Inklings

IN K [ ] L I N G S

Crown Point High School Crown Point, IN @InklingsCPHS November 27, 2019 Vol. 84 Issue 3

PLTW class makes new changes to greenhouse

Life after surviving a drunk-driving accident

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page 6

Three staff members react to week-long social media cleanse page 8

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANNIE LOREK Annie Lorek stands next to husband, special ed teacher Branden Lorek, at banquet where she was recognized as an Indiana top 10 teacher.

Dean of students Annie Lorek honored as top 10 finalist for Teacher of the Year

BY NOLAN CHASE co-online editor After 15 years of teaching, dean of students Annie Lorek was one of 10 finalists for Indiana's Teacher of the Year.

Lorek comments on this honor and how it represents her 15 year-long career as a teacher.

“It is one of the most humbling experiences because I think especially here at our school, but all over the country, there are such great teachers so to be held up as one of the best of them has been a humbling experience,” Lorek said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to have presented my thoughts and ideas about how great the profession is.”

This school year Lorek took on the role as dean of students after being an English teacher. Lorek describes her change of positions in school and the impact that this recognition has had on this stage of her career.

“Especially given the fact that I’ve moved out of the classroom this year, it was one of the greatest gifts my students could have ever given me because it represents the end of a great career. I always call teaching my first great love and so to say goodbye to that part of my career in this way, I am very grateful for that,” Lorek said.

Though the transfer to dean of students marks the end of Lorek’s english teaching career, Lorek still believes that she will always be a teacher no matter the setting.

“I think that I will always be a teacher. That will always be my heart so I think that in every interaction with students whether it be in this office or in a classroom, I’ll always be a teacher,” Lorek said.

The recognition has also allowed Lorek to reflect on her career and the relationships she has built through time.

“On some level this feels like the next natural step because I want to have an impact on more than just the kids in the classroom. At the same time it does make me reflect on such a precious time I had with my kids, my students and being able to build relationships with at that level each year with a whole new group of kids,” Lorek said. “It does make me realize how lucky I was to be able to have those relationships.”

PHOTO BY MADELYN WHITAKER Seniors Bree Mild and Allison John sit outside of the White Hawk Country Club to greet voters as they enter the polls. Mild believes that it is important to support voter turnout, even though she cannot vote herself. She says that every vote matters, as well as the opinions of those who choose to participate.

Youth activists bring awareness, advocate for voter participation, global issues RiseNWI, a local civic engagement program, emphasizes the importance of being active in politics. Engagement coordinator Maranda Fishback details the organization’s goal for local engagement.

“Whether that is registering to vote for the first time or if that outh activists, despite their inability to vote, have is physically going to the polls, we are obviously a 120% nonparfound multiple ways to get politically involved in their tisan,” Fishback said. “We do not care who you are voting for, we community. Through assisting polls, advocating for just want you voting and be actively engaged with your governhigher voter turnouts and attending protests, there are ment.” facets outside of the traditional ballot to show support As stated by Fishback, Lake County has voter turnout rates for causes they believe in. that are lower than average in not only the state, but also the naAmong these people is junior Mya Amelse, who has shown tion. her support for voters’ rights through walking in a parade.

“Lake County has one of the lowest turnout rates in Indiana, “I advocate for voters rights, getting people out to the polls and the state of Indiana has one of the lowest turnout rates in the more and getting them educated about what they are voting for,” country,” Fishback said.

Amelse said. “I am also a huge advocate for trying to do someMany feel uncomfortable discussing or engaging in politics thing about climate change, the LGBT community and gun conas to avoid a controversy or debate. Fishback attributes the lack of trol, which is a very prevalent issue that we have. Especially bevoting in the area to a misconceptions and uneasiness surrounding cause I am a student, my sister is a teacher, you never know what politics in general. is going to happen.”

“So I think there’s that stigma that people Lake County has one Amelse explains that her motivation just feel uncomfortable because a lot of schools to become more politically active resulted of the lowest turnout don’t engage their students in local governfrom the 2016 presidential election. Since rates in Indiana, and the ment. I know we’ve heard from parents that the then, she has participated in multiple events state of Indiana has one of government classes aren’t what they used to be to encourage people to vote. the lowest turnout rates when they were growing up. So I think that’s a “I think it really began in 2016 with that part of it,” Fishback said. “But also I just think in the country. election because with that election, there it’s that lack of knowledge. Maybe people don’t was a lot of stuff that ended up happening, engagement coordinator know which party they should be going for.” and ever since then I have participated in Maranda Fishback As the next generation, Fishback reminds marches and I have done call centers for teens of the importance of their voices and highvoting,” Amelse said. lights their role in forming society’s future.

Depending on the cause, reactions of the “You really are shaping your own future and opposing side may vary. According to junior what your community is going to be looking like Miles Vickers, an advocate for gun control, and without your voices it’s going to go one way certain subjects warrant more emotional reor another,” Fishback said. “I have seen such a sponses than others. He notes that this is espehuge increase in student involvement and people cially prominent in gun control. wanting to have that voice in their community.

“To an extent, it’s a little more controverIt’s just wonderful and it just needs to keep on sial because of its immense history of politigrowing.” cal protection and it has always been a very Even though most high school students are guarded topic. It has a lot of structure behind under the legal voting age, Amelse says that there it,” Vickers said. “I think it (protests) is putare other ways to get more politically involved ting the idea out there that people are caring on a local level. Youth has the potential to serve about these things and taking active steps toas a benefit in this way, as candidates welcome wards changing it then it’s obvious that people upcoming voters. are doing something about it.”

Y

BY OLIVIA BUDZEVSKI ALEXANDRA SULEWSKI MADELYN WHITAKER co-editors-in-chief

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see youth activism on page 3

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NEWS INKLINGS November 27, 2019

INTHEKNOW Teachers join forces in advocation of Red for Ed movement

National Art Honor Society paints bulldog The members of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) are painting a bulldog to be placed in the courtyard. The bulldog was a gift presented by the 2019 graduating class. NAHS will paint a graduation gown and place a cap upon it as a tribute to the graduates.

PULSE hosts breakfast PULSE hosted a breakfast to show appreciation for the custodial staff. Each student created personal cards to thank the maintenance members for the work that they do around the school. The event took place in the LGI on Nov. 22.

Fashion Club sells scrunchies during lunch periods The Fashion Club, which also hosts the Fashion Show, will be selling scrunchies during all lunch periods on multiple days in November and going into the month of December. They will be sold on the following Wednesdays: Dec. 4, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18.

The club is selling individual scrunchies for one dollar each and all students are able to purchase them when they are going to lunch.

BY ABIGAIL GODSEN reporter A sea of red, all protesting together and demanding to be heard for the same reason: education. Red for Ed is a movement that is working to build an improved education system for students and faculty alike.

“To me, Red for Ed is a movement by the public school community to make sure that educators have a voice in funding and laws involving education,” internship director and child development teacher Ginny Zega said.

One of their biggest goals overall is awareness. This is the driving force of the movement.

“The goal of Red for Ed is to educate people about the current state of our education system and make them aware of the challenges teachers and students face, especially those caused by lack of funding and government mandated policy,” Latin teacher Sara Wietbrock said.

Crown Point specifically is looking more towards more funding overall.

“For Crown Point more funding for the service people of our schools who are all overworked and most under paid, the paras, the custodians, the maintenance staff. More guidance counselors and more administrative assistants,” Zega said.

Red for Ed is not just looking to make changes to Indiana’s education system, they want to make a nationwide difference.

“As you might be aware, schools around the country have

PHOTO PROVIDED BY AMY HELMUTH

Teachers and administrators gather in the red attire in support of the Red for Ed movement. The movement emphasizes educators’ voices in educational laws.

been scrounging for evermore scare dollars for education. And we have been trying to get the attention of governments both for infrastructure and for personnel,” social studies teacher Donald Bernacky said. “We end up losing a lot of teachers who really would be spectacular to keep but financially they gotta make other choices because they’re not keeping up with the market that they want.”

Beyond creating better learning environments for students, they are looking to raise teacher pay grades.

“On a whole, teacher pay in Indiana is very low compared to other states. Teachers should not have to work second and third jobs to be able to raise their families. Our day very rarely ends when the last bell rings. We are always planning the next unit, grading, coaching or sponsoring after school activities. Teaching is a profession. Many of us

Student Council annual blood drive collects, donates 94 units Question and Answer with reporter Avery O’Brien and Student Council sponsor Colleen Fano

Child Development classes teach children in Bulldog playschool Bulldog playschool is a place for children 3 to 5 years old to come to the high school so the Child Development classes can get first-hand experience teaching children.

The classes help kids learn counting, motor skills, the alphabet and the basics of science. The students help by reading to the children and doing activities with them.

Bulldog playschool will continue until after Christmas break.

Q: How do you think the blood drive affects the community?

A: Blood drives help hospitals have enough blood for transfusions which

PHOTO BY MADELYN WHITAKER

Senior Autum Boren prepares to have her blood drawn by the American Red Cross team. The event took place in the CPHS fieldhouse and many students participated.

THINK AHEAD Nov. 28

Thanksgiving Americans observe this holiday to not only enjoy delicious food, but to give thanks for all that they have in their lives. Students take the day off of school to do so as well.

have master’s degrees, that’s six plus years of college. Our salaries should reflect the work we do,” Zega said. “When they cut funding they also cut positions in our operating budget for the non-teaching positions such as the custodial staff.”

One of the most recent policies they are discussing is the Hold Harmless policy. The Hold Harmless policy is, in essence, a policy stating that teachers are not held responsible for poor standardized testing scores.

“The Hold Harmless, as the name implies, will hold teachers harmless as far as their accountability for certain standardized test scores which would have a negative impact upon teacher and school ratings, in particular, last year’s new ILEARN standardized test,” Wietbrock said.

This recent policy is being discussed more because of what caused the need for it rather than the instatement of it.

“We have a test situation here in Indiana that was manufactured by a board that didn’t include any educators. When you look at that test, it’s not so surprising that you had really poor results,” Bernacky said. “You have schools like Crown Point, driving ACT scores very well, but yet the state test results come back and they’re awful. That tells you that something there is not aimed at the right target.”

Long term, they want everyone to trust educators and value their opinions on the education system.

“I am hoping that not only the public but also the government will trust that the educators working inside our school buildings know what is best for their schools and students,” Wietbrock said. “When those educators ask for something, I hope that the public officials will take note and realize that our requests are important and should be valued.”

There are various ways people can support Red for Ed. The NEA recommends wearing red on Wednesdays and posting it with the #RedforEd. There are also other ways to bring awareness and support the cause.

“I think the only effective way to do this as a student is to support my teachers and school in their fight for a change,” senior Mia Depta said. “I support Red for Ed because I come from a family full of teachers and plan on becoming one myself. I think all schools should have access to proper support staff and have smaller class sizes, as well as better wages.”

Nov. 28-29

Thanksgiving Break

Students can enjoy these two days off of school to relax and recharge for the following week. This Thursday and Friday can be used to spend time with family and to find some good Black Friday deals.

Nov. 29 Tree Lighting Every year, citizens of Crown Point gather to see the trees get lit up in front of the courthouse. The CPHS choir sings Christmas carols on the steps of the building. In addition, hot cocoa and cookies are handed out.

is key for many patients’ survival.

