Issue 4 by The Journal

Standing up Indiana teachers question the state of their profession

Official newsmagazine of Southport High School

Volume 98 Issue 4 December 19, 2019

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR It’s honestly hard to believe how jampacked this issue’s production cycle has been. At the very beginning, the staff went to the National High School Journalism Convention in Washington D.C. Our writers were able to attend workshops on telling the best stories possible, our editors visited classes across the design and workflow spectrum, and the managing editors and I discussed methods for enhancing our “On The leadership. It was definitely one of my Journal, we’re favorite conventions of the last three years. one big, messy, But the moments that stood out to me on-deadline most were our walks from place to place. I family.” think it’s those in-between journeys that demonstrate who we are as a staff. Mr. Klopfenstein connecting with various students about their favorite parts of the trip or just life in general. Writers expressing their excitement about all they had learned. Building my own friendships with staff members and laughing over the weekend’s absurdities. Memories of those walks will be with me for awhile. The trip reminded me that on The Journal, we’re one big, messy, on-deadline family. When you read this publication, take a minute to appreciate our wonderful staff. I’m beaming with pride from all the effort they’ve put into Issue 4.

Haley Miller, Editor-in-Chief Rachel Bayler, Print Managing Editor Julia Brookshire, Online Managing Editor

The Journal

971 E. Banta Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46227 Adviser Mike Klopfenstein Principal Brian Knight Business Manager Sherlyn Garcia

Editors Jordin Baker Shelby Denny Brianna Henry Emma Herwehe Phoebe Mawi Marissa Muñoz Russell Peterson-Womack Elizabeth Valadez Staff Cartoonist Trinity Trent Graphics Artist Kayla Brown

Reporters Nayeli Ahuatl Thian Awi Eli Beck Kayla Brown Bridget Cagle Amanda Husselman Kelsey Jones Tanny Khun Emma Main David Masengale Sophia McKinney La’Kenzie Parker Shelby Reeves Nathan Smith Jacob Wiese

Unless otherwise credited, all graphics art in The Journal is produced by Kayla Brown. The entertainment and editorial cartoon are created by Trinity Trent.

CONTENTS News

Opinion Music ‘n Musings, 8 Accentuate the positive, 9 To weed or not to weed, 10 Journal Address, 11

Entertainment That’s the spirit, 12 A take on a classic, 14 Tiptop Trinity, 15

Features Running red, 17

COVER

Cardinals give back, 4 Gifting joy, 6

Foreign Language Lungawinak tikcu, 22 Matendiéndose al día con el mundo, 24

Sports What’s next?, 26 The Hustle With Russell, 28

Photos Awkward Photo Contest, 30

ISSUE 3 CORRECTIONS Ben Davis football player Capone Powell was misidentified.

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The SHS Journal

News

Editor: Emma Herwehe

Cardinals give back Students create sleeping mats out of plastic bags to be distributed to the homeless By Tanny Khun, Reporter

The completed mats will be distributed to homeless people around Indianapolis at the end of the semester. Photo contributed by FACS teacher Mariette Fleck

Obtain materials 4 News

Senior Makayla Maxwell works on a mat. This is the Human and Social Services students' end-of-thesemester project. Photo by Jordin Baker

er classroom walls lined with plastic, FACS teacher Mariette Fleck sits in the front of her classroom with a large ball of plarn, or plastic yarn, crocheting a design onto the mat laying on her desk. Students in her Human and Social Services class have begun their end-of-thesemester project, making mats that will be distributed to the homeless people around Indianapolis. This project is known as Cardinal Mercy Mats. Cardinal Mercy Mats is a solution for plastic waste and is hoped to be beneficial to homeless people around the community. In order to get their final credit, students are required to complete a service project, and Cardinal Mercy Mats is the one this class has taken on. Students work

Make plarn

individually on their mats. “We’re all excited to be able to give back to the community,” senior Makayla Maxwell said. “It’s something fun and easy.” According to junior Keyshon Reed, students in the class have bonded over giving back to their community, and they enjoy working on such a challenging project. He says he is thankful to be making something by hand to help others in need. He hopes that their project will make an impact on someone’s life and the environment in general. “We just wanted to help and try to change the community in a way that we could,” Reed said. “It also helps with recycling and the environment. It was like knocking out two things.” This is not the only class taught by Fleck that

has volunteered to help in the process of making the mats. Students in Fleck’s Interpersonal Relationships class help to make plarn. Plastic bags are cut into strips, tied and rolled together to make plarn, which is then used to create the mats. From there, the crocheting of the mats begins. According to Maxwell, crocheting the plastic together is a lot harder than it looks. Using plarn to crochet 3'x6' mats, the students use crocheting hooks to put the plarn strips together, or they make other various designs with their hands. Each mat requires a lot of time because of how long they have to be -as long as a grown man -- and the quality with which they have to be produced. “I’m still in the process of doing one,” Reed said. “I would never have thought

Crochet

Did you know? There are around 1,600 homeless people in Indianapolis. There's been a growth in homeless family sizes. The biggest contributing factors are mental illness, chronic health conditions and physical disabilities. Indianapolis is utilizing a fiveyear plan to end chronic homelessness. Source: The Indy Star

that crocheting would be this hard, but it is.” Plastic bags allow the mats to be lightweight and easy to carry around, as many homeless people often sleep in different spots each night. Making mats can take as long as two weeks, so students usually take their mats home to complete. “At first, I didn't think it was going to work out because it didn’t make sense in my head,” Maxwell said. “Plastic bags, how is that going to work out? Then we started doing it, and I realized it’s actually a really good idea, and (the mats would) survive a lot of weather conditions.” Fleck is welcoming any contributions that the class can take from students that are willing to help. Although other classes, such as art classes, have tried the project too, she says the Human and Social Services classes have the right number of students and class periods to successfully do it. According to Fleck, by the end of this semester, her goal is for her class to be able to provide as many as 50 Cardinal Mercy Mats to give to homeless people around the area by the end of the semester. “The Cardinal Mercy Mats are an excellent way for students to give back,” Fleck wrote in an email to The Journal. “Not only are they making sleep mats for the homeless, but they are also recycling plastic bags.”

Making a mat

Students obtain their plastic bags from Fleck.

The bags are cut into strips, then rolled up to make plarn (plastic yarn).

The plarn is crocheted into 3’x6’ mats. Students crochet with crochet hooks or their hands.

The mats are given to homeless people around the area by the end of the semester.

