Inklings feb 2018

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Crown Point High School @InklingsCPHS February 27, 2018 Vol. 82 Issue 6

Read about the boys’ basketball team’s preparation for sectionals on page 12

“Seeing Double”: Sets of multiples share sibling insight page 10

The Vape Debate

ILLUSTRATION BY DOMINIC THEPHASDIN

Increased e-cigarette usage among adolescents can create early nicotine addiction

BY ANDREA JOHN TABITHA BEISHUIZEN co-editor-in-chief assistant editor

Inhale, exhale. It is no longer uncommon to spot devices ranging in resemblance from flash drives to canisters in place of cigarettes.

Juuls, vapes, vaporizers and hookah pens are among some of the different forms of e-cigarettes.

What may appear to be harmless devices can actually contain addictive chemicals inside the juice-like substances, such as nicotine. Nicotine levels are only the first concern when it comes to e-cigarette usage, according to Thomas Pawlowski, D.O. “Nicotine travels through the blood working on neurotransmitters in the brain and also as a stimulant,” Pawlowski said. “Nicotine is a very addictive drug and has been found to be much more addictive to adolescent minds. Once addicted, a person may be unable to live their life without the addition of nicotine daily. We do know that if teens vape they are much more likely to move to cigarettes.”

Nicotine ultimately stops the breakdown of dopamine in the brain, which leads to an overabundance of dopamine and triggers happy emotions. Similar to Pawlowski, psychology teacher Rebecca Magee recognizes the addictiveness of nicotine.

“The problem with nicotine is once you start smoking it, you need to constantly expose yourself to it to feel normal,” Magee said. “Not even to feel happy anymore, to just feel normal which is the case in a lot of addictions, especially with stimulants. Where just to have a normal day, your dopamine receptors get used to that nicotine level.

So then you start having withdrawal symptoms if you take that nicotine away from your body.”

The brain receptors become accustomed to the level of dopamine it was receiving and being to demand more. This is where it can be dangerous among adolescents, Magee said.

“For kids under age 20, your brain is still developing and growing. Your prefrontal cortex is pruning itself,” Magee said. “It’s getting rid of those neuroconnections its not using anymore and its solidi-

fying the ones you are consistently using, making your brain more efficient. So when you throw a chemical in there that’s addictive, like nicotine, it’s going to go onto those receptors and multiply the receptors.”

Magee said from a school prospective it can be difficult to determine if a student has nicotine or THC in their vape juice, which are illegal substances for school.

To senior Mike Psimos, he views vaping as an unnecessary economic cost in addition to being a health risk.

“I actually think vaping is worse than smoking cigarettes because people think that it’s more acceptable, but really its consequences can be just as harsh,” Psimos said.

“An obvious consequence is addiction, and not only is that a health problem, but it’s also a huge economic cost. It’s a lot of money to keep up with a worthless habit, and at the same time your health is rapidly degrading.”

Likewise, senior Hannah Walley said she could not understand the prevalence of vaping amongst teenagers.

“I feel that vaping is overhyped.

I think that kids don’t understand that there’s nicotine in it and it is addictive,” Walley said. “Chemicals can cause problems and students think just because they’re not smoking cigarettes that they will be fine, but they’re wrong. Vaping is a lesser form of smoking cigarettes and it’s better for you than smoking cigarettes, but it’s still bad for you.”

The FDA announced through a press conference on July 28, 2017 a plan that “places nicotine, and the issue of addiction at the center of the agency’s tobacco regulation efforts”. There are very few studies regarding e-cigarette usage, which makes it difficult to determine how safe or unsafe it is according to Pawlowski.

“Studies have just started coming out regarding vaping. What we know is that vaping is safer than smoking. The amount of carcinogens (cancer causing agents) are decreased. But they are still present,” Pawlowski said. “Regarding the long term effects on the lungs, we don’t know. But short term use is much better for the lungs with the elimination of the smoke and other carcinogens.” see vaping on page 3

VAPE IN VIEW

2 million middle and high school students were current users of e-cigarettes in 2016.

E-cigarette use rose from

1.5 to 16.0 percent

among high school students from 2011 to 2015.

81 percent

of 2013-2014 youth ecigarette users said the availability of appealing flavors was the primary reason for use.

11 percent of high school students were current users of ecigarettes in 2016 Information provided by: https:// www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/ Labeling/ProductsIngredientsComponents/ucm456610.htm#stats

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news inklings february 27, 2018

Dance Marathon registration open, accepting donations

intheknow

BY GRACE CLELAND ERIN MULLER co-editor-in-chief reporter

Crown Point Alumni Association hosts honorable events

Donating is always in season, but Dance Marathon is a time of year that Student Council gets extra motivated for. The event is on May 4, but Student Council encourages students to sign up and start fundraising now. The whole student body is able to participate and donate to the cause. The number one goal of Dance Marathon is to raise money for the kids at Lurie Children’s Hospital.

“We have multiple fundraisers before the event to start raising money. At the event, the idea is for students to stand for those who cannot,” Student Council sponsor Colleen Fano said. “There is dancing, dodgeball, basketball, bags, ping pong and video games. By the end of the night, we reveal how much we raised for DM.” The money will directly help out Lurie’s and the Lurie families. Last year, the goal was to raise $10,000. Unfortunately, they came up just short ranking in a total of $9,691.27. This year, Student Council is determined

A Hall of Fame induction banquet held by the Crown Point Alumni Association will be on Apr. 27 at Saints Peter & Paul Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral. The Teacher Hall of Fame inductees are: Diane Lange, Peggy Schaffer, Brad Smith and Wallace Webb. The Student Hall of Fame inductees are: Kara Mayden Argo, David Huffine, Jean Wagonblast Kutemier, Dr. Mark Mallatt, Kenneth Myres and James Wagonblast.

In addition, an evening honoring former art and theater teacher, Marion Kellum, will be held on Mar. 10 at 7p.m. in the “Auditeria” at Wheeler Middle School.

The evening features a conversation with Mr. Kellum, who will discuss his creative pursuits as an artist, teacher, set designer, actor, director and playwright. The evening will be complimented by a tour of Mr. Kellum’s historical murals on the walls at Wheeler Middle School and a reception with refreshments.

The event is free and open for the public to attend.

to surpass the $10,000 goal.

“People can get involved by registering to be a dancer/attender at the event, and if they cannot make it on the actual date then they can donate money to our Student Council DM account to help us reach our goal of $10,000,” Student Council president, senior Annie Brigham said.

For senior Katie Mojica, Dance Marathon means more to her than some because of her personal experience with Lurie Children’s Hospital.

“As a child, I personally attended Lurie Children’s Hospital for my own health issue. It was a refreshing experience at Lurie’s because they were so kind to the patients and the families,” Mojica said. “This fundraiser only helps the hospital to continue on their great doings.”

Dance Marathon can be considered a great cause and can truly save a child’s life. To some, the event means more than just raising money. Students have the opportunity to alter the lives of children suffering life-threatening illnesses by attending the event and supporting those who cannot stand for themselves.

Any contribution helps.

PHOTO BY JEREMY DEBOLD Students participate in the 2017 Dance Marathon. Last year they raised $9,691.27 for Lurie Children’s Hospital. They hope to meet their goal of $10,000 this year.

“I think this cause is incredibly important and I always hype it up to everyone I can because the kids at Lurie’s are in need of help. The kids who get treated there are very sick and deserve every ounce of love and support we can offer. All the proceeds go to helping those kids,” Brigham said.

In order to make Dance Marathon a successful event and fundraiser, Student Council needs all the help they can get.

Donations can be made via credit card online through personal and group pages as well as monetary donations to Mrs. Fano in room C114. To sign up and start

raising money for the kids, visit https://events.dancemarathon. com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=2871.

All donations are appreciated because money donated helps the families of patients at Lurie’s.

“Anyone can donate by having any student council member, or any other dancer, share with them ‘their link’ which is the way for each individual person to raise money,” Brigham said.

“Another way to donate is by asking a company to donate to the Student Council; a lot of companies are willing to give money, or whatever they can provide, to the cause.”

Fashion club readies for first annual “Spring Fling Fashion Show and Vendor Fair”

BY MORGAN TAYLOR assistant editor

Runways, vendors, a silent auction and more can be found at Crown Point High School’s first Spring Fling Fashion Show and Vendor Fair. This fashion show will showcase this year’s popular prom dresses and tuxedos. Not only will formal attire be featured, but there will be a “Day After Prom” fashion show as well.

The Fashion Club will be hosting their first Prom fashion show in the CPHS cafeteria on Mar. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature two fashion shows, a DJ, silent auction and a culinary booth from CPHS. Co-President, senior Mikayla Doughney organized this event in hopes of raising money for a good cause and fulfilling a lifelong dream.

“I wanted to do something big with fashion club this year. So, we decided to host a fashion show/ vendor fair. Also, I have always wanted to organize a fashion show 11 a.m.

Doors open to the public.

ever since I was little,” Doughney said. “I would love to see a good amount of people attend and participate in the silent auctions. After all, the money goes to a good cause, St. Jude House.”

Sponsor Leslie Bonner fully supports what her club wanted to do with this fashion show. Bonner felt that putting on the show would take group efforts and the support of local businesses.

“Our club isn’t very big so creating our own garments wouldn’t be feasible at this time to show at a fashion show. So taking ideas from other schools, Mrs. Zega helped to create the fashion show, showcasing prom dresses and tuxedos from small business in our area,” Bonner said.

Doughney also believes that this fashion show is all about bringing people together. She anticipates that everyone’s individual talents will create a successful outcome.

“I think events like this bring the school together. Students and 12 p.m.

Prom fashion show begins.

Think Ahead

Mar. 6

Public Forum

Mayor Uran will be meeting at McDonalds from 8-10 a.m.

CP residents are invited to attend.

Mar. 21

Class of ‘18 Laude Celebration There will be a celebration for Laude students at CPHS.

Mar. 2

Read Across America Day The National Education Association (NEA) will be hosting Read Across America. They are hoping to save libraries and literature across the nation.

Mar. 4

The Oscars

teachers with different skill sets can all help out for a good cause,” Doughney said.

In hopes that the walk will be a success, Bonner wishes that the students involved will have fun and enjoy the show. She feels that this fashion show will bring people from the area together to celebrate fashion.

“I want the students at Crown Point High School to enjoy themselves walking the fashion show.

I would also like it to be a place for everyone in our community to come together to appreciate fashion and to help support small business owners,” Bonner said.

“The reason being is that we don’t have anything like this at Crown Point and I think it is something everyone could enjoy.”

Senior Melissa DeGroot signed up for just that reason.

DeGroot signed up to walk in the show to experience something new with her friends and make lasting memories. She also feels this is a good way to get involved at school.

“I’m going into this with no expectations other than to have some fun with my friends and make some memories,” DeGroot said. “I thought that this fashion show was a great opportunity to be an active student while also having fun.”

Bonner hopes to keep the fashion show up and running for years to come. With ever changing trends, she thinks that will keep students interest in the show.

“I do hope to do this for years to come and hopefully it will get bigger and better with each passing year. Fashion is changing very rapidly and keeping up with fads and trends is something high school students are always interested in,” Bonner said. “Prom dresses have certainly changed in the last ten, even five years. What was in last year may not be the case this year and the same can be said for clothing that students wear to school every single day.”

Overall, everyone involved feels confident that The Spring

1:50 p.m.

Silent auction results are announced.

Free Time Guests can shop, bid and eat.

Fling Fashion Show and Vendor Fair will successfully bring students and business together for a great cause. Bonner aspires to give students a platform to try new things and possibly inspire them to get more involved in the fashion world.

