MHS Crier 3.23.18

r

Munster High School | 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321

08 student life march

Crier

23, 2018

BIG BROTHER BIG BROTHER BIG BROTHER BIG IS WATCHING BROTHER big brother is watching IS WATCHING IS WATCHING IS bigWATCHING brother

Cover your camera

Earlier this school year, tweets about FBI agents watching through webcams went viral.

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING

Tech

vacy a thing of the past?

“I think there are definitely limits (on my privacy). I do not think there is a moment where I feel I am not being watched online,” Ben said.

Even those who believe that they have privacy realize that their privacy is limited.

“In any given classroom, you have 30-6090 listening devices or video cameras that could be recording or listening to people at all times,” Mr. Tom Barnes, English teacher, said.

“It is much more pervasive in our world than in ‘1984.’ I think in a lot of ways we have privacy, but in the world we live in today it can be taken away very, very easily.”

Even as technology continues to grow to new heights, Ben is confident that many of the hypothetical technological dangers detailed in “Black Mirror” or “1984” will remain

just that: hypothetical.

“I do not think things are going to get too terrible,” Ben said. “There is always a balance.

Dystopian novels and depictions are always there to show us what could go wrong, but I don’t think anything will go drastically wrong.

There are too many good people out there.”

Mr. Barnes believes that humanity’s reliance on technology could be positive or negative, but the future remains unknown as technology continues to advance.

“We can have a very positive future and start using our technology, medicine and everything else to help people to improve humanity,” Mr. Barnes said. “There is that ‘Star Trek’ world where it is not about personal gain, it is about improving the status of humanity.

Or it could devolve into something else. Every generation feels like everything is going to go downhill, and it hasn’t necessarily.”

is watching big brother In the same realm of futuristic dystopian fiction, “Black Mirror,” a Netis watching flix series chronicling the dangers of techbig brother nology, erupted in December when its fourth season launched. Ben Foreit, junior, said that is watching the series’ success stems from the believability of the episodes. big brother “They (the episodes) are so convincing is watching because they play on relevancy such as artificial intelligence, wearable technology or big brother something along those lines,” Ben said. “They take something we might have today, then is watching step it up a notch with advancements that we could see possibly in the future.” big brother In an age where there are multiple electronis watching ic devices in a room at any given moment, dytopian works of art pose the question: is pribig brother is watching Top five 1. “Hated in the Nation” (S3 E6) 1. “The Entire History of You” (S1 E3) big brother big brother big brother Ben Foriet and 2. “Be Right Back” (S2 E1) 2. “White Christmas” (S2 E4) Mr. Barnes rank is watching 3. “White Christmas”(S2 E4) 3. “Be Right Back” (S2 E1) is watching is watching their favorite 4.

“Playtest” (S3 E2) 4.

“Fifteen Million Merits” (S1 E2) “Black Mirror” BIG BROTHER big brother 5. “Men Against Fire” (S3 E5) 5. “San Junipero” (S3 E4) episodes - Mr. Tom Barnes, streaming on is watching - Ben Foriet, junior English teacher Netflix IS WATCHING big brother BIG BROTHER is watching IS WATCHING big brother and they haven’t verified it yet.”

Story by Ian Brundige is watching With today’s fast-paced news cycle, misEditor-in-Chief takes are going to be made. Now, users may big brother Twenty four years ago, in order to cut and also play a part in ensuring quality media. is watching “I think over the years, we’ve had more “Smart people understand there are gopaste (ctrl-c, ctrl-v), students on the 1984 and more books like this and I think it Crier staff had to physically cut and paste ing to be mistakes going on, but it’s going big brother brings attention to the warning of what using an exacto-knife and rubber cement to get better,” Mrs. Hastings said. “The uncan happen. I think the more we have informed people, the lazy people go, ‘OMG’ rather than a two button shortcut. is watching them in the curriculum and kids reading The process of sharing news is funda- and they jump on the first thing they hear.” them, the more knowledgeable they In “1984” not only is there the problem mentally different today. big brother become. I think knowledge is power, so “Now something happens, like the Flor- of being flooded with deliberately false is watching that’s really important.” ida shooting, and you know about it with- information, but the monitors playing the in five minutes. You just didn’t know that “news” also watch individuals.

—Mrs. Katie Gross, big brother “They don’t know what to believe, what quickly,” Mrs. Nancy Hastings, former pubEnglish teacher is the truth, what is real anymore,” Mr. Tom lications adviser, said. is watching Faster news has also lead to more news Barnes, English teacher, said. “I think in big brother with CNN innovating the 24-hour news cy- ‘1984,’ people are so busy with the constant cle in 1980. Before this, less competition propaganda and telescreens, and always is watching gave news organizations time to verify having something to do, and having to be their facts rather than rush to be the first somewhere, they do not have time to probig brother cess some of the real information.” with story, according to Mrs. Hastings. is watching While the tactics are not as overt, the While the facts are not being deliberately changed like “1984,” the fast-paced news cy- promise of privacy from social media apbig brother cle allows for slippage. Students like Frank plications like Snapchat or Facebook is not guaranteed.

Wolf, junior, notice the shift in media. is watching “On Snapchat you can literally see “I think a lot of people take what the big brother where anyone is at any moment news has to say as absolute facts, with that map, so that is kind which it should be, but I do not is watching of creepy,” Molly Dolan, senior, think it actually is,” Frank said. said. “And you can see what peo“There are lots of examples of big brother BROTHER ple are doing at any point in time if DIFFERENT EYES Watching the final scenes of “1984” and the beginning of “The false reportings and incorrect stoLego Movie,” Ms. Leigh Anne Westland’s English 10 class notices parallels beis watching they choose to put it on their story.” ries that news stations will just release, tween the dystopian films.

