The Lion's Tale - Volume 50, Issue 5

Having trouble sleeping? You’re not alone. Many students have problems with insomnia and other sleep disorders. Check out how some students deal with these problems.

Senior David Gagnon explains the inspiration and techniques behind his art.

See some of his art inside.

page 14 and 15

page 13

LION’S TAL M a r c h 3, 2 010

Volume 50

Issue 5

601 K ing Street

OVIEDO’S

O v i e d o,

State eliminates sex education requirements

SPY ZONE R

Tiffany Ray

City to install red-light cameras

Victoria Persampiere news editor

I

n a 5-0 vote, the Oviedo City Council made the decision to move forward with plans to install red-light cameras at select Oviedo intersections. These cameras, which are already used in other parts of Seminole County, will run 24/7, monitoring the intersections and recording incidences of vehicles running a red light. They will also photograph drivers who turn right on red without coming to a complete stop at the stop line before proceeding, and will use radar to track the speeds at which cars pass through the intersection.

The project was originally proposed

by Oviedo Police’s Chief Jeffrey Chudnow at a City Council Meeting in August of 2009.

“The chief has been exploring the use of a camera to increase safety at intersections,” said Deputy Mayor Dominic Persampiere. “[The cameras] will truly take the human error out of see RED LIGHT, page 5

Where can I find these cameras?

434 and Vistawilla

434 and Winding Hollow 434 and Mitchell Hammock Mitchell Hammock and Lockwood

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SMILE FOR THE CAMERA.

Oviedo will soon have cameras like this at some stop lights to catch speeders.

features editor

esident health teacher, Erica Zimolzak-Coe, asks her class of 13 seniors to open their books to the section on sexually transmitted diseases, knowing these 13 students will be the last at OHS to receive any sex education.

“I have 13 seniors finishing Life Management Skills right now. The state no longer requires Life Management, so no freshmen, sophomores, or juniors are getting any sex education,” said Zimolzak-Coe. “Seminole County dropped the only class I know of that taught sex education.”

According to “Health Education for High School Students,” because the Life Management Skills class was eliminated as a requirement for graduation, only about half of all kindergarten through twelfth grade students in the state are receiving health education.

“I think the state wrongly assumes that Erica Zimolzak-Coe there are more important classes. Life Management Skills is not only important for learning to deal with relationships, emotions, and stress, but I think that sex education is kind of crucial. I cover anatomy, sexual reproduction, and sexually transmitted diseases,” said Zimolzak-Coe. For those students that do not learn sex education in schools, they are taught abstinence only, the policy for Florida schools.

“It’s the policy. I’m not allowed to teach anything about condoms or birth control methods,” said Zimolzak-Coe. A new study on abstinence only education suggests that it does work in keeping sexual activity limited among young teenagers.

“Researchers found that only about a third of sixth and seventh graders who went through sessions focused on abstinence

see SEX EDUCATION, page 5

Teachers report drop in attendance Lindsay Knox

M

staff reporter

ath teacher Verna Whaley counts 22 heads in her 24-count seventh period class. This has become a familiar scenario on a day-to-day

basis.

“My attendance has dropped below 90 percent this year,” said Whaley. “In past years, it was always well above that.”

Karen Stapleton, the Culinary Arts teacher, agrees.

“Overall attendance has suffered a huge loss,” said Stapleton. “All teachers have begun to notice more and more students missing school.”

Since the 2009-2010 school year decision to end semester exam exemptions, many students have begun to miss more school without the fear of losing their exam exemption privileges.

Actual statistics on absences from last year and this

year are difficult to compare since the school has moved from a six-period day to a seven-period day.

“Being at school doesn’t seem as important anymore because we don’t have to suffer consequences for missing school,” said junior Kadee Turner. “If we [students] knew that we wouldn’t be forced to take an exam at the end of the year, more people would be in class every day.”

According to the prior rules of the exam exemption policy, students who received an “A” in a course were allowed to have only three excused or three unexcused absences for that class in order to be exempt from the exam. If a “B” was received in the course, students are allowed two excused or two unexcused absences. With a “C”, one excused or unexcused absence was accepted.

Now, because of the removal of exam exemptions, students ride the line of the nine unexcused absences tolerated per semester without losing credit. Once a

see ATTENDANCE, page 4

photo illustration/MIRANDA GHALI

TAKING A PERSONAL DAY. English teacher Thomas Jesse talks to students after

school. The half-full classroom resembles some classrooms across campus during the day.

2

March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

News .

Foundation for SCPS sponsors ‘Arts Alive in Seminole’

Each year, the Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools sponsors Arts Alive in Seminole. Arts Alive features student, teacher, and staff performances, in addition to a benefit auction.

The proceeds are used to support the arts at the schools in the county. In addition to funding district-wide programs, the Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools donates money. OHS has received a check for $2,500, which will be used for

fine and performing arts programs.

End-of-course exams considered potential FCAT replacements

Seminole County Science, Math, Nirvani Khan would be more in the area of the subject the exams will also be required to graduate. and Engineering Fair held at the State Assistant Deputy Commissioner staff reporter student is taking. I would much rather take Seminole Towne Center Mall lorida lawmakers are most likely going the standardized test at the end of the year Kris Ellington said that in 2010-2011, Florida

On Feb. 20, 2010, the Seminole County Science, Math, and Engineering Fair was held at Seminole Towne Center Mall. All middle schools and high schools in the county were invited to the fair. There were 300 participants.

Senior Jessica Childress placed 1st in the Behavorial and Social Science category, sophomore Cayden Lawn placed 1st in the Environmental Science category, sophomore Neel Patel placed 2nd in the Computer Science category, and sophomore Harry Traber placed 3rd in the Environmental Science category.

NJROTC competes in championship field meet

state

Last Saturday, NJROTC competed in a state championship field meet, hosted

by Oviedo High School. Twenty-three schools from all over the state participated in this event. The OHS NJROTC won the ‘Sportsmanship and Spirit’ award and 4th place in the unarmed exhibition female event. In addition, the Senior Cadet Battalion Commander won 4th place in the male’s drill event. At least 4,000 people attended.

The Mayor of Oviedo, Mary Lou Andrews, was present at this event.

PEANUTS GALLERY.

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

The drama and music departments presented “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” on Feb. 26-28 in the Cassanova Performing Arts Center.

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to replace the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) with standardized end-of-course exams in high schools all across the state, although nothing has been finalized yet.

The Legislature convened on March 1 and will take up FCAT changes during this session.

The primary reason for this change to standardized end-of-course exams is simply that the state lawmakers feel end-of-course exams better reflect what Florida students are learning. End-of-course exams assess subject material that pertains to a specific course that students have taken.

According to www.jacksonville.com, Rep. John Legg, the Republican chairman of the House Pre-K-12 Policy Committee said, “What many of us believe, especially me, is that the end of course exams are more in line with what we’re measuring and, as many folks have said, is more evolutionary. It’s the next level of accountability that is more reflective of the student learning.”

Some students see the end-of-course exams as superior to the FCAT tests, especially because the tests assess material that the students have actually learned.

Sophomore Neel Patel said, “The ‘one size fits all’ mindset of the FCAT commonly leads to students being assessed on material too elementary or too advanced for them, so it’s not specific enough to be a valid interpretation of student ability. Specific exams might better assess individual performance. The main advantage may be that with emphasis on end-of-course exams, teachers can focus on teaching appropriate material rather than simply teaching to FCAT whims, so emphasis is on learning material, not learning FCATstyle info.”

Junior Paola Castrillon agrees.

“At least these [end-of-course] tests

because I would have the whole year to prepare for it, compared to just half a year,” said Castrillon.

On the other hand, some students feel that the end-of-course exams will place more stress upon them, so they would much rather take the FCAT test. “[End-of-course exams] would require each student to fully understand everything covered in an entire year. I would much rather take FCAT because once FCAT is over, so much pressure is lifted and the school year seems to fly by after that,” said sophomore

“At least these [end-of-course] tests would be more in the area of the subject the student is taking.”

Paola Castrillon, ‘11 Erin Parker.

Sophomore Jonathan Poweski said, “I would rather take the FCAT, simply because at the end of the year, we have second semester exams. If we were given a standardized, endof-course exam, it would just add pressure to the already busy schedules of those students studying for finals.”

As far as this year is concerned, Oviedo High was chosen as a site for field end-ofcourse exams in Algebra I. Keep in mind that these end-of-course exams, which will be administered in May, are only field tests.

End-of-course exams will start with Algebra I next year, and then work its way to Biology and American History. The goal is to make the total switch from FCAT to end-of-course exams in four years, which would be by the 2013-2014 school year, if the Legislature approves.

By the year 2015, if the Florida Legislature adopts this new testing system, passing these

plans to administer a biology end-of-course exam, and in the 2011-2012 school year, Florida plans to administer one for U.S. History. The year after each field test, the actual exam will be offered to all students.

Ellington also said that end-of-course exams may eventually factor into school grades.

A drawback to this testing transition is the economic burden. According to Ellington, it costs about $1.5 million for each end-ofcourse exam.

The United States government also requires all high schools in the country to administer at least one standardized science exam and in Florida currently, the eleventh grade FCAT science test is administered. The Florida Legislature is planning to replace this with a Biology end-of-course exam.

The baseline Algebra I end-of-course exams will be given on computers in the 2010-2011 school year.

Some students find many advantages in computer-administered standardized tests, including stress reduction.

“It would make a lot more sense, at least for my school, to take these long tests on computers. Yes, there are probably security and cheating concerns but with any tests, there are difficulties with those issues. Computers would save so much paper,” said Parker.

On the contrary, students also find many disadvantages with computer-administered tests.

“Many schools don’t have one computer per child, and many classes only have two to three PCs. Also, poorer school districts may have much less funding and therefore fewer computers, as well as outdated software, so the state would have to account for widely varying computer availability between schools and districts when designing testing schedules,” said Patel.

.

Seniors prepare for graduation as end of year approaches Jennifer Wakas

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This year, fees are being paid directly to

principal for approval.

Valedictorian Gene Katsevich will give package. Cap/gown/tassels can be purchased the first student speech during graduation.

April 28 - Senior Breakfast either online at www. herfforlando.com, or The second speech will be given by a graduate April 20 - Universal’s Grad Bash during senior breakfast on April 18. The cost chosen from the top 10. A class competition May 3 - Senior Awards Night is currently $48.50, and only cash payments to be class orator will begin in April. Forms May 8 - Prom at EPCOT will be accepted at the breakfast. will be available in the front office for any June 1 - Senior farewell UCF is charging a $5 parking fee per senior interested in this position.

June 4 - Graduation and Grad Night vehicle on both practice and graduation day.

Events such as senior picnic, grad night, This money is included in the grad fee, so and grad bash will be taking place in the students will need to show their IDs before parking. Relatives weeks before graduation. and friends will be charged $5 to park.

Project Graduation will sponsor the “Last Roar” which Graduates will be able to receive up to 10 tickets for will be the final senior party on the night of graduation. family and friends a few weeks before graduation. For an The “Last Roar” will take place at an as-of-yet undisclosed excused absence from school this day, students with family location. ties to a graduate could submit a letter of request to their Questions on graduation can be answered by Anna guidance counselor, who will then pass it to the assistant Hollis-Childress in room 5-216.

Save the Dates

staff reporter OHS and do not include a cap/gown/tassel April 23 - Disney’s Grad Night

ach week brings OHS closer to the day it will have to say goodbye to the seniors who have walked its halls for these past four years.

The class of 2010 Lions will celebrate their past memories, achievements, and the hopes of a future success on Friday, June 4, at the UCF Arena. The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. and it will go on for approximately one hour and a half.

To participate with their classmates and companions, seniors must pay their $55 grad fees to the front office.

Payments will be accepted up until grad practice day with prices gradually increasing starting in April. Last year, fees were paid to Herff Jones along with the purchase of a cap/ gown/tassel package. Herff Jones sent the money to OHS at the end of June, therefore requiring OHS to pay for renting the area before receiving payment from the seniors.

Wish for Winter Week The Lion’s Tale

March 3, 2010

News

3

GET HYPNOTIZED. 1. Seniors Austin O’Brien and Trevor

2.

Lombardi displayed their “guns” on Hypnotist night. 2. Junior Yanire Acra throws a ball in dodgeball game. 3. Senior Kijuan Mays coaches senior Colton Jones and other players at the student faculty basketball game. 4. Students get hypnotised on the first nightly event of Wish for Winter Week. 5. Coach Chad Long scores big at the student faculty basketball game where the faculty won 71-58. 6. Senior Evin Kelley waits for his team’s turn in the dodgeball tournament.

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1.

3.

4.

6. photos/KEVIN VELOSO

SGA, PAC donate money from events to Make a Wish Foundation

Julia Thorncroft

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posters, ads on WROR TV, etc. We had to do presale for the stated that she believes that they’ll hire him in the future.

“Even though there wasn’t a huge crowd, there were a lot interested in basketball game,” said senior and SGA secretary of games and other events that night, it [hypnotist night] was Jessica Childress. “As for the basketball game, it was an really a lot of fun, and absolutley hilarious. Those who went ongoing fight to the finish until the very last second. We didn’t really enjoyed it. I think with a little more advertisement and even know for sure who was reffing until the day before. We less competition more kids would go and really love it too.”

Childress claimed that there was no financial goal. must have spent at least three weeks finalizing everything with that one. For dodgeball the concepts took a couple of days but Leadership teacher and factulty advisor Brenda Holmes stated getting the teams together and the money took another week.” that SGA raised $500 from the events. All proceeds were According to Childress, they actually lost money the first donated to the Make a Wish Foundation.

“Really we just wanted events that the school would night because they had to pay the hypnotist. Ticket sales from the basketball game caught them up and they made a profit on participate in, enjoy, and as a bonus raise tons of money. We the final night with the dodgeball game, which she also claims really didn’t have a goal. It’s just a tradition to have a Wish for Winter Week raising as much [money] as we can for Make a was the most popular event.

Despite the loss of money from the Hypnotist, Childress Wish Foundation,” said Childress.

co-opinion editor hypnotist, make the forms for the dodgeball teams and those

he Student Government Association (SGA) and the Principal’s Advisory Committee (PAC) recently teamed up for the annual Wish for Winter Week.

The week gave students three events to participate in and raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation. The events of the week included a hypnotist, student versus faculty basketball night, and the dodgeball game.

Planning and executing the week’s events took motivation and effort. SGA and PAC worked hard on advertising and coordinating events for the students.

“The hypnotist we have used in the past so that was just a matter of calling him and making sure he was available that night. Holmes called the hypnotist, but we had to advertise i.e.

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News

March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Cumulative GPA declines from previous year from ATTEDANCE, page 1 student has exceeded the nine unexcused absences limit, he/she is put on an attendance contract and the individual automatically loses credit. If a student misses over 20 days, excused or unexcused, they are put on Home Hospital Bound and provided a certified teacher.

“In all, I’ve missed more than 15 days this past semester alone,” said senior Jonathan Melendez. “I already know that I’ll have to take exams at the end of the semester no matter what so it’s not such a big deal anymore.”

Although there is no longer a threat of taking exams, missing school may result in negative effects.

Based upon calculations provided by the administration, the average G.P.A. from last semester alone was 2.94, dropping from the previous school year when it was at 3.04.

“I have at least two to three students absent everyday,” said Whaley. “These students’ grades are significantly below average compared to students who are in class nearly everyday.”

By missing numerous classes, students subject themselves to missing important information they would gain while in the classroom.

“I like to call it the Swiss cheese effect,” said Whaley. “When students miss a lot of school, it pokes holes in their education.”

According to the perspectives of many teachers at OHS, the loss of semester exam exemptions has negatively affected both the number of students in class daily and how they perform in the course.

“In an AP course, every day is important,” said AP Psychology teacher Zack Densberger.

