Hamilton Southeastern High School September 2018 | Volume 30 | Issue 1
Contents
04 Student Internships
Staffer of the Issue: Hayden Sisemore
A new internship program allows opportunities for students to gain real-life experience.
Hayden always puts the best interests of the publication at heart and that’s evident through his constant hard work. Day in and day out, he can be found working tirelessly to ensure everything runs smoothly.
06 Show Your Spirit Students discuss showing school spirit through dress-up days ahead of Homecoming Week.
08 The Aftermath
Editor-in-Chief Laura Stancato
Years after the attacks on Sept. 11, America experiences changes in various areas of life.
Section Editors Grace Barclay Laurel Black Kersti Hash Ilene Marzke Hayden Sisemore Lilyan Wray
12 Media Mindfulness Constant coverage of violence on the news leads to consequences that Americans must learn to cope with.
14 Southeastern Sports A sports broadcasting class was introduced into the school publications department.
Business Manager Nicholas Bostock
Staff Carson Etheredge Evelyn Lahr Peyton McVeigh Elizabeth Moodispaugh Yashasvi Phougat Sophia Tomlin Megan Tooman Sara Vianna Raegan Walsh Sarah Woodward SSN Contributers Tony Cassiere Henry Fitzgerald Sam Huston Advisers Jordan Klobusnik David Young
Opinion: Swept Under the Rug
The Catholic clergy is under fire after a report highlighting the predator-tendencies of more than 300 priests in six Pennsylvania dioceses was issued by a Grand Jury. The report stated that thousands of sexual abuse cases had been simply swept under the rug by the dioceses. Another situation hits closer to home. The Indianapolis archbishop annonced September 29 that a list of every priest in the Indianapolis Diocese accused of sexual abuse would be released. However, sexual abuse scandals do not end with the Catholic church. Victims of sexual abuse, male and female, come from various different environments—the workplace, Olympic training or even homes. A clear parallel between these cases of sexual abuse is the inadequate measures taken to prevent them. Paid leave is not punishment. The court system does not allow victims of sexual violence or abuse to receive the justice they deserve. According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), out of every 1,000 rapes, only 310 are reported to the police and only six rapists are incarcerated. Perhaps the lack of discipline as well as the tendency of concealing these matters are the direct causes of the high sexual abuse rates in America. The issue is clear. Victims of any crime do not deserve to be pushed aside and treated as if their traumas are unimportant. Hopefully, the future holds a better outcome for victims whose message needs to be heard. Story by Grace Barclay.
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A MOMENT WITH...
Charles HOOVER
Principal shares hobbies, gives advice to students What extracurriculars were you involved in high school? I ran cross country, played golf, basketball and wrestled. I played basketball because I played it with my brothers growing up, but golf was always my favorite sport. My uncle gave me my first set of golf clubs, and now I have been playing for 41 years. What is your favorite high school memory? When I was captain of the freshman B basketball team, I scored 16 points in one game. We won the game by one point and I had the winning shot. What was your first job? I worked for a construction company in high school, and we replaced the floor of the school gymnasium after our high school got hit by a tornado. What is your hidden talent? I love woodworking. I have always liked working with my hands; for me, there is great satisfaction in taking a pile of material and making something useful out of it. I got into woodworking because my dad was always helping someone with some kind of project, and he included my brothers and me in the process. For a few years, my wife and I went to craft shows and also designed and built our dream home. What is your favorite aspect of HSE? I have always felt welcomed here. The students and staff are all friendly, and there is a place for everyone here. It has just been great to be a part of this team. What advice would you give to students for this school year? I would tell students to take advantage of the unique opportunities that are offered at HSE to prepare them for the next step, whether that be college, the work force or the military. For seniors, really enjoy this last year of high school, too.
