REBEL REVIEW Volume 18:2
December 7, 2018
Roncalli High School
The word Advent derives from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming”. This season is intended to direct our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the celebration of Jesus’ birth on Christmas.
However, with finals, parties, gift buying, and decorating, the holidays can be a stressful time for many students. On page 4, two Rebel Review staffers delve into the mental health crisis, bringing awareness to the issue and resources for those seeking help.
Despite possible nerves, students can still enjoy the season by shopping for friends or enjoying Christmas classics. On page 5, staff writers offer gift ideas for buying on a budget and tell the tale of a timeless ballet performance, The Nutcracker. PHOTO BY ANNA BAUER
Nick Perkins- 10th in the state
Student-teacher look alikes
Mental health epidemic
Star Roncalli cross country runner Nick Perkins, for the first time ever in Roncalli history, becomes an allstate finalist. Read more about Perkins and his big state meet on page 8.
Rebel Review staffers picked out the most similar-looking students and teachers to merge their faces using Photoshop. The results are amazing. See these masterpieces on page 3.
Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression are huge issues in our community. Read about how it affects Roncalli and the country as a whole. Raise your mental health awareness on page 4.
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12.7.18
Lustig’s funny business (teaching) Veteran educator returns from retirement to fill temporary math department position, wins students’ hearts
BY LIAM MOORE Staff Writer
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ith a teacher shortage developing in Indiana, some former teachers have volunteered to come out of retirement to help, including temporary Roncalli math teacher Mr. Joe Lustig, who taught at Alexandria High School for 33 years, along with brief times at Guerin Catholic, Ball State, and Ivy Tech. Married for 46 years, Lustig has nine children, 21 grandchildren, and coaches a tennis team in his spare time. He used to perform stand-up comedy with his dad, an experience that has translated well into the classroom. So, what would motivate him to leave retirement to go back to work again? “You retire so you can do some things you want to do,” Lustig said. He wanted to help out Roncalli and teach again, giving up his relaxing retired life to give the gift of mathematics to high school students. Lustig not only teaches math, but also entertains his students with his exceptional joke telling skills. He’s heard a lot of jokes, read a lot of jokes, and has created many of his own as well, and loves to share them with his students. Lustig even used to perform stand up comedy with his father. “A large part of the success is timing and how the joke is told,” Lustig said. He’s become extremely popular among his students, despite only filling a temporary position. They particularly enjoy his famous “Joke Tuesdays,” laid-back personality, and excellent teaching skills. “[I like] the way he uses the process of elimination and his algebraic expressions,” freshman Riley Allstatt said. “And he makes jokes while doing them. That’s pretty funny.” The mark of a truly excellent teacher is being able to create an entertaining class while still actually teaching, which Lustig has perfected over his lengthy teaching career.
PHOTO BY STEFAN WALSH
LEAPING LUSTING: Mr. Joe Lustig dances in front of the roaring student body at a pep rally. He was covered with a blanket earlier in the dance number, and surprised the students with his moves.
“I was expecting a normal math class. Not one as exciting as it is now,” freshman Sam Morris said. At the opening school assembly, Lustig was showered with cheers and applause from the moment he was introduced. After each sentence spoken about him, the entire gym practically exploded. “I thought the students’ reaction was hilarious,” Lustig said. “I was definitely taken aback. I had no idea why they were doing that.” The clear answer is that the school truly enjoys having him here. The feeling appears to be mutual as Lustig has enjoyed his time at Roncalli. Lustig said that the school is full of “respectful and friendly students,” and that “the staff has been really welcoming”. This is a great sign, since Roncalli prides itself on being a great environment for students and teachers alike. Unfortunately, Lustig will leave Roncalli at the end of the semester and will immediately fill in another temporary position at Guerin Catholic. A math teacher at Guerin is undergoing surgery soon, and the school needed someone to teach for January and February. With the teacher shortage in Indiana, similar to Roncalli, Guerin was experiencing trouble finding someone qualified to help, but Lustig came to the rescue once again. He originally hoped to retire again after leaving Roncalli, planning to hike, play tennis, and spend more quality time with his large family, but duty called him back to the classroom once again. Leaving will be tough for both Lustig and the school. “I’m going to miss Roncalli. I had a great time here; the people are fantastic,” Lustig said. “There are a lot of students I’m gonna miss.” Roncalli will certainly miss him as well, and the school can only hope that his replacement can live up the footprint Lustig has left here.