“If my students miss even one day, they easily get pretty far behind.”

In correlation with lower grades received

in a class, many students have had to drop classes that they signed up for after getting far behind in their work.

“I’ve had quite a few students drop my class or get kicked out because they weren’t doing well,” said Densberger. “Once you get behind in any class, it’s always hard to catch yourself back up.”

Students claim it is easy to hide from their parents the amount of school that they are missing by changing the contact phone for their parents to their own cell phone number or the phone number of a friend. Also, the student sometimes intercept the letters that are sent home from administration about the number of absences in each class through the mail before parents even get a chance.

The attendance report for the first semester shows an average daily attendance of 96.02 percent. Students must miss six or more periods to be counted as absent all day.

“I’ve gotten a few letters home about how many absences I have in each class, but other than that my parents don’t receive any knowledge about the school that I’ve missed,” said junior Brady Rice*. “I can just simply tell my parents that my teacher must have made a mistake on the attendance, or intercept the letter before they even get it so they never even know. It works every time.”

Students are continuously finding new ways to con their parents into believing that they are in class when they really aren’t, all the while missing the important aspects of being in class and furthering their education.

This year, the seniors decided to take advantage of the fact that you won’t be punished for missing days over your exemption limit.

“The loss of exam exemptions is why the seniors have taken multiple Senior Skip Days,” said senior Dallas Frazier. “It’s just another free day that we didn’t expect to

s u p Cam Yes 11%

No 89%

Do you think that the new semester exam policy has had a positive effect overall?

Total of 112 students and faculty polled during both lunches on March 2.

Sur v ey include any consequences since we already have to suffer through semester exams anyway.”

Semester exam exemptions were a privilege offered to students who value coming to school and keeping up their grades. These are the same students who are the most upset about our loss of exemptions.

“Up until this year, I had perfect attendance in order to be exempt,” said senior Doug Fitzgerald.* “But now that everybody

has to take semester exams, being at school everday seems almost poinsless when I could take a personal day and sleep in.”

“Students are missing more school in this past semester than they have in any of my recent years teaching at OHS,” said Whaley.

“Semester exam exemptions offered an incentive for students to be in class every day possible, and without them, students have seemed to stop caring.” *names withheld

The Lion’s Tale

News

5

runners and have consistently high traffic volume.

The fine for running a red is not yet set in stone, but the average for other cities with the system is between $125 $150. The offense does not count as points on the driver’s license, as it will be counted as a ‘code violation’, not a traffic ticket.

“All camera violations will be reviewed by a police department employee before an infraction is issued, which will allow for reasonableness in implementing the program,” said Persampiere. “There will also be an appeal process available is someone issued an infraction does not agree with it.”

The camera may capture both picture and video evidence of violations, and a computer system will allow drivers to see the footage of the incident.

“The registered owner of the vehicle will receive a notice of violation a picture of the violation, a website to go to, a password specific to their violation,” said Chudnow. “Once on the website, the violator can view the still photo as well as the video. In addition, it will show the speed of the vehicle at the time of the violation.”

The City Council meeting on March 1 may make the timeframe for the installation of the cameras more precise; as of now, the estimated operational date varies anywhere from six to twelve months. Should the second reading of the ordinance pass at the meeting, the City will begin to consider possible vendors to move forward with the program.

“My expectation is that there will be more compliance with red lights with a result of fewer violations and a reduction of intersection crashes,” said Chudnow of the program.

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when the they light n Lights,” driving. omfirmatio pm to 6am . 419, 5. “C ht runners, 6. No ll . 25mph, 4 lig . 40mph, 3 catch red 1. yield, 2 helps cops al is red to traffic sign

from RED LIGHT, page 1 it. Bottom line with a photo and a video, you either ran the red light or you didn’t. Pretty black and white, and just another tool in the public safety toolbox.”

Currently, each light must be manned by a minimum of two officers to catch red light runners, and even there will always be dispute about whether or not the vehicle in fact ran the light. With a camera operating 24/7, these problems will be solved. A car must pass the stop line and into the intersection while the light is still yellow, or the cameras will record the infraction.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 22% of traffic incidents in the United States are caused by running red lights. These side-impact crashes tend to occur at high-speed, and are very often fatal. The council hopes that the addition of cameras to the most dangerous intersections in the city will encourage drivers to be more mindful of red lights.

Other Seminole County cities have already implemented the technology to a generally positive effect.

“In conversations with chiefs from other cities, I have been told that they have seen a reduction in red light violations since the installation and activation of the camera systems,” said Chief Chudnow.

Winter Springs currently has two operational cameras – one at the intersection of 434 and Winding Hollow, the other at 434 and Vistawilla. Since their installation in March of 2009, Winter Springs has issued 1,193 citations related to the cameras.

“The outcome of the [camera] program has been that it has done what it was intended to, and we’ve had no accidents at the intersections related to the camera,” said Winter Springs Police Department’s Captain Greg Tolleson. “As well, we have noted a large reduction in the speeds going through the intersections.”

Despite these positive results, some citizens consider the cameras illegal, or believe that they are just a method for collecting money for the state government.

Legal issues have been raised in other cities over the red light cameras. Currently, the Council and the Police Department do not see these lawsuits to be a significant threat to the program.

“The legal issue will continue until there is a definitive answer from the courts,” said Chudnow. “Until then the people who have initiated the law suits in other jurisdictions will also try to do so in Oviedo.”

“Our cameras, if approved, would not be up for months, which should allow time for some more clarity on the legal issues,” said Persampiere.

The locations of these cameras are not yet decided, but the Council and the Police Department have considered a few possible intersections.

“The locations of the cameras will be determined after an engineering study by the vendor selected by the City of Oviedo. The study will determine the most appropriate location based on crash history, traffic volume and other criteria,” said Chudnow.

Some likely intersections for the cameras include Mitchell Hammock and 434, Mitchell Hammock and Lockwood, and Lockwood and 419. These intersections have, in the past, been the location of numerous accidents related to red light-

March 3, 2010

Students debate sex-ed vs. abstinence only from SEX EDUCATION, page 1 started having sex in the next two years. In contrast, nearly half of students who got other classes, including those that included information about contraception, became sexually active,” said The Washington Post article “Abstinence-only programs might work, study says.”

The study focused on middle school students about to enter into high school.

Senior Ariana McCain believes that talking with preteens about contraceptives might indeed lead to more sexually involved students, but at the high school level, safe sex education should be taught.

“At middle school age, you are putting ideas into their heads if you teach them about sex. That’s too young since most kids that age don’t think about sex at all. But you enter a whole new world when you reach high school. Teenagers are introduced to so much when they go through high school, and the idea of possibly having sex is already on their minds. Teenagers have been having sex for ages. Of course abstinence only education is going to work for preteens, but high school students need to be taught how to be safe,” said McCain.

The U.S. News and World Report said Houten.

Despite those who agree with Van de that students in the abstinence class were thirty-three percent less likely to have had Houten, there are programs that are trying sexual intercourse than students enrolled to bring sex education into more schools, in generic health classes that did not cover such as the Healthy Teen Act, a bill trying to be passed. The Healthy Teen Act requires sexual behavior at all. that public schools “Sex education, teach comprehensive including abstinence only, teaches about “It’s very personal, and once you sex education. This teaching sexually transmitted decide [to] teach sex-ed in school, includes that abstinence is the diseases, which we it becomes a debate involving only 100% effective really need to know way to avoid sexually about. Ask anyone you religion.” transmitted diseases, pass in the school halls Brooke Van De Houten ‘10 or pregnancy. It what so-and-so disease would also stress is, and see if they even know what it does, or how you get it. Many prevention methods, such as contraceptives, people think talking about sex and sexually meanwhile, emphasizing an exploration of transmitted diseases is taboo, but it’s critical the students’ personal values.

“Abstinence only education is the only to talk about,” said senior Alan Zegarra. sure way to stay safe. It emphasises the Others disagree.

“It’s very personal, and once you decide reasons you shouldn’t have sex-sexually you’re going to teach sex education in transmitted diseases. Students should know school, it becomes a debate involving some, but not everything. That’s up to the religion; a debate over abstinence only families,” said senior Mariette Cole.

According to healthyteensflorida.org, or safe sex. You can’t make every person happy. It should be up to families to talk sex education programs do not increase about sex,” said senior Brooke Van de sexual activity, in fact, studies demonstrate

that they can help young people delay sexual activity and increase contraceptive use among teenagers already sexually active.

“You can’t ever really tell what studies are going to say next. For a decade they’ve been saying abstinence only education is ineffective, but now this new study comes out. It just comes down to what you personally believe,” said senior Shelby McGrew.

Zimolzak-Coe does not know if sex education will ever be part of a required course in Florida schools again.

Said Zimolzak-Coe, “It’s just amazing how clueless everyone is; how little knowledge teenagers have about sex. I try to explain that it is best to wait – your hormones are going crazy. But I’d like to teach tools to be safe if they do have sex.

That’s something that you get abstinence only, but that’s better than nothing. In this day and age teenagers get so much information from the media about sex, but it’s about getting the correct information.

How are they getting that with no sex education?”

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March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Opinion Our Word

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

- Anne Frank

Exam day.....

Street Talk

Underage drinking proves dangerous

We laugh at our friends when they’re drunk. Parties, playing beer pong, and keg stands are some of the common “fun” parts of drinking. But we have yet to understand the downsides to drinking alcohol. And those downsides are no laughing matter.

It’s common for adolescents to experiment with alcohol. Although it’s illegal to buy or consume alcohol in the United States until the age of 21, most teens can get access to it. Recent studies have shown that almost 80% of high school students in America have admitted to drinking alcohol at least once. Nearly half of those students are binge drinkers, and 16% heavy drinkers.

Students have yet to realize that alcohol can leave a negative impact on lives and even end some. That’s why The Lion’s Tale believes it’s important to inform students about the harmful outcomes of underage drinking.

Ultimately, it is up to the teen to make a personal decision about drinking. In addition to the possibility of becoming addicted, there are several other upsetting realities.

Being the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, alcohol is a depressant, meaning that it slows the function of the central nervous system and blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. This alters a person’s perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing.

Fatalities on the highway go hand in hand with drinking. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2006, more than nineteen percent of drivers ages 16 to 20 who died in motor vehicle crashes had been drinking alcohol.

People who start drinking at a young age also have a greater chance of becoming an alcoholic. Studies by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) showed that more than four in ten people who begin drinking before age 15 eventually become alcoholics.

Alcohol poisoning is another dangerous and potentially fatal result of drinking. According to collegedrinkingprevention.gov critical signs of alcohol poisoning include mental confusion, vomiting, seizures, hypothermia, and slow or irregular breathing. A person can get alcohol poisoning at any place, any time. And if you’re at a party and you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, don’t wait until they pass out.

If someone passes out due to alcohol poisoning, they can die. That’s a situation where 911 should be called immediately.

If someone with alcohol poisoning goes untreated, the victim can suffer by choking on their vomit, irregular or no heart beats, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, or dehydration.

Women process alcohol differently than men. It takes fewer drinks to become drunk, therefore it takes fewer drinks to progress to alcohol poisoning.

While it may be common for teens to experiment with drinking, it’s more important for them to understand that drinking heavily can be harmful and fatal.

So the next time you pick up that plastic red cup, keep in mind how alcoholism can ruin your health, safety, and future.

LION’S TALE Staff

Editors-in-chief Carson Bailey Miranda Ghali

News Editor

Victoria Persampiere

Do you think red light cameras should be installed at traffic lights in Oviedo?

YES NO

46% 47%

I DON’T CARE 7%

When it comes to the test of life, there’s no cheat sheet editorial cartoon/WESLEY WYNNE

Check out pages 1 and 5 for our news story on traffic light cameras.

Poll out of 100 students taken on 3/02

illustration/JORDAN HUGH SAM

Siblings shape personalities, always there The pursuit of happiness

S

Tiffany Ray

features editor

he bit me. Granted, I provoked her.

But she bit me. I was eleven; my sister, Arianna, was eight. It was perhaps the most violent fight we’ve ever had. And I don’t even remember what we were fighting about. But is that really important at that age?

I only remember the thick, blue bruise swelling on my skin. Arianna supplies the rest of the story. Apparently I’d pushed her down and wouldn’t get off of her. So she bit my collarbone to get me off.

I cried, and then she cried when she realized what she’d done. We made amends, and six years later laugh at the circumstance.

When I told her my column was to start with that time she bit me, her eyes widened. Turns out, she had told that tale earlier in the day.

It was the first time she’d ever brought the instance up in public, and it happened to be the very same day. Freaky.

All siblings fight, and I suppose that has to do with the close proximity most hours of the day. According to “The New Science For Siblings,” published in Time Magazine, by the time children are eleven years old, thirty-three percent of their time is devoted to siblings. Even adolescents are found to devote at least ten hours a week to their siblings.

I guess we should be sick of each other by now. In some ways we are. Arianna and I can’t even bear to look at each other in the morning when we get ready for school.

But in other ways we aren’t sick of each

Opinion Editors

Jordan Hugh Sam Julia Thorncroft

Features Editor Tiffany Ray

Diversions Editors Carly Brower Emily Cottrell

Sports Editors Connor Bailey

Advertising Editor John Campbell

Staff Artists

Miranda Harmon Wesley Wynne

those theories, they still came away with as other at all. We gab about the books we share, gossip about our peers, and can’t even many questions as answers. More and more tell how many times we’ve watched Mulan scientists are concluding that [an answer] is our siblings,” said the article. together.

One reason is that our future spouses We spend more time together than come later in our lives, and our parents most siblings do. We’ve promised to be eventually leave us. “Our siblings may be like Monica and Ross on “Friends” – best friends as adults. Except that Arianna really the only people we’ll ever know who truly qualify as partners for life.” probably will be in New York someday, They’re with us for the whole journey. while I’ll probably still be in this county.

But in this day and age, we’re so Arianna wants to get out. I’m scared predominantly focused on romantic partners, to leave. Our differing, and sometimes contrasting, personalities separate us. We’re so we keep their text messages in our phone. night and day, as plainly different as out hair We girls keep the flowers boys give us in vases until they’re practically rotting. But we colors.

From our experiences, I’m not surprised don’t focus on the other relationships in our lives. I’ll admit, I’m one of them. that according to www.kidshealth.org, But I’ve started a collection of sentimenal siblings’ individual temperaments, including mood, disposition, and adability, play a large things my sister’s given me - I’ve already got a few things from our childhood in my role in how well they get along. drawer.

But, honestly, we’re the only ones She helped make me who I am: a more that will ever know what the other’s gone confident, better me. And I’ll always be there through growing up, even if we handle for her through things completely the struggles, differently. We can and troubles. read each other’s In the words body language at of Li Shang’s one glance. men, “We must According to be swift as a “The New Science coursing river, of Siblings,” with all the researchers have strength of a come up with great typhoon, numerous sources with all the that shape who we strength of a are. First they said raging fire, it was our parents, mysterious as then specifically the dark side of our mothers, then the moon.” our genes, our Our peers, and finally siblings seem our siblings are to be saying, now being eyed.

“Somehow I’ll make a man out “Once of you.” investigators photo/COURTESY OF TIFFANY RAY had strip-mined WE ARE FAMILY. Features Editor Tiffany Ray (right) with her all the data from sister Arianna Ray (left) posing for a family portrait as children.

Photographer Kevin Veloso

Staff Reporters

Miranda Betterley Jordan Branch Caitlyn Braswell Angiee Carey Amanda Ferguson

Nirvani Khan Lindsay Knox Hallie Lavery Kaitlyn Loughlin Curtis O’Brien Stephanie O’Sullivan Kimberly Segrest Jennifer Wakas

Faculty Advisor Deborah Jepson

Administrative Advisor Anna McCarthy

Oviedo High School

601 King Street, Oviedo FL 32765 • Phone: 407-3204199 • Fax: 407-320-4213

Online

The Lion’s Tale is accessible through the OHS website.

