4.21.17

MUNSTER HIGH SCHOOL

8808 Columbia Ave. Munster, IN 46321 vol. 51/issue 11/april 21, 2017

If the referendums don’t pass...

Read on page 8

2

news

april 21, 2017

SIDE NOTE on news Poetry Club

What: Poetry slam When: April 22, 4 p.m.

Where: Sip Coffee House in Highland There is an upcoming poetry slam at Sip Coffee House that will feature many members of Poetry Club reading their poems. This will be the first official opportunity that Poetry Club members will have to present their work to others outside of Poetry Club. Mrs. Kelly Barnes, English teacher and Poetry Club sponsor, encourages students to come out to the slam.

“Well, I feel like the poetry slam is a showcase of all the work they’ve done, but I really think they’re just really exposing their hearts and their souls, and it’s interesting to see a different type of outlet in our building,” Mrs. Barnes said.

Robotics What: State When: April 7 Where: Huntington North High School Robotics closed out their season in Indianapolis earlier this month, claiming 13th in the state. While they did not qualify for Worlds, they were only four teams away from qualifying which Mrs. Lyndee Govert, math teacher, calls a success.

“I feel like they did an amazing job,” Mrs. Govert said. “I feel like the students took my expectations and blew them out of the water. Moving forward, we have a lot of things that we’re looking forward to, as far as community outreach especially that we want to work on.”

As the season closes, Robotics looks toward next year. They want to increase their team beyond just those who can build a robot, but those who can complete other tasks.

“There’s so much more to it than just robots,” Mrs. Govert said. “Moving forward, we’re trying to grow that part of it because successful teams have that foundation based on improving and learning, and the success on the field comes later.”

SADD

What: Safe Prom Activity Fair When: Wednesday during lunch Where: MHS Commons In the week before Prom, SADD will have a “Safe Prom Activity Fair.” The activity fair will have several booths used to inform students of the dangers of destructive decisions and to prevent students from making them.

“It’s not worth getting hurt,” Sponsor Mrs. Jessica Baird, math teacher, said.

“It’s not worth making the wrong decisions. If you can change the mind of one student to make a better choice, whether their friends are making that same choice or not, it’s worth it. If it saves one student’s life, it’s worth it.”

Corrections In issue ten of Crier, on page 1 the photo “All Aboard” was taken

by Weronika Bilek. On page 2 the GoFundMe policy was not a School Board policy, but an administrative policy. Also, Easan Venkat, junior, should have been identified as a publications member. On page 5, Nikki Biesteck’s name was mispelled. On page 10, Sarah Jonhson, junior, should be quoted as saying, “If you lack team chemistry, your team kind of falls apart. You’re not on the same page and you don’t have symmetry. You want to have symmetry between your teammates because it allows for speed, accuracy, and efficiency.” Crier regrets these errors.

itch

perfect Josh Kim Page Editor

Chorale prepares for upcoming ISSMA competition with new choir director Although there is a lot of pressure for the Chorale as the expectations for the group to do well is high, Mr. Robinson trusts that they will be able to perform well at ISSMA. “It’s been very exciting for me. It is nice to be teaching with students that have a lot of drive, and passion, and desire to want to be really good. They know this bar has been set and they don’t want to go any lower than that,” Mr. Robinson said. “I have every confidence that they are going to qualify for state finals.

I feel like that Chorale is in a great place considering we still have two and a half weeks to go until contest. I think things are in excellent shape.”

As Chorale is the top choir in the school, James Sroge, sophomore, believes that one of the reasons why they can perform very well is because the students can work as a team.

“It (teamwork) matters a lot because there are a few components you need when singing in a choir and teamwork is one thing,” James said. “You need to listen to the people around you to make sure you match and are one choir.”

According to Alex, not only does good

team composition help with the performance, but it also helps calm the nerves.

“I think it really takes the nervousness off of you once you realize you are there with a group instead of just yourself, the pressure isn’t all on you,” Alex said. “But then again you want to do well individually so that the group can succeed and you won’t disappoint your friends.”

Although they have qualified for ISSMA State for the past three years, this year will still be a challenge for Chorale.

Mr. Robinson believes that the challenge is what motivates the group.

“The desire to really be challenged musically is one of the reasons why that group (Chorale) can do the things that it does, hopefully if you were to ask chorale members, that they feel that they have done a lot of challenging music this year, that they have developed their skill sets,” Mr. Robinson said. “I think that because they are not afraid to try something new to try something difficult that they can come together and focus on dissecting that piece and putting it back together into this amazing thing.”

On April 24, Munster Chorale will compete at Chesterton Middle School for Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) State Qualification. If they qualify, the group will be able to continue their three-year long streak of going to compete in State. Alex Bleza, senior, explains the procedure Chorale must go through in order to be able qualify.

“To qualify for state you have to get a certain score, there is a composite score you have, the performance part of the scoring, which you are scored by three judges on three pieces, and then you have a sight reading score which is a different sort of category,” Alex said. “If you meet a certain point, then you qualify for state. And then state is the top 16 choirs.”

Although the Chorale competed for ISSMA State Qualification the past years, unlike the previous years, the students have been led by a new choir director, Mr. Andrew Robinson, choir teacher.

“This is Mr. Robinson’s first year as a choir director at MHS and he’s been doing a wonderful job,” Alex said, ”In the past we had Mr. William Woods who was our previous choral director, and he did a fantastic job drilling us until we got the music right but also encouraging us to get emotionally involved with the music which really helps with the performance, Mr. Robinson has been doing equally as a director and he also likes us to focus on becoming a cohesive group instead of individuals who are trying to out sing each photo by Danijela Kaurin other , he really wants us FINE TUNING Ella Speckhard, senior, standing between Zoe O’Dea, junior, (left) and Alex Bleza, senior, (right) to work on succeeding as a prepares for her last state qualifying competition. “Out of all the things I’m leaving behind in high school, I’ll miss group.”

Chorale the most. I’ve made so many happy memories and friendships in the chior room,” Ella said.

Out with the old,

In with the new

such a big deal to us, and see throughout the year that a lot of fun was had. We want people to look back at football games and how much fun they were instead of the lack of people that attended.”

Platform

Next year’s class president and vice president have been decided

p

p an

optional MRT for students that are performing well academically

Gavin Hamilton Graphics Editor After weeks of campaigning, Tara Layous and Katie Dedelow, juniors, were announced as student body president and vice-president, respectively, yesterday.Their platform includes various components to help improve the school for both students and staff, according to Tara.

“Our platform is catered to make every student proud to be a student of Munster High School,” Tara said. “One of our big things is spirit; we are really focusing on the voice of our students here at Munster High School and making sure that a lot of progress is made so that we can be a better school as a whole.”

In the next school year, Tara and Katie hope to make progress and make the school a better place for everyone by implementing various changes on their platform, according to Katie.