Q: What are the requirements to donate blood?

A: 16+, height/weight ratio, feeling healthy. There are also restrictions when it comes to having piercings and tattoos or visiting certain countries.

Q: How many vials of blood did the blood drive collect this year?

A: 94 units Q: What is your role in the running of the blood drive?

A: I coordinate the day with the Red Cross. I have the Student Council students work lunches to get donors and encourage them to promote the event. I handle permission slips and questions along the way. I also wrote over 100 passes which required me to check every donor’s schedule. Lastly, on the day of, I delegated jobs for all of my student volunteers and ran the registration table.

Q: What happens to the blood after the blood drive?

A: It gets sold to hospitals and used for surgeries.

Dec. 4

World Wildlife Conservation Day On this day, individuals can take the time to contribute to conserving wildlife worldwide.

Dec. 13

Talent Show Submissions Due

Those who wish to compete in the Student Council Talent Show must submit by this day.

Dec. 14 Breakfast with Santa Cow Visitors may have breakfast with Santa Cow from Chick-Fil-A at the Southlake Mall.

Reservations must be made by Dec. 11. The event will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Santa himself will be there as well.

Finals Schedule Dec. 17

Periods 1 and 6 will hold their finals on this Tuesday.

Dec. 18

Periods 2, 4 and 7 will hold their finals on this Wednesday.

Dec. 19

Periods 3 and 5 will hold their finals on this Thursday.

NEWS INKLINGS November 27, 2019

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PLTW class project brings updates to greenhouse, benefits local families

BY ROSALIE DEGENHART reporter Changes have been set in place for the greenhouse here at Crown Point High School. Seniors Ava Hayes and Morgan Sianta are currently in their fourth year of biomed, being taught by biomed teacher Ashley Cosme. Students in this class must complete an independent project, while also learning the curriculum. Hayes and Sianta decided to revamp the CPHS greenhouse and turn it into a room with a better utilization that would benefit the community.

“The greenhouse has kind of just been a place where teachers can bring in their plants for the winter,” Cosme said. “I felt that with such a great space, we need to utilize it a little bit more and in a different way.”

One of the main plans is to make the greenhouse a more inviting and peaceful place for the students and faculty of CPHS. To do this, they have added picnic tables and chairs.

“We are going to start aromatherapy soon, and with AP testing, we are going to do something with AP testing and stress relief,” Hayes said.

Teachers who just want a break will also be able to access the greenhouse, for Cosme describes it as a quiet and beautiful place.

The girls have partnered with the exceptional learner (EL) students in the pro-

Youth Activism

cess of decorating the greenhouse. They want this new space to be accessible to them whenever they need a “safe space.”

“We would like for Brandon Lorek’s students, if they have a para, if they need a space to go to, they can come up here and eat lunch at the table,” Cosme said.

To better understand the health benefits that the changes are imparting, Hayes and Sianta did some research.

“Serotonin is a hormone in your brain, and it’s released when you’re happy,” Hayes said. “Dirt and plants trigger your serotonin levels. By planting things, the touch of dirt releases serotonin. If they are upset, and if they play with the dirt a little bit, it’s going to release that happy hormone, and they won’t be as upset.”

Given this research, Hayes and Sianta have incorporated the EL students by giving them the opportunity to put their handprints around the wooden boxes containing the plants.

“So when the (EL students) do go in there, it might be kind of a ‘oh, there’s my handprint,’” Hayes said. “It might be a comfortable feeling that you could feel a part of it.”

Hayes and Sianta have collaborated with other clubs besides Best Buddies, such as National Art Honor Society (NAHS) and Girls Empowered in Math and Science (GEMS). NAHS has been painting wooden boxes and designing them with drawings of things in nature, like butterflies and flowers, in order to make the room

PHOTO BY MADELYN WHITAKER Fourth year biomed students Morgan Sianta and Ava Hayes tend to the plants inside the greenhouse.

happy, inviting and welcoming according to Cosme. GEMS club will be in charge of harvesting the vegetables and distributing them to families and students in the community.

“We are planning on donating the vegetables to low income students during the holidays so they can bring them home,” Sianta said.

Vegetables to be planted include tomatoes, squash, peas, peppers and radishes from a leftover lab. Cosme says that this aspect of the project will take more time to develop.

“That project is a little more difficult because of the time it takes to manage a greenhouse like that. It’s coming along, it’s just a slow process,” Cosme said.

While the greenhouse is being revamped with multiple different uses that can benefit both the school and community, Hayes explains the goal of the project.

“The greenhouse was not used before, so it definitely would be a way to incorporate a bunch of clubs and a bunch of different students to bring them together and work together,” Hayes said.

continued from page 1

“Always do your research. Look at, and stay current with, current events. Ask in your community, because with this past election, I didn’t really have the chance to but I know that you probably could have called either of the mayors and asked, ‘Hey, I would like to help with your election, maybe go door to door, maybe do some sort of campaigning for you,’” Amelse said. “They probably would agree because they want younger people to get involved because we are the next generation of voters that is coming.”

Similarly, junior Anne Gregg recognizes the influence that students can still have over the political decisions made. She says that large participation is influential in creating change.

“Everyone here, especially high schoolers, we’re going to be able to vote soon. We need to know why we’re supporting what we’re supporting,” Gregg said. “We have the right to free speech and we need to use that to get the laws that we want in place because we’re just electing people to vote on things. The best way to make change is to show people that a large group want that change and are willing to fight for it.”

RiseNWI has various opportunities for those looking to become more active members of their communities, both inside of an office environment as well as outside.

Fishback details these opportunities and mentions the local events that they host.

“Whether you don’t want to be out in your community and you want to be more behind the scenes. We have volunteers that come into the office to help prepare materials for our events. We have volunteers that just reshare information on their personal social media accounts,” Fishback said. “We do have those volunteers that want to be the face of their community and go to the different parades, go to the different events that we have tables at, encouraging people if they are not registered to register to vote or to take information about the upcoming elections.”

Despite the inability for most students to vote, there is still the possibility to impact those who can. Gregg says that gaining more knowledge over an issue can help one persuade a reluctant audience.

“There are things you can still do to influence who’s voting and if you make your voices heard, there’s people who are gonna listen too,” Gregg said. “There’s people who actually understand that kids know what they’re talking about, especially if you’re educated about a topic.

That’s definitely what I would recommend. If you can’t vote, you have to talk to people you know who can. You gotta make your voices heard.”

What they advocate for Amelse •

voter participation climate change

•

Vickers

Gregg

• gun co • clim ntrol ate change

rights • LGBT trol con • gun

VIEWS on NEWS [Students’ reactions to events in our world

It’s good that people are starting to take matters into their own hands, and start learning on their own online. They are being responsible and getting things done that they need to.

Delila Stepanovic freshman

Two Chinese citizens are being treated for the Black Plague. They were recently diagnosed by doctors in Beijing, according to CNN.

According to US News, President Donald Trump has brought his proposal to remove the DACA act that previous President Barack Obama put in place. This would jeopardize the citizenship of many American immigrants.

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I think it’s disappointing that so many people in the US are rejected and discriminated against in society. I disagree with this proposal because it dehumanizes immigrants.

World

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State

Area

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The Dunes is an important cultural landmark. I think it’s in the best interest to the people of Lake Country and local governments to try to maintain them as much as possible.

Zane Linback senior

Nation

Recent news reports by WTHR, an Indianapolis news outlet, have shown that Indiana University’s online enrollment is growing dramatically.

The NWI Times reported that the Lake County Dunes have seen the devastating effects of erosion. The Lake County Dunes house 3.6 million annual visitors.

Bryce Carter sophomore

We should try to figure out how to stop it from spreading. I would isolate them. It would be healthier for us, and those people who were infected could be isolated.

Christopher McCoy freshman

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OPINION INKLINGS November 27, 2019

COLUMN

COLUMN

Past generations are too hasty to blame Gen Z for problems

All eligible voters have responsibility to country to vote

BY EMMA FRANK associate editor Whether you were born in 2001, 2002 or even 2003 and 2004 all high schoolers today are apart of generation Z. Older than us there are the millennials, ranging from 25 to 39 years old, and baby boomers, 55 to 73 years old. Have these previous generations paved the way for us or set us up to struggle? One thing that can be said is that generation Z will not allow failure to happen.

Generation Z has grown up with technology and diversity.

We grew up in a time where same-sex marriage was normal and it is safe to assume that everyone knows someone who is apart of the LGBTQ+ community. Along with that, we grew up with an African American president and did not think anything of it. These aspects of our lives seemed radical to members of the previous generations.

Many aspects separate our generation from the others.

Aside from all the diversity we have been exposed to, according to CNN, members of generation Z reported having the most mental health problems. The main things affecting the mental health of this generation are the state of our country and school safety. Looking to make a better future for themselves, many activists have blossomed representing generation Z trying to combat these stressors.

To baby boomers, generation Z is full of lazy teenagers who sit on their phones and lock themselves away in their rooms. However this is not the case. Generation Z kids find what they are passionate about and become activists for those topics. It has been said that our generation is everything that is wrong with the world, but what have we done?

Our environment is deteriorating, but did generation Z contribute to this? Being between the ages of 4 and 24, the acts that took place and our environment was put in its’ current state when we were children. We are stuck cleaning up the mess the previous generations left for us. Whether you want to accept it or not, generation Z has lots of issues to face and other generations will watch us fix their messes while not accepting that they did it.

CARTOON BY ABIGAIL GODSEN

As next generation of voters, teens should realize importance of political activism EDITORIAL

Now more than ever, it is crucial for the younger generation to stand up for what they believe in. With such an emphasis on universal crises such as climate change and other issues that affect widespread populations, it is clear to see that students are rising to the occasion. However, this has not been done without struggle and difficulty.

With movements such as “Never Again,” which protested for more strict gun laws after the Parkland school shooting, students were the catalyst.

Students stood up to the NRA and demanded a world in which they were not afraid to go to school and get killed. The next generation of teens and students united and rose against a world in which fear was a common occurrence in the classroom. But not without receiving criticisms from older generations.

A disadvantage proposed by the youthfulness of our generation is that we are not taken seriously. There seems to be this stereotype regarding adults as more wise and credible in comparison to teenagers. However, age does not define intelligence, although society has deemed this statement true. Younger generations have a different set of experiences than that of those older than them, leading to a broader perspective when those experiences are combined.

The insight of all generations is vital to making change, not just that of a specific demographic.

Society has equated value of opinion with age. This false truth has shed a negative light on youth and belittled their opinions. Condescension and misplaced value doesn’t make great, impactful changes. Although someone may be older, they may not be as educated in the political sphere as a teen who has taken the time to educate themselves and their peers on pressing issues that affect our daily lives.

Although many students are underage, that does not disqualify them from getting politically involved or learning to be more socially aware. Polling centers and political campaigns are often welcoming to young volunteers. And for those who will soon be of legal voting age, the next election is just around the corner. Because of this, it is our responsibility and civic duty to make sure that we put people in office who are reliable and will promote the well-being of the nation instead of themselves.