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Student Internships Seniors benefit as interns
With the addition of the College and Career Academy, HSE is providing students with the opportunity to earn a first-hand college experience. Students are offered many different college level courses to show their full potential and put them on the right track based on possible interests and majors. The goal of the CCA is to customize the learning experience and help create a path towards a potential career. Some students, though, are receiving even more work experience through internships. Scott May, the Director of Internships, helps students transition from finding their passions to then entering that field of interest. May believes that the money and time used on trying to figure out what students want is not necessary, as students can try it now. Regardless of students interests, May guides them to their potential careers by putting them directly into the workfield. If students are unsure of their future aspirations, May has many different options to look at and possibly spark their interest. “You will be asked to turn in a log of your work hours and a few online assignments,” May said. “And a final project of what you learned during your internship”. The internship program not only explores careers, but earns students credits as well. The program requires a few factors. May encourages seniors to think about their passions, what specific strengths they have, and asks ‘What do you want to do for thirty or more years?’. The internship program requires 10 hour weeks, and students can block up to any three periods to meet this time. Based on seniors’ graduation requirements, they can work as an intern all year or one semester. Enrolling in the internship program gives students the opportunity to acquire three credits. Seth Barr is currently working as an intern for Audio Electronics and is enrolled in the program. “The internship program has helped me learn more about the audio industry,” senior Seth Barr said. “It will help me in my future because eventually I would like to own a custom car shop and this gives me a head start”. To be a part of the program, students must be a senior, maintain good attendance, have a history of doing the right thing, desire to do something different, and a mode of transportation to their workplace. Overall, senior students must be willing to put in the effort it takes to be an intern. Although the program is built on the idea of a real-world work environment, students will still recieve grades. The program offers numerous career options including medical, graphic design, physical therapy, veterinarian, public relations, marketing and much more. Seniors do not want to pass up the chance to become equipped with the skills needed for the next year and the rest of their lives. Story and photo by Peyton McVeigh.
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District changes logo, website design Due to the abrupt publication of the newly designed school website during the end of the summer, numerous students wondered why and even how it was changed in such a drastic way. “The website itself had met capacity on its limit to uphold information and data from the numerous sites,” Director of School and Community Relations Emily Abbotts said. “Therefore, district was unable to add to the site with the latest need to create a platform for newer schools.” Additionally, the former website was not made by a professional company, but was rather made internally. Because of this, it did not have the ability to uphold certain design features and had limited capacity to add additional information. The district administrators wanted to create a new site for more than a year, which is how long the process took. “As for the logo, it was created by the company Miles Hernden,” Abbotts said. “It has more of an overreaching theme for the entire district of Hamilton Southeastern.” The district’s seal is still going to be prevalent in the schools, but it won’t be included on the site any longer. “Although the site is now of different appearence, the district continues to aim to create a user friendly domain for all.” In the future, the individual schools will be adding information specialized towards them. Story by Sophia Tomlin.
What is your opinion on the new website?
“With the school constantly ‘updating’ the website it makes our lives even more confusing. We get a different program every couple of years, which just eats up more of our time.” Tyler Trissel, 12
“At first I thought I clicked the wrong link, because it changed overnight. I dont think it was smart to change [the website] because it’s harder to navigate and not user friendly.” Amanda Barrett, 11
“I was a little overwhelmed at first, however it is a great change for students and for the image. Parents may have a difficult time processing the change in setup.” Aaliyah Taylor, 10
“I think it is really helpful. I havent used it much, but when I have used it I got to the stuff I needed quickly and easily.” Xander Watson, 9
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Dialect and Thought
Bilingual students connect culture and language Identity and perception are like language; similar to words, they sometimes do not have an exact translation. To try showing others how you see the world is often as hard as trying to pronounce a word in a foreign language. One’s tongue twists and curls and although it makes sense in one’s head, others may not quite understand. When thinking about perceptions of the world, experiences usually come to mind: the way one holds on or lets go of memories, the lessons learned from mistakes, the stories that are read and written. The world is seen as the things done and the things that happen and language, though not often considered, plays big part in perception. “Being bilingual definitely changed the way I see the world,“ Daniela Martinez, a student from Mexico, said. “ but honestly, I don’t think it was the language itself but the people who spoke it. I saw many cultural differences between them and at the same time they were all the same. It’s exciting to learn a new language.” Junior Emilio Rios-Rojas is also bilingual. His parents only lived in the United States for two years before he was born, so he grew up speaking two languages.
“When you can speak more than one language, you can speak with a lot more people you thought you ever could.” Rios-Rojas said. “It makes you wonder about all the other languages out there and inspires you to learn more of them.” Additionally, Rios-Rojas discussed the impact language had in his own perception of the world. “I see myself as culturally aware. I feel as if I have a better understanding on how the world functions. Learning a new language is something I feel people overlook. It shouldn’t be a class just to get the credit. You should want to learn a language and then travel to be able to use that skill.” These students’ experiences are unique yet they are not the only ones who benefit from speaking more than one language. The field of psychology has studied bilingualism and its effects and benefits, as well. “The more language you know, the more open you are to thinking,” social studies teacher Brian Catt said. “[Bilingualism] has so many benefits as far as mental processing: He also explains how language can shape the way one thinks. “There are some cultures that don’t have words for numbers. They have a word which means one, a word which means a few, and a word which means many. How are you going to do advanced science and advanced mathematics [if you only have these words]? So, how a person’s language develops culturally does impact the depth and breadth of their thinking.” Ultimately, learning new languages has opened many doors for those who speak them. They have gained a new perspective, a new way of thinking, a new way of seeing the world. All in all, each person’s experience is unique and personal; it has no translation. However, all of these different people and their different views of the world connect and find themselves; they do it through language. Story and photo by Sara Vianna. Lower Photo by Lily Wray.
