYS, KRISTEN REMBLE, ERIN VANKIRK SOURCES

HILITE.ORG

49

Seen But Not Heard Age should not define the credibility of activists JOSIE CRUZAN COLUMN

M

ore and more often, young people are actively involved in the political conversation of the United States. While young people have been actively involved in politics since Joan of Arc, teenage leadership of discussions has become the norm. As one of those teenagers involved in the political workings of my country and my community, I look up to climate activists like Greta Thunberg and Mari Copeny who are making real palpable change in the world.

However, because they have the audacity to speak up about things the majority of adults do not realize are pressing issues, they have faced a great deal of backlash. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to note this backlash is worsened by the fact that they are young people, which is completely unfounded. To argue young people should not be listened to and should be overlooked because of their supposed inexperience is both ignorant and incompetent, and only serves to show just how disconnected and behind many adults are in regards to the political climate of the 21st century. Young people have carved out permanent spaces for themselves in political discussions in recent years, and we are not going anywhere.

In addition, the number of politically involved young people across the country grows every year. According to 350.org, an organization involved with global climate strikes, recent strikes garnered 7.6 million attendees. As someone who helped to plan the Indianapolis strike on Sept. 20 and has organized and attended previous strikes, the levels of efficiency, intelligence and ca-

pability I have seen from my peers are the most vocal about their unfar outweigh that which I have seen founded disdain for people like from adults in the same fields.

Thunberg and Copeny, as well as Historically speaking, this is not other activists such as David Hogg a new phenomenon. As mentioned and Emma Gonzalez, are the people before, Joan of Arc was able to radiwho are actively ignoring the issues cally influence the French army. The at hand, doing nothing to help or Newsboy strike of 1899 radically make a change in their own way. changed the journalistic workforce The lack of constructiveness in their as well as the way that New York, actions is exacerbated by this and and by extension the rest of the their hypocrisy. Rather than do country, operated in regards to the nothing to help make the change working class. To act as though they wish to see in the world, these teenagers are, for some reason, adults should consider supporting any less able to achieve great the youth who are leading that change as a result of taking up change. They should consider issues that adults either canactively working within their not or will not take up, is to community to help solve blatantly turn a blind eye to problems, rather than being h what has already happened, a part of the problem. what is happening now and The views in this column do not what will continue to happen. necessarily reflect the views of the Not only that, but the HiLite staff. Reach Josie Cruvast majority of adults who ANOTHER PESKY KID zan at jcruzan@hilite.org

the four stages of sleep 12 AM

2 AM 0:03.5

Nowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good time to do homework...

4 AM

EDWARD DONG GRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE

8 AM

ZZZ

If 3x+8 < 5 then x is..?

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OCT 24, 2019

You’re Canceled

Cancel culture is toxic, fails to be effective or justified LEAH TAN COLUMN

W

henever I scroll through social media, I never fail to come across a snarky comment claiming some celebrity is now “canceled.”

When beauty guru James Charles was under fire, it was tempting to take the often exaggerated words as fact and join in on the criticism; however, I quickly stopped myself knowing the importance of hearing both sides before forming an opinion on a person’s actions. On the other hand, “cancel culture” promotes the opposite, and its toxic effects are immediate and detrimental, often leaving the figure unable to apologize or redeem themselves, even if the problem wasn’t severe.

Canceling someone refers to publicly shaming or removing support from a public figure due to certain actions or opinions. Although one could argue cancel culture is just our modern democratization of justice, especially when the defendant had done something severe and ethically

Scan to watch a Ted Talk by about cancel culture

PERIODT

wrong, it almost always prompts immature behavior that morphs the criticism into personal attacks.

Unfortunately, because cancel culture often uses social media as its pathway to spread quickly and reach a large audience, its negative effects spread fast and far as well.

Worst of all, because everything is on the internet, embarrassing content posted as an ignorant 12-yearold may be the end of one’s career.

Take Kelvin “Brother Nature” Peña, for example. The 21-year-old recently faced heated backlash for racist tweets he posted when he was 12. Before he could apologize for his past statements, his Twitter account was suspended, and he carries the label of racist for the rest of his life. Although it’s easier to determine whether someone should’ve been held accountable for an action they did eight years before, at an age when the brain hasn’t fully developed yet, it begs the question: at what age or time

honors ≠ AP

GRACE BELT GRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE

this will be sooo easy

A

First AP Class

oh

C

who needs to study? time for AP!