“We’re hoping people will be able to look back on next year and see how much progress was made,” Katie said. “It was

student evaluations for teachers

p laptop

Tara Layous

charging stations available for students to use before and after school

p implementing

student voices by allowing students to vote on dance themes

p meetings

between presidents from all of the school’s clubs

p MRT

Katie Dedelow

competitions

p more student v. faculty games sources: Tara Layous and Katie Dedelow, juniors.

april 21, 2017

news

3

AP 101

Students prepare for AP exams beginning May 1

ZZZ 50% 6 hours Z

Chloe Wineinger Design Chief

students who are taking the tests get about

of students are taking an AP exam

of sleep a night during the week of their test

students who are taking exams take an average of

photo by Joseph Bellahcen PLAYING THE PART During a rehearsal for “Pirates of Penzance,” (from left to right) Kelly Collins, sophomore; Jamie DeJoan, freshman; Christina Burzynski, sophomore; Kim Giannini, junior; Alex Ramirez, senior; Ariel Velasco, freshman; and Vanessa Pascual, junior, rehearse a scene. “I try to portray (my character the Major General) as this crazy, exotic old funny man,” Alex said.

A

new

direction

Spring musical, “Pirates of Penzance,” nears; theater director discuss first year “The big challenge really has been on the actors to learn the music, memorize the music and then Since the first day of school, the also act with the music as opposed new theater director Mr. Ray Palasz to the standard sort of choir conhas adapted to cert, just standthe theatre coming and singing,” pany’s culture.

Mr. Palasz said.

Show: ”Pirates of Penzance” “There’s alThe show is an Show dates: ways traditions Operetta, which May 4-6 7 p.m. that everybody means it is 90 May 7 2 p.m. has so that was percent song, proPremise: A group of pirates, the viding a new chalone of my big Pirates of Penzance, are contesting things, was findlenge for actors for the hearts of a major generals ing out the big like Kelly Collins, daughters things that peosophomore.

Everyday, with ple expect and source: Kelly Collins, sophomore accommodating those while bring- or without rehearsal, Mr. Palasz ing my own style of doing theater pushes the actors to spend 20 minto Munster,” Mr. Palasz said. utes reading lines or practicing a Now Mr. Palasz and the the- song, a practice which has gotten atre company are preparing for the cast to the good place they are their Spring musical, “Pirates of at now, according to Mr. Palasz.

Penzance,” which opens May 4.

“It’s been a lot of fun, the kids

Ian Brundige Managing Editor

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have really worked hard at it,” Mr. Palasz said. “It’s been nice the past couple of weeks especially seeing everything come together and taking some big strides.”

With a new theater director, choir director (Mr. Andrew Robinson), and choreographer (Mrs. Lyndee Govert, math teacher) leadership in the theatre company is completely different than past years.

“It’s definitely really different from how it was with (Mr. William) Woods (former choir director) and LAB (Dr. Larry Brechner, former auditorium director),” Kelly said.

“I don’t think we have ever really an adult choreographer because we have always had like a student doing it. So it’s really different in that aspect with a new choreography and everything but I think we are all coming together as a cast because we have been doing this for so many years, the seniors have been here for four years we are like a family. We keep together no matter what the leadership changes are and of course (Mr.) Palasz (Mr.) Robinson and (Mrs.) Govert are doing a wonderful job leading us.”

Z

5

2

? “

average number of hours students plan on studying for each test

exams

Taking two AP exams for an AP class a student is enrolled in is necessary to graduate with Academic honors

Why should I take/study for an AP exam?

Students can earn college credit and skip classes in college depending on their score and the college they attend

AP exams kind of sneak up on me every year and it’s not until teachers start doing class review that I realize I should be studying. But if you can pace yourself and focus on practice problems and use the basic test taking strategies that you would use in any standardized test, it all works out.”

Safa Chowdhury, senior

What’s the difference in receiving college credit?

AP tests

Dual Credit

Some AP exams may cost less than dual credit courses if they are covered under state fee reductions, and may be a better option for stronger testers

Dual credit courses through Purdue Northwest allow for college credit based on grade, which gives less strong test takers a better opportunity

source: Crier survey of 387 students on GoogleForm from April 10-17; doe.in.gov; collegeboard.com

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shout outs

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Example: “Congrats on getting into Harvard, Michael.

You’ll be great!”

“Happy Sixteenth Birthday, Isabel!”

Check out our SkoolLive Kiosks in hallways and by the MHS Fieldhouse

4 speakout

april 21, 2017

A gap in logic column Mimi Brody Page Editor

cartoon by Josh Kim

CROSSROADS With May 2 barreling towards them, the community members commit to passing the referendums or not. Voting on new referendumns puts the community between a rock and a hard place—possibly even driving us off the rails.

editorial

A reflection of ourselves

So here we are again: stuck between a rock and hard place.

The two referendums proposed will be put to vote May 2: one regarding operations and another for capital projects. This time, there is a struggle between parties. The town urges the tax payers to fight for a stronger school system.

The community retorts that the school system has dupped them before. Unfortunately, this leaves us at a crossroad, waiting for a decision on the future of our schools.

Staring at the next three years, the town faces a loss of $7 million. If eiOUR The ther referendums are not TAKE community surronding passed, the School Board will be forced to make the schools is responsible for its drastic cuts. Various clubs stability, growth and will be eliminated. Even financial support this newspaper could cease to exist. Sports are at risk. Teachers. Administrators. Secretaries. Coaches. Lunch ladies. Janitors. All at risk.

Without these people, Munster is drastically darker. It is about more than stains on the hallway carpets, inconsistent temperatures in

letter to the editor I’d like to drop a bit of my political insight into this ongoing bias conversation about the Cirer. The entire political landscape of our society, and our school today is incredibly polarized. Our society today seems more prone towards jumping to conclusions about our political opinions than actually researching the is-

CRI ER

classrooms and a caving fieldhouse roof.

It is about losing the people who make us who we are. It is about losing ourselves. Oversized classes and underqualified teachers become realities. Football-less Friday nights and silent auditoriums are realities. Faceless, gutted schools become Munster’s reality. So here we are, between a rock and a hard place, staring at the edge of a cliff.

It can be easy to point fingers. One may be aimed at the state’s funding formula: a formula that insists on the communities support for high quality schools. This community prides itself on high quality schools, and without the continuation of the programs, teachers, staff members and resources that made the School Town of Munster so successful, that reputation will suffer. This community deserves better than that. The teachers and students deserve better schools than that. However, the solution is within the community.

On May 2, the town has the ability to save itself. After all, isn’t the most viable escape from between a rock and a hard place digging our own way out?

sues of today. It saddens me to see how truly polarized the political spectrum has become today. There are an abundance of opinions and stances to take, but people seem to be taking things as black or white, right or wrong, or yes or no.