The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse ads. The views of the staff do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, staff, or faculty of Oviedo High School.

The Lion’s Tale

March 3, 2010

Bathroom visit reveals eating disorders NIRVANI’S NOTIONS

I

Nirvani Khan

staff reporter

are anorexic “have an extreme fear of weight gain and a distorted view of their body size and shape.”

Most with anorexia severely limit their diet to very small amounts of food. Anorexic people are very thin, frail, and are lacking in energy.

Usually, anorexic people weigh themselves obsessively and spend a great deal of time counting calorie intake.

The second most common eating disorder is bulimia. Those who are bulimic ‘binge’ or purge’, usually at least two times each week. This means that they excessively eat, and then they forcefully make themselves vomit in order to get rid of the calories, just like the girl I heard on the first day of my freshman year. Other times, they use laxatives. Unlike anorexic people, bulimic people eat more and are usually normal weight.

Although the particular cause to eating disorders is not known, body image is a significant factor. Teenagers, who go through emotional, self, and peer pressure, feel like they have to look a certain way in order to gain acceptance.

In addition, teens involved in a sport may be prone to developing eating disorders, especially once they’ve hit puberty. Coaches often accentuate that athletes constantly to lose as much body fat, in order to maximize athletic performance.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not only girls who suffer from eating disorders. In fact, out of the approximately eight million Americans with eating disorders, about one million are males.

The issue of eating disorders is real, as the facts, studies, and experiments show.

Let us not forget about the detrimental effects of eating disorders to human health.

Those with eating disorders are at risk from suffering from frail bones, low blood pressure, anemia (iron deficiency),

Opinion 7

Victorious Tori Victoria Persampiere

news editor

College dreams meet financial reality

A

illustration/MIRANDA HARMON

fter getting accepted into my firstchoice college, I had exactly two days of joy. Looking at my orange-and-blue online acceptance letter, I felt instantly lighter.

I’d been accepted to the University of Florida. I had nothing to worry about for the rest of senior year!

And then I got my very first bill.

Ok, so ‘bill’ is a strong word. But it was still a lot of money! My housing deposit was $200 for each semester – that’s $400 total, since I made the really dumb decision to apply for summer term as well. For a girl who makes about $300 a month before paying car lightheadedness, insurance, that’s a huge chunk of cash. malnourishment, I mentally crunched some numbers – let’s heart and kidney see, $819 for summer housing, and what would problems, the tuition be? Can’t be that much more than $500, inability to right?

I mean, it’s just summer and meal plans concentrate, – oh, my God those are expensive! I’ll do a stomach pain, tooth declining balance card and put like, $300 on it. decay, and That should do it for food. hair loss. In And books, oh darn, books! Ok, so, $600 for very severe those, right?

That sounds steep. Maybe I’ll rent cases, death can be a them so like, $200? consequence of eating disorders.

So that makes a grand total of $1,819 for six We cannot ignore the problem. There weeks of school? are many in need of assistance, especially I swear, just writing that made a huge knot growing teenagers. of tension form in my chest. I literally have a Two of the best treatment options couple hundred dollars in my bank account right involve therapy and counseling. Treatment now – most of that nearly two grand I’ll have to differs depending on the person, the eating take out in loans or earn in scholarships. School disorder, as well as the situation at hand. is not cheap.

And that’s just the beginning for I am still traumatized by my experience me and most other college-bound students. of the first day of my freshman year. I don’t Nation-wide, college tuition has risen an want anyone else to go through what the average of 107% since 1980.

That’s twice as girl in the bathroom stall next to mine did. fast as the national cost-of-living has grown, If you are suffering from an eating and the average cost of putting one student disorder, or you know someone with an eating disorder, there is hope. The options through college full-time amounts to over 25% are endless. All you have to do is speak up. of a middle-class American family’s income.

Modern mentality states that the responsibility of paying for college falls on the parents’ shoulders. It’s like, one of the costs of having a kid: buy diapers, pay for clothes and food, shell out most of savings account to send kid through college. But that option simply isn’t available to my family at the moment – so Hitler was a baby. And so was Mussolini, society will be overrun by these thumb however I pay for college, I’ll be doing it on my Attila the Hun, and Genghis Khan. These sucking diaper-wetting menaces.

I am an American and strongly believe individuals pillaged the land and murdered own.

But there’s always financial aid, right? countless numbers of people. All babies a man should only earn what comes Yes, I suppose that’s an option. But while the could potentially be the next Hitler. If from the sweat of his two brows. These of fact federal and state governments have been slowly that doesn’t make your blood boil, I don’t newborn babies are a burden on society. increasing their financial aid, they have not kept know what will.

They honestly expect us to feed them, pace with skyrocketing tuition. Until recently, Since safe sex obviously won’t work, clothe them, and entertain them. Babies Florida has had one of the lowest average I can think of only one solution to this don’t produce anything but still expect tuitions in the nation – this is probably due in problem. their desires to be met.

Jordan Hugh Sam co-opinion editor part to the fact that the state doesn’t want to Teach people to remain abstinent That sounds like communism. Babies hand out any more money through the Bright through their entire lives. are communists, the sworn enemy of our *Editor’s Note: Like English novelist Futures Program than it has to.

The presidents Abstinence education for life will be country. As Americans it is your duty to Jonathan Swift, Hugh Sam suggests a of state universities have been begging the state the saving force for the human race. destroy them. tongue-in-cheek solution to the safe sex to raise tuition to the national standard for a Our Earth possesses a limited amount I am a God-fearing man and I hate versus abstinence argument. His column decade now.

The solution?

Let’s raise tuition, babies. According to the Bible in the Book of resources. Each day 352,755 babies is intended to be humorous. but not cover it! enter our world gobbling up our limited of Exodus, “All newborn boys should be Fantastic. Now the tuitions will be raising resources. By teaching abstinence cross the country and throughout thrown into the Nile.” This is undeniable state-wide at a rate of about 16% a year – and education for life the overpopulation our state, one problem plagues our proof. Babies are the enemy of God. these jumps will not be covered by Bright problem can be curbed.

Perhaps you are not religious. Maybe schools.

Futures.

So yeah, that 100% Bright Futures Obesity is a major issue for American you consider my arguments illogical since Sex education. scholarship I busted my butt to earn? It’s not Many schools are actually considering they are from an “imaginary person in the teenagers. Statistics indicate that 69% of worth 100% of tuition anymore, and it will only switching to a program that teaches “safe sky”. But even on earth, geniuses realized teenage girls become obese eight months get worse.

Another recent casualty: the summer after having sex. Avoiding sex can create a the problems babies posed to society. sex.” term, which is not funded by Bright Futures. healthier American.

Famous philosopher Jonathan Swift These bleeding heart liberals conspire And the Pell Grant – jeeze, that’s chump In addition, abstinence education to corrupt students with their secular view wrote, “I have been assured… that a change now.

What paid for over 98% of a for life can stop global warming. As young healthy child, well nursed, is, at a of sex. There’s just one problem with financially needy student’s tuition in 1986 year old, a most delicious, nourishing, and the number of babies in the world has teaching safe sex: it teaches teenagers now covers less than 50% and the line for increased, so has the Earth’s temperature. wholesome food.” about sex. classifying as ‘needy’ has been getting lower This means babies are the direct cause of Swift understood the danger babies If we teach kids about sex soon they and lower. global warming. Decreasing the numbers posed to society. In his famous work A will be having sex all the time. This will But really, this is just depressing. Those 70of babies could only benefit the planet.

Modest Proposal, he created a clever lead to higher rates of STDs and a onecent packages of Ramen noodles, every college As famous leader Joseph Stalin way ticket to hell for any unmarried teen. solution to world hunger and the hoards of kid’s main food group is starting to look pretty But even worse is the danger teaching babies inhabiting the world. Eating a baby said, “No man, no problem.” Through pricy right about now. abstinence, we can be mankind’s final is a delicious answer to both problems safe sex poses to society.

Maybe I just won’t eat. solution.

You know who was once a baby?

Sex leads to babies. And soon our walked into the girls’ bathroom during lunch on the first day of my freshman year of high school, and what I heard severely troubled me.

Someone in the bathroom stall next to mine was gagging herself. I could easily tell it wasn’t due to illness. I knew she was purposely trying to make herself throw up. She was also sobbing and she sounded completely helpless.

Tears welled in my eyes, and my heart was pounding. I was so scared. I wanted to help her.

But, as soon as she heard other girls walk into the bathroom, she just ran out of the stall, out of the bathroom. And so I never knew who she was. All I knew is that she was dealing with a major problem that needed to be addressed. I still think about this unknown girl from time to time, and I wonder how many other girls struggle with what she does, too.

A study conducted by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders shows that about eight million Americans have some form of an eating disorder.

Personally, I believe the issue of eating disorders and those with eating disorders aren’t given enough attention, mostly because the signs are overlooked, or ignored.

I think the first thing we can do to help those suffering from an eating disorder is simply to become more aware.

Two of the most common types of eating disorders in the United States are anorexia and bulimia.

According to kidshealth.org, those who

Columnist takes humorous approach for teaching safe sex in high school classes A matter

A

8

Opinion

March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Campus Debates

Discussion ensues over sex ed

I understand that there are teens that will have sex no matter what anyone tells them. Sadly, this statement is undeniable.

Teen sex seems to be this cultures “norm”; only way “everybody” does it. However, this does for schools not lead me to believe that teaching safe sex is the ideal way to go. That is like saying to go “Here, here is all the ‘how-to’ information, here is everything you need to know, but please, don’t do it.”

It is like giving money to a homeless drunk, and telling him to not spend it on Jennifer Wakas staff reporter drugs or alcohol. It was also argued, in Teen e live in a sexually charged People Magazine, that many teenage girls culture. A society where women get pregnant, not because they are unaware sleep with men for months before of safe-sex practices, but because they they begin to ask themselves if they love the choose not to practice them. man they are sleeping with. A society where Studies also showed that sexually active it is common for a man to disrespectfully teenage girls are three times more likely to say to a woman, “If you really love me, you be depressed and three times more likely to would have sex with me.” attempt suicide, and sexually active teenage When a man asks a woman to boys are more than twice as likely to be compromise herself sexually, he is asking depressed and almost ten times as likely to her to satisfy his needs, and by doing so, attempt suicide. she becomes the type of woman he does I believe that schools should teach not even want for himself. He wants her to what is right, and if a teen decides to do give all of the benefits a wife would give, what is wrong, then so much the worse without having to man up and commit for that teen. It should not be the school’s himself. He wants all of the benefits and responsibility to teach teens how to do none of the responsibilities. something they should not be doing.

I believe that abstinence should be taught in schools. Teenagers need to know why it is important to remain abstinent until marriage. Girls need to be aware of how they are constantly used, and guys need to understand the significance of respect. Many people believe that schools should educate teens about safe sex. Is that supposed to serve as protection or promotion?

If safe sex was taught in schools, even with the most right intentions, I believe that students may grasp the wrong ideas. If students are taught how to have safe sex, would they not think that it must be okay to do so? They could be given the idea that sex is okay, as long as it is safe.

This idea is inaccurate. Moreover, abstinence programs have been proving to be effective. “Not Me, Not Now”, an abstinence program in New York, has dropped the sexual activity rate of 15 year olds by 15%. In an organization called “True Love Waits,” young women who took a virginity pledge were 40% less likely to become un-wed mothers.

There is a brief message, presenting abstinence as a minor option rather than a goal. Even 85% of parents believe that abstinence should be taught as much as or more than safe sex. Only 2% of parents believe abstinence is not important. Sex is meant for marriage, premarital sex is immoral, and teenagers need to understand that.

If people abstained until marriage, there would be no sexually transmitted diseases, no un-wed mothers, less abortions, less unwanted pregnancies, and less emotional impacts.

Abstinence

W

What do

YOU

?

think

English teacher Ellen White shares students’ responses to the accident at SeaWorld Dear Editors, I just recently found out about the incident at SeaWorld where whale trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed. The death of this girl really touched me and made me enjoy the value of life in such a greater way because it could be taken away at any minute. It’s sad that such a young and innocent girl like her could be killed in such a freak accident. I hope that the death of this SeaWorld trainer has made people think twice about the people’s lives working with these killer whales and wild animals.

- Bethany Baroody, ‘11

Safe sex teach to protect teens

S

Miranda Harmon

staff artist

ex is real. It exists. But for some, the education thereof can’t happen.

Sex education beyond “Don’t have sex,” is absolutely necessary. Teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and rape are big problems. Pushing them under the rug isn’t going to make them go away.

But we do. Like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand, we constantly hide from that which makes us human.

Why? Why must we constantly be afraid of what is real? Are we really that cowardly?

Well, no. It’s natural to be afraid of knowledge. Knowledge is certainly dangerous. But who are we to deny ourselves that danger? Danger isn’t always a bad thing. We have to trust ourselves and our children to handle knowledge responsibly.

We can’t remain ignorant children our

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opinion? submit letters to the editors in room 05-020

or email us at

editors@thelionstale.com

whole lives. For goodness sake, we attend a public high school. It’s better that we learn about sex from educators than the graffiti on the bathroom stalls.

In 2004, there were 745,000 teenage pregnancies. These problems are real.

The objective here isn’t to promote sexual behavior, but to promote healthy lifestyles. Teenagers will have sex, and this can’t be stopped. What we can do, though, is give teens the information so that they can make their own decisions.

Yes, it’s true, that abstinence is the only surefire way to prevent things like pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases, but for a lot of teens abstinence isn’t always an option.

The major flaw with teaching abstinence-only education is that it’s abstinence only. Abstinence education makes sense, but teaching only one viewpoint leads to one-sided minds.

We have to realize that although ideal, universal teenage abstinence is virtually unobtainable. What we can do, though, is educate.

Try this: Whatever you do, don’t think of an elephant. What are you thinking of?

Probably an elephant. Telling someone not to do something is usually reason for them to test the unknown waters. Humans are curious creatures.

This is why so many kids participate in risky sexual behaviors; because they aren’t told what they’re doing. If teens are constantly told that sex is a bad, terrible thing, then their minds will lead them down passageways that don’t even exist. The imagination usually conjures far worse things than actual reality.

A 2007 study shows that middle school students who receive abstinence-only education will have sex as teenagers just as much as anyone else. This proves that abstinence-only sex education is ineffective.

Statistics also show that teens that take virginity pledges are just as likely to have sex as anyone else. However, because they don’t understand contraceptives, they are more likely to have unsafe sex. This proves that not only is abstinence-only education dysfunctional, but also harmful.

Not only that, but abstinence-only education has been criticized by the American Public Health Association and American Medical Association, among others. Most scientists and health officials agree that comprehensive sex-education is the best way to go.

This is about choice and freedom.

Teenagers deserve to know the facts, and understand the workings of human sexuality. And yes, sexuality is a part of being human. We can’t hide that.

What we don’t know can certainly hurt us. True, knowledge can be a dangerous tool. However, it’s better to understand that wolves exist, rather than wander into the woods unknowingly.

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

Dear Editors, What happened at SeaWorld with the orca Tilikum was terrible. However, it’s not the whale’s fault. It’s nature is to do things like that. Trainers know what kind of risk they are taking when they get in that water. I mean their name is “killer whale”... you can’t tame wild animals like that. Personally I think that since that certain whale has killed so many people that they should just use him as a show whale like in the tank. not a show...interacting with “food.”

-Shanin Darley, ‘11 Dear Editors, The SeaWorld incident has reigned in many people inquisitive minds, and many issues are being addressed. Yes, I do personally believe it’s tragic but, the story does not need this much attention. I feel like Brancheau’s family would rather grieve over their loss in peace, rather than dealing with this huge commotion. Incidents of this level of tragedy have happened before, but have not gotten this much attention. The matters that are being questioned should be looked over more discreetly, not as a world renowned subject.

