12.12 Issue

DROPPING

A NEW BEAT Rap has seen a recent surge in popularity at CHS— several rappers have emerged from within the student body.

PAGE 26 | JESSICA KONRAD

HIL TE

CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL NEWSMAGAZINE Vol. 81, No. 5 | Dec. 12, 2016

CONTACT INFORMATION

TA B L E O F C O N T E N TS | D E C 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

Mailing Address: 520 E. Main St., Carmel IN 46032 Phone: (317) 846-7721, Ext. 7143 Website: www.hilite.org Email: Staff members may be contacted by using their first initial and their last name appending @hilite.org,

PURPOSE 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.

CONTENTS NEWS // 6 NEWS BRIEFS | 6 CLUB UPDATES AND Q&A | 7 KITCHEN TRADITIONS | 24

CREDENTIALS

Students carry on family traditions to the next generation while baking for the holidays.

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 Grace Zhang

Student Section Lilly St. Angelo

Managing Editors Cover Asim Dhungana Katie Long Shiva Vallabhaneni Melissa Yap Jenny Zhao

Front Page Aditya Belamkar Ray Jiang

News Mary Salzmann Rachael Tan

Feature Bethlehem Daniel Nyssa Qiao

Ads Team Sabrina Mi Jai Sanghani

Jessica Mo

Web

Adam Stockholm Allen Zhang

Copy Editors

Kelsey Atcheson Adam Gostomelsky

Emily Dexter Heidi Peng Adhi Ramkumar Pranav Sriram Carson TerBush Christina Yang James Yin

Perspectives

Accountant

Entertainment Teresa Chen Kalea Miao

Sports

Manahil Nadeem Gillian Paxton

Indhu Meena Ramanathan

15 Minutes

Adviser

Cory Steele

Jim Streisel

Social Media

Principal

Gabby Perelmuter Rebecca Qin Angela Sun

Superintendent

John Williams Nicholas Wahl

RESPONDING TO THE HILITE

A YOUNG PRESIDENT PREDICTOR | 8 Senior Jack Missler reviews the creation of his algorithm to predict presidential results

A NEW COURSE OF STUDY | 10 Take a look at the new courses added to the curriculum and students’ and staff members’ opinions on them.

STEPPING IT UP | 11 How recent changes to the ISTEP+ testing will impact students at CHS.

FEATURE // 12 MIXING IT UP | 12 As December is National Political Correctness Awareness Month, students reflect on the concept of mixed race.

DEATH IN DECEMBER | 16 Although the holidays are often a time of celebration, some students take the holidays to remember those who have passed on.

TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE? | 18 Despite the holidays being a time that many use to give back to the community, what accounts for declining volunteer rates?

Letters to the editor will be accepted for the Jan. 27 issue no later than Jan. 15. Letters may be submitted to Room C147, placed in the mailbox of Jim Streisel, emailed to letters@hilite. org or mailed to school. All letters must be signed. Names will be published (Letters sent via email will be taken to a student’s SRT for him to sign). Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual and may be edited.

STUDENT SECTION // 22

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

MONTHLY FIVE | 22

There were no corrections or clarifications needed to be made. If you do notice some, please email the HiLite.

The HiLite strives to correct its errors. If you notice any inaccuracies in this or past issues, please contact management1617@hilite.org.

ELLIOT CHOY | PHOTO

Make this easy craft for a friend or family member when you’re on a low budget.

SOAPBOX | 22 Students share their opinions on their favorite way to spend their break.

ASK THE HILITE | 23 Find the perfect gift for whoever is on your list with this quiz.

COVER // 26 RISE OF RAP | 26 With rap becoming more popular at CHS, some students are becoming rappers themselves.

ENTERTAINMENT // 32 KINGDOM HEARTS | 32 New release of “Kingdom Hearts III” concludes the video game series.

GOING ROGUE | 34 With the upcoming Star Wars film hitting theaters soon, take a look at how Star Wars became such a big phenomenon.

LIGHTING THE WAY | 36 CHS show choirs to perform at Disney’s Candlelight Processional.

REALITY CHECK | 38 CHS students discuss the pros and cons of reality TV.

ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS | 39

36

FEATURED SPORTS THE MONEY ISSUE // 40 THE COST OF SUCCESS | 42

The true cost of what it takes to be a varsity athlete.

SHOW ME THE MONEY | 44

How much money is actually out there for athletes?

ATHLETES’ ATTIRE | 45

Equipment gets expensive; look at the breakdown of four different sports and the apparel they need to play.

NEED A BOOST? | 46

CHS Boosters are a key component to the funding and support of athletics.

BUDGETING BASICS | 47

A look into CHS sports over the past years, costs and all.

40 PERSPECTIVES // 48 NOT SO MESSY ANYMORE | 48

54

The Hilite staff commends the main cafeteria for making improvements since the beginning of the year.

A FREE FUTURE, LITERALLY | 49 Student Section editor Lilly St. Angelo urges students to keep students discussing cheaper college.

CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS | 50 Social media editor Gabby Perelmuter argues more stores/restaurants should be open on Christmas.

SEASONAL SECULARISM | 51 Reporter Emily Dexter argues the merits of recognizing the religious importance of holidays.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE | 52 Managing editor Shiva Vallabhaneni urges students to look at election results rationally.

AND THE ADVENTURE BEGINS | 53 Reporter Raiha Zainab encourages students to get out of their comfort zone.

15 MINUTES // 54 SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION | 54 Senior Elizabeth Shelton operates a YouTube channel with almost 200,000 subscribers.

A YEAR

JUST A MINUTE

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

FIRST MEETING OF CATHOLIC AND CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX LEADERS SINCE SPLIT IN 1054

NORTH KOREA TESTS HYDROGEN BOMBS

ZIKA VIRUS SPREADS THROUGH THE AMERICAS

APRIL

MAY

BRUSSELS TERROR ATTACKS

100TH RUNNING OF INDY 500 LEGENDARY BOXER MUHAMMAD ALI PASSES AWAY

QUEEN ELIZABETH’S 90TH BIRTHDAY

DENVER BRONCOS WIN SUPER BOWL 50

JUNE

A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS ZIKA VIRUS The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency caused by the spread of Zika virus from Feb. 1 to Nov. 18.

RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS MEDAL BREAKDOWN

121

46

USA medals won

37

38

OLYMPIANS FROM CHS

28 MICHAEL PHELPS SWIMMING

4

1

SIMONE BILES GYMNASTICS

1

1

STEELE JOHNSON

RAJEEV RAM

SYNCHRONIZED DIVING

TENNIS

INTERESTING FACTS AREAS WITH ACTIVE ZIKA TRANSMISSION

First time refugee team participated Usain Bolt is the first Olympian to win three gold medals in the mens 100m hurdles

IN REVIEW JULY

AUGUST

JUNO SPACECRAFT ENTERS ORBIT AROUND JUPITER

SEPTEMBER

CHELSEA DAI | GRAPHIC CNN.COM, INDYSTAR.COM, NYTIMES.COM, BBC.COM, RIO2016.COM, WHO.INT | SOURCES

OCTOBER

RIO SUMMER OLYMPICS

BREXIT REFERENDUM VOTE

DECEMBER

TWO STOLEN VAN GOGH PAINTINGS RECOVERED

HURRICANE MATTHEW

ALEPPO HOSPITAL BOMBING

NOVEMBER

CUBS WIN WORLD SERIES AFTER A 108-YEAR DROUGHT

INDIANA’S BICENTENNIAL

U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

YEAR’S MAJOR EVENTS 2016 ELECTION Trump wins presidential election

Eric Holcomb wins Indiana gubernatorial election

290

238

47% POPULAR VOTE

TO WIN

TRUMP

ERIC HOLCOMB

DONALD TRUMP

ERIC HOLCOMB

President-Elect

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

193

SENATE

48

51

50 REPUBLICAN

REX BELL

DEMOCRAT

UNDECIDED

SUZANNE CROUCH

Indiana’s new governor

Republicans win majority in Congress

237

JOHN GREGG

FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

FORMER INDIANA GOVERNOR

MIKE PENCE

45% 50

NOT COUNTED

CLINTON

Vice President-Elect

52%

48% POPULAR VOTE

270

Lieutenant governor

Todd Young wins Indiana U.S. Senate election

52%

42% 50 TODD YOUNG

EVAN BAYH

LUCY BRENTON

NEWS

NEWS BRIEFS | DEC 12, 2016

News Briefs JULIANNA KESSILYAS | BRIEFS

FRIDAY

JAN. 16

End of first semester.

No school due to the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

DEC. 17 TO JAN. 2

JAN. 20

Winter Break will take place.

Moment of Intentional Community will take place during the men’s basketball MIC conference across four different locations: Ben Davis, Warren Central, North Central and Pike. Students can particpate by attending the games and wearing the orange T-shirts that will be given at the door.

JAN. 3 Quarter 3 will begin.

JAN. 9 Academic transition night will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. throughout CHS. Incoming freshmen are encouraged to attend.

JAN. 10 HOSA Indiana will host a winter rally. The conference will have information about the State Leadership Conference, opportunities to network with other organizations and will end with an Indiana Pacer game. Registration ends Dec. 17.

JAN. 9 TO 13

“With all of the tensions with race and stuff that’s been going on in our country I’ve been thinking ‘How can we get a way to unite our community?’ and not focus on the hate. So created a campaign that consists of multiple parts that not only includes Moment of Intentional Community but also a website.”

Senior Katheryn Scott

School Board Recognition will adjourn.

2016-17 SEMESTER 1 FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE

**Note: Final exam periods are in bold

DEC. 9 PERIOD 1

DEC. 12

G1 Review B1 7:50-9:20 a.m. 7:50-9:20 a.m.

DEC. 13

DEC. 14

DEC. 15

DEC. 16

B1 Review 7:50-9:20 a.m.

Office Hours 7:50 - 11 AM

Office Hours 7:50 - 11 AM

Office Hours 7:50 - 11 AM

Lunch 11 - 11:30

Lunch 11 - 11:30

Lunch 11 - 11:30

G3 Finals 11:40-1:18 PM

B3 Finals 11:40-1:18 PM

B1 Finals 11:40-1:18 PM

B2

G2 (SRT)

B3

G3 Review 11:13 a.m.-1:23 p.m.

B3 Review 11:13 a.m.-1:23 p.m.

G4 Review 1:33-3:05 p.m.

B2 Finals G4 Finals G1 Finals B4 Finals 1:33-3:05 p.m.

1:33-3:05 p.m.

1:33-3:05 p.m.

1:33-3:05 p.m.

B2 Review PERIOD 2 9:30-10:03 a.m. 9:30-10:03 a.m. 9:30-10:03 a.m.

PERIOD 3 11:13 a.m.-1:23 p.m.

B4 Review

PERIOD 4 1:33-3:05 p.m.

SHOOTING FOR THE WIN:

John Michael Mulloy, sophomore and varsity men’s basketball member, practices free throws. The next game will be at North Central on Dec. 16.

ALINA YU | PHOTO

DEC 12, 2016 | CLUB FEATURES

7

CLUB SPOTLIGHTS NATIONAL ART HONOR SOCIETY

Q & A Bob Swanay, Carmel Clay Public Library director

SPONSOR: Jennifer Bubp

Q: What do you plan to do as new director?

WHERE AND WHEN: Thursdays afterschool in H115

WHAT IT IS: NAHS is an opportunity for students who want to use art for community service. Members will determine projects such as hospital murals and collaborating with organizations to raise cultural traditions.

Well, at first, I have a lot of learning to do since I moved here from Johnson City, Tenn. I’m still meeting and talking with staff, and I’m very impressed with this library. I love it. I still have to learn, about even the state of Indiana because the state of Indiana really has a different relationship with its public library’s than Tennessee.

Q: Why did you leave your other job in Tennessee?

I loved it, it was a very nice library. I had a great career there but you know, just to throw some numbers at you, I’m 46 and I’ve been working there for 21 years, and I probably have 21 years left in my working life. And I felt that I was ready for a new challenge, a bigger challenge. I wasn’t determined to leave, you know, this year or next year or maybe not at all, but I’ve just had my eye out for what looked like an interesting challenge, so when I saw this job and I looked at the library and I looked at the community, I thought, ‘Wow, this really looks like something I would want to try to do.’

CURRENT EVENTS: National Art Honor Society (NAHS) will have its induction ceremony on Jan. 21 and will have officer elections beforehand.

THOUGHTS: “Last year, we were investigating the idea of starting a brand new chapter of the National Art Honor Society. We want to invite students who are motivated, who see art (as) a way to reach out to the community and (want) an opportunity to serve the community,” Bubp said.

JAMES YIN | SPOTLIGHT

Q: What goals do you have in mind that you would like to achieve?

I don’t have anything specific yet, but I think this is a remarkable, fantastic, beautiful library. I think part of what now defines public libraries is being adaptable to a very swiftly changing environment, society and community, so I think that the library needs to keep up and so I hope that we can do that. Beyond that, I’m so green in the job (that) I can’t say much specifics, but I just hope that this continues to be a very well used (and) great public library for indefinitely and many years to come.

Q: What about Carmel interested you in coming here?

Obviously the library sells itself, but Carmel definitely struck me as a very forward-looking community, and the fact that this is part of the greater Indianapolis area, there’s a lot more opportunities to see bigger venues and I’m a big music fan, I’m looking forward to seeing more bands and there’s just more interesting places to go out to eat and there’s more museums.

JULIANNA KESSILYAS | Q & A REBECCA QIN | PHOTO

8

ELECTION PROSPECTS | DEC 12, 2016

DEVIANT DERIVATION: Senior Jack Missler explains how he developed his method of predicting the election results by listing the statistics he used to help him derive his equation.

