12.9.16

CRI R E Ground

vol. 51/issue 6/dec. 9, 2016

MUNSTER HIGH SCHOOL

upcoming

inside look Page 5: For Indiana’s 200th birthday, Crier reviews popular TV shows set in Indiana

Check out finals schedule on page 12. Finals begin Tuesday 12/19, no late start

Page 8: Students, staff discuss lunch deliveries, including Jimmy John’s

Girls’ Basketball plays tonight at home 7 p.m.

page 6-7 Christmas, Hanukkah fall around the same time; students discuss holiday traditions

Project X Clothing Drive begins December 7-16

8808 Columbia Ave. Munster, IN 46321

breaking Centennial Village construction begins Jordan Szymanski Editor-in-Chief

H

ere’s the vision: a mixed use, walkable, pedestrian-friend-

Residents have already begun to see the construction of Springhill Suites Marriott hotel on Calumet Avenue. This adds a central hub for Munster, a characteristic the town has lacked in the past, according to Mr. Dustin Anderson, Town Manager.

“One of the knocks on Munster is that there is no center to the town,” Mr. Anderson said. “With this new addition, it is the shared vision between collaborators and the town that Munster will have a physical center of community.

We want this project’s atmosphere to

photo by Weronika Bilek; photo illustration by Ian Brundige, Josh Kim, Jordan Szymanski BLUEPRINT Construction begins on Centennial Village’s first installment, Springhill Suites. By late August 2017, the building will be complete with many new features including a swimming pool, a fitness club and 100 rentable rooms.

be consistent with the desires of residents of Munster.”

With strong community ties, Centennial Village offers a new feel to the town, especially for the younger population. “(For the students) there will be places to congregate and new places to shop,” Mr. Anderson said. “There will be a lot of new services for families.”

Even more for commuters, an agreement was made between Munster Steel, the town and the developer that satisfies each party and alleviates one of the most traffic-heavy intersections in the town: 45th and Calumet.

“So, there was a three-way tie that happened in order to realign the intersection of 45th,” Mr. Anderson said. “First, it involved the enormous task of moving Munster Steel to Hammond, so the company gets a bigger, better facility.

Then, the developer gets this land to develop, but gives some of it to the town to build the road—this project doesn’t happen without the road. The traffic is just awful and this road will be a big deal for the Region, not just Munster.”

The road, which will eventually go under the current train tracks with a viaduct is not projected to be completed before Centennial Village is usable. As

for now, students grow concerned with the Centennial Village’s new additions adding a heavy traffic flow.

For Breann Ward, senior, who lives in the last row of West Lakes, the addition brings mixed feelings.

“I’m sort of excited to see more shopping areas,” Breann said. “But at the same time, I know it is going to make traffic worse, so I am not excited for that.”

The main source of traffic comes from trains, so Breann anticipates a change once the project is done to reroute the tracks over the road.

“That will help so much with traffic,” Breann said. “Because for the most part, whenever there is a train, it gets so backed up on Calumet and 45th.”

As of now, Centennial Village estimates as a $36 million years dollar project divided among federal funds, state funds and community contributions.

Nonetheless, new businesses and services will open up an economic flow in the community.

“There will be a lot of capital and a lot of investments, but it is not going to happen all at once,” Mr. Anderson said.

So, here’s what will happen: a project as extensive as Centennial Village will take five to seven years to complete, but

Munster will have a new face.

“Munster is going to look really different,” Mr. Anderson said. “This is going to take a long time. But if it is done right, this will be a asset to the town. There will be a lot of building in the meantime and people should not expect to see it overnight, but when they do see it, it should be good.”

For drivers

Road revisions to begin soon

Calumet

ly development. Here’s what’s happening: the Town of Munster has partnered with private development companies to make the freshly-leveled area extending from the train tracks on Calumet into Centennial Village, a picturesque downtown incorporating Centennial Park.

The town moves forward with these changes, and will hold a meeting Monday to discuss the reconstruction of 45th to alleviate traffic around the deMr. What’s there? velopment.

Matthew Kimmel, Centennial Village Centennial Village contains new Project Manager, features envisions these 235,000 sq. ft. changes along of retail space with Centennial 175 condos of Village enhancing residential living the town’s aesthet 100 hotel rooms ics. of Springhill Suites “We believe this is the perfect locasource: Mr. Matthew Kimmel, project manager tion,” Mr. Kimmel said. “Centennial Park is one of the nicest parks in Lake County and that land is one of the last developmental parcelable. It’s planned to be an exceptional amenity to the town and for all residents to enjoy.”

Centennial Village will take

1

5-7

to complete

45th

3 2

1 2 3

graphic by Josh Kim

Traffic heavy intersection that the project alleviates The new road that will connect Calumet and 45th The bridge which will take the tracks above 45th

source: Mr. Dustin Anderson, Town Manager

dec. 9, 2016

Retirement Who: Mrs. Charlene Kuhn When: Dec. 22 After 30 years of service, 13 working with West Lake at various schools and 17 at MHS Student Services, Mrs. Charlene Kuhn, Student Services Secretary, is retiring at the end of this semester.

“We have such a warm and friendly staff,” Mrs. Kuhn said, “and the students are all very very good students and tend to always stop and visit and student services and I’m going to miss that a lot.

I’ve actually made some nice friendships with some of the students and staff along the way.”

Corrections In issue five of Crier, Mrs. Elizabeth Keleher, Home School Facilitator, was misidentified on page one. The election results on page three should read as follows: US House District One Representative: Democrat Peter Visclosky, Governor: Republican Eric Holcomb, Senator: Republican Todd Young. Additionally, on page 9, Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) was incorrectly identified. Also, lacrosse is not an IHSAA approved sport; therefore, Mr. Brian Clark, Athletic Director, could not approve lacrosse as a sport at MHS. On page 11, the alternative copy “Working as a whole” should indicate that hamstrings kick downwards during freestyle and quadriceps kick upwards during backstroke. Finally, the photo “Blocked Out” on page 12 should credit Kess Vaitkus as the photographer. Crier regrets these errors.

State releases 2015 ISTEP+ scores; administrators discuss scores, future plans; student discusses over-testing Chloe Wineinger Design Chief After last year’s sophomore class went through two sessions of ISTEP+ tests, a session of the ISTEP+ pilot test, and the grade 10 ECA, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) finally officially released the ISTEP+ scores Nov. 17. Though students received their individual scores a few weeks prior to the IDOE releasing statewide results, the administrators could not publicly discuss how last year’s sophomores performed as a whole.

Altogether, 87.7 percent of students passed the English/Language Arts assessment, 62.5 percent passed the math assessment, and 61.5 percent passed both assessments. Though these scores might seem lower than what the School Town usually sees, the high school performed highly compared to the rest of the state. Another factor that should be taken into consideration, according to Mr. Robert Snyder, assistant principal, is that the ISTEP+ has never existed before for 10th graders.

“Any time there’s a new assessment, you usually see scores decrease or dip a little bit,” Mr. Snyder said. “You saw that with the ECA which was years ago, but when they brought in the ECA, the scores dipped as well, and then gradually over time you just keep raising the scores up.”

Last year the IDOE transitioned from using the ECA to the ISTEP+ as an end-of-course assessment for sophomores. However, because of an overlap in contracts, sophomores had to take both tests, which was another factor that could have affected scores.

“Last year when you look at the sophomore class, everybody was tested a lot,” Mr. Snyder said. “I know when I talked to other schools, or folks that do kind of what I do in other schools, one of the things that I’ll hear them say is the kids were just legitimately tested out by the time the last session of the ECA was presented to them. And that’s hard.”

Though Kali Konstantinopoulos, junior, did not feel that her performance was affected by the amount of testing last year, she found that taking two standardized tests was unreasonable.

“I did think it was very excessive and unnecessary, having both the ECA and the ISTEP+ was just too much and it was like right around finals too, so it took away from my study time a little bit,” Kali said. “(The part I disliked the most) was the time commitment; the fact that it was prolonged over a period of weeks. I was probably most worn out after the ISTEP+ going into the ECA, just between those two tests.”