“I hope that we can provide a place for small business owners to come together to show their product and to connect with one another. We are also donating a portion of the proceeds to St. Jude House so hopefully we have a good turn out to help support them. I hope to give students an opportunity to walk on the runway and to just have fun,” Bonner said. “Maybe it will inspire someone to walk the runway, to want to model clothes, to want to dress in the clothes they see being modeled, or even the photography of it all.

I hope that our students here at Crown Point become inspired by what they see and in doing so, create their own style.”

2 p.m.

“Day After Prom” fashion show begins.

Mar. 9-11, 15-17 Mar. 23

The Little Mermaid

Oscar Night 2018 is on the way. This Make sure to order tickets now. Tickets are year it will be the 90th anniversary of the Oscar awards. Tune in to ABC $10 for students and senior citizens and $14 to see some stars and filmmakers for adults. take the stage.

Mar. 8

International Women’s Day The theme this year for International Women’s Day is #PressforProgress. With this they are hoping for 2018 to be a year of progress to help accelerate gender parity. They want all groups collectively to push for gender inclusive workplaces and environments.

National Puppy Day

Sometimes a snuggly puppy may be just the thing to decrease your stress.

Petting dogs has been proven to lower blood pressure to healthy levels. Plus, puppies are just super cute!

Mar. 11 Daylight Savings

Finally we’re going to be changing the clocks so we’ll have more light.

Mar. 17

Saint Patrick’s Day

Grab a shamrock shake from McDonalds, or head over to Chicago to see the green river.

4 p.m.

Event ends.

Think Again U.S. Breaks Record

On this day in 1988, Winter Olympian Bonnie Blair on the U.S. team won the 500m speed skating in a record 39.1 seconds.

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news inklings february 27, 2018 Vaping continued from page 1 E-cigarettes were originally marketed to help wean smokers off of cigarettes. The e-cigarette market has attracted increasingly younger consumers with flavored juices and cartridges ranging from bubble gum to strawberry mango.

These juices can come packaged in bright and colorful containers and bottles.

“The liquid cartridges can have flavors and other additives in the e-liquid,” Pawlowski said.

“The major additive is polyethylene glycol. These are recently under FDA regulations. Of course, these liquids can be altered at vape shops and illegally as well.”

According to Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, it is illegal for a minor to purchase and possess e-cigarettes and e-liquids in Indiana. It is also illegal for retailers to sell e-liquids with more than 75 mg/ml of nicotine.

Junior Kinsey Mason has seen e-cigarette usage both in and out of school.

“They’re kind of everywhere at this point, even the small ones,” Mason said. “Then, you have people who don’t care and bring

‘‘

Regarding the long term effects (of vaping) on the lungs, we don’t know. But short term use is much better for the lungs with the elimination of the smoke and other carcinogens.”

Dr. Thomas Pawlowski their mods everywhere which is the larger box.”

According to Mason, ecigarettes should not be used on school property, but it is ultimately up to the user.

“I think people should be able to vape every once in awhile or all the time,” Mason said. “Because in my opinion, it’s safer than cigarettes. I do think that there’s probably chemicals in it that we don’t know about, but I don’t think they’re as harmful.”

Like Mason, freshman Gavin Tabor has noticed the increase in e-cigarette usage among high school students. “(I see it) all the time at school. In the bathroom, by the cafeteria, in classes,” Tabor said.

“I think that there’s something

(harmful) to it. When cigarettes came out they were big and popular and they thought it wouldn’t cause any problems either.”

As for halting a nicotine addiction, it can be difficult for some addicts to quit. However, there are a few options for people willing to ditch nicotine.

“You can go through the whole cold turkey, anything you would normally do for a smoking habit and try to quit that way,” Magee said. “Like any habit that you have, if you get into a routine of vaping right after school, and then you stop, once you leave school it’s still going to want to trigger in your brain that vaping would be really nice.”

Although the side effects of vaping is unclear, it could lead to

Fast Facts

more research opportunities regarding addiction and the path of smoking due to the vapor being water-based.

“Unlike with smoking, a lot of studies can be done using an fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging machine) because if you’re smoking, it’s burning so you can’t get anywhere near the machine,” Magee said. “There’s a lot more brain scan studies that are starting to be done with vaping and the actual movement of smoking and that addiction of putting something up to your mouth with the actual brain differences.”

Regardless whether or not e-cigarette usage is more or less harmful than other tobacco products, Pawlowski warns about potential unknown side effects.

“Why would you chance lifelong addiction to a chemical?”

Pawlowski said. “Why would you do it now when the chances of addiction are so much higher at this point in your life? And you would do this with no long term evidence available for what you may be doing to your body?”

N CH 3 N

Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm brain development up to age 20 in adolescents.

E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine and other chemicals within the flavoring.

Some e-cigarettes are marketed as containing zero percent nicotine but have been found to contain nicotine.

Vape Juice

Defective e-cigarette batteries have caused fires and explosions, some of which have resulted in serious injuries.

NHS to host Spring Carnival in place of annual Mardi Gras Carnival

views on news

Area

Over the summer, city officials in northwest Indiana have approved for a cruise ship to be docked in Lake Michigan to take people along the coastline of the lake. The Michigan City Port Authority voted to allow the ship to operate out of the Washington Park Marina.

It has been said to be the worst flu season by health officials. So far 195 Indiana citizens have been reported to have died from the flu this season. The CDC reports the vaccine this year is 36 percent effective overall, but only 25 percent effective towards the circulating H3N2 strand.

I know that a lot of people who go to the bathroom don’t wash their hands, so that could be it (the cause).

Emma Taylor freshman

driguez.

The carnival is filled with numerous games and activities to entertain the kids.

“The Spring Carnival is made up of several mini games for children of all ages to participate in.

Games can range from coloring and cookie decorating to ball tosses and musical chairs,” said McCarron.

Although the event is aimed at children and meant to raise proceeds, students don’t have to donate money or be a child to play the games. Anyone is welcome to participate.

“Children from the community come in and play games, but it is not limited to just children; anyone with a desire to have a good time is invited to come,” Rodriguez said. “Every game played has a candy prize so those with a sweet tooth will be satisfied. If someone is not in a position to donate, they may still come and play games for a chance to win candy.”

Student reaction to events in our world

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That’s really cool, I didn’t know about it at all. I don’t have any plans over the summer, so I think it would be cool to do it.

a slight modification to the theme.

“The theme this year will be Spring Carnival. Although it is a different name, the overlying concept is the same,” said Rodriguez.

This year, NHS has decided to remove the entrance fee with hopes that it will attract a larger audience.

“This year, I hope and believe that there will be a big turnout,” said McCarron. “I’ve participated in previous years and there is always an abundance of people there.”

Not only does getting rid of the entrance fee help with attendance, but it can help influence carnival go-ers to donate more.

Because of this, NHS is hopeful that they will raise an exceptional amount of proceeds this year, according to Rodriguez.

“Since the admission is free this year, people in attendance are encouraged to donate whatever they can as it benefits cancer treatment for those in need,” said Ro-

The ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has currently been pushing their search for illegal immigrants. The Trump administration is looking to deter chain-migration.

‘‘

‘‘

It is up to the nation to stop things from happening that are illegal, so I think that they should keep doing this.

Libby Rockovitz junior

The 2018 Winter Olympics were held in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Here, the world’s winter athletes competed to pull their countries to the top and rank themselves according to most medals won. The events differ greatly from summer to winter and some enjoy one more than others.

World

Scholarship, leadership, character, and service skills. These are the characteristics that National Honor Society, also known as NHS, further develop and promote.

NHS is a national organization that assists students in exemplifying these important skills.

For those who already display extraordinary skills, NHS allows them to lead group projects, community projects and service events that benefit charities in the community.

Every year NHS holds a carnival to raise money for the Northwest Indiana Cancer Foundation, also known as NICK. The proceeds from the fall Color Run also went to NICK. Senior Hugo Rodriguez is the president of NHS. “As president I will be involved with the carnival directors

service groups and clubs within the high school are encouraged to participate as well. The deadline for putting together a game or activity at the event is March 12.

“We need to make sure that there are not games that are too similar, and we need to trust that the game-makers are reliable and will have everything done before the carnival begins,” said McCarron.

NHS members aren’t the only ones that meet up to plan the event and make sure there is a successful turnout.

“A few weeks prior to the event, the NHS club sponsors and the Spring Carnival directors meet to make sure every NHS member has a game and to work out the details and planning of the event,” said Rodriguez.

The carnival this year will take place on March 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. In previous years, the theme has been Mardi Gras. This year, NHS added

Nation

reporters

in preparing for the event and I will be in attendance at the event with the other directors to make sure things go smoothly,” said Hugo Rodriguez.

Although Rodriguez is the president of the club, he is not alone in the planning process and workload of NHS activities. Rodriguez has help from other NHS directors and members, such as senior Morgan McCarron.

“Being one of the Directors of the Spring Carnival, I am in charge of organizing a game for my representation at the event,” said McCarron. “I can choose to have people go and represent me, or choose to be there in person and run my game. This will be my second year running my own game.”

NHS holds a meeting once a month to discuss the carnival plans. Throughout the year, club members think of creative activities that can take place at the carnival. However, they are not the only people who get involved, as other

State

BY ASMAA ABDELDAIEM ALEXANDRA SULEWSKI

Brendan Herr sophomore

I don’t really watch them too much, but I feel that they kind of get pushed to the side. Winter Olympics is something that people just look Octavio Urquiza at and ignore. senior

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opinion inklings february 27, 2018

column

BY ALEXIA WOJCIECHOWSKI online editor-in-chief

Olympics should provide time for country unity not increased division The opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games was interesting for many reasons.

For starters, Team USA walked out to Psy’s “Gangnam Style” which has to be the most cliche song to come out of South Korea. This along with one other moment sparked a ton of social media response. This other moment came as Mike Pence remained seated in protest as the two Korean teams walked in and had a ground-shaking handshake.

This handshake marked the first time the North and South have showed a sign of peace towards each other in decades. The worst part about Pence staying seated was not his message but how hypocritical the message was coming from him.

Pence is known for his outspoken nature in accusing athletes for being disrespectful in not standing during the national anthem. He even left a Colts game last October after players knelt in protest during the national anthem.

Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un’s sister, was seated behind Pence during the opening ceremony and quickly became known for giving Pence “side-eye” as he sat in protest. Many took to social

media to show their support for her in doing so, which is not the appropriate response. Even though I do not personally like Pence, I believe Americans need to draw a line in protesting one of their leaders and supporting some from a regime like North Korea. By applauding Kim’s actions, we are being substantially worse than Pence’s hypocrisy.

It seems that our country has been becoming increasingly divided since the dynamic duo of Trump and Pence took office.

Hostility has risen between both political sides and now has opened a door for half of the United States to choose North Korea over its own government.

North Korea not only runs a regime known for inhumane practices, they have also threatened the United States with nuclear warfare. This alone should be enough to discourage Americans from ever supporting an action done by a political leader in their country.

I hope the political hostility of the people of America can soon come to a better state and that we can call ourselves united again.

CARTOON BY MADELYN WHITAKER

Do not let the actions of others influence personal decisions editorial

column

BY GRACE CLELAND co-editor-in-chief

Sacrifices made to achieve dreams It may be food, clothing or even a home. It could go as deep as family or close friends or even a job.

What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your dreams?

It is a question that plagues the world and nobody truly considers it. Within this idea there are many questions that follow. It makes us ponder over our true values and who we are as a person. How far is too far when one makes sacrifices for their dreams?

Losing a friend over a long pursuit of gaining a higher position is not something I would be willing to give up.

There are people out there that care only about their titles and their potential to become wealthier and greater in the world, but what have they surrendered to get there? If they let go of a close person in their life, that is too far. This can be someone that motivates you and encourages you to keep pushing, but they did not let on that you were getting ahead of yourself.

A sacrifice is the act of giving up something with value, something near and dear to one’s heart.