T ikTok b rea ks t he c h a r ts
TikTok is rising in popularity, but with it comes danger, especially to younger kids according to some experts
BY DREW REED Staff Writer
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ikTok is a short video sharing app that flew to the top of the charts on the app store. Being the most downloaded app, sitting at around 45 million downloads and with more than 100 million monthly active users around the world, it has garnered a lot of attention. In TikTok’s case, however, not all press is positive press. The app has been in the spotlight for its less than adequate privacy game. Until recently, TikTok only had two privacy settings: completely public, or completely private, and no “friends-only setting” made parents and users alike upset and concerned. It is dangerous for children to post their personal information if they can’t control the privacy. This created potential unseen consequences, as kids could easily reveal their identity without knowing in their videos. Without sufficient privacy settings, dangerous users could figure out another’s identity based on the content they upload. Officer Darin Odier, an IMPD detective, speaks at schools every year and tells real
content on [TikTok],” said sophomore Alex Balint. “There are a lot of kids under 13 on it—and a lot of swearing—so a lot of content is being reported as not appropriate for young kids even though they shouldn’t be on it in the first place.” TikTok has a vast array of communities, but almost all of them have one thing in common: bullying. The comment section on just about any video will yield a superfluous amount of users making fun of the video and the creator. ILLUSTRATION BY TOUTIAO “[TikTok] is a very meme place, but also NEW APP ALERT: This is the popular mobile app TikTok’s logo. The company Bytedance acquired the previa very mean place,” Balint said. “There’s a lot ously popular app “Musical.ly” and combined it with their new app TikTok. of bullying.” stories of investigations and cases he has had “The best way to stay safe is to make There are users who genuinely enjoy to work on involving internet safety. good choices online and realize that one bad TikTok, but the app’s notoriety turns “We get dozens of investigations each decision can have lifelong consequences,” away users from the app and also comes year involving children and social media Odier said. with potential hazards toward users. It’s apps,” Odier said. “I think TikTok, like the Some content found on the app can be important to know how to stay safe on social other short form video apps, can be fun and questionable to say the least, with terms media apps like TikTok in order to avoid entertaining, but like everything can be used such as “cringe” and “lame” being thrown these potential dangers. Students can do this by people with bad intentions.” around often to describe it. Being such a by monitoring their privacy settings, along It’s important to know how to stay safe on popular social media app, cyberbulling is with making sure personal information is apps such as TikTok, especially ones where prevalent as well. not posted on the Internet. personal information could be found easily. “There’s good content and there’s bad
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12.7.18
Student teacher look-alikes
Using the intricate tools of Photoshop, students and teachers were fused together to form new people BY JOSEPH WOODRUFF Staff Writer
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any people around the Roncalli community comment about the family atmosphere at school, but a few particular students have such a striking resemblance to a teacher that they could literally be relatives. Many useful Photoshop tools
David Clayton
Margaret Schoening
Mr. John Hasty
Ms. Caroline Reuter
such as liquify and opacity were used to mix these lookalikes’ faces together to better show their similarities. Although there is no family connection between these students and faculty that we know of, their similarities are quite remarkable. Do you agree?
Claysty
Alex Nettles
Schreuter
Olivia Murphy
Mr. Jeff Traylor
Ms. Michele Gelaude
Trettles
Melaude PHOTOS BY LIFETOUCH
Fred and Sons’ phenomenon Local lawn care business gains a lot of free publicity after passing out free merchandise to students
BY NICK PERKINS Co-Editor-in-Chief
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red and Sons’ is a humble lawn care/tree removal company started in 2002 and owned by Don “Fred” Burns, the father of Joe Burns (R’17) and senior Ryan Burns. Despite the local business’ small size it has received a major amount of advertising almost by accident. “It started a couple of years ago, when we had some leftover sweatshirts. They’re just for the workers, but we had a few leftover so I told my dad I’d give them to some of my friends,” Burns said. The infamous dark blue shirts and sweatshirts going around the halls started out with only about eight people. After the initial pass out, and the question of “hey, where can I get one of those shirts” became a common phrase to the Burns. Realizing the demand in these, the Burns began to get another batch ready for eager students. “I think it went really big last year during homecoming week,” senior James Rooney said. “Ryan Burns said we should use them for iconic group day.” After the second load of leftovers were dropped, there was a steady flow of pass outs up until now and the original count of 8 has grown to be around 61. Ryan has kept a tally of owners and as of November, the number sits around 58 students and 3 teachers. This small crowd of Rebels wear their gear pridefully, relishing in its exclusiveness. “I wear the sweatshirt because it is a statement. It is appealing to me because it is as if Gucci and Versace collaborated and made a sweatshirt,” senior David Johnson said. “Basically it’s the Gucci of Roncalli.” Fred, the founder of the company, likes the amount of free advertising he has gained from the pass-outs and has nothing but good things to say about this phenomena. “I think that it is great that students are wearing the Fred and Sons shirts. Ryan has done a great job of distributing them and help market the company,” Fred said. If one was looking for employment in the landscaping/tree removal business, Fred does hire high school students, so long as they have heart. “It is approaching our slow time of the year, but I can usually use an extra helper or two from spring time on. Our work is pretty physical, so they need to be in shape and fairly strong. If someone has a truck and a license, that is an added benefit,” Fred said. Regardless of employment, all of the Fred and Sons’ merchandise can be given to anyone and is completely free albeit not always in stock. “They should contact Ryan if someone is looking for one. I’m running low on extra shirts at the moment,” Fred said.