As the next generation of voters, students must realize that it is imperative to advocate for causes that they feel passionate about such as gun control and climate change to not only inform themselves, but also inform fellow voters.

The concerns, however drastic or miniscule, that run through our heads on a daily basis need to be made clear to those who can make the decisions for us to ensure that our voices are heard, and our grievances are addressed. This is the only way to create the future that we aspire to live in.

SPEAKUP

Why it is important for teens to advocate for causes that they feel are important?

Colton Green

Carissa Urra

Sarah Weiss

Jack Lapota

“I think it’s important for something that they believe in and to go for it, I think it’s good for them to advocate for it if they think it’s right.”

“I feel like they offer a new and fresh point of view compared to people who are older. A lot of reforms need to be changed by people who are growing up and are seeing and experiencing it.”

“In a few years this is going to be our world, we’re going to be the ones in charge of it and making decisions. I feel like we should have a say on what’s going on now because it will affect us later.”

“Everyone has to say what they want in order for something to happen. Kind of like voting for the president, if you want the person you want to win to win you have to vote for them.”

senior

junior

freshman

sophomore

BY MADELYN WHITAKER co-editor-in-chief With voter turnout being at a historic low amongst local districts and even at the national level, an overwhelming sense of disappointment rises within me. As a country that prides ourselves as being a righteous democracy with many freedoms, we have the ability to speak freely and most importantly elect those who will govern us. This right, which is being blatantly ignored by those who do not partake in it, is more so a responsibility that all eligible voters must take part in.

According to the United States Election Project, and as reported by the Washington Post, of the 226.7 million eligible American voters, only approximately 100 million actually took part in the 2016 presidential election. That leaves a staggering 126.7 million Americans who sat to the sidelines and commented on an election that they didn’t even contribute to. They have the audacity to comment on the election as if they had any part in it at all.

This laziness and ignorance is so incredibly unfortunate.

While those who wish they had the privilege to vote and feel as if they are helpless bystanders in their own government in other countries do not have this freedom, there are citizens in our country who abuse this right and completely ignore it. It is our duty as Americans, citizens of a democracy, to speak our minds in the form of a ballot. However, it seems so incredibly common for people to avoid voting because it is an “inconvenience” or simply out of their way.

Whether it be as simple as voting in a local election, which I had the honor of taking part in early this month, or as involved as campaigning with a candidate and showing your support, be an active citizen. How can elections be an accurate representation of what our country believes if not all who can vote do so? Simple answer. They can’t.

Voting not only promotes patriotism, but it also provides voters with an intangible sense of value. Voters feel as if they are an integral part of our nation.

A puzzle is not truly complete when it has missing pieces and an election is not thorough and accurately representative if some choose to ignore their responsibility as Americans.

OPINION

INTHEIR

V I EW

INKLINGS November 27, 2019

Should colleges require standardized test results for admissions?

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Crown Point High School, IN

Vol. 84 Issue 2 - November 27, 2019

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

Kyla Lopez sophomore “I believe so

PRO: because if they

didn’t I feel like people would be able to buy themselves in, whereas other people who don’t have the money but have the intelligence won’t be able to get in.”

Christopher Gloff freshman

CARTOON BY ERIN MULLER

“Most kids

CON: have testing

issues and anxiety over them, so I think they should put that to perspective and maybe just use them for certain stuff and not as much as they use them now.”

Amanda Campos teacher “You can’t

PRO: say an A from

Crown Point High School is the same as an A from another school.

You just don’t know, there’s no basic metric to compare, so I think that the standardized tests create that.”

Jacob Adams teacher “They have CON: been found to not always accurately represent a student’s intelligence, knowledge or work ethic, and they can be very culturally biased. I don’t think it’s entirely fair or accurate for colleges to use those as a gage for how students will perform in college.”

WHATWE

THINK PRO: 17 Inklings Staffers CON: 8 Inklings Staffers

PRO: Standardized tests provide an accurate

basis for all students, mirror intelligence

BY MADELYN WHITAKER co-editor-in-chief Variability is common and seemingly unavoidable across states and even nations in the education system.

There are different teachers, grading systems, coursework and students that are polar in comparison to each other. However, one thing does remain constant among these students, many of whom are looking to apply to various universities: standardized testing such as the SAT and ACT. Not only do these tests provide a universal basis of student abilities, but they test classroom skills representative of a successful post-secondary student.

The ACT and SAT tests, which are required on a vast majority of college applications, allow for a more accurate comparison of student abilities due to their lack of variability between schools. All students take the same ACT even if they are from different corporations, or in many cases, different nations.

They can be taken at any time of the year on the various testing dates, many not during the calendar school year to alleviate an added stress of the test onto an already hectic schedule.

For those who receive unfavorable scores, there are options to retake the test multiple times until an acceptable score is received. Students who struggle on standardized testing are given plenty of opportunities to get comfortable with the testing format so that they are able to perform to the best of their abilities.

Many universities will also superscore their tests and take the highest scores from each of the sections to produce the best representative score for that student.

While it may be argued that ACT and SAT tests are not testing classroom skills and students may get stressed under testing situation, the retake option alleviates these problems.

This essential comparison of students for college admissions, completely independent of their education prior to test taking, allows for more equal college admissions and tests necessary skills for all students to possess such as reading comprehension and math skills.

Providing these scores for admissions consideration allows the admission process to remain objective and eliminates the confusion that envelops the struggle of comparing students who come from backgrounds that can differ from each other immensely.

CON: Standardized tests are an inaccurate representation of classroom ability

BY NOLAN CHASE co-online editor College bound students take on standardized tests that can be a necessity to get into the college of their choice. These tests, the SAT and the ACT, are unnecessary obstacles students must face head on when they apply to colleges.

The tests should not be a standard when it comes to college application requirements because of all the requirements students already have to meet for graduation and college applications.

Because colleges require applicants to submit test scores for admission into the university, students will sometimes focus all of their efforts on these tests. Heavy focus on the tests stresses students out. The strive to get good scores on the SAT and the ACT creates a burden of unnecessary stress that streams into the existing pool of stress that students already have acquired from high school classes.

Not only does focusing on the tests create stress, it also takes an abundance of time to prepare for a tests for some students to gain a desired score.

A high school student’s life is fairly busy already, especially if the student is enrolled in advanced placement and dual credit courses. The ACT and the SAT take preparation that will remove time from a high school student’s already busy schedule. While preparing for the tests, students may have to sacrifice work time that they may have otherwise used to study for their classes.

Students can study for the tests through Khan Academy which is good for preparing for tests but also time consuming. People who plan to pursue a collegiate postsecondary plan are forced to focus on their standardized tests when they are already focusing on school work to improve their GPA. Students should not have to prove their academic skills with standardized tests for college admissions. Students who plan to go to college already are able to maintain a necessary GPA which indicates that it alone should be reflective of a student’s academic skill set.

A strong GPA takes a lot of extra work and effort from students to have a much better chance of being admitted into a college of choice. The extra burden of the standardized tests only adds unnecessary weight upon students when the GPA is reflective enough of a student’s academic skills.

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 Olivia Budzevski Alexandra Sulewski Madelyn Whitaker associate editor Emma Frank assistant editors Emily Helmuth Erin Muller sports editors Elizabeth Gonzalez Noah Thomas assistant sports editor Jackson Hillman online editors Nolan Chase Andrew Poeschl advertising editors Haley Thornberry Holly Wagner staff Aubrey Banks Keeley Bernard Samuel Brewer Emily Briseno Rosalie Degenhart Abigail Godsen Holly Jorden John Jorden Kristian Maunes Avery O’Brien Cooper Vickers Allyson Zdanowicz adviser Julie Elston

6

experiencing life beyond the building

FEATURE INKLINGS November 27, 2019

i ON

LI FE

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NICOLE WERNES

This was the result of the car crash involving Nicole Wernes and Lindsey Parsons. Both were intoxicated at the time of the accident. Wernes was the only survivor, although she dealt with multiple physical repercussions.

An Altered Path

Survivor of drunk driving accident shares experience, dangers with sophomore class

BY OLIVIA BUDZEVSKI ALEXANDRA SULEWSKI MADELYN WHITAKER co-editor-in-chiefs All it takes is one decision to change the course of one’s life.

For Nicole Wernes, that decision involved getting in a car with someone driving under the influence.

Wernes, who is a Crown Point High School alumnus, was involved in a drunk driving accident with her friend Lindsey Parsons. Wernes now dedicates her life to speaking to teens about the adverse effects of teen alcohol consumption as well as drunk driving. She recently spoke to the sophomore class about her tragic accident.

“According to police reports, we were going approximately 66 mph. We side-swiped one telephone pole, hit an embankment, which sent us in the air hitting another telephone pole. They had to cut the roof of the car in order to get us out,” Wernes said. “My best friend Lindsey, she was driving, she was pronounced dead at the scene. I, on the other hand, was unconscious. Neither one of us had our drivers licenses or ID on us. Lindsey was identified by her car registration tracer. But me on the other hand, I was Jane Doe.” Since the accident and her re-

covery, Wernes has found a new path in her life: preventing teenage drinking and additional fatal accidents from occuring. In her speech, Wernes details the damage that the accident did to her body.

“From there I was taken to the intensive care unit, also known as ICU, put on a respirator. I went into a coma and didn’t awake until three months later, three months. Three months of your life just gone,” Wernes said.

“Could you imagine that? Losing three months of your life, that’s 2,190 hours and almost a total of 92 days. During that time the doctors had to drill a hole into my head to relieve the pressure on my brain and to prevent seizures. As I became more stable, still unconscious, they worked on implanting titanium plates under my eye and in my jaw as the bones there had been crushed due to the impact.”

Sophomore Emily McCallister notes how listening to Wernes speak opened her eyes to see how devastating the effects of drunk driving accidents can be.

“It was kind of scary watching that girl get really injured and her friend dying, and it probably sent an alarm to a lot of people,” McCallister said. “I thought it was informative.”

Following the description of the injuries that she suffered,

BY #

THE

‘‘

As a friend, you can choose to do nothing or you can choose to be a friend that takes the keys away.

Lindsey and I didn’t have that friend.

Survivor Nicole Wernes Wernes touched on how this lesson is one of choices and respecting others. Wernes noted the importance of preventing peers from making damaging choices.

“The choice is simply a matter of respect. Respect yourselves and respect and protect your friends,” Wernes said. “As a friend, you can choose to do nothing or you can choose to be a friend that takes the keys away.

Lindsey and I didn’t have that

One in 10 teens in high school drinks and drives

friend.”

Wernes shared with the audience her wish for them as they go through the high school career.

She noted the finite nature of life and the importance of making wise choices.

“Today, my wish for you is to avoid being my friend Lindsey. I want you to live your dreams because when you die at seventeen, that’s it. You’re dead,” Wernes said. “It’s not all about alcohol and underage drinking and drugs; it’s about choices. What’s right and what’s good and bad for you.

Making the right choice for the right reasons.”

Listening to Wernes made sophomore Maddison Willbarger realize the full impact that choices such as these can have. Willbarger says that she will avoid making the same mistake due to how those around her could be harmed.

“I knew it was dangerous, but I didn’t know how bad it could get,” Willbarger said. “I know I won’t do something like that because that could affect not only me but all my peers around me and could hurt everyone.”