Distribute News 5

Gifting joy Gracie's Toy Drive allows hospitalized kids to feel at home for the holidays Gracie Bennett (left) and sophomore Ellie Brown pose with some of the donated toys at Riley Hospital. Gracie's goal is 15,000 toys. Photo contributed by Ellie Brown

t the age of three, Gracie Bennett was placed at Riley Hospital because of a brain tumor that had only been known to be found in middle-aged men. From there, she would go through countless surgeries. After two years of undergoing procedures, she started to see a need for joy around Christmas time for kids and parents going through similar experiences. Gracie is 13 years old now. “I just wanted to give back to the kids,” Gracie said. “I know there are kids that are going through the same thing as me or something similar, but they don’t want to be alone during Christmas, and they want to know if there is somebody else out there that has gone through something similar.” SHS participated in Gracie’s Toy Drive this year, giving students and staff the opportunity to provide gifts to hospitalized children and contribute towards Gracie’s goal of 15,000 toys. The toy drive ran from Dec. 2 to Dec. 13. In addition to being posted around the community, at businesses and other schools, boxes were also placed in iPass classes in order to allow students to be able to

6 News

easily donate. Tomorrow, the donation boxes will be taken and placed on a truck to deliver the toys to Riley Hospital, where they are then distributed to the kids. Most toys were accepted with the exception of handmade items. “She knew what it was like to not have a normal Christmas while being in the hospital,” sophomore Ellie Brown, a SHS representative to help collect toys, said. “So it gives kids the opportunity to have presents on Christmas like normal kids.” Last year, SHS gave over 1,000 toys. Brown says she remembers the big trucks pulling into her mom’s place of work, the Indiana Connections Academy, and seeing Gracie’s face light up after viewing all the donations from around the community. Now, as of this year, more schools are involved, such as Westfield High School and Danville North and South elementary schools. Sophomore Emma Meredith has gotten involved with the toy drive because of Brown, her close friend. This is her second year doing the toy drive, and she plans on continuing through high school. “It’s a really great

By Shelby Reeves, Reporter opportunity to connect with others, and I also have learned a lot about Riley and their story and also Gracie’s story, and I have made really good friends,” Meredith said. The goal of this year was the same as last year: 1,000 toys. The goal for each iPass class was 10 toys in hopes of reaching the goal. Then, the toys will contribute to Gracie’s overall goal, which is 15,000. Math teacher Ethan Coffman oversees the toy drive, and he believes the drive is a great way to get students involved in helping others. “Our ultimate goal, whether students believe it or not, is that we’re trying to get a culture where doing things are a priority and not talking about things,” Coffman said. “Let’s not talk about doing things, let’s actually do them.”

To learn more about Gracie's Toy Drive, scan the QR code below.

(Below) Members of RDM announce how many toys SHS collected for the drive in December 2018. Last year, SHS students donated 1,027 toys in total. Photo contributed by Ellie Brown

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Opinion

Editor: Phoebe Mawi

Home is at the heart of the holiday season Column by Rachel Bayler, Print Managing Editor Did you know? Percent of each generation that plan on attending a family or friend gathering: Boomers: 85% Gen X: 86% Millennials: 90% Source: The Pew Research Center

Scan here to listen to Bing Crosby’s “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

I love listening to Christmas music. I always have. Listening to Bing Crosby sing “White Christmas” while watching big, fluffy snowflakes fall through my picture window has a magical quality to it that few other genres can claim. Not only is Christmas music extremely varied as a genre, with traditional songs, jazz, classical and pop music all wrapped up together to form the perfect festive blend, but the songs themselves have an immense depth that adds to the warmth of the holiday season. One of the most resonant songs of the holiday season is “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” sung by Bing Crosby. A Christmas classic, it was written in 1943 at the height of World War II from the perspective of a soldier overseas pining for home. Its trademark melancholy but hopeful lyrics and slow melody evoke a sense of longing and match the

Hot

Music ‘n Musings heartache of separation felt by soldiers and civilians alike during those war years. The song is full of humanity, which is what I think makes it so endearing and timeless. It strikes a chord with the loneliness in the hearts of humans across the world, both in 1943 and today. War is chaos, and sometimes the only thing that keeps morale up is the prospect of going home, where “snow and mistletoe / and presents on the tree” take on a whole new meaning. This song has taken on a new meaning for me this year. This is my last Christmas at home before being thrust into adulthood and college life. This time next year, I’ll be nearing the end of my first semester of college. I won’t be living at

home any more, which means I won’t be able to be there for the putting up of the Christmas tree and decorations, and I won’t be able to spend as much time with my family. While in no way comparable to the plight of a soldier overseas, the idea of this big change is still sobering. But just like it gave hope to the soldiers and their families, it gives me hope as well. No matter how far away college takes me, “I’ll be home for Christmas.” The heart of the holiday season is being surrounded by loved ones, and even if Christmas looks a little different next year, it doesn’t matter as long as I am able to be with the people I love most. Home is “where the love light gleams.” Even when life gets hard, and loneliness rears its ugly head, I can still cherish the love and light that Christmas brings, and know that “I’ll be home for Christmas / if only in my dreams.”

Not

Winter break

Finals week

Star Wars IX

End of the decade

“Fine Line” by Harry Styles

Snowy roads

Greta Thunberg

The Colts

8 Opinion

Accentuate the positive The Catholic Church is more than bad press By Sherlyn Garcia, Business Manager In recent years, it has started to feel like being a Roman Catholic is frowned upon. Recent events have made the Cathoilc Church seem like the bad guy. Scandals have appeared in the news including young children and priests that bring to light cases of abuse, with articles detailing cases of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic priests and officials. Alongside these reports, other scandals developed last year here in Indiana involving a former counselor being dismissed at Roncalli in a situation involving sexual orientation and the archbishop continuously firing LGBTQ+ teachers who serve in the archdiocese and denying them entry into sporting events at other Catholic schools. The Catholic Church also has taken controversial stances in politics, generally supporting more conservative policies, like making abortion illegal. However, with all these scandals and issues happening within the Catholic Church, the entirety of the Church shouldn’t be defined by these events. The Catholic Church still represents a positive force in the U.S. and the world. On Nov. 21 to 23, at least 20,000 youths and I from all over the U.S. gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference, a Catholic youth convention that aims to dive deeper into the

