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HALLOWEEN CANDY DANGERS
Hamilton Southeastern High School Volume 31 | Issue 2
CBD DILEMMA, STIGMA
COLLEGE APPLICATION TIPS
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For months, a Facebook post urging people to raid Area 51 in search of alien life has been the inspiration for thousands of memes across numerous platforms. A real-lif event was planned, but the popularity of the joke has prompted numerous people to question how the gag began went viral.
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HALLOWEEN HYSTERIA..................................,,............4 BENEFITS, STIGMA OF CBD PRODUCTS...................................5 VALUING SENSES: ANNA GIBSON............................................................6 COLLEGE APPLICATION TIPS................................................................................7 SOCIAL MEDIA’S ROLE IN HUMOR...........................................................................8 NEW AGE HUMOR............................................................................................................9 EVOLUTION OF COMEDY, HUMOR.........................................................................10 MOST POPULAR MEMES......................................................................................11 FUTURE OF FISHERS.....................................................................................12 SMALL BUSINESS AROUND FISHERS........................................13 POWDER PUFF GALLERY..............................................14 ATHLETE MENTAL HEALTH.............15
STAFF MEMBERS PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
MORALE COORDINATOR
EDITORS
STAFF MEMBERS
Hayden Sisemore
Grace Barclay Lucas Bisesi Kennedy Fisher Peyton McVeigh Sophia Tomlin
PHOTOGRAPHY COORDINATORS Megan Tooman Sarah Woodward
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Elizabeth Moodispaugh Kathryn Collins Emily Crousore Vivianna Esqueda Kyra Jones Lainee Kirk Lauren Riina Jamie Whitesell
BUSINESS MANAGER Evan McDonald
ADVISERS THE ORB
Jordan Klobusnik David Young
STAFF SHOUT-OUT LAINEE KIRK STAFFER
Lainee is consistently the first to complete her assignments, and her work requires little editing from advisers or editors. She always works efficiently and never distracts others from their work. Mission Statement: The Orb staff is dedicated to bringing interesting, relevant and important news to students and faculty at the school. The staff also focuses on upholding media
A MOMENT WITH...
ASA SURIANO
ENGLISH TEACHER WITH 14.3K FOLLOWERS DISCUSSES SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT, RISE OF PLATFORM Why did you decide to start a social media account? I started a pro-age wellness blog a while back and created an Instagram account for my readers. I had no idea it would resonate with so many people. What kind of content do you post? My focus is healthy aging, so I post about non-toxic products, pro-age quotes and tips and motivation for aging on one’s own terms. Who is your target audience? Mostly women older than 40 who do not want to look younger necessarily, but do want to look and feel good as they age withoutresorting to surgery, injections or toxic anti-aging products. Do you feel that you relate to this group of people? Absolutely. I am older than 40 and have an autoimmune disease. I stopped coloring my hair when I was diagnosed and switched to non-toxic cleaning and personal care products a couple years ago after learning that some chemicals in these products could make my symptoms worse. More and more women are being diagnosed with chronic illnesses every day and they often look for answers on social media. What do you hope to achieve with your social media presence? I want to inspire other women to ditch the [hair] dye, make cleaner, safer choices with their personal care products for their health and embrace the idea that youth is an attitude and beauty is ageless. What inspires you to keep your account going? My followers inspire me. I have made so many connections with women thanking me for sharing my story and information. Do you think social media can be a platform for change? Absolutely. My “Silver Sisters” are a growing group of empowered women refusing to accept societal beauty standards and we are making waves. Knowledge is power and social media can be a platform for education. The more people who know about our woefully unregulated beauty industry and learn about the carcinogens and endocrine disrupters in the products they are using on themselves and their children, the better. Beauty companies are taking notice and are changing their ingredients safety while legislation is being drafted.