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Show Your Spirit
Spirit days for Homecoming Week (Sept. 17-21)
MONDAY DENIM
THURSDAY DECADES
WEDNESDAY MOVIE CHARACTER
TUESDAY SAFARI
FRIDAY ROYAL PRIDE
Why is it important to participate in Spirit Week? “Participating in spirit week is a great way to be involved and wear interesting clothes.” Tyler Schweitzer, 12
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“It’s important to show school spirit because it is a fun way to get involved in the school culture.” Daisy Myers, 12
“It’s always fun to participate in spirit week with your friends and see who is willing to take it to the next level.” Jesse Wagner, 11
9 / 11
Deadly attacks shape American history On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 Americans witnessed a historical series of attacks that changed the country for years to come. On behalf of terrorist group al-Qaeda, passenger jets crashed into the north and south tower of the United States World Trade Center in New York City. Within an hour of the first two terrorist strikes, American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 plunged into a field in Somerset County, Pa. Instantly following the first attack, headlines flooded national news stations and normal daily functions ceased to continue. Citizens across the country stared in shocked silence as they witnessed the day’s events. Family members desperately attempted to contact members of the flights as children watched television screens at school in a daze of confusion. The first attack, on the north tower of the World Trade Center, left a hole in the building near floor 80 and trapped those in the floors above. Just 18 minutes later, the south tower was struck at floor 60, ensuring that the first strike was no accident. The United States was under
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attack, which became even more evident as two more planes were hijacked and sent crashing down into the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. Allegedly, the al-Qaeda terrorists acted out against the United States due to the support the U.S. provided for Israel, along with their actions in the Persian Gulf War. The attacks were financed by Osama bin Laden, founder of al-Qaeda who was killed by American soldiers in 2001. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the Sept. 11 attacks, including all 19 terrorist hijackers. The day also became the deadliest day in history for New York City firefighters, as 343 were killed in efforts to save as many lives as possible. President George W. Bush provided Americans with the following message as he attempted to move the country forward in a time of crisis: “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.” Introduction by Laura Stancato. Photo by Laurel Black.
The Aftermath
America after September 11 attacks The terrorist attacks that took place on Sept. 11 were marked as the nation’s deadliest strikes in U.S. history since the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City six years prior. The American people were left in a state of unrest as they had never seen such a disastrous, yet elaborately, planned invasion before. This left responsibility to the government to calm the unsettled citizens of America and it would take years for order to be re-established again. “I was actually proctoring an ISTEP test and we didn’t get out of that until around 11 am,” Social Studies teacher Connie Ables-Rigsbee said. “By then everything had already happened and everyone who hadn’t been testing already knew about the attacks. It was hard to comprehend. Televisions were on in every room and we were all taking it in. I mostly remember driving home that day because everyone was driving slowly, it felt like everyone was very sad.” One of the first steps legislators took to help protect U.S. citizens was the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, also known as the USA-PATRIOT Act, which was signed by former President George W. Bush. This body of law allowed the government to accomplish measures that attempt to prevent terrorism, such as the ability to use surveillance and wire tapping to investigate terror-related crimes and obtain search warrants in areas with possible terrorist activity. It also permits federal agents to ask permission from federal courts to possess bank and business records, as well as make it more difficult for foreigners who are suspected to be involved in terrorist activity to enter the United States. Following this, 48 bills and resolutions were signed into law, border security was enhanced and 263 government agencies were created or reorganized. One of the aftereffects of Sept. 11 that still plays a role in the nation today is the Department of Homeland Security, especially seen in heightened airport security. “We are much more aware of our weaknesses in being targeted by terrorists,” AblesRigsbee said. “However, I trust my government and military, and truly believe that they try to do the right thing with the citizens of other countries. There are just a lot of things to consider; therefore, things can go wrong.” These events then led the government to shift its focus to rebuilding and securing the country. The security process to board a plane was originally controlled by the individual airport, but later changed after Congress created The Aviation and Transportation Security Act. With the government in control of airport security, new machines were added to detect any weapons or explosives, and new requirements, including the removal of shoes and banned liquids were set in place. Airline companies also added locks on cockpit doors and gave pilots the option to become a federal officer in case of emergency.