Changes in ISTEP+ also affected performances in the elementary schools, with Elliott Elementary’s and Frank H. Hammond Elementary’s overall percent pass scores dipping about five to ten percent since the year before. Last year’s test scores are not comparable to years prior due to the change in vendor from CTB/McGraw Hill to Pearson, according to Dr. Phyllis Gilworth, director of instructional programs and assessments.

name:

Breaking down the ISTEP

The Indiana Department of Education released statewide ISTEP scores Nov. 17; Crier analyzes average scores, compares them to rest of state How did MHS compare to the state average?

What was the schoolwide percent passage rate?

87.7% English/Language Arts

62.5% Math

61.5%

What: International Thespian Society Rechartering Ceremony of Troupe #2861 When: Nov. 19 Where: Auditorium The International Thespian Society, which recognizes the work of student actors, was rechartered during a ceremony held in the auditorium.

During the ceremony, 15 current theater members were inducted into the society based on the amount of points they received for their work. The troupe leaders, elected by theatre members, are seniors Lane Terry, president; Elliott Fus, first vice president; and Kaitlyn McHale, second vice president.

“It’s really an honor because the actors and techies elect the president,” Lane said. “It’s really meaningful to know that my peers found me the most qualified to be the president.”

Setting the standards

ELA

32.2%

Theatre

Instead of taking it easy during winter break, Winter Guard will spend 24 hours rehearsing in a single week to prepare for their parent preview Jan. 6.

Winter Guard only started last year, but they made a name for themselves by winning the championship last year in their group, Scholastic AA. Scholastic AA is an intermediate level of competition, and there is a possibility the Guard will move up to the next level, Scholastic A, which carries opportunities to com-

is vastly different than last year’s, according to Kelsey Pappas, sophomore.

“This has a little bit more of a funky feel to it,” Kelsey said. “You have to have a lot more attitude for this show, while the other ones have been more happy and very cheesy.”

Captain Briana Lopez, senior, loves the feeling of preforming, but her favorite part is being with the team. “(Winter Guard is) less of a team, more of a family,” Briana said. “So it’s just being with the people you love every single day, and then doing what you love, and it just makes the experience so much better.”

62.5%

Both the Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras have come a long way in technique and musicianship since their last concert, which will show onstage at their holiday concert, according to Mrs. Bridget Speranza, orchestra director. The Philharmonic Orchestra will be playing less traditional music, such as “Charlie Brown Christmas,” and the Symphony Orchestra will be playing more traditional songs, including “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson.

“Last year we played (‘Sleigh Ride’), and then I pulled it out again this year because it was just such a hit last year, so I think it’s just going to become a tradition that every holiday concert we’re going to close with that piece,” Mrs. Speranza said.

Danie Oberman Page Editor

pete at a national level.

“We’re absolutely hoping we’re going to have another great season,” Zoe O’Dea, junior, said. “There’s a possibility we’re going to be bumped up into the next level of difficulty, the next group, which is Scholastic A. That would be awesome, but it would also mean that we’re not going to do as well (against the harder competition). But we’re totally okay with that, because we know that it’s going to push our skill level and it’s only going to make us want to push harder.”

The theme of this year’s show is about street children in Paris with a narrative element that is not yet finalized. The show

34.6%

What: Orchestra Concert When: Dec. 14, 7 p.m.

Where: Auditorium

up

87.7%

Orchestra

Level

Winter Guard season begins Jan. 6, team prepares for competitions

59%

SIDE NOTE on news

50%

2 news

Both

Math

Munster High School State Average How did MHS rank amongst the state?

61.5% Both What did the ISTEP+ vendor change to?

CTB/McGraw Hill Pearson

According to the U.S. News and World Report Top 10 Schools in Indiana, MHS ranked

2nd 6th and

best in English scores

best in Math scores

source: doe.in.gov; Mr. Robert Snyder, assistant principal infographic by Chloe Wineinger

In the years to come, the state will see even more changes involving the ISTEP+ that involve less test time.

At the end of November the ISTEP+ panel proposed a plan to only have one test window for the ISTEP+ at the end of the year. The state is set for taking the ISTEP+ again this school year in 2017; however, in its last session the General Assembly passed a bill to eliminate the current ISTEP+ and will find a replacement for spring 2018. Though the School Town still has room for improvement in ISTEP scores, it will be difficult to measure improvements if the state continues to change its testing standards, according to Dr. Gilworth.

“Once they stabilize what they’re going to do, yes, I would anticipate every time we are going to take it we are going to get better,” Dr. Gilworth said. “As long as they continue to change the test, I still believe we will perform well, when you put it out there on a spreadsheet, and that’s mainly where I look. I don’t get crazy about those numbers. And even last year it was the same thing. I can’t compare this test to the one last year, but I can compare where we were within the state as a district, and I’d say we’re pretty consistent.”

dec. 9, 2016

Go time

news

3

We the People competes at State this weekend Danie Oberman Page Editor

Jordan Szymanski Editor-in-Chief

Three minutes and 55 seconds; no more, no less.

These speeches, along with eight minutes of follow up questions, comprise each round at State. Two 12-minute rounds will determine how We the People ranks in the State competition in Indianapolis this weekend and if Put to the test they will advance to Nationals.

Each unit of We the “(I’m) really nervous, obviPeople focuses on a ously,” Porter Taylor, senior, central topic said. “A lot is riding on (State).

Basically, everything that we’ve UNIT ONE: done this year is leading up to Philosophical and that point. We feel confident historical foundations of in a lot of things. We have the American political our speeches done and ready System to go, so really it’s just team UNIT TWO: working exercises, learning The Framers creating the sources and just stuff like that.

Constitution I feel confident going into it.

I feel like we’re a very strong UNIT THREE: team overall, we have a lot to Changes to the Constitudo and we can accomplish a tion to further the ideals lot. I feel good about it.” contained on the DeclaState will be first time We ration of Independence the People will be competing this year. They attended UNIT FOUR: Districts last month, but they Values and principles in were the only team competthe Constitution shaping American institutions and ing. They go to Districts mainly for practice, according to practices Coach Michael Dempsey, UNIT FIVE: study hall supervisor.

The Bill of Rights “I think we’ll do well (at UNIT SIX: State). At Districts, it was just Challenges facing us, so it’s kind of nice to get American Constitutional that competition in with a little Democracy in the 21st bit of practice. Now that we’re century going up against a few more source: Center for Civic teams, I don’t see why we Education can’t do really well,” Coach Dempsey said. “Just one team advances to the national competition, but I think with the last few weeks with the few more practices we added, we could be prepared to ‘shock the world.’”

Unfortunately, the team had a shock themselves when the team discovered they may not be competing at State because of an escalated incident in a team group chat.

“Essentially, a group wasn’t doing the work that everyone else was doing,” Henry Wolf, senior, said. “But a

photo by Austin Skeens

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT During a simulation We the People round in front of an AP US History class, juniors (front to back) Olivia Foley, Sofia Balac and Isabella Blackford and Patrick Wu, senior (back), give their speeches. They are prepared to present their speeches at State this weekend. “It’ll be interesting to see how far we have come since Districts and see how all our knowledge, every unit and every person, does,” Sofia said. few people went about what they thought was encouragement and I think most people could have interpreted it as basic textbook bullying, and they just hurt a lot of people’s feelings and went about motivating them entirely wrong.”

A cumulation of hard-work and dedication lead to tensions boiling over, according to Coach Dempsey.

“I want them to realize that I think the only reason that people are getting mad is because they care about this team,” Coach Dempsey said. “It’s easy to think that people are just getting mad to get mad, but in the end the reason people were getting frustrated is because they want the team to do as well as possible. They want the team to win State and go onto Nationals, and it’s just when you’re with someone for this long—working together almost every day if not every other day, the past few weeks—tensions are going to get hot, so I understand that. I wish it wouldn’t have gotten as bad as it did, but hopefully they learn from this and they realize we’re all just working to make the team as best as it could be.”