I feel as though some of us

have forgotten in this day and age how to really understand what a sacrifice may be. We have gotten so caught up in everyday life being so routine that we have forgotten how to truly deal with a situation that may cause us to separate from something very close to us. In turn, it may change us.

I have grown to accept who I am as a person and who I will become because nobody is ever finished growing. I have learned that in life there may be some sacrifices that need to be made in order to achieve the dreams I have set for myself. Every person on the planet has the capacity to change the world if they so truly desire to. For now though, I will make sacrifices as I go, but I truly am not sure to what extent I will go.

Some sacrifice food as a way to save money while others reject valuable time with friends and family for personal free time.

I will be truthful in my values, but right now the dreams I have do not call for sacrifice, but only dedication and perseverance. Persistence is key, thus I feel as though sacrifice will come on a situational basis when it is needed.

In this day and age, the best thing you can be is yourself. It is so much easier to be your own person than faking it for others.

A hype has been created around doing drugs and getting so drunk you can’t remember the night before. Don’t become this person you are not, just to fit in. As young kids, we were taught so heavily about peer pressure and how to avoid strangers judging you if you don’t follow them. Now it is clear that this message is more prevalent than ever. Don’t follow your peers if they are consuming illegal substances. Most importantly don’t lose sight of your morals Drugs have been abused by too many teens and we often see on the news the unfortunate passing of a high school student who died due to drugs. More often than not their parents tell of the caring kid they knew, but lost to drugs. It doesn’t seem fair to lose a child because of drugs. Even more depressing is the fact that they knew these substances were bad but made the decision to start. Take it from these kids’ stories to stay away from drugs and even more important, be yourself.

Peace can be found in groups but it can also be discovered when you are completely yourself. When you allow yourself to be who you want to be, you will never have to force yourself to fit in with others. Don’t follow what your friends are doing just because they are your friends. Their actions may be wrong or even illegal and it is not worth damaging your character to hold on to toxic people.

With the judgement and name-calling unfortunately found in high school, it is hard to be yourself. It seems easier to conform than to stand out. While that is understandable because it seems inclusive, it is actually very lonely. At the end of the day, you are only left with yourself. You should know yourself the best.

It is sad to think that you can’t even recognize yourself and the person you’ve conformed to become.

Doing what’s right isn’t easy, and it’s often times the opposite of what others around you are doing. But at the end of the day, sometimes staying off of the “bandwagon” can be a great choice.

Not everyone on board is going to help you out in the long run.

Only stay with the crowd if that crowd is a group of people you trust and respect. If you can’t find that crowd, you’re better off blazing your own trail.

speakup

Do you think you would succumb to any form of peer pressure?

Connor Phutawon

Karly LaTurner

“No, I would never. I know that sometimes if you give into peer pressure it’ll lead to bad things, and it’s not good because you can make your own decisions.”

“Yeah, it’s a lot and it depends on who it’s coming from.

From my friends, no I would just say that’s dumb, but peer pressure from family is a lot harder.”

freshman

sophomore

Anna DeMars junior

“Hopefully not, I would put myself in a state where I would say no. I think I morally set myself to try not to. I would be mad at myself if I did something bad.”

Dani Fletes senior

“No, because personally I know who I am, and I don’t believe in giving into anything to look cooler. I think it’s important to have a sense of self.”

opinion inklings february 27, 2018

Intheir View

Is wearing certain colors, symbols enough to show support for a cause?

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ink LL

. II . NN . GG . SS

Crown Point High School, IN

Vol. 82 Issue 6 - February 27, 2018 1500 S. Main St. Crown Point, IN 46307 219-663-4885 ex. 11349 fax 219-662-5663 inklings@cps.k12.in.us online: www2.cps.k12.in.us/inklings

Jennifer Bianchi teacher

Pro: “I think

it raises awareness. I think that it allows other people to question what awareness is being supported.

It brings it to the eye, and catches people’s attention.”

CARTOON BY MADELYN WHITAKER

Jayden Moore freshman it’s Con: “No, not enough

because if you’re just wearing a bracelet or t-shirt you aren’t fully supporting a cause just wearing a color.”

Chris Gloff teacher “Yes, I think it’s a start.

It brings awareness to the topic and shows your support.”

Pro:

specific pieces of clothing to show Pro: Wearing support for important causes is enough

BY LUKE RAISER reporter

In an ideal or perfect world everyone would be able to go out somewhere and protest for a cause, or donate money to contribute to something they care about and wish to support. However, unfortunately, the world is far from perfect. People have time consuming jobs and most end up spending most of the money they make from their jobs on bills, with their leftover money mostly being spent on food and other necessities.

Many don’t have the time or the money to physically go somewhere to support their cause. High schoolers have their jobs and extracurriculars that inhibit them from being able to go somewhere to protest and the money that students earn from that job usually ends up paying for gas money, which doesn’t leave much more room for spending money.

If you have a better paying job, you may have some extra spending money. However, you have to think about your future and when you go to college or pursue

your career. You’ll probably need all the money you can get to help pay tuition and things to further yourself in your career. Book fees and software you may need all will have to come out of pocket, and many of those things are definitely not cheap.

Even if someone didn’t have a job, they may not have a car or any real means of transportation to go support their cause. Due to not having a job any money you have is most likely gifted to you or given to you through an allowance. Not a considerable amount of money to donate towards a cause. In this situation you may have a lot of extra freetime but you still have to find a ride to go protest somewhere. If the stars align and you are able to go out and protest or have extra money lying around then more power to you. For the rest of us who are physically unable to do so or don’t have a lot of cash to just donate to a charity, buying a shirt or some sort of memorabilia with a symbol or color and wearing that around is more than enough to show support for a cause.

Con: There are more ways to show support for cause than wearing designated clothing

really want to support a cause, I feel like there should be action taken, like peaceful protest.”

What we Think Pro: 5 Inklings Staffers

Con: 13 Inklings Staffers

Flip the FOCUS

We all know that actions speak louder than words.

Donning a t-shirt with a color or slogan on it is merely personal reaffirmation. Wearing a cause is not fighting for it.

Passive support has no real effect. When you put on a t-shirt, it makes the wearer feel good about him/herself, but they become complacent. They believe that they’ve “done their part,” but fail to inspire further discussion, or take action. Passive support is the bare minimum that a person can do for a cause, because it’s too easy to stop after putting on a shirt. People need to be more active in their support, dedicating themselves and their time to fundraise or march.

Awareness campaigns tend to take attention away from the actual cause and those suffering. When Breast Cancer Awareness month comes to pass, we’re thinking about pink market promotions and football uniforms, but lose sight of actual cancer victims.

Pros

Con: “No, if you

reporter

The most significant factor lies in the delusion of involvement. Those who wear a certain color or shirt feel that they are just as much a part of a cause as those getting their hands dirty. People who are actually invested in a cause, who contribute personal time to advance something they truly believe in, are the ones to make change.

Furthermore, most awareness campaigns fail to encourage people to actually join the cause. They insist that wearing a color is all that’s necessary for the average person to “do their part.” The truth is that they’ve done nothing tangible, nothing that will result in real change. Most people will put on their shirt in the morning and forget their cause by the evening. Perhaps they’ll take a picture of what they’re wearing and post it on social media.

Odds are however, that they’ll get more compliments on their appearance than questions about the cause they are promoting. These posts trivialize a movement and detract from the importance and difficulty of reaching its goals.

Who would put in hard work and time for a cause, when all it takes to “do your part” is wearing a t-shirt?

+ Spring break in the near future + Clearer roads and driving conditions + Days getting longer

Cons

BY DOMINIC THEPHASDIN

Samantha Yukich junior

Inklings is a student publication created by the newspaper and advanced journalism students and distributed monthly to students, faculty and staff of Crown Point High School. Opinions do not necessarily reflect those of CPHS faculty, staff or administration.

Letters-to-the-editor are welcomed provided they are signed and submitted one week prior to publication and do not contain personal attacks. Inklings reserves the right to edit for space, clarity and legal and ethical concerns.

Advertising is subject to applicable rates available by contacting Inklings.

Inklings has been recognized as an Indiana High School Press Association Hoosier Star, National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker, Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown, and Quill and Scroll George H. Gallup publication.

co-editors-in-chief Grace Cleland Audrey Gacsy Andrea John online editor-in-chief Alexia Wojciechowski associate editor Kira Schuelka assistant editors Lindsey Baeza Tabitha Beishuizen Ashley Rekitzke Morgan Taylor advertising editor Jessi Alcorta-Robles sports editor Henry Withrow assistant sports editors Timmy Abbott Jake McCallister staff Asmaa Abdeldaiem Olivia Budzevski Morgan Cooper Emma Frank Elizabeth Gonzalez Gwyn Isaacs Maria Jeffirs Jacob Johansson Steven Kvachkoff Emmie McConnell Erin Muller Cat Padilla Luke Raiser Ari Setlak Alexandra Sulewski Dominic Thephasdin Will VanHorssen Madelyn Whitaker adviser Julie Elston

- Disrespectful way of listening to music - The always changing weather - Testing season is approaching

6

i on Iife feature inklings february 27, 2018

experiencing life beyond the building

PHOTO BY ANDREA JOHN Senior Melanie Albers poses in front of the Barcelona mosaic found within the Plaza de España located in Sevilla, Spain during spring break 2017. Albers plans on going on the Costa Rica trip this spring break.

The

#

Nearly

30%

of people finalized spring break plans a month prior to travelling

one third of spring break planners said they do the same thing every year

27 percent

of U.S. college students work during spring break

sixty % of people said they did a traditional spring break trip with their intermediate family

73

out of

100

families are looking for trips of 4-7 days statistics provided by https://www.statista. com/statistics/666315/ spring-break-plans-usstudents/

Spring break destinations offer new opportunities, experiences

BY JESSI ALCORTA-ROBLES STEVEN KVACHKOFF advertisement editor reporter

Sunny, tropical atmospheres of bliss and memorable moments in the city. To get away from the cold climate, students around the school are travelling to places from Arizona to Costa Rica.

Spring break is a time of relaxation and relief as students travel to different places for different reasons. Some prefer to travel outside the country while others prefer to stay within. Either way, there’s lots of opportunities for a good time during spring break.

This week off of school gives not only students, but also teachers, well deserved time off. History teacher Donald Bernacky believes students can use this time as a time to get ready for the rest of the school year.

“I’ve always looked at spring break as a time to see where you are at. We are now at the three quarter mark in the school year. If you plan it right in your head, you can use this time to sort of rest and restore, and then charge into the end of the school year,” Bernacky said.

“If you’re strong towards the end, everything else will lead up to a more successful year.”

Senior Julia Fleszewski plans to travel South to visit family among other things.

She plans on going caving with her family and spending her time bonding with them in different ways.

“Caving is an activity where we view rock formations that have formed underground, and you can look everywhere and travel and see the history there,” Fleszewski said.

While Fleszewski plans on travelling South for her vacation, other students like sophomore Aiden Furman plan to travel toward the West.

“I might go to Arizona to visit my aunt and uncle,” Furman said. “When we were younger, my brother, my dad, and I would go out and visit her around this time of year.”

Family traditions during spring break can be especially fun and provide personal growth and closure for students who do not spend as much time with their family. As well as family trips, some students who take Spanish class were eligible to sign up for a trip to Costa Rica with their peers. Many students took advantage of this opportunity. Junior Ana Maldonado feels that she is prepared due to speaking Spanish at home with her family, as well as in class.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Costa Rica. Being able to go in high school with or without friends is an awesome opportunity where I can experience new things each day,” Maldonado said. “Two of my best friends, Hailey and Kristel, are going and so is my cousin.”

Other students feel that they may have more of a struggle speaking Spanish on their own.

Sophomore Jacob Woods, who is also going on the Costa Rica trip, plans on using this opportunity to bond with friends and learn new words.