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PHOTOS SUBMITTED
SMALL BUSINESS, LARGE FOLLOWING: Students line up to take pictures in their Fred and Sons’ gear. Roughly 60 students and faculty own Fred and Sons’ shirts and sweatshirts. Anyone wanting one of these iconic shirts should contact senior Ryan Burns.
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MINDFUL MENTALITY
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Unraveling mental health
Become more aware of the mental illnesses that plague this generation both here and beyond BY AUSTIN HENDRICKS & ELIZABETH BRADLEY Staff Writer & Co-Editor-in-Chief
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as many people died from suicide than from homicide in 2016 in the US
1 10 in
young people experience a period of major depression
<20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need
Mental Health in America
Mental health at Roncalli
Fifteen million. That’s how many individuals under the age of 25 suffer from some sort of mental illness in America. Together generalized anxiety and social anxiety affect approximately 21.8 million people in the US, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA); and, according to a 2008 CNBC report, Indiana was the second most depressed state in the country. So many people are directly impacted by mental health issues, yet the stigma surrounding mental illness often brings individuals to an impasse when it comes to seeking help or even being honest about his or her state of mind. “People believe that you can control your brain,” AP Psychology teacher Mrs. Kim Striby said. “We don’t understand what our brain is capable of doing, and it seems like we have more control over our mental health than we actually do.” Striby also went on to explain how this stigma tangibly presents itself in social situations. “If someone broke their leg we would feel sorry for them, and we would help them navigate their world,” Striby said. “But when somebody’s brain is sick, we don’t feel the same empathy.” Understanding that mental illness is often a result of genetics or brain chemistry is vital to accepting the reality of mental health in this country, state, and community. People suffering from depression and anxiety or more serious disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder cannot simply snap out of it or decide to feel better. Counseling and/or medication are often the most efficient mediums of combating mental illness on any level, and for many people to seek help, they need to feel comfortable and accepted.
Mental Health isn’t just an issue in the outside world. At Roncalli, hundreds of students suffer from minor and major mental health issues and challenges. These challenges range from moderate anxiety to deep and intense depression. “We have more than what I’m aware of,” School Social Worker Ms. Kelley Fisher, “because there’s a lot of students that might be getting treatment outside of school. At least 20 percent, and I would say that it’s a lot higher.” These issues have been around Roncalli for years. There have been two suicides that have left Roncalli forever affected. Incidents such as these have sparked change and discussion at Roncalli, but there are still many more miles to go. There is always more to be done when it comes to making others feel as though they belong and their lives matter. “I think we have a lot of tools for helping students, but I think we can always improve,” Fisher said. Knowing that this problem exists at Roncalli is the first and easiest step. Acknowledging that others need help is a key step in moving forward to prevent tragedies that have befallen Roncalli. Whether one suffers from minor stress or major depression or anything in between, there is always something that can be done to help them. Anyone can make a change by being there for others and listening to their problems. All people struggle- it’s a fact of life, but some need more help than others. Understanding this fact and being there for someone is the first step in correcting the mental health epidemic that plagues Roncalli and the world.
Below are a few of many hot-lines that provide help for those who are struggling Suicide Hot-line: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: Text “home” to
741741
National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline: 1-800-950-6264
For help at Roncalli, you can contact any of the people below who would be more than happy to help or speak with you Social Worker Ms. Kelley Fisher
contact information: kfisher@roncalli.org
Guidance Counselors Mrs. Angela Maly Mrs. Autumn Currens Ms. Lynn Starkey Mrs. Lisa Beckwith
amaly@roncalli.org acurrens@roncalli.org lstarkey@roncalli.org lbeckwith@roncalli.org
Understanding Mental Health
15 in
children in America have learning disabilities such as ADHD and dyslexia
Understanding sensitive and controversial topics can be tricky and tedious. Offending someone is a lot easier than having a deep discussion with them. Mental health does not escape this cloud of delicacy. The sensitivity with which one approaches the subject of mental health can provide all the difference, determining whether the discussion is meaningful or a divisive verbal spar. For instance, using words like “crazy” or “psycho” reflects an unwillingness to understand, and can be offensive to people who do legitimately struggle with their mental health. And because knowing exactly what another person is going through is impossible, it is important to maintain sensitivity around everyone and encourage others to do so as well.