He said he is disappointed with the results, but finds that it is an opportunity to grow.

CORY STEELE | PHOTO

A YOUNG PRESIDENT PREDICTOR Senior Jack Missler develops algorithm to predict election results, reflects on outcome ADHI RAMKUMAR | STORY

A

ccording to cnn, a record-breaking 71 million people watched the results of the election come in on Nov. 8. While the entire nation was awake, senior Jack Missler eagerly waited to see if his algorithm predicting voter turnout and election results would work.

Missler said, “(I developed two) separate equations. The first is to predict how many people will come out to vote, and I have been able to test that equation from 1948 to present. The second equation is how people will vote; basically, who will win. And for that one, we looked at the 2012 election really in depth because that was our most

up to date one, and then we looked mainly at 2004 and 2008.”

According to Missler, he correctly predicted voter turnout and popular vote; however, he incorrectly predicted the Electoral College results.

Missler said, “The equation predicted Clinton. The first equation correctly predicted voter turnout; it was within my acceptable margins of error. The second equation also got the popular vote winner right. It got the electoral college split correct, just not who would win the split right. My prediction predicted that it would be Clinton 290 to Trump 248. However, my equation and the methodology I used was more accurate than that of

DEC 12, 2016 | ELECTION PROSPECTS

the New York Times and the Huffington Post, among others. I was still very pleased with the results.”

According to Wehr and Ellery, despite the incorrect prediction, the development of such an algorithm has a wide range of implications.

Wehr said, “It could be used to prevent gerrymandering, which is where you create more districts where people vote so an election goes a certain way. So hopefully, it would be used to obliterate those kinds of unfair practices. It could hypothetically also be used for bad purposes as well, and you could influence an election based by getting certain people to turn out and getting certain people to not turn out.”

“This year proved that the polls were horribly wrong. So the hope is, with more of a mathematical perspective, we can help people make certain decisions,” Ellery said.

“I would argue this is a launching point than an end point, so he can use this to further modify it and move forward to get research and play it out in scenarios and simulations and see if he really (has) stumbled onto something that can be an accurate predictor. This was simply an unusual election.”

Missler said that it is still impossible to create the ‘perfect’ equation which will predict the results every time, because the equation is only as accurate as the polls are inaccurate.

Rather, an equation like this can provide a framework.

He said, “If all the polls are wrong, the equations are going to be wrong by that factor. Finding better polling data is our first priority. Also, humans are a strange thing, and they are so unpredictable. Regardless of what people think, people are going to vote how they feel.”

Ellery said he agreed.

“I do not believe this is possible, and this particular election showed that. However, Jack was more accurate than the vast majority of prognosticators. Obviously, there is a human element, and we can’t control what the human element is, and as long as that is involved, there is always going to be the possibility of major inaccuracies,” he said.

As a result of the success of his project, Missler has been contacted by prestigious institutions, including MIT, Princeton, Yale and Columbia.

Statisticians and professors at those colleges are currently in the process of checking the math of the equation

To see a further explanation of Missler’s equation, go to hilite.org/ news.

MISSLER’S EQUATION

1) Voter Turnout: (Percent of Registered Voters) 2 100

2

(Percent of Votes Cast in Election)

2) Voter Decision: Missler developed a multi-function equation to predict voter decision. It was based on the following three pieces of information: Historical data from past elections Data from 2014 mid-term elections 2016 election polling data

100 Popular Vote Percent

The Formula / Equation Missler’s predictive model was based on two main parts, voter turnout and voter decision.

and making sure it is meaningful.

Missler said, “I will most likely use (the equation) to get into college. However, I am faced with two paths. One, I can publish it in a political science journal, and with that comes recognition for publications. Or, the other option is I can sell the equation to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) or the Republican National Committee (RNC), and I would be working for them as a statistician both during and after college. For example, in 2020, I would be using the equation during the campaign trail and tell Candidate X to go to place Y and give a speech about certain topics which will help gain support and pinpoint certain areas.”

Missler also said that he wants to develop the equation and figure out how to accurately predict the Electoral College results, and also determine voter turnout for specific minorities, since right now, the equation predicts overall turnout.

“It’s surprisingly easy to make a big change,” he said. “It does require some hard work and some sacrifice, but this stuff is possible.

You have nothing to lose in someH thing like this.”

How did Missler’s equation’s prediction compare with that of other organizations?

Here is a look into some of the details behind how Missler’s equation functions.

80

9

Clinton Trump

60 40 20

Actual FiveThirtyEight Missler PRANAV SRIRAM | GRAPHIC JACK MISSLER, CNN, FIVETHIRTYEIGHT | SOURCE

10

NEW CLASSES | DEC 12, 2016

A NEW COURSE OF STUDY

CHS will undergo several course changes next school year including added and removed courses DANIEL LEE | GRAPHIC

New Weighted Non-weighted

Courses

Replaced Removed

Media Digital Photography

Family & Consumer Science

Grades: 11th, 12th Prerequisite: Digital Photography 1,2 with teacher approval

Reason: Not enough students who want to take the course

Human Development

Nutrition and Wellness

Business

Grades: 12th Prerequisite: none

Leadership in Action Grades: 12th Prerequisite: Principles of Marketing 2 or Merchandising: Fashion 2 Replacing: Strategic Marketing

Language AP Chinese Prerequisite: Chinese 3

“This is a yearly process that the

high school engages in, and we are trying to make sure that we are always adding relevant and rigorous courses to the course of study, and taking out courses that are obsolete.”

Director of Curriculum, Amy Dudley

SPEAK UP!

Step One

Process

Teachers feel a need for a change in curriculum, or what needs to be taught OR students feel a need for a different course or a change in a course and tell a teacher about it

Step Two These people will report their “needs” to Department Chair, who will report why there must be a change

Step Three Teachers, administrators, students and parents talk about merits for a course and decide if it should pass

Step Four Principal John Williams takes courses under consideration, selected courses are submitted to School Board

CARSON TERBUSH | SPEAK UPS

LIN LIN MO | PHOTOS

How do you feel about the addition of AP Chinese to next year’s courses?

“It just opens another door for students to challenge themselves. I would encourage students in Chinese III to sign up for AP Chinese. It will focus more on culture.”

Chinese Teacher Tungfen Lee

“Pronunciation is a lot harder than it would seem. You can know a lot...but if you don’t know how to pronounce it, it makes miscommunications happen all the time.””

Chinese student and senior Carson Strohm

DEC 12, 2016 | ISTEP FREEZE

11

STEPPING IT UP

Delays in updating the ISTEP+ exam impacts students, teachers EMILY DEXTER | STORY

A

23-person statewide committee was created to make a plan for an alternative to the ISTEP+ exam, but since then, it has not made a final decision. While this controversy remains wrapped up in political interests, the delay in updating the test negatively impacts schools across Indiana, including CHS. According to Tricia Hackett, school board member and School Data Reporting Committee member, the new test will likely not be ready until the 2018 to 2019 school year.

Hackett said she wishes the state would settle on a new ISTEP+ test and then stop making so many changes.

“They attach all these things (such as teachers’ and regional performance) that the test was never developed to measure, and so it’s gotten a little out of control,” Hackett said.

“When you try to connect all those things it affects everyday curriculum until (the legislators) figure out what we’re supposed to teach and how it’s going to be measured.”

The political nature of the situation mainly stems from the number of politicians involved. According to an April article from Inside Indiana Business, those in charge of nominating committee members include governor Mike Pence and Glenda Ritz, superintendent of public instruction. With political agendas added to the situation, the ISTEP+ decision seems to have become about much more than just students’ educations.

Layla Spanenberg, school board president, said, “What we as a school district are seeking (is) to help each individual student succeed in a more summative way. ISTEP+ does not do that.”

Lucas “Luke” Garrison, Freshman Class vice president, said, “I feel like

to the state, (ISTEP+) matters a lot to them, but to the students, I feel like since we take so many tests already throughout the year and throughout all our classes, I don’t think it matters to the students a lot.”

Garrison said the ISTEP+ can be frustrating and stressful for students.

“What is harmful to our students, to be honest with you, is the amount of time that taking the ISTEP+, which does not allow us to measure growth, (takes away) from good instructional learning. To take that test is kind of a waste. We would like to see a much better plan in action,” Spanenberg said.

According to an October IndyStar report, Ritz has proposed a plan in which students take multiple smaller, more computerized and adaptive tests throughout the year. This system would reduce the amount of time devoted to taking the ISTEP+ and would better allow educators to track students’ individual growth.

Hackett said, “(I would like) the littlest (test) that we can do that meets federal guidelines and (lets us) know that we’re all keeping on track, or we’re off-track and need to adjust, and (to) use the rest of the school day to teach, not to test.”

“I feel like it’s good to test and get an overall general view of a student’s knowledge,” Garrison said. “It’s not annoying, but it’s difficult to have time for it and (to) take it and everything. I think we do it too much.”

Until the state legislators make a decision on updating the ISTEP+ exam, students and educators can only prepare for the coming changes.

Hackett said, “Whatever the state government tells us to do, whatever the federal government tells us to do, here in Carmel, I have to say, we have fabulous professionals going in response.

H We’ll do whatever it takes.”

ISTEP-ping Toward Change Let’s take a closer look at the process of changing ISTEP+ Governor Mike Pence signed House Bill 1395 on March 22. This bill authorized him to form a committee to propose ISTEP+ changes.

ISTEP+

HB 1395

The 23-member ISTEP+ replacement panel formed April 29, with members appointed by Pence and other political figures.

Appointed by superintendent of public instruction Glenda Ritz Appointed by House Speaker Brian Bosma Appointed by former governor Mike Pence Appointed by Senate Pro Tempore David Long Other

Currently undecided, the panel and lawmakers will continue deliberating ISTEP+ changes in January 2017.

CARSON TERBUSH | GRAPHIC INSIDE INDIANA BUSINESS | SOURCE

FEATURE

MIXED RACE IDENTIFICATION | SEPT 16, 2016

MIXING IT UP Students, professors reflect on the

definition of mixed race in modern society ALLISON LI | STORY

CULTURAL COMBINATION: Junior Kiki Koniaris holds up a picture of her parents - both of whom come from different cultures as Koniaris identifies as Korean, Pennsylvanian Dutch and Grecian. According to Koniaris, one should be characterized by personal attributes, rather than race.

CAROLYN ZHANG | PHOTO

DEC 12, 2016 | MIXED RACE IDENTIFICATION

j

BY THE NUMBERS

unior kiki koniaris is Korean, Pennsylvanian Dutch and Grecian.

Despite being of mixed race, Koniaris said she believes race should not define a person.

“I feel like (how you define yourself ) should be based off of personal attributes in general,” Koniaris said. “Because if you start defining everyone by race, then at a certain point, it becomes this idea that we separate ourselves based on race, and I think history has shown us that that’s not the best idea. But with that being said, sometimes you want to say, ‘I’m different from everyone else because this is how my culture worked out.’”

But while Koniaris said race shouldn’t define people, the very recognition of people of mixed races is still relatively new in this country. In the 1967 Loving v. Virginia case, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down previous laws prohibiting interracial marriage. In 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau first allowed people

6.9% of all adults in the United States define themselves of mixed origin

60%

of mixed-race adults feel proud of their heritage

55%

of mixed-race adults have been subjected to racial slurs or jokes PEW RESEARCH | SOURCE

to identify themselves. With those statistics in mind, in the just last 50 years, the population of people of mixed races has increased exponentially. According to a 2015 Pew Research study, between 2000 and 2010, the number of white and black biracial Americans has more than doubled, while people of white and Asian backgrounds have increased by 87 percent.

This inclusion of mixed races has led to societal changes, as well as some discomfort form those who discuss those changes. According to Matthew Hayes, assistant professor of political science at IU, when identifying people of mixed race, there has been a general accompaniment of ‘politically correct’ terminologies. That language comes both from those who are not of mixed backgrounds, as well as from those who are.

Hayes said via email, “Race is very much a social construct, and so there is not one ‘right’ approach to talking about people who identify

as mixed race. In general, American society does not presently view those with mixed racial heritage as a separate category or race … So there is not one ‘politically correct’ term to use to refer to people of mixed race; some mixed race people might identify themselves as one race, others might identify as multiple, and still others might see themselves as a distinct blend of their racial heritage.”

When talking about race and categorizing people of multicultural backgrounds based on these physical attributes, both Hayes and Koniaris said they believe caution should be taken as race can be a sensitive subject.

Hayes said, “A common thing that minorities have to face—and lighter skinned or mixed race minorities in particular—is a questioning of their background by white interlocutors. People of mixed race will often be asked, ‘What is your background?’ or, ‘Where are you from?’ These questions, which would generally be unthink-

MULTIRACIAL ‘MURICA The U.S. Census Bureau started allowing people to choose more than one racial category to describe themselves in 2000. Since then, the nation’s multiracial population has grown substantially.

The Experience

The Facts

Black-American Indian 71% White-Black 61% White-Asian 60% White-American Indian 47% Percent of people saying they have experienced discrimination (specifically being subject to slurs and jokes) due to their respective racial backgrounds.

White-American Indian 50% Black-American Indian White-Black White-Asian Other

12% 11% 4% 23%

*Note: Hispanic is considered to be an ethnicity.

WHY MIXED RACED ADULTS DON’T DEFINE THEMSELVES AS MIXED RACE 47%

39%

14%

Raised as one race

Identify as one race

Other

MULTIRACIAL GENERATIONS BASED ON....

2.6% Grandparents

2.6%

1.4%

Parents

Self

13

Multiracial adults are less likely to be currently married.

Mixed-race adults are also more likely than the general public to have close friends who are multiracial.