After letting his competitive nature get the better of him, Ajeyo De, senior, found a better outlook on the purpose of We the People.

“What I didn’t realize is that a lot of people signed up for the class with an idea in mind: they thought the subject matter was really interesting, being able to learn with Mr. (Michael) Gordon (government teacher) was a promising opportunity, and some kids just wanted to

Songs for the season Josh Kim Page Editor The Chorale students strive to excel, and Mr. Andrew Robinson, choir director, enjoys to help them excel for their holiday season performances.

“They are very adaptable, and it helps that in addition to their great musical ability, they have amazing personalities. It’s a real pleasure to get to know the folks that are there and what they like (and) what they do outside of Chorale. It’s every teacher’s dream, really, to work with an amazing group of kids,” Mr. Robinson said. “I don’t feel like I’m coming to work every day, I come to have fun. It’s pretty remarkable.”

Chorale members show a high level of dedication, according Cody Phillips, junior.

“Chorale is by far my favorite class,” Cody said.

“We have an amazing blend. It’s such a great group of people.”

With more than 20 songs to sing, Chorale will perform at different places this month, from churches to

learn about politics, about government,” Ajeyo said.

“Learning about civics goes way beyond the competition factor.”

Those involved have apologized and administration has allowed the team to continue on to State as planned.

The team understands a new mindset is necessary in order to move forward, both as teammates and citizens.

“We the People’s kind of got a culture of really working hard and being very, very serious, but Mr. Gordon is constantly trying to emphasize the idea that it’s not about winning a high school competition,” Henry said.

“You’re not doing all this work to win a high school competition, you’re doing all this work to become smarter and to be a better person. And I think we kind of lost track of that.”

This incident can be taken as a learning experience, which is the team’s original motivation.

“I feel that we definitely will not be as cohesive, and polished, confident in ourselves as we would have been if this never even occurred in the first place,” Ajeyo said.

“But at the same time I still feel that we have gained so much knowledge. We learned so much. We’ve had so many practices—so many opportunities—to learn with Mr. Gordon that we still will be able to perform well, and have a lot of our knowledge and our skills that we’ve developed show in our rounds. Obviously our focus now isn’t on winning; it’s just that we’re going to do what we were practiced to do and don’t care about the outcome.”

Chorale celebrates holiday season performing around community

nursing homes to hospitals. able with other people, it’s really not that bad,” Cody “We’re definitely going to all these places to spread said. “But at the first performance in Chorale, I was joy (and) make it more happy. I mean, it’s a lot of fun for wrecked.” us and for the people,” Cody said. “I know Mr. Robinson looks forward to the the the people at the nursing homes, they love Top of the pops holiday season performances, and hopes it. It really should be a lot of fun. I’m really Chorale voted for that the Chorale members will be able to looking forward for this holiday season.” use these many opportunities to improve top two favorite As a choir, singing isn’t the only imas individuals and as a group. holiday songs they portance to success at performing. Being “I expect that they are going to have well-bonded with each other is another key have sung a great performance, they are hopefully factor, according to Frank Storino, senior. going to enjoy spreading the holiday “Mary Had a Baby” “I feel like everyone has bonded well to- Craig Courtney cheer to so many people,” Mr. Robinson gether,” Frank said. “We are all passionate said. “I mean, we’re performing to people about music, and many students wish to pur- “Lux Aurumque” from newborn to the people in their sue music in college. These shared interests Eric Whitacre 90s. And it’s really awesome to watch created our bond.” the reactions of people and they hear Having a strong bond with the other Cho- source: Mr. Andrew Robthis, and I hope (Chorale is) going to inson, choir director rale members will also help with the nerves appreciate that because one day they’re before performances, according to Cody. going to be up in years, and they might “You always get a little nervous during performances, get the opportunity to hear some choir commend and but as you perform more often you get more comfort- spread that kind of joy.”

4 speakout

dec. 9, 2016

More than a hashtag column Chloe Wineinger Design Chief

cartoon by Gavin Hamilton

BY THE BOOK Congratulations on reading and passing the written exam on “How to Build a Car.” You are clearly prepared to go out into the real world and build cars for a living. Tell your employer how many A’s you’ve gotten. As for how many cars you’ve built? This is the first.

editorial

Living your education Recently, more and more schools have questioned whether or not to use zeros on the 100-point scale. If a school implements the No Zero Policy, an F grade would never go below the highest F percentage possible—at MHS, this is a 59 percent.

A student never writes an essay? 59 percent. A student sleeps during an Algebra test? 59 percent.

A student contributes nothing for a group project?

59 percent.

Some schools argue that an F is simply an F; failing does not need a number scale. Other schools do not understand how a student receives a grade higher than zero for an incomStudents OUR need more plete assignment.

Each argument side holds valTAKE projectid claims. Certain students work based learning methods in almost hard, yet routinely receive 30 or all classes 40 percent on assignments. Education cannot ignore these students’ efforts; however, it is simply illogical to grant a missing assignment anything more than a zero.

While the No Zero Policy presents a considerable amount of controversy, it overshadows a greater problem. Forget, for the moment, the zero debate. Instead, look at the overall way in which schools issue grades.

Most classes at any school follow a basic formula. Classes introduce the lesson, teach it through

CRI ER

Crier, Munster High School’s official student newspaper, may be reached at 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321, phone 219-8363200, 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 Publications room, N155,

worksheets and quizzes, throw in the occasional project, and give the final lesson test. This process repeats itself 10 or so times throughout the year.

Schools focus on students’ abilities to remember, rather than their ability to do. They need more realistic learning practices, such as project-based learning.

Project-based learning requires application of knowledge in real-world situations. For example, business students should not memorize how to balance a checkbook; they should receive actual checkbooks and balance them.

Moreover, by evaluating these business students on their entire process of balancing a checkbook, effort easily fits into the grade and legitimate zeros become almost nonexistent.

Granted, math students cannot always fill out an accountant’s spreadsheet, and physics students cannot build bridges for engineers. Classes can still simulate these experiences. Show students real documents these professions use, and let them create products of learning through projects or models.

The problem does not lie with numbers—the problem lies with the methods schools use. By using incorrect measures, schools have not inaccurately been evaluating students. The numbers behind this system do not make a difference. The No Zero Policy will not solve anything if all the numbers on the grading scale signify nothing.

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.

The Staff Editors-in-Chief Jordan Szymanski, Mariah Villaroman Design Chief Chloe Wineinger Graphics Editor Ian Brundige Features Editor Sofía Navarro

In an age where social media activism reigns, where clicking a “share” button on Facebook or typing a thought under 140 characters on Twitter means a person is suddenly represents a cause, it can be quite common to see the misuse of activism.

Almost anyone who has used social media in the last year is probably familiar with the phrases ”Black Lives Matter,” “Police Lives Matter” and “All Lives Matter” popping up at least once on whatever feed they scroll through. Though all of these statements are true, many people harbor negative feelings towards the latter two statements.

However, brutality against police is a valid issue. With tensions between the public and police growing, there has been a 67 percent increase in the fatal shooting of police since 2015, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

The Nov. 20 slaying of San Antonio Detective Benjamin Marconi marked the 60th firearms-related police death this year and was the 20th ambush-style shooting. This tragedy was at end of four unrelated police shootings in four different cities within 24 hours.

Beyond the shootings of African Americans, there are unjust shootings of people from all walks of life. The Ruderman Family Foundation, a disability organization, reported that almost half of police shootings involve people with mental disabilities. Just last month a civil suit was filed for Jeremy Mardis, a six-year-old boy with autism who a police officer fatally shot in the back seat of Mardis’ dad’s car last year.

There is no dispute that the unjust shootings and the lives of innocent people are a viable cause in this day and age. So why are people so opposed to the phrases “Police Lives Matter” and “All Lives Matter”?