Story by Mimi Brody Managing Editor

“1984”

“The Lego Movie”

Media

“Black Mirror”

IG S WATCHING BACKTALK

Today is National Puppy Day. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?

Photos by Elizabeth Fonseca

“I would have a squirrel because my uncle had a squirrel, and they’re just so nice. They like to crawl in your head like it’s a nest.”

Claudia Hernandez, freshman

“A kangaroo becuase they’re cool and have a pouch on their stomach.”

Chris Canul, freshman

issue 10 | volume 52 | march 23, 2018

“Definitely a Komodo Dragon because they can eat sheep.”

Anthony Montella, sophomore

“A koala because they sleep forever and I am like that.”

Maria Delis, sophomore

“Probably a tiger considering it was one of my first stuffed animals.”

Mickey Rabie, junior

“An elephant so I could ride it to school.”

Ben Peters, junior

“I’d probably have a ferret because they’re cute.”

Mia Bissias, senior

“I would have a puma because it reminds me of like ‘80s movies villians and I want that aesthetic.”

Jari Martinez, senior

“I would have a dolphin in my backyard, in a giant tank because dolphins are my favorite animal.

They are highly intelligent, they get to swim all the time, and they are beautiful creatures.”

Mrs. Katie Harris, math teacher

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING

Constantly

being watched through dormant laptop cameras, forced into strict social groups,

unable to choose what you eat for lunch: while this may sound

like high school from view point of a paranoid student, any upperclassmen who did their English 10 reading will know these scenarios echo George Orwell’s “1984.” Sophomores know the reference of “Big Brother Is Watching,” a slogan describing the ever-present government monitoring of citizens in a dystopian society.

For the past three months, in between ISTEP+ prep and grammar lessons, sophomores read the critically acclaimed sci-fi novel “1984.”

Published nearly 70 years ago, Orwell explores his dystopian version of the year 1984, and the society, media and technology in that time. Now 34 years after the world presented in “1984” may now be examined.

“In 10th grade, we like to cover something that is a bit science fiction among various genres,” Mr. Tom Barnes, English teacher, said. “But, being a George Orwell book, it is a piece of literature that has high merit. It also has a lot of cultural applications for us today, there is a lot of references to it. It is a book that kind of has had a high impact on how we view things, whether it be government influence or surveillance laws.”

BIG BROTH IS WATCHI BIG BROTH IS WATCHI

Sophomores read “1984,” Crier examines life in book compared to today

Society “There’s the surveillance system so they are constantly monitored and I think kids Editor-in-Chief feel sometimes feel that way, especialStudents, as much as any other group in ly in the school, constantly being superAmerica, have a strict set of rules they are vised and monitored and they don’t have their privacy,” Mrs. Katie Gross, English expected to follow. With the 1969 teacher, said. “I think that’s really Supreme Court decision Tinker relatable and gets kids into this v. Des Moines, student speech (the book).” is largely protected. However, Mrs. Gross has taught “1984” student speech may not cause for three years and a “material” or “subobserved students’ stantial” disruption They (characters in “1984”) are not reactions to the socito school functions— allowed to think anything that the ety in the book. such as a walkout. party does not want them to think “I think they (stuThis explains why dents) are outraged, a mass walkout is and if they do that’s considered that they (the charnot protected consti- double think and then thought acters in the book) tutionally. Not ev- crime. After that, they torture them, ery rule is written they beat them and eventually they don’t have a choice of what they wear, though. wipe them from the society. the food that they “There is obviously —Mrs. Katie Gross, are getting, the inan unspoken set of English teacher dividuality of their restrictions that people follow that they won’t really break out thought process,” Mrs. Gross said. “I think they are just appalled that a society could of,” Ella Uylaki, junior, said.

At last week’s walkout, Ella held up a do this and take away everything from these people and that they (the people) alposter reading: “This is not a walkout.”

“I felt by holding up that sign, I was break- low to happen.”

For Ella, the only way to combat a ing out of those and it upset so many people that they were saying awful things to “1984”-esque future is to speak up.

“It is important to stand up because nothmy face that they would not have said ever ing is going to ever change if people do not had I not held up my sign,” Ella said.

While there is usually opportunity for stand up,” Ella said. “Things will continue self-expression in 2018, the extremes of con- to be the way that they are unless someone formity and social norms are explored in “1984” does something, and I felt like I was kind of moving in that direction.” through character’s constant supervision.

Story by Ian Brundige

“

big brother is watching big brother is watching big brother is watching big brother is watching big brother is watching

read more on page 8

BIG BROTHER BIG BROTHER ISBIG WATCHING IS WATCHING BROTHER IS WATCHING

school walkout | read more page 5

INSIDE LOOK vacation guide | page 3 softball | page 6 alternative workouts | page 7

UPCOMING March for Our Lives | March 24 spring break | March 26-March 30 Rachel’s First assembly | April 10 SADD assembly in auditorium to promote smart decisions Upperclassmen will attend in auditorium; underclassmen will watch livestream in classrooms Classes, lunch will be 36 minutes; assembly starts at 1:55 p.m.

Photo by Robert Young

PUBLIC SPEAK Civics club president Connor Meyer, senior, speaks to students gathered for walkout

02 news march 23, 2018

Sidenote

Science Olympiad

When: Last Saturday Where: Bloomington, IN The Science Olympiad team failed to make it to Nationals this year, succumbing to third place with Carmel High School taking first and Lake Central taking second.