People call themselves Republicans or Democrats and align themselves with the party so strongly that they completely ignore the entirety of the argument the

Crier, Munster High School’s official student newspaper, may be reached at 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321, phone 219-836-3200, 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

other side is providing. What I am asking is that kids take time to think about the issues before blindly aligning themselves.

It’s highly unlikely that kids our age have experienced any of the issues that impact the nation firsthand. I do believe that the Crier has been putting forth many “liberal” articles, but not due to bias. What issues have we faced other than the major social issues that previous

directly to any staff member or delivered to the 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.

The Staff Editor-in-Chief Jordan Szymanski Design Chief Chloe Wineinger Managing Editor Ian Brundige Copy Editor Joseph Bermudez Graphics Editor Gavin Hamilton

Earlier this month, April 4, was equal pay day. I quickly found myself swimming in news and media condemning pay discrepancies between men and women.

With claims like: “Women only make 80 cents to every man’s dollar.” Skeptical, I concluded that the wage gap is highly inflated and is not necessarily because of sexism in the workplace.

Having a meaningful discussion about the wage gap is challenging due to the many misleading statistics that are glorified by those condemning the gap. For example, the often heard 80 cents statistic is deceptive. The data included a conglomerate of jobs; meaning everyone from white collar to blue collar workers were included. This is troublesome as not all jobs are equal.

According to Pew Research Center, census results show that women are vastly overrepresented in some fields while they are underrepresented in others. Take, for example, nursing, where 90 percent of nurses are women compared to physicians where 65 percent are male. Should a nurse be paid the same amount as a physician? These fluctuations in representation make it troublesome to examine pay discrepancies in total as many high-paying jobs are loaded with men. This is not because females were denied these positions, more so that females had a lower level of interest in these jobs.

Cornell University Professors Francine Blau and Lawrence Kahn took into account factors like prior work experience, education, industry and occupation while conducting their own studies which estimated the actual gap to be 8 percent.

Many complain that women don’t get “equal pay for equal work,” but that is not necessarily true. The Bureau of Labor Statistics show that among full-time workers, men worked longer than women—8.4 hours compared with 7.8 hours respectively.

Furthermore, women currently take on the bulk of childcare duties. A large factor in the wage gap contributes to women taking maternity leave. Harvard Economics professor Claudia Gouldin conducted research that among younger women and those who did not have children, salaries were almost equal between genders. Gouldin also explains that when women have children, they desire more workplace flexibility. These terms come with a cost. What women lose in salary in this situation, they gain in flexibility.

Equal pay is too multi-faceted to be solved with the passing of any legislation, and throwing out misleading slogans and statistics is doing more harm than good.

editions have covered. None of us are effected by NAFTA firsthand or corporate income taxes.

In short, it’s okay to cross the aisle every once in a while. Stand up for what you care about, research what you don’t know about.

Milan Obradovic, senior,

student body vice president

Page Editors Mimi Brody, Josh Kim, Danie Oberman, Carey Scott Business Manager Joseph Bellahcen Head Photographer Weronika Bilek Chief Photographer Danijela Kaurin Photographers Joseph Bellahcen, Lauren Kozy, Vrusti Patel, Melanie Powers, Austin Skeens, Kess Vaitkus, Easan Venkat, Summer Witvoet Backtalk Reporter Alyssa Bass, Samm Flatt, Kaylee Galvan, Catie Gilhooly, Gabe Haro, Luke Hermansen, Adam Klaich, Alex Kojich, Linda Plebanski, Francesca Servi, Erianna Sims, Uriel Soto, Chas Varkalis, Mercedez Williams Adviser Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman

There’s

april 21, 2017

spotlight

an app for that

Jordan Szymanski Editor-in-Chief Ian Brundige Managing Editor

Little known apps that will help you survive daily life

Sleep Cycle

19%

have used sleep cycle

Socratic

12%

Crier Rating Student Rating

Crier Rating Student Rating

have used Socratic

Spothero Crier Rating

8.2%

Student Rating

have used Spothero

GottaGo Crier Rating

3.6%

Student Rating

Venmo

Crier Rating

have used GottaGo

3.4%

Student Rating

Flipp

Crier Rating

have used Venmo

1.4%

Student Rating

have used Flipp

Noon Pacific

1.1%

have used Noon Pacific

Crier Rating Student Rating

Survey results of students who have used these apps; their rankings photo illustrations by Lauren Kozy and Joseph Bellahcen

5

D

aily life is hard. If your phone is already glued to your hand, why not have a handful of apps that will make your life easier? Here’s Crier’s best picks for apps that will do just that.

An alarm clock which tracks your “I have tried at least 15 alarm apps and they sleep. It’s not as creepy as it sounds, you place your are all work the same BUT this one tracks

phone on the corner of your bed when you are going to sleep and based on your movement your sleep quality is tracked. The app’s built-in alarm is then set to ring at the most natural time when you are in light sleep.

sleep so that’s exciting.”

An app that can help with homework using photos. Stuck on a problem? Take a

“Pre-calc is really hard, but is this app technically cheating?”

Ian, Android user

picture and this app sets up for different internet sources to assist you. Instead of just plainly giving you the answer, each source walks you through it step-bystep, giving you the added benefit of showing work.

Ian, Android user “Sleeping these days is no easy task—thankfully there’s an app for that” Jordan, Apple user

“Me in 20 years: ‘Back in my day, we used to have to take pictures of our homework...’”

Jordan, Apple user

Helps find parking spots in cities.

“Imagine a world where you drive to the city and within 15 minute your car is parked and you are actually seeing the city.”

Ian, Android user “Parking is the worst. And directional apps are confusing. Suprisingly, this app is neither.”

Jordan, Apple user

An app to get you out of an undesirable situation. Awkward situations are no rare

“This is app is not available on Android. (But I wish it were)” Ian, Android user

Scoring a good parking spot in Chicago should actually be considered an Olympic sport. With this app, parking spots that won’t break your bank are not only much easier to find, but also simple to monitor and pay for.

occasion—it seems like everyone has felt the need to desperately escape an uncomfortable encounter.

With this app, you can personalize your escape with a staged phone call or a text from someone you know.

“We should all send Chelsea Handler a personal gift basket for creating this app.”

Jordan, Apple user

A money sharing app for friends. We

“I don’t use this app. But I have friends that I wish did because they owe me money.”

Ian, Android user “No one carries around cash anymore—this app is a pretty painless fix that issue.”

Jordan, Apple user

An app that brings you local coupons. Flipp is your one app stop for on-the-go cou-

“Honestly Target is the only store I use this for but even then its worth it.”

Ian, Android user “There are local flyers from Walmart available daily, and really, who doesn’t utilize Walmart?”

Jordan, Apple user

A music app that curates playlist once a week. The least know app on the list,

“This app is ridiculously pretty, I wish playlist came out more than once a week though.”

Ian, Android user “If you pride yourself on music taste, this app will definitely humble you and give you new songs to brag about at the same time.”