There is never as much public support for “Police Lives Matter” when real tragedies of the subject occur as there is when those who use it are trying to diminish the cause of Black Lives Matter. The saints of the “All Lives Matter” mantra will rush to silence people’s outcries against the police shootings of African Americans because they believed they are not the only victims. But where were they when other innocent people like Jeremy Mardis was wrongfully killed?

No matter how you feel about “Black Lives Matter” appearing all over your social media, at least people who use it do so in order to increase awareness towards a problem, whereas the other two causes are often used to make “Black Lives Matter” look less important. If people really cared about the lives of the police officers or the lives of all people, they would work to bring more attention to it outside of the context of “Black Lives Matter.”

News Editor Danie Oberman Sports Editor Joseph Bermudez Graphics Assistant Gavin Hamilton Page Editors Mimi Brody, Josh Kim, Carey Scott Business Manager Nathalie De La Torre Head Photographer Weronika Bilek Chief Photographer Danijela Kaurin Photographers Joseph Bellahcen, Olivia Hesterman, Lauren Kozy, Vrusti Patel, Melanie Powers, Austin Skeens, Kess Vaitkus, Easan Venkat, Summer Witvoet Adviser Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman

spotlight

dec. 9, 2016

Crossroads of TV

Suggest for you shows set in Indiana entermainment for all

Are you ready to cry or laugh?

Laugh or Cry Sci-fi or Real life

How much time do you have? cramming for finals or tons of free time

Who would you rather spend time with... friends? or family?

Stranger Things 2016-present. Season one available on Netflix. Hawkins (fictional) At this point, if you haven’t already watched Stranger Things, you should be considered a criminal. The Netflix Original series, gifted to the world this July, is a nostalgic look back to what life could have been like in 1983 Midwest for a group of young nerds… if that group lived

American Crime 2015-present. Two seasons available on Amazon Video/ Google Play/Itunes. Indianapolis For the second season of this anthology crime series, the creators decided to set it in middle America: Indianapolis to be specific.

The show deals with heavy subjects exploring the often blurred lines of sexuality and the surprisingly blurred lines of sexual assault. But as

Unbreakable Kimmy Schimdt 2015-present. Two seasons available on Netflix This show is so easy to binge. If you have not yet, just turn on Netflix and let it go.

The show is set in New York City but the main character, exuberant and unassuming Kimmy Schmidt, is from Indiana. The backstory of the appropriately name “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” sounds the a crazy two-part episode of Criminal Minds. Kidnapped when she

The Middle 2009-present. Season’s 8 new episodes Tuesdays at 7 p.m on ABC/past seasons Google Play, Orson (fictional) This show is fun, it’s nice, you know what you’re getting when sit down to watch it. And what you get is simple wholesome family fun.

For The Middle to still be on after eight years must mean someone has been watching; however I assume those people are not young high schoolers living in the Region.

The show is narrated by Frankie Heck, the

Parks and Recreation 2009-2015. Seven seasons on Netflix/ Amazon Video, Pawnee (fictional) In terms of comedies, this is the best recent show set in Indiana. The show was a mockumentary following mid-level government employs of a Parks and Rec department in southern Indiana. The hilarious cast (Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, Jim O’Heir and Retta) are

5

Ian Brundige Graphics Editor

in a town next to a secret government agency that was experimenting with the idea of parallel universes.

The eerie, fictional town of Hawkins is the setting for a sci-fi mystery that feels like E.T., but for a modern audience with the darker tone we are looking for. the story develops that intimate issues leads to a number of larger conflicts about social and economic classes.

The characters feel real in a haunting way and every conflict has an unexpected twist that pulls you deeper into the story.

The ten episode series and ends with as many questions as answers which would be a criticism however the shows ambiguous ending allows for an important intriguing conversation beyond the TV screen, which is arguably more important than getting all the answers.

As Indiana celebrates its 200th year of statehood, Crier staffer reviews recent shows set in Indiana.

was 14, Kimmy, along with three other women, was made to believe the world had ended and the only safe place was the bunker she was taken to. Somehow that dark story works as the beginnings of a sitcom. Highlighting the ridiculousness of the fictional cult, “The Mole Women.”

The show echoes the comedic tones of Parks and Recs but in an urban, fast-paced setting. This makes sense because its co-creator, Tina Fey, has worked with Amy Poehler, star of Parks and Rec, in the past. mother of the lower to middle class suburban family featured in The Middle. The show feels real, but in a distant way that does not relate to young audiences living near large cities. The characters are odd and quirky and can make anyone laugh but they are so consistent that nothing new is offered.

The show is already dry and stale, with the biggest risk it’s taken being a haircut, but now post-puberty Atticus Shaffer, who plays Brick Heck the youngest Heck son, is at the odd stage where he is 18 playing a 14-year-old. It feels weird. what gave the show its seven amazing season.

The chemistry of the show’s cast made the show work.

While the in first two seasons it is obvious the cast has not yet gotten into their groove, every season has its own unique quarks, storylines and notable cameos.

The show may be set in the small fictional town of Pawnee, but it has its own world deep with character and inside jokes.

On the go Starting last week Netflix members are now able to download select content to watch on the go

photo by Summer Witvoet

Munstang

shout outs

Send your friends Shout Outs for every occasion Runs for 5 days for $30

Example: Happy Birthday sixteenth to my best friend, Carly!

Example: Congrats on getting into Harvard, MIchael. You’ll be great!

Check out our SkoolLive Kiosks located in the hallways by both entrances of MHS Fieldhouse

6

infocus

dec. 9, 2016

dec. 9, 2016

Putting all the pieces

Survey shows different ways people celebrate, talk about holiday season

86% of people participate in a gift exchange with family or friends How should stores greet customers during holidays?

photo by Weronika Bilek

GIVING BACK Writing on a gift tag, Paige Mecyssine, senior, works at a holiday charity event for Chicago children in need. At this event, volunteers fill hundreds of shoeboxes with toys and toiletries. “I have extra so I feel like I should give some (back),” Paige said. “Doing this (event) every year, it’s just sort of how I was taught.”

photos by Weronika Bilek, Danijela Kaurin, and Vrusti Patel

As mismatched or out-of-context these items seem, each represents students’ diverse holiday traditions; holidays Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa coincide

S

ome watermelon for a potluck, a three hour game of Trivial Pursuit and a friend’s house created one of the best

Thanksgivings for Evan Dong, junior.

“I’ve been pretty distant with my family for most of my life, so it’s not really hard for me to not celebrate the holidays,” Evan said. “It was very nice to celebrate the way most other people would.

It was really nice to see how all the family came over, and everybody just enjoyed themselves.”

Evan celebrated this year’s Thanksgiving at his neighbor’s house and plans to spend Christmas Eve with this same friend from MHS, creating holiday traditions he has never experienced before.

For many years, there has been literal distance

between Evan and his family. His father works in China for the majority of the year and his older brother lives on the East Coast, leading to Evan and his mother not celebrating many holidays.

“I guess in some sense, I was born here and I’m kind of used to this culture, so it’s not like I was raised in China where Thanksgiving and Christmas aren’t a thing,” Evan said. “Even more than that, it’s still nice to have a holiday where a family gets together and people are thankful for what they have on Thanksgiving, and they celebrate being together and that closeness on Christmas.

I think that’s a wonderful thing.”

While Evan has celebrated Chinese New Year a few times before, he always wanted the chance to see what others do on a normal Christmas day.

“If your family isn’t the type to be festive, if you would rather spend time with somebody else

who is or even if you would rather have your own family trying to do something more than they normally would, it’s a great idea (to spend holidays with friends),” Evan said. “It’s a great thing to see people getting together and celebrating and being thankful for each other. That’s always something that people should celebrate and be thankful for.”

For Mira Fefferman, fresh-

man, her Christmas tree does not use the average green and red colors. Instead, Mira’s tree features blue and white, representing the colors of the Israeli flag.