“Saturday (the day of the competition) was one of those days where nothing goes the way you want it to,” Lissette Araya, senior, said. “We came out of the event feeling confident, but I guess that wasn’t enough to get first at State. It wasn’t ideal, but we did our best.”

Signing into the State event for the last time was bittersweet for Lissette, who soaked in all of her “lasts”, according to the senior.

“Mr. (Keith) Koszut (science teacher), told us (the seniors on the team) ‘This is your last time to make a final impression on your contributions to Munster Science Olympiad’,” Lissette said. “I have faith in Science Olympiad. They (the underclassmen) did really great, I could tell the enthusiasm was in them and you could tell they really cared. I’m really looking forward to the future for this squad.”

ropical

travels

training for activities such as scuba diving.

“It’s the most different class that the school offers, and in my senior year I wanted to do something different,” Calvin Christiansen, senior, said.

The class is outdoors-based and learns about the environment and habitats of different organisms.

The class visits the Florida keys every year during Spring Break, but the trip will be rescheduled due to personal reasons .

“We go down once a year for the class and we camp down in the (Florida) Keys and we look at everything we have been learning over the year,” Calvin said.

“We also scuba dive and snorkel as well.”

The main focus of the trip is to explore and observe wildlife and plants.

“Normally, I’m not sure what will be available once we get down there, we do several walks.” Mr. Larry

Story by Mercedez Williams Section Editor The new year brings changes to the 40 year tradition of Project Bio, a science class that ends their year with a trip to the Florida Keys. The class prepares with studying and

CSPA Silver Crown When: Last Friday Where: Columbia University Last Friday, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) awarded Crier a Silver Crown. The top 40 high school newspapers in the nation were given the award. This year 1,100 digital, print newspapers, magazines and yearbooks published during the 2016-2017 academic year were eligible for judging in the 2018 Crown Awards Program.

Columbia University, the sponsor of the Crown Awards, also awards Pulitzer Prizes, the highest award given in professional journalism.

While the award was just announced last week, it is most relevant to the 2016-2017 Crier staff, including former editor-in-chief Jordan Szymanski, ‘17.

“It’s satisfying that someone outside of Munster likes what you wrote or something you designed,” Jordan said.

Having an audience that reads the paper is just as valuable as awards, according to Jordan. “(It’s important to Crier that) our school trusts us and reads us,” she said.

photo by Micala Boyd IN THE WILD As Joe Roe, senior, looks on, Dakota Gronkiewicz, senior,

holds a snail in his hand in the Florida Keys during last school year’s Project Bio trip. Joe went to Florida with Project Bio last year and will go again next month. “It’s an unforgettable experience to be a part of,” Joe said.

“The memories I have made in this class will stay with me for a long time.”

Scuba diving and trail walking

Date of arrival, set up tents Wednesday April 11

Thursday April 12

One smart APple Section Editor

photo by Robert Young TAKING THE CROWN Crier’s Silver Crown plaque

is now on display in N155, the publications room.

Corrections In issue 9 of Crier, in the speech brief on page 2 it incorrectly stated that the upcoming competition was taking place at Ben Davis High School, when it was really taking place at Fishers. In the corrections brief on page 2, Carson Kekelik’s name was misspelled. Crier regrets these errors.

Friday April 13

Snorkeling and hiking

Story by Erianna Sims As spring break is upon us, preparation for AP Testing has commenced. In Issue 5 of Crier, a story was published featuring an anonymous survey which helped administration better understand how students felt about testing, taking into account school will be closed for two of the days due to elections.

Students can take the tests on their scheduled dates, or late during finals week.

Taking AP exams is not required.

When a student takes an AP class, they can receive college credit by taking the AP exam and scoring a 4 or higher or through dual-credit with Ivy Tech.

Project Bio reschedules annual trip to the Florida Keys Hautzinger, science teacher, said.

In addition to the rescheduling of the trip, Project Bio student will miss five days of school instead of three because the trip will no longer take plan during Spring Break. The students also compare climates of the Florida Keys and Northwest Indiana.

“What we do is we compare how Northwest Indiana got to be here and how Florida did. We compare and contrast them,” Mr. Hautzinger said, “ (For example,) How the glaciers drove the formation of them both.”

The students usually have positive memories after this trip.

“They have a blast, a lot of the kids say this is one of the highlights of their high school career.

They come back and they talk about it,” Mr. Hautzinger said. “It really becomes a family down there because we live together.

So I have kids that will come back four years later and are still good friends with the people they went on the trip with.”

The class grows very close throughout the duration of the school year.

“Over this year, the whole class has grown together,” Noah Sohacki, senior, said. “We all became a good group of friends, but at the beginning of the year, none of us knew each other so we were all super freaked out.”

Planning for adventure Although Project Bio will not be going to Disney world this year, they still will do multiple explorations. The exact order of these are subject to change Finish taking down camp, visit Everglades, go to airport to depart

Fishing, turtle hospital, and Long Beach walk Saturday April 14

Sunday April 15

Land transection and boat excursion

Monday April 16

Tuesday April 17

Start taking down tents, national park Source: Mr. Larry Hautzinger, visit Project Bio teacher

AP Testing begins in May, students discuss studying for the exams in advance Although more than a month’s time lies between students and testing, some already started the process of preparing for the tests.

“This will be my first time taking the AP exams,” Chynna Vaughn, junior, said. ”I don’t really have a set study schedule, but I am preparing by going over the chapters that we learned last semester to be ready for the exam.”

Unlike Chynna, some students have a personal study schedule that they have used in and out of school to prepare for their exams.

“I’m in AP Biology and AP Psychology, but I’m only going to take the AP Bio test,” Arianne Sadural, junior, said. “I usually study for an hour or so on weekdays, and I’m currently using prep books outside of school to

help me study as well.”