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HALLOWEEN HYSTERIA TAMPERED CANDY: FACT OR URBAN LEGEND? As the days grow shorter and the leaves change colors, the fall season has arrived, and with that comes Halloween. For one night, only once a year, children and teens alike leave their real lives behind and transform themselves into someone, or something, entirely new. Princesses, monsters and superheroes marching around from house to house, asking for sweets and treats to devour in the dark of night, hours after their curfew. For centuries, Halloween was a time filled with costumes, ghost stories and children running door to door asking neighbors for candies, until everything changed. October 31, 1974, the city of Deer Park, Tex., was forever changed when Ronald Clark O’Bryan targeted his eight-year-old son, Timothy O’Bryan, and four other children by giving them cyanide-laced pixie sticks. Timothy was the only one to consumed the drugged treat which resulted in his death. The story of ‘The Candyman’ spread like wildfire across the country, launching the population into a state of hysteria for generations to come. Mothers, fathers, and even authority figures feared for the safety of their children on Halloween night. However, the heinous crimes committed by O’Bryan lead to the belief that random strangers were messing with Halloween candy before passing it out to unsuspicious children was in full force. Police reports of tampered Halloween candy have increased since 1974, although these reports have inevitably turned out to be a humorless joke on local law enforcement. After years of false accusations, the genuine terror
slowly turned to an urban legend, but the threat is still present in today’s society. In 2000, Minneapolis resident James Joseph Smith became the first person to charged with altering a substance with intent to cause death, passing out candy bars he had pricked with a needle. This fear became reality to a Hamilton County family three years ago when a thirteenyear-old girl bit into a razor blade hidden away in her Three Musketeers candy bar, sending her to the hospital for her injuries. Despite the small percentage of real cases surrounding razor blades and poisonous substances hidden in children’s candy, parents and even HSE staff are split on their views and concerns. “It’s definitely something I get a little worried about,” Science teacher and parent Kacy Brobst said. “But it’s nothing in the forefront of my Halloween concerns, I make sure to check my children’s candy for anything suspicious and we make sure we only go to house that we know to avoid anything.” “I have no concerns, I think it’s more of an urban legend than a real concern,” English teacher and parent Jacquie Carson said. “I mostly go through my children’s candy to see what I can steal.” No matter if tampered candy is a genuine worry or nothing more than an urban myth, Halloween is a time for sweets and treats and costumes for everyone to enjoy. Story by Kathryn Collins.
DO YOU THINK GHOSTS ARE REAL? “I don’t believe in ghosts because if they were real wouldn’t we have already discovered them? [Regarding the evidence that people who do believe find], I think the evidence is made up. The people who do believe are from Area 51. ” Isaiah Kegley, 10
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“I don’t believe in ghosts because when we say that we feel the presence of ghost we usually just make it up. Certain subliminal sounds or visuals, like a flicker of a light or a branch scratching on your window, have been proven to resonate at the exact frequency that causes hallucinations to appear in your brain that makes you feel uneasy even though it’s really all in your head.” Kendally Moore, 11
“I believe in ghosts. I have had interactions with them when I was younger and the experiences I encounter have stuck with me to this day. I was 12 years old and I heard a noise coming from my bedroom closet that sounded like a little girl talking, freaking out I go to open my closet door and the handle was burning hot. Now confused I got a wash cloth and opened the door to see all my clothes and toys on the floor and saw a figure in the corner of my closet before it quickly disappeared. Andrea Burgin, 12
“I do believe in ghosts because I have lived in a house in the past that my family believes to be haunted. Me, my brother, and my father would notice sounds of wailing up and down the stairs at night when no one was even near the staircase. We would hear noises in the kitchen. At times I thought that it was probably just our cat roaming around but I checked and the cat was asleep on the couch in the loft.” Shane Carney, 10
THE GREEN HEALER? FREQUENT CBD USERS CLAIM BENEFITS IN USAGE, NOT FDA APPROVED Oils, lotions, balms, capsules and sprays filled with Cannabidiol (CBD) are increasingly making their appearance in stores and boutiques around the United States. What once was an illegal substance is now being used to supposedly treat a wide range of conditions including anxiety, insomnia, arthritis, chronic pain, epilepsy and Tourette Syndrome as well as Dravet and LennoxGastaut syndromes, which cause servere epileptic episodes. With these conditions, patients do not normally respond to anti-seizure medications which can even worsen their condition. CBD was able to reduce the amount of seizures or make them stop completely according to a series of clinical tests, almost forcing the FDA to approve the first and only cannabidiol medicine. “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential,” according to the World Health Organization. “To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.” The looming cloud that hovers over this new-found and effective treatment concerns the government and legality of the substance. In order to understand the laws associated with CBD, it is first necessary to understand the science behind it. All legal products of CBD must come from the hemp plant, rather than its cousin, the marijuana plant. Cannabinoids like CBD and THC are compounds found within both plants. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive ingredient in the plant that gives off a “high” feeling. Cannabidiol (CBD) does not give users the same feeling, rather a relaxed state now seen to treat certain conditions. For a plant to be considered hemp, it cannot contain more than 0.3 percent THC. Any plant over 0.3 percent THC is then classified as marijuana. The 2018 Farm Law legalized the growth and sales of hemp related products from licensed growers. There are still restrictions on the product including annual inspections for growers, and hemp-infused drinks and foods are still illegal. Unlike some other states, there is no age restriction on buying CBD products, in Indiana. Last May, a 69 year old grandmother was arrested at Walt Disney World checkpoint after CBD oil was found in her purse. Even though she had a doctor’s note, giving her permission to use the substance to treat her arthritis. Although the substance is legal on a federal level, it is still illegal in Florida, creating a confusing line for consumers. Similarly, Dallas-Fort Worth International airport has been known to arrest many people in
possession of CBD oil. A 71 year old woman was given a felony charge and jail time for having CBD in her belongings which she used as pain relief. A 22 year old college student was also arrested at the airport after officers found a bottle labeled “hemp CBD.” Attorney Jonathan Miller represents one of the many travelers arrested at the airport under CBD charges. Although the hemp plant has been seen as a miracle for certain medical conditions recently, the issue of legality regarding the plant is murky water. It is important when considering the use of CBD products to consult a doctor beforehand and keep a doctor’s note along with the product at home. While the laws can create a scene of chaos for CBD users, the benefits of those using the substance have been said to give them better relief than any medication and has sometimes been called life changing. Story by Sarah Woodward. Photo by Peyton McVeigh.
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VALUING SENSES
JUNIOR ANNA GIBSON BRINGS AWARENESS TO IMPAIRED HEARING October is historically recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness month, but there is also a week in October dedicated to the deaf and hearing impaired. Junior Anna Gibson has moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss, which means her hearing loss is permanent. “Every year when I get retested, I get a graph that shows me my hearing loss degree,” Gibson said. “My right ear ranges from perfect hearing to about 50 percent hearing loss.” Gibson started wearing her first pair of hearing aids when she was just 9 months old. “[My first hearing aids] were the really old kind that were really visible,” Gibson said. “I would always take them apart.” Now that Gibson is older, she doesn’t notice them as much, they are thinner and easily hidden. Gibson can hear clearly unless something is in the way. Small things such as how she wears her hair can affect the way she hears noise through her devices. “When I first got the new, thin [hearing aids], they were okay,” Gibson said. “I can’t sleep with them in and if I can’t hear someone, I start to read their lips.” Even though Gibson has had hearing aids since before she could walk, she still remembers the moment she realized that she was hearing impaired. “I went to a store on a trip in my kindergarten class and saw that my teacher was wearing a special device,” Gibson said. “I realized that if she wasn’t talking into it I couldn’t hear what she was saying.” Transitioning into high school was harder for Gibson than
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moving through the other grades. HSE is much bigger and there are many more students than the other schools Gibson had previously attended. “A lot of times people automatically assume I am at a disadvantage, but I don’t see it that way,” Gibson said. “One of the hardest things is telling people my story in a way to where they won’t treat me any differently.” Gibson says that her teammates on the JV softball team treat her as they treat their other teammates. Playing a sport with her hearing impairment was something that Gibson recognized as a challenge but never saw as something that would get in the way of her drive to compete as a part of a team. “Windy practices are not my friend,” Gibson said. “The only time I can hear the coaches [during wind] is if I am wearing a helmet.” However, Gibson tries to never let her hearing impairment get in the way of her having a good time, and occasionally uses it to her advantage. “My hearing aids are bluetooth,” Gibson said. “I connect them to my phone and listen to music when I know I can zone out in class.” Having a hearing impairment is something that Gibson will always identify with, but she looks forward to learning American Sign Language (ASL) to continue the growth of her knowledge in other forms of hearing impairments. Gibson wants to continue to spread knowledge on the topic in hopes of bringing more awareness to the deaf and hearing impaired community. Story by Kennedy Fisher.