religion. Along with diving deeper into their religion, many of the teenagers that attended embraced volunteer opportunities such as helping put together meals for Pack Away Hunger, an Indianapolis-based organization that provides meals for local food pantries around Indiana. Another volunteer opportunity that my friends and I actually took part in was Hands Across Haiti, a ministry in the parish of St. John Paul II in Sellersburg, Indiana that provides decorative t-shirts, schools supplies, tote bags and backpacks to their sister parish in Haiti. Being able to help others in need, even if its decorating a shirt, makes it all worth the work to make a small impact on a huge issue. Other members of the Catholic Church have had positive impacts on society. Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, definitely has. Her mission is to prevent illegal abandonment of newborns by offering options for the babies’ mothers through a 24hour hotline for mothers in crisis and a last resort option in the form of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. These boxes are built into the exterior wall of designated fire stations or hospitals where, upon surrender, the baby is attended to by medical staff. This organization has made a huge impact to this day. The hotline has received close to 4,000 calls from every state in

the U.S. and has had 59 legal safe haven surrenders. There have been no dead abandoned infants since the first box was installed in Indiana in April 2016, according to the Safe Haven Baby Boxes website. This organization shows the heart of the Church, it and proves that the people of the Catholic Church are good and present a positive force in the state and nation. Despite all the scandals the Roman Catholic Church has been involved in, none of them should be able to overshadow the goodness within the community. The media may choose to portray many of the negative aspects, but it can’t be ignored that the Church and its members still greatly impact the world in a positive way.

“

With all these scandals and issues happening within the Catholic Church, the entirety of the Church shouldn’t be defined by these events. The Catholic Church still represents a positive force in the U.S. and the world.

”

Opinion 9

To weed or not to weed

Legalization of marijuana has more benefits than ill effects By Russell Peterson-Womack, Sports Editor Did you know? 67% of U.S. adults say marijuana should be legalized. Nearly 78% of Democrats and Democraticleaning independents and 55% of Republicans and Republicanleaning independents say marijuana use should be legal. 69% of people ages 18 to 29 say marijuana should be legal for both medical and recreational use. Source: The Pew Research Center

Disagree with Russell’s opinion? Write a letter to the editor! Questions can be directed to Mr. Klopfenstein in Room 400 or Haley Miller, Editor-in-Chief

10 Opinion

Smoking cigarettes causes more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, according to the CDC. Alcohol-related incidents cause around 88,000 per year, and opioid painkillers lead to around 47,000. Meanwhile, smoking marijuana bud has never resulted in a fatal overdose, according to Drug Rehab. The problem is that tobacco, alcohol and opioids, substances proven to be highly dangerous and lethal, are all legal while marijuana is still a hotbed of controversy. While 10 states, including Illinois and Michigan, have legalized recreational marijuana, the 40 other

states have remained antilegalization. The federal government should legalize recreational marijuana for citizens of the age of 21 or older because there isn’t a solid reasoning to ban marijuana on the basis that it’s too dangerous when other substances that are more harmful remain legal with regulation. I’m sure that many students in high school have heard that marijuana is bad because it’s a gateway drug. This might be true, but marijuana itself isn’t the issue. Addictive hard drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine are what kill and harm people. Marijuana use doesn’t always directly put the user in harm, whereas those more extreme drugs are a danger to users and anyone around every time they are used. Fatal overdoses from marijuana use are unlikely according to the CDC, and the effects are much safer. According to WebMD, smoking marijuana releases a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine causes feelings of euphoria and relaxation. When under the influence of marijuana, users will often just relax and sit down and stay in a lethargic state, without hurting anyone. It’s not all perfect though as it is possible to consume too much marijuana, which can lead to a state of increased paranoia or anxiety among other effects, according to

the CDC. However, this seems better than the effects of alcohol, which can cause serious damage to the brain, heart and liver. Alcohol has also been known to be very addictive. According to the Washington Post, one in eight adults in the United States meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. However, one in 10 marijuana users meet the criteria for marijuana use disorder. Another concern about legalization is how would dispensaries work and how safe are they? State governments issue licenses to qualified dispensaries in order for them to conduct business. California also keeps a database of all licensed dispensaries so citizens can research their local dispensary. Other states could model this and require dispensaries to keep their licenses on display. To acquire a license, business owners have to meet certain legal and safety criteria to ensure their ability to responsibly dispense safe marijuana. If the federal government truly believes in giving its people the freedoms it deserves, it needs to legalize recreational marijuana. The American people have begun to see the benefits of legalization and 11 states have acted, but this isn’t enough. It’s time for the rest of the nation to make change.

Journal Address Press freedom must be preserved

Out of 195 countries, the U.S. is listed at number 48 in the World Press Freedom Index, a worldwide survey and charter of violence against journalists compiled by Reporters Without Borders. Its fall in ranking -a regression of three places since 2018 -- caused the press situation to officially be labeled “problematic.” Citizens should be alarmed that a country so concerned with its constitutional rights is lapsing in one of its most essential freedoms. With the current political polarization and increasing negative rhetoric aimed at the media, we, The Journal, believe it’s up to the young people of today to celebrate and preserve the freedom of the press moving forward. Press freedom has varied since the beginning of the U.S. President John Adams outlawed “any false, scandalous, or malicious writing” against Congress or the President under the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Speaking out against the government left members of the media vulnerable to punishment. Many people would argue

that, although this is certainly a situation we don’t want to return to, today’s state of press freedom is nowhere near that level of danger. However, without vigilance and a dedicated public watchfulness, it is easy for freedoms like this to be eroded below the radar. The attitude of President Donald Trump and his base towards the media has become disturbing. The mockery of a New York Times journalist’s disability in 2015 would have been a shocking display of impropriety under any other presidential administration, but a significant portion of the country continues to rally behind such words and actions. The fact that jeering at news organizations like CNN has become a regular staple of Trump’s rallies should be concerning. Today’s young people and young journalists must turn the tide back towards common support for freedom of the press. Free media is essential for a healthy republic. Obviously, citizens don’t have to agree with all coverage that presented to them, but labeling opposing points of view as “fake news”

Cartoon by Trinity Trent JOURNAL ADDRESS

This is the opinion of the editorial board of The Journal

is not conducive to compromise and open conversations. And it’s certain that calling the press the “enemy of the people” is the opposite of productive. A significant barrier for young people in terms of protecting press freedom may be simply not knowing where to start. Students can make their opinions heard by supporting legislation like New Voices on a state-by-state basis. New Voices guarantees equal press freedom rights to students under the Constitution. While Indiana has not passed New Voices, 14 other states have done so. Continuing to advocate for such legislation by contacting local representatives is a major first step. An easy way to encourage freedom of the press is to support local publications. Many people rely on organizations like WTHR and the IndyStar for reliable news. The natural next course of action would be to donate, subscribe or, most importantly, engage. Keep updated and stay informed. If we don’t begin at the community level, press freedom nationally could be in jeopardy.