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It is true, jokes can be useful for lightening the mood, but telling a friend to kill themselves because they say something dumb or referring to someone as psychotic for behaving in a neurotic way only discourages people from seeking the help they need. No one wants to be told that they have a mental problem. No one wants to accept that what they are feeling is a legitimate health issue. No one wants to ask for help, because they believe they can handle it. But, the reality is, millions of teens around the country and world do need help. They need support and love and the knowledge that it is not uncommon to feel different. It is not uncommon to feel hopeless, because you are not the only one. Whether it’s anxiety, learning dis-
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abilities, eating disorders, or any other form of mental health illness, there are thousands of others dealing with the same problems and struggles, and there are even more people willing to help. The first step in recovery is realizing that there is a problem and reaching out for help. And for those who aren’t struggling with mental illnesses, there are hundreds of ways that you can educate yourselves on these issues and be better prepared for when you or someone you know comes head to head with a mental illness. Being aware and being prepared are the two most important steps to take in fighting this problem that plagues this generation of humanity.
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12.7.18
Priceless gift of life
Forty-four Students and staff participate in the annual Blood Drive BY KARA HOUSE Co-Editor-in-Chief
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ne pint. Three patients. The opportunity to save a life. Roncalli, with the assistance of the Indiana Blood Center, hosted its annual blood drive on Wednesday, October 30th. 44 students and staff gave donations, totaling 117 transfusions that will take place. For some students, their nerves about needles skyrocketed before entering the blood center bus, but no amount of anxiety prohibited them from donating. Junior Gabby Donahue was one of these students who was fearful about giving blood. “I was nervous and thought that I would pass out, but I breathed through [the pain],” Donahue said. “They had Beyoncé playing, so I focused on the music, and that eased my nerves.” After the donation was complete, Donahue had no regrets about bearing the minor pain to give an unsurpassable chance at life. “Even though [giving blood] can be painful and scary, it is an easy gift to give,” Donahue said. Although Donahue has no personal connections to a transfusion recipient, the effects of donations hit close to home for sophomore Alex Balint. “Blood transfusions saved my brother’s life when he was born,” Balint said. “My family hosts an annual blood drive at St. Mark to allow others to give the gift of life.”
SEASON OF GIVING Buying on a Budget Christmas gift ideas for broke high school students, $25 or less
PHOTO BY KARA HOUSE
DONATION PREPARATION: An Indiana Blood Center nurse searches for the perfect vein to draw blood from junior Gabby Donahue who looked calm on the outside, but reported that her nerves were through the roof.
Balint, like many other students, has not reached the required age of 17, prohibiting her from making a donation. Others may not be eligible to give blood due to a pre-existing medical condition. So how can people who are unable to donate still contribute to the cause? “When [someone] cannot donate or does not meet the requirements, [he or she can] encourage a friend to donate in their place,” Stuco coordinator Mr. Ryan Costello said. “We are also looking into having another blood drive in the spring when more students are old enough.”
For those who were unable to sign up for Roncalli’s drive or are looking to donate again, there are two Indiana Blood Center sites in Indianapolis. Both buildings, one located in the Greenwood Shopping Center and the other at 3450 N Meridian St, are open Monday through Saturday every week with hours differing each day. Although donating blood is not an obligation, and some are too timid or unable to take part, this is certainly an opportunity of a lifetime. “[One] donation gets split three ways,” Costello said, “so donors are possibly saving three people’s lives.”
Candle
Fuzzy Socks
Bath Bombs
Water Bottle
Coffee Mug
Ornament
Cookie Mix
Pillow
Fuzzy Blanket
Snow Globe $15.00
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Sugar plum sights
Elijah Mahan and Allison Povinelli dance in Nutcracker performance BY MADDIE ALDRICH Staff Writer
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ugar plums, fairies, and ballet en pointe. These are common aspects people immediately think of when describing The Nutcracker. However, two Roncalli students, junior Allison Povinelli and senior Elijah Mahan, are involved in The Dance Refinery’s (TDR) version of The Nutcracker, a Christmas ballet. Their twist on the performance will include multiple genres of dance besides traditional ballet, including jazz, hip hop, tap, and tumbling. Both Rebels have taken on the challenge of balancing school, sports, friends, family, and extracurriculars on top of conditioning and practicing for the annual Christmas performances. On any given night throughout the fall and winter, Mahan attends up to three practices a night for a combination of football, wrestling, show choir,
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CRACK A SMILE: Mahan and Povinelli pose with the rest of the cast for The Nutcracker production. The photo was taken after preview night, which took place at The Dance Refinery.