“I usually stay at home for spring break, so this a special occasion for me,” Woods said.

Senior Melanie Albers went on a school sanctioned trip to Spain last spring break, and plans on going to Costa Rica this break.

“Interacting with the locals, tasting new foods, and just learning how people go about their day to day lives in another country really opened my eyes,” Albers said. “People in Spain aren’t always in such a hurry like we Americans are and they appreciate what’s going on in the moment which is something I want to live by not only in Costa Rica, but wherever I am.”

However, spring break does not always mean traveling to some place warm, or even traveling at all. It can mean catching up on sleep or hanging out with friends. Junior Noah Aguilera plans on staying home this year with his family.

“I normally go on vacation to different places every spring break, but this year

my family has planned to stay home and spend the break here,” Aguilera said. “We have family game nights planned, and a list of movies we’re watching, and I also plan on hanging out with my friends.”

Like Aguilera, Fleszewski has stayed home for spring break in prior years.

When she hasn’t gone caving in the South, she has stayed at home and just relaxed with family.

“I like going out to eat at Harry O’s and spending time with my friends,” Fleszewski said.

Some students do travel, but they stay in state. Senior James Torreano has traveled in previous years but has also spent his break in other parts of Indiana.

“When my family doesn’t go to Florida, we usually go camping at either Brown County or Turkey Run,” Torreano said. “Depending on where we go, I spend my time by hiking with my family, trail running, mountain biking, and fishing.”

Along with the realities of their spring break, some students plan on travelling farther and less local in order to enhance their cultural understanding and have a good time. Fleszewski and Woods, would travel farther out.

“My favorite travel spot would be Egypt,” Fleszewski said. “I am very fascinated with their history and I would love to see the Pyramids in real life.”

While some students travel far or don’t travel at all, spring break is a time of celebration, enjoyment, rest and relaxation. It’s a time of fully getting away from the pressures of school to the more comfortable atmosphere of spring break.

Whether it’s swimming or exploring the world, spring break is a good time for students all around.

“Travelling to Spain was an experience I’ll never forget and I think it will definitely help with embracing Costa Rica and all it has to offer,” Albers said.

“Spain was my first time abroad and one thing I learned was not to be afraid of the language barrier, because the majority of the people are kind and wanting to help.”

Hot Spots for Students Los Angeles, California Miami, Florida Tampa Bay, Florida Panama City Beach, Florida New Orleans, Louisiana Cancun, Mexico Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Las Vegas, Nevada Austin, Texas

w

By

feature inklings february 27, 2018

Computing

7

Out Loud “Hey, Speaker? What can you do?”

Apple HomePod

Google Home

Sonos PLAY:1

Amazon Echo

“Music streaming.”

“Weather forecast.”

“Television pairing.”

“Internet connection.”

“Radio broadcasting.”

“Bluetooth capability.”

Voice assistant platforms make waves in recent push for “Smart Homes;” spark privacy, safety controversy

BY AUDREY GACSY co-editor-in-chief

The cost of a computerized personal assistant may only be a single payday away. Within seconds, nearly any question or request can be found with the sound of a voice. “Smart speakers,” like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home, have taken place in the everyday lives of consumers.

With the many functions smart speakers have, senior Suzi Karamacoski has found that her family’s Amazon Echo Dot has come in handy for both casual use and information.

“My dad purchased it for our family for Christmas, and at first, we didn’t use it much. But now, I think it’s nice to play music throughout the house,” Karamacoski said. “Occasionally, I’ll ask it to check the weather for me, or for an answer to a question I have.

My parents use it to make phone calls or send text messages.”

Like other speaker systems, Karamacoski’s Echo dot has connectivity to other smart appliances. Her family has taken advantage of those other uses.

“We got the whole system setup. For my dad’s birthday, we

bought him the lights that go along with it. For him and my mom, that was a game changer,” Karamacoski said. “He installed the lights in his room and can tell Alexa to turn them on or off, so it’s made our lives much more convenient.”

Unless the smart speaker can be connected to other devices with related accounts, sophomore Morganne Mannino doesn’t recommend the purchase.

“I have the Echo Dot made

by Amazon, and unless you’re willing to get an Amazon account and other technologies to hook it up to, I think it’s almost worthless,” Mannino said. “We really only use it to find out the weather or sometimes it tells us jokes.”

While smart speakers have the capability to connect with other technologies, some use the voice assistant technologies for more basic uses.

“I have a Google Home mini,” Special Needs teacher Tori Welker said. “I have only figured out how to use it for music. I love how you can tell it a specific genre, artist or song.”

Having the speaker has changed how Welker spends her time at home.

“I tend to listen to music

Prices $29.99 range to from: $399.99 Approximately

39,000,000

Americans own a smart speaker.

7 percent

of Americans bought a smart speaker during the 2017 holiday season.

Information provided by: https://www. theverge.com/2018/1/15/16892254/smartspeaker-ownership-google-amazon

‘‘

I’ve never really considered that someone could honestly be listening to us at home, but it doesn’t really bother me at all.

At least whoever may be listening can enjoy some of my favorite tunes with me.

Suzi Karamacoski senior

more because it’s so easy to access.

It’s really nice to have it to work around the house to,” Welker said.

Former math teacher and current learning consultant Jon Haas says that his smart speaker has made life around his home easier and has helped to entertain the younger members of his family.

“We got our first speaker in December of 2016, and the second in November of last year,” Haas said. “I use it for mostly weather reports and to listen to music, but it’s really funny when my first grader uses it to ask strange questions, just to see how she answers.”

Similarly to Haas, local insurance agent Gabrielle LaTulip has found enjoyment from her Amazon Echo, but has also used it in the workplace.

“I have one at home and at work. It’s funny how my 9-yearold will use it to talk to or to get answers for his math homework,” LaTulip said. “At work, I can ask it to play relaxing music to help me focus or I can ask it to play a certain artist I like.”

The addition of smart speakers into personal lives has brought into question the safety of the devices and whether or not outside

individuals can listen through them. Karamacoski isn’t concerned by that possibility.

“I’ve never really considered that someone could honestly be listening to us at home, but it doesn’t really bother me at all,” Karamacoski said. “At least whoever may be listening can enjoy some of my favorite tunes with me.”

Haas also feels comfortable with the smart speakers in his home, feeling that the ease speakers can provide stands out.

“It hasn’t really made a huge difference in my life. It really is just there to help when we ask it for help,” Haas said. “I don’t ever consider that anyone could be listening. Our speakers have only improved our lives.”

For Karamacoski, the inclusion of smart speakers into everyday lives is meaningful not only in her personal life, but to the progress of technology.

“It’s really evidence of how far the technology in our lives has come. It’s part of everyday life now,” Karamacoski said. “Sometimes, I’ll even make small talk with Alexa. Surprisingly, she can really keep the conversation going. The future is honestly boundless.”

feature inklings february 27, 2018

Just

BY ASHLEY REKITZKE MADELYN WHITAKER assistant editor reporter

To some, shoes are just things that you wear on your feet to keep them warm and protected from the weather. However, to others, shoes are a form of expression, a collection that keeps on growing, and even a lifestyle.

People who collect shoes, often called sneakerheads, find their beginnings at a variety of ages and sometimes from unexpected places.

For junior Chris Best, his collection of shoes began when he was watching YouTube videos.

“When I was about 11, I saw a video about the Jordan 11 Breds and I thought I want a pair and it all began there,” Best said.

Best likes shoes that more similar to “older sneakers like Jordan’s or Penny Hardaways.”

He says that he looks for that type of shoe more than any other style due to his personal style preference.

Similar to clothing and fashion, the style of shoes change as time goes on and people’s preferences change. This can be due to what people want to buy, but it can also be due to what brands are choosing to design. Sophomore David Gonzalez noticed that certain brands are more outgoing than others when they are looking to create a new pair of shoes.

“I feel like Adidas really pushes the boundaries with different styles and different materials,” Gonzalez

Choose the Shoes

for

KICKS

Students’ passion for collecting sneakers expresses personal style said.

Junior Gaby Stojanoski feels that the most popular shoes brands among teenager currently are those sold by Nike, Vans, Jordan, and Adidas. She also feels that shoes sold

by Skechers and Puma are lacking in style and wearability.

Best has noticed the evolution of the styles that people wear change over time, and he feels that many people stick to a select few brands.

“The most popular shoes back in the day were Converse, but if you ask someone what’s the best shoe now, most people are gonna say Nike, Jordans. Yeezys are the most popular right now,” Best said Similar to Best, Stojanoski sees major brands are what most teenagers tend to wear due to their widespread popularity among the age group.

“People always wore Reebok

a. $132,000

DJ Kaled x Air Jordan 3 ‘Grateful

and Skechers back in elementary school and now it is usually Jordans, Nike, and Adidas,” Stojanoski said.

Although Stojanoski collects sneakers to wear to express her style, there are some pairs that she chooses to maintain and preserve due to special qualities that they may have.

“I wear more sneakers because I don’t want to just buy a pair of shoes that I’m just gonna keep in my closet for no one to see. Unless they were signed by someone I would not wear those,” Stojanoski said Stojanoski tends to shop at Footlocker, Nike, and Vans when she looks to buy a new pair of shoes. Stylistically, she looks for a more versatile style.

“I make sure the colors are simple and the designs are not too crazy so I can wear them with any-

Nike Mag 2016

thing I wear,” Stojanoski said.

Stojanoski has found that when looking to purchase a new pair of shoes, the ones that are the most stylish to her are Nike and Adidas shoes. When shoes are compared based on durability, she feels that any shoe can last long as long as they are taken care of.

“As long as you are careful, they are durable. When you spray the shoes they were become water resistant and dirt resistant. If you jump in a pile of mud that is a different story,” Stojanoski said.

To keep his shoes clean and long-lasting, Gonzalez uses a waterproof spray and to protect from damage, and he uses a Mr.Clean Magic Eraser to remove any dirt or scuffing that may occur. He stores his shoe collection on a display that can hold up to forty pairs.

“I feel like being a sneakerhead is to really like sneakers and to buy them often,” Gonzalez said. “You’re always on top of the newest styles.”

Noticing the importance of creativity and dedication when it comes to collecting sneakers, Best feels that being a sneakerhead has allowed him to be more insightful when going to purchase a new pair of shoes.

“To be a sneakerhead you have to be in it for the culture not just the hype you have to be dedicated to allow your mind to see what really makes up a shoe and how the culture went from not so cool shoes to the best shoes on this planet,” Best said.

Buschemi 100MM Diamond

b. $25,000

Views on

‘‘

Shoes

So for me, it’s the badazzle.

It has to stand out, I enjoy a lot of color.

Junior Chris Best 87 pairs of shoes

Uses Crep Protect to clean his shoes On average spends $100-$150 FAVORITE PAIR Yezzy 350s OxFord Tan

‘‘

I make sure the colors are simple and the designs are not too crazy so I can wear them with anything I wear.

Junior Gaby Stojanoski

BUYS FROM

Footlocker, Nike and VANS

c. $26,000 answer key: b,c,a

8

https://www.sneakerfreaker.com/articles/10-of-the-most-stupidly-expensive-sneakers-ever/

On average spends $150

feature inklings february 27, 2018

9

Written in the stars Students voice opinions on the accuracy of astrology assistant editor

In today’s media, components of astrology, such as zodiac signs and horoscopes, have all had their fair share of the spotlight.

Zodiac signs are often used to predict all sorts of aspects of one’s life ranging from the fate of a romantic relationship to what kind of day a person will have. However, some question the accuracy of the stars.

“I feel like everything happens for a reason. Every person is different. We all make different choices in life and they lead us to different places. I think (a horoscope) is too narrow,” sophomore Rohan Parikh said.

On the other end, some are enthusiasts of astrology and incorporate it into their daily lives. Astrology is considered a form of art or a part of one’s religious beliefs due to its lack of scientific evidence.