“

However, without vigilance and a dedicated public watchfulness, it is easy for freedoms like this to be eroded below the radar.

”

Opinion 11

Entertainment Editor: Brianna Henry

That’s the spirit

Former SHS student becomes actor in new show ‘Ghost Loop’ By Kayla Brown, Reporter

etting his sights on the beyond, 2012 SHS graduate Matt Lytle, now a 26-year-old actor, is starring alongside paranormal experts Sean Austin, Kris Star, Chris Califf and Eric Vitale in a new paranormal TV show on the Travel Channel called “Ghost Loop.” During high school, in addition to being on the baseball team and a sports writer and editor for The Journal, Lytle was active in the theater department. When he was a student, he performed in numerous plays: Prince Charming in “Cinderella,” Sheriff Beehan in the play “Tombstone,” Harold Hill in “The Music Man” and as a grandpa in the play “You Can’t Take It With You.” His time participating in theater productions while in high school is something

12 Entertainment

that helped point him towards a new passion. “I fell in love with the feeling of being another character,” Lytle said. “So I pursued more film and television acting after high school instead of theater.” English teacher Brent Bockelman, also a former baseball coach of Lytle’s, had him in classes during his time at SHS and says he admires his attitude and drive. “He was a hard worker, great attitude, very mature for his age, the type of person you want in the classroom...,” Bockelman said. “He was really well respected, not just from his teachers, but also from his peers.”` Lytle has been in the acting business for five years now, appearing in roles in bigger productions such as Tucker in “15:17 to Paris,” an extra in “Jumanji: Welcome

“

I fell in love with the feeling of being another character.

(Left to right) Chris Califf, Matt Lytle and Eric Vitale shoot a scene for “Ghost Loop.” On the show they work together to solve the “Ghost loops” in a location. Photo contributed by Matt Lytle

Matt Lytle

”

Ghost hunting equipment - K2 meter - PSB7 Spirit box - Thermal cameras - Digital recorder (EVPS) - EMF recorder - Cameras - Dowsing rods

Lytle was featured in SHS’s 2011 musical “The Music Man” as Harold Hill. Lytle found his love for acting during high school. Photo contributed by Matt Lytle

what’s the best equipment to use?

A: “The most important piece of equipment that you’ll ever use is your body... If you’re feeling creeped out, or if you get chills for no reason, mark that because that could potentially be a spirit infiltrating your energy field.” Q: What’s the

creepiest/most dangerous experience you’ve had?

OOP” L ST Premiere

m. EST/P . p

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A: “My senior year of high school, me and a couple friends went out to a place called Black Moon Manor in Greenfield, Indiana. We had demonic encounters. Catching vulgar EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) on our digital recorders, literally cursing at us to get out.”

id a

Lytle gets ready for a scene for the show. The show will premiere on the Travel Channel on Dec. 27. Photo contributed by Matt Lytle

To get more information on the show, scan the QR code.

Cha

Q: For beginners,

A: “I was found via social media by a production company out of Los Angeles. I did several FaceTime and Skype interviews, then they decided to cast me on the show.”

crew on screen, for, so far, eight episodes, each episode being around an hour long. In the show, they will try and break the cycles of the different spirits caught in the ghost loop, then give them peace by bringing them out through recreated trigger environments. However, despite the release of the show, Lytle says he knows that some people don’t believe in spirits and paranormal activity, even with the shows and documents currently out in the media. “If you really don’t believe in ghosts, go to a super haunted place...,” Lytle said. “Spend the night there and tell me if you don’t believe because I’ve taken a lot of skeptics to ghost hunts, and 90% of them are believers now.”

Q: How did the show find you?

to the Jungle” and as a standin for Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt and Josh Brolin in “Avengers: Infinity War.” Lytle’s first ghost hunt was for The Journal. An entertainment reporter was doing a story, so Lytle and another reporter went with her to the hunt. Lytle says that they found a lot of evidence and that he then became obsessed and knew it was what he wanted to pursue. The title of the new show he’s now been working on, “Ghost Loop,” isn’t just a random name -- it has meaning in the paranormal world. A ghost loop is an area of a house or building where the living are being terrorized by an entity. The entity or spirit will show itself in different ways repetitively by, for example, showing itself in the same corner of a house regularly as a dark form, crawling up walls in hallways as a shadow, pushing down on the bed or doing three knocks on the same door. Lytle has worked with a

with a ghosthunter

“GH O

Q&A

y, D e c.

Entertainment 13

Review

To read the full version of the story, scan the QR code.

A take on a classic

The Nutcracker Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy finish the pas de deux. A pas de deux is a dance between two dancers, typically a male and female. Photo contributed by Brent Smith © Butler University 2019

‘The Nutcracker’ provides an enchanting night to viewers who Two dancers perform the attend the show snowflake scene. The ballet By Julia Brookshire, Online Managing Editor

Summary - The von Stahlbaum family is having a Christmas Eve party. - Uncle Drosselmeyer makes a surprise visit. - He brings life-sized dolls, magic puppets and a nutcracker gifted to Clara. - There is a battle between the toy soldiers and mice. - The Nutcracker wins the battle. - Clara is taken to the Land of Sweets. - She enjoys dances by the Kingdom Dwellers. - Clara leaves the Land of Sweets in a magic sleigh.

14 Entertainment

features many iconic dances such as this one. Photo contributed by Brent Smith © Butler University 2019

uring the holidays, dancers know that it is time to begin rehearsals for “The Nutcracker,” and Butler Ballet is no exception. I performed in “The Nutcracker” at Butler for five years, have attended their performances and started taking ballet classes with the company this year. I continued my tradition of dressing up and going to Clowes Memorial Hall to see the whimsical performance this month. While the dancing was flawless during the party scene, what truly added to the magic was the entrance of Drosselmeyer, a magical toy maker. To enhance his powers there were special effects of light and smoke, keeping the audience surprised. Even with his magic, Drosselmeyer was outdone by the hilarious grandmother. She tried to

dance but became too tired, collapsing into her chair. As drinks circled the party, she had a little too much, sending her dancing crazily across the stage till she was escorted off by the maid. The stage soon turned into a snowy winter wonderland. The dance was going smoothly, and all the dancers were in unison. Then suddenly one of the dancers fell. My heart began to race, but she was back to her feet in a beat. I knew the show would go on no matter what happened, but the fallen snowflake carried herself gracefully and never missed a step. My favorite part of the show was the pas de deux between the Sugarplum Fairy and the Nutcracker. The dancers didn’t disappoint as series of turns and leaps were performed effortlessly and with flawless

technique. As they danced together the Sugar Plum Fairy seemed to float through the air as the Nutcracker lifted her. The pairing of the dancers was extraordinary. They seemed to move as one as they jumped across the stage. I didn’t want the dance to end, but soon the curtain closed. Aside from some minor slip ups and one fall, Butler Ballet put on an enchanting rendition of “The Nutcracker.” They made good use of all the props and sets available to them to help bring the stage to life, and their vibrant costumes and special effects only added to the magic of the professional-level performance of the traditional dances. Unfortunately the ballet is closed for the year, but I definitely recommend seeing their annual performance next December.