Wernes suffered other injuries such as contracting Steven Johnsons Syndrome in the hospital and her short-term memory loss. Because of this, she has to write things down or have some-

Drivers ages 16-20 are 17 times

more likely to die in a car crash

when they have a blood alcohol concentration of .08% than when they have not been drinking

thing with her to remind her of what happened. However, she is thankful that she is not able to remember the accident.

“I don’t remember any of it,” Wernes said. “Because of the traumatic brain injury I don’t remember it at all. So, everything happens for a reason. I think that God did that… to me for a reason. Because having to remember my friend dying next to me, I’m glad that I don’t have to remember that.”

Because of her speeches, Wernes has made an impact on the choices of her audience. Wernes recalls an experience she had in which she was approached by someone who had avoided making a similar decision because of her message.

“I’m so glad I talk about this because I was shopping at a mall, a couple of years ago. A kid looked over at me, he comes up to me and he goes, ‘You stopped a whole party from going.’ I go, ‘I don’t want to stop parties from going.’ He goes, ‘No, we were all going to drink and (we didn’t) because of what you said.’

I didn’t even know him,” Wernes said. “He just came up to me and said, ‘You saved my life.’ I started crying in the store. I just really appreciated it. You know, everything happens for a reason.

If I just save one, I’m happy, and I have.”

High school teens drive after drinking about 2.4 million times a month

statistics provided by https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/teendrinkinganddriving/index.html

7

FEATURE INKLINGS November 27, 2019

National adoption month highlights joining families, awareness

BY HALEY THORNBERRY advertising editor

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DANA ZURBRIGGEN

Zurbriggen poses with her family a month before officially adopting her two foster children in 2009.

knew it would be about six months before they would let us adopt them but it ended up being 10 months and we adopted them in November,” Zurbriggen said. “It was quite a process but they were adopted and finally ours as of Nov. 4 of 2009.”

Adoption helps form families and is also part of a lot of people’s lives, as six in 10 Americans have had personal experience with adoption. Social studies department chair Jim Ingelhart shares his person-

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then on (Jan.) 31 we were told there was a baby and we picked her up on Feb. 6, a day before my birthday. It felt like he was my Christmas present and she was my birthday present,” Zurbriggen said.

While there is a long process for fostering children, it applies to the adopting aspect as well.

“There are a number of visits and a number of check ups to make sure it’s going well, before they let you adopt. We

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Around the holiday season, there comes an emphasis on family gatherings and connections. Each family has its own traditions. However, not every family is created the same. The month of November is dedicated to the spread of adoption awareness.

Almost 140,000 children are adopted in the United States each year. A large percentage that are waiting to be adopted are from the foster system. Spanish teacher Dana Zurbriggen shares her experience of what it was like adopting her children through foster care.

“It’s a long process. They come and do a home visit and check out your house. We even had to make sure our pool had a fencing around the top of it that we never had needed because our whole neighborhood is adults,” Zurbriggen said.

In addition to doing things she never knew would be necessary, Zurbriggen had to decide in which category she would adopt a child through the foster system.

“The first option would be you foster kids and you know that they will probably be going back to their parents. You do this because you love kids and want to help them, and you know that reunification is the plan for all kids in foster care first,” Zurbriggen said. “The second group is kids who they believe that will have their parental rights terminated but it hasn’t been terminated yet, which is called at-risk foster to adopt, because there’s a real risk that they would then go back to their parents when you truly thought that this would be your child. The third kind is when the parental rights have already been terminated and the child is available.”

After deciding on the second option, Zurbriggen didn’t know whether she’d be able to actually adopt the child or not.

She explains her luck after she was finally matched up with a child through foster care.

“We met him on Dec. 8 and saw him frequently and had overnights until he actually moved in with us on Jan. 29 and

al experience, as he was adopted himself as a baby.

“I would’ve been either one or two months old. My sister was adopted too around the same time frame, she’s two years older than me, but we aren’t from the same parents,” Ingelhart said. “My parents told me right away that I was adopted, it was never anything hidden. At first I didn’t know exactly what it was, I almost thought that many kids then were adopted, and that I wasn’t any different compared to others, but because of that it was never any stigma.”

As Ingelhart explains that he automatically knew that he was adopted, Zurbriggen explains the importance of knowing in order to prevent getting upset about finally finding out.

“They recommend that you be as honest as possible about being adopted because that prevents the teen angst of the ‘you lied to me’ but also the feeling that your world kind of collapses and you’re not who you thought you were,” Zurbriggen said. “If you found out suddenly that your family is not really your biological family it would throw you and you would have an identity crisis because it wasn’t what you expected.”

Adoption, overall, allows children to join a family that is willing and able to support them. Ingelhart explains why he is glad that he was put up for adoption.

“For what it’s worth, I’m actually very happy that they gave me up for adoption because I got raised by two loving parents and I was overall raised pretty well,” Ingelhart said. “I am thankful that my biological parents both allowed me to be born and at the same time gave me up for adoption.”

As adoption is a prominent part of many people’s lives, it allows children to be raised by families who are willing and able to take care of them.

“I would hope that there is a promotion that more people would consider adoption whether that be either giving up a child if they truly feel that they don’t have the circumstances to fully raise the child or for people to consider adopting children,” Ingelhart said.

8

FEATURE INKLINGS November 27, 2019

Going Off the Grid

Students rid themselves of social media apps for week Erin’s Journey Day 1

I got very bored, very fast. It was amazing to see how many times I almost opened my social media. At school, I could distract myself with my schoolwork and my friends. It got harder at home but I managed to distract myself with my family and watching movies.

So far, it isn’t that bad.

Going without social media quickly felt like normal. I never really realized how much time I wasted scrolling down TikTok looking at videos that are pointless and looking at people’s stories and comparing myself to them.

I continued to struggle with anxiety over whether I had missed anything important. I realized that if I needed to know something important, that person would text me or tell me in person. I had decreased the time on my phone which allowed me to be more productive with school work and chores.

It really wasn’t as bad today, unlike the first day. Schoolwork distracted me at school. I was better at controlling myself from going on Instagram at home. I did some homework and other productive things. However, I‘ve had trouble sleeping since I started.

Social media wasn’t even on my mind anymore. I was hanging out with some of my friends and found that it was way more enjoyable that I was living in the moment and actually having a conversation rather than focusing on what other people were doing.

I continued to get anxious whenever someone would tell me that they had sent me something on one of my social media platforms. School helped me take it off my mind and I have been spending free time in class to finish any other homework I have, instead of automatically resorting to my phone.

I was really nervous and I was itching to go on Snapchat because my friend was messaging me. I started to stay up later because I couldn’t sleep. I’ve noticed I was very tired and I would get headaches from time to time, but I was getting my homework done faster. I was listening to music to distract me.

I found myself back in the slump and was bored. I was sitting at my dentist appointment and I had nothing to pass the time with. Usually, during that time I would be scrolling down Instagram or looking at Snapchat stories, but I had nothing.

Today was not bad because I had work and then a birthday dinner to go to that occupied my whole day. When I got home, I automatically got ready for bed and watched Netflix before I fell asleep.

I’ve realized that I don’t need my phone and social media apps to check before I could sleep and my sleep schedule has changed drastically and I have ultimately been getting a better night’s sleep.

I started to forget about my social media. I started to feel more outgoing and didn’t feel like a robot going on my phone and wasting a few hours. I started to be happier because I wasn’t comparing myself to others on my phone. I was more productive, but I still had some sleeping problems.

I had to work most of Friday so it was easy to not have the urge to log in. After such a long week, as soon as I got home I fell asleep. I made it a daily routine in the past to go on my phone before heading to bed. I found that this week I was able to get way more sleep than I normally would during a school week.

As soon as I woke up, I knew it was going to be a long day because I didn’t have school or work to distract me.

Although it was an uneventful day that seemed to drag on, I was able to stay home and spend my extra time cleaning up my room and then relaxing before having to go back to school.

I was very bored, but luckily I spent the day with my aunt and grandma. I felt happier knowing that I was able to spend time with them when normally I would have stayed home and done nothing. I did notice that I was sleeping better. I just had to adjust to it and when I did, I adjusted well.

I woke up to snow which caused me to run late and I ended up leaving my phone in my car. Although I had started getting used to going without social media, I was forced to go the school day without my phone. At first, I was frustrated for being without it, but it was refreshing as I was able to get all my work done and get ahead.

I forgot my social media existed. I am more productive, and focusing more in class. I was less tired and I spent day going to school and doing homework.

Although I am still bored, I find ways to distract myself by watching movies and playing with my dog. I am happier, and I am able to get a lot more stuff done.

On the last day, I realized how unnecessary social media was in the grand scheme of life and paying attention to the real world around you. I knew I was going to end up downloading the apps and checking my social media, but I feel as though it has allowed me to tolerate longer amounts of time without being on these apps and on my phone in general.

I realized how much time I use on social media. I thought of how many people use their phones daily and don’t spend time with their friends and family. I was distracted by finishing homework. I realized that a person doesn’t need social media, but it is good from time to time if they don’t abuse it.

68%

text

Day 4

The first day was pretty rough as I unconsciously went to check my Instagram and my Snapchat to see if there was anything new. I realized I frequently resort to social media to pass time, and now, I tend to go on games on my phone instead.

Day 2

86%

email

66%

79%

social media

check the time

Day 6

8%

38%

games

surf the web

How the Average Teen Uses Their

Day 7

PHONE

The weekend was more enjoyable when I was able to enjoy the people around me and not have social media preventing a conversation. I hung out with my friend for her birthday and it was crazy to see how many people at the restaurant were just sitting on their phones instead of initiating a conversation.

I never realized how much I actually am on my phone. The past week really showed me how much everyone is on social media. It’s no wonder that so many people are self conscious and negative towards themselves because they are constantly comparing themselves to others. I wasn’t constantly looking

at myself on Snapchat and worrying what other people were thinking of me and my social media presence.

Statistics gathered from www.brandwatch.com.

% of U.S. teens say that they use _____ daily.

85

72 69 51

9

7

3

Tumbr

Reddit

None of the Above

Twitter

Facebook

Snapchat

Instagram

32

YouTube

Aubrey’s Journey

I found myself going on my phone and going to tap on the Instagram and Snapchat apps, just to find that they were gone. I did become less distracted and was able to accomplish my schoolwork and cleaning around the house.

Day 5

Teens are consumed by their virtual lives. They post statuses to friends, like others’ pictures and watch various videos on the many social media platforms that are available today. To test out how involved students are in their social media accounts, three staff members were cut out from their lives for a week.

According to studies done by BroadBand Search, in 2018, the average time someone spent on social media was 144 minutes of their day and this has risen since then. Sophomore Sheridan Mohammed notes the impact that social media usage has on all enveloped in it and how it can be addictive and consuming.

“It’s a problem in today’s society, but it is our generation, and there’s really nothing we can do about it. Everyone is addicted to it, and we can’t have normal interactions because of it,” Mohammed said.

Social media causes students to get distracted and disregard their schoolwork and chores. It also messes with their sleep schedule when they stay up watching videos.

To see how integral of a part these apps play in one’s day, Inklings staffers removed apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok and Tumblr. This is a summary of what happened during the week.