- Cassandra Buelich, ‘11

The Lion’s Tale

March 3, 2010

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The Lion’s Tale

Features Alcohol is a drug and can be abused

Victims of alcohol poisoning can die

61 out of 100 students surveyed admitted to using alcohol more than three times a month*

*survey taken on 3/1

illustration/MIRANDA HARMON

Teens risk death, arrests with alcohol use Kaitlyn Loughlin

addict themselves, but the caring people around them.

“I ended my friendship with [Jake], and he lost many eople worriedly screaming; a mother unbearably other friends too,” said Smith. “If I hadn’t stopped talking crying; the earsplitting sirens of an ambulance ringing. to him I’d probably be drinking a lot and getting bad grades A young girl left unconscious, breathless, and suffering too.” lays on the cold tiled floor, fighting for her life.

Those, like Smith, who remove themselves from “I didn’t even feel sick,” said junior Sarah Lewis.* “I situations involving alcohol escape the risks of getting got really tired and fell asleep and caught up in violence, being charged the next thing I knew, I was throwing for violating the law, and even making up.” bad judgments that could possibly “I really thought I could [drive This is typical behavior for lead to death, such as drinking while under the influence]. Until I hit someone who over-consumes alcohol, intoxicated or riding with someone a van.” John Balboa,* ‘10 who is under the influence. resulting in alcohol poisoning.

“I was crying so much; it was “I always hear kids at school talking bad,” said Lewis. “I could have about how completely wasted they got died.” over the weekend,” said freshman Noell In situations such as alcohol poisoning, death is an Powell. “It’s really not that cool that you got sick and can’t immense possibility if immediate actions are not taken. remember anything.”

According to collegedrinkingprevention.gov, victims of this Powell is not the only person who witnesses teens sickness could choke on their own vomit, stop breathing, or bragging about their delinquent actions over the weekend at suffer from hypothermia, seizures, and dehydration. school. Math teacher, Barbara Kelly, also confirms hearing “The ambulance picked me up and I passed out there,” similar conversations. said Lewis. “I woke up when I got to the hospital, [but] I “You always can suspect those who [drink] and those don’t remember what happened there.” who don’t, but there is no way to prove it in a classroom,” Occasionally, as in Lewis’s incident, when such a vast said Kelly. amount of alcohol enters the body, the stomach is pumped to Although Kelly has never had to deal with remove these dangerous fluids, and patients are hooked on a students intentionally coming to her class breathing support, as well as given vitamins to eliminate the inebriated, she strongly believes that drinking is liquids that have leaked into the bloodstream. an activity that should not involve adolescents.

“When I saw my dad, I started crying more,” said Lewis.

“It’s wrong; students are clearly not mature “Everyone was just so worried about me and I knew I let enough. They just abuse [alcohol] and get drunk. everyone down. It was so emotional, and it still is.”

The law says twenty-one, and the bottom line is Drinking is not only a risk for the one consuming it, but they can go to jail,” said Kelly. it also affects the people around you.

Unfortunately, the minds of young adults do In some cases, like junior Blaine Smith’s, dealing with the not always take the time to contemplate the consequences of repercussions of alcoholism can be a continuous hardship, their seemingly ‘harmless acts.’ although he himself was not the one partaking in the act.

“I usually drink with some friends just because I’m “I was 8 years old when I met Jake,* and he had always bored,” said senior John Balboa.* “It takes my mind off been my best friend. I never considered him an alcoholic stressful things, and we’re just having a good time.” until I realized he would do anything to drink,” said Smith.

As innocent as these ‘get-togethers’ may appear, According to gdcada.org, alcohol is a drug and can sometimes they can take a turn for the worst. become heavily addictive.

“I had to get home from a friend’s bonfire, and my [sober] “Jake would walk ten miles to a party if it meant that he friend agreed to follow me to make sure I would be okay,” could drink, or he’d beg me to drive him places, which put said Balboa. “I really thought I could do it, until I hit a van” my license at risk since I only had my permit,” said Smith.

Although Balboa fortunately remained uninjured and the The burden of an alcohol addiction affects not only the damage of the other vehicle was mild, the risk he took could

P

staff reporter

have been much more serious.

“Luckily I knew the person whose car it was, and they didn’t press charges,” said Balboa. “But I knew my mom would kill me when I told her.”

Honesty worked in the favor of Balboa, who was grounded for a mere two weeks, but he decided to change his thoughts on drinking.

“I stayed sober for a few months, and now I only drink occasionally if I know I’m not leaving that house that night,” said Balboa.

Like Balboa’s change as a result of his experience, junior Tyler Walters also plans to be more cautious after his encounter with the police for attempting to purchase beer while under-age. “[The cop] gave me a choice; tell him how I bought it, or go straight to jail, so I was honest,” said Walters.

Although telling the truth did not get Walters completely off the hook, it did benefit him by lessening his penalties.

“I’m in a three month program,” said Walters. “I have a curfew and in a way, I’m on probation.”

Under law enforcement and the restrictions of his parents, Walters is more careful when he comes into environments that involve alcoholic beverages.

“I don’t even drink at all any more; I made these decisions because I was being careless and I know that I never want to go through that again,” said Lewis. “If I could go back, I wouldn’t have let them give me the stuff, [and] I wouldn’t have listened to my friend when she told me to drink it.”

Peer pressure, as seen by Lewis’s experience, can play a major role in drinking, and ‘friends’ may even encourage it.

Senior Pearson Bolt, known to be a ‘straight edge’ kid, denies any opportunity given to him that associates with alcohol.

“I’m not going to sit here and say I’m better than anyone else, [but] I usually don’t hang around with those people.

Most of my close friends are of the same mindset, and my friends who do like to party know that I’ll just say ‘no’ if they invite me. I think it is a foolish decision [and] I feel that I am supposed to live above that; there’s so much more fun to be had sober then when you’re drunk,” said Bolt.

Visit www.aa.org for alcohol anyonymous information online

*names withheld

The Lion’s Tale

March 3, 2010

CHEATING EPIDEMIC Creative methods challenge teachers Angiee Carey

D

staff reporter

espite an Honor Code that punishes cheaters, students use a numbers of bizarre ways to cheat that probably the most knowlegable teachers don’t know about.

“Years ago a student with a broken arm placed the answers to the quiz in her cast,” said humanities teacher Suzanne Barnett.

Barnett aims to do everything she can to put a stop to students cheating.

“I try to prevent students from cheating by providing at least two different versions of the exam,” said Barnett. “Also, by the end of the day, I change the exam questions on the afternoon exams.”

Some wonder if making different tests can really stop students from cheating.

“Its simple. If I don’t know the information, then I cheat,” said sophomore Jessica Bright.* “I mean, honestly, I really don’t care if I get caught because it’s not like we are going to get our exam exemptions taken away like last year. All we get is a detention or something small like that.”

Cheaters often use the ‘Buddy System’ (helping each other out by sharing answers).

“It happens all the time,” said freshman Kent Meredith. “Friends help each other out.

It does make me mad, though, if they get a better grade than I do.”

Students even find ways to cheat by using the nail polish on their fingernails.

It only works if the student somehow has the answers to a multiple-choice test. They would usually code their nails according to the letter. For instance, painting polka dots would stand for the answer A and stripes for the answer B. “Writing on my hand, using small cheat papers, getting the correct answers from friends who have had the class before me and signing out the letter answers across the room are all different ways that I cheat,” said sophomore Joshua Star.* “ If I didn’t cheat, I would probably fail the class.”

Though Star believes in cheating, not all students share that view.

“I don’t think students should

cheat to get a good grade. It goes against the Honor Code. It’s a form of lying,” said junior Courtney Sullivan. “I work really hard to get my grades and I don’t like it when someone who cheats gets a higher grade than I do.”

Not too many students get passed Alicia Pope, who has been the school’s photography class teacher for 21 years.

“I’ve caught people cheating in some pretty crazy ways. People have cheated by downloading pictures from the Internet and saying that it was a photo that they took with their own camera. The thing students don’t notice is that I can tell when a picture isn’t really theirs because it’s usually extremely pixilated,” said Pope. “I’ve also caught students using old pictures from many years ago and using them on their contact sheet.”

Some students admit to using Kleenex in their cheating schemes. It involves using the tissues at the teacher’s desk, and while the student is ‘blowing their nose’, they sneak a peek at the answers of the previously turned in tests.

The “grab-bag” method uses back packs as a place for students like junior Sally Long* to hide anwers.

“I sometimes put my book bag in my lap and use the notes from it. It’s actually pretty easy,” said Long. “Sometimes I even write on my desk and put my test over it and usually, my teachers never catch me.”

According to media specialist Carol CoulonWoods, attempts have been made to cheat on Accelerated

Reader tests in the library.

“I once had a male student that asked another female student for her number, of course she thought he was going to ask her out on a date. Since he knew her initials, he logged into her AR account and tried to take a test from her account as a “pre-test,” said Coulon-Woods. “Normally, I’ll just write them up and let the office do the rest.”

Another way to cheat involves students who pretend to be injured. They wear the biggest Band-Aid they can find and write their notes on the cloth-like part of the bandage, red ink (blood), brown ink (dried blood) or green/yellow ink (pus). The student then pretends like they are looking at the wound and take a peek at the answers.

These new ways of cheating leaves biology teacher Marva Lynch questioning how to eliminate the problem.

“Sometimes I wonder if it’s even possible to stop students from cheating because there are a whole bunch of ways that students can cheat. There aren’t just the old ‘write the answers on my hand’ types of cheats anymore.

With the type of technology that’s out right now, there’s no telling what kinds of cheats are out there,” said Lynch. “As teachers we have to get on top of our game.”

Students may think of cheating as a lifesaver, but do students even think of what would happen if they were to get caught?

“I punish students caught by giving them a zero, calling their home, or sending them to the Dean’s office which can lead to harsher consequences,” said English teacher Ellen White. “But in the end, the only person losing is the student. It is their responsibility for a decent and honorable education.” *names withheld

Features

11

BY THE

NU MB E RS According to www.glasscatle.com, statistics show that cheating in high school has been on the rise in the last 50 years.

86%

of high school students agreed that most students do cheat at some point

75-98%

of college students each year report having cheated in high school

20%

of college students admitted to cheating in high school in the

1940’s Children ages

12-14

see an increase in motivation to cheat due to an emphasis ..............on grades

photo illustration/ MIRANDA GHALI

EASY AS 1,2,3.

A student relaxes after cheating on a test by writing the answer letters on the bottom of her shoe.

Q&A: Is it possible to make it through high school without cheating?

“I think everyone is going to cheat at least once.”

Natara Bucci, ‘11

“Most people wouldn’t choose to.”

Dhruv Patel, ‘11

“I haven’t cheated once, and I’m doing pretty well.”

Andrew Oxford, ‘12

12

Features

March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Monthby Month:

Oviedian

Year after year, students anticipate the arrival of the yearbook in the spring. But what about the staff that works around the clock to get the book done by deadline? Portfolios, workshops, and layout designs are some of the few daunting tasks of being a staff member on an acclaimed publication. compiled by: Miranda Ghali

1.

3.

2.

4.

5.

photos/PARTAIN, BAILEY

AROUND THE CLOCK. 1. Seniors Jenna Hill and Brittanie Olavarria work at a summer workshop in Dallas, Texas in July where they start initial designs of the yearbook. 2. The yearbook staff works during sixth period and during some after school work sessions to meet each deadline in the Mac lab shared by both the yearbook and newspaper staffs. 3. The “ladder” hangs on a bulletin board in the yearbook room. It serves as an outline of every page in the yearbook and is usually created over the course of the two summer workshops. 4. Yearbook advisor Alicia Pope gives instruction to the yearbook staff in daily meetings before members begin working during sixth period. 5. Seniors Michelle Collins and Brittany Partain, the editors of this year’s yearbook staff, collaborate to decide on designs and styles.

June decide on a theme to carry out throughout the entire book two summer workshops to prepare for next year

October go to Intensity Workshop (finalize all designs and get recommendations here) start making the senior advertisements

February take all school club photographs just keep working fourth deadline, getting close now!

July collect graphics in a portfolio as summer homework to share with the rest of the staff when school starts

November first deadline: must send in signatures (16 consecutive pages that the publisher prints together) get senior portraits back from photographers

March LAST DEADLINE, GO TO PRESS! work on the sports tip-in (the little pamphlet in the back of the book with team pictures and records)

August start creating design concepts learn how to write copy and use computer programs start taking LOTS of pictures

December start working on underclassmen spreads finish all senior class pages

September graphic artist comes in (he will help design the cover) decide on font, colors, and basic designs to use throughout the book start making spreads

January finish all of the underclassmen spreads third deadline to the printers

second deadline right before winter break

April plan senior signing party create a portfoilo and resume of all yearbook work

May get ready for books to come in and plan distribution get ready to start all over again next year!

March 3, 2010

One by One

S

enior David Gagnon became fascinated with art at an early age, and has remained so ever since.

“I got into it when I was around six years old, but became serious about it when I was eight,” said Gagnon.

One person who really inspired him to begin drawing was his sister, Valerie Gagnon.

“She used to design dresses a lot, and I was jealous that she could draw so well. I just went off that because I wanted to be like her,” said Gagnon.

Since then many people have both inspired and encouraged him in his art. One of which is one artist, Alex Purdee.

“The work he does inspires me to do a lot of the art that I do because a lot of the stuff that he does relates to what I draw,” said Gagnon.

Over the years Gagnon’s art has changed. “[At first] it was like chicken scratch,”said Gagnon. “None of it made sense.”

Proof that practice makes perfect comes from his friends who have a different opinion of his work now.

“It [his art] is really nice, really creative.

It’s weird in a way but it’s unique, though,” said Gagnon’s friend, senior Luis Santos.

“It’s really extraordinary, like out of this world.”

Gagnon uses several mediums in his art.

However he does have his favorites.

“I like pen and ink, just the way it feels. It’s smooth and it just flows, and you can’t erase. You have to grow off your mistakes,” said Gagnon.

In addition to ink sketches, he also does sculpture.

“I’ve mostly taken sculpture classes throughout high school,” said Gagnon.

His sculpture teacher, Rob Lawarre, has described Gagnon’s art as “twisted and dark fantasy.”

“If I just draw something normal, it looks too dull to me and I have to add on to it. It just bores me to draw something normal,” said Gagnon.

He says it is a reflection of him in that it is “very out there and unpredictable.”

Whatever the style or subject, Gagnon is trying to send a message with his work.

“Of course [I’m trying to send a message] because every piece of art should have a certain meaning that you’re trying to display to people,” he said.

One example of this is his drawing titled “Happy Joe.” “[The meaning of it] is not everything is what it appears to be,” said Gagnon.

“Happy Joe” recently won best in show in the Maitland art festival.

“What I did [in creating “Happy Joe”] was I took a bunch of paint and splattered it on a canvas and traced around it,” said Gagnon. “Then it was what it was.”

In the end, it turned out to be a monster

with a bunch of faces attached to it.

“It was crazy,” said Gagnon.

He plans to one day pursue art as his career.

“I will likely become an animator or a tattoo artist. But I’d prefer tattoo artist,” said Gagnon.

by Miranda Harmon

illustration/DAVID GAGNON

Jelly

you ? know?

Dogs wear toupees, fish is in lipstick

1

Most lipstick contains fish scales.

2

Every time you lick a stamp, you’re consuming 1/10 of a calorie.

3

Every day 20 banks are robbed. The average take is $2,500.

4

In Virginia, chickens cannot lay eggs before 8:00 a.m., and must be done before 4:00 p.m.