Jordan, Apple user

all have the friend who we can rely on to ask us for cash and they will never pay back, the money pit. But now with Venmo there are no more excuses because your friend can digitally send you money from their phone to yours.

pons to all of your favorite stores from Target to CVS. If you give the app permission to access your location, it will update you when there are deals around you, entering an age where everyone can be an “extreme-couponer.”

Noon Pacific brings you some of the least known songs in the world. It is the perfect app to find your new favorite artist or just put on some background music to get you through an all-nighter. With a variety of genres, you never know exactly what you are going to get from Noon Pacific but it will awlays be interesting.

source: Crier survey of 444 students on GoogleForms from April 13-18

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6

Prom

april 21, 2017

Alyssa DeJoan

Priscilla Carvajal

Tim DeRolf

Armani Chavolla

Alex Raycroft

dance

Jordan Szymanski Editor-in-Chief

Have you ever wondered what goes into the cost of a Prom ticket?

How would your freshman self react if they found out they would be on court?

t-shirt DJ $3

$11

$6

“I’d say no way. I feel like I came into high school really not confident at all. I was just a goofy kid.”- Milan Obradovic

$30

decorations venue, rental and food Source: Mr. Dusan Vidovic

Why is it more expensive than last year?

“Last year the hall gave us a deal. This year, they increased prices of food and gratuity, so that is the main reason. A five dollar increase should not make people not go to prom. There is no other cheaper alternative. We could have taken off factors but everything was pretty standard so we didn’t touch it.”

Mr. Dusan Vidovic, math teacher

Chloe Wineinger Design Chief

“I was actually talking about this today with my friend. It was cold today and I was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, so I was kind of shivering. I was telling her how I remember the first day of freshman year I was so nervous and I was shivering because I didn’t know anyone.

I would probably never even think about it, because it’s not that I never knew about Prom court, but I would never believe (that I would one day be on it).”- Armani Chavolla

If you were a real king, what would be your royal decree?

“Replacing all of the water in the water fountains with strawbery-watermelon flavored Kool-Aid.”- Demetri Fotopoulos “Free college education for all.”- Tim DeRolf

Why is your last Prom important to you?

Who was the first to hear about you being on court?

“Dances are such an iconic moment in high school, like in TV shows and movies, so it’s always fun to experience them for yourself. And they always live up to the expectations, like they’re all such a good time with your friends. I mean it’s the last dance, it’s the last time for all of us to go and have fun together.”- Alex Raycroft

“When I heard about the decision, I was sitting in study hall next to Demitri and Ani who also made it on court, so we just kind of looked at each other and smiled. It was a pretty cool moment.”Jake Ingoglia

Since I didn’t go to my junior prom last year, I’m kind of excited to have this memory for the rest of my life because every time I hear people talk about their prom, they really remember it and tell you things like ‘You have to go to

prom. It’s something that sticks with you.’ I’m just excited for that.”- Priscilla Carvajal

If you were to win, what song would you want to dance to with the Who “I Will Follow You by Toulouse or Sign of the Times

by Harry Styles.”- Armani

If you could wear anything to Prom, what would you wear?

my all-time favorite movie.”- Alex

What kind of girl is the perfect Prom queen?

said what

How well do you know your Prom court? !. “I once grabbed a cattle fence when I was younger and held onto it for 15 seconds.”

2. “I’ve never watched an episode of SpongeBob.” 3. “My greatest guilty pleasure is binge-watching ‘Say Yes to the Dress.’”

4. “I used to have a pet lizard, and he only had three legs. His name was Rexy.”

5. “I like to watch the sun rise in the morning. Every now and then I wake up early to watch the sun rise.”

If I could wear anything to prom, it would probably be a celebrity’s dress, like some dress that Beyonce wore at the Oscars or the Grammys, something crazy.”- Sara Ladd “Running shorts and a t-shirt, because it’s comfortable. When I’m wearing a dress, I get sweaty and super hot. I would love to have my hair up in a bun and have fun.”- Priscilla Carvajal

photos by Easan Venkat, Elisa Del Toro, Danijela Kaurin, Vrusti Patel, Weronika Bilek

Haven’t planned your post-Prom yet?

“Someone that is genuine. Someone that is nice to people and takes interest in other people without looking to gain anything.”

-Alyssa DeJoan “I would definitely say someone who is honest and trustworthy, someone who’s very humble, and puts others before herself.”Ani Arzumanian

What do you want to remember about Prom in 20 years?

“I definitely want to remember the people I was surrounded by, because those are just the kids I grew up with my whole life and made all of my memories with. Definite“I would wear the Cinderella dress she ly remember and savor the moments I wore in the live-action Cinderella. That’s make with them.”- Jake 1- Tim 2- Ani 3- Alyssa 4- Alex 5- Jake

Their last

Demetri Fotopoulos

Ani Arzumanian

Sara Ladd

Senior Prom court celebrates

Crier suggests options to make post-Prom easy and memorable Restaurants after Prom

If you prefer a fancy Italian dinner, Giovanni’s offers a post-Prom deal for groups, consisting of a choice from three entree options, a soup or salad, and a choice from three desert options, all for $20.

Café Fondue provides a fun alternative to normal dinner that appeals to a group dynamic.

Be sure to make a reservation soon.

For the Sunday after in Chicago If you’re the type to visit the Art Institute but don’t want to spend the money, both

DePaul and Loyola Universities offer free art museums.

Instead of doing the usual “walking downtown,” rent out some bikes from the city’s Divvy bike stations and tour some scenic spots of the city, such as Kenwood, Oak Park or the university campuses. Twenty-four hour rental is $10.

Dixon’s Florist

DRIVERS EDUCATION !!

7

Jake Ingoglia

Milan Obradovic

Prom cost breakdown

Prom

april 21, 2016

Skip ticket lines and save money by getting a Chicago CityPASS to visit five different museums and attractions for $100. Users can cut their spendings in half, and the passes are valid for nine days.

If you want to go local...

If you don’t want to see other students from school while relaxing at the beach, Wihala Beach in Whiting is a less common option.

Gates will be closed, but visitors are still welcome from 3-7 p.m.

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8

infocus

april 21, 2017

...then what goes next?

from page 1

‘If we cut all the

extracurriculars it would only be a savings of about

half a million.’

School town runs

-Dr. Jeff Hendrix

referendums; district faces $7 million loss in 2020 Jordan Szymanski Editor-in-Chief

T

wo referendums, one for operations and the other for capital projects, will be on a bal-

school. So then what we have to do is make some decisions moving forward. If this doesn’t pass, then are we going to cut a million to a million and a half dollars a year out of the budget for three or four years to try to get to the point where when the tax caps come under and we lose the $4 million and the current referendum we have expires, that is $3 million for the referenda and $4 million that has to come under tax caps. That is $7 million that we won’t have. We are going to have to make sure we have the $4 million dollars somewhere to absorb that tax loss.”