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Two beams from the World Trade Center stand tall in Indianspolis to pay tribute to the victims of Sept. 11, 2001.
from states who were not directly hit, it especially The severity of the attacks also brought a necessity for impacted those who were close to the attacks. change within the media. Previously, videos of tragic Laurie Dawley, mother of senior Elyse Dawley, vividly events like the JFK assassination and the explosion of recalls the day as she lived in New York the Space Shuttle Challenger were “All I could think about at the time. broadcast on television for the public. was Anne, my college “On the morning of Sept. 11, all I could For the first time though, videos of the roomate and our many think about was Anne, my college attacks were reviewed for their content before being aired. News channels friends who either worked roommate and our many friends who either worked at the Twin Towers did this with the hope of avoiding the at the Twin Towers airing of content too graphic or or nearby. Anne went to or nearby,” Dawley said. “Anne went to the doctor that morning and she disturbing to the viewers. the doctor that morning would’ve died as the floor she worked The media began to cover more on and she would’ve died on sustained a direct hit from the foreign policy rather than domestic issues. Thus, making topics like as the floor she worked plane. Another close friend, Tom, died terrorism a new focus for viewers on sustained a direct hit that day, leaving a wife and three kids. Others we know are now suffering and reporters. from the plane.” While the magnitude of this day from PTSD or life-long injuries from brought changes the nation’s government, security and trying to escape.” media, the perspective of the people was also drastically Sept. 11, 2001 will always be an incident Americans altered across the country. The population of the United will always remember. Its aftermath continues to play a States mourned for the 2,996 Americans who lost their role in today’s society and the memory aids Americans lives that day. in preparing and protecting the country from future Although the influence of the events affected citizens invasions. Story by Laurel Black and Sarah Woodward
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Teachers Look Back
Staff recall how they remember Sept. 11 attacks “I remember the day very vividly. It was my first year working as an assistant principal at a predominantly Muslim school. I was getting ready for work, watching TV and ironing clothes and I heard “Breaking News.” I just got goosebumps, seeing what was going on. I couldn’t wrap my brain around who could do this or why someone would do something like this. I remember thinking about my friends who worked at the [World Trade Center] and absolutely freaking out. We had never seen something like this on US soil ever, so this broke every sense of security I ever had. That day brought out so much ugliness in people that I got a call from the fire chief and he said ‘I already spoke to the police. I think you need to close school for a couple days.’ The other school, which was an Islamic private school, had students who were attacked on their way into school. We couldn’t open our school for two weeks.” Wafa Safi, Science
“I was taking a walk and I came back to see on the news that something happened. At first, we [said] ‘Well, it was an accident’ and then the second [plane] hit we [thought] ‘What the heck’. People were angry, people were fearful and a lot of bad stuff happened, especially to people who looked Arabic, or you could be discriminated with racial differences. It was hard because there wasn’t much you could do. I know people who joined the military to try to help. There was a before 9/11 and after 9/11 in America, I grew up in a time when the Berlin Wall had just fallen, and it was like ‘Wow this is great, there’s peace between the Soviet Union and the United States and there is this great hope that we could do awesome stuff. Then 9/11 happened and that changed.” Nichole Mathews, Foreign Language
“I was in the eighth grade and just down the street on Olio Road at the junior high. I knew something was wrong early on when the event started to take place. I noticed my teacher was abnormally on her computer emailing back and forth, and she was on the phone quietly. I think George W. Bush’s presidency was defined by what happened on 9/11. When I talk about that event in my Government, Economics and Current Issues classes things like the Executive Branch, the Transportation Security Administration the Homeland Security, which were developed right after 9/11 in 2002 are things that younger individuals expect. Transport security changed immensely, as well as cities and security and law enforcement. Before 9/11, I was not interested in politics and I wasn’t much interested in current events, it opened up a world I did not know existed beforehand.” Jason Marer, Social Studies “I was a freshman at Indiana University and I just remember everyone in the dorm halls going crazy. At first everyone thought it was an accident, that a plane accidently hit the World Trade Center. But then the second plane hit and we all realized it was a terror attack. My initial reactions were confusion, disbelief, sadness and fear. I watched it live as the towers collapsed and it is something I will never forget. I think [the attack] made everyone do a little soul searching. It made me worry about the security of our country, of myself, of my future children, and of humanity. I think we can learn tat the decisions we make as a country has worldwide implications.” Kirk Webber, Mathematics