Some students prefer individual studying, and some have found that lessons from class instruction are helpful as well.

“I’m in AP English Literature, and I would say the entire year has been geared toward prepping for the AP exam,” Javaughn Richards, junior, said. “I’ve found that using the opportunities Mrs. Tammy Daugherty (English teacher) gives us to practice timed writing and text analysis is a great way to prepare for the exam.”

Many freshmen and sophomores are taking the exams, but have not started major studying for them.

“I would say if anyone is looking to take AP classes, just don’t forget to study and pay attention,” Javaughn said. “If it sounds important, write it down.”

spotlight 03

march 23, 2018

Vacation, all I Crier staffers reviews different ways to ever wanted survive travel, places to take a day trip Story by Carey Scott and Micala Boyd

Tropical Tote

People Editor and Business Manager

swimsuit

Pack your

hat flip-flops magazines

BAGS

fuzzy socks lip balm camera charger

towel sunscreen aloe vera

Sunscreen Sun damage is never cute, and you can still get a tan wearing sunscreen. Use it!

Aloe Vera

Tech Pack

If your sunscreen doesn’t do the job, use your aloe to ease the pain

Portable Charger Just in case you forget to charge your phone, or have a busy day ahead

Carry on Essentials wallet

Beach Basics

Sun Glasses Don’t forget your sunglasses. Even if you don’t need them they’re still great to cover up a nasty sun burn

Headphones

portable charger headphones sunglasses phone book

Check out our travel playlist @MunsterMedia

Digital Camera You’ll never know when a picture perfect moment is right around the corner

Hold the Phone Plane Jams Check out our favorite songs to listen to while traveling http://spoti.fi/2DLSVLq The link is also posted on our social media @MunsterMedia

l ca e i op t Tr To

You got games?

Play these to say entertained: Minecraft, Plague Inc., Jetpack Joyride, Subway Surfers, or Pocket God

Ca

Series to Stream If you liked The Office, you should watch Parks and Recreation If you liked Gossip Girl, you should watch 90210 If you liked FRIENDS, you should watch Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt If you liked Criminal Minds, you should watch Mindhunter

Grab A Good Read If you like young adult, you should read “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas If you like mystery, you should read “One of Us is Lying” by Karen M. McManus If you like romance, you should read “The Upside of Unrequited” by Becky Albertalli If you like drama, you should read “Seven Ways We Lie” by Riley Redgate If you like poetry, you should read “The Sun and Her Flowers” by Rupi Kaur

on

N O I T Sip Coffee House A C Y A T S rry

s v

Sure, staying home for spring break can seem boring, but it doesn’t have t0 be. We reviewed places near by that will make you feel like you’re on vacation.

Lynwood Roller Rink

Indiana Dunes

After spending an evening on Indiana’s beautiful lakeshore at Indiana Dunes State Park, I discovered the water was too chilly to take a swim; however, there are plenty of other activities to be enjoyed here.

I checked The Weather Channel to see what time the sun would set so I could plan a picnic and take photos at the prettiest time of day.

I’m not the best when it comes to physical activity, especially anything involving my feet. Although my physical coordination was lacking, I still had a lot of fun at the Lynwood Roller Rink.

Maybe it was just the preconceived notion that roller skating is such an eloquently vintage activity, but spending time at the roller rink honestly made me feel like I had just walked right off the set of a movie.

Lynwood Roller Rink definitely feels like a roller rink, No, it’s not the cleanest, most glamorous place to be, but it’s definitely a fun way to pass the time, especially if you bring a couple friends along. There’s nothing more entertaining than taking a night to feel like you’re living in the past.

THE REGION’S BEACH From atop Devil’s Slide at West Beach, the Chicago skyline lingers in the distance. While the beach is a relaxing place to have a picnic and take pictures with friends, West Beach also has a great hike along the Dune Succession Trail. The trail offers a boardwalk and 250 stairs to a breathtaking overlook of the lake. Additionally, it only cost $6 dollars per vehicle to enter the beach. photo by Micala Boyd

FASHION FORWARD Browsing the menu at Sip Coffee House, Jaylee Rodriguez, junior, choses an item. photo by Lauren Kozy

Although it may already be a favorite hang out place for you and your friends, the Sip Coffee shop in Highland is a warm and cozy place to spend a day of your spring break. Offering an extra creative atmosphere, the hustle and bustle of Sip is different to that of Starbucks or another coffee chain. There is a comfortable feeling that seems to envelop everyone in the cafe with worn slouchy couches, different art hung on the walls, and fantastic coffee makes the Sip a great place to catch up on spring break work. I wrote whilst I was at the Sip, and I must say, it was almost the perfect place to do any sort of creative work and is now a new favorite writing spot of mine.

The food was pretty good from what I tried, but the coffee and atmosphere were what really caught my fancy. All coffee and tea from the Sip offers a unique taste and makes wherever you’re sitting feel like home.

Museum of Contemporary Art Because admission is donation based, it is very inexpensive to at explore the MCA. You can choose to donate as little as a 25 cents or as much as 25 dollars. The four floor Museum featured various exhibits of modern art. My favorites include the “WE ARE HERE: I AM YOU” gallery and the Jeff Koons pieces in the “HEAVEN AND EARTH” exhibit.