Members of the community, like Chris Baltages,

senior, are weary of another referendum.

Chris: “Munster is often known as the town with a lot of money and, in some cases, that is true, but there a some people that do okay, but they are not that wealthy. And making them pay more because there is certain waste that the school district has is not the solution. Asking more from tax payers when there is more they can cut first. If we cut everything and we streamlined everything and they still needed some money, then maybe I could understand a referendum. Without doing that and with the salaries of the people at the top, I just don’t think its appropriate to ask the tax payers for more money.”

lot May 2. With the vote a week away, the town acknowledges the decisions that will be made if Extracuriculars and elective classes face sigthe referendums don’t pass. Extracurriculars, sports, staff positions are all facing the possibility of suffering. nificant losses without the referendums. For art In hopes to bring attention to the referendums, Crier teacher and art club sponsor, Mrs. Elena Lopez, the desat down with members of community, school and adfunding of the arts is a major concern. ministration to discuss possibilities. Dr. Mrs. Lopez: “It has been a few years that we have Jeff Hendrix, superintendent, urges the been hearing that everything is on the table. I was in The 2013 referendum provides community to be aware of two importone of the programs. But I have heard administrators for 38 teacher salaries among other exant aspects: say they will make any cuts necessary to keep the manpenditures.

Dr. Hendrix: “We’re concerned datory classes for all students. This is a concern to me Dr. Hendrix: “We realized we won’t about two things. Some people are not as a parent and as an educator that the quality of their have the $3 million available that we even aware of this referenda. The second point is I think are currently using to pay 38 teacher salaries, so what programming is threatened. Our job is to serve the stuthere is a belief that the 2013 referendum passed 70-30, are we going to do with those 38 dents that live here. Give them the so there’s this belief that this one will pass with ease teachers? How are we going to best education. If it comes down to as well. I don’t think we want to take that for granted. support them? So we will have to the Town of Munster or all of Lake We believe we need every yes vote out there. We need make cuts somewhere to absorb The town faces financial loss in the county fighting the state of Indiana, people to go out there and vote because of the conse- that so we can bring those teacher next few years then I think that needs to be done. quences that could be coming up for the district.”

Not just teachers fighting, but as the back into the current general fund 3 million loss from expiring town fighting. It is not acceptable to Maintaining optimistic that the referendums will pass, dollars, not the referendum fund current referendum administration has worked with the School Board to dis- dollars.” stay this way.” cuss possible scenarios in the event that it does not.

Crier: Why are the arts so importCrier: What potential scenarios 4 million loss from Crier: Is there any information you want to put out has the district discussed? ant to a student’s education? changing tax caps specifically regarding those consequences so people Mrs. Lopez: “There are a lot of Dr. Hendrix: “We have talked can know exactly what they’re facing? people that couldn’t function in this about the fact that right off the bat, 7 million dollars of losses Dr. Hendrix: “We’ve talked about what could hapenvironment.

The kids move around. we can potenin revenue or taxes in 2020 pen. When we talk about that, There is music playing. It’s noisy, tially lose exsource: Dr. Jeff Hendrix stuff all over the place. It is not a neat we’re just throwing things out What’s on the table? tracurriculars, there. Ultimately, the School Board In a newsletter, the district and tidy, single answer solution sort athletic and academic. We can and the administration will have to maps out what is at stake of place.

But the world is not like that either. The world freeze salaries for everyone in the sit down (if the referenda do not depends on you to make your own decisions. There is no district. You would probably have class sizes pass) and have several conversaone plus one equals two in the real world unless you’re to look at reducing—the biggest elective courses tions about the best way to reduce balancing your checkbook.

Everything depends on the savings you can make in a district is expenditures moving forward.” elementary specials individual.

So students need to be able to have individual by reducing salaries and benefits, ways of thinking and solving problems. That works really so we would have to look at how high quality teachers With $7 million in losses well in performance based classes in arts, music, theater. we can reduce that in our general extracurricular activifrom revenue and taxes expected In a class like art, there is a product you have to create. A fund, which would mean reducing in 2020, the consequences will be teacher’s aids & support staff people. Whether its administrators, lot like in Engineering, there is a product you must create. detrimental to the school. source: newsletter mailed April 20 teachers, support staff, secretaries, And all the steps along the way help you get that product Dr. Hendrix: “We believe that maintenance, custodians, bus drivers, we would have to to where you need it to be. That’s real life. So I feel like with about $7 million of losses in revenue or taxes in figure out how to save money. That is where you have any school in the country that cuts the arts programs is 2020, we think that will be extremely detrimental to the the biggest issues.” being short-sighted in helping students reach their goals.”

Voting day

May 2

Troubling math

$ $

april 21, 2017

Just getting started

sports

9

Baseball builds momentum from highlight early in season, travels to Morton today at 4:30 p.m. and takes on Morton today. A win against Morton will put the team in a nice position early in the season, according to Rain out after rain out. Due to March Coach Robert Shinkan, math teacher.

“Morton is a sectional opponent, and and April’s’ weather, Baseball’s practices were limited. At first, the team was rusty it’s good to know how they play this earand uncoordinated with each other, but ly in the season,” Coach Shinkan said.

“If we happen to draw since have turned things them come Sectionaround, according to Lo- Top speed Strategy Alex Weakland, al time, (tomorrow’s gan Demkovich, senior. game) will be great way In the second game of junior, prefers in pitch counts to familiarize ourselves the season, coming after count: pitch: 2-seam fastball with them. They’re a a loss, Alex Weakland, low, away good program over junior, pitched all seven count: pitch: there, and they play innings and finished the 2-seam fastball away, out of zone hard. It will definitely be game with a no-hitter. a game that we need to “I didn’t really realize count: pitch: 4-seam fastball be mentally ready for.”

I was throwing a no-hithigh, low curveball Keys to beating Morter until the fifth (inton include not comning),” Weakland said. mitting errors and men“I heard people were count: pitch: tal mistakes, the same talking about it, then I change-up looked up at the scoremiddle, low mentality that applies to every game, according board and saw all zeros. to Coach Shinkan.

I heard people in the “We need to jump outfield stands talking source: Alex Weakland, junior out on top early, score about it in the seventh, the last inning, and I thought ‘Oh god, runs early to keep them on their heels,” Coach Shinkan said. “Defensively, we don’t blow this’ to myself.”

With the momentum from the no-hit- need to back the pitcher up so we ter, the team currently has a 8-3 record

Joseph Bermudez Copy Editor

0-0 1-1 0-2, 1-2,2-2 3-0,3-1 2-0,2-1

Good old fashioned

rivalry

Teachers, students discuss pride in favorite Chicago baseball team Joseph Bermudez Copy Editor

As the 2017 MLB season is in full swing, the rivalry a city split between the north and south side has continues to spread further than the city of Chicago. The two, around for 116 years, have split MHS as well.

