2013 11 21 cviii 5

Walnut Hills High School

Volume CVIII, Issue 5

Arts versus athletics: there is no contest

November 21, 2013

Left: Cincinnati Pops Orchestra conductor John Morris Russell chats with principal Jeffrey Brokamp after guest conducting Walnut’s orchestra during rehearsal. Russell is not a stranger to Walnut’s orchestra, as his son Jack Russell plays viola in the orchestra.

“It was kind of nerve-wracking, and I was exhausted at the end,” said orchestra member Rebeka Drew. “His energy was so intense that by the end of the performance the piece sounded so different than it did before. It was so much better. It was a positive experience because it opened the orchestra’s eyes to the little fine details hidden within the music.”

An Ohio native, Russell succeeded Erich Kunzel as Pops director, beginning his tenure in December 2010. He is known for his never-ending energy and has been recognized internationally for his music-making skill.

ALEX PERSIANI/ CHATTERBOX

Kibret Alem, ‘14 Karinne Hill, ‘15 Walnut Hills has always been celebrated for its superb academics: it was ranked #1 in the state of Ohio and #87 in the nation according to U.S. News. However, other aspects of our school are also known for their excellence.

Specifically, Walnut’s fine arts and athletic departments have had many recent successes. For example, last year the men’s varsity basketball team made history when they won the regional championship and advanced to the state Final Four competition, while the theater department gave an incredible farewell to former director Tom Peters by selling out all their performances of the Senior High Musical and Drama. Two highachieving programs in one school can create some interesting results.

According to a recent Chatterbox survey of 118 students, parents and faculty, 75% of people have attended a sporting

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event since the beginning of this school year, while only 58% have attended a fine arts event.

However, 45% of those who have attended a fine arts event did so to support the artist and performers involved, whereas only 27% of sporting event attendees were there to support the team, and 10% were there for the marching band.

The way our school community views and appreciates the two departments is another intriguing topic. Leah Scharlott, ‘15 says that she believes that the administration at Walnut makes a “conscious effort to make everything equal.” She thinks that the student body has a strong appreciation for both the fine arts and athletic departments, and enjoys the fact that there is an overlap between the two, explaining that “you can have a football player who’s also in choir.”

SENIOR Kaitlynn Kiehl has a somewhat different opinion.

“I think that the administrators view fine arts and athletics...[as equals],” said Kiehl. “I believe that the students appreciate fine arts, but don’t hype [them up] as much as they do for the athletics.”

Some have attempted to decipher the reason why there may be differences in appreciation between the two departments. “The attention of the students is definitely

not divided equally,” said Kiehl.

“A main focus [has] been put on the sports recently due to the achievements of certain teams.”

Principal Jeffrey Brokamp takes a slightly different view on this subject. “My guess is that…many people connected to the school really don’t understand what a classical education is,” he said. “A classical education is rooted in the study of ancient cultures, but it also has, as one of its primary pillars, a strong fine arts program…Another key pillar to a classical education is strong

extracurricular programming…

And that’s where the athletic piece comes in.”

Brokamp also addressed something that he believes may draw students to sporting events that may not be a factor at fine arts events, something he calls “human drama.” “There’s potential for victory, there’s potential for disaster, there’s potential for injury,” explained Brokamp.

“Human drama is compelling [to] a spectator…

It’s compelling for people to sit back and be anonymous and watch the drama happen.”

Another thing that could be contributing to the

misconceptions is the excellence of all Walnut Hills departments.

Often, schools have “...amazing academics but poor athletic or fine art department[s],” said Brokamp.

However, it is unusual for a school to have all of its programs at a successful point at the same time. Walnut has been able to uphold its goal of achieving academic excellence as well as maintain other strong departments, because, as Brokamp put it, “you can’t have a strong school and a weak program…and [still] call yourself a great school.”

KARINNE HILL/ CHATTERBOX

While both programs receive equal funding, sports events have greater attendance than fine arts events. In the above graphs, one figure represents 10 people from a survey conducted by the Chatterbox.