VISHNU VAID | GRAPHIC PEW RESEARCH CENTER | SOURCE

MIXED RACE IDENTIFICATION | DEC 12, 2016

14

THE FAST FACTS

With an increased amount of people who define themselves as multiracial, let’s take a closer look at information from this demographic group.

PERCENT OF MIXED RACE ADULTS WHO ARE...

50% 12% 11%

White and American Indian

Black and American Indian

White and Black

27%

Other

PEW RESEARCH CENTER | SOURCE

BETHLEHEM DANIEL | GRAPHIC

QUICK QUIZ: MIXED RACE Take this quiz to test your knowledge on both mixed race and differing cultures in the presentday United States.

1. All of the following are different terms used to describe those of mixed race EXCEPT: a. mulattos b. muwalldes c. bushies d. biracial

2. How many Americans define themselves with more than two races, as of 2013? a. 5 million b. 9 million c. 11 million d. 15 million

BETHLEHEM DANIEL | QUIZ AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY | SOURCE

able or uncommon to ask of a white person, reinforce the idea that people who are not white are somehow ‘other,’ and that their race must be clearly defined and compartmentalized.”

Koniaris said, “Some people like to enjoy defining themselves their race, saying, ‘Oh, I’m mixed and I’m proud of being mixed,’ and some people don’t so you just have to careful with how you approach race and when you talk to people.

Just keep an open mind.”

Junior Noah Huber, who is both African American and Caucasian, said he has been called names due to his mixed heritage. According to the aforementioned Pew Research study mentioned earlier, about 61 percent of the surveyed black-whites and 60 percent of white-asians have been subjected to racial slurs or jokes. “(I have been called) ‘Oreo,’ black on the outside, white on the inside,” Huber said. “I’d say that there’s a certain degree of judgement that comes with being of mixed race. There’s a predisposition, judging people before they know the person, before they know what the person has done, what they have said, or anything about the person of mixed race.”

According to social studies teacher Michael O’Toole, political correctness, especially when it comes to discussing race, is used to scapegoat or marginalize people of multicultural backgrounds.

“Just because the terminology has been used for so long, it doesn’t mean that it’s correct or that people are trying to be ‘politically correct.’

It’s almost a tool to shut down all

1. b 2. b

THE BIRACIAL BACKSTORY

Let’s take a closer look at the history of biracial people since tbe mid-1600s.

BETHLEHEM DANIEL | GRAPHIC NPR.COM | SOURCE

arguments; ‘Oh you’re being politically correct? Then I’m done with this conversation,’ rather than asking people of multicultural backgrounds what their beliefs are and how they want to be identified,” O’Toole said.

Both Huber and Koniaris said a common misconception about being of mixed race is you can only identify as one or the other.

“People ask what side that I think I am and my answer is always that I’m not on one side, I’m not one race, obviously, I’m multiple races,” Huber said. “So I think that it’s important to remember that you should not judge someone based on where they come from, but instead on who they are, and who they are is completely based on what they chose to do and what their actions are.”

O’Toole said, “Race has to do with physical characteristics, so people make the assumption that if they express certain physical characteristics over others, then they can then draw stereotypes, preju-

Term “mulatto” was utilized to describe those of mixed origins.

The Maryland colony forbade “racial admixture” between English women and Negro slaves.

1661

“I feel like (how you define yourself) should be based off of personal attributes in general. Looking at it through a global lens and you want to figure out that we are all human beings, defining ourselves by race is an antiquated and outdated notion.”

Junior Kiki Koniaris

1790 First decennial U.S. Census categorized those of mixed race as “others.”

1850

1861 Term “amalgamation” used to describe multiracial.

DEC 12, 2016 | MIXED RACE IDENTIFICATION

15

FAMILIAL CONNECTIONS: Junior Kiki Koniaris looks through photos of her family members, including her parents and grandparents. According to Koniaris, it is important that every person is looked at holistically, rather than defined by his or her race.

CAROLYN ZHANG | PHOTO

dice, bias out of these, rather than asking those people (how they want to be defined); and I don’t understand why it’s so difficult to ask those people how they want to be treated or how they want to be categorized and how we have to put them into a box as a category and marginalized, rather than getting to know them as a human being.”

O’Toole and Koniaris said one way to avoid forming prejudice in general is interacting with people who are different than you. Therefore, through the contact theory,

DID YOU KNOW? The largest proportion of the adult mixed race population labels itself as WhiteAmerican Indian.

PEW RESEARCH | SOURCE

Term “miscegenation” used to describe the multiracial - a term first used by abolitionists.

1863

exposure to people of mixed race will help eliminate the construction of false stereotypes and misconceptions.

Micol Seigel, department of American studies associate professor at IU, said via email, “Just as our ideas of ‘race’ change, our ideas of what it means to be racially mixed change. It’s important to resist the idea that there is a set number of races who used to be neatly and tidily distinct in a schema that has only recently begun to blur.

That notion posits the biologi-

cal reality of race, a tremendously toxic political myth that anti-racist people should try to resist.”

Koniaris said, “(To the people who still hold prejudice toward people of mixed races), I’d say, ‘Get with the times.’ We live in 2016, we are moving on so far. The idea that we can still stay in these race bubbles a is such an antiquated idea and destroys a lot of the stuff that we have been working towards for equality. Looking at it through a global lens, defining ourselves by race is an antiquated notion.”

H

Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court case legalized interracial marriage.

1864 British study published that claimed that “no mixed race could subsist in humanity.”

1967

Census allows people to pick more than one race.

1980 Resegregation of schools began to occur in large numbers.

2000

16

DEATH DURING THE HOLIDAYS | DEC 12, 2016

DEATH IN DECEMBER With the holiday season coming around, CHS student grieves over the death of a family member ALANNA WU | STORY

S

ophomore lilah bricker According to student services knows what it’s like to coordinator Sara Knoop, it is not deal with grief during unusual for students to struggle with the holidays. Each year, the grieving process during familyChristmas is a reminder for Bricker’s orientated holidays like Christmas. family of the anniversary of her “There’s always a good amount aunt’s death. In addition, Bricker of people that just struggle with the recently suffered the loss of a close holidays,” Knoop said. “Sometimes family friend, making this holiday it’s just the thought of being home. season particularly painful.

Sometimes you’re home alone or “Her name was Kaleah, and her spend a lot of time alone during the grandfather owns the lake house next holidays. And sometimes that can be to the ones my grandparents own, so hard, the thought of being alone so I saw her a lot during the summers, much in the holidays.” every time I was up there. We played Knoop said reaching out to with them a lot because there weren’t friends and family can help to many kids in the area. And we grew alleviate the loneliness. really close; she was definitely my “My advice would be to reach favorite out of the three. We got out to the people that you consider along so well. She your support system, was playful, and whether that’s family bright and happy or friends, make DID YOU and always made me plans with them …

KNOW? smile,” Bricker said. try not to spend so In the two weeks after “She passed away much time on your Christmas, there is an from a very severe own,” Knoop said. excess of 42,325 deaths asthma attack. There Bricker said from natural causes above was nothing that being with her and beyond the normal could be done; it family and people winter increase. was a huge surprise who understood NCBI | SOURCE to us.” to her loss greatly The holidays are helps her during the often considered holidays, and she the most joyous time of year by said she recommends that anyone children and adults alike. But while who feels any kind of grief during many look forward to a month the holidays do the same. filled with lights, food and presents, “I definitely feel more lonely at not everyone can take part in the some points, when I’m really missing celebration. For those like Bricker (Kaleah and my aunt) and when who have experienced grief or I’m thinking about how they’re not loneliness, the holidays can often going to be there, but I’m a lot less amplify the pain. lonely when I’m with my family,

and with the people who are going through the same thing as me and who can relate to me and be there for me. Having people there who can understand and support you really helps,” Bricker said.

In order to provide a support system for individuals who are grieving during the holidays, many local churches host a Blue Christmas service on the night of the winter solstice, the longest day of the year.

Via email, Rachel Ferry, representative from the Carmel United Methodist Church, said, “(Blue Christmas) is to support those who may having a hard time in the holiday season maybe because of a loss of a loved one—or just generalized sadness this time of year.”

In addition, Knoop said either maintaining holiday traditions or

THINKING OF THE PAST: Sophomore Lilah Bricker reminisces over her past memories of a close family friend. Bricker said her friend passed away from a severe asthma attack.

SELENA LIU | PHOTO

DEC 12, 2016 | DEATH DURING THE HOLIDAYS

17

CAUSES OF DEATH

Here’s a look at some of the reasons behind the mortality rates of 2014.

Alzheimer’s Disease 1 A type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior Pneumonia 2 Infection that inflames air sacs in lungs, which may fill with fluid Influenza 3 Commonly referred to as the flu, contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs 1

2 4

creating new ones are a great way to honor and remember loved ones.

“Every family has different traditions. Some it’s just whose house you go to to celebrate a meal. Others, it’s when you put up a tree or how you decorate your house. Those kinds of traditions.

And sometimes, when you have a loss, those traditions can change.

So, (take) time with your family to evaluate and talk about what traditions you really want to keep going, or if there’s a new tradition you want to start,” Knoop said.

As for people who have a friend or know someone who is grieving or unenthusiastic around this time of year, Bricker advises them to be careful about what they say.

“Try and be cautious about saying certain things around that time. Like, I’m personally

sensitive to things about suicide.

But definitely just try and help them as much as you can,” Bricker said. “Don’t make it a continuous subject, but whenever you can sense that they’re feeling a bit worse than they usually do, or they’re off, just be like, ‘hey I’m here for you if you ever need to talk.’”

On the other hand, Knoop said people should not be afraid to ask if they sense something is wrong when they are with someone.

She said, “It’s okay sometimes if you know a friend who has a recent loss, we sometimes don’t want to ask because we’re afraid of making them sad, or afraid that we’re going to make them cry. But those are both normal things to deal with while grieving, and sometimes they want to know that somebody’s H there that cares.”

5

3 6

7 Chronic lower respiratory diseases 4 Includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes difficulty breathing 5 Heart disease Conditions that include diseased vessels, structural problems and blood clots Diabetes 6 A metabolic disease in which blood glucose levels are elevated due to the body’s compromised ability to produce insulin Cancer 7 May occur in various parts of the body

NYSSA QIAO | GRAPHIC CENTERS OF DISEASE CONTROL | SOURCE

18

DECREASED VOLUNTEERING | DEC 12, 2016

TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE? CHS community speaks up about lower volunteer rates in recent years HEIDI PENG | STORY

W

ith christmas at its core, December is often thought of as the month of giving back.

However, according to a 2015 study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which was released this year on Feb. 25, volunteer rates have actually decreased by about 0.4 percent and are now only about 24.9 percent of the total population.

Junior Eve Weifenbach, who was recently honored for her volunteer service at the Indy Dream Center, said, “I have known that (volunteer rates decreased), and it does bother me because it’s showing how

people, more and more, are just not even caring about it anymore.”

On the other hand, Nancy Chance, founder and executive director of the Good Samaritan Network, said, locally, she’s seen the opposite of the national trend.

Chance said, “Well, (volunteering has) been increasing because there’s a huge need for it because the client base in Hamilton County has grown exponentially, so I think people are beginning to realize that people need help desperately.”

Young people in particular.

According to the same Bureau of Labor Statistics study, 16-to-

GIVING BACK: Junior Eve Weifenbach (second from left) sits with fellow volunteers during a food truck load up to hand out groceries to the underserved. She said volunteering has made her more grateful for everything she has in life.

TERESA TROKE | SUBMITTED PHOTO

19 year old teenagers have maintained a relatively high volunteer rate—26.4 percent—compared to the national figure. Chance said additionally, she believes more and more young adults are coming out to help.

Furthermore, Chance said she believes it is imperative for young adults to not only get involved but also stay involved.

Chance said, “If young people do not volunteer and do not keep this perpetual motion that has been advocated and very active since the ‘40s, since the Baby Boomer era, what’s going to happen is that our community will go into a stalemate.

“You’ll have a lot of organizations that have a lot of commodities and resources that do not have a way to get it to the clients because there aren’t volunteers to help do that co-op,” she continued.

Chance said she also believes students should get involved even if it is for academic purposes. “I believe that they do it; then, they get into the community and see the need … I think it can be a hidden blessing for the kids … (who) have to do so many service hours that it actually helps the kids become more aware of the need in the community,” Chance said.

Yet, Jill Grimes, Key Club sponsor and social studies teacher, said while she understands the benefits of requiring volunteer hours for school, she still does not entirely agree with the process.

“As someone who is a sponsor of a volunteer organization, sometimes it bothers me that it is

DEC 12, 2016 | DECREASED VOLUNTEERING

HELPING HAND: Junior Eve Weifenbach (left) prepares balloons with other volunteers for a women’s retreat for the Long Beach Dream Center in Long Beach, CA. Weifenbach said volunteering has opened her eyes to different point of views.

TERESA TROKE | SUBMITTED PHOTO a requirement, but I also recognize that this is an opportunity (where), unless kids are required to do something, they don’t realize (its importance),” she said.

According to Weifenbach, volunteering has definitely been a rewarding experience. “(Volunteering) has definitely made me more grateful for everything I’ve had because living in Carmel, everyone thinks we have everything handed to us, and when you get to talk to these people, you get to hear everything they’ve been through and how they’ve struggled in life, and it’s just opened my eyes to different points of views,” Weifenbach said. “It’s awesome getting to see people just smile because someone is willing to talk to them.

I just want to make more people smile through the way that we care H for them.”

DECLINING VOLUNTEER RATES 100%

Take a look at the declining rates of volunteering in 2011 and 2015 between men and women.