A menorah will accompany her tree when Hanukkah begins Dec. 24.

Though Mira is Jewish, her mother’s Catholic side has led to a diverse celebration for her during

Two week Holiday Class

starting Dec. 27 & ending Jan. 7

1-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

the Hanukkah and Christmas seasons.

“At the holidays we’re just all together and we all have a lot of fun,” Mira said. “My cousins go to this school, too. I don’t see them much in school, but outside of school, when we get together, I really like the family bond that we have. We have a lot of family friends that come over, and I think family and friends are the most important things around the holidays.”

Mira refers to this time as the “Christmakkah” season, a word combining the two holidays she celebrates, Christmas and Hanukkah. Her family’s different religions created cherished traditions for her, such as ordering Chinese food on Christmas Eve or making latkes, potato pancakes, for Hanukkah.

“We go to a Hanukkah dinner at my temple. A lot of people that don’t come regularly to temple go, so you get to see people who went off to college or people from out of town. It’s really nice to see everyone,” Mira said. “I don’t religiously celebrate Christmas, but I do celebrate by seeing my family. Christmas day we go to my mom’s family and we all get together

and exchange gifts and eat a big dinner together.”

As both Hanukkah and Christmas approach, Mira focuses on preparing Hanukkah songs in the music program at her synagogue, Temple Beth-El, and grows excited to see her mom’s family.

“I think (being in an interfaith family) is really cool because even though I don’t study Catholicism, I think it’s really cool to see how others embrace the teachings,” Mira said. “My mom’s side of the family is very Catholic, so they’re very involved in the church.

They still believe strongly in their beliefs and even though I believe strongly in my beliefs, when we come together it doesn’t matter what we believe in. We all believe in one God. It’s really nice to have a family that’s diverse.”

Right now, a nail polish set, toy car, lotion and fluffy gloves sit neatly packaged in wrapped shoeboxes, ready for children to receive for Christmas.

Since she could walk, Paige Mecyssine, senior, has participated in a Catholic charity event with her mom and brother. At an auto repair shop in St. John, about 25 to 50 volunteers gather each year and fill shoeboxes with toys and toiletries for Chicago children in need. “(We started doing this charity because my mom’s) group of college friends were doing it and of course, it’s a good thing to do,” Paige said. “And it’s just a tradition we do. It’s my favorite part of the holidays. It’s really festive. We

all dress up and have little hats and make little ornaments.”

While Paige does not have any religious beliefs, she has never considered not helping in this charity event or any others, such as when her 4-H group created “Boxes of Blessings” for veterans. “(My holiday season) is more about helping the needy and celebrating and being with family and friends than celebrating Jesus or anything,” Paige said. “I don’t think (not being religious) changes anything.”

42% 12% 46%

want “Merry Christmas” want “Happy Holidays” say it doesn’t matter

out of10 non-Christians 8celebrate Christmas in the U.S. source: pewresearch.org

He will watch a movie or maybe visit downtown Chicago once in a while. For Bryce Bullock, sophomore, he describes his Christmas as a normal day.

“In our religion we like to separate ourselves from what most people do,” Bryce said. “We do the other holidays like Thanksgiving, New Year’s, Fourth of July. We just don’t do Christmas, Halloween, Easter (and) things like that.”

As a Jehovah’s Witness, Bryce has different religious traditions regarding celebrating holidays.

“When I was little I wished I did Christmas like everyone else,” Bryce said.

“Sometimes when I was younger we would go downtown to go to a hotel or something because my mom knew as kids we saw our friends doing other stuff, so she would sit down and explain to us, but this has been going on for fifteen years now, so it’s my normal.”

photo by Easan Venkat

TRADITIONAL TUNES Playing the guitar, Mira Fefferman, freshman, rehearses Hanukkah songs with the junior choir at Temple Beth-El. Mira both performs and teaches in her choir. “I really like helping out at my temple because I really love helping all the kids, and I feel like I’m a big sister to a lot of them,” Mira said. “I feel like I’ve become of the Temple Beth-El family more.”

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7

Rethinking the season

TOGETHER

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infocus

dec. 9, 2016

order

Add to

Students, administrator discuss food deliveries to school, possibility of policy if issues erupt Joseph Bermudez Copy Editor

Sofía Navarro Page Editor

Staying late to work on a speech? Order Jimmy John’s.

Practice runs until six tonight? Order Jimmy John’s. Forgot your lunch at home? Order Jimmy John’s.

For a convenient after-school meal, Jimmy John’s is typically a student’s first option. Despite this, individuals who order from the sandwich delivery service may not realize the inconvenience they cause, according to Jimmy John’s employee Reily Opilka, senior. Reily’s father is also the owner of the Munster Jimmy John’s.

“Sometimes, our delivery guys are stuck waiting outside for a student who ordered a delivery to the school,” Reily said. “And because they’re waiting, it creates more complaints from other people because they’re stuck waiting for the students.”

After working for Jimmy John’s for two years, Reily has witnessed several situations involving the students’ interactions with her co-workers, resulting in frustrated delivery personnel and complaints from students.

“They’ll (deliver the order), but they don’t like the fact that most students don’t tip, or when students call to complain that their sandwich is late because our delivery guys are also delivering to the hospital around that time after school,” Reily said.

Until the delivery situation gets out of hand, no written policy will be created, according to Mr. Morgan Nolan, assistant principal.

“We don’t have too many concerns about (after school),” Mr. Nolan said. “We try to manage it the best we can though. If we have concerns with kids ordering food, we’ve disciplined them for that. We’ve asked them to stop and then if they continue to do that, they get disciplined. We have a lot of parents who drop off lunches for kids because they forget things, but it’s hard to say that we won’t allow any food deliveries because you’re telling parents you can’t bring your kid’s lunch during a school day, so it’s kind of a hard to enforce a

Short order

Food deliveries discussed

40%

all information in brackets applies to the 40% of respondents who have had food delivered to the school

of students have had food delivered to school

no blanket policy.”

Taking students who forget their lunch into consideration, if students begin to abuse the fact that there is no set policy, administration will have no choice but to intervene.

“You can order a pizza and have it delivered to school, but only after school. We can’t have that sort of thing during lunch,” Mr. Nolan said. “The big reason is, it’s not like we don’t want the kids buying big meals like that, but we don’t have the resources to manage 1,500 plus deliveries coming in every day. Currently, it’s manageable and we’re trying to keep it that way.”

Some students like Ashley Ballard, senior, appreciate the fact that there is no set policy and take advantage of the convenience ordering food and having it delivered to the school brings.

“I usually order Jimmy John’s about four times a month,” Ashley said. “I don’t have money on me, I have my credit card, so I just order Jimmy John’s. I don’t really like the school lunches here. If I forget my lunch or don’t have time to make one at home, I’ll just order something online.”

Jimmy John’s employees and students alike have found the delivery situation frustrating, but the solution may be more simple than anticipated, according to Reily. She believes that, if students simply pay for their food and tip online, the delivery time could be reduced.

“Students should be allowed to have food delivered, but there should be set times, online orders only, and the orders be placed in advance so the food does get there on time,” Reily said.

Along with Reily’s suggestion of ordering online, she also suggests students should simply be more understanding and respectful of employees.

“A majority of the students here know I work (at Jimmy John’s) and my dad owns one, they decide to complain to me about the delivery time if it’s like an hour late or something,” Reily said. “They don’t realize that they are not the only customers.”

on average students had food delivered to have been told that they the school could not have food students have ordered delivered during school Jimmy Johns times a however there are no current to school month rules on the subject

91%

31%

3

When to order?