COLLEGE APPLICATION TIPS SUGGESTIONS TO KEEP IN MIND BEFORE APPLYING NOVEMBER ! !!
! !
KNOW ALL UPCOMING DEADLINES
DESCRIBE EFFECTS OF ACTIVITIES
For Nov. 1 application deadlines, finish the application before fall break to give guidance enough time to process it. Regular decision deadlines vary by school.
When writing about extracurriculurs and hobbies, describe how each activity has prompted a change in character or personal growth.
MAKE ESSAYS SPECIFIC TO WHO YOU ARE
KNOW EACH SCHOOL’S REQUIREMENTS
Essays should differentiate applicants from one another. They should be personal to each applicant without coming off as cliché.
The majority of colleges ask for additional materials, such as a writing supplement or certain test scores. Forgetting about application requirements may result in rejection.
GET PERSONAL LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
FINISH EARLY TO HAVE TIME TO DOUBLE CHECK
Letters of recommendation should come from teachers who know a student on a personal level in addition to an academic level.
By finishing applications early, students can have enough time to double check all application materials and requirements. Tips from HSE Guidance and educationplanner.org.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TAKING A GAP YEAR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?
“Taking time between high school and college can help some students a lot. It can give you a chance to travel to places you want to see and help you figure out what to study in college.” Jacob Dreyfus, 12
“Gap years can be really helpful to people who want to explore their options. A year or two can help someone find out what they want to do with the rest of their life.” Maxwell Ritter, 12
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September 20, 2019
According to the National Education Association, many students are facing more stress than ever before. As the curriculum becomes harder each year and college admission standards are raised, one way students are trying to cope with it through the use of humor.
This relief could be done by making jokes about their stress, as it is almost a competition of who gets the least amount of sleep or who does the most extracurriculars. It can even reach jokes harping on one’s personality. Jokes turn into laughs about mental illness and one’s flaws.
This form of humor is wildly spread on social media platforms as it reaches the younger generations. The popularization if these jokes had infiltrated many platforms, and led some people to use social media to talk about mental illness in a non-serious format.
These “jokes” and the use of phones and social media platforms allow these ideas to be spread easily. In this cover story, the Orb staff look into recent humor presented by Generation Z that has been aimlessly spread across the country
. Intro by Lauren Riina
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GENERATION Z FINDS HUMOR IN SERIOUS TOPICS, MENTAL WELL-BEING OF YOUTH Located deep in the desert of southern Nevada lies a private government facility, closed to the public. To someone who does not know the history, this building could easily be mistaken for an ordinary military base. However, conspiracy theorists believe that inside holds the answer to many government secrets. Area 51 was first put under question in Roswell, N.M. in 1947. On July 8, the local Roswell Daily Record released a groundbreaking article titled “RAAF Captures Flying Saucer on Ranch in Roswell Region.” This publication became the first connection made between alleged UFO sightings and Area 51. From this article, conspiracy theorists gathered that the remains of an alien craft were transported to a private government facility, which later became known as Area 51 when its construction was completed in January 1955. The years that followed brought numerous new reports regarding extraterrestrial objects. In the late 1980s, an anonymous Area 51 engineer, later identified as Bob Lazar, came forward with claims that hinted towards the existence of both Area 51 and extraterristrial life. Neither of his claims were addressed by the government, and the existence of the base was not acknowledged until 2013. Lazar stated that he was hired to study and rework unidentified objects. “This stuff came from somewhere else. I know this is hard to believe, but it is there and I saw it,” Lazar said in an interview with Las Vegas News, “I know what the current state-of-the-art is in physics and it can’t be done.”
