May 1 Issue

Page 1

Striving to maintain balanced coverage for all

CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL

ACUMEN

(I,ITE . . .

An in-depth look at the arts See Section C

PROM Your guide for this year’s dance See Section P

MAY 1, 2008

520 E. Main Street

Carmel, IN 46032-2299

(317) 846-7721, WWW.HILITE.ORG

Volume 53, Issue 13

Clinton’s visit precursor to primary GO ONLINE For more on the President’s visit, go online to WWW. HILITE.ORG for pictures, video, related stories and more.

BY JACLYN CHEN jchen@hilite.org The pounding beat of country music, the daunting American flag hanging front and center and the roar of the crowd were only appropriate to welcome to school Monday morning former President Bill Clinton. Clinton, here to stump for wife Senator Hillar y Clinton before Indiana’s primary on Tuesday, spoke to over 4,000 students, faculty and community members. Principal John Williams said that he was surprised when he received

the phone call Saturday night but thought it was unique opportunity for this school. Williams said, “Politics aside, what a historical moment this was for all of our students.” During his 40-minute speech, Clinton spoke about the state of the economy and the “critical juncture our country is in.” He also discussed the Senator’s Clinton’s policies on efficient energy, health reform and the War in Iraq. Student Body President Dan Frascella had the chance to meet Clinton after his speech.

Frascella said, “The chance that Indiana will matter (in the primaries) again, let alone having a president come to school, is pretty slim, so this was a great opportunity to meet him.” Andrew Chernoff, who reported live for CHTV during the rally, said that he learned about from the media’s point of view. He said, “It’s so exciting to see him, despite any political affiliations. There’s only ever been 43 presidents and to see one in person is fantastic.” Clinton’s visit and speech will be rebroadcast on CHTV throughout this week and next.

ELECTIONS ’08

CAMP OBAMA: Beatina Theopold, Clay Township Organizer of the Obama campaign, talks to the members of the Obama Club here. Younger voters are turning out in greater numbers for this year’s primary election than for previous ones.

Tough Choices

NANCY TAN / PHOTO

As the state primary date nears, political sentiments build in one of the most polarizing elections in recent history BY ROSEMARY BOEGLIN rboeglin@hilite.org

S

eniors Stevan Stankovich and Scott Williamson have good timing. They are eligible to vote this year and both are registered. They have sorted through the ideologies of the candidates and decided they want a Democrat in office. Both students are just in time to vote in the first influential Indiana state primary since Nixon and Kennedy. “It is amazing for my first time voting to be involved in such a critical election. I could not have been more lucky to get to start voting this year,” said Stankovich, a moderate Democrat who supports Hillary Clinton. Williamson, also a Democrat, said, “I am a strong supporter of Barack Obama and want to do whatever possible to help him wrap up the Democratic nomination.” This year, the Indiana Democratic primary takes place on Tuesday with Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on the ballot. According to Mary Beth Schneider of The Indianapolis Star, this is the first time in two decades that Indiana has been influential in the Democratic primary. Alicia Smith, U.S. Histor y and U.S. Government teacher, said that Indiana’s newfound importance in the national elections has affected Carmel. “I think it is creating more excitement because people are hearing about presidential candidates campaigning in Indiana and this is helping to generate more interest at the state and local level as well,” she said. Because Indiana’s primary is of consequence this year, Williamson said that it is meaningful for every person to vote. “Especially in Hamilton County, where Democrats are such a minority, every vote counts for the Democratic Primary. As far as support goes, I think that organizing works like the movie ‘Pay it Forward,’ where every person you

MAKING A POINT: Former President Bill Clinton delivers a speech Monday morning. His visit is on behalf of wife Senator Hillary Clinton’s bid to win the Democratic nomination.

bring to your side might reach out to a few more people, creating a strong, grassroots campaign. So everyone can play an important role,” Williamson said. Obama and Clinton know that Indiana is important this year, too. Kip Tew, the chairperson of Obama’s Indiana campaign, told Schneider, “I anticipate an all-out campaign here in Indiana.” Similarly, Clinton’s Hoosier campaign chairperson Joe Hogsett said in an interview with Schneider, “It’s exciting, the voice of Indiana Democrats will be heard.” Williamson echoes Hogsett’s statement, but specifically pertaining to young Hoosiers. “I think Indiana youth will be very excited to have a say in this election,” Williamson said. Williamson said he is enthusiastic about the campaign and elections in general. “I have been following the campaign since the beginning, and knew that I would be supporting a Democrat,” he said. “ Initially I was attracted to Obama for his person life story and the lack of Bush or Clinton in his name.” Stankovich was drawn to Clinton for the exact opposite reason. “Well, what first interested me (in Clinton) was that I was a big fan of Bill Clinton, so I thought I would like Hillary as well,” he said. After Williamson’s initial gravitation toward Obama, he said he dug deeper and said he only found more to support about him. “After doing more research, I found that I agreed with the majority of Obama’s policy ideas. I also believe that his abilities to speak, persuade and build up political coalitions would make him an excellent president who could unite the country and overcome Washington gridlock,” Williamson said. Stankovich was also confir med in his preference for Clinton after further investigation. “The core reason I support Hillary is after researching both candidates, I saw Hillary Clinton had the values that really matter to me,” he said. “She is trying to get