Tiptop Trinity

By Trinity Trent, Staff Cartoonist

Sopo search 11

S Z A N B R T O T S O H G P V

E U Y L E W V U C T A V P U W

E U G T Y R I A F C M N Q W S

D H N A M V L N T G U M L Q N

B I S K R J Q O Q T X C O L O

W J C A N P R X C P V X O A W

B A L L E T L R C A E V P F F

E F W L K C A A M A S L R F J Y X C L A

W G E M V M A U I R

V C V W K V L T A N R Q N G K

F W I U B Z N R X E A E B F D M S A Z Q F Q Y T T C W O R M E L T L J Q Y J J G S W E B N

C S G R Y E O T M A U A K H D

R B E E V V A B A L B O C G M

WORDS TO FIND Sugar Plum Loop Nutcracker Paranomal Ballet Fairy Winter Snowflake

Entertainment 15

Check out The Journal Rewired! Armed with musical talent

Southport Middle School seventh grader has ability well beyond her age By Phoebe Mawi, Opinion Editor

“Her face is full of emotion and concentration. Her fingers dance up and down the fingerboard, hitting every note. Her bow glides smoothly across all the strings. Her body sways to the rhythm of the melodic sounds she produces through her violin. The playing echoes throughout the room and resonates into the ears of anyone who listens. Without fault, she effortlessly plays “Allegro Brillante, Op. 19” by W. Ten Have from her memory...”

Scan the QR code to to finish the most recent online in-depth.

Scan the QR code to watch The Journal’s video about this blossoming musician.

Features

Editor: Elizabeth Valadez

Running red

Educators across the state are concerned about their profession and its future By Sophia McKinney, Reporter

Features 17

ducators from all around Indiana captured the attention of the state a month ago on Nov. 19. This caused over half of Indiana’s school districts to shut down. More than 15,000 educators protested outside of the statehouse for the Red for Ed rally. “Red for Ed is more than a rally that lasts for one day,” Spanish teacher Conner McNeely said. “Red for Ed is a movement sweeping across our nation saying that students’ needs matter, and what’s best for teachers is best for students.” Similar to McNeely, many educators have expressed concerns for Indiana’s overall education system and how it will affect the future of the teaching profession. These concerns consist of a lack of education funding, lack of aspiring teachers and disagreeing with state education officials’ decisions. Like the superintendents of many other school districts across the state, Crawfordsville Community Schools Superintendent Scott Bowling shut down his school district on the day of the Red for Ed rally, citing the fact that more teachers from Crawfordsville schools attended the rally than there were available substitute teachers to cover the positions. Bowling says he believes that his teachers wanted to participate in this rally to show that they felt disrespected by their state leaders. He says they feel like they put their all into teaching students every day, yet they aren’t given a proper voice within Indiana’s education system.

18 Features

“Recently, the feedback that we’re getting, especially from the people that have power in our state, specifically state legislatures, is that we are not doing a good job and that there are better alternatives out there,” Bowling said. German teacher Christopher Sponsler attended the Red for Ed Rally and he is also concerned about how state officials are treating public schools, especially financially. According to Sponsler, he believes that they are dedicating less money towards public schools and education programs in general, but he feels lucky to be in a township that isn’t suffering as others have suffered. Math teacher Jason Adler agrees that the Perry

Township district offers a healthy financial package, when pay and other benefits are taken into account. So he found that the best way for him to advocate for the students was to be for them at school instead of attending the Red for Ed rally. “This is my vocation, my call to serve, so I'm here for the students in the classroom,” Adler said. “I understand those who thought the best way to advocate for the students was by going to the statehouse.” Math teacher Jack Williams also feels that Perry Township has a strong system and respects those who are speaking up about their concerns for teachers. He says there are many issues that have been voiced, but he is hoping that some of the

Main goals in marching on Red for Ed day - To get a state investment in teacher pay - To push lawmakers to stop holding teachers accountable for test scores - To take away the new professional development requirement Source: The IndyStar

Educators and supporters of the Red for Ed movement gather around the Statehouse on Nov. 19 to protest Indiana’s education policies. Around 15,000 people registered to attended the rally. Photo by Emma Herwehe

educators who attended the rally will make their concerns more clear and precise. “While I have no problem with educators seeking more appreciation, more funding and more recognition, I would also like to see some educators define more clearly exactly what they want,” Williams wrote in an email to The Journal. McNeely has been a strong supporter of the Red for Ed movement. He attended one of their rallies back in March and spoke in front of 2,000 people. McNeely believes that teacher compensation is a big part of Red for Ed. Many teachers around Indiana are frustrated because they put their time and energy into educating kids but feel that they are compensated with

“

We have to be cautious of the restraints we put on schools and teachers and the amount we are requiring them to do. There are only so many hours in the day and so much to accomplish. Principal Brian Knight

”

a comparatively low amount of money. He says if schools want to attract qualified teachers, then they need to be compensated as professionals. Time plays a big role in Principal Brian Knight’s concerns. He says that state legislature should be aware of the restraints they put upon teachers and how it affects their teaching and the students’ learning. He believes that state legislatures are giving educators a lot of criteria to teach, but not enough time. “We have to be cautious of the restraints we put on schools and teachers and the amount we are requiring them to do,” Knight said. “There’s only so many hours in the day and so much to accomplish.”

Red for Ed By Emma Herwehe, News Editor

Almost 15,000 educators, administrators and students make up the sea of red outside of the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Thousands of signs wave in the air, with constant chanting and music heard from miles away. A rally called “Red for Ed,” as most of the marchers wore red clothing to protest issues within the Indiana education system, was the first step in bringing awareness to the realities of the professional life of a teacher and the current education system. “This system is unsustainable and is hurting our children,” Indiana State Teachers Association president Keith Gambill said to the large crowd during his speech. “We can no longer continue down this path. To the legislators in the Statehouse today, we say, ‘Pencils down, your time is up.’” The three main issues being recognized were teacher salary, requirements towards renewing teacher licenses, including externships and new forms of training, and the way standardized testing scores are evaluated...

To read the rest of the story, scan the QR code below.