“LET’S SEE THEM ALIENS” While Area 51 stayed on the minds of those who investigated conspiracy theories, it mostly stayed out of mainstream media until July 2019. College student Matty Roberts, stricken by boredom, made a Facebook post titled “Storm Area 51; They Can’t Stop All Of Us.” While the invitation started as a simple
joke, the idea of a raid quickly gained momentum as it generated more than 2 million RSVPs which led government officials to declare emergencies. Despite the massive amount of media coverage and public interest, only 100 people participated according to a Las Vegas newspaper. Six arrests were made and no deaths or injuries occurred. Other social media platforms found interest in the idea, and as a result created their own humorous posts. “I found out about the raid on YouTube,” junior Brock Cardinal said. “I thought it was hilarious.”
SOCIAL MEDIA’S IMPACT First introduced to the public in 2004, Facebook became a platform for personal expression of interests. Originally, Facebook was made as a way to stay up-to-date with other college students, but in the past few years, it has completely transformed into a necessity for many peoples lives. Around 2007, the platform shifted from an informational presence towards more casual entertainment. Instagram was founded in 2010 and encouraged even more of the humorous content creation. When memes started being shared, they were often jabs at common issues the everyday person experiences. As the popularity of Instagram gained momentum, there was a transition to more peculiar videos, often inspired by pop culture. As celebrities further spread the posts across platforms, like Instagram, the posts received more exposure, and a more diverse group of people found interest. “I asked my parents at the end of fourth grade [to get Instagram] because my other friends started getting it,” freshman Colin Brier said. “My parents were okay as long as it was a private account and anything I posted or commented was run by them.” Being the first generation to have endless access to the Story continues on page 10... HSENEWS
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often a lack of experience concerning face-to-face interaction. “The popularity of raid Area 51 can show us a lot about the impact social media truly has on our lives and how connected and reliant we are to our phones,” junior Alexis Hibbert said. “What started out as a small post turned into a full blown media ordeal that everyone knew about. It showed how quickly one thing can blow up and change lives in a matter of seconds.” According to the American Psychological Association, people in Generation Z are more likely to experience stressors in their personal lives as well as be victim of mental illness. For some, jokes are a coping mechanism for these issues they may face. The pressure that teens and students experience from a multitude of sources is often the leading cause of a search for an outlook of expression. Many use social media as a way to show the highlights of their lives, leaving out the struggles. This gives the appearance of an unrealistic picture perfect life. Often found on separate social media accounts, is a deeper look into what teens are feeling. There is an overall feeling of inferiority compared to famous influencers on platforms. “If you feel like you are depressed you can look up symptoms of depression and then you’ll adapt to what you read and realize there was a time I felt like this,” In school behavioral specialist Andrew Wooddell said. “It’s great to have the internet because you can get results and answers quickly, but there are also not really rules on the internet. There’s no parent on there telling you what you can or can’t look at. There’s definitely a lot of things that can hinder your mental health, whether its personal to you or something you stumble upon.” In recent years, educators have implemented a deeper focus on mental health education, which is an attempt to let teens know they have an outlet. In the past, mental illness has been viewed as something that people often hide from others, but in recent years, members of Generation Z have been known to be more likely to speak out. Social media influencers and celebrities who give an inside look into their full life -good and bad- can inspire their followers to be more open with their own personal problems. It has been argued by many as to whether social media has had a postive or negative effect on youth, some stating that the lack of
human interaction on a day to day basis will, in the long-term, will cause a decay in their mental wellbeing.
AREA 51 RAID After Matty’s post went viral on the internet, social media users rushed to make memes covering the humor found in possible outcomes of the event. The true interest in the raid on Area 51 is debatable. Some find that it was a possible way to become viral, meanwhile it sparked interest in others of extraterrestrial life. Matty’s idea created more than one reaction, similar to a majority of posts. While posts can often have a positive intention, followers can often interpret a different meaning due to the lack of social cues. After the Area 51 raid became viral, serious precautions were made by the U.S. military, but this did not stop the continuous flow of new posts, but instead increased the social media presence. What some may see as a lack of care or interest for retributions for incidents such as this, is also way that many teens express their humor, some having darker humor. The raid may seem as if it is a huge viral sensation and to someone who is not familiar with social media, it could look like a crazy event that rarely happens. In actuality, posts on numerous types of platforms will go viral on a daily basis. Although not all spread as fast as Matty’s did, material going from person to person in a quick manner is nothing new. Since the event came to pass, people on social media have already began their search for a new viral outlet. Generation Z is the first group born into a world of technology and this power can be used positively or taken advantage of. Story by Sophia Tomlin and Peyton McVeigh.