79% of all respondents think food deliveries to the school should always be allowed

75%

ordered food after school

46%

ordered food during school or lunch

the sum of the percents equals more than 100% because respondents were allowed to select both choices

source: Crier survey of 551 students on Google Forms from Dec. 5-7

photo by Lauren Kozy

FREAKY FAST In the main office, Gabriella Herrera, senior, picks up her order from Jimmy John’s for lunch. Whenever Gabriella has food delivered to the school, she calls in ahead of time so her food can be ready for lunch. “Jimmy John’s is more convenient than anything,” Gabriella said. “I never eat the lunch here. I either bring my own lunch or order Jimmy John’s.”

Tipping tips Standard tipping is between 15% and 20%.

Below is a simple way to tip 20% on any bill Meal: J.J.B.L.T., Jimmy Chips Original, regular drink Cost: $9.75 Step 1: Move decimal point in final bill one place left

9.75=.975

Step 2: Round up to the nearest even number

.975 =1

Step 3: Double the number

1x2=2 The tip should be at least $2.00

photo illustration by Lauren Kozy

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Showing some Dance begins competition season

pr mise

Mimi Brody Page Editor After winning two consecutive state championships in Pom, the Dance team is hopes to start their season off with a bang on Saturday, when they will compete at Marion High School.

The team will be competing two dances this weekend, a Pom dance, where they use pom-poms, and a Jazz dance.

“Our Jazz dance is called ‘Rise Up’. It is about being in tough times in your life and knowing that you will get through them, especially with everything that has happened in Munster recently. That is what we think of when we perform the dance,” Emma Harvath, junior, said.

While the team usually places in the top five at State in Jazz, Coach Cynthia Banas, WWMS teacher, believes that the team has a good chance of placing with their Pom routine.

“Our Pom is really strong, we have been working hard on it since the summer,” Coach Banas said. “Pom consists of lots of jumps, tricks, turns and visuals with the poms. It is a pretty strenuous dance. The girls need to go full out with lots of smiles and showmanship, really just give the best performance they can.”

The team is strong when it comes to experience and the unity that they share, according to Coach Banas.

“This year we have eight seniors, which makes a huge difference,” Coach Banas said. “Hopefully it will be a strength, due to their experience. The team also bonded really quickly throughout the summer and got close. I think that is a big strength because it shows they are willing to work with each other and push each other.”

Harvath also agrees that the strong bonds the team shares will act as a big strength.

“We all have been dancing with each other for a really long time,” Harvath said. “I have danced with most of the team for years at dance studios and on the school team. It’s been a long time running, so we all have a pretty similar style.”

However, she also believes sometimes the tight-knit nature of the team can be both a blessing and

column

The debate regarding the legalization of marijuana is shrouded in controversy, outrage and misinformation, which individuals may take an invariable stance on. For some, marijuana exists as a medical necessity; to others, marijuana may carry many benefits for their everyday lives.

Seantrel Henderson, a Buffalo Bills offensive lineman, was suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy which forbids players from using or being in possession of the drug.

While this occurrence may seem typical, Henderson’s story is not. In the middle of last season, he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a life-threatening inflammatory bowel disease which causes severe abdominal pain among many other debilitating symptoms.

A study done by the Israel Medical Association Journal shows that, out of 30 patients who used marijuana

9

SIDE NOTE on sports

a curse.

“We are so close. Because of this, we sometimes get really unfocused in practices because we will start talking and laughing with each other, which can help us get through a long practice,” Harvath said. “But sometimes, we need to work on not getting distracted during those long practices.”

Looking forward, Coach Banas hopes to defend these titles, and even aim for a national final.

“We have made it to preliminary rounds in past years, but the choreographers feel very positive about (making it to finals),” said Coach Banas. “There is still a lot of work to do, but I think we have the drive and determination that could pull it off.”

Intramural Volleyball What: Student Government Volleyball tournament Where: MHS field house When: last Wednesday Result: Team Visor Instead of a single game like past years, this year 16 teams played against each other in a bracket. The winning team was “Team Visor,” which included juniors Jack Strimel, Jeremiah Eaton, Connor Meyer, Alex Weakland, Josh Hoogewerf, Abby Nita, Olivia Foley, Sara Mavity, Luciano Medina, Cody Reinsma, Adam Reinsma, and Anusuya Bandyopadhyay.

“I liked being the moral support,” Connor said. “I was just the comedic effect of the team that made everyone laugh because of my playing, and that laughter

Boys’ Swimming and Diving What: meet vs. Crown Point Where: at Crown Point When: Saturday at 10 a.m.

Record: 3-0 Boys’ Swimming and Diving has been putting work in all season and they hope it will pay off as they take on Crown Point, one of their biggest rivals.

“They are usually a good team, we have had trouble with them in the past.

We have won in the past, and we plan to win again. We just need to swim fast and swim smart,” Matt Dempsey, senior, said.

Speaking the Language Dancer provides definitions of common dance terms

Pirouette: A spin in which a dancer turns around on one leg, with the other off the ground in Passé (one leg is bent with the foot placed near the other leg’s knee)

Arabesque:

Girls’ Swimming and Diving

a position where the body is supported on one leg extended directly behind the body with a straight knee

What: meet vs. Crown Point Where: at Crown Point When: Saturday at 10 a.m.

Record: 2-1 Before even going into their meet at Fouetté: Crown Point, the Girls’ Swimming and a pirouette performed with a Diving team knows that it will be a chalraised leg to the side lenge.

“Crown Point is an exceptionally good team. Some of their girls have olympic trial cuts, it’s crazy. I think we have a chance of winning becuase we have a source: Jill Cuvala, sophomore much deeper team than them. We have photo by Joseph Bellachen PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT While practicing the Pom dance, Melissa Fron- more girls that can swim more events, inczek, senior, gets ready to go into a turn. “I think Pom is Munster’s strong stead of their girls who are just good at suit. We are really trick-oriented and we have a wide variety of skills that one event,” Bella Blackford, junior, said. we are good at, so that’s where we can really showcase it,” Fronczek said.

Where to draw Sofía Navarro Page Editor

sports

dec 9, 2016

the line

to treat their Crohn’s disease, 21 individuals found that their symptoms improved significantly after treatment.

For a disease which requires steroids, immunosuppressants and sometimes invasive surgery to control, simply smoking a joint could provide a safer and more effective form of relief.

This begs the question: if Seantrel Henderson was using legal medical marijuana, why was he suspended?

According to the NFL’s substance abuse policy, even players who use marijuana legally will be suspended after testing positive for the drug. This is a huge issue for players seeking medical benefits of marijuana.

According to Marijuana as Medicine, a textbook published by The National Academy Press, marijuana aids in muscle relaxation and reduces anxiety, allowing athletes to enter a focused, meditative state which benefits overall performance. The drug can also help individuals

deal with pain and inflammation and acts as a powerful sleep aid, improving recovery time.

Although the idea that smoking cannabis positively improves athletic performance may sound ridiculous, the World Anti-Doping Agency has actually been loosening its restrictions on cannabis since 2013. Even while competing in the Olympics, individuals may test positive for up to 150 nanograms of THC, the active chemical in cannabis. This means that, while participants may not use marijuana in the weeks before competing, the threshold allows for use of the drug while training.

While more studies continue to validate the various medical benefits of marijuana, we cannot fully accept these findings until we abandon the notion that using the drug is immoral and dangerous. In school systems around the country, students are taught from a young age that individuals who use marijuana are slow, intelligible criminals, rather than patients seeking a homeopathic form of relief. High school health curricula stress that marijuana has “no legitimate medical use,” despite various studies done by the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs which suggest the drug may treat a range of disorders, including PTSD and multiple sclerosis.

Whether an individual uses marijuana for simple pain relief or to reduce symptoms of a life-threatening disease, we can no longer deny its use as a valuable medicine.