Men and women

75%

Men Women

50%

25%

26.8%

23.5%

2011

29.9%

24.9%

24.9%

27.8%

2015 NYSSA QIAO | GRAPHIC BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS | SOURCE

19

FOLLOW FOR UPDATED NEWS ON SCHOOL EVENTS AND SCHEDULES, AND THE CHANCE TO BE FEATURED ON ONE OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIAS

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22

MONTHLY FIVE, SOAPBOX | DEC 12, 2016

MONTHLY FIVE

Make a DIY snowglobe in five steps What you’ll need: • Any jar that seals • Figurines • Liquid Glycerin • Glitter • Distilled Water • Epoxy/Super Glue

AMBER ZHAO | DIY AND PHOTOS

Step 1: With the super glue, attach the figurines to the lid of the jar.

2

13

Step 2: After the glue is dry, fill the jar with distilled water almost to its top.

Step 3: Add a dash of liquid glycerin, which makes the glitter fall more slowly.

4

5

3

Step 4: Then, add the amount of glitter you desire.

Step 5: Screw the cap on tightly, and shake the jar to get the glitter moving.

RAIHA ZAINAB | SPEAK-UPS & PHOTOS

5

SOAPBOX

Is family time or free time more important to you during the holidays?

“Family time is definitely more important to me because the holiday season just brings around those vibes.

It just gets you in the mood to see your loved ones. And what better time to spend time with those you care about the most than the holiday season?”

Junior Erik Sullivan

“Family time because I think making memories is important, and especially since we’re in high school right now, and we’re almost in college, it’s important to spend as much time with your family and make memories with them as you can.”

Freshman William Pugh “Family time is more important to me during the holidays because I’m a senior this year, and I’m really, really busy, so my parents aren’t spending a lot of time with me. So it’s really important to them that they see me before I go to college, so I’m focused on spending as much time with them as possible.”

Senior Paige Fehn “Free time because all my family lives around here, so family time is just kind of normal. It’s not like this (is an) ‘only-on-holidays’ kind of thing, but free time is not something I get to enjoy a lot, so it’s different.”

Senior Mylene Laughlin

DEC 12, 2016 | ASK THE HILITE

HowYOU can ‘Ask the HiLite’

ASK THE HILITE

Q: How do you choose the perfect holiday gift?

CHRISTINA YANG | GRAPHIC

THOUGHTCATALOG.COM, DCINNO.STREETWISE.CO | SOURCES

Holiday gift-buying can be stressful, but it shouldn’t be something to lose sleep over. Here’s a way to combat the stress.

STEP 1:

23

STEP 2: Find the gift with the personality type on the chart below for some gift-giving advice. Enjoy!

Consider the recipient’s personality. Ask yourself these questions, and then fill in the blanks in order.

This section of the HiLite depends on you, our readers.

We received the question for this issue by asking students in-person during SRT. Look for us in your SRT, follow the HiLite on Twitter or email us to participate.

Question for January: What have you always wanted to ask your teachers about what they think about high school relationships?

1. Are they introverted (I) or extroverted (E)?

2. Do they think detailed (S) or big picture (N)?

3. Do they go with their logic (T) or intuition (F)?

@HiLite_news

4. Is their preference to: plan (J) or be spontaneous (P)?

studentsection@ hilite.org

ISTJ

INFP

INFJ

ISFJ

A practical gift that can be used for every day tasks

Gifts related to their personal and quirky interests

Books about pets at a fireplace with hot chocolate is like heaven

A gift that allows them to help others with their new skill or gift

ISTP

ISFP

INTP

INTJ

Gifts they can use to make crafts or gadgets that they assemble or take apart

Gifts that will bring their inner creativity out

Gifts that allow them to seek more knowledge

Intellectual gifts that inspire them

ESTJ

ESFJ

ENFP

Anything that is “trendy” such as a new, fashionable piece of clothing

Thoughtful gifts such as a bottle with 365 complimentary notes for every day

Aesthetic gifts that will make them feel excited for parties

ESTP

ESFP

ENFJ

ENTP

Extravagant gifts like jewelry

Anything sports-related or expensive

Customized gifts such as a pen with their name engraved in it

Trend-setting worthy gifts like the newest piece of technology

ENTJ Gifts that will make their life easier

24

HOLIDAY BAKING | DEC 12, 2016

KITCHEN TRADITIONS Students share meaningful holiday baking traditions for everyone to try LIN-LIN MO, LILLY ST. ANGELO | STORY

HiLite Baking Contest Winner Sophomore Sydney Jones said she has been making and eating lemon bars during the holidays since Sophomore childhood. Her family received Sydney Jones the recipe when they traded their recipe for artichoke dip for LILLY ST. their family friends’ lemon bar recipe.

ANGELO According to Jones, they’ve made them | PHOTO every year since. Because her family doesn’t have time to bake much so the lemon bars are a special treat and tradition during the holidays.

Lemon Bars Base: 2 cups flour 1 cup butter, softened ½ cup powdered sugar 1.

REBECCA QIN | PHOTO

Filling: 4 eggs, beaten ¼ cup plus 2 T. lemon juice 2 cups sugar ¼ cup flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. For the base, combine flour butter, and powdered sugar. Press mixture into bottom of a greased 9”x13” pan.

2. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 25 min. Or until crust is lightly browned. Cool slightly for about 5 min.

3. For filling, combine beaten eggs, lemon juice (bottled is fine), sugar and flour; pour over crust.

4. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 35 min. or until edges are lightly browned. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and cool on rack. Store tightly covered in pan.

DEC 12, 2016 | HOLIDAY BAKING

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A passion for baking with a European twist Having emmigrated from Italy through Ellis Island in the WWll mass exodus, senior Mirabella “Mira” Largura’s family passed down many European baking recipes to their descendants.

“I had an obsession with Julia Child in elementary school (and)

started baking in first grade,” Largura said. “By fourth grade, I was making chocolate soufflés and doing intense baking.”

She is a second generation citizen with Italian, French, German and Polish ancestry.

With this background, she bakes

BACK TO HER ROOTS: Senior Mirabella “Mira” Largura bakes ginger cookies as she prepares for the holidays. Largura uses recipes from all over Europe in celebration of her family heritage.

recipes from all over Europe, mostly focusing on Italian and French cuisine styles.

Here, she is making brown and white crystal gingersnap cookies, a specialty around the holidays.

Want the recipe to Mira’s gingersnap cookies? Go to our website! Check it out at

http://hilite. org/49120/ topstory-2/ kitchentraditions/ LIN-LIN MO | PHOTOS

26

RISE

RAP OF

Students become more involved in making music as rap's popularity increases JESSICA KONRAD | STORY

W

hen rappers and juniors David Chilemba and Rashid “RJ” Conteh come home from school, their main focus isn’t studying, socializing with friends or going to sports practice.

For Chilemba and Conteh, their first order of business is writing music for their mixtape, which they plan to release Dec. 23.

“It’s almost like writing a paper.

That’s how we approach every song.

We usually think of a topic, we usually butt heads for like five minutes.

Then, we get quiet and it just happens,” Conteh said.

To Chilemba and Conteh, perhaps better known by their rapper names, “Skrt Chilemba” and “Yung Godiva,” rap is much more than simply a genre of music. To them, rapping is a way to express themselves through music and is also something they hope to develop into a career in the future.

Chilemba said, “As of right now, we’re taking it seriously, and a lot of people are taking it seriously too, so most likely (we’ll make it) a career.”

Although the idea of students treating rap as not only a valid form of music but also a potential career option may seem like a rarity, there has been a significant growth of students who are beginning to recognize the legitimacy of rap as a genre of music and realize its commercial potential.

Take for example junior Anoop Magesh. While Magesh is not a rapper himself, he creates computergenerated beats, which he sells to rappers to use in their songs. By doing this, he is able to seriously pursue his interest in rap and

RISING RAPPERS: Rappers and juniors David Chilemba (left) and Rashid "RJ" Conteh pose with microphones.

Chilemba said they will most likely pursue rap as a career.

ELLIOT CHOY | PHOTO

28

The fundamental structure of rap, where words are rhymed and chanted with music, can be traced back to the styles of ancient African storytellers.

What's a DJ? A DJ is short for "disk jockey." A DJ mixes previously recorded music to create new sounds. They perform in clubs, at parties and on the radio.

THE EVOLUTION OF RAP The style of today's rap music came from ancient beginnings. Let's take a look at how the genre has changed since then.

On Sept. 16, 1979, the Sugarhill Gang released "Rapper's Delight," the first rap single to break into the Billboard Top 20.

This marked the initial launch of rap genre into popular culture.

DJ Kool Herc enlists his close friend, Coke La Rock, to MC his parties. Coke La Rock’s job of speaking over music makes him the first rapper in hip-hop.

CHELSEA DAI, JESSICA MO | GRAPHIC USC.EDU, PBS.ORG, HISTORY.COM, ROLLINGSTONE.COM | SOURCES

hip-hop while simultaneously earning a profit.

“I make beats on the computer.

I program it. I spend a lot of time, like an hour a day at least, so I make the beats. Then I sell them. I put them online, people buy them, and it’s like a profitable thing because I don’t have to pay anything to make it,” Magesh said.

By making these beats, Magesh not only earns money, but also has the opportunity to express himself through his music.

Magesh said, “(I like) how you can be creative. If I’m pissed or something, I can make an angry, sad beat, or if I’m happy or hyped up, I can make a hype beat, so it’s pretty hype.”

Rap's accessibility is a large part of its appeal: anyone can create a song with music editing software. Rappers don’t need to be able to play instruments or have vocal training.

DJ Kool Herc, known as the father of hip-hop, performs his signature style of music on Aug. 11, 1973. Here, in the New York Bronx district, the genre of hip-hop was born.

The industry expands to include a wider audience, including the rise of iconic female artists such as Roxanne Shanté, Queen Latifah and the hip-hop trio Salt-N-Pepa.

KANYE WEST Grammy-winning rapper and producer JESSICA MO | GRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY.COM, ROLLINGSTONE.COM | SOURCES What if Kanye made a song about Kanye called "I Miss the Old Kanye?" Man, that would be so Kanye ... We still love Kanye.

And I love you like Kanye loves Kanye.

From "I Love Kanye" ("The Life of Pablo," 2016)

Born: June 8, 1977 Hometown: Chicago Notable Hits: "Stronger," "Jesus Walks," "Runaway," "Gold Digger," "Heartless," "All of the Lights," "Through the Wire" Married to: Kim Kardashian West

“You don’t have to have training.

I just found the software, and I just started messing around, and I got hooked onto it,” Magesh said.

Rappers only require an idea and the initiative to see their song through. Because of the minimal preparation needed, many students have begun to immerse themselves in this form of art. “(I enjoy) the fact that you have nothing at first, and then you can make this amazing creation in less than a day,” Chilemba said. “It’s kind of sick.”

Although most rappers at CHS start out simply looking for fun, as Chilemba and Conteh became more practiced, they truly began to develop their own sense of style and differentiate themselves from other musicians. Chilemba said he and Conteh began rapping by singing along to Kanye West in middle

29

Radial hip-hop groups change the genre’s purpose by addressing more controversial topics like racism and poverty.

school. Despite their interest in rapping together and creating their own music at the time, Chilemba said neither of them were interested in the time commitment or dedication rapping requires. Now, as juniors, they are devoting the majority of their free time to improve their music by taking their individ-

ual style to the next level and finetuning their sound.

“Personally, I’m more like lyrical wordplay and like harmonizing melodies and stuff. (Conteh) is more just like solid flow, and he knows how to make the beat complete,” Chilemba said. “I can lowkey kind of sing, so I can sing

The rap group N.W.A. releases its iconic album "Straight Outta Compton" in 1988, continuing the trend of social commentary.

rap lyrics in a different format, so it’s pretty unique.”

Throughout the process of developing their own style, Chilemba and Conteh also have begun to incorporate aspects from successful rappers such as Kanye West into their own music.

“Sonically, for Kanye, just like the way you hear it and everything, he really takes time with it, he spends days on one song,” Conteh said.

Chilemba and Conteh both said rappers Young Thug and Travis Scott were other major sources of their inspiration.

“Young Thug really knows how to use his vocals as not like just singing or rapping, but makes it part of the song,” Chilemba said.

“And for Travis Scott, it’s like both of them combined,” Conteh said.

In addition to rap becoming more accessible to students previously interested in the genre with the increasing convenience of purchasing and using music editing software, many students who have previously

BRILLIANT BEATS: (TOP) Junior Anoop Magesh's computer displays FL Studio 12, a program he uses to make his own music.

(BOTTOM LEFT) Magesh's Bose speakers.

(BOTTOM RIGHT) Magesh plays piano while wearing headphones.

CAROLYN ZHANG | PHOTOS

30

Our freedom of speech is freedom or death.

We've got to fight the powers that be.

Public Enemy

("Fight the Power," 1989)

been disinterested in hip-hop have also recently begun listening to and enjoying rap. A large part of this is due to the immense success of “Hamilton,” a musical which tells the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton through hip-hop and rap.

By implementing aspects of hip-hop and rap into the score, “Hamilton” brought rap to audiences who previously lacked appreciation for rap and hip-hop as a genre.

Jacob “Jake” Greene, “Hamilton” enthusiast and senior said, “I really was not a big fan (of rap). I hate myself for it now, but I would tell people that rap didn’t count as music, it was just speaking to a rhythm because I was very self-centered, and I thought, ‘Well if they’re not singing, it’s not real music.’ I don’t believe that anymore, but that’s definitely how I felt before listening to ‘Hamilton.’”

Partly because of “Hamilton’s” popularity, rap has come to be recognized as a serious form of music .

Students have also begun to enuinely understand and appreciate the hidden complexity of rap and the labor required in creating the unique sound that shapes the genre as a whole.