1950’s
1920’s In 1926, Sam Smith and Henry Johnson began a series of radio skits for a station called WGN in Chicago. This became the first comedy appearance on the radio.
1940’s
During 1947, the first American sitcom, called Mary and Kay began to air from 1947 to 1950 with 300 episodes.
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In 1951, Joe Franklin hosted the first television talk show on WJZ-TV. In 1954, Steve Allen became the first host on the Tonight Show on NBC. It’s become the world’s longest-running talk show, with the current host Jimmy Fallon.
MOST POPULAR MEMES
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE MEMES APPEAL TO TEENAGERS?
WORLD RECORD EGG 53.8 million likes on Instagram
FIXING THINGS WITH RAMEN 8.1 million posts on Instagram
“I think that memes are funny to teenagers because they appeal to our sense of humor. Everyone has different humor but memes are one of the few things that can make mostly everyone laugh. Also, they can tend to be very relatable, especially for our generation.” Adyson Klein, 10
“Memes are funny because they show you something that you can relate to. Whether it’s something funny or weird, you can still connect it to your own life.” Yahaziel Hughes, 12
“Memes are funny to teenagers because they’re different from anything we see in real life. Sometimes they can be weird, but most of the time they’re really fun to see”. Daniel Holt, 10
10 YEAR CHALLENGE 354,000 posts on Instagram
“We can relate to them because we can share them with each other. You can show your friends and laugh about them together.” Victor Chinkono, 11
2000’s
1960’s
Youtube was released in 2005 and it displays many different genres. It is used as a main source of comedy for teens. Some popular comedic YouTubers include, David Dobrik, Pewdiepie, Danny Gonzalez, and Shane Dawson.
The Flinstones debuted in 1960 and became the first example in the animated sitcom genre. Two years later, in 1962, the Jetsons aired as well.
1990’s
Comedy Central launched on April 1, 1991. The channel made a breakthrough in 1997 when South Park premiered. It became one of the most popular comedy channels. During the 1990s the first internet meme’s began to spread as well.
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FUTURE OF FISHERS OVERVIEW OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN FISHERS, IMPACTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE
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ccording to Mayor Scott Fadness’ state of the city address in 2015, Fishers strives to be a “smart, vibrant, entrepreneurial city”. The Fishers 2040 plan, which outlines city goals for the next twenty years, explains how the city would meet future demands with a steadily rising population. With the city’s encouragement of growth and change, businesses and infrastructure are included as a significant factor within these plans. An entrepreneurial Fishers embraces the pursuit of creative, innovative ideas, and commercial districts that allow entrepreneurs to meet changing needs in modern business situations are emphasized in these developments. Since the adoption of the Fishers 2040 plan, the city has followed through on making progress. There has been significant redevelopment done throughout the area and current plans that are still in effect for future completion. The redevelopment of 116th Street in the downtown Nickel Plate District was announced in December 2018 and will take two years to complete, costing a projected $157 million according to RTV6. First Internet Bank, an award-winning agency that was named as one of Fortune 100’s Top Growing Businesses in 2018, will establish their future headquarters on the south side of the downtown area with a designated six-story office building as stated by Yahoo Finance. With this planned office relocation, their assets have increased by 500 percent and employment by 75 percent. “First Internet Bank and Fishers share an entrepreneurial
spirit; we are honored to be an active partner in the city’s future,” Chief Operating Officer of First Internet Bank Nicole Lorch said. “Planning our future in the heart of a community where many of our employees live, along a trail that encourages wellness and community involvement is a key component of our corporate culture and success.” With several locations included in its infrastructure, the Nickel Plate continues to grow. On the north side, the old buildings along 116th will be rehabilitated. Towards Maple Street, a widely varied array of buildings will be constructed, from new townhouses and retail structures to hotels and apartment complexes according to Browning Investments. In July 2019, the city approved a seven million dollar bond for a major 180-apartment complex named Pullman Pointe along Lantern Road. With the recent growth, however, changes involved have caused problems for parts of the area. Specifically, independently-owned small businesses have struggled to adapt and are threatened by changing infrastructure. The Nickel Plate Bar and Grill along 116th street closed its business after 28 years of operation in April 2019. Additionally, Twigs and Tea, a local restaurant, announced its plans to relocate in August 2019 on their official website. Henri Najem, the owner of the Flamme Burger restaurant franchise, left the town after living there for twenty years to relocate due to inconveniences from the developments according to Fox 59. With new housing areas, parking space became limited