The White Sox, with a record of 7-7, and the Cubs, 8-7, have a rivalry that runs deeper this season.

With the north side coming off a momentous championship, the rivalry continues as the south side looks to obtain that same success in their future.

don’t lengthen innings. Not committing errors or mental mistakes and don’t beat ourselves.”

As errors piled up in the three game tournament in Terre Haute, they have been steadily decreasing and that is crucial for the team’s future success, according to Weakland.

“I remember hearing a quote one time from (White Sox announcer Ken) Harrelson: ‘Offense brings crowds but defense brings championships,’” Weakland said. “I think that quote pretty much sums up how important defense is in baseball. If you don’t have a good defense to back you, there’s really no chance you can win games.”

ON THE HILL Hosting Hobart, Alex Weakland, junior, delivers a pitch. Weakland expresses his gratitude for the defense and his catcher. “Shout-out to my catcher Ryan Tometz (junior), couldn’t have thrown a no-hitter without him calling good pitches,” Weakland said. “He deserves just as much credit, as does the defense.” photo by Weronika Bilek

“Since my parents are Sox fans, I grew up watching them. I want to see them take it all the way this year, but with this rebuilding thing, that might not happen, but I feel like we’re pretty close to contending again.”

Sam Smolinski, sophomore

vs.

“This season will be rough, but we have great young talent coming up soon. We are going to struggle this season, but,I’m looking for a World Series win in the next four or five years.” Ben Shelton, junior “The White Sox embody the Chicago ethos of hard work, broad shoulders, pride and care for the community. People like to point out the fan attendance numbers between two teams in the city, but I never understood that logic. How does that make one team better than the other? Maybe Sox fans can’t go to as many games because we are too busy working hard to build a better city, but that’s just me.”

Mr. Nicholas Gron, math teacher

“Game seven, it was like the best day ever. My whole house was going crazy when Kris Bryant made the last out. I don’t think we went to bed until around two in the morning that night. It was just amazing to witness.”

Maddie Foreit, sophomore

“I remember (the World Series championship) like it was yesterday. I mostly remember how loud it was. It was my most proudest day to say I am a Cubs fan.”

Nico De Cero, senior

“Since I’m a season ticket holder, they have this day, family day, so we got to go out on the field and I got to play catch with my son out there for a little bit. It was pretty cool, how often can you say you got to play catch on Wrigley Field with your son?”

Mr. Jeff Hamstra, math teacher

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CRI ER Contact: Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman: (219) 836-3200 ext. 3443 (219) 836-3202 fax slanman@munster.us

10 Onwards sports

april 21, 2017

up

Pulling wards

rank

Josh Kim Page Editor

Right on track With a record of 4-0, Girls’ Track starts their season well and faces meets with confidence instead of nerves, according to Cami Kekelik, senior. “(April 12) was our first meet and I was really nervous. I know our whole team was nervous but we did really really well and we are doing somethings that we can see a lot of potential in, not just in me but in the whole team,” Kekelik said. “So I’m really excited because I think that we just needed to do that and get the confidence to go where we are going now.”

Coach Richard Sluder, social studies teacher, holds high hopes for Girls’ Track as they work hard to win.

“We’ve got a lot of great younger girls mixed with a good set of juniors and seniors,” Coach Sluder said. “Everybody is working really hard, they are doing everything that Coach (Tom) Barnes (English teacher) and Coach (Aaron) Brown (WWMS teacher) ask of them so it’s exactly what you want as a coach.”

Dream team

Track and Field members hopeful for upcoming season

Last year they were 6-0 in Northern Crossroads Conference, and this season the Boys’ Track hopes to be as successful. Currently they are meeting their expectations as the team holds the record of 4-0.

According to Coach Johnathan Stamper, Eads teacher, one of the reasons Boys’ Track is successful is because of how they work as a team.

“I feel like we’re starting to come together as a true team sometimes you don’t always get the feeling of a team,” Coach Stamper said. “Sometimes it’s a group of individuals but I feel like that we have strong team effort in practices and in meets. We get things done as a team, not necessarily a bunch of different individuals. That’s always nice, that doesn’t happen every year.”

Everyone in the team supports each other and pushes each other to meet their goals, according to Matt Nahnsen, sophomore.

“It does feel like a family,” Nahnsen said. “Everybody is there to get your back.

Everybody is really nice and they push you to hit your goals and never give you a negative output.” photo by Kess Vaitkus

LEAPS AND BOUNDS Looking forward, Anthony Niemiec, senior, jumps through the air during a long jump. His goal is to jump 19 feet by the end of the season. “Track really is one of the best parts of my day,” Niemiec said. “It’s hard work, but it’s good work too.”

In it to win it

After Warsaw Invitational, Tennis competes at Carmel Invitational Mimi Brody Page Editor

photo by Austin Skeens

SKY HIGH During practice, Hazel Wolf, freshman, serves the ball to her opponent. The team shows a lot of promise according to Wolf, and the team has an away match against Carmel High School tomorrow. “The most important part about my serve is the height,” Wolf said.

“I’ve got to get tall and reach high.”

Fresh off a win at the Warsaw Invite this past weekend, Girls’ Tennis hopes to continue their streak this weekend as they compete in the Carmel Invitational.

“I definitely think the momentum (from Warsaw Invite) will carry into this weekend. As a team, we will have that same drive from Warsaw. The schools this weekend are definitely better competition than in Warsaw. It (success) will depend on who we play each round,” Karolina Sroka, sophomore, said.

Many of the schools that will be competing are considered to be good competition, especially Carmel, who defeated the Mustangs last year to win semi-State, according to Sroka. “(Carmel is) best in the state,” Sroka said. “We will always have a goal of beating Carmel. If not this season, then in future seasons.

I would like to think we have a chance of winning (Carmel Invite) but it is really good competition.”

According to Kelli Canul, junior, the goal this weekend is not necessarily to win, but to gauge where they are compared to better teams.

“It is to show us that we are not always the best and we have to keep working if we actually want to be the best,” Canul said. “We specifically need to work on working with the wind. That can be especially hard because we have all been playing indoors.”

This season the team focuses on sectionals before anything else.

“We have the state record for sectional wins so we want to keep that up,” Canul said. “We just are hoping to get as far in the season as we can.”

The team is also relatively young.

“We lost some good talent but we also gained some new talent,” Sroka said.

Canul also notes that they gained a lot of good talent.

“We had a lot of good freshman come out,” Canul said. “Quite a few are playing at the varsity level, our two (second-ranked) doubles team is two freshmen and our number one singles is a freshman too.”

Nationally ranked tennis player Shalini Tallamraju discusses her transition to high school tennis Ian Brundige Managing Editor For the past five years, freshman Shalini Tallamraju has competed with the U.S Tennis Association (USTA), practicing nearly everyday to become nationally ranked. Nationally she is ranked 254 and in Indiana she is sixth with an overall record of 49-32.