10

sports

dec. 9, 2016

It’s all Basketball

Biddy Ball continues season; Boys’ Basketball, Girls’ Basketball play games tonight

Biddy Ball Josh Kim Page Editor

photos by Weronika Bilek and Danijela Kaurin

UP FOR GRABS (top) During the Biddy Ball game, Mavericks player, Kyle Buvala, senior, (5) attempts a layup. The Thunder beat the Mavericks on Dec. 4. EYES WIDE OPEN (left) With the ball in her possession, Shooting Guard, Maddy Lakomek, sophomore, (5) attempts to make a pass to Small Foward, Delaney McGinty, freshman, (32) during the 67-25 loss against LC. TAKING CHARGE (right) With his hands in the air, Tony Daniels, junior, (5) defends Hammond High School’s Small Foward, Caleb Coleman, senior, (3) on Dec. 2, the Mustangs beat Hammond by 57-49. “They (Hammond) were a pretty good team, we prepare a lot for them, we knew what it was going to be like, but it’s different once you get out there,” Daniels said. “I mean, you have practiced all week, but it’s different once you get out there.”

Gavin Hamilton Graphics Assistant

Boys’ Basketball

Boys’ Basketball views East Chicago team as a rival and has prepared to play against them tonight at East Chicago, according to Coach Michael Hackett, Health teacher.

Girls’ Basketball beat Lowell last year, but this year it “First of all, East Chicago is always a big rivalry game may be a harder feat to accomplish because of obsta- for us,” Coach Hackett said. “We usually have to play cles at the beginning of the season which hindered the each other at Sectionals, so it’s always an exciting, tough, team, according to Coach Jim Davidson, PLTW teacher. ball game, and I anticipate that this year’s game will be “(Because) it’s a conference game and the same as the past years’.” we got off to a slow start this year, it’s one Rules of the game The team’s current record is 3-1, a of those games that we really need to find Comparison of Biddy Ball record which Coach Hackett attributes a way to win,” Coach Davidson said. “It and school basketball to how the players have worked to imshould be a real competitive ball game.” prove this year.

Biddy Ball  sign up to join The team has had a difficult start due to Although this year’s team has mostly  only two practices injuries, forcing newer players to step up, younger students, they also have hustle, School Team according to Coach Davidson. a good attitude and depth, according to  tryout to join “You mix inexperience with three key Coach Hackett.  daily practice injuries of key players and we’ve had a Both “Over half of the team are sophopretty rough start to the season because  coaches select players mores or below,” Coach Hackett said.  have regular seasons of those things,” Coach Davidson said.

“I expect it to be a learning year, a year “but the girls are working hard they are of gaining experience, and hopefully we Source: Milan Obradovic and Jake Ingoglia still positive, we are just trying to find a way to be more can win a lot of games along the way.” competitive and trying to find a way to win ball games.”

Though the Freshmen on the team are inexperienced, Girls’ Basketball starts to improve and play better, how they have done so far shows potential for future with a record of 2-8, according to Kim Giannini, junior. teams, according to Jacob Anderson, junior.

“We’ve had our ups and downs,” Giannini said.

“I feel like it’s really going to be good for the program “We’ve come close to having several wins that unfortu- in the future because we’ve got off to this great start nately became losses, but we are starting to get our foot- and hopefully if it keeps going, it goes on for years to ing and the freshmen who are playing Varsity are begin- come and return to how Munster basketball used to ning to mature and really take their place on the team.” be,” Anderson said.

Girls’ Basketball

For the past five weeks, 12 teams have been playing against each other on the basketball court, not only aiming to win, but aiming to have fun with their friends as well. According to Milan Obradovic, senior, that’s what all players reason is in joining the league.

“Biddy Ball is kind of like a fun alternative for the school team. It’s a lot more relaxed, plus you get to play with a lot of your friends,” Obradovic said. “It’s something you look forward to every weekend. You just look forward to waking up every Sunday and playing against all your buddies.”

Unlike the school basketball team, where players try out in order to make the team, students who sign up for Biddy Ball are chosen by the parents who volunteer coach.

“Everyone is in one room, all the coaches and people filling in for coaches. It’s kind of like a lottery,” Jake Ingoglia, senior, said. “Everyone gets a number, and you have a sheet with everyone’s name on it. When someone drafts, the name is said out loud so others can cross the name out, and it keeps going until everyone is chosen.”

Usually, it is the coaches who draft the players, but there is a reason why some students are allowed to draft their team in place of their parents.

“I’m 18, so I am legally able to draft in place of my dad who is the actual coach. There were a couple of students who drafted their team,” Ingoglia said. “The commissioner understands that the kids know the players better so he’s fine with kids drafting.”

Once the Biddy Ball teams are drafted, they start with only two practices before playing weekly games. Obradovic, who has been playing Biddy Ball since elementary school, believes the teams do not require constant practices.

“For basketball, you don’t really need a set play every time,” Obradovic said. “In the two practices we do have we try to put in some plays to run in certain situations, but usually the players kind of do their own thing and figure out a way to score.”

Being successful and winning may be the main goals in Biddy Ball, but Ingoglia believes that having a close bond with teammates is an equally as important factor in playing.

“You’re playing with people that you don’t know.

You get to know them and form a bond with that little group,” Ingoglia said. “It’s more family like because I got really close with my team. That’s one of the cool things about Biddy Ball, you get close with kind of a random group of kids.”

Having fun with the team is important in Biddy Ball, and according to Kathir Venkat, freshman, winning isn’t everything.

“I think my team lacks overall in ability. We just can’t really play, so we’re not very good,” Venkat said. “(But we keep playing) because it’s fun, we don’t care about winning, we care about playing, because that’s what makes Biddy Ball fun.”

One of the big differences in Biddy Ball this season compared to last year is how the league balances the teams.

“This year, I think the league is a lot more spread out than last year,” Obradovic said. “Last year there were a lot of kids who just joined biddy Ball. A lot of the coaches didn’t know who the new kids in the league were, so they were concentrated on the same team so we had some really good teams and some really bad teams. But this year, the talent is more spread out. All the teams are pretty equal and it’s a lot more competitive.”

As the Biddy Ball season continues, Ingoglia is always excited to play every Sunday.

“One of my favorite parts about Biddy Ball is that each week I’m playing against my best friends who are on other teams,” Ingoglia said,. “There’s a lot of friendly trash talk. There’s this kind of funny vibe, because you’ve never played against (your friends) usually, you’re playing with them. It’s like two Goliaths battling against each other. Every Sunday, you just look forward to playing because you have to go play basketball against some of your best friends. It’s a fun environment.”

dec. 9, 2016

sports

Butting heads The Take down

11

Wrestling members discuss Traicoff Tournament tomorrow, feelings about season as a whole If your opponent sprawls, (like Will Rojas, freshman, in photo) the take down fails

A step-by-step guide on how to perform a take down your level 1.Lower by bending your knees

your 2. Slide knee between

your opponent 4.Ifdoes not sprawl, you should slide up from his knees and drive your shoulders into his waist

up on your 5.Go toes and form

opponent’s legs

a T shape with body

the 3.Grab opponent by his knees

photo by Melanie Powers

graphic by Gavin Hamilton

source: Josh Brann, senior

PIN AND WIN Last Friday at practice, Luke Hermansen, freshman, performs a take down on Will Rojas, freshman, in order to prepare for matches. “I think I have improved a lot since last year,” Rojas said. “Last year, I didn’t do so well. I lost twice last year, but I don’t think I will this year.”

Gavin Hamilton Graphics Assistant With a long day of matches tomorrow, Wrestling prepares to compete in the Chris Traicoff Memorial Wrestling Invitational at Calumet High School, a meet that has proved a long and difficult one in the past years, according to Coach Michael Crary.

“It’s probably one of the most challenging super duels in state, in the northern half of the state for sure, with really tough teams. I’m hoping we can win a duel or two, possibly. It’s a long day. A really long, challenging day for everybody,” Coach Crary said. “We’ll probably wrestle five or six times there, so to win one or two duels for the inexperienced team we have would be a real big accomplishment. We’re looking to just really compete. To do our best to compete hard.”

Last year the team competed in the tournament, winning two of their six duels. Most of the team lacks experience, causing the team to not score well as a whole.