“While some may think the bigger developments trump the smaller ones, I’d like to look at it from a different view.” -Brooke Wyatt
as garages were taken up by local residents. This made it difficult for access by customers and damaged business performance as a result. Although the city has mentioned ways to alleviate these issues with prospective additional parking spaces, this still remains a significant problem of the area. “I think that the new developments have ruined the downtown area,” senior Abigail Musser said. “It’s a nightmare to drive through, and you can’t see anything. It used to be so open and accessible, but now you have to avoid non-stop traffic. The layouts and traffic patterns are bad. I will not even drive over there personally, even though I’ve had my license for seven months.” When looking at the position that small businesses have in a community, their presence has been threatened by the nature of ambitious development goals which strive to boast the city’s infrastructure in big ways. With big business culture, smaller establishments must adjust accordingly for success in this position. “I’m in the middle; I like the new developments, but I also like the small businesses, because they are a good place to come and hang out,” junior Kaleigh Stewart said. “I think that small
businesses are an important part of the community because they bring their unique styles to a town.” Senior Brooke Wyatt owns her own small business called Rosie Boutique. “While some may think the bigger developments trump the smaller ones, I’d like to look at it from a different view,” Wyatt said. “Most of the time, you can collaborate with bigger companies or work with them for better knowledge and how to continue growing your own business, as everyone starts from the bottom and works their way up.” With the future of Fishers and their plans for 2040 and beyond, major changes have been made to their infrastructure. Therefore, the current city must adapt to these changes. In the prospective future, the city as a whole will experience how these situations are managed in their developments. Story by Megan Tooman. Photo by Hayden Sisemore.
SMALL SELLS Gallery 116 is the perfect place to find affordable gifts for friends and family, with products ranging from new to vintage. The location of Gallery 116 is 8597 E 116th St.
For students who are looking for a quiet space to study, The Well may be fitting. They use their profits to help build wells in Africa and is located at 8890 E 116th St.
North Star is where people can go for all their health needs. The store is organized with products like health supplements and candles. North Star Vitamins and Health is located at 8619 E 116th St.
Dottie Couture is a boutique that sells clothes and jewelry for women. Their designs keep up with today’s trends and have affordable prices. Dottie Couture is located at 8594 E 116th St.
Photos by Vivianna Esqueda.
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NEW TRADITIONS
POWDERPUFF INCLUDES GRADES 9-12 This year, Powderpuff, which is usually a competition between juniors and seniors, opened up to all grades. Despite differing opinions, these changes provided an oppurtunity for any girl, athlete or not, to take part. Powderpuff is flag football, predominantly played by girls. For many high schools, including HSE, it is a tradition for the junior and senior teams to play each other. For the first time, the fundraiser organization decided to allow all grades to take part in the game, which brought contrasting feelings from both underclassmen and upperclassmen. “I think I speak for the senior team when I say that it felt like it was almost a rite of passage to be able to play Powderpuff as an upperclassman,” senior Morgan Brown said. “But I understand that expanding it makes the entire fundraiser more inclusive for all grades.” The chance to play was an unexpected oppurtunity for the underclassmen. Many went into it light-heartedly, knowing they may fall to the seniors.
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“In the beginning it was hard because we did not have enough people,” freshman Zoe Karner said. “We did not really know how everything would work out but we eventually got it figured out.” Although the freshman team was outplayed by the seniors, the expierence was something to learn from and look forward to next year. “I was really excited that all the grades got to participate this year,” Karner said. “My sister was playing on the senior team and I knew we would play each other and it would be really fun.” Even though the traditional grades were changed, the senior team still maintained its expectation to win. On the field, the seniors proved their skill and determination by winning both of their games, including the championship against the juniors. Win or loss, the Powderpuff games were enjoyed by girls of all grades. Story by Lainee Kirk.