Haley’s Journey

Day 3

BY ERIN MULLER HALEY THORNBERRY AUBREY BANKS assistant editor advertising editor reporter

Facebook has 2.4 billion users.

Of the 7.7 billion people on Earth today...

Statistics gathered from pewresearch.org.

Statistics gathered from www.brandwatch.com.

YouTube has 1.9 billion users.

Instagram has one billion users.

Twitter has 330 million users.

Snapchat has 190 million users.

FEATURE INKLINGS November 27, 2019

One Coffee at a Time

9

Café Fresco works alongside students to give back to charity

BY EMMA FRANK associate editor With hopes of making a difference one coffee at a time, local coffee shop Café Fresco has partnered up with The Pulse to make that happen. Around once a month a coffee stand is put by the cafeteria where the profits they make are donated to a charity. The owner of Café Fresco, Breanne Zolfo, wants this project to enable students to feel like they are making an impact in the community.

“Our partnership with the school is an effort to give back to the community that has given so much to us through our youth,” Zolfo said. “We wanted to empower students to give back to their community and leave their mark on Crown Point.”

Assistant Principal Vincent Bauters has been involved with this project and feels as though this is an opportunity for student growth.

“It will benefit our students when we think of our six C’s and we think about how we want to build culture. A culture of giving, a culture of caring, a culture of serving leadership. We’re providing opportunities for students to rally behind different causes and keep their ears open for people, communities in need and then you show that culture of wanting to give back,” Bauters said.

Senior Mia Augsburger works at Café Fresco and also helps with the table they set up once a month at the school.

“My favorite part about working at Fresco is the community. I love all that we do for the community and all the things that the community does for us in return. It’s like good people helping good people,” Augsburger said. “It’s cool to incorporate Fresco with school because it’s like the best of both worlds combining. I get the opportunity to share with the students and faculty the good that a workplace can do for the community.”

Along with the other organizations that have gained from this, Zolfo has a few other that she would want this to contribute towards.

“Mommy’s Haven because they are an amazing resource for women,” Zolfo said.

Another organization Augsburger would love to raise awareness for is Young Life.

“One nonprofit organization that I hope to be able to connect with more is Young Life. Young life is a nationwide nonprofit that is structured for teenagers to have an environment to have good friends and make good memories,” Augsburger said. “Young life already meets every Wednesday at Fresco and we hang out and get half off

“So when we start looking at the amount of people you can give back to and the amount of proceeds we can raise I think it’s best to stay open minded.”

So far the collaboration between the school and Café Fresco has been a positive and smooth process.

“The goals are to build community partnership and the obvious partnership here is with Café Fresco and our school and they have been very generous and very helpful. They have supplied us with sleeves, they have supplied us with opportunities to come to their business, they have brought their product to our school, so they have been fantastic,” Bauters said. “They have gone above and beyond.”

Even when they are not partnering with the school, Café Fresco is still giving back to the community. According to Augsburger there are multiple ways that they are making an impact in people’s lives.

“We contribute to a lot of different organizations which is so lovely because we get to share compassion throughout the community. With our community love jar and donations it goes so many different places,” Augsburger said. “Some of the donations go to organizations themselves, local schools, paying for people’s groceries, and individuals in the community.”

Zolfo believes that this project is not only an opporPHOTO PROVIDED BY MIA AUGSBURGER tunity for students to fuel themselves for their day, but Senior Mia Augsburger works for Café Fresco making drinks for customers. will also benefit their outlook on society.

“It is teaching them to think outside of themselves and to see that they can make a difference and change My goal is to have an someone’s life,” Zolfo said. army of community solAugsburger’s favorite part about her work with the charities is the personal human connection and empathy diers who are changing people can have for one another. the world and making it “I think that seeing the families and individuals that we have been able to help out its my favorite thing,” Augsa burger said. “It’s so personal and you’re able to give them not only financial support but also spread kindness to give them a sense of hope.”

To Bauters these opportunities for connection affect drinks while we’re there. I hope to see more collaboranot only the organizations but also those doing the work tions with the teens in young life and the community of for them. the cafe.”

“We know that not only students but any individual, When looking to raise awareness, Bauters encourages any adult, does better just in terms of their happiness when being open to any options because mostly all charities are they feel connected to their community and so the main positive ones.

“My goal is just to be open-minded and keep my ears goal here is to provide partnerships,” Bauters said. “I think open to people, to families, instead of just saying ‘this is that’s the real goal to provide students an opportunity to my organization I want to push this idea,’” Bauters said. explore their own servant leader hearts.”

‘‘

better place

owner Breanne Zolfo

10

ADVERTISING INKLINGS November 27, 2019

SPORTS INKLINGS November 27, 2019

Conquering the Competition

11

Mendez climbs ranks at exponential rate with Olympic training

BY NOAH THOMAS KRISTIAN MAUNES co-sports editor sports reporter

My moment of the month...

“I was nervous facing my old team but Abby Stoddard grabbed my arm and told me that shes got me.

Nobody’s ever said that to me before.” senior Dash Shaw Girls Basketball

REVIEWING THE PLAY Staff’s Take on Sports Issues

Should fights during NFL games be considered assault?

4 Pro

3 Con TWITTER POLL Should NCAA athletes profit from their name, image and likeness?

90% YES NO

10%

OUT OF 39 STUDENTS POLLED

Gavin Stagg sophomore

Sophomore Jesse Mendez is no ordinary wrestler. Mendez has competed around the world and trained at the Olympic level, a feat few athletes, let alone high school students, have done. Mendez also has taken his wrestling career to the national and world stage, being ranked second in the country, having competed in the Cadet World Championships and even training at the U.S. Olympic Facility in Colorado Springs.

Mendez’s coaches and teammates see his successes as paths to opportunity. Head wrestling coach Branden Lorek is grateful for having a wrestler like Mendez and utilizes his skills.

“Having someone like Jesse sets a good example of how you should practice. The effort, performance-wise, preparation, Jesse also gets out on the mat and shows he looks for the hard matches and challenges himself.

So, I believe Jesse sets a good example by his performance and he’s also very coachable and he does what you ask him to do. He brings a lot to the team,” Lorek said.

Mendez takes pride in his work ethic, but he is aware that there is room for improvement.

“I know there’s someone out there working just as hard as me trying to get to the same place as I’m trying to be,” Mendez said.

His goals may reside locally during the season, but when it’s offseason,

Mendez’s Moments

Mendez strives for national and international accomplishments.

“I’ve gotten to travel a ton because of wrestling. I’ve been all over the country such as Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Colorado, South Dakota, North Carolina, etc. The countries I’ve gotten the chance to travel to are Medellin, Colombia, Morelia, Mexico and Sofia, Bulgaria,” Mendez said.

Despite being just a sophomore, Mendez has competed in top tier tournaments internationally that have helped highlight his skills and overall, boost his image as a wrestler. Mendez has competed in the Cadet World Championships, one of the highest wrestling tournaments worldwide.

“The Cadet World Championships is the most prestigious cadet freestyle tournament in the world. I had the honor of representing the U.S.A. at the Cadet World Championships and ended up placing 9th,” Mendez said.

“I got to train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in order to prepare for the world championships. It was an awesome experience because I got to train with people I’ve looked up to my entire life, like Olympic Gold medalists Kevin Jackson, Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Snyder.”

Lorek has noticed that Mendez’s experiences and accomplishments have created a similar mindset in the other wrestlers on the team. According to Lorek, they motivate each other in hopes of achiev-

2018-19 Post Tribune Wrestler of the Year

2018-19 State Wrestling Champion

PHOTO PROVIDED BY EDGAR SANCHEZ Sophomore Jesse Mendez is named the champion of his match at “Who’s #1” in Iowa. Mendez has competed in many wrestling competitions worldwide and has recently trained at the U.S. Olympic Facility.

ing Mendez’s level of wrestling.

“His success motivates the guys around him.

They know how much work he puts in and how dedicated he is so and there’s a lot of sacrifices that come with it,” Lorek said. “He doesn’t do anything halfway, he goes all the way, whether it’s a workout in the weight room, practice, competitions, and he’s a young guy. He’s got a few more years left, and he’s learning how to handle high school sports, grades, family, life. So he’s learning to, and the guys think ‘Hey Jesse’s just like us,’ but they also take a lot of pride and enjoy watching his success, that helps.”

Junior Jacob Carter

Ninth at

Cadet World Championships

Super32 Champ

sees Mendez as one of the hardest working wrestlers and uses Mendez’s passion to motivate himself.

“Jesse improves the team dramatically. He is one of the hardest workers in the room and when people see him working hard they will start to work hard too, it’s like a domino effect,” Carter said. “Having Jesse on the team increases the team dynamic because everyone sees him wrestling hard and working hard that they want to be successful so they copy him and follow his lead and or pace.”

Mendez drives the team to work at their max, in hopes of amounting to his achievements. Carter is thankful for having Mendez on the team because

Six Time FloNationals USA Champ Champ

he can learn from him.

“If Jesse sees someone doing something wrong he will correct them or if he sees someone being lazy he will tell them to pick it up. He will never tell anybody no if they ask for his help with wrestling,” Carter said.

For Mendez, the expectations are simple: win state and become the number one ranked wrestler in the country. He has the faith from his coaches, teammates and himself to accomplish this goal.

“Set your goals high and keep chasing them.

My goals are to leave high school known as the most dominant wrestler to come out of Indiana,” Mendez said.

Three Time Three Two Pan-American Time Time Tulsa World Gold IHPO Champ Medallist Champ

Pro: “They should

because they are out there working hard. They need to make money.”

Aubrey Wroble

freshman Con: “I think you have to go pro first in order to get paid, I consider college playing kind of like high school in that you don’t get paid.”

Mikrut continues family’s swimming legacy during season

BY KEELEY BERNARD sports reporter Last names are important.

They are passed down from generation to generation, and represent a families legacy. Maintaining a legacy is rough work, but girls swimming and diving junior Grace Mikrut is putting in the work to do so.

Diver Grace Mikrut’s brother, Christian Mikrut, swam for Crown Point and currently swims for Olivet Nazarene University.

Grace is also related to Crown Point diving coaches Ken and Heather Mikrut.

“My whole family is very athletic,” Grace Mikrut said. “Both my parents dove in high school and college. My dad also swam.

My brother is a swimmer. I feel extra pressure because I’m related to a swimmer. I used to feel like I had to compete with him and I felt insecure because I had to live up to his expectations. Now that I do diving I don’t. Swimming and diving are two different sports.”

Although being related to a former Crown Point swimmer can lead to extra pressure, it can also provide benefits. One benefit is that the athlete has more expo-

sure to the sport, which can lead to more experience.

“I’ve been swimming for 13 years,” Grace Mikrut said. “I improve my ability by hard work and practicing every day.”

Coach Blake Yeager believes that having experienced athletes is crucial to the success of the team as a whole.

“The one thing that we have, especially on the girls side, is swimmers that have been swimming for a very long time. A lot of them are club swimmers,” said Yeager. “There is a lot of nothing being new to them. A lot of them

have been around for age group meets and high school meets, so they all know what to expect.”

Yeager also cities training as a beneficial factor to the team.