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Media Mindfulness
Consuming information wisely in the modern world Americans live in a world with a strong media presence that continues to increase as social media gains popularity. Not only are there countless sources available, but digital technology makes it easy to access this information. Consequently, it can be difficult to control the type of content that is published. Ideas are able to quickly spread and people are becoming more aware of relevant issues. However, violent stories typically receive priority coverage by the media, which could lead to psychological harm for the consumer. This raises to the concern of whether or not media outlets should continue extensive coverage on violence. “[The media should not stop giving extensive coverage to crisis] because it’s important to stay informed on what happened in the other end of the country or even in your own state.” Senior Sophia Zhang said. “I think the most important thing, though, while giving coverage to these issues, is to minimize the glamorization of these events.” Desensitization is the decrease in attention towards violence after constant long-term exposure, which is a scenario that the media creates. One tragedy after another is pushed into the spotlight before eventually fading into obscurity. The outcome is a scenario where extreme situations become the norm and news outlets primarily focuses on these extremities. “We need to become more aware of how we address tragedies and how that affects people,” senior Erin Larkin said. “But without knwledge and awareness, I don’t think we will ever be able to fundamentally make a change and better our nation.” Additionally, studies have shown that coverage of violence in the media leads to an increase in general violent behavior. This includes copycat situations from those who are inspired by the violence. According to the Educator’s School Safety Network, 638 threats were made against schools around the country within two weeks of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. The media’s main focus on disturbing events could have contributed to these threats. At this point, the media has a platform that will not diminish any time soon in America. It is in everyone’s hands to be aware of how their consumption affects them as individuals. Story by Megan Tooman.
Differences in Other Countries
“[Steryotyping] “In Mexico, the violence is is something I’ve harsh unlike the US where experienced before in the mental aspects are Spain, but it’s more more traumatic.” violence than steroytyping. Damiela Martinez, 10 The effect is different in the US; there’s less violence but more steryotyping.” Sam Pascual, 10 Orb
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“People in America are nicer than people in Russia. The way certain political issues are dealt with in American are not as harsh as they would be in Russia.” Julia Sermigaina, 12
In the US, they look at you like a normal person because they don’t was to ruin their reputation, unlike where I’m from they treat you how you want to be treated.” Gena Eweda, 9
Modern-Day Conflicts Mass Shootings
Terrorist Attacks
According to the Gun Violence Archive, more than 200 mass shootings have occured in America this year.
Our World In Data reports more than 100 thousand terrorism-related deaths across the world since 2013. This is the highest five-year period in human history.
Drug Overdoses
Natural Disasters
DrugAbuse.gov reports an average of 115 opioid overdoses daily in the US.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresecent Societies, an average of more than 90 thousand disaster-related casualties occur each year.
Involvement In World Problems
“Students can get more involved in the world by first being informed of the world around them. Once this is done, you can find where problems exist and apply yourself to see what you can do to help.” Joseph Moodispaugh, 12
“The best way to get students involved would be to volunteer and see the problems themselves. This could even change their views on the world, and possibly influence them to make our community a better place.” Aaliyah Taylor, 10
“Average students can become more involved by actually trying to learn more about things this world is struggling with. [Students can also become more involved] by joining clubs or doing community work that involves humanity.” Kamaiah Norris,10
“[Students] can join certain clubs at school or join other groups in the community to help problems they are passionate about.” Zach Hagen, 11
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Southeastern Sports Network
Seniors Sam Huston, Henry Fitzgerald discuss new sports broadcasting class What is Southeastern Sports Network? SH: Southeastern Sports Network (SSN) is a new, student-led sports journalism class where students take in-class information and apply it to various sportsrelated coverage.
What kinds of coverage will you provide? HF: We have organized ourselves into six main sections. Those are the traditional broadcast on HSETV, live broadcasts, online stories, a talk show, social media coverage and content in the Orb.
Why did you want to join this class? HF: We wanted to join SSN because we felt as though there was a need [for sports coverage] at the school. Sports are a massive part of the culture at our school. We though that a network to provide in-depth analysis would be beneficial to everyone.
Who should look into joining this class? SH: Everyone should consider joining SSN, especially those interested in sports and multimedia journalism. SSN is unique because there’s something for everyone, whether you want to practice sports broadcasting or writing.