Roofers and Waterproofers Local 26 Apprenticeship Program Earn While You Learn

Brian H. Bass

Training Director Serving Lake, Porter, Newton, & Jasper Counties traindirector@rooferslocal26jatc.net 25 W. 84th Avenue Merrillville, IN 46410 Like Us on Facebook Roofers26JATC

www. Roofers26.com Office: 219.756.3718 Fax: 219.756.3715

Reality Associates

Mary Powers Broker Associate

(219) 682-8703 (219) 961-8178 (219) 961-8179

Cell Office Fax

TIME FOR ART The MCA is also located near the Mag Mile and is convenient to visit after a day of shopping. photo by Victoria Reardon

The highest compliment I can recieive is the referral of friends and family Thank you for your trust

Mary Powers 1544 45th St Munster, IN 46321 Mary.powers@remax.net

04 speakout march. 23, 2018

Controlled by College

WHITE NOISE Today everyone has a way to amplify their voice: a sign, a microphone, a cell phone. But without direction, all of those voices turn into noise.

Column by Mimi Brody Managing Editor From a young age, students are groomed and conditioned to believe that get into competitive colleges, there are certain steps they must follow.

Students are told to take as many AP classes as possible, regardless of the student’s individual interests. If not, they will be denied entry into competitive schools.

Out of fear that they may not be qualified enough to get into top colleges, students load their transcripts with AP this and AP that, and spend hours studying for AP tests and paying for expensive tutoring.

This desperateness enables companies like The College Board, the company that facilitates AP testing, to get richer and richer off of the back of frightened students.

AP classes are supposed to be substitutes for real college courses. Students justify the cost, usually around $90 per test, by saying that they are saving money in the long run because they can test out college courses that would cost thousands of dollars.

However, this is no guarantee. Johns Hopkins University found in a study that collected data from the top 153 colleges, that 83 percent of them limited AP credit in some way (for example, giving credit for top scores of 5’s only). This is because College Board has no way to ensure that these AP classes are equivalent to class that may be offered at a college.

Therefore, the College Board is making easy money without even needing to follow through with their assertion that these scores will transfer to colleges because they know that their pockets will be 90 dollars richer either way.

In order to remedy these predatory techniques, The College Board should be held accountable for making sure that their credits actually do transfer to colleges and AP classes can universally be compared to real college classes.

More importantly, the overall climate among students needs to change. We need to stop looking at AP scores as a defining number. Instead, we should view them as an opportunity to learn more in depth about the things that interest us.

Crier

Editorial

cartoon by Rachel Lyons

A sign of the times

The walkout, walk-in, protest, assembly, memorial that took place last Wednesday had as many goals as it did names.

Some students sat quietly to mourn the lives lost in the tragic shooting, some students discussed their frustration with the lack of gun legislation, and some students even held signs protesting that they were unable to go outside and fully participate in the national walkout.

The Student Government led ‘Stangs Stand With Parkland was an attempt to incorporate all of these goals in one event. While the emphasis on mourning and togetherness was nice, many students felt like their voices were not heard, mainly those students that wanted to walk out.

Perhaps the reality of the situation is, however, that every student sitting the bleachers last week had their own expectations of what goal they wanted the event to accomplish. Perhaps all of these goals could not possibly fit into a 17-minute assembly in the gym.

As students, we need to realize that this massive moment of student activism and power will

go to waste if we cannot find a way to incorporate all of our opinions together to make something substantial. As cheesy as it sounds, we are stronger together. This is about us.

April 20 is the anniversary of Columbine. Many student activists are calling for a walkout similar to the one that occurred earlier this month. This issue is not going to fade away.

As a student body, we need to organize to create opportunities for every student’s views to be heard and expressed.

Students need Whether that comes in the form of debates that students to create more can attend, town-hall style meet- opportunities ings with administration and to voice their Student Government, or even opinions. the formation of new clubs here at MHS, we as students have the ability to get our views out there. If we continue to argue with each other and can’t find any compromise, we will just be yelling over each other, and the status quo will remain.

Our take

Letter from the editor

Part 2 of 3

Students speakout: The nation responds

Crier, Munster High School’s official student newspaper, may be reached at 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321, phone 219836-3200, Ext. 3443; Fax: 219-836-3202. Crier is published through the Honors Newspaper Advanced Writing and Editing classes and extra-curricular involvement.

•The newspaper serves as a public forum and two-way communication for the school and community. •Crier is a source of information, entertainment, advertising and opinion for the student body, faculty, administration and community •Published material will stress objective reporting except on the editorial page where opinion writing will be featured. All published material will stress accuracy, integrity, honesty, responsibility, objectivity, fairness and independence. Corrections, when necessary, will be published on page 2.

Opinions expressed in the newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the School Town of Munster, faculty or administration.

Letters to the editor and reader suggestions are welcomed, but should be limited to 250 words. All letters must be signed and should be given directly to any staff member or delivered to the

While the 14th focused on the lives lost in Parkland, much of the national discussion has refocused on guns.

With reportedly tens of thousands of students walking out last Wednesday, students were largely able to voice their opinions.

But what happens next?

Private businesses, and individual states have implemented change; however, the nation needs to follow. Walmart stopped selling guns to customers under 21 and earlier this week, Kroger announced that they would stop selling guns. In the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, the Florida legislature passed a bill raising the legal age to buy a gun from 18 to 21, create a waiting period, banning bump stocks and funding school security.

An important aspect of the First Amendment is that it is a pressure release valve. The national walkout allowed students to reflect and express their opinion; however, if actual legislative change does not follow, the job of student activists is just beginning.

Youth Empowerment, the group to originally organize, the walkout called for three things: —Ban assault weapons —Require universal background checks before gun sales —Pass a gun violence restraining order law that would allow courts to disarm people who display warning signs of violent behavior.

Considering these and other possible legislation is important as the nation moves forward.