Guys and Dolls, and a competitive hip hop dance team through the Dance Refinery called Definition. However, this is his first year being involved with The Nutcracker, playing the roles of Drosselmeyer and an Arabian dancer. “I didn’t have much performing experience, and since I want to pursue a career in dance or theater,” Mahan said, “I wanted to gain more stage experience outside of show choir at a
bigger role.” On the other hand, Povinelli is performing in her 7th Nutcracker this year. Along with fall cheerleading and show choir, Povinelli dances as the Dew Drop Fairy and a Snow Princess (a semi-soloist next to the Snow Queen), which are en pointe (a form of ballet). Dancing since she was three-years old, Povinelli spends a minimum of 14 hours a week at TDR with both Nutcracker
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practices in addition to being an AIM (artists in motion- most experienced dancers in the studio). Povinelli hopes to eventually follow her dream of dancing professionally. “I’m not sure what I want to do with (dance) yet, but I know it’s something I should keep going with since I’ve grown such a passion,” Povinelli said. “Dancing really helps me to clear my mind and I love that feeling I get when im up on a stage.” Both Povinelli and Mahan will perform at the Festival of the Trees on December 2nd. There will also be two performances at Beech Grove High School one on Saturday, December 8th at 7 P.M and another on Sunday at 2 P.M. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or you can see either Povinelli or Mahan to purchase tickets in advance.
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PHOTOS BY KARA HOUSE
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opinion
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Roncalli Media Staff Elizabeth Bradley Kara House Nick Perkins
Co-Editor-in-Chief Co-Editor-in-Chief Co-Editor-in-Chief
Julie Albertson
Adviser
Staff Writers Maddie Aldrich Liam Moore Ryan Brandenburg Max Peeples Max Cross Andrew Reed Sam Eiland Logan Wong Austin Hendricks Joseph Woodruff Abby Leister Joshua Wormann Connor Mahoney
2018-19 Editorial Policy
LEISTER
We accept submissions from all faculty, staff and students, which can be emailed to jalbertson@roncalli.org or delivered to Room 109. Please keep these letters short, roughly 200-300 words. They will be accepted under the circumstances that they are signed and noted to which article it is in response. Letters that contain misinformation or are meant to libel another will not be published. The decision to publish any content will be decided by the editorial board. We also accept photographs and articles written by students, teachers and staff members.
Mind your mind
12.7.18
STAFF EDITORIAL
Rebel Review staff takes closer look at stigma surrounding mental health
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housands of teenagers suffer from mental illness in varying degrees. This can be depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or a multitude of other issues, but the label “mental illness” sometimes seems too severe or embarrassing when describing our own state of mind; and, openly expressing these concerns to others (or even admitting them to yourself) can be quite a challenging feat. Many people struggle to open up about their own mental health because they believe that no one else will be willing or able to understand. This just-me mentality, the belief that you as an individual are alone in your experience, is a toxic form of short-sightedness that only fosters the bottling up and denial of emotional and mental experiences. The reality is that while each individual’s life is comprised of unique experiences, struggling with mental health is as common to the human experience as any form of physical pain or ailment. No person dealing with mental illness is alone, and no person in this position should feel as if he or
she cannot speak openly about these struggles. Talking about mental health is never easy. It feels embarrassing, it’s nerve-wracking, and it’s inescapably personal. Admitting to struggling with mental health issues can seem like admitting to weakness, like admitting that you’re not trying hard enough to be happy or carefree, but understanding that mental health struggles are not a matter of willpower is extremely important. If a person broke her leg, she could not simply decide to heal it or to not feel any pain, so why is this expected of people who suffer from depression or anxiety? Another reason that openly speaking about mental health is such a struggle for so many is that in doing so, a person is essentially disarming herself and handing the ammunition to someone else. By revealing the internal conflicts that are not visible to others, people battling with mental issues open themselves up to being called annoying or attention-seeking. People going through these experiences often face enough inner turmoil and
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self ridicule that the prospect of such contempt from others intimidates them into silence. If, as you were reading this, you related in anyway to the content or feelings expressed, you are not alone. If you struggle with your own mental health, there is no shame in seeking help or speaking about this openly. Several accessible resources are listed on page 4 of this edition, and there are many who truly are willing to lend an ear or counsel here in the Roncalli community.