Features 19

What do you think the future of the teaching profession looks like?

English teacher Sara Berghoff "I think the perception and the reality is that teachers are not treated well by the state legislature, by society... I think that we are losing a lot of talent in that way."

Social studies teacher Joe Leonard "We're just going to have to keep adapting teaching styles and knowing that students are changing in their learning styles. We're just going to have to keep adapting."

20 Features

English teacher Julie Breeden stands with those who have financial concerns. Breeden is a union representative for SHS, which means teachers from the building can come to her with questions or concerns. It’s her responsibility to represent the teachers. She feels that there aren’t enough incoming teachers, and a lot of it depends on salary. Breeden says that the salary for a first year teacher is considerably lower than many other fields, and it’s hard for teachers to feel respected when they aren’t compensated well. However, Breeden thinks that the community will support and change Indiana’s education system for the better. She believes that Indiana is a place for families, and the majority of families want to put their kids in a good education system, so she is hopeful that the state will support education and make this happen. As these issues surface, Indiana faces a teacher

shortage. Fewer people are going to college to become teachers, and many schools in Indiana are struggling to find applicants to fill teaching positions. According to the Learning Policy Institute, teacher shortages affect different subjects and student populations differently, and it all depends on multiple factors. Bowling says he has seen a decrease of teacher applicants in the Crawfordsville district. In previous years, he got four to five high school teacher applicants, and now he’ll receive one, two or sometimes none. Bowling worries that this shortage will continue. “We haven’t gotten people to apply, and it’s getting really scary,” Bowling said. Breeden thinks that the image of being an educator has changed throughout the years. She believes educators have mostly consisted of women throughout history. Women would often get teaching jobs to provide a second income for their families, but now it serves as

Students support their teachers by protesting at the Red for Ed rally on Nov. 19. Around 40 SHS teachers attended the rally that day. Photo by Emma Herwehe

2017-2018 average starting teacher salaries Minimum: $31,418

Amount in thousands ($)

This data was compiled by the National Education Association. The data displays the starting salaries for teachers across states. The Journal has presented five states in the bar graph. On the right are some summary statistics for the all of the data.

Mean: $38,098 Median: $39,083 Maximum: $55,209 25th percentile: $35,474 75th percentile: $41,689

States a primary income. A change is what Breeden believes needs to happen, and it would help if state legislatures supported it too. “A real shift in thinking about education needs to happen on the level of state legislatures, and for many years teaching has been seen as a second income job,” Breeden said. “I don’t think that’s the whole problem, but it’s the heart of it.” On the other hand, Dan Melnick, Associate Director of the Professional Community Programs at Indiana University, has high hopes

for the future of Indiana’s education system. He works in the career connections department, and they help students find jobs after college. Every year, Melnick says IU surveys graduates from their education program, and data shows that 93% of the candidates get a teaching position right off the bat. Along with high hopes for the future, Bowling believes that more creativity and flexibility should make its way back into the classrooms. He feels that nowadays teachers only have a short amount of

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We tend to take for granted that this huge institution of public education will always be there. In all of our memories, it always has been. English teacher Julie Breeden

”

time to teach a subject, and kids are beginning to rely on tests as their only output of knowledge. There is less time made available for projects, exploration and interpretation. The future of Indiana’s education system is unknown, but educators like those at SHS are hope changes will be made to benefit their profession and their students. “We tend to take for granted that this huge institution of public education will always be there," Breeden said. "In all of our memories it always has been." Many supporters of Red for Ed hold up their signs to protest at the State House on Nov. 19. The posters highlighted the main problems that people are concerned about. Photos by Emma Herwehe Features 21

Foreign Language Editor: Marissa Muñoz

Lungawinak tikcu

SHS tlawngta pawl in an nunphung ih holidays an hman daan an sim Ngan tu Thian Awi, Reporter

olidays cu sungkua thawn caan ttha le nuamnak hman daan asi. Dec. 19 ah tlawngta pawl tlawngpit nak hrang sangkaa ihsin an suah asile, puainak saan ding le puai daan ding tampi a um. SHS ah miphun le nunphung dang tampi an um, cumi ruangah holidays hman daan khal a dang tampi a um ve. Laimi phunhleihni kaimi Judith Par cu Christmas hmuaknak ah Sweet December a hmang. Nov. 29 ah a biakinn ah a feh ih cutawk ah sing-song service, rawl, laksawng peknak le

lehnak thawn caan a hmang. “A tel duhmi pawl hrangah a nuam tak,” Par in a ti. “November ni nehtabik le December nikhatnak sunglawi tak ih hman awktlang nak ni a si." Asinain, himi puainak hi Christmas hmuahnak ding lawng ah an tuah lo. Himi an tuahsan nak pakhat cu mi pawl nuamtak ih caan an hman thei nak ding ah le thei aw lemlo m an theih thei awk nak ding ah asi. “Mi hmuahmhuah hrang ah himi zaan cu nuam nak le lungawi nak ih hman dingmi caan sunglawi a si,” Par in a ti. Cule, Par in himi puainak

Falam Baptist Church of Indiana in Sweet December ah hivek mawinak thiri pawl an hmang ve. Himi puainak hi Christmas tikcu hmuaknak ding ah a si. Zuk petu Mercy Thang 22 Foreign Language

Sweet December

Biakinn ah November ih ni netabik ah feh in nuamnak hman tteh hnu ah December hmuaknak puai. Himi puainak cu rawl ei le game tivek pawl thawn hman ttheu asi.

Christmas

Christian pawl ih hmanmi puainak a si. Kile hrangah cun biakinn ih hman a si ih, Dec. 24 ah zaanvar biakinn ah um in hman a si. Dec. 25 ah tla bi kinn ih hman asi ih. Sungkhat le duhdawtmi pawl thawn hman mi ni asi.

Noel Baba

Noel Baba cu mirang pawl ih Santa Claus vek asi. Asinain, Christmas ah rawng loin New Years ih rawng a si. Santa Claus vekin nauhak pawl hnenah laksawng a pe.