—Ian S. Brundige, Editor-in-Chief

Publications room, N155, one week prior to publication. Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual. Editors reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, and grammatical errors. Crier will accept letters from anyone, provided that the content pertains to school or school issues. Feedback may also be submitted on Twitter @munstermedia.

Mailed subscriptions cost $25 per year. Ad rates and policies are available to anyone upon request. Crier is published 13 times a school year.

Section Editors Erianna Sims, Alyssa Bass, Mercedez Williams, Adam Klaich

The Staff

Photographers Moira Glowacki, Jorianna Hazel, Lauren Kozy, Melanie Powers, Megan Szymanski, Robert Young

Editor-in-Chief Ian S. Brundige

Social Media Editor Alex Kojich Business Manager Micala Boyd Head Photographer Kess Vaitkus Chief Photographer Easan Venkat

Managing Editor Mimi Brody

Adviser Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman

Section Chief Joseph Bermudez

Backtalk Reporters: Mia Adamus. Alexis Berumen, Demetrious Fotopolos, Parkyr Guiton, Alexis Lindenmayer, Ben Ondo, Catherine Ornelas, Tiara Sparks, Jack Stork, Mia Terek

People Editor Carey Scott

infocus 05 march 23, 2018

Prep week

Civics Clubs Goals at ‘Stangs Stand with Parkland

First, we empathize and sympathize with the students who lost their lives at Margary Stoneman Douglas. The second reason we are doing this is we no longer want to feel like our school is dangerous.”

—Connor Meyer, senior Civics Club President

photos by Robert Young, Easan Venkat and Kess Vaitkus

10:00-10:17

SIGNING FOR SUPPORT (left) Students sign a banner that was sent to Parkland, Florida to show support to the people affected. The walk-out took place a month after the shooting.

BABY STEPS (top right) Ashley Nita (left) sits in a Student Government meeting about the walkout. “(The most important thing is) definitely contacting representatives and trying to get a change, getting a student voice heard to make sure we are not being silenced by adults,” Ashley said. WELL INFORMED (bottom) Principal Mike Wells talks to Student Government members before the walk-out. The Student Government and administration worked together and carefully planned the assembly.

Students commemorate lives lost in Parkland shooting with assembly

Reporting by Ian Brundige Editor-in-Chief

At Student Government’s last planning meeting for ‘Stangs Stand with Parkland, along with deciding the logistics, name, and colors, Student Government was tasked with determining the focus of the event.

“We were definitely focusing on making it (the assembly) not very political, we wanted to focus on the lives that were lost and just honoring them and remembering them,” said Ashley Nita, freshman student government member. “Making sure to say ‘We need change, maybe not now, but we need change to make our school safer and for future people.”

However, some students feel that, that goal was misguided and unachieved.

“When they said, ‘Talk to the person next to you and have an open discussion,’ I thought that it was disrespectful because it was supposed to be about the victims,” Emily Guerrero, freshman, said. “It was supposed to be a silence for them and a memorial more than it was supposed to be people arguing with one another.”

Not all students were disappointed, however.

“I think it’s just great that students like me are going and having a voice about this sort of thing to raise awareness to our representatives that this needs to be changed,” Sarah Graves, senior, said.

The March for Our Lives is tomorrow and student body president Tara Layous, senior, is speaking at the Hammond walk. However, Emily plans to attend the walk in Chicago.

“There will be more people, you can express your views more freely and you can show support with the people there with you,” Emily said.

March for Our Lives || Tommorow Hammond || 12 p.m. Main Square Park Chicago || 11 a.m. Union Park SIGNED, THE STUDENTS Ella Uylaki, junior, holds up a sign during the assembly in the Fieldhouse last Tuesday. “I did think it was nice, but I really did not think it was enough. I feel like we fell short,” she said. INTERVIEW INTERMISSION Recording Demetrios Fotopoulos, freshman, (left) talk to Matthew Manous, senior, (right) about the walkout, Mariah Juarez, senior, works for the announcements.

“I feel like it would be different if we walked outside, but If we were outside it would have raised more awareness,” Demetrios said. “But I feel like the same things said inside would be said outside.”

PODIUM FOR A PURPOSE (above) Tara Layous, senior speaks about the Parkland shooting and gun violence. “My goal was to make everyone realize that the school was completely normal before what happened to them, before the tragedy,” Tara said. “And I think I really got that across. I tried to emphasize the fact that these were normal students and that we are normal and that this could happen at any time.” PASSING OUT PEACE (top left) Nick Peirick, junior Student Government hands out letters to send to local representative about gun control. SORROWFUL STUDENTS (bottom left) Student’s sit, watch, and listen to the speeches given by the student government about the victims of the shooting. photos by Robert Young and Kess Vaitkus

06sports march 23, 2018

Learn how to

pay the price

Unbreakable bond Baseball players talk about pitcher, catcher relationship, look forward to upcoming season Story by Alex Kojich Social Media Manager

Story by Adam Klaich Page Editor Last month, highly respected Arizona University basketball team head coach Sean Miller was found guilty in a case suggesting he payed Arizona freshman basketball player Deandre Ayton $100,000 to secure him as a player on his team. After the FBI wiretapped Miller’s phone, they found over 30,000 hours of conversations between the two about the deal. Despite this, he still remains Arizona’s head coach. Ayton was ranked third in ESPN’s top 100 high school players of 2017 and committed to Arizona on Sept. 6, 2016.

The situation has created problems for the NCAA and Arizona with NBA superstar Lebron James calling the NCAA as an organization “corrupt.” The situation has also lead NBA Hall of Fame-er Shaquille O’Neal’s son, Shareef O’Neal, to decommit from Arizona and take his talents to UCLA, like his father.