Hannah Shaw, Editor-in-Chief

Page 1

FEATURES

Features Staff Ashwini Kamath, ‘17

Garretson Oester, Editor

The best of both birds

Hesitant new student now embraces Walnut Hills

Sophia Minillo, ‘16 At first glance, Nate Hauer, ‘17 looks like any ordinary freshman boy: he spends his free time playing video games and hanging out with friends. However, Hauer has an interest that one might not expect: showing livestock at the Hamilton County Fair.

Hauer became involved in the county fair through his grandfather. Hauer’s grandfather owns a farm on which he raises chicken and cows. At his grandfather’s request, Hauer began to participate in 4-H, a youth development organization that focuses on creating future leaders and innovators. Though it now covers many science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities now, its original purpose was agricultural innovation and participation. Hauer has been showing his

Joe Glandorf, ‘16

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Nate Hauer, ‘17 is involved in 4-H, an organization dedicated to innovation and leadership through mathematics and science. He shows fowl at the Hamilton County Fair in the edible and fancy poultry categories. Here, we have a white-crested black polish fancy rooster (left) and two standard edible chickens (right). grandfather’s livestock ever since.

There are many different types of livestock-showing events at the Hamilton County Fair. Hauer shows edible and fancy poultry.

Alex persiani/chatterbox

In addition to showing poultry, Hauer participates in Ultimate Frisbee at Walnut Hills, as well as running with the cross country and track teams.

Edible poultry designates a type of fowl that is rated on its quality for consumption. In this category, judges look for healthy, meaty birds.

In the fancy poultry category, judges score the chickens based upon their purebred appearance and their quality of showmanship.

Hauer also must impress judges with his knowledge of different chicken breeds and his skill with handling the birds in order to place well in the showmanship competition. Both categories place an importance on the quality of the poultry’s raising.

Hauer’s devotion to the activity has paid off; he has accumulated numerous trophies and rib-

bons, and he has even sold some of his chickens from the edible poultry competition. Hauer has won in the showmanship category at the Hamilton County Fair.

Hauer’s interest in 4-H stems from his love of the outdoors. If he had three extra hours in the day, he would spend it outside tossing a football or throwing a flying disk. Hauer is an active member of the cross country and track teams at Walnut, and has been for three years. Ultimate Frisbee is another one of Hauer’s many extracurricular activities.

Although Hauer has a busy schedule, he still finds plenty of time for success with 4-H and the animals he shows at the fair.

Seventh grade, soccer, skiing and spine surgery Aisling Grueninger, ‘15 William Golden, ‘19 is a globetrotting, soccer-playing seventh grader who hopes to one day become a spinal surgeon and work to help others.

Golden plays soccer for the Kings-Hammer soccer club, based in Kentucky. He has been playing soccer for almost eight years and hopes to play for the Walnut varsity team. He started playing soccer for the Kilgour team, the Mustangs, in kindergarten before he then moved on to play select soccer, a more competitive and organized level than SAY soccer, to improve his skills.

In the winter, Golden enjoys

COURTESY OF VAIL PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF

William Golden, ‘19 skis, plays soccer and hopes to become a spinal surgeon after attending Harvard Medical School.

He enjoys skiing in locations that vary from Perfect North Slopes to Keystone, Colo.

alex persiani/chatterbox

Golden gives these words of advice:“Don’t waste your time on one thing; experience everything. Always try new things, and definitely travel.” He has recently been to Japan and Sweden.

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Liza Allen, ‘19 was made to come to Walnut for seventh grade by her father, but is not unhappy with the decision. Walnut was, according to her, “pretty overwhelming at first” with 2,500 students in a traditional setting. This is a large contrast to Dater Montessori, her grade school, which had 759 students. Allen said that she would describe Walnut in one word as “more.”

Allen came to Walnut because of an ultimatum from her father.

“My dad said, ‘If you pass the [entrance examination], you’re going to Walnut,’” said Allen. Although this was the major reason for her attending Walnut, Allen also had other motivations such as: hearing good things about Walnut, knowing people who have experienced Walnut student life and shadowing a current seventh grade student.