Phunkua kaimi Sarah Bennet in New Years hrang a puai asile Turkish daan in a hmang ve. A sungkua in New Years le a dang puainak hrang ah pupa daan an nei ve. Zuk petu Sara Bennett

Falam Baptist Church of Indiana member zuamtaktu James Thang in Sweet December ah hla a sak. Himi hi Nov. 29 ih tuahmi asi. Zuk petu FBCI

ih a duhbik mi cu laksawng an pek caan a si. Laksawng pawl kha anmah in an lei ih cule biakinn ah lukhum ihsin number an hril ih cumi ihsin an laksawng an thleng aw. Par vekin, phunkhua kaimi Sarah Bennett tla nunphung dang in a ra ve. Amah cu USA ah a suaknaa, a nu cu Turkey ah a suak, cumi ruangah holidays a hman daan a dang. A pu le ihsin puai a hman mi pakhat cu Mutlu Yillar a si, mirang ttong in cu “Happy New Year” ti ai asi. A innsang hrang ah cun a ni ih in ah an tuah ttheu, a ni ih inn ah Turkey an ei ttheu mi rawl phun dangdang an ei ih cule laksawng tla an peh aw. “Ka unau pawl thawn laksawng kan ong, a tam sawn cu angki tivek an si ziangahtile kum thar cu thil thar ih kan thok duh ruangah,” Bennett in a ti. “Rawl kan ei mi tivek cu Kebab le Lahmacun, Turkish pawl ih pizza, a si.” Himi pupa daan hi a thinlung sungih sunglawi tak

ih a ret mi asi tiah a ti. “Keimah ih ka duhbik mi cu ka duhbikmi pawl thawn caan kan hmang thei ih cule kum thar hnipuan thar thawn ka hmuak thei,” Bennett in a ti. “Kumthar asi ih, mi bang aw na si nan, thil thar thawn kumthar na hmuak.” Himi puainak a dang puainak ihsin a daan aw mi cu Noel Baba asi. Noel Baba cu a nunphung ih Santa Claus vek asi. “Noel Baba in nauhak peisa tampi nei lo pawl laksawng a pek ih cule mo pawl pasal an neih hlanah an sangkate sung ihsin sui a pe,” Bennett in a ti. Phunhleihnih mi Samuel Kile cu Democratic Republic of Congo ah a suak ih cule Uganda ah a tthanglian. A nunphung pupa daan cu Christmas a hmaan daan ihsin hmuh ah theih. Kile hrangah puainak cu Christmas Eve ah a thok. Nazi pangah le paruk karlak ihsin biakinn ah a feh ih ah thaizing nazi pangah tiang a

um. Biakinn ah thla an cam, hla an saak ih cule mi solo hla sak duh hrang tla caan an ong. “Christmas cu kan hrangah biaknak thawn an pehpar aw tak,” Kile in a ti. Christmas ni ahcun, Kile biakinn ah a fehsal ih thla a cam. Biaknak an tteh hnuah a kawhhran pawl thawn African rawl an ei. A nehtabik ah, a sungkhat pawl thawn rawl an ei lala ih nuamnak an tuah. “Rawl tampi kan ei,” Kile in a ti. “Rawl kan ei mi pawl cu pilau le arsa. Pilau cu buh thil phunphun thawn suan mi asi.” Kile ih a duhbiknak cu a sungkua pawl thawn caan hman le rawl thaw ei a si. Himi tlawngta pathum nunphung le Christmas an hman daan an bang aw lo nan, an bangaw nak zawnte a um. Par, Kile le Bennet an bang awknak cu an sungkua le an duhdawtmi pawl thawn an puainak le an nunphung U.S. ih an thlen pi nak asi.

To read an English version of this story, scan the QR code.

Manteniéndose al día con el mundo Hay beneficios enormes para todos que aprenden una idioma extranjera en el mundo actual Por Marissa Muñoz, editora de idioma extranjera

Al crecer en un hogar monolingüe, rodeada por una mayoria de familia monolingüe, nunca vio ningún problema. Sin embargo, por las últimas cinco años, he estado inmersa en la idioma española por la escuela y oportunidades en viajar. Ha estado muy influyente en el desarrollo de mi cosmovisión y auto mejora. Generalmente está aceptado que más que un mitad de la población mundial puede hablar en más que una idoma. En cuanto a sólo a EE.UU., los monolingües suben dramáticamente a 80%, según la Oficina de Censo de EE.UU. Poder hablar en dos lenguas o más es ampliar cosmovisión y aumentar funcion cerebro a la misma vez. Por alguna razón parece que hay una estigma contra el aprendizaje y el uso de una idioma extranjero en los EE.UU. Según el Centro de Investigación de Pew, 22% de hispanos han sentido criticado por hablar en español. No hay culpa mayor del sistema de educación americana que la falta de estrés en ganar fluencia en una idioma extranjera. La naturaleza del mundo exige a todos que aprendan tantos idiomas como pueden.

24 Foreign Language

Hay muchas personas Monolingues de tantos antecedentes por ciento culturales que cada uno Australia: 87% de nosotros podemos a aprender mucho. Inglaterra: Tecnología moderna nos 86% ha bendecido con la habilidad de comunicar con personas Canadá: 81% que no hablan el mismo EE.UU.: 80% idioma. Este no disminuir el necesidad de ser monolingüe Suecia: 49% en nuestras vidas. Cada intento con comunicarse con Arabia otros en vía idioma nativo Saudita:46% les da el conocimiento que tú Indonesia: agradeces ellos por quienes son 43% culturalmente. Traduciendo es fácil, pero conectando con Egipto: 32% personas es difícil. No importa donde está en Israel: 25% el mundo, hay diferencias Mundo: 40% en idioma, pero en cualquier Fuente: momento, siendo bilingüe Swiftkey puede darse una ventaja diferente que otros. Por ejemplo, alguien puede convertirse en favor Español para un puesto de trabajo. Personajes que hablan varios idiomas pueden ser valiosos a empleadores porque pueden ayudar a mas de la población que los monolingües. Para cada idioma aprendido, oportunidades podrían subir. Es posible que el

To read an English version of this story, scan the QR code

aprendizaje podría tomar tiempo y esfuerzo, pero puede ayudar con muchos aspectos de la vida. Según el Centro Nacional de Información Biotecnológica, bilingüismo puede mejorar habilidades de resolver problemas. Es un manera simple de optimizar el cerebro mientras ganar los beneficios interpersonales. Ser bilingüe es esencial y pasado por alto muchas veces, especialmente en EE.UU. donde hay tantos antecedentes lingüísticos y étnicos. Debe ser un decepción de nunca aprender una idioma extranjero. Los beneficios son interminables y inegables.

Inglés

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Sports

Editor: Russell Peterson-Womack

Whatâ€™s next?