5

Editor’s Note: One by one appears in every edition of the Lion’s Tale, and features a randomly selected student. This edition a staff reporter interviewed the first person seen wearing silver.

Did

?

Gagnon paints, sculpts, draws inspiration for ‘twisted fantasy’

?

13

?

Kimberly Segrest

Features

?

The Lion’s Tale

In Bangladesh, kids as young as 15 can be jailed for cheating on their finals.

6

In Tokyo, they sell toupees for dogs.

7

In England, in the 1880’s, “Pants” was considered a dirty word.

8

Apples are more efficient than caffeine in keeping people awake in the mornings.

9

In Miami, it is forbidden to imitate an animal.

10

In North Carolina, it is against the law for dogs and cats to fight.

compiled from/WWW.STRANGEFACTS.COM

14

S Features

March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

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ggested number su e th t ee m to ily da s struggle a, Students across campu narcolepsy, sleep apne as ch su s er rd so di ep r of sleep hours, but sle from maintaining thei ts en ud st ep ke a ni m so sleep paralysis, and in ts. normal sleeping habi

Lack of ZZZZ’s constant battle for some Emily Cottrell

A

co-diversions editor

ghost heads straight toward sophomore Katie Hardy during class. She watches the eerie figure come forward, but can’t move a muscle. She can’t yell out.

She is immobilized.

Then she wakes up.

This is not an ordinary nightmare. Hardy suffers from sleep paralysis, a sleeping disorder in which the mind awakes from REM sleep, but body paralysis persists.

According to sleepingdisorderchannel.com, it is generally thought that during REM sleep, or the last stage of sleep, REM-associated muscle paralysis is meant to keep the body from acting out dreams. With Hardy, of course, this is not the case. Basically, she has the feeling of being conscious but is unable to move.

“I start to see my dreams before me, like the ghost in my classroom, or a girl from school dancing around in my bedroom. I can breathe, and blink, but I can’t move my body at all. When this happens, though, it only lasts a few minutes,” said Hardy.

During these transitions, some people may be unable to move or speak for a few seconds up to a few minutes. People may also feel pressure or a sense of choking.

“It’s different for every person. I’ve never gotten the choking sensation, thankfully,” said Hardy. “The dreams are not always scary, but they always catch me off guard. After something like this, it is really hard to fall back asleep.”

Students across campus suffer from a variety of sleeping disorders, and many just aren’t getting enough sleep.

According to the National Sleeping Foundation, teenagers need 8.5 to 9.25 hours of sleep each night, while one study showed that only 15 percent of teenagers reported sleeping 8.5 hours of sleep on school nights.

AP Psychology teacher Karlin Gasthoff conducts a sleeping project every year with her students to reveal that they are suffering from sleep deprivation.

“The project lasts one month and I have the students record the times they sleep, including naps. They must have

slept 56 hours per week, because eight hours is really the very minimum teens should sleep each night. Parents report on the effects on their teens, and they do report an increase in pleasant and cooperative behavior,” said Gasthoff.

Teens tend to have irregular sleeping patterns throughout the week, hurting the quality of their sleep. Napping can also harm quality of sleep, if too long or too close to bedtime, the National Sleeping Foundation explains.

“With my AP classes and basketball, it is really hard to get enough sleep. I tend to put my grades and the team above sleep. Mrs. Gasthoff’s project, however, really did make me see how much sleep helped my attitude,” said senior Annemarie Hauser.

Sophomore Andrea Branaccio, diagnosed with insomnia, or trouble with falling or staying asleep, has had trouble sleeping since she was a child.

“The worst part of it is when I have FCAT testing – if I don’t get enough sleep, I am extremely exhausted. Then it’s hard for me to have a good breakfast, and I can get really dizzy – which is a horrible combination for days like that,” said Branaccio.

Senior Ellie Davila understands Branaccio’s overwhelming feeling of exhaustion.

This past summer she was diagnosed with narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of asleep.

“In middle school, I was diagnosed with ADD, so I was already on stimulants. Everyone thought I was just really tired because I kept myself so busy. There was a period when I went off of my ADD medicine and I just couldn’t get the energy to do anything. I finally decided to participate in a sleeping study to figure out what was wrong,” said Davila.

Students like Davila, plagued by drowsiness and difficult nights of sleep, have participated in sleep studies to pinpoint their problem. Sophomore Richie Mastroberte did so to research the cause of his constant drowsiness.

“I participated in a one-hour study, in which they monitored my brain waves [as well as eye movements, oxygen levels, heart rate and muscle activity] while I napped. I also had a

24-hour study done, in which they had a box with all sorts of wires attached to me. I had to stay home and I wasn’t supposed to really do anything. It was just like a rainy day,” said Mastroberte.

Doctors diagnosed Mastroberte with sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.

“They discovered that I woke up about 300 times a night.

After the diagnosis of sleep apnea, I had my tonsils taken out. Beforehand, my exhaustion was becoming a problem, especially at school. Since then, I’ve been doing a lot better,” said Mastroberte.

In their constant battle to have a good night’s sleep, students have discovered many helpful tricks.

Branaccio’s doctor offered her advice on dealing with insomnia.

“My doctor suggested any little steps to make myself more comfortable. I also have a special mattress– its like a Tempurpedic – it keeps me from tossing and turning so much so I don’t wake up as often as I used to. I also have prescribed medicine, which helps a little bit,” said Branaccio.

According to medicalnewstoday.com, sleeping pills depress the brain and central nervous system, causing them to slow down, reduce anxiety, and produce a calming and relaxing effect. They also affect thinking, emotions, body movement such as hand-eye coordination, and speech.

While this medication can be helpful, it must be taken as prescribed only, and researchers actually caution that sleeping pills aren’t the answer to chronic sleeplessness.

They explain that insomnia is a symptom of a problem, and those suffering from it should seek a clearer diagnosis, as many students have through sleep studies.

Davila has simply modified her lifestyle to cope with her sleeping disorder.

Said Davila, “I was shocked when I was diagnosed with narcolepsy. I had never attributed my sleepiness to a serious sleeping disorder. I have learned to limit my involvement in different activities. I don’t overextend myself anymore.

Knowing is half the battle.”

How many hours of sleep do you get each night?

Kelsey Renfrow ‘10 “10 because I love sleep and I function much better with a lot of rest. ”

Dallas Marcone ‘13 “6 because I stay up until 12 A.M. playing my video games”

Alex Campbell ‘11 “7-5 because I live over in Volusia County and the buses pick me up at 5:55 A.M.”

Patrick Stiffler ‘10 “5 because I watch TV from 11 A.M. to 1 A.M. and then fall asleep.”

Shannon Ballamy ‘11

“6 because I have water polo everyday but Friday. I don’t get home until late.”

The Lion’s Tale

narcolepsynarcolepsynarcolepsy Sudden attacks of sleep and daytime drowsiness are two characteristics of narcolepsy, a chronic sleep disorder. This means that signs and symptoms of narcolepsy may vary in severity.

People with narcolepsy often find it hard to stay awake for long periods of time; this can cause serious disruptions in student’s daily routines. Other characteristics of narcolepsy include hallucinations, sudden loss of muscle tone, and restless nighttime sleep. These

signs of narcolepsy normally begin to show up between the ages of 10 and 25. Currently there is no cure for narcolepsy but medicines can be prescribed to help manage the condition. In the United States, about one in 2,000 people are affected by narcolepsy. The condition may run in families and a small percentage of people with narcolepsy have a close relative with the disease.

March 3, 2010

Features

15

sleep paralysissleep paralysis

Have you ever felt like you were awake but couldn’t move?

This is a sign of sleep paralysis.

It consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset or upon awakening. Sleep paralysis may also be referred to as isolated sleep paralysis, familial sleep paralysis, hynogogic or hypnopompic paralysis, predormital or postdormital paralysis. Symptoms include the inability to move limbs and presence of brief

muscle paralysis episodes. These episodes are often terminated by a sound or a touch on the body.

There is no known explanation why some people experience this sleep paralysis, it is most often associated with narcolepsy.

This sleeping disorder is not harmful, although many people report feeling afraid. Medication combined with good sleep hygiene may also be used to help minimize episodes.

pes of sleep disorders types of sleep disorders types of sleep disorders] sleep apneasleep apneasleep apnea Sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway. This can become a potentially serious sleeping disorder because your breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Snoring loudly and feeling tired after a full night’s sleep are two symptoms of this disorder.

There are two main types of sleep apnea – obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

A combination of these two is complex sleep apnea. There are

many risk factors that can lead to the disorder including excess weight, high blood pressure, and smoking. To avoid heart problems and other complications treatment is necessary. People with sleep apnea may also complain of memory problems, morning headaches, and mood swings.

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to hyperactive activity and children may be diagnosed with ADHD.

insomniainsomniainsomniainsomnia Insomnia is one of the most common medical complaints and includes having trouble falling or staying asleep. With insomnia, you usually awaken feeling unrefreshed, which takes a toll on your ability to function during the day. Insomnia can drain not only your energy level and mood, but also your health, work performance and quality of life. Insomnia symptoms include difficulty falling asleep at night,

awakening too early, and not feeling well rested after a night’s sleep. Insomnia most often comes from some other problem; such as a medical condition that cause pain or use of substances that interfere with sleep. Sleep is as important to your health as a healthy diet.

Due to lack of sleep, insomnia can cause many complications such as obesity, slowed reaction time, and lower performance at school. compiled by: CARSON BAILEY

? p e le s r u o y w o n k u o y Do Do you know everything there is to know about sleep? Want to find out more? Take the true or false quiz below to see just how much you know.

1. During sleep, your brain rests.

TRUEor FALSE

6. Everyone dreams every night.

2. Boredom makes you feel sleepy, even if you

7.

3. You cannot learn to function normally with one or

8. Most people don’t know when they

have had enough sleep.

two fewer hours of sleep a night than you need.

4. Resting in bed with your eyes closed cannot satisfy your body’s need for sleep.

5. Snoring is not harmful as long as it doesn’t disturb others or wake you up.

of students say they are late or missed school because they overslept.

e als e 5. F Fals se, , 10.

Fal e , 4. . Fals 9 rue 3. T True, . ue, . Tr e, 8 e, 2 . Fals als 7 1. F rue, T 6.

percent of teens say they felt too tired or sleepy to exercise.

are sleepy.

9. Raising the volume of your radio will help you stay awake while driving.

10. Sleep disorders are mainly due to worry or psychological problems.

HOW’D YOU DO?

28% 14%

The older you get, the fewer hours of sleep you get.

TALLY YOUR CORRECT ANSWERS

9-10: Congratulations! You’re a sleep genius.

6-8: Not bad! Learn more facts about sleep to improve your life.

3-5: Read the story to the left to find out more about sleep!

1-2: It’s never to late to learn about sleep! Why not start now? compiled/SLEEPFOUNDATION.ORG

16

March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Diversions

Putting it off Jordan Branch

T

staff reporter

he end of the first semester approaches and with it a monster of a project for Ed Miller’s Advanced Placement World History Class. For six weeks he had put off the inevitable until two days remained.

Day and night Miller pushed to finish the project on time. He sat next to his computer with a blank mind except for the blatantly clear fact that the project would be due at midnight online. His fingers cramped, his neck ached, and the quality of his work suffered. However, despite all, Miller met the deadline with moments to spare.

“I usually procrastinate on school work.

I’ve got sports and other stuff to do. Instead of doing my work I eat snack, sleep, and often practice lacrosse,” said Miller.

Procrastination plagues teens across the nation. Homework projects and studying are put off for diversions, whether sports or hobbies.

Steven Tillis breeds all kinds of snakes and reptiles for a profit. He has invested countless amounts of money in this hobby.

Tillis currently houses over 50 reptiles and snakes.

“The biggest problem I have is with assigned reading. I always leave that for the last minute because all of the snakes and reptiles need me all day. They always come first,” said Tillis.

W i t h s p o r t s

Find Jelly!

A small image of Jelly has been hidden somewhere in the paper.

Last edition Jelly was hidden on page 8.

Procrastination leads to trouble

consuming student time as well, many find it easier to use all the time they have to study before, after, and during practice.

“During softball season I came home and studied right after school. I felt pressure to get my work done, because with softball my only other option was failure. I did not have enough time in a day to wait until the last minute on every assignment. Since then I’ve returned to procrastinating on a nightly basis,” said sophomore Shelby Massey.

Procrastination often affects grades and a students’ ability to keep up with classes.

“I sometimes procrastinate when I’m super tired, but normally I work ahead to avoid being stressed out. Procrastination really stresses me out, and it puts me in a crazy bad mood it also affects my grades,” said sophomore Haley Bolt.

Bolt learned the hard way that procrastinating in her classes was not conducive to good grades and understanding.

“Now, I normally never procrastinate because I know that everything I do for a class builds on concepts I have previously learned. And if I slack off on one thing, it ends up hurting my grade significantly,” said Bolt.

Distractions such as Facebook, and VH1 captivate teens into the late night hours and could be culprits of procrastination.

“Instead of doing homework I go online and play games to pass the time when I shouldn’t be procrastinating. TV also takes up a lot of my time when I’m not practicing for wrestling,” said freshman Pablo Ramirez.

photo illustration/MIRANDA GHALI

Some students push off homework until they have to hustle to the finish line right before class begins.

“I watch TV shows and log on to Facebook before I start my homework. My grades are not awesome in certain classes. I do my Spanish homework at lunch everyday before class,” said sophomore Ashwin Babuji.

Although most admit their work suffers, some find it better to procrastinate because saving the work until the last minute becomes a push to the finish line.

“Sometimes procrastinating can keep me focused, because I am under great pressure to finish. In a bigger view, I get lower grades, and my work is lesser quality,” said sophomore Michael Huygh.

As students turn 16, they acquire jobs, however these students have to find time for schoolwork as well to keep up their grades.

“I procrastinate, because I feel like I have a lot to do like work at my job and train for my marathon. I procrastinate on short homework assignments but tend to stay ahead on essays and projects. I feel like I’m overwhelmed with the work I saved until the last minute.

My new job at Publix means I have to work hard to prioritize my schedule and balance work and school,” said junior Nikki Intreri.

And tips to beat procrastination say just that: effective planning can help. According to counselingcenter.illinois.edu, segmenting large tasks into more managable pieces can make even the most daunting projects seem small and simple.

English teacher Melody Gaston defines senioritis as “a sense that they are already finished when they have a mountain in front of them they have yet to climb.”

While students should avoid “senioritis,” taking quick breaks periodically during homework to chat with a friend or check email can give students the much needed refresher during homework time.

Senior Devin Flynn is one of many seniors who procrastinates because of the effects of senioritis.

“Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” said Flynn.

The Lion’s Tale

March 3, 2010

Diversions 17

Restaurant Reviews

Greek place serves up tasty comfort food Caitlyn Braswell

F

photos/JULIA THORNCROFT

Tex Mex food disappoints reviewer Kevin Veloso

H

five other students sampled food from every

staff reporter corner of the menu. The general consensus:

abaneros, on 426, is a typical Tex- Habañeros is an expensive version of Taco Mex restaurant, serving burritos, Bell or a tasteless version of Tijuana Flats. taquitos, tacos, and the like. Just Unless you are a cat food-craving-alien to clarify; despite popular belief, food from District 9, avoid the shoddy meat they drowning in cheese is not authentic Mexican labeled as “beef.” As a recommendation, try food. a fajita or chicken dish. Habañeros is owned Don’t be fooled by the ethnic waiter. by the same people as El Cero’s. Being a While delicious, Tex-Mex is nowhere as near carbon copy, if you’ve had El Cero’s, ethereal as authentic cooking. you know what Habañeros tastes But Habaneros’ version of Tex- Rating: C like. The food wasn’t all that bad.

Mex isn’t even delicious.