“I definitely believe in astrology, but for me, it’s more about believing in the universe and things like karmic balance and reincarnation. I’m agnostic and astrology ties into my beliefs,” junior Kylee Conley said.

Major media companies such as

BuzzFeed post quizzes centered around zodiac signs on their website claiming it can predict a certain outcome. One quiz title reads “We Can Correctly Guess Your Zodiac Sign Based On The Number Of These Bizarre Foods You’ve Tried.”

“I think astrology isn’t portrayed accurately whatsoever in the media. All of those quizzes based on your sun sign are kind of laughable, and it gives astrology a bad reputation. Astrology for me is a tool to help discover parts of myself and understand why I am the way I am,” Conley said.

To continue, Conley believes that there is a disparity between what actual astrology is and what people think astrology is because of quizzes on websites like BuzzFeed.

“People dismiss it so quickly because they see posts about their sun sign in the media and don’t relate to it, when they haven’t even checked their whole natal chart. I think the media has given astrology a bad name,” Conley said.

Despite the negative connotation sometimes associated with the reliability of astrology, studies have shown that millennials

AQUARIUS

ARIES

LEO

October 23 November 21

VIRGO

December 22 January 19

November 22 December 21

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aspects, etc. The signs show what potential you could have in that area. For example, relationships, friendships, finance, etc. and whether or not these traits are underdeveloped or developed depends on how the person acts, their aspects, and their maturity.”

Not to be confused with astrology is astronomy which, according to astronomy teacher Maryanne Nicks, is the study of the sun, moon, stars, planets, comets, gas, galaxies, gas, dust and other celestial bodies and events. In contrast, astrology is the study of how the position and path of the sun, moon, and stars have a bearing on people’s lives. Unlike astrology, astronomy is a science; however, some have difficulty separating the two.

“I confuse them sometimes because they both sound similar to each other. Also, they both have to do with stars and space so people just automatically associate them together even though they are completely different. I believe more people should be aware of astrology because of how often the two get confused,” junior Emily Russell said.

March 21 April 19

February 19 March 20

January 20 February 18

know your signs

are aiding in its growth. In a study done

by IBISWorld, psychic service companies including astrology have grown 2 percent between 2011 and 2016 and are now valued at $2 billion. Conley feels it may be due to the increasing liberal views in society.

“I feel that millennials are much more open-minded than the previous generations,” Conley said.

In astrology, all determining signs are considered equally important. Sun signs dictate personality while moon signs and rising signs dictate emotions and appearance. Conley believes since there are many different things that make up astrology, it is important to research all parts of a natal chart to accurately predict oneself.

“Your sun sign is only 5 percent of your personality, and while some people may show it more than others, it really can’t describe someone. It’s too general and many people can’t relate to it,” Conley said.

“To understand someone better, you need to do a whole natal chart. This shows what signs are in each planet, your houses, the planetary positions in your houses, your

Ca

BY LINDSEY BAEZA

10

feature inklings february 27, 2018

SeeingDouble Twin Facts Nigeria

has the

highest rate of twins

taller women identical twins do not share the same

fingerprints

are more likely to have twins

births are 100 to twins three

40 percent of twins

PHOTO BY ASHLEY REKITZKE Seniors Madison and Sydney Jostes work on a lab during their seventh hour, Mrs. Nicks’ physics class. The two are identical twins which means they share the exact same DNA. They believe that along with physical looks, they also share the same personality. This similarity has allowed them to build a very close relationship with each other.

create their own language

facts provided by: https://www.modernmom.com/db59d6d23b3d-11e3-be8a-bc764e04a41e.html

Multiples reflect upon unique relationships shared with one another

BY ALEXIA WOJCIECHOWSKI ARI SETLAK online editor-in-chief reporter

Many use high school as a time to find themselves. It can be a stressful and intimidating moment for teens to be in a new school with their futures in their thoughts. To twins, they have a different challenge. A multiple has one or more people that look and may act just like them, this could be considered difficult or a hidden treasure.

“We were talking to someone and they were like they sound the same, you have the same smile and nose,” sophomore Jade Moran, who is Corrine Moran’s twin, said.

Unlike the Morans who are fraternal twins, seniors Sydney and Madison Jostes are identical twins. This means that the Jostes’ have the same DNA and may even look the same to strangers.

“We are like the same person.

We are literally like the same exact person,” Sydney said.

Although they are scientifically the same, they feel that their similarities extend beyond their looks. Their personalities have become very different as they age.

“We even have the same sense of humor,” Madison said.

Sometimes being related may cause a teacher to confuse one twin with the other. This confusion may go even further when the siblings have multiple teachers together. For the Moran twins, they only share two teachers so this is not a huge issue for them.

The Jostes twins have many experiences of teachers mixing them up. “(When) I am walking down the hallway all of Sydney’s teachers will say ‘Hi’ to me,” Madison said. “Mr. Collier always says ‘Hi’ to me even though I never had him because he thinks I’m Sydney.”

Having a twin or being a multiple, may allow for the opportunity to be able to help each other with school work. For freshman triplets Grace, Jack and Henry Philbin this means they take the same classes and are able to do their homework together.

“We are different but have some similarities. I like track and so does Henry. Jack is more basketball,” Grace said. “Henry is the history funny one. Jack is really known as the basketball guy and I’m the musical, movie per-

son. We all get along really well though and enjoy spending time together.”

Having another sibling besides your multiple can create an interesting dynamic. Since multiples are the exact same age and have always been together, this may cause them to be closer.

“We are close with our younger sister but we are a lot closer because I mean we literally are the same person,” Sydney said.

Unlike the Jostes twins who find they are closer with each other, the Philbins do not find the same to be true.

“I have an older sister who attended Crown Point High School and is in her 1st year of college,” Grace said. “Sometimes I find it easier to talk to my sister about personal stuff compared to my brothers.”

Although the Philbins are triplets, Grace says that Henry and Jack sometimes are mistaken for twins and she is seen as their older or younger sibling.

“If I had a dollar for every time I was mistaken for Henry, I would be richer than Bill Gates,” Jack said. “Henry and I tend to often get mistaken for twins, instead of triplets.”

While multiples may be most obviously known for being similar, they share many differences.

Some may especially find this to be true in hobbies.

“We both draw, but I paint more,” Jade said. “I do more realistic things and she does more cartoon and anime but still realistic on top of that.”

Some may find that joining new clubs and sports can be nerve-racking. Having a multiple may allow one to find comfort in always having a person to share hobbies with.

“It’s helpful because you have somebody to do (something new) with if you don’t know anyone else because then you have a partner,” Madison said.

Having a twin or triplet may create an experience that allows one to share things most traditional siblings do not.

“I like being able to share my birthday and since we are the same age, we get to enjoy and do the same stuff since there is no age difference ruining that.” Grace said.

For the Moran twins, keeping individuality can be hard when they are exactly like another. This can cause tension in sibling rela-

tionships.

“She doesn’t like to wear the same things I do. Sometimes we walk out and see each other and Jade will turn around and go to change,” Corrine said.

In some sibling relationships, this tension can end up causing arguments.

“Some of the times, we will want privacy from each other like typical siblings do. We will get in arguments quite a bit,” Jack said.

“However, at the end of the day, we all love each other, very much.”

It can be important for twins to learn to be independent so they can prepare for college and their own futures. This may be different since they have been together their whole lives.

“Last year I wasn’t in Art Club because Jade wasn’t in Art Club, but now I am more independent so I wanted to do something for myself,” Corrine said.

Nevertheless, if a person has a twin, triplet, or just a sibling they may always have another person in their life to share experiences with.

“The best parts would be having the best friends you could ever ask for and never being or feeling alone,” Henry said.

sports inklings february 27, 2018

11

extra points

KEEPING up with TRADITIONS

‘‘ Seeing a freshman will probably throw the opposing teams off during the postseason because our team doesn’t typically use one.”

Ty Smith

freshman

premier spring games girls track

Region Rumble Throws Classic 3-2

boys track

Region Rumble Throws Classic 3-2

boys baseball Hanover Central 3-27

softball @ Hobart 3-26

POLL

Should athletes speak their minds about politics?

108

yes

21

no

OUT OF 129 STUDENTS POLLED

PHOTO BY ASHLEY REKITZKE

Sophomore Nathan Tufts and juniors Zeke Huls and Christian Mikrut have shaved their head to prepare for the IHSAA State Prelims for swimming.

Team traditions carry out through previous years, bond athletes

BY GWYN ISAACS reporter

Team dinners, dying hair, and many other traditions build chemistry and provide help for the team’s success. It helps teammates become closer and prepared to compete.

Many Crown Point Bulldog teams have their own traditions that they take part in. One major sport tradition is the boy swim team’s hair bleaching ritual. Most of the boys bleach their hair before shaving it off to reduce drag in the water.

Crown Point swimmers have been doing this for many years. Swim coach Blake Yeager remember participating in the hair bleaching tradition when they were students attending the high school. ¨We’ve done this forever. We did it when I graduated and I know they have done it at least since the 90’s, so it has been going on for decades. They do it to bond as a team because they know they are going to have to shave off their hair anyway for their upcoming meet, so they make it into something fun and it brings the team together as a group,¨ Yeager said.

This part of the season is an exciting time for many of the swimmers. The boys take a stressful time of the season and turn it into something worthwhile. Senior Yannelle Beberino loves this tradition. ¨My favorite part of the tradition is the crazy haircuts we do near

sectionals. The seniors all get to choose the haircuts for the juniors and underclassmen,¨ Beberino said.

Not everyone is required to participate in the tradition, but it is looked down upon to not be a part of it.

The swimmers are not forced to bleach, as it is completely optional, but they do encourage everyone to take part in the fun. ¨There is no penalty in not following tradition. However, how we look at it is that the whole team is doing it already. People are going to call you out for not doing it so you might as well do it,¨ junior Zeke Huls said.

Even though it is something fun to be a part of, there are legitimate reasons to why the boys do it.

Junior Evan Holland focuses on the importance of the tradition. ¨I believe the bleaching tradition is one of the most important traditions the swim team has. This tradition started because we shave our heads for sectionals. We shave our heads for two reasons: to reduce drag in the water and because when it grows back, it’s no longer dead.

We are in chlorine 2-3 hours a day, 6 days a week so our hair is fried from the chlorine. Since we are already shaving it, we bleach our hair for fun beforehand,¨ Holland said.

The boys’ strange hair often gets a lot of questions and comments from students and teachers in the school. Although it may look

weird, it serves as a good advertisement for their upcoming meets. ¨When the entire team bleaches our hair, it has positive effects.

It identifies that we are swimmers and we “wear” the blonde with pride. We all look weird, but we look weird as a team. Then two days before the meet we shave it all off.

We give each other really bad haircuts and we suffer through all of the “why” questions to try and promote our sectional meet and bring obvious attention to the team. We thankfully shave the Wednesday before sectionals and then it’s race time,¨ Holland said.

The boys swim team is not the only Crown Point sport that has their own traditions. The girls track team also has a couple they take part in. Junior Kirsten Macintyre has been a part of the CPHS track team for three years and believes one of the best traditions is their annual lock-in. This tradition happens once a year and helps the girls get to know each other more off the track. The girls spend a whole night together doing various activities such as going to a basketball game, playing capture the flag, competing in dodgeball, and eating snacks. ¨Every year our track team does a lock-in where all us girls spend a whole night at the school playing games and doing team building activities together. I really like it because I get to know my teammates more and it has made us an overall

stronger team. It has become a very fun tradition that I look forward to every year,¨ Macintyre said. ¨Our team basically just works on team bonding all night and we try forming a stronger connection with all the girls.¨ The girls also have a tradition that includes note cards. They are given note cards before every major meet to get them focused on their goals and to get them mentally ready to compete. ¨We get them from each one of our coaches for conference, sectionals, regionals and state. It is a good confidence booster and really gets us fired up to do well and run.