“We had some really good individual performances, but as a team, again we were a little inexperienced so we ended up towards the bottom of the field,” Coach Crary

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said. “I doubt we will be much better than that as a team record of 2-4. The tournament is their first tournament this year but again if we can go out there and take our of the year and prepares them well for the rest of the mental game with us I’ll be proud of season they have approaching, Worthy of the name these kids.” according to Josh Brann, senior.

Due to the competition being Annual Tournament named in “It’s a big deal because it’s getting tough, some wrestlers are nervous memorial of Chris Traicoff us ready for the individual tournaabout their matches, according to p In honor of Chris Traicoff’s ments we are going to have to work Cody Crary, junior. through, towards the end of the seadeath in 1989, Calumet’s “I have some nerves about some son,” Brann said. “There are some former athletic director, this people that I’m going to be wrestling,” pretty good teams at Traicoff.” meet was named The Chris Crary said. “Some better people who To increase their team’s experience Traicoff Memorial Wrestling will let me see where I’m at and how I level, wrestling started practicing earInvitational will be doing later in the season.” lier and practicing harder this year.

While the team may not score well p Wrestlers often call this meet “It’s all about staying healthy. It’s the Traicoff Tournament overall, the duels can provide an opall about getting a little bit better and portunity for the members to see how learning from our mistakes. Getting p Traicoff reestablished wrestling better every week, every day if posthey stack up personally against other at Calumet and hired the teams. sible,” Coach Crary said. “We talk school’s first wrestling coach “I’m excited to see where I fall I about it every day. We talk about in 1965 source: Indianamat.com guess,” Crary said. “Where I’m at in coming in (to practice) with the atticomparison to the other people I’ll be tude that today’s going to be the day that I do something different. Our motto is what you wrestling later on in the season.”

Going into the tournament, the wrestlers have a don’t give today you will regret tomorrow.”

12

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student life

dec. 9, 2016

Making the GR

DE

First grading period ends; students, faculty discuss grading practices ting forth effort and getting some credit for trying is valid, but at some point I think you need to be able to show you understand the concepts,” Mrs. Harris said. “We have As the end of the semester draws near- standards based curriculum and our state er and nearer, students like Meredith Lee, requires students to show they understand senior, might find themselves anxiously re- standards, so I think our grading should folfreshing the PowerSchool homepage hop- low suit.” ing to see a change in their grades, however Mr. Matthew Kalwasinski, social studies so slight. teacher, believes that grading based on per“I easily check my grades ten times a day, formance is the best way to prepare kids for even if I know they aren’t going to change,” the road ahead.

Meredith said.

“I think effort is important. That kids are Various factors go into students getting trying, doing their work and paying attenthe grades they want. Currently, Munster tion in class, and they should be rewarded uses a system in which a student’s final in some regard, but it comes down to performgrade is comprised of usually two parts; as- ing,” Mr. Kalwasinski said. “The real world is sessments and homework. This system puts about performance. If you an emphasis on tests. are saying just give me efMatt Kvasnica, senior, fort, I don’t think that is a believes that if applied real-world situation.” correctly, tests are a good Argument for, against While one can argue way to gauge a student. effectiveness of “no-zero” over which method of asHowever, he also thinks policy on 100 point scale sessing students would be that while they should the most beneficial for stuThe case against zeros play a large part in deter- Standard-Based grading relies on dents, according to Nick mining a student’s grade, averaging. Zeros then drastically Dorai, sophomore, stuthey should promote un- alter trueness of grades. dents decide what grades derstanding the subjects they receive, as both effort The case for zeros and not just cramming Without incentives, students and ability play a role in the night before. will not complete assignments how students perform.

“If students are too or put forth effort for best work “America’s letter based focused on the grade or grading scale or any gradwhat they get on tests, source: Gina Caneva, teacher and writer ing scale in general will they are not actually fo- of “For students’ sake, say no to ‘No-Zero never accurately measure Policy’ on grading” cused on mastering the a person’s intelligence,” concepts,” Matt said.

Nick said. “Ultimately, “Teachers should teach the concepts first getting F’s or D’s just comes down to a stuand foremost, but ideally they should make dent not trying. As far as ability goes, you their tests such that the test actually tests actually have to put forth effort of some how much they have mastered, not just sort to show your true ability.” what they could remember. “ According to Math Department Head Mrs. Katherine Harris, separating a final Finals Schedule Wednesday Thursday grade into these categories can also tell Tuesday teachers if students are grasping the stan- 1: 7:35-8:55 3: 7:35-8:55 2: 7:35-8:55 dards being taught.

2: 9:02-9:40 1: 9:02-9:32 1: 9:02-9:32 “I think your grade should reflect what you know and can do. Since we have a 3: 9:47-10:25 2: 9:39-10:09 3: 9:39-10:09 mix of assessment, project, or homework, 4: 10:32-11:10 4: 10:16-11:36 4:10:16-10:46 I think that that shows if a student under5: 11:17-11:55 5: 11:43-12:13 5:10:53-12:13 stands standards or not,” Mrs. Harris said.

Using a grading system in which a high- 6: 12:02-1:22 6:12:20-12:50 6:12:20-12:50 er weight is placed on assessments rather 7: 1:29-2:07 8: 12:57-1:27 7: 12:57-1:27 than homework places an emphasis on a 8: 2:14-2:55 7: 1:34-2:55 8: 1:34-2:55 student’s ability. According to Mrs. Harris, while both effort and ability are essential, New to this year, the schedule does not follow a grades should focus primarily on ability. normal day. Th highlighted hour is when you are “I think that it should be both, initially put- taking that hour’s final.

Mimi Brody Page Editor

On a curve

BACK TALK Today is National Lost and Found day. What is one thing you want to leave in 2016?

“My procrastination... that’s not going to happen... it’s going to follow me.”

Clara Terry, freshman

“Feminazis. Not the equality people, the women that think they are more dominant than men.”

Ronan Meyer, freshman

Changing the grade

Other schools’ grading policies differ Carmel High School Carmel, Ind.

No deadlines Students are allowed to submit assignments as late as they would like to for full credit

“The dog filter because it’s overused and annoying.”

“My bad grades because I don’t want colleges to see them.”

Javaughn Richards, sophomore

Bilal Salem, sophomore

“As a die hard Warriors fan, I would want to leave behind the Cavaliers’ championship. Also Trump.”

“Everything, that’s it. This year has been crappy just in general.”

Unlimited Retakes

Students are allowed to retake tests as many times as they want to for the best grade

Consequences for cheating Students’ parents receive a call when students are caught cheating on an exam. Students are then allowed to retake a different version of the test made by the teacher source: Mr. Patrick O’Neill, science teacher

YOUR zero TAKE onpolicies “I would be for it because there are some classes that are very hard, and if you have small points you can bring your grade up, which would help in really difficult math or science classes like AP Chem.”

-Micah Flahaven, junior “I feel like this is not a big deal at MHS because it has always gotten pretty good marks, but for the kids that aren’t doing so well this would be nice because it is kind of catering to their success a little bit better. In our school’s mission statement, they say that you are supposed to help every kid succeed, so this would be nice to have.”

Kinan Kudaimi, junior

“Anxiety over pointless things that do not matter because I want to be happy.”

Anna Slosser, senior

Fayth Schutter, junior

“I want to lose this presidential election and find Bernie Sanders, because Trump is awful and Hilary also is awful.”

Joshua Ruiz, senior

-Katie Dedelow, junior “I think its smarter for the kids that aren’t as good of test takers as others. Sometimes you understand what you are doing and you just screw it up.

Especially people with dyslexia or something like that, where they have the right steps and they mess up a number, but they can’t help it.”

-Grace Helmer, freshman

“30 lbs.”

Mr. Jeff Hamstra math teacher

“I feel like as a society that there has been hatred spewed and there hasn’t been acceptance of each other so I wish to put all of these negative feelings behind us.”

Mrs. Audrey Fuhs foreign language teacher