But the $11 hole it burned in my Aesthetically, Habañeros’ pocket could have been better vibrant paint job will hopefully spent. distracts you from the food. As a special On another note, trying to get separate treat for Miami fans, bright green and checks for even as few as six people was orange paint was used without discretion, a headache. Everything was printed onto but surprisingly comfy chairs accompanied one continuous receipt as a list of mystery the wood tables and floor. prices. The receipt resembled the screen of The entirely metal chairs, which are a button-mashed-calculator. What was once quite arguably the best part Habañeros, are a mediocre meal had now become a twisted devoid of cushions but remain cozy due to game of “The Price is Right”. an ingenious design that follows the contour Despite the “food” and lack of separable of the butt. checks, Habañeros is still a popular As for the food, free chips and salsa restaurant. When a restaurant has a huge bar are served upon seating. Chips are chips, and an abundance of flat-screen television but salsa can really make a meal great. sets, no one actually needs food that can be Habañero’s salsa, on the other hand, is just a tasted. disappointing slush of watery ketchup. I and

Pop Culture Column Julia Thorncroft

F

co-opinion editor

‘Hurt Locker’ director beats out ex

ilm history changed astronomically on Sunday night when The Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow became the first female to win the Oscar for best director. Not only that, she beat out her ex-husband Avatar director James Cameron.

Only three other women have been nominated for directing, they all lost. Bigelow has accomplished a long lost dream for most female filmmakers: being first woman ever in the 82 years of the Academy’s estrogen-fearing existence to gain such a prestigious award and rectify history. And maybe that’s my inner feminism speaking over the integrity of the film, but it’s still deserving nonetheless.

Avatar was nominated purely for higher ratings. Rarely does the Academy care or bother to include popcorn flicks.

But nobody watches the Oscars when movies they’ve never heard of get nominated. Cameron didn’t even get nominated for his screenplay, and its rare for a film to win Best Picture without also getting nominated for both acting and screenplay. Not since 1932 at least. And honestly, screenplay and acting were the weakest parts of Cameron’s fantasy film.

The Hurt Locker deserves more recognitian than Avatar.

Sure, Bigelow’s movie made exponentially less money than Cameron’s, but substance should rise over wealth. Her film takes a breathtaking look at the Iraq war in 2004 through the eyes of a US Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team.

Most people would feel skeptical towards a film about the Iraq war. But Bigelow doesn’t even emphasize on causes or consequences of the war, rather she focuses on the experience of a soldier during that moment he has to diffuse a bomb.

Some feel that leaving out a political statement makes the film’s message evasive. But the evasiveness works for Bigelow’s film, because most Americans still feel raw

my favourite part of the meal. While it was

staff reporter simple, it was still tender and delicious.

rom Chinese and Italian to BBQ Like any good meat, it was greasy, but only pits and southern style home cooked in the most flavourful, comfort food way. meals, Oviedo manages to house a At our table, we also tried the chicken, whole Mecca of successful restaurants. And stuffed with spinach marinated in that same up until a few weeks ago, Oviedo had yet to vinegary concoction. The portion was big experience an authentic Greek restaurant. enough that two of my friends split it and it Upon opening the door to Santorini’s, I came with rice pilaf as well as an extra side. was welcomed by an alluring scent of thyme While I sat there raving about my dish, they and freshly cooked pita bread. My party and modestly smiled and commented that the I were greeted warmly and encouraged to sit chicken was overcooked but had potential to where we felt comfortable. The steady flow be a knock out dish. to customers was promising as my party My table also ordered the chicken gyro, and I sat beside an impressive mural of a a staple for any true Greek fan. It was nicely Grecian landscape. priced at about $7 and looked like what any While munching on hot pita bread, mouth watering, messy gyro smothered in we all settled on a range of dinners. I tzatziki sauce should be. ordered the combination dinner, a $15 meal But by the end of the night, the consisting of highlight three stuffed had to be grape leaves the Baklava with perfectly we ordered. spiced gyro Fruit and meat and nuts set Moussaka, together The grape leaf with honey meal was my tucked adventurous inside choice for the night and I was a sweet, warm, and flaky crust pleasantly surprised. Though smothered in warm butter? Not Rating: Athe sauce it sat in was a strong, much can compare! As soon as we vinegary marinade that I could set our eyes on it, we each fought have done without, the stuffing to stuff a little bit more into our inside was perfectly steamed. stomachs swimming with food like fish in The Moussaka came out the size of the Mediterranean sea. a small square, completed with a hill of As we left the place, all I could do was Parmesan on top. It resembled a Greek rave about the new restaurant. The prices lasagna, replacing pasta with potato and were average. The bill came out about the Eggplant and substituting marinara sauce same as it would at any other sit down with a polenta like béchamel cream at the restaurant. The food was excellent but the top. warm, family-like feeling that made me And even on top of these two dishes, smile the minute I walked in was certainly it came with about seven strips of beef and something not many other restaurants can lamb gyro meat as well. This was probably offer up.

towards the Iraq war, which is understandable. The film is neither pacifist nor propagandistic, which makes it perfect.

And to Bigelow, being the first woman to win doesn’t matter. On “60 Minutes,” Cameron was asked how he’d respond if she won and he admitted that she deserves to win. He also stated that she would not want to be recognized because she’s a woman, she would want to be recognized because she’s a great director.

Setting this bitter rivalry aside for a moment, there are other great films that have lost attention for best picture and best director Jason Reitman’s Up In the Air is equally deserving, and I thought that if Reitman couldn’t get awarded for director or picture that he would at least get best adapted screenplay. But no, Precious robbed him of that too.

But I have to say, Mo’Nique deserved recognition for her role in Precious. She had to take her acting from a dark place in her life to play such a monster, and it was breathtaking.

Quentin Tarantino got snubbed, just like Reitman.

He rewrote history for us in his WWII epic Inglourious Basterds. Who cares if Hitler didn’t commit suicide? It’s way more awesome that a bunch of Jewish guys got to kill him, isn’t it? I understand that The Hurt Locker deserved best picture but Tarantino should’ve had best original screenplay.

It was amazing.

Not to mention Christoph Waltz radiated evil brilliance as the Jew-hunting Nazi colonel Hans Landa. Waltz played the villain that everyone loves to hate, and he did it all in four languages. He was the obvious choice. It’s only justice that he won.

But what about the Coen brothers? Their latest film, A Serious Man is undeniably genius. Joel and Ethan creatively reinterpret the American Jewish experience in this deep, dark comedy. The Coens’ twined their jabbing satire with a deeper sense of tragedy. And with Jefferson Airplane as background music, it brought out nostalgic emotions. But then again, I’m a sucker for any movie that takes place in the ‘60s or ‘70s.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter who won the most awards. The fact of the matter is that all these films were amazing. Every film that I have mentioned should be seen at least five times.

Follow the five time rule people.

The Academy Awards Winners:

Best Picture

The Hurt Locker

Actor in Leading Role Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart

Actress in Leading Role Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

Directing

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

Actress in Supporting Role Mo’Nique - Precious

Actor in Supporting Role Christoph Waltz Inglourious Basterds

Original Screenpay Mark Boal - The Hurt Locker

18 Diversions

March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Teen in running to be on ‘World’s Strictest Parents’ Amanda Ferguson

Julia Fin

e, ‘12

S

photo/KAITLYN LOUGHLIN

staff reporter

ophomore Julia Fine’s parents say they’re tired of her rebellion, disrespect, and bad behavior. Now, Fine is in the running to be the next contestant on World’s Strictest Parents.

World’s Strictest Parents has been airing on television for about two years now and has featured roughly 18 sets of teens. The show can be seen on CMT, and airs reruns until they have filmed a new set of teens story.

The show features two teens that go to live with a different family to break their bad habits and learn how to behave.

At an OHS football game in Sept., Fine and her mother heard about the World Strictest Parents sign ups and went to a table set up at the game where people were taking in applications.

The application asks questions about bad behaviors, parents’ opinions, and current relationship status.

Initially Fine didn’t even believe it was a legitimate application or that she would make it as far as she did in the qualifying rounds.

According to Fine, she has a tendency to party, and disregard her parent’s set curfew time.

“My dad’s curfew for me is 11:30 and normally I just have my friend drop me off and drive around the block and then come back and I pop out my screen in my window and go,” Fine said.

Fine’s mother, Denise Fine wants to see change for her daughter. She wants her to show more respect for her parents. Fine’s mother hopes the show will teach Fine to appreciate what she has.

Her mother said Fine gets mad at what doesn’t go her way and is never happy about

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separate families switch households and set new rules for their temporary families to follow. Later, the families then reverts back to their old ways and the mother must obey their rules.

photo/ABC.GO.COM/SHOWS/SUPERNANNY

what is good in her life. “[The letters] are what your parents think “Julia gets very impatient, very easily. you need to change,” said Fine.

Her and my husband also argue a lot about “I have scarcely thought about what I the littlest things. She gets very loud, am going to write in her letter, and what I very quickly, and can lose her temper in a have thought of is pretty intense, and it may heartbeat,” said Fine’s mother. actually break through her little wall she has In previous shows, the “new” parents put up right now that she is using to try to lay down the law keep her father out of her of their household as much as possible,” “I hope the parents are pushovers, life with the new kids said Denise Fine. so I can be like guess who’s the just as soon as they Fine is really excited arrive. The teens on about going on the show. bad dog?” the show must go She wants to see change Julia Fine, ‘12 in herself. At the same through the daily life of the parents’ time, however, she wants real children, such to have some fun with the as doing chores and participating in charity show. events.

“I hope the parents are pushovers, so I Teens on the show normally disrespect can be like guess who’s the bad dog?,” said their “new” parents for the first day or so.

Fine.

“I know I am going to be stubborn in the The producers come down to Florida for beginning because that’s just my personality,” a personal interview in March.. If selected, said Fine. her show will be shot over the summer and In the middle of the episode, the kids will be air in August or Sept. receive a letter from their parents.

The Lion’s Tale

March 3, 2010

Movie Reviews

Diversions

19

‘Lightning Thief’ disappoints fans Stephanie O’Sullivan staff reporter

O

photo/KICKSOMEPAST.COM

Hot tub antics lead to hilarity Julia Thorncroft

comedic film. He played the dysfunctional character you never get tired of, and he try to change their lives so that their futures played him well. nappropriate, absurd, and a waste of Like Zach Galifianakis in The improve. time hardly begins to describe Hot Tub I know time travel and the 1980s sounds Hangover, Corddry steals every scene he’s Time Machine. How can a movie so in. Craig Robinson was also undeniably stupid and perverted even have the potential too much like Back to the Future. And hilarious, as usual. the whole movie definitely is DeLorean to last in theaters? There’s only one But Chevy Chase played a surprisingly intelligent and dignified answer, because it’s inspired, without Doc Brown. Crispin small role which became incredibly Glover, known best for his role George awesome. disappointing after his comeback in NBC’s You couldn’t possibly expect much from McFly, stars in the film as a one-armed “Community.” The only funny thing he ever bellhop. a movie titled Hot Tub Time Machine. The did was call Clark Duke a woman.

But Hot Tub is chock full of vulgar movie has one of those titles like Snakes on Hot Tub radiates stupidity. I language that a Plane or Let’s Go to Prison, where you Opening March 26 won’t deny it. places it on the line can immediately predict what will happen But the writing has to be the best between science without even seeing the film.

Rating: R part of the film. Sure it wasn’t based fiction classic and But if you’re a fan of raunchy and Grade: A on a Nicholas Sparks novel, but obscure humor, this is the perfect movie for Judd Apatow Josh Heald wrote a fast and witty films. It’s like Road you. screenplay.

Trip minus Tom Green, which actually If you found the title misleading, I makes the film better.

The speed and style of the dialogue is understand. The concept of this film is The film has its hits as well as its misses easily comparable to my all time favorite truly mind boggling. So for those confused, though. We finally get to see Rob Corddry show, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” here’s the plot: four naked dudes get into a I found it brilliant. But what can I say? I hot tub. Once in the hot tub, it malfunctions star in a movie as a lead role, and he proved that he’s got the cohones to lead another like profanities. (due to an illegal Russian energy drink)

I

and they travel through time. When they

co-opinion editor realize they’re in the year 1986, the boys

Music Reviews Sycamore Meadows

Buch Walker Alternative

Caitlyn Braswell

B

Realism

Ocean Eyes

The Magnetic Fields Indie-Folk

Owl City Techno Pop

Carly Brower Julia Thorncroft co-diversions editor staff reporter co-opinion editor

Y

utch Walker has been in and out of countless bands, produced albums for everyone from The Honorary Title to Weezer all the way to P!nk and yet never before had he released his own solo album. Yet, his debut solo “Sycamore Meadows,” certainly didn’t disappoint. Every song is another nostalgic autobiography from his softly melodic yet intensely catchy song “Going Back/ Going Home” or character-driven bluegrass fragranced single “Weight Of Her.” Butch does have a talented way of alternating the heavy songs with the light, almost humorous songs” Whether listening to it in the car or just hearing it in the background, it will leave toes tapping and heads bobbing.

ou would not believe your eyes/ If 10 million fireflies lit up the world as you fall asleep,” sings Adam Young on his hit song “Fireflies”.

First appearing on Myspace in 2007, Adam Young uploaded some songs from home and became a huge success going by the name Owl City. His melodic music, reminiscent of The Post Service, takes on a dream-like quality as he sings about going to Seattle, romance, and facing the dentist. Young combines electronic beats to create catchy, spirit lifting music. Although many of the songs sound repetitive so if you don’t like one song chances are you wont enjoy the others. Overall, Young will captivate listeners will his smooth and poetic music.

DOWNLOAD THIS> The 3 Kids in Brooklyn

DOWNLOAD THIS> On the Wing

Upcoming Concerts Five for Fighting Sunday, March 14 8:00 p.m The Plaza Theatre

Of Montreal Saturday, April 10 8:00 p.m The Club at Firestone

Nickelback Friday, April 16 6:30 p.m Amway Arena

Dashboard Confessional Friday, April 16 8:00 p.m House of Blues

photo/WWW.FIVEFORFIGHTING.COM

T

he tenth album by The Magnetic Fields proves to be as beautiful and nostalgic as their classic album 69 Love Songs.

Songwriter and virtuoso Stephen Merritt refers to Realism as, “my folk album.”

Which is exactly what this album represents.

Adult scenarios with childhood melodies make every song striking and folly. Opener “You Must Be Out of Your Mind” is full of witty lyrics, while the song “Always Already Gone,” is a powerful ballot of bleak apathy.

Complementary to their previous album Distortion, The Magnetic Field’s album incorporates the flugelhorn, accodian, violin, banjo, and many other instruments to deliver their own acoustic and folk sound, which only makes this quirky group even more incredible.

The album also proves that Merritt’s songwriting skills haven’t disintegrated over the years. Hopefully he can write The Magnetic Fields another luminous album.

nce again, the movie industry took a perfectly good book and turn it into a Hollywood fiasco.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightening Thief follows 17-year-old Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) across the country after discovering that his dyslexia, ADHD, and ability to stay underwater easily for seven minutes all mean one thing: he is a demigod. His father isthe Greek god Poseidon, god of the sea and earthquakes.

Percy is sent to Camp Half-Blood with his best friend Grover (Brandon T. Jackson), his protector. There, the pair meet Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) and they travel.across the country to find three pearls to transport them safely out of the Underworld.

But what the trio couldn’t find was a decent acting coach.

The movie becomes ridiculous when modern inventions are brought in. Percy uses an iTouch to avoid looking Medusa in the eyes, Grover complains about the recession, and while partying at the Lotus Casino in Las Vegas, the trio dance to the sounds of Lady Gaga and Ke$ha.

Too much was left out of the fantastic book written by Rick Riordan for me to feel satisfied.

Did it live up to its nickname as the “next Harry Potter”? Not a chance, it only made me even more disappointed with the overall quality of the movie.