Greene said, “It really showed me that rap wasn’t everything that I thought it was. There’s so much more to rap. There’s so many intricacies when it comes to rhyme scheme and rhythm and things like that that I had never thought about or considered, and ‘Hamilton’ really showed that to me.”

As more young people have become interested in rap because of “Hamilton,” the musical has also piqued an interest in rap for older generations as well. Because of the manner in which hip-hop is woven into the story of the musical, many older people previously averse to rap have also grown to enjoy the music.

Applied music teacher John Bur-

FANCY FLOW: Rappers and juniors David Chilemba and Rashid "RJ" Conteh face each other holding microphones. Conteh said the duo drew inspiration from rapper Kanye West.

ELLIOT CHOY | PHOTO

Rap enters the mainstream, seeing today’s artists (Eminem, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Drake, etc.) rise in the charts.

31

Rappers continue to express their social views on topics such as Black Lives Matter and the War on Drugs.

I am not poison, just a boy from the hood that got my hands in the air in despair.

Don't shoot, I just wanna do good.

Jay-Z

("Spiritual," 2016)

lace said, “(Without rap), I don’t think “Hamilton” would have been received (as well). I think that’s part of its allure. And that’s even part of its allure for people who don’t like rap or generations older than mine. It’s almost like a guilty pleasure type of thing ...

It’s hard for it to not really resonate, especially with what’s going on in the world right now, but even people who are older and didn’t grow up with rap now get to like it, and it’s okay because it’s a musical.”

Another reason for the increase in rap’s popularity is because of the way it borrows aspects of other genres of music, which creates a greater appeal to fans of other musical genres. Chilemba and Conteh said they were open to all types of music and listen to a vast variety of artists such as Dean Martin, Bob Marley, Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton and even Ludwig van Beethoven before writing their songs.

While rap is known for incorporating elements from a multitude of musical genres, it also utilizes sounds considered to be unusual in most other forms of music. This is especially true in the beats of raps and the unexpectedness of these noises creates a sound that is more interesting and engaging to the listener.

Magesh said, “I guess my beats are unique to me, but it’s just a whole lot of different sounds and stuff. I try to bring in weird sounds that you wouldn’t hear in other songs, like sounds that make you think, like different provocative sounds.”

There is a plethora of reasons for the rise of rap at CHS. Whether it’s the accessibility or the storytelling capacity as demonstrated in “Hamilton,” rap has grown to become a genre of music enjoyed and appreciated by the masses.

“It’s written in a way that’s designed to be catchy,” Burlace said.

H “It’s hard to not love it.”

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

KINGDOM HEARTS | DEC 12, 2016

CHRONOLOGY OF GAMES Kingdom Hearts

HD Compilations*

Unchained X

Kingdom Hearts

Kingdom Hearts

Birth by Sleep Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Kingdom Hearts II

Back Cover

358/2 Days

Kingdom Hearts

Kingdom Hearts

1.5 HD Remix Kingdom Hearts

Kingdom Hearts

2.5 HD Remix

*See notes for more info

PREMISE OF GAME

With the upcoming release of “Kingdom Hearts 2.8” on Jan. 12, 2017, fans DEVELOPMENT AND HISTORY eagerly await news about the concluDisney sion to the series, “Kingdom Hearts III.” Square Enix The Kingdom Hearts series, known for its vast story told through the many games (see “Chronology”) will introduce one last addition in the series before the long awaited Kingdom Hearts 3.

Kingdom Hearts 2.8, a combination of three games, is the prologue to Kingdom Hearts 3.

Rumored to come out around April 2017, Kingdom Hearts 3 is the epic conclusion to the story arc seen in the series.

The series primarily follows protagonist, Sora and his friends, Riku and Kairi. Along the way, Sora meets many people, traveling to different Final Fantasy and Disney-themed worlds, progressing the story. With Donald Duck and Goofy joining Sora on his journey, the team faces off of Master Xehanort, who hopes to control the power of “Kingdom Hearts.”

Sora is a wielder of the Keyblade, a mysterious weapon that gives immense power. See “Lore” for more details.

The Kingdom Hearts series began with a partnership between Japanese video game company Square Enix and Disney, becoming one of the most beloved games.

Concept of Worlds in the Kingdom Hearts Universe The Kingdom Hearts universe was split from one world to many after the Great Keyblade War. In the games, players navigate from world to world as the story progresses. Each world is based off of Disney movies such as “Aladdin” and “Cinderella.”

Left to Right: Sora, Master Xehanort, Riku

Gameplay The Kingdom Hearts series is an action RPG game, driven by a linear story told through gameplay and cutscenes. In most games, players control the protagonist Sora, who has attack, magic and summon abilities.

As you progress, you fight bosses and gain abilities and experience.

SHIVA VALLABHANENI | GRAPHIC KINGDOMHEARTS.COM | SOURCE

kingdom

DEC 12, 2016 | KINGDOM HEARTS

Kingdom Hearts

Kingdom Hearts

Re: Coded Dream Drop Distance

Kingdom Hearts III

A Fragmentary Passage Birth by Sleep 0.2

Kingdom Hearts

2.8 HD Final Chapter Prologue

Fans have been waiting for Kingdom Hearts III, the conclusion of the “Dark Seeker Saga” for 10 years now. This ultimate conclusion will likely be out May 2017,

NOTES: The chronology shows the order of the story within the games, not the order released.

358/2 Days takes place between Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II. The HD remixes encompass several games (Remixes and 2.8 HD).

The bars denote games included in remixes.

LORE OF KINGDOM HEARTS THE KEYBLADE

Weapon of the Game

The Keyblade is a mysterious weapon used in the fight between light and darkness. Only a chosen few are capable of wielding the weapon.

hand guard Kingdom Key, Sora’s keyblade

The Keyblade can protect the worlds from enemies of darkness, seal or open barriers between worlds and is a source of great power. Only the strong of heart can wield it.

ENEMIES

Heartless and Nobodies Heartless are beings of darkness which manifest in one of two forms—Pureblood or Emblem heartless.

They lack hearts and are devoid of emotion. They are the primary type of enemy in the series.

Shadow, Pureblood Heartless Nobodies are what remain of those people who have lost their hearts. They are made up of body and soul. There are both monster-looking nobodies, devoid of identity, and human form nobodies, who try to get their heart back.

Dusk, Monster-like Nobody

m hearts

33

hilt

STA R WA RS | D E C 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

A LONG TIME AGO...

Take a look at a brief history of the Star Wars franchise:

The second Star Wars trilogy begins with the release of “The Phantom Menace,” which comes 16 years after the end of the first trilogy.

The first stand-alone Star Wars movie, “Rogue One,” will be released; however, the plot will take place between the first two trilogies.

“The Force Awakens”

“The Revenge of the Sith”

“The Phantom Menace”

Worldwide Box Office Earnings (in billions of dollars) “Attack of the Clones”

Harry Potter

Dec. 18, 2015

Dec. 16, 2016

Here are some statistics for the Star Wars franchise:

Money Spent on Franchise Merchandise (in billions of dollars)

Star Wars

George Lucas, creator of Star Wars, retires and sells his company Lucasfilm to Disney for $4.05 billion.

“The Return of the Jedi”

THE NUMBERS

May 19, 1999

“The Empire Strikes Back”

The first film of the Star Wars franchise, “A New Hope,” was produced with a budget of $11 million.

The third Star Wars trilogy begins with the release of “The Force Awakens,” This film saw the return of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Leia Skywalker.

Oct. 30, 2012

“A New Hope”

May 25, 1977

James Bond

34

D E C 1 2 , 2 0 1 6 | STA R WA RS

THE INSPIRATION Germany

Lucas’s imperial officers and his portrayal of Palpatine’s rise to power are based off of Nazi Germany.

Take a look at how George Lucas used history as inspiration: Vietnam

The Ewoks shown in “The Return of the Jedi” utilize guerilla warfare and their knowledge of the terrain to take on superior troops. Lucas found inspiration for this through the Vietnam War.

Western Europe

The Jedi are very similar to the Knights Templar, a militarymonastic order that practiced moral purity.

Ancient Rome

Cold War

The political institutions and architecture of the franchise is inspired by those of Rome.

The threat of mass destruction felt in the United States was encapsulated by the franchise and its portrayal of the Death Star.

As “Star Wars: Rogue One” draws near, take a look at the phenomenon it is today ADITYA BELAMKAR, SHIVA VALLABHANENI | GRAPHIC

ADITYA BELAMKAR | SPEAK UPS AND PHOTOS

DISNEY NEWS, TIME, HISTORY.COM, TELEGRAPH.CO.UK | SOURCES

SPEAK UP!

How has Star Wars affected the film industry?

“Star Wars has created a new way of visual arts in a way that forces other films to create CGI on par with Star Wars. With its high quality and realistic effects, it also forces other people to improve their visual arts.”

Joey Lee, IB Film student and junior

“(George Lucas) took from a lot of different genres: the American Western, “the Kurosawa,” he was a huge fan of films from Japan, and so he was able to combine a lot of different things to make a brand new work from all those influences and I think it revolutionized the science-fiction industry.”

IB Film teacher Jim Peterson

35

36

CHOIR TRIP TO DISNEY | DEC 12, 2016

LIGHTING THE WAY

Accents and Ambassadors prepare for performance at Disney World celebration AMY ZHOU | STORY

E

ach year, from thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, Disney puts on a weekly performance known as the Candlelight Processional in Epcot Center in Disney World in Orlando, Florida. This year, both the Accents and Ambassadors have the honor of performing in the show alongside the Disney choir and orchestra, as well as other high school choirs from across the country.

According to choir director John Burlace, the Candlelight Processional is a show that lasts between 45 minutes to an hour. It includes Disney cast choirs and outside high school choirs performing with the Disney orchestra. Additionally, it will feature a celebrity narrator.

“They always have a celebrity guest appear so it’s a really big deal,” Burlace said.

The Candlelight Processional will give the choirs a chance to perform at a professional level, Ambassador and junior Andrea Garcia said, and will also grant them the chance to see a glimpse of Disney behind-the-scenes.

SING IT LOUD: TOP: Ambassadors run through their Holiday Spectacular show on stage.

Holiday Spectacular happens only a few weeks before the Candlelight Processional.

BOTTOM LEFT: Ambassador and junior Anja Reese performs during Holiday Spectacular rehearsal.

Showing emotion while singing is important to enhance the meaning of the music.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Ambassador and senior Frances Rafferty sings on stage during Holiday Spectacular rehearsal.

Vocals are the central part of any choir performance, including the Candlelight Processional.

CAROLYN ZHANG | PHOTOS

DEC 12, 2016 | CHOIR TRIP TO DISNEY

“Disney just goes all out. Everything is perfected in every little detail and so I think it’s gonna be great for them to be a part of that,” she said.

Kouns said she believes that the trip will be a rare opportunity for students to be able to perform alongside top-notch Disney musicians. However, this trip will be a large one for the choirs because the trip will be paid by the students themselves, according to Kouns.

This trip, although it will be one of the farthest they’ve taken, it will not be the choirs’ first journey for a performance, according to Burlace.

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: Ambassadors run through their Holiday Spectacular show on stage during rehearsal.

The Accents and Ambassadors prepared for Holiday Spectacular in conjunction with the Candlelight Processional.

CAROLYN ZHANG | PHOTO

BEHIND THE SCENES

Let’s take a closer look at the Candlelight Processional.

CARSON TERBUSH | GRAPHIC DISNEYPARKS, CARMELCHOIRS | SOURCES

They will perform 14 songs, including “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” “O Holy Night” “Il Est Né” “The Hallelujah Chorus”

e t th s ne y W or e a r in D i ld la c e nte C

Joe Morton will serve as the celebrity narrator during the Accents and Ambassadors’ performance. Morton is best known for playing Rowan Pope on “Scandal.”

“The last really big trip was when the Ambassadors went to Europe a couple years back, around three years ago,” Burlace said. “Last year we went to Chicago, same with the year before that, so we do a little traveling every year, but this is a pretty big trip.”

Despite the fact that the trip will require a large fund from the students themselves and an intense amount of practice in order to be performance ready, Garcia said she believes the trip will be unforgettable.

Garcia said, “It’s not common that you get to go to Disney with your best H friends and have a good time.”

c e s s i o n al t P r o T h e a t r e w ill t a h g at E ke s i lel d e n pc p ot nd G a r n

T A m eh e C ri c a a

“We’re performing at the Candlelight processional…(which is) a collection of Christmas carols that one would generally know and it’s all composed by Disney,” Garcia said.

The Accents and Ambassadors will perform 14 songs together will take a total of 85 students to this trip.

According to Kathrine Kouns, director of choirs, choirs must be selected

by Disney for the chance to perform at the Candlelight Processional. Last spring, the Accents and Ambassadors sent in a recording of the audition song, and later received news that they had been admitted in April.

37

38

REALITY TV SHOWS | DEC 12, 2016

REALITY CHECK

CHS students discuss the longevity of reality TV series JACOB FECHT, KALEA MIAO | STORY

“A

merica’s next top model” first aired in 2003. The show has had a lifespan of 13 years with its 23rd season premiering tonight. This upcoming season will feature singer Rita Ora as host, who will take over from model and businesswoman Tyra Banks. Other judges include model Ashley Graham, creative director Drew Elliott and celebrity stylist Law Roach.

Claire Estabrook, model and junior, said she has a love-hate relationship with “America’s Next Top Model” and similar shows. “(‘America’s Next Top Model’) stretches the reality and paints an idea that all models are stuck-up and rude but from experience I can share that they are not all like that,” Estabrook said. “The show displays shoots and job opportunities very well, yet shows modeling more like a joke than an actual job.”