This is one of my favorite traditions because its not only a fun thing to do, but it also helps me get focused to compete. It also sets goals for our race and what we want to achieve for the season,¨ Macintyre said.

Doing this not only gets the girls pumped up to dominate during the season, but also helps the girls get to know each other on a new level. Coaches and players started traditions in order to bond their teams together.

With traditions bringing teammates closer together and pushing them to focus on achieving their presumed goals, it is easy to see why Crown Point athletes have been achieving nothing but success for countless years.

Lady Bulldogs send off seniors with high hopes for bright future

BY JAKE MCCALLISTER assistant sports editor

My moment of the month ... “...placing third in state.

I feel like that was a pretty good way to finish my high school wrestling career and I am happy with how the team did.

Senior Noah Lamore Wrestling

With a 13-10 record heading into sectionals, the Lady Bulldogs took a tough loss to a very talented East Chicago team, which unfortunately finished their year.

Even though the girls did not accomplish their ultimate goal in winning the sectional, head coach Chris Seibert and his team has a lot to be proud of.

“The day-to-day work ethic made me and the coaches proud all year. They were very dedicated, worked extremely hard in practice, and put a lot of time in. As a coach

you spend a lot of time at practice compared to time at games and their work ethic was always been present,” Seibert said.

The basketball team loses 2 seniors this year: Mya Scheidt and Taylor Tyndall. Mya was a 4 year letterer and a 3 year starter and Taylor was a 2 year letterer and a starter this past year. They were both captains this year and both share a deep love for the game.

“We will miss the competitiveness of this year’s seniors. They really hated to lose which is a very unique trait. I think it really drove them to want to be successful and they both have a love for the game

of for the game of basketball and a passion for the game. Whether it was in practice, in a game, or scouting, or in the offseason, you knew that they had a passion and a love for the game,” Seibert said.

Scheidt led the team in scoring with 13.2 PPG, and steals with 2.0 SPG. She also was tied in the lead for most assists per game at 3.0 APG. Tyndall was the third leading rebounder at 3.5 RPG and was constantly matched up with the opposing team’s best player.

“I am really going to miss playing with some of my best friends,” Scheidt said, “This team was like a

family and we will always have a special bond with one another.”

The Lady Bulldogs highlight of the year was their Holiday tournament at Twin Lakes where they beat Western Cathedral and Mount Vernon to take home the tournament trophy.

Next year, they return 3 starters and a lot of youthful bench players. They have an abundance of young talent and high expectations going forward.

“We played a lot of young kids this year at the varsity level and we gained experience. We have a lot of girls competing for spots so it’ll be competitive,” Seibert said.

12

sports inklings february 27, 2018

High hopes for boys swim at state competition

BY HENRY WITHROW sports editor

Young talent is an unconventional building block for any sports team. The 2017-18 Crown Point Bulldogs boys swim team has a total of two seniors on their roster and is circulated around the talent of underclassmen. Despite the lack of veteran talent on the roster, the swim team completed the season with a record of 9-1 and have sent three swimmers and a diver to the state meet. Blowing their competition out of the water this season, the team is planning on bringing home hardware after their state meet.

“We have three swimmers and one diver headed down to state prelims. Our goal would be getting all three of the swimmers back for the state meet on Saturday,” head coach Bryon Angerman said. “For them to compete in the state meet they would need to finish in the top eight and both Evan (Holland) and Christian (Mikrut) have a goal to make it in the top eight in their individual events if they can. So our main goal is to have all of our swimmers compete in the state meet.”

With the state meet looming upon the team, Angerman has been focusing on the ways his team can win and his goals regarding their competition. He believes their primary rivalries are the teams from Crown Point’s area.

“At the state meet there are many teams competing from our area such as Lake Central, Chesterton, Valpo, and Munster. With all of these local teams that we have competed against since the beginning of the season our goal is to not only beat those teams but to finish in the top eight overall,” Angerman said.

The boys swim team once again relies on younger talent to provide them with scoring opportunities.

“I think a lot of the underclassmen have really helped us. When we swam sectionals we only had two seniors compete and we are definitely one of the youngest teams out there,” Angerman said. “So the underclassmen have definitely started to step it up and they have been doing that since the beginning of the season and have come together and done a really good job since the last meet.”

PHOTO BY JESSI ALCORTA-ROBLES

Junior Sam Snodgrass forces the ball up the court during a fastbreak and attempts to either look for a teammate to pass to or create a shot.

Sectionals loom upon boys basketball

BY ELIZABETH GONZALEZ reporter

The boys basketball regular season has come to a close finishing 10-12 and the sectional draft has been picked. The boys have come to terms with their losses, and they have continued to learn from them.

Starting off a bit rocky after losing most of their returning varsity players, the first step this season for the team was to redefine their roles.

“A lot of the work this year went into redefining roles. For example, Sam Krutz was on the team last year, but his role on last year’s team is a lot different than his role on this year’s team. We need him to score this year, and contribute more on the stat sheet.

Whereas last year we just needed him to play really good defense,” head coach Clint Swan said.

With only four returning varsity players there is a whole group of guys who have never played varsity before. This season the guys who didn’t play last year have truly proved themselves through the means of hard work and dedication to the game.

Seeing how the team would adapt to new situations going into this season was the most commonly asked question.

The boys have undoubtedly answered this question but they have not done it easily. The improvement did not come naturally, instead they improved themselves

through tough practices and hard work.

“Right now we are just working hard at trying to get better. Learning how my teammates play, and trying to be an asset for our team is personally what I am focusing on. I was really happy to get this opportunity to play varsity this year and am looking forward to this teams bright future,” freshman Ty Smith said.

With many new faces to the varsity team, fans might expect the chemistry of the team on and off the court to have deteriorated.

However, the Dogs have kept their common goal in mind all season, and their bond has proven to come naturally along the way.

“Our team bond is very close. We are a close knit group and we do almost everything together. We spend the majority of the year together whether in season or off season. We all get along and try and have a good time no matter what,” junior Elias Gerodemos said.

Though they have had some bumps in the road this season the dogs have had many highlights. Making strides as a team and defeating tough competition such as South Bend Washington, Lake Central and others, one can not help but notice the accomplishments made by the Dogs this season.

The outlook so far is good for tournament season. Drawing Lake Central for the tournament was reassuring for the Dogs, as they believe they are a beatable team. They are heading into the matchup with confi-

dence.

“The fact that we are going to play them the first game, our guys know how they work and they have got some confidence enough to know we can win that game. We feel like we can go in and win that game. Then to win on the road the other night against Morton was big for us. These are all things that strengthen our outlook of the tournament season,” Swan said.

Though they drawn a team that they defeated in the past, they have a tough road ahead in order to win the championship.

Indiana is a state stacked with tough competition but the Bulldogs have proven their skills against competitors in the past. This season they have made plenty of improvements.

“Our improvement comes during our games, because we get the best experience that way,” Gerodemos said. However, our major key to improvement would be at practice everyday getting better. Every single one of us putting in 110% all the time, that is how we improve.”

This streaky season filled with redefining roles, and working towards improvement has shocked fans. The Dogs have truly come together as a team and have redefined roles. When the going gets tough, the Dogs get through it, which is what they have been doing all season. They will do their best to continue to do that throughout the postseason.

Successful finish in sectional tourney creates confidence for girls swim

BY TIMMY ABBOTT

assistant sports editor

February 1st, the first of three days of the sectional tournament, marked the beginning of the end of our girls swimming team’s long and successful season. The team’s only state-qualifier, sophomore Jordan Artim, has observed just how much the team has improved throughout the course of the year in preparation for the event.

“I think as the season went on we did get a lot better. Our first couple of dual meets were against Chesterton and Valpo, which are our two toughest competitors and some of us struggled,” Artim said. “But when we got towards the end of the season some freshmen and sophomores began to step up and get us

some points at big meets.”

All of this improvement was a product of hard work in practice, which helped the team secure a 3rd place finish at sectionals. Finishing as high as they did provided a rush of relief and excitement for the girls, as they were never guaranteed a top three spot until the very end.

“The team was so excited when we got 3rd at sectionals because we had been battling Lowell for that spot. Going into finals, we were only a couple points ahead of them, so beating them was a big confidence booster,” Artim said.

Coach Bryon Angerman hopes to see that newly found confidence in the team’s veterans trickle down into the upcoming wave of swimmers. He also understands that the “veterans”

of this year’s squad are much younger than average leaders, which makes the team’s potential very evident.

“I think we only had one senior that participated at the sectional but I think we’ll improve next year with the incoming freshmen,” Angerman said. “We were one of the youngest teams there so if we keep swimming hard in the offseason I think that we should be able to be right up there again with Lake Central and Munster.”

A big point of emphasis for next year’s team, in order to finish even higher in sectionals, will be working even harder in practice.

Angerman believes that the team will have to do more preparation over Christmas break to be more successful in the tournament. Artim

thinks that if the team puts in more effort every day at practice, it will lead to big improvements compared to this season.

Mentoring the incoming freshmen next season will be also be pivotal for what will be a very young team. Artim hopes that the returning swimmers’ experience will be a big help in integrating new teammates. If they can successfully do that, the girls will be in great shape heading into the new year.

“Since we have such a young team, everyone coming back will have to already know what to expect so they can help the freshman transition better and get them prepared faster,” Artim said. “I think this season we did pretty good but I think next season we can do even better.”

sports inklings february 27, 2018

13

column

BY TIMMY ABBOTT

assistant sports editor

All-Star Weekend improved, but it could still get better

PHOTO BY JESSI ALCORTA-ROBLES Sophomore Chris Garmon attempts to pin down his opponent in his match during a meet against Michigan City.

Wrestlers head to state meet; finish season with two all-state athletes

BY HENRY WITHROW sports editor

For many high school sports teams heading to the state tournament is typically an unreachable dream set for each of their seasons.

However, this is an every-year occasion for the Bulldogs wrestling squad.

The Bulldogs finished second in the Duneland Athletic Conference and won their sectional. Heading to regionals with a full head of steam, the team finished in second place; ending their regional win streak.

“I am really happy with what we did and how we performed this season. Did we want to do more? Of course. But I believe these kids on the team maximized their potential and we talked about how we wanted to wrestle and what we needed to do in order to win. The entire team wrestled to their individual and all together potential and they wrestled until the last match whether that was regionals, semi-state, or state,” head coach Branden Lorek said. “We sent guys down to the high school state meet and we got some wrestlers on the podium and came home with a few state places.

So overall we are really happy with how our season went and we are always striving for more.”

The Bulldogs wrestling team is historically dominant and this season they showed more of the same.

Sending four wrestlers to the state

PHOTO BY JESSI ALCORTA-ROBLES Junior Jacob Burford sizes up his opponent in hopes of initializing a take-down.

meet and having two finish in the top five for their weight class, the team is happy with this season’s outcome. Sophomore Chris Garmon believes the team’s success was filled with tough fights and easy ones as well.

“I believe the team competed very well, we gave some tough schools a hard fight and dominated some others. Our team has improved from last season in our attitudes, work ethic, skill, and team chemistry,” Garmon said.

After this season of accomplishments, the Bulldogs are looking forward to their forthcoming season.

Senior Jacob Jeeninga claims that the underclassmen have the potential to maintain the team’s success

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in the next few years.

Losing a class jam-packed with tremendous talent, the Bulldogs wrestling squad will undoubtedly need to step up to maintain the team’s success and that is exactly what they plan to do. Lorek already has his first goal set for next year’s team, and that is to win conference.

“Next year we would love to win conference. After that, I want to win the sectional and regional tournament and really just improve on what we did this year.