I agree with James and O’Neal and think the situation is completely inappropriate and that the NCAA has handled the violation wrong. Miller still continued to coach the team through the biggest tournament of the year, in which they were quickly knocked out of, and he has suffered minor consequences regarding the situation. Deals between universities and student athletes can create unfair advantages in the league and make players choose which team will benefit them financially instead of where they think they will fit best.

It is against the NCAA’s rules to give players benefits, but many strong and consistent basketball teams such as Duke, Kentucky and Michigan State have been accused of taking part according to ESPN. If in the future, all highly ranked players are paid to be secured, the NCAA will basically become a younger version of the NBA. Which college a high school player commits to is one of the biggest decisions in their life, and I don’t think their choice should be changed due to how much they are offered.

According to ESPN, Miller’s contract demands him to pay $300,000 to the university due to breaking the NCAA’s rules and regulations, but Arizona was a promising team in March Madness, until they lost to underdog Buffalo Bulls, and Deandre Ayton continues to be one of the star players on the team.

It is unclear on what next season will look like for Arizona, but many aren’t expecting the return of Sean Miller. As of Wednesday, Deandre Ayton will be participating in the next NBA draft.

The pitcher and catcher are most often seen as the dynamic duo of a baseball team. A baseball team literally depends upon how the pitcher and catcher perform.

For catcher Ryan Thometz and pitcher Alex Weakland, seniors, they work hand-in-hand to give the team some breathing room and limit the opponent’s offense.

Last season, Weakland pitched his first complete game no-hitter. He would later go on striking out 26 batters in seven games throughout the season, crediting Thometz’s pitch

calling skills. “(The no-hitter) was a very special feeling for me, even as a catcher. It’s something I won’t forget for a long time,” Thometz said. “It was also one of the most intense games I have ever played. Being up 6-0 in the last inning doesn’t usually cause my nerves to tingle, but it’s different when a no-hitter is on the line.”

Near half way through the season, Weakland began struggling and saw a decline in his performance. He believes he was able to pinpoint the issue and has been working on fixing it with Thometz.

“I don’t want to say (Thometz and I have) been joking around during

bullpen sessions, but we’ve been a lot more light-hearted,” Weakland said.

“Last year, I’d get angry at myself, but this year we’ve been laughing like ‘Wow, nice pitch Weakland.’ Keeping it light-hearted and know when I make a mistake and be able to come back from it in a better mindset.”

Last year’s 16-11 record kept the trend from past seasons of a positive win-loss ratio, as the team made it to the Sectional tournament, before losing 10-0 to Highland in the Semi-Final. This year, the team is aiming high when it comes to the outcome of the campaign.

“Our first goal is going to be winning conference,” Thometz said.

“After coming up short last year, we are gunning hard to finish at the top.

Coach (Bob) Shinkan (math teacher) calls these games ‘Banner Games.’

Coming back years from now on and seeing an ‘18 on the banners in the gym would be special.”

Leading the way Softball travels to Hanover Central for first game Monday, talk about senior experience

Story by Joseph Bermudez Section Chief

The sun is out, the birds are chirping and the sounds of softballs hitting mitts and the crack of metal bats fill the early spring air.

On Monday, Softball begins their season traveling In motion to Hanover Central. Unaware of how well their comAmy Kaniewski, senior, displays her pitching motion. petition will perform, Coach Beth Raspopovich, math Describes foot, arm placement in follow through teacher, is focused on deciding the best lineup for the remainder of the season.

“Early on, we just worry about what we’re going to do,” Coach Raspopovich said. “We’re trying to figure out our best lineup, who’s going to play where and trying to be consistent defensively and execute offensively. Early in the season, we don’t necessarily worry about what they do, we worry about what we do.”

After being eliminated by Crown Point at Semi-state last season, the team began running certain drills earlier this season.

“We jumped right into everything,” Amy Kaniewski, senior, said. “We don’t really start on working on our 3. plays like first and third plays and rundowns until later 1.

2.

Beginning windup 12 o’clock Follow through in the season. But this year we went hard in decided who does what in specific plays to get a head start.” position Receive pitch sign Right, back leg, With five seniors on the team, Sarah Johnson, from catcher, find Stride depends goes up to the Kaniewski, Sara Mavity, Becky Radtke and Megan grip on ball, hide on pitch, taught left, stride leg.

Thornburg, Coach Raspopovich is certain the experiball from batter positions as face Pitch is thrown ence they have will help provide the underclassmen to learn the same knowledge in terms of leardership. so they do not in location of clock to get “(The seniors) all have displayed leadership skills know what pitch called by visual of how previously, and it’s only been better this year,” Coach is being thrown form should look catcher Raspopovich said. “They have willphoto illustration by Melanie Powers ingness to help their teammates like when we’re doing drills they’ll show how to do the drills the right way. You’ll see the younger kids, they’re catching, and they’ll go ‘Megan (Thornburg, senior), is that how I’m supposed to do it?’ or the backup shortstop will go to Becky (Radtke, senior) and go ‘Okay, where do I cover?’”

With hopes to win the Conference title for the sixth season in a row, Kaniewski is confident the team can go further in the postseason than they did last.

“I think we have a really good team to make a reappearance at Semi-state and even go further,” Kaniewski said. “It’s really our time to show the region what we can do. photo by Robert Young Last year we got stopped short by BACK AND FORTH In preparation for their first game of the season Monday against Hanover Central, Maddy Foreit, junior (left), warms up with Becky Radtke, senior (right). Radtke believes the drills ran in Crown Point in the last inning, but practice have a direct impact on real-game situations. “The importance is practicing these drills every- I think we’re ready for a comeback day so in a game when the situation occurs, it’s muscle memory and it flows,” Radtke said. and show the Region what we got.”

sports 07 march 23, 2018

Work it Students and teacher talk about alternative workouts Story by Alyssa Bass Section Editor

W

ith nearly two more months until the school year ends, students are trying to get fit in time for summer.