Will SSN solely provide coverage about school sports? SH: The network will not solely focus on sports events at the school. SSN will also cover big stories in collegiate and professional sports across the county.
What are you most excited for in this class? HF: I am most excited to see how the sports network is able to serve the school. We have an opportunity to leave a legacy at the school after we graduate and establish SSN as an integral part in the school for years to come.
The Dirt on the Mudsock Upon separation of FHS and HSE in 2007, the rivalry was born. Dub and Jeanne Clark, graduates of the original Fishers High School in 1941 and longtime Fishers residents, chose to sponsor and fund the Mudsock trophies.
The city of Fishers was once a small town named Mudsock. Many areas around Fishers are known to be wetlands, and the nickname was coined when travelers getting off of the train would step in mud puddles.
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Each sport competes for their own individual Mudsock trophy as well as one point for their school’s win tally. The school with the most wins after the school year takes home the overall Mudsock trophy. the trophy holds a chain of 10 blue “H”s and one red “F”.
Over the 11 years, the competition has become fiercer, but off the field, the friendships still exist between Tigers and Royals. “We battle on the field, but we are friends after. And I think that’s what I enjoy the most,” Athletic Director Jim Self said.
A Shock to Sports
September 11 attacks influence American sports The attacks that took place on September 11th, 2001 resulted in seemingly never-ending turmoil and sadness. Looking for answers and mourning the loss of thousands, the United States needed something to turn to, something to lean on. This “something” came in the place of many things: family, friends, and yes, sports. Sports give people the opportunity find common ground, even when they could not disagree more politically. On October 30th of 2001, nearly 50 days after the attacks of September 11th, President George W Bush would set an example for the United States, with the help of sports. Immediately following 9/11, like the rest of the country, sports stood still. Major League baseball postponed games for five days after the attacks. The National Football League moved the games on September 16th to the end of the season. The PGA Tour cancelled a tournament in St. Louis the weekend after September 11th, something that only happened a handful of times due to weather. On Oct. 7, President Bush delivered inspiring words to the nation: “We will not waver, we will not tire, we will not falter and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail.” Due to the postponed games after 9/11, the World Series for Major League Baseball was pushed back and did not commence until October 27th. The New York Yankees represented the American League in the World Series that year, looking for their fourth consecutive World Series title, they played at
Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, about 10 miles away from Ground Zero. On the other side were the Arizona Diamondbacks, searching for their first World Series title. The storylines were endless, however, prior to Game 1 in Arizona, Fox Announcer Joe Buck declared, “But tonight, the biggest story of them all is that the World Series is being played” The first two games were won by the Diamondbacks, making the following three games in New York “mustwin” for the Yankees. On top of this, game three in New York City was emotional beyond belief. A city targeted by terrorists that took the lives of firefighters, police officers, friends, neighbors and everyone in between was back in the national spotlight, on the biggest stage. And yet, the biggest story was not baseball. It was that President George Bush was going to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Sporting a “FDNY” jacket, the President walked onto the field and was met with deafening applause. President Bush was waving to the people of New York City, as well as the rest of the country, almost to say: “we are going to be okay”. With little hesitation, the President stepped onto the mound and delivered a perfect strike over home plate. Other than a bullet-proof vest, Bush was vulnerable, the leader of the free world walking onto a baseball diamond by himself months after the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil ever: an incredible act of courage that symbolized a nation moving forward and still a nation that would never forget. Story by Henry Fitzgerald.
Photo by Raegan Walsh
Athlete of the Issue
Taylor Shelton
Trait: Leadership Shelton is a senior and varsity girls volleyball player, and primarily plays as a right-side hitter. She has played volleyball since her freshman year. “Taylor has great intensity [and] leadership skills, which she shows on and off the court.” Jason Young, Girls Volleyball Coach “Being a Royal is very important and I take much pride in it.” Taylor Shelton, 12 HSENews.com
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As we look back on the events of Sept. 11, 2001, it may be hard to fully understand the magnitude of emotion that swept the nation. Most of us were either too young to remember the events, or were not even born, thus we cannot establish a connection with the attacks. However, for our family members, our teachers and administrative members across the school, district and even state, Sept. 11 holds a different meaning for each individual that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. In this issue of the Orb, we chose to look back at 9/11, but also look forward in our daily lives as students. Through new innovative courses or programs offered at the school, a variety of backgrounds coming together to make one Royal family and finding common interests that unite us all, we continue to move forward as a student body each and every day. We hope you will flip through this issue with a rememberance for those who were affected by tragedy, but also with a positive mindset for our future as Royals.