“The girls train for about 20 hours a week, with 10 practices a week,“ said Yeager. “Right now training is pretty grueling, especially with no meets going on. It gets hard to just keep competing with your teammates and having to swim back and forth with nothing to look forward to right now.”

Yeager hopes the team will get top three at conference and then top three at sectionals.

12

SPORTS INKLINGS November 27, 2019

New talent mixed with old achievements motivate girls basketball

BY ELIZABETH GONZALEZ co-sports editor

Tears streamed down the faces of the girls basketball team last season as they embraced each other after the defeat in the semistate game. After an undefeated regular season, the team made it to semi-state, but fell short to Hamilton Southeastern.

Last year, the girls transformed into one cohesive machine working towards an end goal. The team was tenacious, young, and ready to bring the hardware home all season long.

One could think that the team chemistry might have been compromised with the loss of two of their senior starters, but that is not the case.

“We are very lucky to have so much talent on our team, and I’m so glad I get to play every day alongside these insanely talented girls. We all push each other to reach greatness. We know what we are capable of after last year,” sophomore Jessica Carrothers said. “I think our chemistry is very strong this year because we hang out on the weekends even when its not mandatory.”

With 6’1 senior and Butler commit Abby Stoddard back on the court after recovering from an injury last season, she will be a force to be reckoned with alongside her sister, 6’3 Purdue commit sophomore Lilly Stoddard. This year the girls team welcomed senior Dash Shaw, an all-state point guard, from Gary West Side. The Stoddard sisters, Shaw, Carrothers and junior Lyna Santiago all comprise the starting line up, which is filled with potential.

“The most important mentality that all of us must have is that Crown Point wins. We all try to spend a lot of time with each other so we have a great team chemistry. It’s just a super fun group of girls and I have a feeling that this season is going to be super special. Obviously, we have a ton of talent, but talent means nothing if we don’t work as a team and have the same mentality,” Lyna Santiago said.

After summer conditioning and lots of practices, the girls finally had their first game against Gary West Side, Shaw’s old team, and won in a “blowout” as Shaw said.

“I was nervous at first, but I knew my teammates had my back, and we ended up winning the game 76-16,” Shaw said.

Despite starting the season with the win they had against Gary West Side, the Nov. 9th Andrean game was nothing short of eventful.

The lights dimmed with a spotlight on the girls team as they huddled in a circle at half court giving last minute advice before the game. Lilly Stoddard brought the start of the game by tipping off the ball toward Crown Point; however it was a rocky road from there.

The frustration was visible in the girls eyes as they ended 13 to ten in the first quarter.

The referee called Carrothers for a carry twice, contrary to the entire Crown Point fan sections’ point of view, giving the ball to Andrean. Dribbling the ball back and forth, the game was close.

Andrean and Crown Point were neck and neck all the way

PHOTO BY ALLYSON ZDANOWICZ Sophomore Jessica Carrothers shoots against two Andrean defenders on Nov. 13.

up until the last 50 seconds of the second quarter.

Carrothers turned it around and scored four points and assisted sophomore Alyvia Santiago who went up for a lay up. The lay up, which turned into a foul, resulted in Libby Santiago scoring a point for the girls. With 50 seconds left, the girls went up five points, and that tenacious attitude is what fans should expect to see

throughout the season.

“At halftime, Seibert just said ‘stop playing around now, go out there and demolish them,’ and that is exactly what we did. That was the most fun I’ve ever had playing in my life. I have never felt like more of a team then in that 3rd quarter, and the fact that we haven’t peaked to our fullest potential is crazy,” Shaw said.

transferred to Crown Point his junior year after winning a Michigan state title his sophomore year in the 103 pound division.

This year Bettich believes that he and his team can perform well at upcoming events and eventually make their way to the state meet in late February.

“This wrestling season is going to be very exciting for us. We have the hardest working team in the state no doubt and that helps mold us into one of the best teams statewide. Our team bonds as if we’re a family which makes it really enjoyable to be with the guys. We all have the same goal in mind and it’s to win a state title. I couldn’t have asked for a better team and I’m very excited

to see how we do,” Bettich said.

Another state wrestler returning this year is senior Noah Hollendoner. Contact sports are at the center of Hollendonner’s core, as in addition to wrestling, he also plays on the football team.

Hollendonner believes he will likely become a role model for the underclassmen along with the other seniors. He is excited and ready for the opportunity to lead others.

“I’m excited for this season. We have so much new talent and so many young guys that are going to make an impact now through the next few years. We have many guys that are capable of placing at state and winning a

The third quarter began and the girls came back for vengeance. The Stoddard sisters, grabbing practically every rebound in sight, worked together to set up their teammates for fast breaks and turnovers. Lyna Santiago and Shaw’s defense made it impossible for Andrean to score on the Dogs.

Shaw’s quick steals leading to multiple fast breaks had the crowd on their feet, as fans were stunned by her speed.

One fan was overheard saying “if you blinked you would’ve missed her.” Which seemed to be the reaction the whole fan section had.

As the fourth quarter began, the cohesive machine was back in business, just as it had been last year. The girls beat Andrean 7730, ultimately scoring 50 points in the second half and only letting Andrean score five.

The Andrean game showcased the individual talent that the team possesses; However, head coach Chris Seibert knows this means nothing without hard work.

“Individual talent wise this is one of, if not the most, talented group I have been able to put on the floor; but, that doesn’t always equate to immediate success. We are a work in progress but overall we are excited to see the team gel together,” Seibert said.

The girls play La Porte this Friday, and win or lose if the girls bring the same tenacity they had at the Andrean game. After the press, the Dogs faced East Chicago Central yesterday at 7 p.m.

Wrestlers look forward to rest of season after first win against Portage

BY JACKSON HILLMAN assistant sports editor From cutting weight to putting an evenly matched opponent on the mat, wrestling requires dedicated athletes to compete for regional, state and national titles.

The team will have four state qualifiers returning and several new freshman wrestlers will be joining the veteran squad.

Starting off the season with a win was in part a result of head coach Branden Lorek conditioning the boys during the preseason.

He belives his many years of coaching experience should help develop the new team. With new wrestlers joining the program and others returning, Lorek says he is

excited about the prospect of another successful season. Winning their first meet against Portage contributed to this enthusiasm.

“We are returning three state placers and have several young freshmen joining the team. We are excited to wrestle our first dual meet of the year on Nov. 22 at Portage High School. We have a great mix of young and older wrestlers, and I believe we are going to have a great season with the dedication our wrestlers and coaches have put into the team,” Lorek said.

One of the wrestlers returning from state is senior Riley Bettich.

Bettich wrestles in the 120 pound division and finished in fifth place last year at the state meet. Bettich

state title this year,” Hollendonner said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know all the new freshman and helping them achieve their goals.”

According to Hollendonner, the team’s coaching staff contributes to a large portion of the team’s success.

“Our coaching staff is really talented and they make sure we are at are highest and best level of performance going into each meet and tournament every week,” said Hollendonner.

The JV team travels back to Portage for an invite this Saturday. The varsity team’s second meet of the season is Dec. 4 against LaPorte at home.

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SPORTS INKLINGS November 27, 2019

Preseason efforts push boys swim towards record-breaking goals

13

COLUMN

BY SAMUEL BREWER sports reporter From weights in the morning to swimming laps at night, boys swim has been working hard all preseason to reach their goals this year. Boys swim coach Blake Yeager knows the importance of working hard at this point in the season to reach the goals he has set.

“I’d like to see us get top two at conference and sectionals, we are hoping to also get up to eight state qualifiers this year. We’re in the middle of training right now, doing 10 practices a week, this is the time of the season where they get beat up pretty good,” Yeager said.

One of these hopeful state qualifiers is junior swimmer Pablo Nieto, who has been swimming almost all of his life. Nieto is excited about the upcoming season.

“I feel like this year we have a lot of potential to reach a lot of new levels. A lot of us are really practicing hard and getting ready for this season, we’re excited to see it,” Nieto said.

Not only is the prospect of a new season exciting, some swimmers like senior Alex McCormick want records. According to Yeager, McCormick has a great chance to beat many school records. McCormick has swam for the high school for all four years, and is the captain of the team. He is very excited for the prospect of leading the team to success this year.

“As a captain, I hope to build a desire to work hard while still having fun. It’s hard to balance those two factors, but I hope I am able to give the swimmers both memories of having and working hard,” McCormick said.

Although many would consid-

NCAA should allow players to profit from image

BY SAMUEL BREWER reporter

PHOTO BY ALLYSON ZDANOWICZ

Freshman Aleksandar Kostic swims the fly with teammates during boys swim practice before their Nov. 25th meet at Munster.

er swimming an individual sport, team chemistry is a crucial part in the team’s success, according to Yeager.

“The main thing is when they are together a lot, for like 20-25 hours a week, being able to communicate with each other and get along is one of the most important this with the team. Even though it seems like an individual sport, it really is a team sport,” Yeager said.

McCormick agrees.

“I see swimming as a team sport first of all. In order for an individual to do well, he or she needs a group of people to motivate and encourage them,” McCormick said.

“It is difficult because it is hard to get in a cold pool in the morning or after school while being in a happy mood. Our team combats this by messing around and making jokes so our mind is positive.”

Yeager believes that the team’s lightheartedness can sometimes be helpful in many situations.

“The boys get along pretty well, they goof off a lot, but sometimes it’s for the better with the amount of time together and having to share close quarters with the locker room and the pool,” Yeager said.

With fun and games aside, both Nieto and McCormick are striving for records this year. The two swimmers are in the 200 meter individual medley relay, which they believe, with enough work, they can break the record. Nieto believes that teamwork is the factor that will push their time into the record books and that it is even more important with the newcomer to the relay team.

“It’s probably the most impor-

tant thing. If we don’t work together and push each other we won’t achieve our goals, even more so now with a freshman (Aleksandar Kostic) on it,” Nieto said.

McCormick’s hopes are not limited to just this season though.

His goal this year is to be written into Crown Point history and is ready to work for more than just records.

“I plan on leaving a legacy after I leave. I feel this is the best way to make a memorable time in my life. I really want to be in the hall of fame. If I can achieve that, my senior year will be the most memorable I can make it,” McCormick said.

The boy’s first swim meet was on Monday, Nov. 25 against defending sectional champions Munster, which ended in a loss.

Boys basketball opens tonight at home against Bowman After their sectional loss to Munster and the departure of all five senior starters, the boys basketball team will look for team chemistry they’ve built to drive their season. Veteran coach Clint Swan will be looking for growth, improvement and leadership after the departure of senior talent.

“The way that your experienced guys and seniors from the year before can bring those guys along; it’s probably more important than what the coaches do because that sort of thing is a team effort. It requires everyone to be bought in, it requires everyone trying to help one another out, and it requires everyone to be a good teammate,” Swan said. “If those things happen, it will be a seamless transition.

Sure, we’re going to make a lot of

BULLDOG breakdown

Girls Cross Country Junior Jaelyn Burgos Qualified for state as an individual

Time of 19:31

72nd Overall

mistakes and it’s going to be sloppy at times, but I think by the end of the year we have a chance to be pretty good.”

Swan reiterated that team chemistry is very important with a new lineup this year. Senior Luke Hanlon and senior teammate Miles Lubbers both agree that team chemistry will be a huge factor in their success this year.