THE REVIEW U GIVE
Movie adaptation of Angie Thomas book highlights prominent issues in some African American communities BY ABBY LEISTER Staff Writer
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he Hate U Give”, directed by George Tillman Jr., is an adaptation of the young-adult novel written in 2017 by Angie Thomas. The book started as a short story project that Thomas began after news of the police-action shooting in 2009 of Oscar Grant in Oakland, California. She pushed the project aside but continued the work after the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, and Sandra Bland. The film, which closely aligns with the novel, is about the life of an African American teenager named Starr Carter. She lives a double-life between her poor, mostly black neighborhood and Williamson Prep, her wealthy, mostly white prep school. Starr has kept her two lives from crossing until witnessing the shooting of her childhood friend, Khalil, by a white police officer. The incident quickly becomes the talk of the town and is covered widely in the news. However, the details are twisted, as the police officer falsely states that Khalil was aggressive and armed, and newscasters only refer to him as a drug dealer. Starr, although she at first denies knowing Khalil to fit in at her school, finds her voice, despite the pressures from both her white friends and her African American family members. It is up to Starr, the only witness, to stand up for what is right and give a voice to someone who no longer has one. “The Hate U Give” continued to be a box office hit during the fall season, filling the reclining seats of theaters. Personally, I believe that the movie is revolutionary for this time period. Similar to how “To Kill A Mockingbird” represented the racial issues of its time, “The Hate U Give” brings that same attention to issues now. Police brutality and poverty are real matters that affect the whole nation but especially the African American community. Khalil’s character embodies what Thomas views as
with a criminal history who find it difficult to be hired. Without jobs or only low-income jobs, selling drugs is seen as an option for some. In the movie, Khalil is killed without attacking or trying to intimidate the officer. In a 2016 study by the news outlet Vox, 39 percent of African Americans killed in a police-action shooting were reported to have been killed without attacking the officer. Victims from more than 60 percent of police-action shootings were unarmed minorities. In addition to statistics, there are often news stories depicting such events. On Nov. 26, 2018, African American Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. was wrongfully shot and killed at the Riverchase Galleria Mall in Hoover, Ala., when officers responding to an active shooter mistakenly thought Bradford was the gunman. He had a license to carry his handgun, which was visibly kept in his waistband. Days later, the police retracted their statement saying PHOTO BY ABBY LEISTER Bradford was not the shooter, and that the true shooter is at KEEP CALM AND READ ON: Senior Cassie Yohler reads The Hate U Give during her study period. Yohler has read the novel before, but is large. The real shooter, Erron Martez Dequan Brown, was revisiting the text after recently seeing the movie. arrested in Georgia on Nov. 29, 2018. A man who had tried to usher unprotected shoppers out of harm’s way is now a significant problems in many black communities today. And although Thomas portrays only one perspective of our victim due to racial profiling. Despite these statistics and real-life instances, it is flawed society, there is no denying the facts. The correlation between drugs and poverty are real issues as well as the mis- important to realize that most officers do not act out on their biases. Some either can dissociate their bias from their treatment of minorities on the part of some police. The Century Foundation, one of the oldest public policy job, while others are not biased towards others due to their research institutes in the country, states that the number of ethnicity. But those who do act with bias cause great harm to both individuals and dishonor the policing profession. very-high-poverty neighborhoods has, in fact, increased This movie offered non-minority teens a glimpse of what it dramatically since 2000. About three-fourth of minorities is like to be a young black man suspected of a crime. live in such neighborhoods. Overall, “The Hate U Give” effectively spreads awareness Due to such destitution, some people turn to drugs, which is exactly what Khalil did to pay off his mother’s debt. on issues in our country today. I would recommend watching the movie, but make sure to read the book first. Selling drugs, to people in a position similar to Khalil’s, is an attractive way to make money fast, especially for people
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12.7.18
features
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Green scooters take over Indy Students describe the experience and popularity of Bird and Lime scooters spread throughout Indianapolis BY RYAN BRANDENBURG Staff Writer