So, unlike many of her grade school classmates, she decided to attend Walnut. “Out of my class, which was thirteen [sixth-graders], only three came [to Walnut],” she said. She thinks it might be because they thought the workload would be too intense.

However, Allen believes that the work is not too difficult. Allen says that orchestra is her favorite class, but she dislikes Latin, calling it “really hard and boring.”

Throughout her time here, Allen says she has found that she likes most of the Walnut staff.

Allen currently participates in cheerleading and Math Counts and plans to audition for the junior high musical Finian’s Rainbow, Jr. in the winter. At Dater, she participated in the choir, the drama department, art, the track team and played violin. Allen plans to stay with Walnut all the way up to the end of SENIOR year and is “pretty optimistic” about the rest of her experience at Walnut.

skiing with his family and friends.

When Golden first started skiing, he hated it, but his dad would not let him stop and kept making him hit the slopes. One day, something clicked and Golden fell in love with the sport. For the past six years, Golden has skied across the country in locations that vary from Perfect North Slopes in nearby Lawrenceburg, Ind. where the Walnut Ski Club goes every Thursday during the winter, to the resort town of Keystone, Colo.

In addition to soccer, skiing and school, Golden is an international traveller, having visited Japan and, this past summer, Sweden. There,

November 21, 2013

he and his family visited relatives.

Golden’s favorite place in Sweden is the family home.

In his free time, Golden enjoys walking in Hyde Park with his friends and going to Greater’s in Hyde Park Square. Golden also enjoys playing video games with his younger-by-one-minute twin brother Erik Golden, ‘19, who also attends Walnut.

Overall, W. Golden gives these words of advice: “Don’t waste your time on one thing; experience everything. Always try new things, and definitely travel.”

ALINA TASHJIAN/CHATTERBOX

Though she thought she did not originally want to come to Walnut Hills High School, Liza Allen, ‘19 is already involved. She participates in Math Counts and cheerleading.

Issue CVIII.5

VIEWPOINTS

Viewpoints Staff Jason Hettesheimer, ‘14 Brad Williams, ‘15

Sarah Wagner, Editor

The art of being nice Kandyce Clark, ‘15 I absolutely hate walking down a school hallway by myself. It’s not because I feel unsafe or because I feel lonely, but because every time I do, I end up spotting some other lone student or staff member who is either late for class or grabbing something off of the printer or doing whatever else people do when they are in the hallways. It always starts off like this: I spot someone rounding the corner. For a split second, I wonder, Will he/she attempt to make eye-contact with me, or just stare straight ahead like I’m not even there? I gear up for a big smile and a “hi!” anyway, look up and experience extreme disappointment. Invisible it is.

Are we so wrapped up in our own private universes that we can only greet our friends? Whatever happened to the art of being nice?

How come we can’t even acknowledge another person in a hallway?

Come on, you must realize that the other person knows that you are there. Is it so hard to say, “hello,” let alone smile? At least respect the other person enough to

look at them.

As many times as I have experienced this hallway snub, I always smile at the other person in the hallway. Even if I have smiled at an individual everyday and I’m still invisible to them, I always smile or say “hello.” It’s not because I’m a suck-up or I feel like I have something to prove.

It’s because of a lesson I learned from the book A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

The book’s main character is a little girl named Sara Crewe.

Sara is obsessed with the idea of being a princess and constantly pretends to be one, but not for the reasons of being beautiful or rich.

She wants to be a princess because princesses are the epitome of mannered and respectful women, and, in her words, she pretends to be a princess “so that I can try and behave like one.” Princesses never lose their cool, so to speak. Princesses never show hate, not even to their worst enemies. Princesses go out of their way to be kind.

Princesses live with the fact that having a happy outlook on life will lead to a happy life.

Don’t stress, China has it worse In other words, the princess is the bigger person.

I am a firm believer in Sara Crewe’s methodology. Why should we all use extra effort to not see the other person in the hallway when we make that person’s day a little bit brighter by serving them a smile or a greeting? You might choose to make things awkward, but it pays to greet. After all, someone who I respect very much once told me that he/she ran into his/her job interviewer in a hallway mere minutes before the interview started. Now, would that person have gotten the job if he/she just refused to look at the interviewer in the hallway?