“So far we’re working hard but our chemistry is growing; we know what we have to do to win,” Lubbers said.

According to Hanlon, the team's athleticism will give a crucial edge to the team.

“We think we’re a really athletic team, and we can get some fans to games and win some games for sure. We just have to work together,” Hanlon said.

Websites around Indiana have

ranked the team low in the DAC, after the loss of the famed five seniors. But, Coach Swan knows

‘‘

We think we’re a really athletic team, and we can get some fans to games and win some games for sure, we just have to work together.

senior Luke Hanlon expectations for the team are low in the public, but his high expectations remain the same for the team,.

“I think there’s a motivating factor when you have to prove yourself. And, the expectation level is low right now in the general public but for us, our expectation level is really high,” Swan said. “So, it’s

Volleyball 30-7 Record 81 % Wins Overall

14-0 Conference Record

Ranked Seventh in State* *rankings per Maxpreps

Football

Rankings Record

BY NOAH THOMAS co-sports editor

6-5 Conference: 4-3 State: 72* National: 2,978* Overall:

*rankings per Maxpreps

who’s right and who’s wrong. And hopefully our guys are able to meet their objectives instead of everyone else’s objectives and if we do that it’ll be a great season, but you can’t get too caught up in the noise and worry about what other people are saying or doing.”

That mindset has spread to the team as well. Lubbers restated that it's a motivating factor.

“It’s gas for the fire, nothing like motivation,” Lubbers said.

“Our team is performing well and we have a shared goal of proving everyone wrong on the idea that we have little experience.”

The boys had two scrimmages in preparation for this week's game: one last Thursday, red versus white and one last Saturday versus Bishop Noll. Their long anticipated debut will be tonight versus Bowman Academy at 7 p.m. at home.

Boys Cross Country Geno Christofanelli Ninth senior at State

Second at DAC First at Sectionals First at Regionals First at Semistate Seventh at State

On Sept. 30 of 2019, California made history as they were the first state to allow college athletes to be paid over their name and likeness.

This has caused a lot of controversy with the NCAA, but California is giving the players what they deserve.

For over 100 years, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has been bringing America outstanding performances of the best college athletes in the nation. As of the 2016-2017 school year, the NCAA has been bringing in over a billion dollars annually. So, with all the money being made, shouldn’t at least some of the profits go to the athletes that make the league so much money?

This does not mean that colleges should actively pay studentathletes for their services, but since anybody else in the school can make money off of their name and likeness, there is no reason that athletes shouldn’t be given the same rights. So if a fan buys a player’s jersey, he or she wouldn't be able to profit.

College athletes don’t just work hard during the season. In 2010, the average college baseball player practiced over 40 hours every week.

That is not including the games and travel. All this is compounded by having to keep up with an already grueling college education. All the stress should compensate far more than what it does now.

Not only would this change be beneficial to the athletes themselves, but also to anybody who has played video games related to sports. If players can make money off of their name and likeness, this means the remaking of the NCAA games. To this day, I still play through entire seasons of NCAA Football 14, the last college football game EA Sports has released.

From the athletes to the average fan, the new bill would be a win for everyone if fully integrated.

14

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT INKLINGS November 27, 2019

INREVIEW

BY MADELYN WHITAKER co-editor in chief

Yes to You Coconut Face Mask This face mask, which is advertised as having moisturizing abilities, did nothing but irritate my skin.

While it may be affordable, it is not worth the price for the damage it does to the skin. Instead of it leaving skin looking refreshed and rejuvenated, the skin is left red and burning from one of the ingredients found in it. The Yes to You Coconut Face Mask provided little to no hydration, and instead, left me resembling a

“The Knight Before Christmas” Netflix premiered their original, “The Knight Before Christmas,” which stars Vanessa Hudgens and Josh Whitehouse. Whitehouse plays a knight, Sir Cole, who has time travelled to present day and meets Hudgens’s character Brooke. This perfect Christmas movie is the best pick-meup and highlights the bright nature of the season. As Brooke and Sir Cole realize their feelings for each other, viewers can’t help but feel warm and happy for them. This Netflix original perfectly emanates the Christmas season.

TikTok As entertaining as it is, TikTok proves its ability to take over users’ lives with its humor and trendy songs. Any productivity that someone may have had is shattered by this consuming app. Browsing on it in the beginning was enjoyable until it becomes the ultimate distraction and blocks any drive to complete schoolwork. While it is true that the dance trends that arise from TikTok are entertaining, this does not outweigh the extreme addiction that arises from downloading TikTok.

Streaming services offer a variety of options

BY ANDREW POESCHL co-online editor With the recent release of Disney+, the streaming wars have taken off. There are so many choices and the prices of each quickly stacking up, people will have to decide which ones are the best and which ones aren’t worth the price.

The most important thing to consider is which streaming service has the shows

and movies that you enjoy the most. Most streaming services have a large selection of shows and movies, but they do usually fall into a category. Disney+ has a ton of animated works along with science fiction, Amazon’s shows and movies have a darker tone, Hulu’s selection is mostly from earlier this decade and Netflix has the most varied selection, but is usually fairly light-hearted.

Both Prime Video and Hulu have ads,

though you can pay extra to get rid of Hulu’s ads. This option allows people willing to spend more money to have a better experience and it also allows people not willing to spend extra money to enjoy the streaming platforms with a few ads.

At the end of the day, all of these streaming services have their own strengths and weaknesses so deciding between them is really up to the viewer’s personal preference.

Netflix

Hulu

Amazon Prime Video

Netflix offers a wide selection of movies and shows, and is by far the most famous streaming service. With shows like “Stranger Things,” “Bojack Horseman,” and “13 Reasons Why,” it has some strong original shows, but besides those, the rest of their shows on Netflix are nothing special. Most of Netflix’s original movies and shows are commercial flops while only a few actually achieve popularity. They also have a very small selection of third party shows.

Hulu has a huge selection of shows but is lacking in its’ selection of movies. Its originals are mediocre but has a large selection of genres to choose from. Its base subscription does include ads. Its shows are also the least talked about and never really achieve popularity. It does have a lot of third party shows to choose from such as “Adventure Time,” “South Park,” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” so if you are interested in watching more third party shows this is the one to go with.

Amazon Prime Video has the largest selection of originals like “Boys,” “Jack Ryan,” and “Grand Tour”. Their shows also have the best production quality for its originals of all the streaming services. Though its third party selection does certainly seem to be the smallest of all the streaming services. It also requires a payment for a lot of its third party shows. Paying for a subscription and more for movies and shows on top of it makes it the most expensive service by far.

# of Paying Subscribers

Streaming Service Price Per Month

Disney+ Disney+, the most recently released streaming platform, has come out with movies and shows from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. There is plenty of old content for each, but there is a severe lack of original shows. There is only “The Mandalorian,” a few Disney shorts, and a couple of documentaries.

The episodes of “The Mandalorian” come out once a week so you only have a few episodes of its’ only original on release.

Originals

$8.99

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

$6.99

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

100 million

$8.99

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

25 million

$5.99

The Handmaid’s Tale

Netflix

158 million Disney+

10

million

Amazon Prime Video

Hulu

stats provided by:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/250934/quarterly-number-of-netflix-streaming-subscribers-worldwide/

“Zombieland: Double Tap” maintains humor from previous film

BY JOHN JORDEN reporter The original “Zombieland” was a comedic parody of other zombie movies. The movie was directed by Reuben Fleischer, who later directed “Venom,” and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, writers of the “Deadpool” movies.

While the project was originally a script for a pilot to a television show, Reese and Wernick were not able to sell the pilot to any channels. They were later able to get support from producer Gavin Polone, allowing them to turn the project from a short pilot to a feature-length film, which became a huge success upon its release in 2009.

Ten years later, writers Reese and Wernick return with the help of Dave Callaham to write the sequel of this beloved zombie movie, titled “Zombieland: Double Tap”.

This new movie’s plot continues with zombie survivors Columbus, played by Jesse Eisenburg, Tallahassee, played by Woody Harrelson, Wichita, played by Emma Stone, and Little Rock, played by Abigail Breslin.

These four continue to fight against the horde of zombies, while also meeting some new survivors along the way, such as Madison, played by Zoey Deutch, and Nevada, played by Rosario Dawson.

Like the first movie, “Double Tap” makes fun of the zombie genre by referencing Columbus’s rules of zombie survival as a way to parody common tropes in movies that often lead to characters dying, such as shooting a zombie once and assuming its dead or not wearing a seat belt.

It also avoids being too much of a copy of the original by putting an emphasis on the different types of zombies, parodying tropes such as the very slow and ridiculously stupid zombies and the zombies that sneak up on people at random.

There are even a few funny jokes revolving around said types of zombies.

While this may seem like a minor addition, they actually do a lot with it, and even use it to establish conflicts in ways that really wouldn’t have been the same if they did it in the first movie. At the very least, tensions wouldn’t be as high due to the lack of variety of zombies in the first movie.

However, the movie still isn’t without its flaws. One of its first issues is that the way Columbus acts feels rather out of character early on in the movie, often rubbing his relationship with Madison in Wichita’s face.

While this might be a plausible scenario if it were being done by a different character in the movie. Columbus was always a lot

more introverted than everyone else, making this feel a little out of place.

It’s also worth noting that while the humor is still entertaining, the jokes aren’t quite as hilarious as the ones in the first movie. However, there are still plenty of great jokes and also some hilarious references to moments in the first film.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT INKLINGS November 27, 2019

Last Christmas ruins feel-good movie with plot twist

BY HOLLY JORDEN reporter Being a sucker for a good romantic comedy and for the Christmas season, the expectations are high to find a Christmas rom-com with endless rewatch potential. Although it was good, “Last Christmas” just couldn’t deliver this ideal movie expectation.

“Last Christmas” follows Kate (Emilia Clarke), who works as an elf in a year-round Christmas store and is just a complete hot mess. She’s been kicked out of all her friends’ houses and refuses to go back to staying with her parents. One day, Kate meets Tom (Henry Golding), a mysterious young man who helps her discover the small joys of life. Their chemistry is one of the highlights of this movie, for Clarke and Golding’s connection feels natural and realistic, as if they were a real life couple.

“Last Christmas” doesn’t just have one adorable romance, there are two, and I still can’t decide which I like better. Santa (Michelle Yeoh), the owner of the year-round Christmas shop, falls in love with a customer who she calls “Boy” (Peter Mygrind).

Santa and Boy’s romance is unrealistic, as they are infatuated with each other at first sight, but it comes off as relationship meant

for comic relief. Some of the best moments in the movie are the interactions Santa and Boy have together, for they serve as a nice

breaking point from the drama of the main romance.

Another one of “Last Christmas’s” highlights is its characters

and their growth throughout the story. Even some of the characters who were unlikable in the beginning, like Kate’s overbearing mother Petra (Emma Thompson) and her rude sister Marta (Lydia Leonard), eventually developed into lovable characters. Even Santa, who started the story as an insulting and disrespectful boss, ended up as my favorite character. Kate started the movie as a relatable trainwreck protagonist, packed full of bad decisions. By the end, Kate developed strongly as a person, and improved the relationship between her family and friends.