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hen you visit downtown Indianapolis, you will find several fun and interactive ways to get around. There is one new fad that is taking over downtown streets, however, and that is scooters. At any particular moment, you will see several Hoosiers on these micro machines, flying through streets and sidewalks. Two popular companies, Lime and Bird, offer fun ways to move around for a low cost. “I saw my friends riding Lime scooters on snapchat,” senior Shane Sullivan said. “So over fall break, I had to ride one.” A Lime scooter, a green and white electric scooter, only takes $1 to start, and costs 15 cents per minute after that. It’s cheap, it’s fun, and it’s electric, so it is environmentally friendly. What more could you ask for? Popularity for these scooters began to rise earlier this summer when they started popping up around the downtown Indianapolis area. Both Lime and Bird offer scooters in several other major US cities. Recently, Lime has begun to put scooters in countries around the world such as Australia and London, England. “My experience was great,” Sullivan said. “I got to ride around downtown with my friends and we got to see some cool places in a short amount of time.” With these scooters being electric, they need to be charged often. Thing is, there aren’t any charging stations for them. The two companies pay people to charge the scooters at their homes, paying these “harvesters” money each time they charge some scooters. “I saw an advertisement calling for harvesters on Instagram,” senior Nicholas Dietz said. People like Dietz are making some money while doing something that they enjoy. “I get paid around $60 per night to round up between 10-15 scooters and charge them,” PHOTO BY ELIZABETH EADS Dietz said. “Then, before school starts, I go back and drop them off downtown. I usually do SCOOTING ALONG: Senior Nicholas Dietz poses with a Lime scooter. These scooters are becoming this about 4-5 times per week.” more and more of a hit in Central Indiana, and people like Dietz are figuring out ways to get involved through “harvesting.” With so many scooters on the streets, however, measures have been taken to ensure safety for both riders and the people around them. IMPD has stressed that riders are not “It’s a cheap, inexpensive way to have fun with friends,” Sullivan said. allowed to drive them on sidewalks, and they have also been monitoring where these Even as the weather gets colder, people are still driving around Indy on these scooters. scooters are being parked. In fact, for a time, the two scooter companies pulled the scooters And Indianapolis isn’t the only place where they are blowing up. Cities around the country from the streets before bringing them back in September. Despite the rules, people can still are experiencing a rapid growth in electric scooters. So don’t be surprised to see more and have a fun time going about 15 miles per hour on an electric scooter. more people driving these micro machines when the weather gets warm again.
Downtown Indy destinations
An in-depth look at some of the downtown “hidden gems” from the eyes of a Roncalli student BY SAM EILAND Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY SAM EILAND
Peppy Grill has good prices on food that employees will cook fresh right in front of you. There is an interesting atmosphere that almost feels nostalgic.
Square Cat Vinyl is a very cool setting with good people in a vibrant part of Indy. There is a great selection for a number of genres.
Rocket Fizz prides itself on their extravagant shelves and unique vibe. Their candy isn’t bad either.
Peppy Grill
Square Cat Vinyl
Rocket Fizz
This simple diner located in the fountain square area has an impressive and diverse menu. The service is very good and the workers enjoy making pleasant conversation. This is a popular spot with people around that neighborhood and for good reason. The food is very affordable and the quality is second to none. There are several locations for Peppy Grill around the Indianapolis area. This dive comes highly recommended if you are looking for a good meal for a good price. I got a double cheeseburger with a side of fried pickles and I can honestly say that it was one of the best burgers I have had in a long time.
This is a great place for music lovers of all kinds. The store sells a wide variety of vinyl records from music both new and old with a wide array of genres available. The store has both a cafe and a stage which hosts performances almost every weekend. The pricing for the records varies based on rarity, demand, and quality. The price of an average record ranges from $15 to $25 while some of the rarer and highly coveted vinyl may cost more. There is a very cool atmosphere and the employees enjoy making conversation about music. Square Cat Vinyl may be a place for a specific kind of people but it is definitely worth a try if you enjoy music and looking for new music.
Rocket Fizz, located on the circle of downtown Indianapolis, brings a flavor to Indy that cannot be found anywhere else. This candy store offers sweets and sodas of all kind for a low price. The inside of the store features a very colorful and vibrant display that draws people into the door from the streets. There are also novelty items and gag gifts sold. The store honestly has something for everyone and the atmosphere inside is very welcoming. Rocket Fizz is very highly recommended for anyone and everyone who enjoys exploring what downtown has to offer. I personally recommend a bottle of Frosty’s Root Beer.
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12.7.18
Season begins for wrestlers Wrestlers are hopeful as they prepare for their upcoming season combining hard work and competitive play BY LOGAN WONG Staff Writer
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he Roncalli Wrestling team has had an outstanding last few years. Four state placers are returning this year: senior Elijah Mahan, and juniors Alec Viduya, Brayden Lowery, and Tyce Freije. The team is expecting to be very competitive this year. But what happens behind those infamous doors in the wrestling building?