You decide.

I think it is important to say that not everyone I see in the hallway refuses to say “hello” or smile. The problem is that the number of people who actually do acknowledge the other person in the hallway is a very low one. You never know when you’re going to need the other person in the hallway. You never know who is watching. So always be a princess or a prince.

KANDYCE CLARK/CHATTERBOX

There are many different strategies Walnut students employ to avoid eye contact in the hallways. Staring off into the distance and checking imaginary texts are just two of them.

Questions or comments?

We would love to hear your thoughts! All feedback and corrections for the Chatterbox should be directed to <cboxwalnut@gmail.com>. Written feedback and submissions can also be dropped off in Room 2306.

The Chatterbox Editorial Staff Zoe Cheng, Managing Editor Joe Schmidlapp, Design Editor Neriya Servant, Business Manager

Hannah Shaw, Editor-in-Chief

Celeste Kearney, Managing Editor Alex Persiani, Photo Editor Oliver Olberding, Online Manager

Page Editors Abrena Rowe, News Garretson Oester, Features Editor Sarah Wagner, Viewpoints Editor Kibret Alem and Kyren Palmer, Sports Editors Karinne Hill, Fine Arts Editor

Grace Hill, Style and Culture Editor Kandyce Clark and Kendall Young, Peanuts Editors Sean Wood, Arcade Editor Advisors: Samantha Gerwe-Perkins and Dawn Wolfe Illustration by Sarah Davidoff

The Chatterbox has been guaranteed the right of freedom of the press through the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The administration of Walnut Hills High School is thus bound to support and protect the Chatterbox’s inalienable rights as a free press.

As an integral part of the Walnut Hills High School community, the Chatterbox has the responsibility to report in the most comprehensive and objective manner possible. Students, parents, faculty, and

Issue CVIII.5

The Chatterbox Policy Statement administrators are encouraged to use this publication as a forum to express any ideas or concerns, whether they be personal or of local, national, or international scope.

Journalists are required to work under established guidelines. Invasion of privacy as a means of news gathering is prohibited. Articles found to be discriminatory, libelous, or unnecessarily obscene (as determined by the editors or the advisor) will not be published. Finally, journalists are granted the right to keep private the

name of a source from whom they received information with the understanding that the source was to remain anonymous. The role of the newspaper advisor will be to provide counsel and criticism pertaining to the newspaper’s content and production.

Although both the advisor and the administration hold certain powers regarding the Chatterbox, both must respect the paper’s autonomy. No student shall be prevented from joining the staff on the basis of sex, race, creed or national origin.

November 21, 2013

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

This banner on the Huazhong Technological University campus praises the 18 local high school students who received the highest scores in the national gaokao examination.

Wally Hill, ‘14 The only thing scarier than being a turkey on Thanksgiving is taking the gaokao, the infamous Chinese college entrance examination. We think we have it bad with the SAT and ACT, but the score from the nine-hour-long gaokao is practically the only thing Chinese universities look at when accepting students; moreover, the test focuses predominantly on memorization. Schools, teachers, parents and students focus a lot of energy and stress on this test.

In some schools, the entire 12th grade year is dedicated to preparing for this test. Even teachers stress out: gaokao scores are often tied to their salaries, and this stress prompts teachers to quit their professions or, in some extreme cases, commit suicide. Parents add stress to their children by pressuring them to succeed on the test and make it into the top 60 percent of students who will actually get a spot in college. Students have gone as far as to study 13 hours a day, hook themselves up to IV drips and breathe from oxygen tanks to prepare for the test. Some students have even committed suicide because of the gaokao. The test doesn’t just affect students, parents and schools, either -- it affects the entire country. Every year, China

prepares for the two consecutive days of testing by rerouting airplanes and outlawing car-honking to avoid noisy distractions. Most notably, the gaokao reinforces the idea of “two Chinas:” an educated, urbanized and developed China and an uneducated, rural and impoverished China. The test has cultural and class bias, so rural Chinese students are incredibly disadvantaged.