Workouts typically include activities like running, lifting weights, or playing sports, but other alternative workouts include hot yoga, pilates or HIT (high intensity training).

“I play softball and we do exercise with that, but I also have a gym membership and I do hot yoga and I just started spin cycle classes,” Maddy Foreit, junior, said.

Other workouts include crossfit, bootcamps, parkour, or bodypump classes. Teachers also take part in alternative workouts. Places such as Heavy Metal Fitness offer bootcamps that focus on general fitness in a group setting.

“I do a bootcamp at Heavy Metal Fitness. I also do a boot camp class

at Fitness Point,” Mr. Don- a club meeting.”

Eating right is also a big part of ald Fortner, social studies health, along with keeping yourself teacher, said. “One is a half hour class of high intensity well rested, according to Kirincic.

“Nutrition is far more important workouts, then the other is 45 minutes with different stations than any workout could ever hope to provide in keeping one healthy,” Kilike weights and body exercises.” rincic said. “WorkHeavy Metal Fitness also Alternative Workouts: ing out can only offers youth boot camps. Hot Yoga: a style of yoga Fitness Pointe offers class- performed in hot and humid be as good as your sleep and nutrition es from Zumba to medita- conditions Pilates: system of exercises not the other way tion yoga. designed to improve physical around.”

“I think exercising helps strength, flexibility, and out with my focus, grades, posture and it’s a stress reliever for HIT: alternates between me,” Foreit said. “Also my intense bursts of activity mom is super in shape and and periods of less-intense activity or even complete rest she works out quite often, Bootcamp: workouts so she’s a big motivating centered around general TAKING A factor and I just like to stay fitness, strength, BREATHER endurance, cardio, healthy.”

Doing the and core will all be Depending on the perwarrior pose, part of every session Maddy Foreit, son, different things moti- sources: junior, relaxes vate people to workout and heavymetalfitness.com herself. “I enjoy fitnesspointe.org stay on schedule. When it doing yoga because it’s very comes to getting up and calming and I am working out, some find it harder so focused on than others to exercise. breathing that I forget about all my “Currently my biggest challenge stress,” Foreit is managing my senior year course said. load with my passion for exercising the way I do,” Chris Kirincic, senior, said. “I am often not able to work out because I have to study or attend

Sidenote

Hockey What: Season Recap When: March 4 Record: 28-19 In the Semi-final round, Hockey lost to Hamilton Southeastern 2-3 in overtime. When the game was tied at two in the third period, Chase Miles, senior, believed the team was in a good position However, season came to an abrupt end in overtime.

“We weren’t expecting (the game to end) when it did,” Miles said. “The kid came down with the puck and we figured he’d just shoot it and it wouldn’t go in, but when he shot it and it was the most perfectly placed shot and it went in. We were all in disbelief. There were some people crying and some just silent.”

Surprised by the outcome of the game, Miles will remember the type of bond the team had.

“I feel like all of us had the best experience with each other,” Miles said. “We are all really close and made memories none of us will ever forget. I feel like we were a lot different than any other school team.

We had that bond. We spent every day with each other and clicked.”

photo by Megan Szymanski

Track trauma Story by Adam Klaich Section Editor Injuries are one of the many hassles of playing sports, and track runners are no strangers to them.

The track season began three weeks ago and both teams have started running meets. Girls’ distance has a meet tomorrow at the Hoosier State relays.

“Some days we have workouts on the track, which is a certain amount of miles at a certain pace and other days we go on recovery runs for sixty minutes,” Steven Biegel, sophomore, said.

It is a common sight to see any number of students on any track team sitting on the sideline due to injuries, some of which are received playing the sport.

“I don’t think we (practice) too much, but maybe it’s just you step wrong or it’s pressure building up

Track injuries increase as their season progresses

on your foot and you don’t realize it,” Biegel said.

How a runner handles the day to day practices isn’t the only way an injury can be caused. Jake Follmer, junior, is also a sprinter and is also injured with a pulled hamstring and said that his injury was caused by a lack of stretching.

Follmer doesn’t think practices are too much for the veterans, but he has noticed the difficulty the newer members of the team are faced with.

“If you’re not really conditioned, some of (the workouts) can be hard, but through the season they get harder, but I don’t think they’re too hard,” said Maddy Lakomek, junior and sprinter, said. “I feel like there’s not a way to prevent it. It’s just more stretching and just getting warmed up more.”

To recover from these injuries, the team will usually slow down the runners practice and have some runners bike or rest.

DRIVERS EDUCATION !!

It’s too important not to go with the BEST!!

Certified Driving School

photo by Jorianna Hazel

MAKING A RUN FOR IT During Boy’s Track practice Steven Biegel and Josh Zatorski, sophomores, warm up. ““Run, run, and run more. Then also quite a bit of stretching, and then some days we hit the weight room,” Biegel said.

Johanna K. Manous, DDS 9305 Calumet Ave., Suite D1 Munster, IN 46321

Children and New Patients are Welcome!

219-836-2041 Fax: 219-836-2410 Email: manousdds@gmail.com Website: manousdds.com

LYNWOOD BOWL 2581 Glenwood Lansing Rd. Lynwood, IL 60411

(708) 895-6633

Like us on Facebook: Certified Driving School

Bring in Ad Get One Free Game One per customer