First Honors Class

frame should someone begin to be held accountable for their actions?

Take Comedian Shane Gillis for example: Gillis was fired recently after being hired for Saturday Night Live (SNL) once racist and homophobic comments he made the year before resurfaced. Controversy still remains regarding whether NBC’s decision was correct.

These two examples alone prove one of the many flaws of cancel culture; its standards for when it’s okay to cancel someone are extremely ambiguous and the effects are often detrimental and irreversible. Thus, it should be in your best interest to not contribute to toxic culture. It’s easy to prevent it personally: when you come across a new tweet urging others to cancel someone due to a statement or action they did, ask yourself, “Is it worth jumping the bandwagon and ruining their future and life without taking into h account any other factors?”

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff.

Reach Leah Tan at ltan@hilite.org

HILITE.ORG

51

Drop The Beat Spotify should be unrestricted on school internet RAY MO COLUMN

I

am an avid Spotify user. Each unless there is something uniquely The benefits of listening to music morning, I wake up to the wrong about Spotify, I believe that are not unsubstantiated either. Acby the sound of lo-fi hip hop. In the students should be allowed to take cording to the University of San Dinumbers car, I jam out to my favorite advantage of Spotify for its ego, listening to classical music can Spotify beats. Even when educational benefits. ease test anxiety by lowering blood I am studying, I listen First of all, Spotify itpressure in listeners. Research from to instrumental music. self is a digital music serthe University of Birmingham sugaverage hours But for the seven hours vice and nothing more. gests listening to background music spent listening of my day that I am This means that improves productivity in repetitive to Spotify per in school, I can when a student is tasks. In any case, music can have a user do none of these listening to music, variety of benefits to students. things. Spotify is he can still be foListening to music has its own time banned on school cused on schooland place. I am not saying listening to MILLION songs on internet, meanrelated tasks. For music is the panacea to improving foSpotify ing that for about example, in a cus, nor do I advocate listening to museven hours of my block like SRT sic during lectures or group activities. day, I am not able based around inHowever, I do believe that, in the right LO-FI ADDICT to listen to music dependent work, I context, being allowed to use Spotify MILLION unless I listen to it find myself listenwould benefit students greatly. So until monthly through another music service. ing to music much of the time. To the ban is lifted, let’s stick to listening Spotify users Spotify is a valuable resource stume, music helps me focus and stay to our downloaded music. h SPOTIFY, dents should be able to take advantage on task because it blocks out exterThe views in this column do not necesBUSINESSOFAPPS of. It is a free music service, meaning nal stimuli and makes studying a sarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff.

SOURCE students can tap into a vast wealth bit more interesting.

Reach Ray Mo at rmo@hilite.org of music without paying anything.

However, due to the Spotify ban, many students are forced to turn to alTake a look at features, top streamed of Spotify ternate music streaming services such as SoundCloud, which may not offer Check out View your the wide range of music that Spotify what you profile in does. Others choose to use paid serhave recently settings Top Song: “God’s vices such as Apple Music or Spotify played Plan” (Drake) See your Premium, which allows users to access play-lists as downloaded songs offline. This comes Spotify creates well as artists/ at an obvious disadvantage to stupersonalized podcasts you dents: students have to pay a monthly Top Artist: Drake playlists based follow subscription fee for music they could Top Group: on what you play otherwise obtain at no cost.

Imagine Dragons So why is Spotify being singled Spotify offers a Search for out? The question baffles me. While premium version songs, albums, students cannot access Spotify on that has addartists, playlists school wifi, they can easily access the itional features or podcasts other aforementioned music services, Top Podcast: effectively rendering the Spotify ban Fest & Flauschig ANGELA CHEN GRAPHIC as more of a nuisance to students *from 2018 SPOTIFY SOURCE than an actual ban on music. So

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listen to the beat

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OCT 24, 2019

The Right Outfit Halloween costumes should be cautious toward sensitive subjects but not restricted because of fear of cultural appropriation SOWMYA CHUNDI COLUMN

J

ust last year, Auli’i Cravalho, the actress who played Moana, declared it “absolutely appropriate” for kids to dress up as the Polynesian princess as long as it was in the “spirit of love.” But people were quick to dismiss her opinion, saying it doesn’t speak for everyone, and that there’s more to Polynesian history than just the Disney interpretation.