Photo by Kelsey Jones

26 Sports

With basketball out of the picture, student athlete from the Congo contemplates future

bout 7,341 miles away from home, no familiar faces and a whole new language. These were just a few of the challenges that freshman Nickens Paul Lemba was facing the moment he stepped onto U.S. soil from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. What started out as an opportunity to come to the U.S. to play basketball unexpectedly changed once Lemba arrived. “It’s probably God’s plan that I can’t play this season,” Lemba said, translated by senior Kalenga Juma. Due to SHS violating the IHSAA rule 20-1 that prohibits teams from recruiting, Lemba was ruled ineligible for the rest of this season. Even though Lemba can no longer play basketball this season, he says he has still been able to find a good life here with the help of orchestra teacher Thomas Wright. “I appreciate him and all that he did to help me in the beginning,” Lemba said. According to the appeal, Lemba’s trip to the U.S. was paid for by Ray Truitt, who claimed to be an American basketball coach. Truitt was not treating Lemba well. On Dec. 13, Truitt was arrested on charges of theft and neglect of a dependent. Wright was able to get custody of Lemba and provide him with a stable home before Truitt was arrested. According to Wright, there is a very slim chance that

By Eli Beck, Reporter Truitt will be able to regain guardianship of Lemba. “We are taking other legal steps on our own to make sure that Ray Truitt doesn’t have the opportunity to be in contact with Lemba or get guardianship back,” Wright said. In addition to the stable home Wright and his wife have provided for Lemba, they are also researching ways to regain Lemba’s eligibility from the IHSAA. Lemba says he has been able to make strong relationships since coming to the U.S. and is supported by coaches, players and even some other students. Lemba has found a close friend in Juma, who is also from the Congo. According to Lemba, Juma has helped him more than anyone else with his transition to the U.S. “(Lemba is) from my country, so sometimes when he wants to eat cultural food, I take him to my home, and my mom will prepare the food,” Juma said. Lemba has also been able to stay in contact with his family back home in the Congo every step of his journey in the U.S. Despite not being able to play basketball this year, Lemba has other things he can focus on while he is here. “The first thing on my mind is learning English, and I hope to play next season,” Lemba said. In order for Lemba to fulfill his hope of playing basketball next season, he cannot be in the U.S. through the F-1

visa. Wright and his wife are hoping to transfer Lemba’s status. According to Wright, so far they have found two ways to remove Lemba from an F-1 visa. Lemba could either file as a juvenile immigrant or file for asylum. Wright will not comment on their decisions at this time. Either of these options would grant Lemba his full eligibility next year. Lemba doesn’t just want to play high school basketball but is also looking to continue his athletic career into college in the U.S. “College is where the doors open up for someone to go to the NBA,” Lemba said. In case his aspiration for a career on the basketball court doesn’t work out, Lemba already has a path in mind for himself. According to Lemba, he wants to get a college degree in business and one day start his own all while staying here in the U.S. “I hope to stay here all my life,” Lemba said.

To learn more about the SHS basketball team’s ban and eventual reinstatement in the IHSAA basketball tournament, scan the QR code below.

Sports 27

Electronic umpires take away from the human aspect of baseball By Russell Peterson-Womack, Sports Editor

Did you know? In 2018, MLB umpires missed an average of 14 calls per game, or 1.6 per inning. Source: Study from Boston University

The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball started using electronic strike zones in 2019 as an experiment to see if the MLB should use the technology in the future. Source: Atlantic League

Down to the Digits 28 Sports

Being a baseball fan for as long as I can remember, I’ll admit that the sport can get hard to watch at times. Sometimes it just feels like games are going on and on without any substance to keep me engaged. However, one thing that always seems to add interest to the game is the emotion and personality that comes out as a result of interactions with umpires. So naturally, the recent idea of robot or electronic umpires alarms me. The prospect of electronic strike zones endangers the human aspect and appeal of the sport of baseball. Electronic strike zones were first proposed as a means to make balls and strikes non-negotiable since human error in making calls would no longer be a factor. To me, this seemed like a good idea when I first heard of it because there wouldn’t be a possibility of a wrong call, but now that I’ve had a little longer to contemplate, I realize that this would damage a lot of admiration that many baseball fans

With a record of 18-0, junior Luke Goodwin remains undefeated in wrestling as of Dec. 16.

The Hustle With Russell possess for the game. Since the average MLB game has about 292 pitches according to Baseball Reference, umpires clearly have a lot of calls to make. As a baseball player myself, I’ve made the observation that umpires call balls and strikes depending on who’s winning and who’s losing and which players they like or don’t like. This takes away a layer of security that batters or pitchers might have if electronic strike zones are put into effect. Having this human effect makes players play more frantically and thus makes the game more interesting. If a batter knows that a pitch is going to be a ball because human error isn’t a factor in the call, he won’t swing. If it’s a close game

16.5

Senior Lexie Green averages 16.5 points per game for the girls basketball team as of Dec. 12.

and a pitch is right on the edge of the plate, an umpire’s discretion could completely change the outcome of the game. Even if the pitch is a strike or a ball, the umpire could get it all wrong and rob a team of a win. This might seem bad at first, but it adds some mystery to the game because nobody knows what the umpire will call before he calls it. When cases like this do happen, pitchers often cause a scene by arguing with the umpire and getting ejected. Ejections like this are always fun to watch for the audience. If electronic strike zones didn’t exist, who would pitchers and batters point their fingers at? No one. That isn’t fun. Sure, it makes the game more predictable and consistent, but that isn’t fun. It’s simply fun to see players get angry and throw a fit or maybe joke around and talk to umpires. And above all, the game of baseball is meant to be fun.

With three threepointers, senior Matt Muñoz led the Cards from beyond the arc against Bloomington South on Dec. 13.

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Photos

Editor: Jordin Baker

How to vote:

1. Head to www.thejournalrewired.com. 2. Check “The Journal’s Awkward Photo Contest” in the Photos section. 3. Pick your favorite photo. 4. Answer the poll. 5. Winners will be announced on Jan. 6. Pictured:

Seniors Riley Richter, Kaden Batiste, junior

Jordan Hancock and freshman Madysen Thacker

Freshmen Elise Parran, La’Quera Williams, Olivia Taylor and juniors Lanajah Nabors and Ema Deaton

English teacher Heather Todero, sophomore Princess Kioni, junior Ah’Maiya Martin, junior Abigail Samm and senior Makayla Maxwell

4. Premium Blend jazz choir 5. Officer Thomas Shambaugh and Sammy 6. English teachers Rico Gonzalez, Brent

Bockelman, Brian Auger, Mike Klopfenstein, Jacob Fritz and Sam Hanley

Seniors Alex Mitchell, David Masengale, Sarah Rusaw and Toby Brummett

30 Photos

Juniors Noah Clark and Julianne Cooper

Background photo by Kelsey Jones

The Journalâ€™s Awkward Photo Contest

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Happy holidays from The Journal family to yours!