Wait for it to come out in Redbox.

The Fall

Norah Jones Jazz Caitlin Braswell

A

staff reporter

fter her debut album Come Away With Me and it’s adjoining 35 million record sells, sultry singer Norah Jones reinvented herself with what is now being called her first rock album.

The Fall, released last Nov. drips with romance, good and bad. Songs like bluesy, sharp tongued “Tell Yer Mama” blasts Jones’ past boyfriend and ex-bassist on his failure to be a man while other songs like emotionally led but melodically flowing “Back To Manhattan” retells her torn decision between two lovers on opposite sides of the river. Norah’s done all but hold back and we’ve never loved her more for it.

DOWNLOAD THIS> Back to Manhattan

DOWNLOAD THIS> You Must Be

Out of Your Mind photo/WWW.NORAHJONES.COM

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Diversions

March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Book Reviews

Must-read novels breathe life into characters Death narrates novel in Nazi, Germany

Werewolf romance novel a fun read

Victoria Persampiere

Jordan Hugh Sam co-opinion editor

T

news editor

Shiver’s plot is a little tired and very Twilight, but it was entertaining.

Grace is a normal girl who falls prey to a freak accident involving the wolves that populate the woods behind her home. After that, she has this obsession with the wolves, and one in particular – a yellow-eyed one who saved her all those years ago.

Because of this, the book is very slow to start – the first few chapters are about Grace pining after the yellow-eyed wolf. However, when things really get going and its revealed that the wolf is –gasp- actually a werewolf boy named Sam, the novel regains some of its direction.

The werewolves in Shiver are different from the wolves in other poplit books in that they are literally wolves for a large part of the novel. They lose their identity when they change, and eventually they lose the ability to change back.

When we meet Sam, an event snaps him briefly back into human-form, where Grace immediately recognizes him as the wolf she’s been obsessed with for six years and drags his human body into her house.

Thanks to the miracle of indoor heating systems, Sam is able to retain his humanity – although he is certain that the next time he goes wolf, it will be for good.

There’s a whole star-crossed lovers feel going on with these two – they are constantly at the mercy of any cold breeze that may steal Sam’s identity and change him. This provides for many quirky situations where Sam and Grace end up doing anything to keep him

warm, including throwing him into a bath full of scalding water and allowing him to spend awkward nights in Grace’s bed with her body heat (and her crazy hormones).

This is where the plot gets sticky – Grace seems to suffer from terminally unobservant parents. Sam lives in her bedroom for months and her parents are never the wiser. Like so many other people in the book, Grace’s parents are like automatons.

Gaping plot holes aside, Shiver is a fun read. Stiefvater cleverly keeps the reader’s mind focused on the peril that the impending winter poses to Grace and Sam’s relationship, and provides touching peeks into the mind of a boy stuck between two worlds. Steifvater’s talent for communicating emotion gives the whole book a sense of suspense and urgency.

It’s not going to change your life and I doubt that dorky Sam will ever achieve Edward’s fangirl status, but it’s worth your time just to read an author who writes such lovely prose.

he year is 1939. The location: Nazi Germany. Death welcomes us into the story and I do not mean Death as in an event or a process. The Book Thief is told and narrated by Death, the grim reaper, the taker of souls.

Death has never been busier or more exhausted, but he welcomes us into a tale: a story of those who survived. He does not speak of concentration camps or gas showers but of normal people living in a time of extreme danger.

Liesel Meminger is just ten years old when she sees her brother die - frozen to death on a train that is traveling to her new foster home. At his burial site, she steals a book left in snow-The Grave Diggers Handbook.

With the help of her accordion playing foster father she discovers the power that words hold. The power a language can hold over an entire nation.

Liesel finds herself stealing books from the Mayor’s Library and even from Nazi book burnings.

Soon her family is hiding a Jew in their basement and struggling to feed a family with a can of peas.

Honestly, my brief synopsis of the plot can do little to convey The Book Thief’s meaning.

The author Markus Zusak understands people. In his word he has given a voice to the poor citizens of Germany. Boys that were bored by the Hitler Youths, a man

whipped for sharing a piece of bread, and a girl whose love of words kept her alive while the world around her burned.

This is a rare type of Young Adult novel.

It does not stand on romance or stories of wizards and magic. It breathes through its characters.

The Book Thief will show how words can bring tears to your eyes and how good fiction can tell truth better than pages and pages of facts.

After I finished reading The Book Thief, I dropped it on my desk and sat down. I closed my eyes.

Liesel, Rudy, Hubermann and various other characters floated in my mind.

If you are the type of reader willing to be challenged by a 500 page novel, pick up The Book Thief. Prepare to enter a world of thievery, words, and death.

The Lion’s Tale

Sports

March 3, 2010

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2.

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1.

Wrestling takes first at state Hallie Lavery

M

4. photo/COURTESY OF JANIE WILLIAMS

TAKE ‘EM DOWN. 1. Junior Ray Rowland lifts his opponent in an attempt to return him to the mat. 2. Senior Kurt Keebler makes first contact by “posting on his opponents head.”

3. Senior Chase Gordon runs an arm bar on his opponent in his final match. 4. Senior Doug Vollaro celebrates with coach J.D Robbins after winning a state championship. 5. Senior Chase Gordon turns his opponent with a steel band tilt. 6. Senior Doug Vollaro controls his opponent on the top position in the finals.

staff reporter

otivate wrestlers and a lot of hard work assisted the wrestling team to a state victory.

“We had really good team chemistry, that’s probably why we won states,” Junior Joey Hefley said Thanks to their new strategy of teamwork the Lions have passed their brief rough patch they’ve been going through the past couple years and are back in business.

“It’s great. They’ve bonded together as a team for one common goal, to win the state championship,” said coach J.D. Robbins.

After taking third and fourth place the past two years at the state tournament, this year the team has come back to claim the first place trophy.

“I’d say our strongest team quality is definitely discipline,” Robbins said.

Wrestlers senior Chase Gordon, junior Jay Taylor, and sophomore Doug Vollaro all took first place in the 145, 189, and 285 weight classes. “ I think I wrestled pretty good, I stayed calm and wrestled at my top level,” Vollaro said.

Overall the team had 10 wrestlers attend the finals. Region champs, Hefley, Gordon, Taylor, and Vollaro were included.

Aside from the first place winners, junior was 161.50, declaring them the state Kurt Keebler took fourth place in the 112 champions. OHS competed in the toughest weight class, Hefley took third place in region in the state, according to the the 119 weight class, senior Ray Rowland Orlando Sentinel. took second place in the 125 weight class, “Wrestling is an individual sport with a senior Erin O’Dell took second in the 160 team concept. It took all 14 guys to win a weight class, and freshman Alton Meeks state title,” Robbins said. took fourth in the 215 weight class. Senior This is the Lions first state championship Justin Gorinac and junior Michael Alpert since 2007, and their success doesn’t seem wrestled in the 130 and 135 weight groups, to stop there. but unfortunately neither placed.

“We outwork our opponents, sacrifice “We [the coaches] just emphasized and run year around. We asked our kids to that all their [the team] time and effort that give up their personal time and dedicate they put in will 100 percent to our pay off at the program,” Robbins said.

“We outwork our opponents, end of the year,” But what does this Robbins said. years seniors and juniors sacrifice and run year around.

With the plan to do after their high We ask our kids to dedicate 100 school wrestling career tough matches the team took comes to an end? percent. ” J.D. Robbins, coach advantage of “Wrestling is a family every bonus sport, I’m not allowed to point available, do anything else. I don’t including the one Gordon earned when know where I’m going to college yet; he won by a technical fall, in the finals wherever gives me the most money,” said according to the Orlando Sentinel. Vollaro Taylor. also had two pins and O’Dell had one pin But O’Dell and Gordon are a little more the first day, which was essential to the certain about their college path. team’s victory.

“I want to go to Nebraska University, “We wrestled really well. Everyone Nebraska is the wrestling state,” O’Dell stepped up to get the two extra points we said. needed,” Vollaro said.

Gordon has also already signed with As a whole Oviedo’s team score the University of Oklahoma.

5.

6.

Sports

March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS

1 STATE

17

YEARS COACHING 4 GREAT SHOOT OUT VICTORIES PRO CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

FLORIDA

22

CHAMPION

PLAYERS SIGNED 5 SEMI-STATE CHAMPIONS FULL SCHOLARSHIPS

PLAYERS SIGNED

REGIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIPS

SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Coach’s career spans decades Carly Brower

T

co-diversions editor

he sounds of bone against flesh catches Coach Ed Kershner’s attention as he walks onto the court at half time. He looks around and sees chaos.

Fans brawl on the court, security officers rush towards the scene, a man walks up to him, spits him in the face, and calls him a “n***** lover”, and the game is forgotten.

“In 1983 I was coaching the undefeated 37-0 Osceola state champions and we were playing against the Tampa Jesuits. At the time, our team had one white player and their team was an all-white team,” said Kershner. “After half-time a fight broke out and the entire gym had to be cleared. It was racially motivated and the next day we had to play them again at 10:00 a.m. with no fans-only cheerleaders and the principal- and we beat them at their gym.”

This fight made national news, appearing on Good Morning America and USA Today.

“It definitely showed the players’ maturity that they could play on those circumstances and come out and win,” said Kershner.

Kershner has been head basketball coach for over 14 years at OHS, starting in 1996.

“It’s a great experience. These past 14 years have flown by. I really enjoy coaching-it’s a love that I have. I truly am blessed,” said Kershner.

Kershner started playing basketball at a young age in Indiana where the love of the game was hereditary.

“My mother coached girls basketball and my dad was an official so I grew up playing basketball in Indiana and since 1968 I have been coaching,” said Kershner.

Over the years Kershner has had the opportunity to coach seven professional basket basketball players, including Lakers Frank Ford from his undefeated Osceola team, and three players from Oviedo. Seven of his other players are now coaching college basketball.

“I think to be a good basketball player you have to have the desire, attitude, work ethic, and love of the game,” said Kershner.

Kershner finds Oviedo High to be a distinguished school that has been one of his favorite places to teach Standard U.S. History.

“Coming from Ft. Pierce, Oviedo is unique and respected. There are a lot of outstanding students that makes Oviedo what it is,” said Kershner.

Kershner has coached at eight different schools and has won over

750 games. At Oviedo his record is 336-105.

“My first year at Oviedo we won districts and went on to the state finals which was really special,” said Kershner. “I always say every year is my favorite team. I really enjoy each team because it’s always different. The personality changes and I have to adjust to the perimeter of each player.”

During districts Kershner was injured on the court, resulting in his hospitalization.

“In 1996 at the state semi finals we were playing the Miami Killins and Coach Kershner was standing on the court calling out to a player when a player from the Miami team accidentally ran into Kershner and the next thing I knew he was gone,” said assistant coach John Howell. “He was under the score tablehe went air born and hit his leg on the table. Doctors were checking him and he seemed to be okay and we all went to the locker room and there wasn’t any visible breaks so

afterwards we stopped at McDonalds and myself and Ms. Zimolzak-Coe, our trainer, are all talking when suddenly Kershner faints. So she [Ms. Zimolzak-Coe] called 911 and the ambulance rushed him out to the Lakeland Hospital where they found out he had broken his leg and had internal bleeding.”

Howell stepped up and coached the finals while Kershner was in surgery.

“No coach likes to miss a game. This is our life, and I’m sure he missed being with the team. You don’t get a lot of opportunities to go to the state finals,” said Howell.

Having been coaching for so long, Kershner has been able to interact with a wide variety of players.

“I don’t see much difference in the players over the years.

They all want to win, excel, and are always competitive,” said Kershner. “As a coach you have to challenge them. I want to do the best with that particular team and be the best with that team.”

Basketball has been a passion for Kershner for many years and he believes he can teach players many things.

“I love the competitive spirit and how it teaches hard work and being part of a team,” said Kershner.” It also teaches good values that can be with you the rest of your life.”

Kershner believes in a wide support team, all contributing to the success of the team.

“I feel in no way it’s about me. I try to teach my players that it’s a team effort. It’s about the many teachers, family, assistant coaches- it’s not just about one person,” said Kershner.

His players have a unwavering respect for their coach for his impressive coaching and dedication.

“He’s a great coach and he teaches lifelong lessons and can make a bad team into a great team,” said senior Greg Dorleus.

Kershner has been able to go up against many schools but every year a couple of schools stand out.

“I always love playing Hagerty, Lake Howell, and Winter Springs because of the tension, pride of the school, and the dedicated fans.”

Kershner’s popularity has inspired a group of crazed fans that call themselves the Kershner Krazies, and attend every game to cheer on the team.

“Its definitely unique. It’s great how they support Oviedo.

In a way I wish it wasn’t my name because its not about me-its about the basketball program,” said Kershner. photo/KEVIN VELOSO

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March 3, 2010

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March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Making

the pitch

John Campbell

F

Recently featured in ESPN Rise, senior A.J. Cole works to take the Boy’s Baseball Team all the way

advertising editor

our tenths of a second. That’s the amount of time a batter has to decide whether or not to swing when AJ Cole is pitching.

P l a y i n g baseball from the age of seven, Cole has already been labeled as an accomplished player.

“AJ has been on the varsity team here for four years now and knows what is going on,” says varsity sophomore Teddy Botsko. “He knows how to pitch in the big games.”

Cole made the USA team for the World Youth Championships in 2007.

“It was exciting to go to Venezuela to play in the Championships.

The game against Brazil was probably one of the toughest games I’ve ever played because you are playing for your country, and you have to stand up for it. You also play with 17 other kids that are the best in the country,” said Cole.

Cole then carried the team to a win in the championship game against Brazil with his devastatingly fast pitches that have topped out at 96 miles per hour.

“It is difficult to hit off AJ because he throws the ball so fast, and his curveball is really good,” says varsity sophomore Ryan Maxon. “His pitching is really smooth for how hard he throws it.”

Not only has Cole been on the front cover of the ESPN Rise magazine, but he is also a top prospect of many Major League Baseball teams.

“He doesn’t even have to work hard,” said Botsko, “Everything comes to him pretty

WIND IT UP. A.J. Cole works with the Boy’s Baseball Team to catch up with a record of five losses and one win after a loss on Feb. 19 against Osceola.

A.J. Cole Career Quick Facts Weighs in at 190 pounds and 6’5” Throws and Bats right handed.

Fast Ball clocks in at 96 miles per hour.

Made the USA team for the World Youth Championships.

Earned Run Average is 1.45.

Member of the Orlando Scorpions Club Team.

easily.”

Despite all of the publicity Cole has received, he still isn’t completely used to it.

“I try not to worry about it now because I’ll have to worry about it eventually, but I don’t want to let it get to me now. For now, I am going to keep working hard and getting better,” said Cole.

Though his career has been so impressive at such a young age, Cole has been more than modest about it.

“AJ appears as a normal student athlete, but I think his attention creates excitement for the whole team,” said Coach Morgan.

Furthermore, Cole also has a variety of challenging pitches with outstanding control.

“When AJ is pitching, he dominates the other team’s hitters,” says Coach Morgan. “This gives us a better chance to win.”

While Cole has verbally committed to the University of Miami, he is in the top 20 draft prospects and could go pro.

“Having AJ on the team is pretty exciting, It brings a lot of scouts to our games,” said Botsko.

In addition to the constant supervision of a scouts and the constant analysis of his games, Cole managed a mere perfect scoreless inning in the Alflac All-American Game.

“He makes it look so easy,” says junior Brittany Hudson.

“He makes it so hard for the other team to score.”

At the moment, he mostly throws his unreasonably hard fast pitch and a controlled curveball. Occasionally, Cole mixes in a few change ups to throw off the other teams hitters.

“One thing I learned playing for Oviedo is that you have to play together as a team to be able to win a game,” said Cole.