Although “Last Christmas” perfectly captures the feel-good rewatchable element of romantic comedies and is full of complex characters, it is all ruined with the plot twist. It was an overbearing and heart-aching twist that caused me to be completely crushed and disappointed. Halfway through the movie, I already knew what was going to happen, it was too easy to pick up on.

The upcoming twist ending made the movie distracting and less entertaining.

Overall, “Last Christmas” has enough redeemable qualities to make it worth the watch.

However, going in expecting an adorable romantic comedy with a happy ending is not the best plan.

Square Roots provides delicious menu options, rustic atmosphere

BY ERIN MULLER assistant editor Opened earlier this past summer, Square Roots offers a wide variety of food and beverage options. The restaurant is located right in the heart of the square which is a close, perfect location for people around the area to enjoy a nice night out.

Right off the bat, the staff and hostesses were extremely nice and welcoming, and the wait to be seated was close to none.

They were frequently checking in on their guests and refilling their drinks. They offered their opinions regarding what the best food options were and showed us the specials of the day. They really helped to pick out the perfect meal and provide the best experience for their guests. The waitresses were attentive, responding precisely and quickly to their guests’ requests.

The food was by far the best part of the Square Roots experience. The meal started on a high note with the giant Stone Fired Pretzel as an appetizer. The hostesses and other people in the restaurant raved about it, and it was definitely worth trying. The tasty sauces, including a pepper jack queso,

WE’RE SO

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OVER

Essential Oil Diffuser

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Wet n’ Wild Gel Nail Polish Wet n’ Wild constantly produces quality products for an affordable price and the gel nail polish is no exception. The polish applies smoothly and there are a wide variety of colors to choose from.

honey dijon and pimento cheese that came with on the side for the pretzel, tied the whole appetizer together. Square Roots has many different appetizer options including nachos, wings, chips and dip. I really like that the restaurant offers different food options so that everyone can find a meal that appetizes them. They are also able to make certain meals gluten free or vegetarian so that everyone is able to dine in at Square Roots.

The salad I ordered was appetizing and appealing. It tasted fresh and you can definitely tell the quality in which the food was made. The flavors of the salad were delicious. The toppings on the salad were sliced thin, which made the salad easy to eat. It was colorful and visually appealing when it first came out. The chicken was cooked to perfection and was a great addition to the salad. The salad was dressed with their own vinaigrette, the Michigan Cherry Vinaigrette, which was outstanding.

The vinaigrette helped to pull the salad together which helped the flavors of the salad to blend together nicely. Overall, the salad was delicious and helped to make a perfect

Walgreens $3

Being assigned busy work in classes Going home and having to complete hours of seemingly meaningless work accomplishes nothing but making a student feel bored and tired. Instead of staying up doing hours of homework simply for completion points, teachers should encourage students to invest in their health and occupy after school time with sleep as opposed to various assignments that do little to their grade.

entre at Square Roots.

The skillet cookie was the perfect way to wrap up a delicious meal at Square Roots. It was served hot right from the skillet and was mouthwatering. The cookie itself was a chocolate pretzel cookie and had vanilla ice cream on top which helped to pull the dessert together. It was also drizzled with caramel.

This meal was definitely worth every dollar spent. The large pretzel is a great price, considering how big the pretzel was.

Initially looking at the menu, the price seemed a bit steep, especially for just a salad. However, when the salad came out, it was much to my surprise that it was in a large bowl and was a huge portion. It is unbelievable to get that much salad, including chicken, for the price. Overall, for a night out and a nice dinner, Square Roots is a great option for a decent price.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was another positive aspect of the visit to Square Roots. The modern yet rustic look of the restaurant offered a nice vibe. The restaurant was not too loud, which offered a nice place to dine in.

COLUMN

15

“Woke” remake of classic deemed unnecessary

BY OLIVIA BUDZEVSKI co-editor-in-chief Starting early in November, radio stations begin to play Christmas classics. There are many differing responses to this concept. Some may argue that it’s too early and it’s wrong to overlook Thanksgiving. Others feel that as soon as Halloween is over, it’s time to get into the holiday spirit.

Among this debate, there have been concerns raised over the choice of songs being played. One song that stands out in particular is Frank Loesser’s, “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”

With a current emphasis being placed upon the idea of consent and the cultivation of movements against sexual assault, the lyrics to this well-known tune strike a harsh chord.

A widespread conversation sparked regarding the impact of the song and its bad taste during this progressive state of our society. Many radio stations ended up banning it from the air. In order to combat this, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson have released an altered version of the song with more socially conscious lyrics.

For example, instead of prompting Clarkson to stay, Legend supports her decision to leave. In fact, he even sings about calling her an Uber.

Personally, I found it comical when I heard him say those words. While this is definitely less concerning than the previous lyrics, it comes across as more of a promotion for Uber.

Their voices sound absolutely beautiful together and there’s no doubt that they are both incredibly talented. However, I feel as though their rendition is watered down to the point where it sounds more like a satirical parody. Many listeners feel that it should’ve either not been done or they should have stuck to the original.

Regardless of where you may stand, there’s no denying that Clarkson and Legend’s rewrite can bring a smile to the face- whether it be from amusement or enjoyment.

BEST TWEETS

BEST APP Harry Potter: Wizards Unite This app immerses Harry Potter fans into a world in which they work for the Ministry of Magic and are in charge of tracking down various magical creatures. It is the game for any Potterhead who needs an extra dose of the magical world.

BEST FOLLOW @ HarryDifferent On this account the owner posts short videos of junior Harry Smith dancing to different songs. If you direct message the account, you can make a request for a song and they will later post it.

“i’m taking a radio & tv class to pursue my dream of becoming freddie benson” junior Ella Walley @ellagracewalley

“liking the office is not a personality trait” junior Ryan Kozlowski @ rkoz24_

“oreos are crackers” sophomore Leo Silberhorn @ leosilberhornn

“The Midwest has 2 seasons: Summer and time to move somewhere warmer” senior Collin Taylor @collint48

16

PEOPLE INKLINGS November 27, 2019

Competing with Color

Recreational paintballer makes transition to competitive speedball paintball

BY EMILY HELMUTH assistant editor Not all sports are centered around school, and senior Edmon Beberino can vouch for that. Beberino spends his weekends playing the extreme sport of paintballing. He was introduced to the sport at a young age.

“When I was eight or nine, my dad brought me into it,” Beberino said. “He had his own paintball team for big games, and we also had a paintball tank.”

Beberino started out playing recreational paintball, which is non competitive, and says he made the transition to competitive paintball roughly a year ago after taking a break from the sport due to losing interest. “(Recreational) paintball got really easy just from playing for such a long time,” Beberino said.

“It wasn’t fun for me anymore and it wasn’t a challenge. I didn’t get the adrenaline rush anymore, which is why I took a break. I came back, and started speedball, and I found it again. From just a year of playing competitively, I’ve gone to events, like I just came back from Florida from this event called the World Cup.” According to Beberino, speedball is a competitive form of paintballing, where teams of five compete against one another to rack up the most points. Games can vary in rules. As Beberino says, there are many different op-

Splattering the Stats:

Competitive

Speedball

PHOTO PROVIDED BY EDMON BEBERINO Beberino began recreational paintballing when he was nine, and began competitively paintballing in speedball earlier this year.

tions of game modes to choose from. He says the most common speedball game mode he plays is Xball. “(Games are) 15 minutes and you either have to win by mercy rule, which is a 5 point difference, or you can win by having the most points at the end of the time limit by hitting the other team’s button (in their starting bunker),” Beberino said.

Beberino says tournaments can last many days depending on how far your team makes it.

He believes one of his favorite speedball paintball events he has attended was the Living Legends

Speedball was originally created by Elmer D. Mitchell, a physical education professor at the University of Michigan, in the 1920s.

What Do You

THINK?

Usually sports, but we also decorate for Christmas so we sometimes disagree about where certain decorations should go. junior Mia Moore

I would say we argue about the food. Mostly what food tastes best, and who made dishes the right or wrong way. freshman Charlotte Annes

tournament at CPX sports in Joliet, Illinois.

“There are two fields and in the middle of the fields there is a mound and on top is a slapstick,” Beberino said. “There’s around a 1,000 people there, with 500 and 500 on each side. This is called the final battle and there’s a whole point system. There’s multiple slapsticks and the team that holds the most amount of slapsticks wins. (What makes it fun) is the adrenaline.”

Beberino paintballs at Blast Camp Paintball and Airsoft, where he also works. Beberino referees recreational paintball

Most of speedball’s rules come from a variety of sports, including basketball, soccer and football.

games and says he is known as “E-man” by the other players there.

“I paintball almost every weekend,” Beberino said, “I like to play with the kids and grow the sport as much as I can, because (paintball) is still a growing sport.”

Beberino believes that paintballing is not as much like video games as people may think, as he says many people do not realize the physicality that goes into a sport like paintball.

“It includes a lot of physical activity, and if you’re not physically active, then it’s not going

Speedball is normally played on small flat fields, and is considered to be fast paced, as games typically last for a few minutes.

to be as enjoyable (as video games),” Beberino said. “Mental wise, your instincts need to be top tier to play it competitively. For recreational, you can just go out and have fun.”

According to Beberino, paintball has one of the strongest sports communities, as he says it is one of the reasons why he chose paintball.

“The paintball community is very welcoming,” Beberino said.

“I got into speedball because of the community. The reason I did paintball over any other sport is because you have the option to do something for your team or not.”

Beberino believes transferring from recreational to competitive paintball is not as simple as people may initially believe, as he says there are many overlooked components when making the switch to speedball.

“To transfer competitively, you need to be comfortable with getting hit and learning new skills,” Beberino said. “(You need to) just have a basic knowledge of how to play. It gets really technical. Be ready to get beat.”

For people looking to start recreational paintball, Beberino believes getting accustomed to the sport is a learning experience that is worth it in the end.

“Get used to getting hit,” Beberino said. “You start to get smarter, and you’ll start doing things you couldn’t have done before. Enjoy paintball. Try it out.”

Despite the game being nearly 100 years old, it is still not recognized as an official sport.

Stats provided by https://theoutdoorrecreation.com/speedball-its-definition-history-and-gameplay/

What topic do your relatives debate at a holiday gathering and why?

The guys normally argue about sports while all of my little cousins will try to play in the basement. We have to stop them so they don’t make a mess. sophomore Zoe Kortum

Mostly about football but sometimes there is family drama and we argue about who should have been invited or not. freshman Benji Hollowell

Student

SPOTLIGHT Q: What electives do you participate in?

Kara Bulla senior

A: I do band, and I’m also working on a senior project,

which most people don’t know about. I am making a 20 minute presentation on something that will involve my future.

Q: Why did you join pep band?

A: I did marching band and after that ended, I still wanted to do something band related. I really enjoy playing a lot of pop music and being able to show school spirit.

Q: What are your post-college plans?

A: I recently got accepted to Valparaiso University My family normally argues about who makes the best enchiladas and really who makes the best dish over all. junior Paul Wojas

We always argue about who gets to say the pledge of allegiance instead of grace. senior Nate Tufts

where I’ll be majoring in psychology.

Q:

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: I see myself working in a mental health facility with criminals with mental disorders.