Now she is beginning her competitive high school tennis career earning the number one singles varsity spot.

“The team is good, they are all welcoming,” Tallamraju said. “They are all rooting for you and that’s nice because when I get down on myself, I have the team, and they’ll bring me back up.”

She picked up a tennis racket when she was five, because her dad wanted her to participate in a sport that would teach life lessons.

As she continued playing she has found her own joys in the sport.

“My favorite thing is just the pressure,” Tallamraju said. “I just like when you’re in the moment and you don’t know what is going to happen.”

According to Tallamraju, competing with the team only adds to the pressure because people are watching her. However, through it all, she knows what her goals are.

“It’s very rare for a freshman to be a number one singles,” Tallamraju said. “My goal is just to try my best and win every match I can. And try to at least make it to State.”

Now that she has practiced with a team, the three hours a day in which Tallamraju practices alone during the high school off-season seem boring.

“Training by myself, it’s sort of boring,” Tallamraju said. “You really don’t have anyone to talk to but on the team they are all making comments and having fun, and that’s what I like.”

That social environment is new to Tallamraju, along with a number of new dynamics. As a freshman in the most competitive position on the team, she has a unique relationship with the upperclassmen.

“The seniors they are really okay with it, they understand,” Tallamraju said. “They help me too and I help them, in a way. It’s a good combination.”

As she continues to compete both nationally and with school, the life lessons her dad hoped she would learn impact other aspects of her life. “(In) tennis, when you’re down you need to come back up and that’s the way life works,” Tallamraju said. “I try my best basically in everything, I can’t not work hard. Tennis has gotten me to that point, even when I am studying for a test—I have to study and that just like practicing for a tournament.

The test is like the tournament.”

april 21, 2017

photos by Viviana Luna

sports

11

photo by Vrusti Patel

FOLLOW THROUGH (top) At practice, Tony Daniels, junior, follows the path of his tee off. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (bottom) On the green, Merrick Lieser, junior, lines up a putt.

TEAM DISCUSSION (right) At the Wicker Park Memorial Park Golf Course, juniors Josh Novosel, Louie DalleCarbonare, Easan Venkat (publications member), Merrick Lieser, and Tony Daniels discuss their experience on the varsity level. The teammates also discuss being mentors this season and the impact the role will have on the season. “It will probably play a role this season, but it’s still early,” Lieser said. “We’ll figure that out later, but right now, everyone is just looking to get into the groove of things and figure.”

On the green

their situation and hopefully it can help them down the road.

Venkat: Yeah, it’s a different change because of helping the underclassmen but nothing drastic will change. It’ll be just helping them with questions, help them improve like the previous upperclassmen did with us.

Novosel: I’m just trying to keep it normal, the same. If anything they’re helping and as Merrick said we’re improving, me. Merrick and Tony are superstars and and hopefully we can take what we’ve I’m just helping them. learned and put it towards this year to How else will the season be different? continue to get betLieser: It will be ter and better. different because Now as upperwe know the kids we’re this year we know classmen, there’s a the courses better playing with and it different role you than we did these should be more fun. We past two years. play as perhaps mentors to the unDalleCarbonare: have high expectations derclassmen. What And the competifor this year.” are things like now? tion is going to be a -Merrick Lieser, junior little bit harder.

Lieser: We don’t really look at anyLieser: Yeah, and thing drastically different, we go out we know the kids we’re playing with and and play. We’re not walking them along, it should be more fun. We have higher they’re pretty good. If they ask questions expectations this year. obviously we’ll help them out, but we’re Daniels: Even knowing all the courses just trying to keep the same mindset as well, towards the end of last year, we had last season. already played all the courses we’ll most Daniels: Obviously we’ll help them likely play throughout our high school out if they ask, tell them what we did in career. For me, personally, I play better

Juniors on Boys’ Golf discuss upcoming season, new roles Joseph Bermudez Copy Editor As Boys’ Golf returns, the five juniors on varsity discuss their new role as mentors and the bond they have made before and during their high school careers.

This is an edited transcript of a conversation between five members of the golf team and the interviewer.

How have these past two years on the team affected you?

Lieser: We definitely matured. Our freshman year, our overall record was 3-10. Then last year, we went 8-5 so there’s definitely improvement.

Daniels: I think from our sophomore and freshman year we really learned a lot about what it’s going to take to beat the better teams. I think we learned a lot about what it’s going to take to succeed.

DalleCarbonare: We’ve did mature,

“

Stepping up

to the

plate Danie Oberman Page Editor After beating Highland last night 8-0, Softball has a current record of 7-5. This can be credited to endless practices, natural talent, and team chemistry, according to Nikki Katalinic, senior.

“We’ve just been able to get to know each other more and gel as a team.

(Coach Beth) Thornburg (math teacher) has been able to figure out the lineups that work well, the lineups that don’t work well, and we’ve been able to kind of play around with that and now we’re

knowing the course well compared to the first time.

Venkat: Freshman year was kind of tough because we’d be going up against juniors and seniors. But now we have seen that varsity level golf, this year we’re a bit more comfortable in high pressure situations. It’s a little bit easier to hit that first tee at the first hole with everyone watching.

With each other these past years, have you five developed a bond?

Daniels: We’ve all been friends before golf started freshman year, so golf has just brought us closer together.

Venkat: Yeah, we were all pretty good friends before golf freshman year.

Lieser: I used to whoop you a lot then.

Venkat: Okay. Well, we played golf leagues in the summer. We played a lot of golf before the season started freshman year.

Is there anything the five of you are focused on accomplishing this year?

Lieser: We’re trying to make a comeback. Everyone is a witness. Our 8-5 overall record last year was okay, but we’re shooting to improve it. The comeback is on. Also Josh— Novosel: Yeah, it’s my comeback too. I broke my leg in Biddy Ball so this season is my comeback season, too.

Softball hosts Bishop Noll today at 4:30 p.m., discusses team chemistry

finally kind of getting what we want, and it’s just a matter of practicing the fundamentals that we still need to practice and just fine-tuning everything.”

The team’s pitching and defense is strong, according to Coach Beth Thornburg, math teacher. Their main concern is batting, which they work on often. “(We take) every chance we get to swing the bat, work on our fundamentals, try to mentally prepare ourselves to be a little bit more prepared and, honestly just practice it to carry it over to games,” Coach Thornburg said.

All of this work is likely to pay off as they play Bishop Noll tonight at home according to Katalinic.

“I think (Bishop Noll) is a solid team,” Katalinic said. “It’s definitely gonna be a good team for sure. They’re not going to blow us out of the water and we’re not

going to blow them out of the water, so it all comes down to game situations, how we’re feeling, how they’re feeling. As long as we hit well, I think we’ll be okay.