However, interest in reality TV shows remain. Barry Umansky, professor of telecommunications at Ball State University, said via email, “It is (especially for purposes of some ‘reality’ shows that track people doing their jobs) simple curiosity about those with different professions.”

As for why reality TV shows such as “America’s Next Top Model” are so appealing to viewers, sophomore Annie Ruiz said, “I like watching all the drama between friends and family.”

According to Umansky, reality shows such as “America’s Next Top Model” are generally cheaper to produce than to scripted shows, as scripted shows have a large number of paid actors, writers, producers and other production crew members. In fact, a one hour-long episode of “Survivor,” another popular reality show, only has a budget of $2 million - $1 million less than many scripted dramas according to the New York Times.

However, there are also a variety of reality shows such as “Survivor,” which Umansky said he believes these shows are appealing because they leave the viewer with the a “satisfaction of some semi-voyeuristic needs,” or the enjoyment of seeing scandalous things.

Estabrook said she agreed that one of the reasons why shows like “America’s Next Top Model” are so popular is because they can openly judge contestants.

“I find the drama within them extremely hilarious, CARMEL’S NEXT TOP MODEL: Model and junior Claire Estabrook poses in front of a forest background.

Estabrook began modeling when Helen Wells personally asked her to sign and model for her agency.

ELLIOT CHOY | PHOTO

DID YOU KNOW? “America’s Next Top Model” will have 14 models this season.

VH1 | SOURCE

however, the attitudes of the people is annoying,” Estabrook said. “I think they are so popular because it gives people something new to bash on.”

On the other hand, Ruiz disagrees. She said she thinks that the reason why reality TV is so popular is because the contestants are so relatable to fans and are easily added into pop culture.

Ruiz said, “They are relatable and become icons for many people to look H up to around the world.”

D E C 1 2 , 2 0 1 6 | E N T E RTA I N M E N T B R I E F S

39

Entertainment Briefs KALEA MIAO | BRIEFS

On Dec. 21, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) explores the memories of his ancestor, Aguilar, and becomes a Master Assassin. Inspired by the popular game franchise of the same name, “Assassin’s Creed” is set in 15th century Spain and shows Lynch as he learns from the secret society, the Assassins. Lynch uses his knowledge to take down the malicious opposing society, the Knights Templar, in the modern day.

UBISOFT | SOURCE, GRAPHIC

WHEN:

Dec. 14 at 7:30 P.M.

WHERE: Egyptian Room at Old National Centre

On Dec. 21, Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey), a dapper koala, will produce the world’s greatest singing competition in “Sing.” Owner of a once-grand theater, Moon is an optimist and will do anything to save his beloved theater, allowing five different contestants to audition. His contestants include an overworked pig, Rosita (Reese Witherspoon), a timid teenage elephant, Meena (Tori Kelly) and others.

ILLUMINATION STUDIOS | SOURCE, GRAPHIC

“MADE”

Korean boy band Big Bang will release its full album, “Made,” today. Parts of the album were already released from May to September last year, but due to the band’s tour, the full album was postponed until now.

YG ENTERTAINMENT | SOURCE

WHAT:

Bastille and Judah & the Lion will perform in Indianapolis as part of their Wild Wild World Tour. This tour is named after Bastille’s latest album, “Wild World.”

PRICE:

$33.75 to $37.50.

Tickets can be found at livenation.com

LIVENATION | SOURCE

THE MONEY

It costs HOW much?

A story about the cost of sports on page 42

How much is an athletic scholarship?

See page 44 to find out

Shoes and jerseys and goggles, oh my!

See more on page 45

I$$UE

Need a boost? See page 46 for more about boosters

Money flows like a river; find out where it goes on page 47 MICHAEL JOHNSON | PHOTO

THE COST OF SPORTS | DEC 12, 2016

THE CO$T

While varsity athletes excel on the court, it can take a lot of money to get to that level

B

rooke Grigsby, volleyball player and junior, plays for both the Munciana Volleyball Club and CHS varsity team. Playing at Munciana Volleyball can become costly even before tournaments and practices start.

“We have to pay for tryouts; tryouts this year were $500.

After tryouts, we have to pay for all new uniforms, shoes, knee pads, all of the tournament fees (and) coaches fees,” Grigsby said.

There are other costs as well. “(For CHS), we have to donate money to the booster club, and there’s not really a booster club for club (sports); it’s usually just a team mom,” Grigsby said.

“Also, we go to nationals during the club season. Nationals and the plane ticket there (are) probably the most expensive thing throughout the club season.”

Some athletes, like Grigsby, may even pay for extra physical conditioning or personal training during their off seasons.

“We do some conditioning. The school sometimes has clinics, and then me and a few girls go to a lady that we’ve always gone to, to get that extra conditioning,” Grigsby said.

For children ages 6 to 16, approximately 25 million participate in school sports, and 20 million participate in out-ofschool sports. Athletes and their parents, therefore, have to find ways to pay for those sports in and out-of-school. According to Travis Dorsch, Utah State University youth sports assistant professor, families could be spending up to 10.5 percent of their income just on their children’s sport(s).

Olivia Christy, basketball player and senior, has been playing basketball since she was in second grade, and she said she hopes to play in college. If she continues with basketball and plays throughout college, her parents will have paid for 15 years of basketball.

According to Christy, the cost may include “travel, uniforms, basic club dues that probably go to the coaches and helping pay for practice facilities, shoes and socks and backpacks.”

Traveling is also an important factor of the cost of a sport. Christy’s basketball team travels often, which can become costly.

“During the school year at least half of our games are road games, which would be about once a week,” Christy said. “For travel, I would say that every weekend during the spring we usually go somewhere (as far as) Georgia or Cincinnati.”

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

How much has Will Patton spent on a lifetime of sports?

Total Cost for Signing Up Per Year Cost for Equipment Cost for Travelling Cost for Food

WILL PATTON | SUBMITTED PHOTOS

$5,000 $2,350 $2,500 $500

$10,350

$136,

TOTAL

42

(Number of years of playing)

12

$124,200

OF $UCCE$$ DEC 12, 2016 |

THE COST OF SPORTS

KELLY TRUAX | STORY Assistant Athletics Director Bruce Wolf said he recognizes the impact school sanctioned sports have on the costs for CHS’s athletes.

“In school, you can get buses for transportation, which means the costs don’t go to the family. And in club, the player typically buys his own equipment. So those would be the two biggies, equipment and transportation,” Wolf said. “In most cases, they are covered in a school sanctioned sport, where it might not in a non-school sanctioned sport.”

Will Patton, football and hockey player and senior, has been playing hockey for 14 years and football for 12 years. He first started playing the sports after his dad introduced him to both hockey and football. Patton said he ended up loving them both.

“Although it’s very expensive, it is definitely worth it. It is a great experience,” Patton said via email.

Every so often players have to replace their equipment, sometimes they’ve outgrown it or they’ve damaged their equipment. The cost of replacing specific pieces can become costly, but in some cases the school will cover the costs.

Patton said, “Every (piece of equipment) other than sticks are replaced about every two years, which can cost around $800. I go through about six sticks a year, and each stick costs $250. For football, there is no cost for equipment replacement because it is provided by the school.”

Grigsby said she has to buy a specific brand clothing each year for each team she plays on. “For Munciana, we only wear Asics, everything is Asics. You can get fined if you don’t

wear (Asics) for a tournament. Then for (CHS) everything is Nike,” Grigsby said.

Patton said he wants to play hockey in college. In order for coaches to see his performance, Patton and his family must pay for ways to promote him. “(For hockey) I am on a select team Indiana hockey team that plays in showcase tournaments where scouts come to watch. This costs about $3,000, but it really helps me try to promote myself. (For football), I have spent about $2,000 on special football camps to try to promote myself,” Patton said.

Patton said he knows that both sports can become a big cost commitment, which is why he has to decide if the cost is worth it.

“Sometimes I have to think and make sure the high costs are worth it, but they are always worth it because of the experiences I gain from playing the sport,” Patton said.

Christy said that playing basketball is worth the cost. “It is worth it because you meet a lot of people and get to have a lot of different experiences,” Christy said.

Patton said he also agrees the cost is worth it. Patton said “Hockey is a very large cost commitment, as it is not a schoolsponsored sport. Although it is a big cost to play, it is very well worth it. Football is not a big cost commitment at all, and you get so much out of playing football. You get and amazing experience H playing football.”

ALINA YU | GRAPHIC WILL PATTON | SOURCE

,700 $12,500

$2,000 $300 $200

$2,500 5

Cost for camps Total Cost for Equipment, Food, and Travelling Total Cost for Signing Up Per Year

(Number of years of playing)

43

44

SCHOLARSHIPS | DEC 12, 2016

$HOW ME THE MONEY

We hear about athletic scholarships all the time, but how much are they actually worth?

LUKE GENTILE | STORY

W

hen Kevin Stone, varAlso, I want to be able to pursue what sity men’s golf team memI want to be when I get older first and ber and senior, decided then be part of a team that I want to be which college he would part of,” he said. commit to, one factor he considered Stone is covering a large part of his was scholarship money. tuition with his athletic scholarship, “I was first offered a scholarship but he is also looking to receive acain the summer of 2015. The first was demic money. from Ball State University, and then “There is a big merit-based schol(the offers) really started to pick up in arship for out-of-state kids at Ohio the fall of 2015. I was looking at more State. It covers 20 percent of the tuschools down south and in the west ition cost, and I’m really aiming for when Ohio State started looking at it,” he said. me. Once I started visiting Ohio State, While Stone expects both athletic talking to coaches and saw the offer, I and academic money, he understands knew that was where I wanted to go,” that he may not be able to receive all Stone said. the money from both scholarships.

According to the NCAA, roughly Assistant Athletics Director Bruce 2 percent of high Wolf said, “ You school athletes are can’t be an athlete awarded athletic in Division I or II DID YOU KNOW? scholarships.

To and receive more the NCAA , a colmoney than the NCAA Division I men’s and lege education is actual cost of atwomen’s basketball, football, the most rewarding tendance. You can’t women’s tennis, volleyball, benefit of the athget a 75 percent and gymnastics are the only letic experience. athletic scholarship sports that offer everyone Harvard Uniand a 50 percent on the team a full athletic versity commit merit scholarship scholarship - often referred Charles Vaughan, because essentially to as head count sports. varsity men’s swimthey’re paying you ming and diving more money than ATHLETICSCHOLARSHIPS.NET | SOURCE team member and it costs to go to senior, said, “For school. However, me, money wasn’t it’s not unusual for huge in my decision. I’m fortunate compensation packages and scholarthat I’m an only child, and, obviously, ship packages to be put together.” we are from Carmel. It was hard to Wolf said scholarships aren’t perget over receiving no athletic scholarmanent until the National Letter of ship because you work so hard. You Intent is signed, and they could also want some monetary value for your increase or decrease after one’s freshwork, but you have to realize it’s an Ivy man year in college.

League education.”

He said, “Until you actually sign Stone took into consideration what scholarship papers, the amount of costs were being covered, but it was the scholarships can fluctuate. Scholarprogram at Ohio State that had the ships are honored by year. So, if you go greatest effect on his decision. to school on a 50 percent scholarship “Money wasn’t the main considerbut you do really well, the school can ation for me. I wanted a program with increase next year’s scholarship if they a great golf team, one that can contend. choose to.”

ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED BY US COLLEGES A closer look at scholarships awarded to athletes at a collegiate level.

Average Athletic Scholarship 15,162 14,270

NCAA D1 6,814 5548

NCAA D2 NCAA D3 NAIA

0 0 6964 6603 Average Scholarship (in thousands of dollars)

Men

Women

3.3 billion

dollars of all college scholarships are athletic as compared to the

11.1 billion

dollars that goes into merit and financial need based scholarships

ALINA HUSAIN | GRAPHIC SCHOLARSHIPSTATS.COM | SOURCE Scholarships can play a part in school selection for seniors all over the country, and student athletes are no exceptions. Yet, for Stone and Vaughan, it was not their biggest concern.

As Stone said, “Ohio State is the program that best fit what I wanted.

Sure, other schools gave me big offers, but money wasn’t my biggest concern. Ohio State has a great team. They gave me a good package, and I’m looking forward to getting H to Columbus.”

DEC 12, 2016 | ATTIRE

45

ATHLETE$’ ATTIRE

From CHS to club teams, athletes pay a lot to perform at their best AGRAYAN GUPTA, KELSEY ATCHESON | GRAPHICS

BREAK IT DOWN Mouthguard: $20

A look at the cost of the game gear for football, swimming, and volleyball players.

Total for three sports, not including uniforms and warm up gear: $800 DICKSSPORTINGGOODS.COM | SOURCE

Football gloves: $50

Swimcap: $5

Goggles: $20

Speedo Fastskin swimsuit: $480

Kneepads: $25

Football socks: $20 Nike Cleats: $100

Socks: $20 Sneakers: $60

Evolution Basketball: $60 Nike Hypercool Compression Tights: $20 Nike Hypercool Compression Socks: $20 Nike Hyperdunk Basketball Shoes: $80

CHA-CHING All sports come with different costs. Here are three of the most expensive sports for youth athletes.

SPORTSSIGNUP.COM | SOURCE

SKIING

Skiing is one of the most expensive sports with equipment alone. Used skis, boots, poles, helmets, goggles, skiing pants and gloves all coat around $530.

People must also pay for slope time and many travel long distances to participate.

HOCKEY Hockey costs include club fees, private coaching, practice sessions. There is also a lot of different equipment fees necessary to play. For more information on these costs see page 42.

BASEBALL According to Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association in 2010 softball and baseball accumulated 488 million dollars in sales.

46

BOOSTERS | DEC 12, 2016

NEED A BOO$T?