PHOTO BY MADDIE ALDRICH
OVERPOWERING: Senior Trent Smith wrestles his opponent to the ground receiving points for a take down. Smith and other veterans are looking forward to what is looking to be a promising season.
Spike ball. Before the wrestlers get to the intense mental and physical work, they play spike ball in order to unwind between school and practice. The game’s rules are a combination of tennis and volleyball. Each person plays with a partner and bounces a ball back and forth on a mini-trampoline net. “I think spike ball helps us bond as a team,” Freije said. “It teaches us to work together and that wrestling is a team sport; it’s less about ourselves and more about the team.” After the fun is over, the work begins. “Expectations are to get better every day and to control the things that they can control,” head wrestling coach Wade McClurg said. “We focus solely on attitude and effort.” The majority of the team is putting in the work throughout the year to continuously improve. Most wrestlers compete for RWF (Rebel Wrestling Foundation) in the off-season tournaments at local, state, and national levels. RWF has boosted wrestling at the CYO level, with kids from all over the South Deanery from pre-school to high school wrestling year round. “These pre-season events are a great measuring stick for our guys to see what weaknesses and strengths they possess heading into the season,” McClurg said. “They allow us to go back to the practice room with a purpose to get better in specific areas that they need to improve in and continue to build in the areas that they are finding success in.” Six Rebel wrestlers traveled to Greensboro, North Carolina, in October for a national tournament called the Super 32 Challenge. This prestigious tournament is the toughest national scholastic tournament in the country, filled with multiple state champions, including Viduya who went 5-2. Lowery went 3-2, Freije went 1-2, freshman Ashton Brandon went 1-2, and freshman Kody Glithero went 0-2. The future of the team looks promising with 14 freshman coming in with very impressive youth wrestling resumes, like Glithero. They will be led by five seniors who made it to semi-state last year. The team competed last Saturday, December 1st at Westfield Shamrock Duals resulting in an undefeated score of 5-0 and were tournament champions. Undefeated on the day for the Rebels were Glithero, Lowery, Viduya, Freije, and seniors Lorenzo Salazar and John Harris. The team is in action tomorrow morning at home in a tri-meet versus Seymour, Noblesville and New Palestine at 9 a.m.
“Shoeless” Perkins places 10th Nick Perkins gives insight on becoming the first all-state cross country runner in Roncalli history BY JOSH WORMANN Staff Writer
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tumbling back to the minibus barefoot, senior Nick Perkins was pleased with his performance in the state meet. Expecting to place 13th, Perkins finished up at 10th. As a state meet tradition, Perkins, along with his other competitors, tied his lucky spikes together one last time after three long seasons, and threw them into the “famous shoe tree” at the Laverne Gibson course. However, the throw took two attempts because Perkins missed the first time. The throwing of the lucky spikes signifies the end of an era for Perkin’s Roncalli cross country career. Shoe-clad at the time, Perkins caught up with seven people in the last mile, pushing himself from 17th place to 10th. Last year, he was 121st, improving more than 100 spots this year. “I expected to place 13th,” Perkins said. “There were rankings for the state meet on inccstats.com that seeded me at 13th. I’m thankful that I exceeded spreadsheet expectations.” Perkins made a minor mental adjustment in the offseason, which led to major success in his final season. “I changed my mindset,” Perkins said. “I wasn’t nervous during any races this year and I stopped worrying about how painful races are because I figured my competitors are in the same boat.” Perkins leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire his teammates to improve. Coach Jeff Buckley saw this first hand over the past four seasons. “[Perkins] leaves a standard in preparation and racing that was previously lacking in our program,” Buckley said. “His mental focus is off the charts. He has taught his team what excellence is.” Perkins’ teammates agree that he has acted as a role model both on and off the course. “Perkins was an incredible role model through his actions,” junior Ryan Flick said. “He always completed what coach asked of him, never complained about a workout, and constantly encouraged and supported other runners.” Perkins has become the first Roncalli all-state cross country runner ever. He passes former Rebel runner Dean Meacham (R ‘02), who placed 49th in the 2001 state meet. “I think the absence of Nick will hurt the team, of course, but it will also help our seniors next year to mature and learn how to become better runners,” said junior Owen Herndon. “We really need to step up next year and not just win as an individuals, like Nick, but win as a team.” Perkins plans to continue his cross country career at IUPUI next year.
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PHOTO BY JULIE ALBERTSON
FINISHING STRONG: Senior Nick Perkins races towards the finish line in the semi-state meet. Perkins placed 3rd in semi-state with a time of 15:48.7, breaking his previous Roncalli record.
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