In all, Cole retains an impressive start to a bright looking future in baseball.

“AJ is one of the top MLB prospects and his future is as bright as can be for anyone. I think he will be in the Major League in less than five years,” said Coach Morgan.

photos/KEVIN VELOSO

The Lion’s Tale

March 3, 2010

Sports

25

Lacrosse team gains experienced coach Stephanie O’Sullivan staff reporter

S

tudents at Oviedo welcomed new schedules, new electives, a new campus this year and for the boys lacrosse team, a new coach. Sean O’Dell recently assumed the title of boys lacrosse coach this past winter.

“He’s a really good coach and he knows a lot about the game,” said junior Renner Powell.

Sophomore Alex Perez agrees.

“O’Dell is very experienced and he’s really good with the team. At first, I wasn’t sure about him, but I had trained with him over the summer through the Florida Possums, where he coached. I knew hat he was really experienced and I liked him.”

“I am so proud of my teams because of how far they have come in such a short time, and how much of my knowledge they have absorbed so far,” said O’Dell.

According to O’Dell, the team has reacted positively to the change in coaches.

“The team has reacted 100% positively towards me. They are completely on board, stoked, and excited for this season said O’Dell.

O’Dell certainly has experience playing sports. O’Dell started playing ice hockey at the age of five, and continued to play until he was 23. To keep in shape during ice hockey off seasons, O’Dell started playing lacrosse when he was 15.

“It started out as just a way to keep in shape during off-seasons, but once I

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

BEAT THOSE HAWKS. Seniors Trevor Liljenquist (#2) and Adam Fisk (#23) fight for the ball aganist the Lake Howell Silver hawks. They ended up beating Lake Howell 17-7.

started playing lacrosse, I loved it,” said O’Dell.

O’Dell has played lacrosse in Canada, played on the UCF lacrosse team for four years, and coached the Florida Possums lacrosse team for five years and the boys lacrosse team at Lyman High School.

It was through some of the parents of the kids on the Possums team that O’Dell

found about the job opportunity to teach at OHS. “I admire the spirit, drive, and heart of this team because there is a lot of natural talent and ability already on the team, they just needed someone to show them how to use it on the field,” said O’Dell.

A few of the ways that O’Dell has changed the boys lacrosse teams this year

include how the team looks and how they practice. O’Dell considers Lake Brantley to be the team’s toughest opponent.

“We got new jerseys, which makes us play good, since we look good,” said Powell.

“We changed the way we train. Now it’s more of a college or club type training.

I’m trying to teach them how to use different techniques on the field, instead of just teaching them plays. I have also changed the jerseys, the helmets, and I’m holding the boys more responsible. I coach them like young adults, instead of as kinds. So, if they miss a practice, they miss a game. I’m training these young men to be leaders,” said O’Dell.

“He has basically just made us practice harder and play better, and it really shows,” said Perez.

According to senior Joey Schmidt, the new coaching techniques have paid off.

“He [O’Dell] knows the game way better. Last year we only won two games, and we had already tied that after three games this year.”

O’Dell is proud of how his first year coaching the OHS boys lacrosse teams is progressing. So far, the season stats for JV are 2-1-1, and for varsity, 5-1.

“Last year at try-outs, only about 50 people showed up, but this year, around 80 showed up to try-out. Coach Allen told me, that I brought on a strong lacrosse feeling at OHS, and that more people are excited about it this year, and that makes me really proud,” said O’Dell.

Proper techniques vital to discus throw

Caitlyn Braswell

S

staff reporter

enior Ryan Ridenbaugh steps up to the cement slab, clearing his head of every thought as he throws his disc with gracful force, hoping to win points for his

team.

Although discus throwing was part of the first Olympics held in 776 B.C, the art of discus throwing remains nearly the same.

“Discus throwing is one of the oldest sports, People in the Roman days played it. It’s basically throwing a disk shaped object as fast and as far as possible while spinning in a predetermined spot,” said Ridenbaugh.

For senior Patrick Bowman, this will be his first year playing a sport in high school.

“Throughout high school, I never practiced on a team or did any sports. This is my last year in high school so I figured now was my last chance and I wanted to get active,” said Bowman. “At first, I didn’t have any idea what I was doing in discus or even how to throw it right but after some practice and help from Hammontree, I got a hang of it and it’s much easier now.”

Ridenbaugh, however, started in shot put in middle school and worked his way into discus throwing as he started his high school career.

“In middle school, I used to play shot put which is really similar to discus. It just involves a metal bar,”said Ridenbaugh. “I actually broke my back and got spinal fusion surgery back in 2007. After that, discus throwing was all I could really do sports-wise. The sports were really similar but it was still something new and interesting that I wanted to get started in when freshman year came around.”

While the idea of the sport sounds simple, the team

trains rigorously to do well in competitions. The disc alone weighs about an average of five pounds.

“When I throw the disc, it goes about 110 feet. For the best competitor, it will fly about 160 feet,” said Ridenbaugh.

Discus throwing began at OHS the same time track became available-in the 1920’s. However, the members of the discus team at OHS greatly differ from those who play from other schools.

“I coached at Coral Gables, Winter Springs, and a few other schools, usually shot put and discus are played by students who also play offensive and defensive spots in other sports. Students here seem to be one-sport students and put all their efforts into only one sport. At other schools I coached at, the students that played in sports did a number of them,” said Coach Tom Hammontree.

Hammontree explains that this, along with the school downgrading to 3A, lowers the possibility of ideal teams, not only in track and field but in all sports.

“When you have a large population of students, it’s easier to have those one-sport students, but when population goes down as it has, the importance of multi-sport playing kids is greater. There’s only so many students available for the vast amount of sports we offer,” said Hammontree.

Training daily with the track team greatly helps the team practice for meets.

“Generally, we run about a mile every practice to get our body’s flowing. From there we stretch and practice shot put which warms us up a little bit more. Then we finally work on our form and technique for our discus throwing and end with another two mile run,” said senior Patrick Bowman.

Many of the players train on their own as well.

“I do a lot of endurance training with my l o w e r body. I’ll do stadium runs as often as I can as well as push ups and sit ups with other things

like that to get my body trained for discus throwing,” said Ridenbaugh.

Hammontree explained that the importance of training the upper body is just as important as the lower body.

“To throw the discus, it’s all in the hips. You have to glide your body with the lower half of the body while still using the upper body and tension release to let the disc fly,” said Hammontree.

To ensure the players get the maximum amount of help and practice they can, Hammontree gives them a wide range of tools to study with.

“I make them instructional DVDs, I print and type out step-by-step instructions to help with their technique and just hope they are really understanding and using them to better their talents,” said Hammontree.

Even though this sport is nothing new, some people donít realize it’s a game played alongside track meets and well established.

“At the track meets, our sport isn’t very advertised.

Usually we have a small cement slab to play on like we have here at Oviedo to practice on. Sometimes, the event area is as far as a ten minute walk from where the track meet is being held,” said Ridenbaugh.

Others on the team enjoy the small fan base.

“Not too many people know about our sport or when we play and have competitions but I kind of like it that way.

When we do have people that come to the competitions, it’s because they like the game. Those who come really enjoy watching us compete,” said Bowman.

Hammontree feels strongly for discus throwing and those who enjoy watching the competitions.

“The sport is really pretty to watch. It’s done so smoothly, it really is beautiful.”

photos/KEVIN VELOSO

THROWING DISCUS. Senior

Patrick Bowman practices his discus throwing.

26

Sports

March 3, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Coach survives deadly wreck Connor Bailey

W

‘Oh my goodness,’ followed by ‘I hope he

sports editor will recover’ and of course I wondered what

ater Polo Coach Ryan Donnell would happn to our water polo team,” said endured some of the most dreaded junior Sara Owens. car crash injuries a person could Players started to visit Donnell in the imagine and survived. hospital, anxiously waiting to see their “I woke up in the emergency room an coach. hour after the accident with no clue how I Senior captain Debin Long’s 18th birthday got there and doctors around me telling me fell on the day after Ryan’s accident, but she to keep still. To this day I have no memory of still made multiple trips to the hospital to see the accident or ambulance ride. Break marks him. at the scene show that I used my brakes to try “Even though it was my birthday, when and avoid something. Then I collided with a I got up I knew that even though it was my large oak tree,” said Donnell. big day, I needed to go see him. While I was Time revealed the true damage from the visiting him, the doctor came in and explained accident. bad news to Ryan. I saw the reaction on his “The following day I was told by doctors face and immediately I started to cry,”said that I had broken the C2 vertebra in my Long. neck. Along with my Long ended up neck, I also broke three going to visit Donnell ribs that punctured my total of five days “It’s not easy hearing your coach awhile lung, left collar bone he was in the was in a deadly car wreck. I was and big toe. I was put hospital. into a halo brace to try “We talked about shocked.” and stabilize my neck water polo 99% of Sara Owens, ‘11 the time because the fracture,” said Donnell.

“Two days later one thing that means doctors realized that the most to him is I needed spinal fusion surgery. They took coaching water polo, so we talked about a piece of bone from my hip and placed it that to keep happy thoughts in our minds. between my two vertebras and wired them He always asked about the team and how together with the intention of them growing everything was going,” said Long. as one.”

Donnell now plays a motivational role for The news of Donnell’s accident spread the team’s season. quickly and emotions were very high.

“When I went and visited him once, I told “When I first heard Ryan had been in a him, ‘I’m going to play my heart out for you car wreck, I cried. It’s not easy hearing that my senior year,’ ” said Long. your coach was in a deadly car wreck. I was The coaching staff and team members shocked. The first thing that went through made adaptions to Donnell’s injuries, trying my head was ‘Is this for real’. Next came to make everything easier on him.

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

MINE, NOT YOURS. Junior Brittany Skeels looks for an open teammate at a practice in Oviedo

Recreational Center.

“The team responded very well and mature about him being out. The first week he wasn’t there at all and our two assistant coaches, Chris and Joris took over and they have helped us all so much. The team knew what happened and they all knew we needed to work together and cooperate and make it a good season for Ryan,” said Long.

Donnell is coaching on the polo deck in full force. Even though it might not be the most comfortable place, he’s there coaching and recovering.

“He looks miserable. He has a halo on with screws in his head. He can’t turn his neck without turning his entire body,’ said junior Jenny Atkinson.

With Donnell back at the pool things are back to normal.

“Having our head coach back is always a positive. He is an excellent role model for our team and is every skilled in coaching water polo,” said Long.

Donnell’s injuries taught players to be thankful for every second of life that they have.

“It’s short and unpredictable. It has just showed me that I should do everything to the best of my ability and to never give up because you never know when something tragic could affect your life,” said junior Anya Phillips.

Roar Board

The Lion’s Tale

March 3, 2010

Sports

27

The

Roar

Lindsay Knox

staff reporter

Share the love

support spring sports

T

photos/KEVIN VELOSO

TEAM WORK. Left the Lady Lion’s varsity girls huddle together to discuss their game plan and get ready for the next batter. Right Junior Chelsea Wildey tags the base

runner.

Fast pitch hits homers

The girls varsity fast pitch are 3-8 so far this season. They played Merritt Island and won 10-1, Lyman with a final score of 6-2, and Eau Gallie, with a final score of 8-5. The three homeruns they made this season were made by junior Chelsea Wildey, and sophomores Samantha Roser and Jackie Reich.

Girl’s JV lacrosse starts a strong season

Showing great potential for a strong season, the girl’s junior varsity lacrosse team has gone undefeated so far this season. Their first game was against Lake Brantley, resulting in a win 7-4. Likewise, with Hagerty the girls defeated our rivals with a score of 7-4. The ladies showed their skills in a game against Lake Howell, returning with a 13-1 victory against the Silver Hawks. The girls spend practices running drills, including plays that they perform in games, and play half-field scrimmages in order to strengthen their skills on the field against any opponent.

Varsity cheerleaders take second This year, the Lion’s Varsity Cheerleading Team com-

peted at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee where they placed second in state, maintaining their title from last year.

In practices, the girls have been working on the perfection and difficulty of their stunts, guaranteeing their readiness for next year’s season.

Boy’s volleyball prepares for season

The boy’s varisty volleyball season is in full force. With the varsity line up finalized the Lions are ready for a record breaking season according to the players. Discipline and hard work are key factors for this season. Every Friday the team performs a team bonding excercise, aiming to bulid their chemistry. The Lions will travel to Miami to compete in a tournament looking to prepare for district play.

Five

Questions with Alex Lopez

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

STARTING OFF STRONG. Senior Alex Lopez (16) battles for the ball to begin

a strong game against Flagler Palm Coast on the John Courier Field. The girl’s varsity lacrosse team has a record of 7-2 for the season, losing only to Lake Brantley. In practices, the girls focus on running drills and playing scrimmage games in order to strengthen both their defense and offense to become the top team to beat. Captains Alex Lopez, Kaci Wing, Natalie Schneeberger, Shanin Darely, and Melodie Adolphie motivate their teammates to work hard at every practice and show up for every practice in order to build upon strengths and focus on weaknesses to benefit the team as a whole.

1 2 3 4 5

Lopez has been on Varsity Lacrosse since her freshman year.

This year, she balances leading her team and six A.P. courses.

What fictional character would you want to come to life?

Pocahontas, so we could go camping together.

What is your favorite memory?

My freshman year, when I got to play on varsity with my sister.

Are eyebrows considered facial hair?

No, but I have been told I have nice eyebrows.

What is your favorite thing to impersonate?

The “Bad Romance” video by Lady Gaga because I’m a little monster.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Italy!

he girl’s varsity lacrosse team never fails to impress. With an overall record of 5-1 for the season so far, these ladies have a lot to be proud of.

Our school loves our sports. Deep down, we are all sports fanatics, attending football games, swim meets, and cheer competitions.

However, contrary to the fall sports, including football and swimming, the sports in other seasons don’t receive much recognition for their achievements. Recognition that they fully deserve.

During football season, pep rallies are held every Friday that we have a home game. These events represent how proud we are to be Lions and also they show the faith that we put behind our team.

But is it fair to only honor some select sports while denying the privilege to other teams? Personally, I don’t think so.

For sports including lacrosse, boy’s volleyball, and baseball, the only special announcements they receive are through Roar TV or when we portray them through The Lion’s Tale Newspaper.

While these athletes are on the field or in the gym working their behinds off, we chitterchatter our way through the third period announcements, disregarding the broadcasting of their recent win or outstanding season and not appreciating everything these players do for our sports program.

Week after week, athletes from the less recognized sports find themselves working hard to succeed in their sport of choice, all the while receiving little acknowledgement for accomplishments.

“I just wish that we could be recognized as much as other sports do,” said junior J.V. lacrosse player Kristina Bordulis. “We work just as hard, if not harder, as other players do in their sports but we receive much less acknowledgement for the things we do.”

To put it frankly, players of the undermined sports at Oviedo High School are fed up.

Why shouldn’t these players receive pep rallies in honor of their drive and dedication for what they love to do? If we were to show our pride for these individuals, would it not further encourage them to represent our school to the best of their ability?

Holding pep rallies during sports seasons other than fall doesn’t sound like such an outrageous idea.

We don’t need to spend a lot of money on fancy decorations; the only thing it would cost us is a little bit of class time during the day. A few minutes from each class is very little to sacrifice in order to guarantee that our players are proud to be Lions.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not trying to discriminate against the football players or the swimmers who have always received the recognition that they deserve.

All I’m asking is, can’t we share the love?

Upcoming Games Boy’s Varsity Baseball • 03.12 Seminole 7:00PM • 03.16 @ Lyman 7:00PM

Girl’s Varsity Softball

• 03.12 Lake Mary 7:00PM • 03.18 Lyman 7:00PM

Boy’s Varsity Water Polo • 03.10 Lake Mary 3:30PM • 03.13 Hagerty 4:30PM

28

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