INKLINGS May 28, 2010
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Volume 74 Issue 9 • Crown Point High School • 1500 S. Main Street Crown Point, IN 46307 • inklings@cps.k12.in.us
Road rage: Students struggle with anger while driving
page 9
Facebook groups: Groups based on Crown Point teachers and students “IRON MAN 2”: Staffer reviews the much anticipated release of the movie
News Fingerprints replacing lunch cards New lunch line system, involving a fingerprint scan program is expected to increase efficiency
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A crude awakening
Gulf oil spill effects continue to tally up, raising concern
pg. 3
News Foodstock Upcoming charity concert involves student and teacher bands, with proceeds going to the Food Bank
pg. 3
Feature Senior memories Seniors share the top ten things they’ll miss (and won’t miss) about high school.
pg. 7
Entertainment
photo by
By Lauren Cain copy editor While it may seem that the oil spill occurring in the Gulf of Mexico is only impacting coastline states, it is also directly affecting Northwest Indiana as well. From the risk of oil prices rising, to the fact that local workers were sent down to help clean up, Crown Point is feeling the effects of the oil spill. On April 20, an offshore oil rig run by British Petroleum (BP) exploded, causing 11 men to be missing and presumed dead as well as the oil from the rig to spew throughout the Gulf. BP reports
Designer Desserts A bakery in Valparaiso offers decorated desserts.
D. Casillas
that the rig is spewing 5,000 gallons of oil a day, yet independent scientists believe the spill may be 10 to 12 times larger than that. Despite its many
Johnson said. While the oil is affecting the plants on the coast, Johnson also said that it is affecting the
efforts, BP has yet to stop the oil from spilling. To many of nature preservationists’ dismay, on May 12, the oil started to wash up onto Louisiana coastline, beginning to damage delicate wetlands. According to Environmental Science teacher Dotty Johnson, the effects of this spill on the wetlands
animals, as well as our food. “The oil spill happened during spawning and nesting season. Animals and fish that may have left when the oil was first detected have a biological imperative to have and raise their babies there. There is also trouble with marine
are tremendous. “When oil coats marsh grass, it dies. The marsh grass is important when hurricanes hit because it helps to diffuse the waves that hit the coast. The roots of the marsh grass also help to stop shoreline erosion,”
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Oil Spill statistics
5 25
,000
barrels spilled a day
million dollars estimated to be spent on BP cleanup efforts
BP workers presumed to be dead from oil rig explosion
million dollar grants given to four states affected by spill: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida
story continued on pg. 3
pg. 12
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Legislation passed for AP scores By Kelly Rostin opinion editor At the end of every Advance Placement (AP) course, a two or three hour test sums up all of the information obtained from the course based on guidelines from the College Board. Scores are based on a scale of one to five, five being the highest and best score you can get. Most colleges accept scores of only four or higher in order to grant a student college credit
for the corresponding AP course. While some colleges currently accept three’s, most do not. Now with the passing of a new legislation, any student who receives a three or higher on the AP test will receive college credit for any in-state college or university starting in 2011 for the state of Indiana. This new legislation will make it easier for students to obtain college credit hours, but if a certain course is part of a student’s
major, students may be required to score better than a three on the test, but will still receive the credit as an elective. Sophomore Kelsey Ingelhart, who is taking three AP classes next year, thinks this will be very helpful. “A three is a realistic score to get on the test,” Ingelhart said. “It’s helpful to know that after all that hard work in those classes I’ll have an even better chance of benefitting from the class.” Regardless of if the class is relevant to
a student’s major or not, students can use the AP credit toward elective credit hours if they score a three or higher. “The fact that we can save so much money for college from this is a huge incentive to actually take AP classes,” Ingelhart said. The new legislation will help save students money on their credit hours. According to the Indiana Department of Education, roughly 45 percent of the students who take AP tests score
a three, so the new legislation will benefit this portion of students, and collectively will save 44,000 college credit hours. Junior Nick Ladowicz, who is enrolled in three AP classes this year and three for his senior year, sees this as an excellent opportunity. “I think this is really great because it allows high school students to easily rack up college credit hours and save a lot of money in the process,” Ladowicz said.
AP Legislation • Indiana colleges must accept scores of 3 or higher for credit • Some colleges may require higher than a 3 for actual course credit • If so, the college must still accept the score for elective credit