CHS uses boosters to fund athletics, support teams BEN TRAYLOR, JESS CANALEY | Q&A

WHJE SUPPORT Griffin Gonzalez, WHJE play-by-play announcer and junior, broadcasts the CHS Lawrence North football game to hundreds of people. WHJE live-broadcasts numerous sports.

A portion of the booster club’s money goes to WHJE to cover costs of bus fees to travel to games.

KELSEY ATCHESON | PHOTO

WHO ARE BOOSTERS? Boosters are different people from the CHS community who donate money to CHS athletics. Often times, boosters are parents of student athletes or alumni.

TYPES OF BOOSTERS There are two types of boosters: booster club patron and super booster. A booster club patron donates $50 while a super booster donates $100.

SCHOLARSHIPS Two scholarships are given out to a female and a male student athlete each year. The athletic scholarships are given out in the name of the past president booster, Tom Cunningham.

CCS.K12.IN.US | SOURCE

Q & A Men’s basketball coach Scott Heady

Mike Pitz, men’s basketball player and senior

What are some things boosters help with?

What do boosters help do?

The boosters help with some of the player equipment costs, team meals; we have a pregame meal before every game the night before. Meals are also something that they do for after the game. It helps a lot.

Thanks to our (boosters) who always support us, they help us raise some money so when we’re on the road, or we have some far games this year, we can pick up Subway or something on the way there and make sure that we’ve got something in our bellies before we play.

What does their help mean to you?

It helps tremendously that we don’t have to deal with (fundraising) so much and just concentrate on coaching the team. It’s been a good situation. We’ve got really great parents and great support.

Beau Robbins, football player and sophomore

What else would you like to say about boosters?

Boosters donate money to the team and help us to be successful on and off the court.

I’m so fortunate. We as coaches are so fortunate.

What it does is, a lot of those things that they’re doing, if they weren’t, we’re having to take care of those things. It frees up us to focus on coaching.

How do boosters help the team?

BUDGET BREAKDOWN

BUDGETING BA$IC$

CHS athletic department raises own money, creates budget BEN TRAYLOR, JESS CANALEY | STORY

G

iving students at CHS the opportunity to compete in sports isn’t always as easy as trying out and making the team. For many, overwhelming equipment costs or dues can get in the way of playing the game.

While parents of CHS students often have the resources needed to cover any expenses required to play high school sports, some activities prove more costly than others. This can be especially problematic for sports not sanctioned by the school.

“Hockey is an expensive game to play itself and we’d be better off funded by the school.” Jack Donnelly, Icehounds Gold defender and senior, said, “That’s why we hold onto uniforms for all four years.

That eliminates the cost of buying a new one every year. Other apparel also adds in to cost but we try to get most expenses out of the way in freshman year.”

However, hockey is an outlier among other high school sports locally. As one of the few sports that is not sanctioned by the high school, it does not benefit from the IHSAA’s regulations on how much money returns to the program.

“I absolutely believe we would benefit from being sanctioned through the school but our club status leaves a lot of control to the board, made up by parents and coaches,” Donnelly said.

For the vast majority of high school athletes, their sports are supported by the school and their funding regulated by the IHSAA. These teams benefit by receiving profits earned after splitting funds among other competing schools,

CHS runs a self-sufficient athletic program, meaning they must produce their own money for each fiscal year. Here is a review of the profits and losses of the past two years and 15 years collectively.

CHS ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT | SOURCE

Green represents profit seen in that sport, red is losses taken by the sport

15 YEAR REVIEW OF PROFITS especially in tournament play when revenue increases.

“It has always been the goal of the IHSAA to compensate our member schools substantially for their voluntary membership in the association.”

IHSAA assistant commissioner Sandra Walter said, “We feel an obligation to continue to provide for our schools in order for them to continue to provide for their student athletes.”

According to the organization, 98 percent of revenues generated is returned to participating schools.

For sports not associated with the IHSAA, however, significantly less profit is directed back to the athletic program, and this leaves some athletes at a disadvantage.

“If lacrosse became a sanctioned sport, we could get more money for our sport and be noticed around our school.” lacrosse player Kelly Csenar said, “We wouldn’t have to pay for reps, fields, or a trainer. We would also get our uniforms handed to us.

We wouldn’t have to pay for them.”

Often, the status of a sport is reliant on the amount of infrastructure needed to maintain competition.

This is why it is unlikely CHS will soon invest in building a new ice rink or lacrosse field.

“The school should sanction lacrosse and all other club sports, and they should fund club sports,” Csenar said, “because we work just as H hard as other sports.”

Men’s Basketball $21,146

$5,424

Football

Softball $6,355

$19,024 Women’s Basketball $1,416

$6,545

Over the past 15 years Men’s Basketball remains the highest profit earner, followed by football.

Cheerleading sees deficits many years due to how the sport is structured.

2015-2016 REVIEW OF PROFITS Football $30,258 Men’s Basketball

Men’s Track $5,156 Men’s Golf

$21,315

$6,226 Baseball

Women’s Soccer $5,549

$11,129

Last year football ticket sales made them top earner. Women’s Soccer also turned a profit, due to ticket sales and no major purchases.

2014-2015 REVIEW OF PROFITS Men’s Basketball $30,585 Football $14,446 Women’s Basketball

To read a story on the funding individual athletes receive, see page 44.

Cheerleading

$6,277

Women’s Soccer $5,259 Cheerleading $7,600 Men’s Golf $9,446

Women’s Soccer, while in the positive in the 20152016 fiscal year was in the negative during the 2014-2015 year due to buying jerseys.

PERSPECTIVES

COMMENDING THE CAFETERIA | DEC 12, 2016

NOT SO MESSY ANYMORE

Although flaws existed in Main Cafeteria’s structure, recent improvements heighten efficiency HILITE STAFF | EDITORIAL

I

n our sept. 16 issue of the HiLite, we published a staff editorial suggesting certain improvements we thought the newly remodeled Main Cafeteria needed. Today, nearly three months later, we want to commend the cafeteria staff and administration for not only making the improvements we suggested but also for doing much more.

At the beginning of the school year, there was no clear indication of lines for different stations, but now there are clear line dividers, especially at the more popular stations. The utilization of these dividers ensures that students are not merging into crowds.

Furthermore, although the trays were hard to acquire at the beginning of the year since they were found only at the right-most line of the cafeteria, trays can now be found at every station. The placement of trays at every station throughout the cafeteria hinders the formation of large, disorganized crowds towards one region of the cafeteria; thus, it’s an effective step in decreasing this traffic.

Increased staffing has also quickened the lunch process. The use of more than one cafeteria worker at each station to monitor the lines of more popular stations is also an effective step in ensuring the cohesiveness of the cafeteria as a whole.

Since the cafeteria had not been renovated for the past three decades preceding the most recent $900,000 renovation, the addition of screens that showcase the food offered and the nutritional value of these foods was a great concept. At the beginning of the year, there was relative inconsistency with whether these screens were on or off, but now the screens are on and working consistently.

In addition to all of these chang-

OUR VIEW We commend the efforts of the cafeteria staff for making substantial improvements to the newly renovated Main Cafeteria since the beginning of the school year. We appreciate readers taking action from our suggestions. es, there are also a variety of changes that the cafeteria staff and administration implemented within these past three months. There are now cups for condiments at each station to speed up the entire process.

Even though the logistics behind the renovation of Main Cafeteria could always be improved with greater staffing and more organization at some of the better, popular stations, the steps taken to improve the effectivity of the cafeteria have greatly improved its utilization. As the HiLite did publish an editorial that presented improvements to Main Cafeteria, on behalf of all CHS students, we appreciate the changes implemented by the dediH cated cafeteria staff.

SPEAK UP!

Take a look at how the cafeteria has improved since the beginning of the year.

Previous Problem No clear lines Trays hard to find and reach

Solution Line dividers at popular stations Trays positioned under every station

Large lines

More than one cafeteria worker at every station

Unable to see what is offered at each station

Screens always on and working with menu option

Too crowded in general

Popular items spread out throughout the cafeteria

Do you think Main Cafeteria has changed since the beginning of the year ?

“Yes, we have made several improvements. Number one, we’ve (tried) to change how the kids come in to the cafeteria. Instead of everyone piling in, as it was before, now we’ve kind of tried to make distinct lines. We’ve also moved the pasta, which was a crowding issue before, to the front of the cafeteria. We’ve also tried to separate each line with a divider so the kids know exactly where to go. I think these improvements have really helped the flow of the entire room.”

Cashier Kathy Hubert

CAROLYN ZHANG | PHOTOS MANAHIL NADEEM | SPEAK-UPS

DEC 12, 2016 | COLLEGE FOR CHEAP

49

A FREE FUTURE, LITERALLY

Students should make an effort to keep the conversation about cheap, debt-free college relevant LILLY ST. ANGELO | COLUMN

W

hen Bernie Sanders was campaigning, he created a dream of free college that many young people latched onto. Die-hard Bernie fans still rallied around the idea after he lost the primaries, and lowering the cost of college became a part of both Clinton’s and Trump’s platforms. As a senior in high school, a cheaper price tag for my future schooling sounded pretty appealing.

Post-election, all the promises that our president-elect has made are up in the air, still to be seen if they will be fulfilled.

Meanwhile, college acceptance anticipation have begun. Worries about how much money this school or that school will give consume seniors’ minds constantly. I have found the most worrying thing to any of my friends is accumulating the dreaded student loans that we’ve heard so many horror stories about. It’s concerning to see extremely smart people I know considering colleges that are low on the totem pole of prestige just because the school offered them a full ride, but it’s happened to me too;

BERNIE 4EVER

BY THE NUMBERS

52% of students graduate college with student loans

$23,000 is the average amount student loan

37

million people graduate with student loans COLLEGEBOARD. ORG | SOURCE

CATASTROPHIC COSTS

Take a look at the exponentially rising costs of college in the US.

while a year ago I was set on going out of state for college, now I am highly considering the in-state school I got into not only because they have good programs for what I want to do but also because it’s much more practical. At an average price of $9,410 a year for in-state schools, it is much cheaper than going out of state and spending an average of $23,893 per year.

The price, however, is not what should make the decision.

I’m lucky because the in-state school that has accepted me has a great program for what I want do with my life. Not everyone is this lucky, though. The anxiety that we’ll be living with our parents after college because of college debt does not foster an environment where students choose to go to their dream schools.

Whether you are a senior or a freshman, a parent or a teacher, the price of college will eventually affect you.

Cheaper college would create more talk about the college that would be the best fit for what they’re interested in. If you care about the future of our country, keep the conversation alive about cheaper college and encourage your local politicians to do so as well. Not only will you be making less uncertainty for high schoolers, you will be advocating for the livelihood of young Americans and their ability to thrive H independently with debt-free lives.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Lilly St. Angelo at langelo@hilite.org.

MANAHIL NADEEM | GRAPHIC COLLEGEBOARD.ORG | SOURCE

Room and Board and Tuition Cost

50000 40000

College costs more than 20 percent of the median income in the state

30000

Private 4-year

20000 Public 4- year

10000 0

1970

1976

1982 1988 School Year

1994 2000 2006 2012

50

CHRISTMAS CLOSINGS

| DEC 12, 2016

CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS

More stores and restaurants should be open for families that are not celebrating Christmas GABBY PERELMUTER | COLUMN

OPENED FOR BUSINESS Despite the numerous closings, take a look at the shops open on Christmas

126th St. 8am-10pm

Rangeline Open 24/7

N Michigan Rd. Open 24/7

Fishers Open 24/7 OPENTABLE. COM | GRAPHIC MANAHIL NADEEM | GRAPHIC

B

eing Jewish in Indiana is rare, and growing up, most of the time Hanukkah tended to fall during a time that is separate from the “Christmas break” given in schools. Minorities are growing, especially in America, however, sometimes being part of a minority during Christmas can be seen as a punishment because everything is closed except for the movies and Chinese restaurants. This year Christmas and Hanukkah happen to fall on the same dates, but this is a rare occurrence. Usually the two holidays are separate, and what happens is Hanukkah falls during a busy time in school and is not recognized in schools. We are instead given a break for a holiday of the Christian religion when many in America are not part of this religion.

Hanukkah does not have as deep of a meaning to the religion as other holidays, while Christmas in the Christian religion is one of the most crucial holidays that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Hanukkah celebrates the burning of a lantern by the founding fathers, whose oil was miraculously able to last eight days. However, the culture in America has changed the holiday to be about presents much like Christmas.

But the problem with Christmas in America is that a lot of people who usually don’t have anything to do on the holiday are extremely limited on their choices of activities that day: going to the movies or eating Americanized Chinese food. While the world is not ending because of it, America is supposed to be this melting pot of cultures, and it is almost rude to assume all of the 300 million celebrate Christmas.

Stores such as CVS offer workers time off from work on Christmas because it is such a big holiday in America, However, there are people who may need something from the store but cannot because of this assumption.

The point is not to change anything about the holiday, but to bring awareness to the problem of people who do not celebrate the holiday feeling left out of regular activities because everyone is forced to abide by a culture that not everyH one participates in.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Gabby Perelmuter at gperelmuter@hilite.org.

I’m super duper hungry! I wonder what restaurants are open today?

HAPPY HANUKKAH

KE TA T OU

O CL

D SE

N

OPE

OS CL

ED

ED OSED L COS CL

ANGELA SUN | GRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE

DEC 12, 2016 | HOLIDAY SECULARISM

51

SEASONAL SECULARISM Religious basis of the holidays should be celebrated, not hidden.

EMILY DEXTER | COLUMN

L

ike the ticking of a clock in a noisy room, secularism’s steady existence has blended into the background of my life— always there, just not always noticeable. As the winter holidays approach, the reality of secularism becomes all the more apparent; the clock’s ticking becomes more audible.