After I learned about the gaokao, I felt grateful for the SAT, the ACT, the essays and everything else that goes into applying for college in the United States. I can always take these tests again or apply to test-optional schools if I don’t do well on them. My applications may have more aspects, such as essays, transcripts, recommendations and interviews; but I definitely do not have more work than my Chinese counterparts. I also have the opportunity to show colleges and universities who I really am, beyond a number. Our system may be flawed in the sense that we still use somewhat-biased testing, that transcripts can be misleading and essays misinterpreted, that recommendations or interviews can be unlucky, convoluted and stressful... but at least I am still treated as a real human being. Next time I stress out, I will remember that it could be worse.

Letter from the editor

Current Walnut students are children of the 2000s, the iGeneration. As a whole, our generation has transformed the internet from a new-fangled mystery to the driving force of our society. While we have witnessed the metamorphosis of crazes from MySpace to Facebook to Instagram to Twitter, all social media has the same purpose—sharing information—which is also the purpose of the Chatterbox.

As a generation, we have made our mark through contributions to communication forms such as hashtags, selfies, twerking and the ability to share just a little too much information in 140 characters or less. But we have also contributed to the decline of another form of communication: the print newspaper. While this is not present in the Walnut community—because doing Sudoku while making it look like you’re taking notes would just be too hard on your phone—many major newspapers have recently shifted to primarily online content.

This shift can be attributed to the relatively short attention span of the iGeneration, which is not entirely our fault, but when media con-

sumers become accustomed to finding everything they need to know in a tweet, an 800-word article sounds like an ACT reading sample.

To combat this, the Chatterbox has set a standard to emphasize delivering information beyond just text, bringing back intrigue to print media.

The inspiration for this change has stemmed from last weekend when Walnut student media journeyed to Boston for our first National Scholastic Press Association convention.

While in Boston, students learned from professional journalists and competed against other high school publications.

This exposure to new ideas has led the Chatterbox to take heed of the iGeneration’s constantly-transforming methods of sharing information.

And while we student journalists have always produced quality, timely and informative news, slightly tweaking the package we deliver it in may encourage the iGenerationers to check out more than just the backpage puzzles.

Yours truly, Hannah Shaw Editor-in-Chief

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SPORTS

Sports Staff Tony Heim, ‘15 Alina Tashjian, ‘14

Kibret Alem and Kyren Palmer, Editors

From past to future: advice to prospective collegiate athletes Tony Heim, ‘15 Although the faculty at Walnut Hills are focused on your education, some faculty can bond with young scholars about life as a student-athlete. Sallie Barringer and Lauren Bernstein are two of these faculty members.

Barringer played field hockey at Duke University where she started as a freshman. Bernstein was a national champion and All-American swimmer at Emory University. Her relay team placed third in the medley relay, in which she swam backstroke, and the school’s swimming team won the national championship in 2005.

The athletic halls of Emory are decorated with photos of Bernstein commemorating her multitude of accomplishments.

Here are seven tips for future collegiate athletes to maximize success: 1. School comes first. Math teacher Mike Herald, who played college basketball at Troy University, realized the difficulty of making money playing sports. He believes that school should always come

ALISON MCNAIR/CHATTERBOX

Herald diagraming one of his favorite plays for Macio Teague, ‘15. Teague is being recruited by many Division I basketball programs and Herald is eager to help him through the process. first because many of his college friends never graduated. He said that “I had friends from my team who never graduated from college because they just took classes to stay eligible.”

2. Know for sure what you want to major in for college. This is an expansion of the first tip, yet it is important nevertheless. When you know your major, it will help you choose the right college both

academically and athletically.

Not only that, but if you change majors constantly, you will not have enough credit hours to get a degree.

3. Start sending out tapes now. Principal Jeffrey Brokamp, who played baseball at Miami University, said that he “got lucky” because his select team in high school was sponsored by the Miami baseball coach. Brokamp

Varsity swimmers stroke toward victory

said that “I had no clue what I was going to do or where I was going to go. I just thought everything would come together.” With the number of athletes across America growing, you have to be extremely talented to get noticed. If you have talent, make tapes and send them out to coaches now because they will notice and scout you if they are impressed.