universal health care coverage for Americans, which is long over due. She knows how Washington works and has the experience to fight for what needs to be done in America. She also supports the middle class and wants to decrease taxes for the Americans who make $200,000 dollars or less and roll back the Bush tax cuts for the absurdly wealthy. She is also going to try to make college more affordable. Finally, and most importantly, she has the experience, passion and drive to fight to change America for the better.” Even though Williamson said that he is a strong supporter of a Democratic

SEE PRIMARY, PAGE 3

QUICK FACTS • 72 delegates to be awarded proportionally from the results of Indiana’s May 6 primary election • 12 super delegates: 5 support Clinton, 3 support Obama, 4 are uncommitted SUPPORT CLINTON: Joe Andrew, former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Evan Bayh, Senator Phoebe Crane, DNC member Dan Parker, Indiana Dem. Party Chairman Bob Pastrick, DNC member SUPPORT OBAMA: Cordelia Lewis-Burks, Indiana Dem. Party vice chairwoman Andre Carson, U.S. representative Connie Thurman, DNC member INDIANAPOLIS STAR / SOURCE

JOHN SHI / PHOTO

Elections officials enact new policies BY MICHAEL WANG AND LEXI MUIR mwang@hilite.org, lmuir@hilite.org For sophomore Adam Burns, his dreams of becoming Junior Class vice president are finally within reach because the elections for class officer and Senate begin next Tuesday and end on May 9. Burns said, “I really just wanted to get more involved in school. I have good leadership skills. I like getting involved and I like to think that I am a good person. I would love to get people to vote for me and win.” Despite the excitement from possible candidates, like Burns, who are eager to begin campaigning, according to Assistant Principal Amy Skeens-Benton, who has been in charge of student elections for two years, there have been several new policies implemented this year, which, including the upcoming class officer and Senate election also applied to last week’s Student Body President and Speaker of the House elections. Skeens-Benton mentioned these new policies to the candidates at a mandatory meeting on April 2. She said candidates running for Student Body President and Speaker of the House could not spend any more than $150 for campaign materials and candidates running for class officer and Senate cannot spend any more than $75. According to her, this budget limit was enforced this year because in past years some candidates have spent lavish amounts of money on campaigning. After the election ends, she said all candidates, including the ones who did not win, will have to turn in a budget form to verify they adhered to the new policy. If a candidate wins but didn’t adhere to this new policy, Skeens-Benton said, “We may have to go with the next candidate.” In addition to the new budget limit, students could only campaign beginning on April 21 if they were running for Student Body President or Speaker of the House and can start this Tuesday if they plan to run for a class officer or Senate position. Ways to campaign include T-shirts, posters, fliers, Internet, candy and freebies. Under the new restrictions, according to SkeensBenton, the Internet would be the best and easiest way to campaign. Though some candidates have already made support groups on Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace, Skeens-Benton said those new groups need to stay inactive until campaigning officially begins, which was agreed upon by all the candidates at the April 2 mandatory meeting. She said, “(Students) have already set up pages. We had to get people to agree that they didn't have to put down the site but it had do be inactive for right now. Then they can reactivate it at the time of campaigning. You cannot be sending (any messages) out.” Despite the new policies this year in regards to elections, Skeens-Benton said the voting process will remain the same. In order to be eligible to run for class officer and Senate, candidates need to turn in their forms by tomorrow. Skeens-Benton said she will tell candidates who the class officers and Senate members are on May 9, and winners will be announced to the school on May 12.

ADDITIONAL CAMPAIGN RULES • 50 8.5 X 11 and five poster board signs in total may be posted by each candidate • No signs or posters may be posted outside of the cafeterias or cafeteria commons area • Campaign materials may not be distributed during class time or SRT

WEEKEND PATROL

AMY SKEENS-BENTON / SOURCE

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COMING UP IN CONCERT

GO ONLINE

Devotchka May 10, 6 p.m. The Vogue Tantric May 13, 8 p.m. The Vogue The Hives May 17, 7:30 p.m. The Vogue

What’s the cow saying? Submit responses online at HILITE.ORG

OPENING TOMORROW “Iron Man” “Made of Honor” “Fugitive Pieces” “Redbelt” “Mister Lonely” “Son of Rambow”

BRITNEY CHEN / PHOTO

Level: medium

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