For years, there has been a considerable amount of controversy surrounding Halloween costumes and their portrayal of characters. Some say wearing costumes of Moana or Pocahontas are crude portrayals of culture and undermine hundreds of years of history.

I LOVE Others believe that it’s harmless for children to wear costumes that portray Disney characters when they have no desire to offend anyone’s culture. I tend to side with the latter.

It’s important for us to educate the upcoming generations on the bound-

aries of cultural appropriation, especially if it means your younger sister might receive backlash for her costume.

But that assigns us with the challenge of establishing those boundaries first.

It’s difficult to draw the line between a costume that portrays a character and one that portrays a culture.

A young girl who dresses up as Pocahontas most likely never meant to offend centuries of Native American culture. That brings me to my biggest point: intent. In order to differentiate between right and wrong, we should look at whether someone intentionally is trying to mock a culture or simply appreciating the character. It MOANA should be okay for people to wear these costumes, as long as the character stays entirely separate from the culture.

On the other hand, when it comes to costumes for teenagers and adults, this rule of “intent” is frequently broken. Just last week, singer Kacey

by the numbers

7.9%

of children in the U.S. said they want to dress up as princesses for Halloween

2.4

MILLION children in the U.S. said they plan to dress up as their favorite superhero

5

MILLION adults in the U.S. said they plan to dress up as a witch for Halloween NRF SOURCE

kids these days Why are kids these days so tired?

Musgraves faced criticism after wearing a Vietnamese dress inappropriately to her concert. Musgraves wore an ao dai—a form-fitting Vietnamese dress with long slits on both sides, typically worn with long pants. However, she wore it without pants, leaving her hips and legs exposed, and posted several provocative pictures and videos. Several people on Twitter accused her of sexualizing and disrespecting a historically significant item of clothing, and I have to agree. There’s a line between appreciating a culture and appropriating one, and Musgraves clearly crossed it.

At the end of the day, Halloween is the one chance every year where people can transform into whoever they want to be. By imposing unrealistic restrictions on characters, we limit their freedom of expression and set a dangerous precedent for a country that is a melting pot of cultures. We should let people dress up as the harmless characters they choose to be and celebrate individuality, but always remain cautious when it comes to sensitive cultures h The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Sowmya Chundi at schundi@hilite.org.

MICHELLE LU GRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE

*Ominous* It’s those pesky iPhones!

Older generations

HILITE.ORG

53

Developing Carmel Although it comes with downsides, Carmel’s increasing metropolitanization is beneficial

W

hen driving through sures that the debt the city incurs is Carmel, there always proof of the investment in Carmel, seems to be more conand these investments will grow and struction: a new roundabout, buildreturn as profits for the city. ing or neighborhood. To many, these Another problem is the effect of constant projects can be annoying—a urbanization on the environment, hassle to avoid when trying to get to especially the green spaces that were a destination. While there is truth to once so prevalent in Carmel that are this sentiment, these projects truly repnow replaced by buildings or strip resent Carmel’s drive for improvement malls. There are many problems with and its goal to be a metropolis. this, but most pressing is the growing The proof of the metropolitanizadeath of wildlife and lack of habitat tion of Carmel is shown through the for many of the animals that used relatively recent creation of to live in this area like deer Midtown, a fun and lively and coyotes. In this regard, area in central Carmel.

Carmel’s urbanization, or Additionally, the city has even overurbanization, worked to provide more is contributing to the amenities for its resiproblems of climate dents whether it be change. However, through creating the city has also bike lanes, workpromoted initiaing on the Monon tives like the Caror having a skating mel Green Initiarink for Christtive, which hopes kindlmarkt in the to push for green center of town. schools, clean enGO CARMEL I truly enjoy ergy and other imhaving these ameniportant programs ties available and believe this metropolto combat climate change. Reflected itanization has given us more things to in recent developments such as the do and explore. These places are all accity’s decision to stop using plastic silcessible for us to enjoy with friends and verware in certain schools, the Carmel family and overall improve our quality Green Initiative has been able to proof life, making the city more desirable vide positive impacts, but of course for people looking to live here. there is still a lot of change required.