In our society, putting an inflatable Santa Claus in the front yard is more acceptable than erecting a nativity scene and wishing friends “happy holidays” is more politically correct than saying “Merry Christmas.” The Christmas season has become a time of watching television specials that give little or no mention of the real reason for the festivities and shopping frantically for gifts. Like the money spent on those purchases, the holiday has lost much of its original meaning over time.

In the past, I have received criticism for wishing a friend a “Merry Christmas” and the sting of her words has stuck with me. Ignoring or shaming

individuals whose beliefs differ from our own and are brave enough to be vocal about them is not the answer.

Instead, I hope that as students of a remarkably diverse school, we can all try to be more accepting and supportive of each other in the coming weeks.

My wish is for the revival of Christmas as it is meant to be remembered: as a celebration of the nativity story. Other students’ wishes may differ, but I see no reason to hide my beliefs and traditions because of that possibility. Let us not be afraid to say “Merry Christmas” to friends before leaving for winter break if that is what we celebrate, or to feel comfortable mentioning whatever holidays align with our beliefs.

Even beyond Christmas and the string of coming holidays, my hope is for us to be proud of what we believe in. As the angels proclaimed to the shepherds on that night so long ago, do H not be afraid.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Emily Dexter at edexter@hilite.org.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, FOLKS

REASONS FOR THE SEASON Take a look at the many ways in which Americans differ in why and how they celebrate the holiday season.

26 percent

of Americans say Christmas is a cultural holiday.

74 percent

81 percent

of non-Christians still celebrate Christmas

of Americans say Christmas is a religious holiday.

49 percent

9 in 10

Americans celebrate Christmas

of Americans prefer stores to greet customers with “Happy Holidays”

43 percent

prefer “Merry Christmas”

8 percent GILLIAN PAXTON | GRAPHIC PEW RESEARCH | SOURCE

are unsure.

44 percent

of Americans believe nativity scenes should be allowed on government property

28 percent

believe they should only be allowed with other symbols

20 percent

believe they should not

8 percent are unsure.

52

POST-ELECTION REACTION | DEC 12, 2016

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Students should think rationally about results of the election.

SHIVA VALLABHANENI | COLUMN

A

time of year where we should be united, we are divided. After witnessing the aftermath of the 2016 election, the riots as well as the peaceful protests. It struck me how divided the country really was during this historic election. Many who are protesting in the big cities of Los Angeles and Philadelphia across the nation, are protesting our system of government as well as Trump’s victory.

These protests are petty; they show weakness in our country. Now is the time to show support for our leaders and participate in government. Rather than protesting for a Clinton victory or a Trump loss, people should plan how they can help change or create a policy. As citizens, it’s our job to pay attention to the pertinent issues and see how they change now, not just during election season. This is the moment for the country to come together to create that better America we all envision. Only we the people can enforce change, and that’s not by protest, but by involvement in the lawmaking process.

People are angry, afraid of the Donald Trump presidency, but interestingly, some who protested in fact didn’t vote in the election at all. It’s time for those people, and all citizens to channel that anger by actually getting involved. They can propose laws to local officials and bring up the problems they face. They can send letters to their representatives and protest for rights or reform. In other words, the anger of this election’s outcome can be channeled through the democratic principles this country is built on in more effective ways than protesting.

Some may argue that the presidential election is not as important as Senate and House of Representative elections. Sure the president is the Chief Citizen, our Commander in Chief, but his responsibilities are limited to checks and balances. By voting for Congress, citizens can make the biggest impact by choosing the lawmakers they believe represent them. The mid-term elections of the House of Representatives and the Senate will define the rights those constituents believe in. If you believe in Trump or protest against his presidency, make this next election count.

In a time where the country is so divided, where this vote was so divisive, these protests will not fix anything. Under the U.S. Constitution and law, Donald Trump won, and people need to face

UNITED WE STAND

DID YOU KNOW? According to Gallup, the 2016 election was the first time both major-party candidates were viewed overall negatively by the American public in opinion polls, regardless of party affiliation.

GALLUP | SOURCE

that fact. The likelihood of the Electoral College voting Hillary Clinton in are slim to none. The American population knows these protests will not change the effects of the election, so why do it? This election revealed a lot about this nation. We saw the rise of blue collar workers voting in the election, the rural population finally putting in its vote. After eight years of a liberal America, voters want a change. They wanted to shake up the White House to see if a Donald Trump administration can cause change to improve the country.

The country is in disarray, raging against the machine. After an election that was defined by hate, each candidate aiming to delegitimize the other, these next four years need to be defined by hope. They need to be defined by unity and participation in government. If these protest and riots continue, it will be a battle to preserve or raze the nation.

We’re at a new crossroad of destiny, and whether or not we stand together, or fall divided is up to us. Protests only serve to seethe rage and frustration, but they don’t get much done. That hard work begins now, before the next elections, H not after the fact.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Shiva Vallabhaneni at svallabhaneni@hilite.org.

ELECTION EMOTIONS The results of the election have elicited a wide range of reactions.

Two in five adults described themselves as afraid.

Three in four adults described themselves as surprised.

Two in five adults described themselves as relieved.

GILLIAN PAXTON | GRAPHIC GALLUP | SOURCE

D E C 1 2 , 2 0 1 6 | S P O N TA N E I T Y

53

AND THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

It is healthy and beneficial to be spontaneous.

RAIHA ZAINAB | COLUMN

A

s i was coming home from school one Monday afternoon, instead of going home and spending the next hour attempting to do my homework when, in actuality, I spend it eating everything I can find in my house as I usually do, I decided to go on a bit of an excursion. I dropped my backpack among the fallen leaves and went exploring around my neighborhood. Among the boring old suburban houses, I stumbled upon a small graveyard of long-deceased souls, a small strip of woods where I felt more at home than ever and a new route I had not yet seen before. It was just a simple walk, nothing truly special about it, but along the way I felt a sense of magic in me, an excitement that I rarely find within my typical day-to-day life.

As students, every week is already laid out for us, and we are supposed to simply go through the motions: slug through our Mondays, get a maximum of four to five hours of sleep for the

spontaneity

1. coming or resulting from a natural impulse or tendency; without effort or premeditation; natural and unconstrained; unplanned.

2. (of a person) given to acting upon sudden impulses.

DICTIONARY.COM | SOURCE

OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE

OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE

IN THE COMFORT ZONE

Here are some local ideas for your next spontaneous adventure.

C’EST MA VIE

The Bungalow A quirky and unusual art gallery and home decor shop.

Location: 924 E. Westfield Blvd., Indianapolis, Market Street Catacombs Tour the remains of Tomlinson Hall, an underground labyrinth of limestone pillars Price: $12 Location: Whistler Plaza, 22 E. Market St., Indianapolis West Park Sledding Hill West Park spans 120 acres and once it gets cold, it’s famous for its sledding hill - visitors must bring their own sled, however.

Location: 2700 W 116th St, Carmel Fastimes Indoor Karting A 900 ft. long indoor go-karting track that allows visitors to race karts at speeds up to 40 mph.

Price: $30 Location: 3455 Harper Rd., Indianapolis Go Ape An adventure through the tops of trees, clearing ziplines, “Tarzan Swings”, and other hanging obstacles.

Price: $58 Location: Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis

GILLIAN PAXTON | GRAPHIC ATLAS OBSCURA | SOURCE

noun

[spon-tuh-nee-i-tee, -ney-]

rest of the days of the week as we try to get everything done in time, have slightly more exciting Fridays and Saturdays since we may have more time to do something somewhat fun, but we still stress about everything we have to do, spend our Sunday dreading the next week ahead and finishing all the homework we have left over, wake up early to go back to school the next Monday morning, and repeat.

However, if every single Monday is just meant to be dreadful and boring, then that’s a seventh of your life that’s been nothing but dreadful and boring. If every single Sunday is meant to stress about the week ahead, then that’s another seventh of your life spent stressing. And if every single week is the same as we go through the motions, then what’s left?

The spontaneity and adventure in life often gets lost among our structured seven-day weeks. But the thing about Mondays is that they are only dreadful and boring if you make them out to be. Sundays are only stressful if you let that stress get to you. Go into every Monday, and every other day, excited and positive, rather than deciding it’s going to be horrible prior to even starting the day. Take a few minutes to go on an adventure every now and then, something spontaneous that you wouldn’t typically do. Clear your head and enjoy what life has to offer, because it’s more than a repeating loop.

As I stood among the dead, colorful leaves and the forgotten tombstones, I felt a sense of exhilaration wash over me, one that can only come from being lost. For a moment, I forgot about the typical stressors of life and just walked as the air gust over me, and I felt more myself than ever. And I realized: it is often when we are H lost that we are able to find our true selves.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Raiha Zainab at rzainab@hilite.org.

15 MINUTES

YOUTUBER | DEC 12, 2016

SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION Q&A with senior Elizabeth Shelton, who runs her own popular YouTube channel CORY STEELE | Q&A, PHOTOS

When did you start your channel?

I think I started (my) freshman year.

What type of channel do you have?

I would say it’s a beauty, lifestyle and fashion channel, but my favorite videos to do are the ones where I just sit down and talk or do things that I’m really passionate about. I don’t like limiting myself to beauty, lifestyle and fashion, but I guess it’s kind of the category I fall under.

How many subscribers do you have?

Right now, I think I’m at 201,000.

When did your channel start to take off?

I don’t know; maybe end of 2014, early 2015 is when it really started picking up.

How did you decide upon the name TheElizaRose for your channel?

It’s a funny story … Coming up with my username … So, Elizabeth Rose is apparently a really common name, and I didn’t realize that, and I wanted my username to be the same across the board, so I tried, like, “Liz Rose,” which didn’t really flow, because I usually go by Liz, but I just picked Eliza Rose. And then I was trying different names, different things to put it together, because Eliza Rose was already taken, so I just put “TheElizaRose.” And it sounds weird, because I don’t like saying “I’m the Eliza Rose,” but … People call me Eliza, and I know whenever someone calls me Eliza, it’s because they know me because of my social media. Usually with my friends, they just call me Liz.

SHOOTING STAR: Senior Elizabeth Shelton sits in her bedroom which doubles as her studio.

Shelton films most of her videos in the room.

Do people ever recognize you?

Yes, oh my goodness. It’s so funny; I was in PacSun one time with my friend, and I heard this girl scream, and I looked around because I thought someone got hurt, and then I see that she’s looking at me, so I’m like, “What is she … what did I do?”

And then she goes, “Are you Eliza Rose?” I was like, “...Yes? You know who I am?” It’s just weird, but it was super sweet. She was really nice.

What’s something that you experienced through YouTube that you didn’t expect starting out?

I didn’t expect people to use me quite as much, which is kind of naïve to say, but especially because I started it at such a young age. To be honest, I expected gaining friends from it, but

DEC 12, 2016 | YOUTUBER

55

“For me, it’s more about the message than putting on makeup or showing people my room... it’s about making people happy and sharing my story as well.”

Senior Elizabeth Shelton I was a little bit familiar with them, but also they just fit me super well.

You mentioned you went to a red carpet event. Can you talk about that?

It was for ... Smosh, and they had a movie come out last July. They got me tickets, and I got to bring a friend onto the red carpet with me, and that was super fun. I was super awkward because it was my first red carpet event, and I had no idea what to do; I was shaking so much, but I actually met a lot of cool people there that I’m still friends with.

I didn’t expect losing friends as well.

And that process can happen so fast overnight, and even friends that I made online—the moment that they pass you in followers, they’ll drop you.

Do you work with a network?

Yeah, I’m with AwesomenessTV; they’re based out in Santa Monica, California … they’re owned by Dreamworks, and they have studios down there; they have a whole bunch of managers; they actually got me into events and put me on the red carpet one time. They just help me grow … Once I reached, I want to say, 30,000 subscribers, maybe, I started getting emails from networks like, “We want to work with you, we want to work with you,” and AwesomenessTV caught my eye because I’ve heard of them before, so

Do you plan to eventually support yourself through YouTube?

Do I plan to? I don’t know; do I want to? Definitely. For me, it’s really hard to say that I want to rely on YouTube, just because it’s not your average, nine-to-five job where if you work so many hours, you know how much you’re going to get paid, because with the whole AdSense thing, you really don’t know how much money you’re going to make every month. Supporting myself ... I can’t plan on it right now, where I’m at, but I think in the future if I were to grow a lot, then maybe I could.

How long do you see yourself doing YouTube?

I think until I feel content with the content that I’ve made, and I feel like I’ve done my job, I’ve said my words that I want to say. Because for me, it’s more about the message than putting on makeup or showing people my room and how it looks and stuff like that. For me it’s about making people happy and sharing my story as well. So once I feel like I’ve done that, then I think I’ll be done with YouTube.

SHOOT ‘EM UP: TOP: Senior Elizabeth Shelton types at her computer. This is the computer Shelton uses to edit most of her YouTube videos.

MIDDLE: Shelton edits a video. Shelton said she has improved her video quality through the years by finding a camera that works for her. “I just love Canon in general, how it picks up colors,” she said. “I (have) the Sigma 30 millimeter lens.”

BOTTOM: Shelton sits on her bed with her camera and microphone set up to take audio and video. Of her equipment, Shelton said, “Once you have a nice set-up, it just makes your videos look and feel a lot better.”

Check out Shelton’s channel, TheElizaRose, at youtube.com/user/eshelton14

COVER

ON A NEW TRACK CHS rapper and junior Rashid “RJ” Conteh poses with a microphone in front of the school. Conteh and fellow rapper David Chilemba, also a junior, will release a new mixtape on Dec. 23.

ELLIOT CHOY | PHOTO