4. Get in the weight room.

Brokamp says that the biggest help to advancing his game was finding the weight room. After gaining 30 pounds of muscle in one season, he found his overall improvement exponentially greater. He is now pushing Eagles’ coaches to cancel one or two practices a week in order to go to the weight room.

5. Play more than one sport.

Both Herald and Brokamp played multiple sports in high school and still excelled to reach the collegiate level. An anonymous source who only played one sport said that “I had to really think about [playing this season] and it was kind of hard because I enjoy playing, but at the end of the day I’ve just had enough of the game...so I decided to take a break.”

Player profile: Hannah Schroeder Kyren Palmer, ‘14

ALEX PERSIANI/CHATTERBOX

A member of the varsity boys’ swim team takes a breath. The swimmers are working toward a succesful season.

Alina Tashijan, ‘14 The Walnut Hills varsity swim teams are looking to make a splash this year as they compete in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference and look towards sending more swimmers to state.

Led by Coach Greg Lynch, during practices the teams focus on keeping their heart rates up and on believing that competition is an understood mentality. “Our goal is to beat Turpin this year,” said Lynch. “If we accomplish [this], it will be the first time in [school] history that we do.” He added that “I have a good bunch of kids that are hard-working and are willing to push ahead of the competition.”

The swim teams have an advantage that not many sports at Walnut can say they have: Lynch is able to pick his swimmers from the cream of the crop. This year, 70 people tried out for 45 spots.

Because of this, Lynch is able to find kids that “truly want to compete.”

SENIOR Margo Dyer has been swimming for Walnut ever since she was in seventh grade, which was also the first year that Walnut opened swimming to junior high students. When asked about the upcoming season, Dyer remarked that “we have a lot of experienced

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upperclassmen swimmers who are ready to lead the team.” She added that “with the addition of a strong group of freshmen and foreign exchange student [Juan Mougan] who is ranked seventh in Spain, we are ready to win.”

In addition to the strong focus on competition, Lynch also emphasizes sportsmanship for the teams. “I make sure that all of the players shake hands with their opponents and thank the officials for their time,” he said. “[I] actually had [an official] come up to me and say that in his 20 years of officiating, no team has ever taken the time to thank him personally for his contribution to the meet.”

They are small details like this one that help make Walnut’s teams even more memorable.

SENIOR Andrew Tengen remarks on the team leadership that is present in both the girls’ and boys’ teams. “The captains on the [teams] are typically the SENIORS,” he said. “On the men’s side they are Julian Cann, Nick Siemers, Kyle Slaugh and myself...the captains on the women’s side are Anna Bray, Margo Dyer, Elisa Fay, Lena Rose and Keira Haugabrook.” Coach Lynch added to the idea of team leadership, saying that “although the captains are SENIORS, that doesn’t mean that the younger kids can’t

6. Just play the game, and do not worry about how you look to other people. Herald’s biggest tip for athletes is to play your game. “There is no question when someone comes to watch you play, they look at how you compete physically: quickness, strength, stamina. They do not care if you can dunk.”

7. Make sure you want to play. College athletics is a large commitment. Just because you are talented enough, it does not mean that it is mandatory to play in college. Bernstein practiced six hours a day and this led to a national championship in the team medley.

“Be sure you want to do [sports] because it will shape your college career,” she said.

8. The most important thing to remember is: have fun. Sports can be frustrating at times, yet also fulfilling if you enjoy and shape your craft. Use these tips to your advantage and know that your teachers were in your same predicament before.

lead the team. We like to prepare [the younger kids] so that when they’re asked to lead the team as SENIORS, it isn’t an entirely new concept for them.”

Team chemistry is a very important ingredient to the teams’ success. “The team chemistry is great, in my opinion,” said Tengen. “Everyone gets along and has fun…We are one big, happy team with a swimming problem.”

When asked about the state tournament at the end of the season, Tengen remarked that “we have a good shot at winning the conference title on both the men’s and women’s sides this year, along with getting multiple relays and individual event swimmers to state.” He also said that “we have added some new meets with better opponents, so the racing should be great to watch!”