We just need to tighten everything up.”

The team will return to the field tomorrow as they travel to Portage.

“They’re typically pretty solid,” Coach Thornburg said. “It’s a pretty big school.

We typically have trouble with them, so I expect it to be a pretty tough game for us.”

Despite the challenge, Genesis Tienstra, senior, remains hopeful “I think we’ll do really well against Portage, especially because we’re starting to hit a lot better,” Tienstra said. “So offensively, we’re just on track to becoming as well as we are defensively.”

The team looks at games as chances to improve their skill, according to Coach

Thornburg.

“We’re just looking for opportunities to get better, you should look at every chance we get to play as an opportunity to improve whatever is your weakness (is), and hopefully, as we do that, we start to play better and give ourselves the opportunity to be the best we can be,” Coach Thornburg said.

The team should focus on their own playing instead of their opponents’, according to Coach Thornburg.

“To me, every team, even though there’s teams I think we’re better than, every team that we’ve played to this point has been good enough to beat us, even if we play fairly well,” Coach Thornburg said. “So the bottom line is, I don’t worry too much about who our opponent (is), I worry more about, ‘What are we capable of doing?’”

12 student life

april 21, 2017

weed

debate

Legislation, stigmas for marijuana affect high school students Jordan Szymanski Editor-in-Chief

The L-word is back. Positioned in front of countless controversial movements, “legalize,” has resurfaced in the quest for lenient recreational drug laws. Legalizing marijuana is a movement that has taken a slight hiatus since the major push for medical use in 2010. Still a present argument, Illinois contemplates passing laws to legalize recreational marijuana in order to alleviate the budget deficits the state faces, the conversation resurfaces with much more potential.

Yesterday, the unofficial holiday “4/20,” infamously known for celebrating weed reiterates the emerging weed culture. At the center of this change are teenagers, as young people will inherit the decision legislation makes and the group social stigmas affect the most. Jill Dixon, senior, noticed the conflicting attitudes regarding marijuana in society. So, for her AP Language and Composition persuasive essay, she dove into researching the splitting issue.

“Marijuana use is a prevalent topic in society right now,” Jill Dixon, senior, said. “There are two very different sides. It’s also an issue that affects a lot of people that’s debated a lot of the time.”

Part of the debate, legislation throughout the country hosts a wide-range of responses to the push for legal weed.

“In order to be charged with a felony for possession in Indiana, you now have to possess more than ten pounds of marijuana,” said Officer Gabriel Isenblatter from the Munster Police Department.

“It used to be an ounce and a prior conviction.

Now, they have made it a huge amount.”

With an increase in amount needed for a felony, the number of convictions have decreased. An argument made by many legalization supporters is legal weed would reduce the overcrowded prison systems, according to Jill.

“I support legalization for reasons of prison overcrowding,” Jill said. “There are a ton of people in prison for marijuana charges, but there is a statistic that says something like ten percent of the population uses marijuana. But it’s not like you can arrest ten percent of the population. So I think it needs to be decriminalized and disregarded as a schedule one drug.”

Statistics do confirm that a majority of Americans at least had exposure to weed. In fact, 49 percent of adult Americans admit to using marijuana at least once, according to the Pew Research Center. Speculation on whether or not legalization will contribute to more use arises.

“I think (usage) would probably stay the same,” Officer Isenblatter said. “Of course you are going to get some people that will say ‘Oh, it’s legal, I’m gonna try it anyway.’ But if you’re going to do it, you’re going to do it. If you’re going to try it, you may try it. But I don’t think just because it is legal, everyone is going to make a mad rush to go buy it.”

Economic gain is already a reality for states that have legalized drug use. For Colorado, the first state to legalize weed for everyone recreationally, the tax revenue nears $53 million. However, a pitfall of legalization may be the progression of drug use, according to Officer Isenblatter.

“From a personal perspective, from doing this job for ten years and working at a prison for seven years, I have seen a natural progression in chemical abuse,” Officer Isenblatter said. “At some point, you will be smoking so much marijuana that it is cost-prohibitive. This drug does lead to a natural progression of other drug use. I have seen it as a gateway drug. I mean at one point you may be

BACK TALK Today is Queen Elizabeth’s birthday. What would you do if you were royalty for a day?

“There’s really no way to make a huge change in one day, so what I would do to benefit my kingdom is throw a large banquet in order to help feed and care for my subjects.”

Alyssah Nahnsen, freshman

“I would try to solve as many world problems as possible, like hunger and violence.”

The pot thickens

“Buy a car that I’ve always wanted.

(Blue Lamborghini Aventador).”

Kaela Percak, freshman

“I’d make Travis Scott live with me.”

Monica Herrera, sophomore

Nathan Kunas, sophomore

“I would buy food and buy a panda, too. Food and pandas make up my life, so that would be fun.”

“I would travel to as many places as I could in 24 hours.

I’d go to Thailand, Barcelona and I wouldn’t pack anything. I would just go.”

Ryanna Pastrana, junior

Elise Garcia, junior

$10.7 million spent on prohibition each year Nearly half (49%) of Americans say they have tried marijuana Four states (Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska) have legalized marijuana. In addition, 26 states total have decriminalized source: pewresearchcenter.com weed spending $20 a day, then you move on to $30 a day, then $50 a day. Well, if heroin is cheaper than that, you are more likely to go to the cheaper high.

You’re going to build up a tolerance to anything you’re doing on a daily basis, so even if you don’t go from marijuana to heroin, then you can go from marijuana to pills to heroin.”

The culture often credits weed as a safer, more neutral drug. Ruth Kurowski, senior, opposes the care-free attitude toward weed.

“I understand wanting to legalize marijuana,” Ruth said. “But at the same tme I am really opposed to the lackadasical attitude that is surronding weed. I hear a lot of talk about how marijuana is not addictive. The problem is that for the general population, marijuana is not addictive. However, for certain people with more addictive qualities, and more chemicals in their brains that let them be addicted to things more than other people, they call it an addictive personality. If you have that, then weed can be just as addictive as cigarettes and sugar or whatever.The difference is when you are that addicted it is really difficult to function.”

Conflicting legislation and a morphing public opinion affect the perceptions of those who consider themselves a part of weed culture.

“There definitely still is a stoner perception,” Jill said. “But I feel like it has evolved and changed and now that could be considered the average kid. You don’t have to be stupid to smoke weed. There are a lot of successful celebrities and political figures that admit to smoking weed. It’s almost inevitable that it becomes more acceptable—it already is.”

“I would make college tuition free for everyone.”

Matthew Michel, senior

“I would feed everyone who is hungry, and I’d also make sure I became a knight after my term.”

Mr. Joshua Herold, social studies teacher

“Overthrow Trump.”

Danny Zucharelli, senior

“I would go undercover, and find out what the populus secretly thought of their king.”

Mr. Jordan Meyer, English teacher