That being said, Carmel’s metroAll in all, while Carmel’s metropolitanization comes with downsides politanization does come with its as well. For one, Carmel’s debt has flaws, overall, it provides a greater been increasing enormously, and, as quality of life for its residents and is of 2017, it’s an estimated $1.2 billion, a positive for pushing for the city’s according to Indianapolis Business further improvement. h Journal. The size of this debt has been The views in this column do not a cause of concern for many; in fact, necessarily reflect the views of the Hiit was the center of the latest mayoral Lite staff. Reach Anushka Dasgupta election. Still, Mayor Jim Brainard asat adasgupta@hilite.org.

ANUSHKA DASGUPTA COLUMN

RAY MO PHOTOS

RECENT ADDITIONS: Midtown Carmel connects surrounding restaurants and breweries such as Sun King in a lively plaza. The plaza, adjacent to the Monon Trail, finished construction in May.

The PNC Bank site at Main Street and Rangeline Road includes 1.2 acres for the parking lot and building. The Carmel Redevelopment Commission received eight proposals from private developers in May to renovate the bank site.

Juniper On Main features the rustic interior of a house originally built in 1898. The restaurant, located on 110 E. Main St., opened in August.

15 minutes of fame

OCT 24, 2019

Biking to Victory Q&A with Ellie Dyas, award-winning cyclist and senior RAPHAEL LI Q&A

ANUSHKA DASGUPTA PHOTO

What kind of racing do you do?

When did you start cycling?

I race road (races). I also race mountain bikes trails and then I race cyclocross, which is on grass and sort of like cross country.

I got into it about seven years ago. My dad had been doing it for a little bit, and then I went to a race and it looked really fun, so I started pretty soon after that.

When did you start biking competitively?

I was competing basically from the time I started. I raced mountain bikes initially just for the first season, and then I raced cyclocross in the fall, but right now I’m doing more road and cyclocross mostly.

What’s your favorite memory from biking?

My favorite memory from cycling so far (was in) December. We had Cyclocross Nationals, and I had a really good race. I ended up finishing fifth, which is really good for me. I’m placed well going into this year, and I had worked and trained with my coach for the entire year for that race.

How long are courses?

A cyclocross course can be up to two miles, but you do it as many times as you can within the time limit. You measure races based on how long they are, so I typically race for cyclocross, which is like 45 minutes, and that’s about the same time that a crit (race with repeated laps) for a road race would be. For a mountain bike race, you measure it based on distance. The races that I would be doing would be around 20 (miles).

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Have you been injured cycling?

Yeah, I crash all the time. I have scars basically everywhere from racing, but it’s worth it. Most of the time, especially when you’re racing off-road, you fall on grass. The only time people get really really hurt is racing road, and, knock on wood, I have not crashed really bad racing roads, so it’s pretty good, but a lot of people break (their) collarbones. It’s kind of “the” cycling injury.

What’s your favorite part about biking?

I really like mountain biking. It’s something you can do and be by yourself but can be athletic, and it’s not boring. Running or just riding in a straight line for hours and hours can get a little tiring. I like mountain biking because it’s something that takes a lot of skill, and you have to develop it over a long period of time, but then once you’re able to do it, it’s pretty fun.

55

cycling conundrum Take a look at some of the different types of cycling races BIKE TYPE

LENGTH

TERRAIN

GOAL

ROAD

light, thin tires

30 to 60 miles

blacktop

go far and fast

TRACK

no brakes, one gear

1.2 to 2.5 miles

steep banking

speed or endurance

MOUNTAIN

heavy, front- wide wheel shocks variation

rough trails

speed and endurance

CYCLOCROSS

like road with laps of 1 wider tires to 2 miles

pavement, go over dirt, grass obstacles

BICYCLE MOTOCROSS

heavy-duty, rear brake

300 to 400 off-road, speed, meters single lap skills

ANGELA QIAN GRAPHIC TOPENDSPORTS.COM, USACYCLING.ORG SOURCES

NOTE: This Q&A was conducted in April, so all quotes reflect her situation at that time.

litebox

OCT 24, 2019

Above and Beyond Ambassadors and seniors Grace Ziegele (left) and Lauren Grumbacher (right) perform â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sing Out,â&#x20AC;? a song that all choirs joined together to sing at the beginning of their fall concert on Oct. 2. The Ambassadors will have an individual choir rehearsal on Oct. 30.

VICTORIA NOPPORN PHOTO