The Eagles are excited to swim in their new pool this season, since they were not able to have many home meets at the new pool last year. Thus, this year they are really vying for student attendance.

“We would love to have the Nut House involved a lot this year,” said Lynch. “They did great at SENIOR night last season, but it would be nice to see them at as many home meets as possible!”

November 21, 2013

As the women’s varsity indoor track team prepares for another season, the reputation of last year’s success looms over the runners’ heads. With the team consisting mostly of SENIORS last season, Hannah Schroeder, ‘15 and her teammates hope to carry on the legacy left by last year’s seniors. “I am very excited for this indoor season, and I know my teammates [are] as well,” she said.

Last year’s indoor track team had a record making season. But Schroeder has a legacy of her own, last indoor and outdoor track season, as a sophomore, she placed in the top 10 in the 800-meter run last outdoor season. On February 2, Schroeder, along with recent almnae Tessa Ward, Erin McAuliffe and Frankie Rimer, the team won first place in the 4 x 800, and would team up and win first place again in the 4 x 800 on Feb. 16 at The Ohio State University. The ladies continued their trend of suc-

cess on March 16 and broke a school record at the state finals with a time of 9:55.32 in the 4 x 800.

Schroeder feels that Coach Bill Valenzano has trained them well for this upcoming season.

“We are beginning our base training now and I know we will be prepared,” says Schroeder, “Valenzano always trains us to our greatest potential.” Base-training workouts are necessary for preseason running and lay a foundation for the season. Schroeder said that “they are important so that you can perform to the best of your ability.”

Even though indoor track isn’t as well-known or well-attended a sport as outdoor track, the team training is just as intense as any other sport.

Their intense training is focussed on improving their running.

The workouts and preparations leading up to this year’s season will hopefully result in success in future meets.

ALISON MCNAIR/CHATTERBOX

Hannah Schroeder, ‘15 practices in order to excel in the upcoming season for indoor track. She hopes to continue the legacy left from previous teams.

Issue CVIII.5

FINE ARTS

Fine Arts Staff Kemi’ Goode-Mayo, ‘14 Oliver Olberding, ‘15

Karinne Hill, Editor

Walnut students to travel to Italy during spring break Sydney Link, ‘15 is looking forward “to [making] new friends and [forging] life-long memories.”

Oliver Olberding, ‘15 Ciao, Italia! During Walnut’s 2014 spring break, Photography Club, Photography, AP Art History and Sociology students have the chance to go on a nine-day journey through some of the largest cities in Italy.

“...a new perspective on both the art and culture of Italy.”

“...the most famous [art] pieces in the world, in a beautiful country, with close friends.”

“I’m excited because we’re going to be seeing some of the most famous [art] pieces in the world, in a beautiful country, with close friends,” said Elisha Aaron,’15.

“I’m really looking forward to Venice. I’ve heard going around in a gondola is like you are in a dream.” A gondola is a long, narrow boat used in tours on the canals of Venice.

The students’ destinations during the trip include Milan, Venice,

KARINNE HILL AND GRACE HILL/CHATTERBOX

Florence, Rome, Vatican City and Pompeii, which were all founded between the Eighth Century BC and the First Century AD. While in Venice, students will visit Doge’s Palace and observe a glassblowing demonstration. Doge’s Palace was established in the 10th Century and was ruled by the

Venetian Republic. Other famous sites that will be seen on the Italy trip include the Duomo, a Cathedral in Milan; the Basilica of St. Francis; St. Peter’s Basilica; the Sistine Chapel and the Coliseum.

For the AP Art History students going on the trip, seeing the artwork that they have studied all

The trip to Italy usually includes a fairly large group of students. Art teacher Donald Stocker, one of the faculty members in charge of the trip, said “usually... we have around 20 to 30 students [who] go each year.” As of now, 27 students are signed up for this year’s Italy trip. “We focus on learning about the culture and art in Italy so we can see how it affects our own art,” said Stocker.