MINDS OF ATHLETES
INTERNAL STRUGGLE OF STUDENT ATHLETES News of Andrew Luck’s unexpected retirement from the National Football League has sparked conversation about the mental state of athletes. More specifically, student athletes and thier mental health. “[football] has put a little more stress on me by trying to balance school and sports and everything else that is going on,” sophomore football player Alex Geroulis said. The pressure put on athletes can have an effect on their mental state. For numerous athletes it creates a feeling of fear towards their sport. According to healthychildren.org, pressure put on by parents causes “excessive stress” for the athlete. The pressure from parents can also cause them to make a connection between their self-worth and their performance. This connection can be negative for mental health because it can make the athlete believe that if they are not performing well, then they are of less value. This can make the confidence of the athlete decrease. “For some races, my mindset is not the best so the pressure gets to me when I see that I am not perfoming as well,” junior Brynn Patrick said. “Most of the time I try my best to stay motivated and push through.” The training times outisde of school can also lead to a poor and inconsistent sleep schedule. Athletes will practice almost every day after school, leaving them with hours of homework late at night. This causes numerous student athletes to not go to sleep until midnight or later. An inconsistent sleep schedule can negatively affect an athlete’s mental health because lack of sleep can lead to falling asleep in class, not being able to give 100 percent to the sport and not having the energy to complete
homework. “My sleep schedule is very off,” sophomore cheerleader Shelby Sloan said. “Sometimes I will get to sleep very late because of my load of work for school and my sport.” For student athletes, there has always been the struggle of how to juggle school and sports. This has a significant effect on the mind of an athlete because the amount of stress brought on by school can be tremendous for anyone. However, for a nonathlete student, the workload given may be more manageable. For athletes, there is less time to put forth the effort needed to complete the work. Numerous athletes have had to gain better time management and organization skills in order to stay on top of their sport and academics. “I have a checklist to keep my homework sorted,” sophomore volleyball player Emi Robinson said. “I also try to get all my stuff done at night or in class.” Many student athletes at the school have expressed ways the school could help with the stress put onto athletes from school. One way that has been expressed is teachers not making things due at 11:59 p.m. on the day they are assigned, which can put a strain on student athletes because getting home so late and knowing something is due soon can cause additional stress. The high school could also help by continuing to show their support for all sports. Students have said that it is helpful to get acknowledment for doing a good job because it reminds the athletes of why all the stress is worth it. Getting a “good job” or “congratulations” can help push the athlete to continue following their passion and finding their love for their sport once again. Story by Emily Crousore.
ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE
BEN REWERS
TRAIT: OUTGOINGNESS
Senior Benjamin Rewers has been an active participant in a variety of Hamilton Southeastern sports, including past roles on the unified track and swimming teams. Currently, he plays center for the unified flag football team. “I like that I got to learn how to play flag football and that I have friends on my team. It’s cool to have my own jersey and mouth guard for our games.” Ben Rewers, 12 “Ben is an awesome person who never gives up and always tries his best. He is also a great competitor because of how good of a sport he is, regardless of the game’s outcome.” Leslie Huffer, Teacher
Photo contributed by Kate Rewers
HSENEWS
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A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS ISSUE... Page 4: Stories of tampered and dangerous Halloween candy have circulated since the eighties, but numerous parents are still cautious about the idea decades later. Page 5: Despite the numerous reported benefits behind some CBD products, a stigma and questions of legality still persist. Page 6: Junior Anna Gibson brings awareness to deaf and hearing impaired culture while sharing her own story. Page 7: With college applications for November 1 deadlines due before fall break, there are some application tips seniors should keep in mind. Students also express their views on gap years. Page 12: As new developments continue to be constructed around Fishers, the security of small businesses has come under question. Page 14: Students reflect on the changes in grade participation made to Powder Puff. Page 15: Colts quarterback Andrew Luck’s retirement draws attention to the mental health of athletes, including those at the school.