We would like to send off fourteen wrestlers to semi-state and get more than four guys down to state this year because we sent four down this year,” Lorek said. “We had two state placers this year and we would like to have more than two next year. Each year is like a measuring stick that we want to build upon each and every year. Sometimes it dips down - hopefully not too far.

We’d really like to improve off of our performance of this year for sure.”

Focusing on the future is the Bulldog’s next step and they have earned massive respect from opposing teams in the state. This will potentially guide the team to a handful of victories next season and this year’s class is excited for what is to come.

“We got a lot tougher and we earned a lot of respect around the region,” Jeeninga said.

The NBA’s annual AllStar Weekend came to a close last Sunday night, which turned out to be mostly underwhelming (again). With a few tweaks, it is possible to make the entire weekend as entertaining as the actual AllStar game was.

The Celebrity Game kicked off the weekend and the NBA failed again to lure big names to play. Considering how much money they have, the NBA should start throwing it in the faces of more high-A-listers like Quavo and Justin Bieber and less B-list reality show hosts like Sterling Brim.

Saturday night’s festivities began with the Skills Challenge, which is okay in its own right, but there are many other challenges with potentially much wider appeal to fans around the league.

One very enticing option to me is a 1v1 tournament between all 24 All-Stars. This would truly set social media on fire, as so many possible matchups would have such interesting backstories.

Gymnastics prepares for regionals after 3rd place at DAC

BY EMMIE MCCONNELL reporter

Intense competition has been pushing the CPHS girls gymnastics to new heights.

The team placed 3rd overall in the DAC meet this last Saturday, keeping up with their biggest competitors, Chesterton and Valpo. Crown Point just edged out Portage for third place breaking the tie after the third event.

To succeed at their goal of attending state, everyone has to step it up, including the underclassmen. For the team to succeed in post season the girls’ are making sure everyone gives it their all.

“Having a young team has made this season interesting.

Excalibur Yearbook Order the 2017-18 yearbook for $75 now through March 1, 2018 on the CPHS website shortcut.

Checks made out to CPHS Excalibur can be brought to the main office or journalism lab, E109.

Imagine: Westbrook getting a chance to expose Kevin Durant, his former teammate.

Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving going at each other to find out who’s really got the best handles. Victor Oladipo trying to prove to Paul George that he’s the real star in Indiana. We’d see everyone giving playoff-level effort here.

To maximize the potential of the Dunk/3-Point Contests, more of the absolute best dunkers and shooters need to participate. The Dunk Contest still hasn’t pulled LeBron and Westbrook and the 3-Point Contest needs at least one center per year to represent stretch bigs.

Regarding Sunday night’s game, the NBA missed out by not televising the draft. Sure, the captains wanted to protect the players who got picked last, but they should be thankful to have been chosen at all.

Time will tell if the league will make any of these changes or other ones.

Hopefully they do before fans begin losing interest in the weekend as a whole.

Even though our top competitors are young, they act as mentors for the rest of the team keeping everyone motivated and excited for the future,” junior Emily Kamleiter said.

Head Coach Ami Pysh is excited with the new talent the team has added. The youth of the team is helping to drive the future of the team.

“A young group of sophomores and juniors competing in post-season is even better because we know we can do great things for the next few years,” Pysh said.

One goal is set in these girls’ head: regionals. One step at a time, the team is determined to give their competition a run for their title.

14

arts & entertainment inklings february 27, 2018

inreview

“Little Dark Age”

by MGMT

“Little Dark Age” is MGMT’s fourth studio album and their most recent project since 2013. The album experiments with dark synthpop and other pop influences the band hasn’t touched since their first album, “Oracular Spectacular,” back in 2007.

Little Dark Age is a fun listen long awaited.

New Snapchat Update The new Snapchat update has received a lot of negative feedback. Snapchat now does not have a page where its just other people’s stories. It will now show up as if you have a new Snapchat. Now the only way to see all your friends on Snapchat is to send one.

There is not a specific spot anymore where you can see all the people you follow. The new update is just confusing.

“American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace” This new season of “American Crime Story” definitely has left fans eager for more. This season shows the disturbed life of Andrew Cunanan, the person who murdered Versace. The performance of Darren Criss (Cunanan) is very convincing.

Every person watching is on the edge of their seat.

“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” “The Legend of Zelda” is a series known for epic games that always tops the gaming charts and “Breath of the Wild” is no exception.

Brilliant open world design, incredible detail, challenging combat, and innovating game mechanics that send the franchise in to the future.

There’s a reason “Breath of the Wild” won 2017 Game Of The Year, beating out “Super Mario Odyssey” and “Player Unknown Battlegrounds.”

“Freedom’s Goblin”

by Ty Segall The underground singer/ songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and lo-fi legend, Ty Segall, is back with his 10th studio album. We’ve seen the grunge punk experiment with many different styles throughout his career but Freedom’s Goblin may be his most diverse project yet. Delving into 80’s glam rock, 70’s disco and even folk, this record proves that Ty Segall is more than just an underground sensation.

“Man of the Woods” brings new wave of performance

BY CAT PADILLA reporter

The four year wait is finally over, Justin Timberlake has recently released his newest album “Man of the Woods.” His last album, “The 20/20 Experience”, was produced back in 2013 and it seemed to have a very positive review from fans. After waiting so long for a new album and for performing a great halftime performance at this year’s Super Bowl, his fans are heavily anticipating something amazing from this album.

This 16-track album has many new sounds to it. Timberlake is ultimately known for producing pop music, but this album, Timberlake has decided to shake things up a little bit by creating some country-pop fusion songs. While some fans think this album was not what they expected and were a little disappointed, the majority of fans agree that most songs on the album were great. Also, Timberlake’s album did make number one on Billboard 200 knocking down the Migos new album to number two.

“Say Something”, is one of the examples of combining country and pop. This song did not portray his talent and creativity as well as it possibly could have. Timberlake is trying to change his look and music style and this song made it seem like it is not a good idea.

The songs “Midnight Summer Jam” and “Montana” are very different from the rest of the songs on the album. These two songs seem to sound like a pop song but also have the disco style to them. While not bad songs, they definitely do not sound like Timberlake.

He claims to be trying a country-pop fusion genre, but changing each style with each song is confusing as to which type of style he aspires to achieve.

Another song on the album titled “Supplies” had the old Timberlake sound. It was one of the only songs on the album besides “Filthy” that Timberlake did not try to change and stuck to his true style. This song has a good, catchy beat and brings out Timberlake’s talents.

“Young Man”, a song on the album, has a catchy tune and portrays Timberlake’s writing and singing abilities well. This song is one of the more successful attempts at combining country and pop. All of the lyrics and background sounds mashed well together and made for a very enjoyable song. This song is about a dad telling his son about growing up and becoming a good man.

The title track, “Man of the Woods”, was one of the better combinations between the country and pop. In the title it is clearly stated that Timberlake is a “man of the woods” and wants to be seen that way, but Timberlake also put in a beat that showed his pop star side and it blended together perfectly.

Overall, the album had decent songs and a great sound quality to them. The album received many different reactions, some were positive and some were negative and even though Timberlake may not be ready to try combining country and pop together, the album still deserves to be listened to.

Orangetheory: new science based fitness excites locals

BY MORGAN COOPER reporter

Orangetheory Fitness is a science based interval training center relatively new to Crown Point. It is a unique take on the usual gym setting which really drives a person to reach personal health goals.

Orangetheory is different in the fact that they use heart rate goals to guarantee that you lose weight not only when exercising, but that one also gets high post workout calorie loss.

This training center provides a one hour full body workout that focuses on either endurance, strength, power, or a combination of the three. They are very individualized. During classes exercisers get such personal care with the in-

structor, but are also surrounded by other people just trying their best. They offer the perfect kind of exercise by having a personal trainer with small classes and instructors that give individual attention to all clients.

They are unique due to their system where upon entering participants strap a heart rate monitor to your lower chest, and one’s up to date heart rate zone is projected on a screen in the workout room.

While exercising, they give heart rate goals to reach for certain amounts of time, and everything is simplified down to color based zones so that it is very easy to understand and follow along.

This form of fitness is designed so

that you burn calories during and for many hours after the workout.

The first class is free so that newcomers can really see if their service is a good fit, and if one decides to make a commitment to a monthly plan. If after the first class someone decides Orangetheory is right for them, then there are a couple options moving forward.

Upon entering they ask you questions about your current amount of exercise and health, and then they help decide which package may be best. Although Orangetheory is among the pricier of personal wellness options, it is completely worth it based on how dedicated they are to helping

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This workout center offers a great atmosphere of support and friendliness. The staff really goes out of their way to welcome new members and get them adjusted to Orangetheory. They ask newcomers to come a bit before their scheduled time, so that they can give a tour and really explain what the place is all about. It’s really nice seeing the staff go out of their way to make sure you feel comfortable and welcome.

Orangetheory Fitness is a new and advanced way of exercise that every fitness buff should try. They have been in Crown Point for about five months now and have not received nearly as much attention as deserved.

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arts & entertainment inklings february 27, 2018

The

to

Paris

BY MARIA JEFFIRS reporter

Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone, and Anthony Sadler have been best friends their whole lives. The three of them went to the same middle school in Sacramento, California, and they continue to carry that friendship into their adulthood.

It’s that friendship and dedication to themselves and each other that saved the lives of hundreds of people one fateful day on August 21, 2015.

These three men were living ordinary lives as ordinary people, before they became heroes and some of the most respected men in the United States. “15:17 To Paris” tells the fascinating story of how these three men stopped a potential terrorist attack on a train ride with nothing but their bare hands and the determination to save the lives of the people on that train.

The director, Clint Eastwood, decided to show the world, the lives of Skarlatos, Stone, and Sadler through film. The most interesting part of this film is that instead of having popular or well known actors play Skarlatos, Stone, and Sadler, they have the real men from the tragic event play themselves.

Having the real people from the train makes the whole film more realistic and alive. If there were to be different actors playing them, the movie wouldn’t be the same. By having Skarlatos, Stone and Sadler play themselves it allows

the audience to feel as if they were on the train and experiencing the whole ordeal with them. Although these three men are not professional actors, their acting was fairly well for people who have never acted before in their life. Two years ago, before everything happened on the train, Skarlatos was a member of the Oregon National Guard and he had just finished a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Stone was a U.S. Air Force airman, and Sadler was a student at Sacramento State. Now all three of them are movie stars.

This movie was shot in a way many films are not. The film started with the present day on the train, then went to flashbacks of the three’s childhood. Throughout the film the audience learns about how the three met at the principal’s office, that Stone and Skarlatos always wanted to be in the military, and so many other things. Although, the acting of their younger selves were not the best that doesn’t

stop the audience from getting to grow up with those three guys.

One of the best parts of the movie was the suspense. The movie shows the childhood, the training Stone and Skarlatos went through for the military, and the Europe backpacking trip the three went on which eventually leads to their last stop in Paris. The scene of the actual attack and the stopping of the terrorist was one of the very last scenes. The audience was very anxious waiting for the part of the film to happen.

The great thing about this film is that we know that it is very authentic. Because Skarlatos, Stone, and Sadler were in the movie, they were able to show the director and staff how everything happened and went down throughout the whole movie.

Overall, this movie was great.

It perfectly shows how everything went down on the day of August 21, 2015.

Lelulo’s brings more diversity to restaurants within Crown Point area

BY OLIVIA BUDZEVSKI reporter

Attempting veganism or healthy eating habits can be challenging when most of the restaurants in the area focus on quantity over quality. There aren’t many options when it comes to experiencing a range of unique flavors. The vegan diner, Lelulo’s, is the newest addition to the Crown Point Square and is the ideal place to spark the interest of citizens.

Customers will find the menu simply intriguing and delicious. Lelulo’s offers a wide selection of entrees such as wraps, a taco plate, soups and so much more. Each dish is made with all natural plant-based ingredients. A smoothie or a hot tea may be purchased as well. It is the perfect combination of wholesome foods with satisfying nutritious refreshments.

Along with the variety of meals, an appetizing assortment of homemade desserts is available. After finishing the delightful main course, individuals can indulge in a sweet reward. There are so many delicious treats to choose from including cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookie sandwiches and mouth watering brownies.

Something interesting about the menu is that it is always changing. Each day, the array of foods one can purchase goes through a rotation. A person visiting the restaurant may be able to have the caesar wrap at one point, but it could be replaced by a curry wrap the next time they arrive. This keeps the list of cuisines fresh and encourages customers to try something new.

A common concern is that non-vegans may not

enjoy the foods presented, however, this is simply not the case. Any course can be altered to tend to the needs of the consumer. For example, customized options can provide a beneficial alternative for those with food allergies.

Another important aspect of the dining experience is the atmosphere. The building is quaint and welcoming, which releases a comfortable aura. The decorations are tasteful and release a bright energy within the restaurant. Though the staff may be minimal, the service was excellent and each guest was treated with the same amount of consideration.

This place embraces and advocates the inclusion of people of all ages. Kids can enjoy their favorite foods such as mac and cheese, or munch on a peanut butter and apple rollup. The list of choices is so tempting that those who come once will have no choice but to stop by another time.

A wall in the establishment had a blackboard which was devoted to the opinions and signatures of the customers. It was a kaleidoscope filled to the brim with positivity and vibrant colors. Not one spot was lacking a cheerful remark of some sort. It is safe to say that the public’s response to the business is an affirmative one.

A person who is searching for a way to spice up their diet or is devoted to the vegan lifestyle can find pleasure in a trip to Lelulo’s. All it takes is a bit of curiosity and an empty stomach to stumble upon a nutritional treasure.

15

column

BY AUDREY GACSY co-editor-in-chief

Cutting cord with cable leaves time for more important activities A single glance in my direction will probably provoke the thought that I’m an indoor person. I like the comforts of a modern lifestyle. I like air conditioning, perfume and a phone that responds when I talk to it. So obviously, it wouldn’t seem like I could live without television.

But here I am.

After months of squabbling over the phone with a globe’s worth of Comcast employees, my dad cut the cord with Comcast. Literally. So right now, behind the clicking of the keyboard, I hear a Japanese woman talking about the weather in Tokyo right now.

We only get a handful of channels on our black market antenna. Two of them are local news stations, one of them plays 70s westerns, and the last, my personal favorite, comes straight from Japan.

So far, I’ve had the privilege of watching a lot of Bonanza and quite a few Japanese news features.

I basically had a nervous breakdown. I actually cried a little bit. What I realized was that after 17 years of comparably unlimited TV access, I had become reliant on the

ability to flip through the channels every few seconds.

As sick as it sounds, I didn’t know how to live without cable.

So obviously I’ve lived.

And I’ve learned, too. In the past few months, I’ve done my homework a lot faster.

Falling asleep at night no longer involves an hour of thinking about which house that crazy couple from Honolulu should have picked in suburban Chicago. I don’t really care about what TMZ thinks anymore. I’ve actually used the TV to hear about what the weather is going to be like tomorrow.

This really isn’t a promotion to cut your cable. I miss it a lot. But I have a lot of respect for the people who can go on without it. I have a lot more respect for myself. After learning how dependant I was on the screen, I’m happy that I’ve finally broken ties from it a little bit. I no longer look at the screen to file through 500 channels, scanning over their descriptions. Now, I look at the radar and appreciate the limited information I can gather. I use it for the necessities.

FAVORITE THINGS

WE’RE SO OVER

Burt’s Bees Chapstick

Long lines in school bathrooms

This weather can make lips very dry and this chapstick works great to fix any dryness.

These extremely long lines outside the bathroom make it almost impossible to try and use the bathroom in our six minute passing periods. These long lines usually end up making someone late and then receiving a tardy. To stay away from receiving a tardy, some teachers allow students to go to class, drop their things and ask to use the restroom.

Walgreens $4-10

Cheap candy after Valentine’s Day After Valentine’s Day, candy goes on sale and who doesn’t love cheap candy.

Walgreens $0.99-5

Poshmark This online store is an easy way to buy some clothes and even sell the clothes you don’t need anymore.

best app

#TRENDING

A section devoted to social media

best tweets

Saw all of the videos texts, tearing up. Prayers are all I can give out rn. If i had the power to change something I would. @russellemily junior Emily Russell

I think what makes the Olympics so special is you see how hard these people work to get here and then you see their dreams come true. @jennabiernat sophomore Jenna Biernat If I don’t have a song from High School Musical stuck in my head I’m either sleeping or dead.

freshman Aidan Gregg

@asiangregg1

Bitmoji Bitmoji has made a recent comeback with its new update. The new update allows you to take a picture of yourself to try and get your Bitmoji to look even more like you.

best follow

best game FortNite The game everyone seems to be playing lately. FortNite is a guy’s best friend and his girlfriend’s worst nightmare.

@tanksgoodnews With so much violence and mainstream tragedy, tanksgoodnews looks on the bright side by posting only the good news around the world.

16

people inklings february 27, 2018

Confections baked with affection

Student creates artistic baked goods, enjoys sharing with others

BY KIRA SCHUELKA EMMA FRANK associate editor reporter

It all started as a hobby. A younger Aaron Sizemore started making random recipes as a fun past-time. Now, he bakes almost everyday. He is always busy taking orders, selling goods and even starting an Instagram account dedicated to his creations.

“I’ve been baking ever since I was little. I really sucked at it, but I was like seven and I didn’t really know how an oven worked,” Sizemore said.

He admits that in the beginning he wasn’t very good. After years of making cakes for himself and family members, he has gained confidence in front of the oven.

“Over the years, you learn by making mistakes and I look back now at certain things that I never really understood how to do and they’re really easy now,” Sizemore said.

He always enjoyed cooking for family and the different clubs he was in, but it wasn’t until sophomore year he saw a future with baking. As a senior he got first hand experience working with a business and learned skills necessary to start baking for profit. “(During) freshman or sophomore year I started thinking ‘I’m pretty good at this’. I started working sophomore year at a small, local meals company and working in the big kitchen I was just thinking, everything I did at home would be so much easier if I did it on a big scale,” Sizemore said.

He was initially nervous to sell cookies to people he didn’t know. He did not want them to

judge what he made.

“Once I started getting to the point where I thought I was good enough to sell to people who didn’t know me, because if they don’t know you they’ll judge you,” Sizemore said. “Your friends and family will eat anything you make.”

Sizemore quickly realized that if he wanted to continue baking he would need to make a profit.

He did not want to use all the ingredients in the house and decided to start selling his baked goods to cover any costs. “(Baking) was a hobby and if it could pay for itself that would be even better because I was buying my own ingredients,” Sizemore said. “To buy those ingredients you need to have an income, so I started selling cookies but then I began making more money than just covering the costs.”

Sizemore does not always have a set plan on what he is going to make for the day. He lets ingredients, fatigue and interest in new things dictate what he will bake for the day.

“Sometimes I’m really in the mood to bake so I’ll make something a little more involved. I do like to rotate and do cookies, then not cookies. I’ll see something sometimes that I really want to try and I’ll go for that. Other times I’ll think of a really cool way to decorate a cookie, it depends on my exhaustion level,” Sizemore said.

With products ever changing, Sizemore has fallen in love with baking because it offers him new things to try. He enjoys testing new designs and making something that can be enjoyed by many people.

“It’s nice to see things come together from nothing,” Sizemore said. “I like experimenting with new techniques because you’re never done and will never know everything about baking, so you just keep doing more challenging thing and it’s just a little game.”

All baked goods are sealed with a ‘Tokens of my Confection’ sticker which Sizemore came up with. Sizemore’s desserts have been considered a token to those who buy them, so the name seems to fit the brand. He has since started an Instagram with that name where he accepts orders.

“I probably clicked it 103 times and I saw that one and thought that it was actually pretty good so I went with it,” Sizemore said.

The goods Sizemore brings to friends for daily sale are just a fraction of the talent he has to offer. More complex treats and designs can be made to order.

Who

Club Culture National Art Honor Society

PHOTO BY ASHLEY REKITZKE Sizemore takes online orders on his Instagram account titled ‘Tokens of my Confection’. He makes specialty orders such as cakes and pies for those orders. He also brings small goods to the school for others to see which in turn brings business to his Instagram.

Teacher Lindsey Harris is the sponsor for NAHS. She leads the meetings and brings new projects to the students.

Teacher Lindsey Harris, who sponsors National Art Honor Society described it is “an eclectic group of students who are high achieving both in art and academically.

When you graduate earns you a distinction of being an arts honor student.”

What

“I remember for Mother’s Day I spent four days on only like 20 cookies, but they were that level of detailed. They are like little artworks and those I can’t really do for school, but I can for custom orders,” Sizemore said.

With time in high school running out Sizemore is looking towards the future. Unsure of kitchen access and amount of free time he has plans for alternate ways to continue his passion.

“The dorms I will be staying in will hopefully be Collins at IU Bloomington and they have a small student run coffee shop that has baked goods so if I can somehow put my foot in the door there I might be able to do stuff like that,” Sizemore said.

Sizemore believes that baking is not the hardest thing to do for those who may have interest. He believes that effort is key to becoming successful.

“Baking is a lot easier than

“The project we are doing right now is the ‘CHAIRish The Children’ project. Students receive a blank chair and design the chair around a theme. All of the money from the auction goes to benefit child abuse education,” said Harris.

When

people think it is, as long as you really take your time and follow everything to a tee. Basically don’t take any shortcuts and it will usually turn out exactly how you want it,” Sizemore said.

Since Sizemore realizes that many people may bake for enjoyment, he has key advice to start and always do new things.

“If you haven’t baked much before and really want to bake, start out simple but don’t be afraid to try new things,” Sizemore said.

While baking has brought so many people into his life, Sizemore most enjoys the smile on their face or the happiness he can bring from a baked good.

“It’s fun and I like seeing people happy which is a really cliche thing to say but you know I really think there is a lot going on right now, people could use a baked good once in a while,” Sizemore said.

The ‘CHAIRish The Children’ Auction will take place on Thursday, April 26th. National Art Honor Society meets on Thursday’s after school to discuss upcoming projects and different art interests.

Fast five Callan Wichowsky

“I think that they should be at the end of the year because if they put the days in now we will be very tired. If they put the days at the end of the year we won’t really feel them that much because it will just be an added day.”

-Junior Nour Hajjeh

“I’d rather have my makeup days on holidays because the days made up have snow and the summer days are warm so I’d want to be out of school then.”

-Senior Cassie Smith

“I think that we should actually do the make up days online. It won’t take nearly as long as a full school day because we are doing everything online, and then we wouldn’t have to come in.”

-Sophomore Jon Anderson

?

What Do You

Think

Should make up days take the place of holidays that we would have previously had off, or do you feel that they should be added at the end of the year?

“I think that the makeup days should be put in the summer because I feel like holidays are days for us to celebrate.”

-Junior Alex Rich

Senior

Animal Instinct “I would like to be a leopard. There’re really good predators and they can keep themselves alive.”

Homeward Bound

“Italy sounds like a great place to live. Italian food is amazing, and the weather is warm and beautiful.”

Favorite Flick

“I think that if it’s reasonable it should be put in place of a holiday. In the summer, there’s a lot of kids that go on vacation right after school ends, so you can’t really tell them to come to school when you already told them that they would be off.”

-Freshman Angelina Valente

“‘I cry anytime I watch Forrest Gump. It’s just a classic movie.”

Batman’s Best

“Batman is my favorite hero. He doesn’t just randomly kill people and he is super rich, so that’s always a plus.”

Baby Toe

“I could live without my baby toe, it’s so little anyway and never seems necessary.”