Students will depart from Cincinnati on March 23, 2014 and arrive back home on April 2.

year in person will provide a new perspective on both the art and culture of Italy. “I’m extremely excited for the...trip to Italy,” said Geoff Schweller, ‘15. “I look forward to the unique opportunity to see the works we have been learning about [in AP Art History] all year in person.”

First semester art show is a success Karinne Hill, ‘15 On Thursday evening, November 14, the Forum was packed with students, parents and faculty for the first semester Fine Arts Evening. The work of students involved in first semester art classes was displayed from the Forum all the way down the hallway of the Arts and Science building and into the art rooms. Refreshments were provided by students.

The art teachers were very pleased with the event. “I think it’s wonderful!” said art teacher Catherine George. “We’ve got a great turnout.” Another impres-

sive aspect of the event was the art itself. According to art teacher Elizabeth Smith, “The art gets better and better every year.”

Principal Jeffrey Brokamp also made an appearance at the show, taking the time to talk to students about their individual pieces. “The thing that jumped out about this particular show was the quality of the still-lifes,” said Brokamp.

He added that another “impressive [thing was] the breadth of the work.” The works of art featured in the show ranged from photography to drawings to sewing.

For some students, the Fine Arts Evening was the first time

their work had been publicly shown. Art XX student Vanessa Sherry, ‘16, whose drawings had never been exhibited before, had five pieces in the first semester show. Sherry described the feeling of knowing that others were viewing her work as “nerve-wracking.”

She added that her favorite part of the evening was “looking at the AP Art class’ [work].”

Not all the students at the event were there for their own art.

Some came just to browse. Courtney Martin, ‘16, who particularly enjoyed the photography, said she comes to the shows because there is “lots of beautiful work.”

ALEX PERSIANI/CHATTERBOX

Students’ artwork waits to be displayed in the art show. All art classes had the opportunity to participate.

Student photography feature: Luke Warren, ‘16

LUKE WARREN

Issue CVII.5

November 21, 2013

LUKE WARREN

Page 5

STYLE & CULTURE Grace Hill, Editor

Style & Culture Staff Alison McNair, ‘14 Nisa Muhammad, ‘15 Kristian Tatum, ‘14

Ready, set, stop: mixed views on the Cincinnati streetcar Jason Hettesheimer, ‘14 Following the recent mayoral election, beliefs about the Cincinnati streetcar have begun to stir once again. With mayor-elect John Cranely calling for a halt to streetcar funding, the question of how effective the streetcar will be is up in the air, and people are beginning to wonder if the funding for the project is worthwhile.

The would-be venture would include five streetcars, 18 stops, 3.6 miles of track and would cost an estimated $132.81 million. But these facts bring up the question: is the cost worth the addition of the streetcars? Samantha Pogue, ‘18 said that the negatives of the project are that it “takes up space and costs money,” but also says that streetcar is a “safe and efficient” way to travel.

There are others who believe that the streetcar project should not be stopped. “I think, right now, downtown is trying to revitalize itself, and I think that stopping the project...is killing the momentum,” said Matthew Heldman, ‘15.

However, even if the streetcar was finished, it would only serve as a supplement to the existing

ALISON MCNAIR/CHATTERBOX

This construction site for the streetcar would, in theory, connect the downtown area. However, this new form of public transportation may never make its debut.

Metro bus system. “Even if the streetcar track would be extended, the Metro would still be more effective because more people know about it,” said Pogue.

“I think it would be positive if the city were larger, but it isn’t much of an advantage of the 43rd largest city in the United States,” said SENIOR Cameron Vaské.

However, Vaské added that he is “100 percent for public transportation.” He said that if the United States looks around, it will see that many older countries are full of public transportation, whereas the U.S. has developed into, according to him, a “car culture.” Vaské believes that if the U.S. took a page from their book, it would save

both resources and money.

Heldman said that “other cities similar in size to us like Portland, St. Louis and Charlotte are [all] building or have built streetcars recently, and it is making a positive impact. We need to be able to compete with them.”

However, Ben Martin, ‘15 agrees with Pogue. “I think it’s

Walnut students participate in Bad Veins music video

COURTESY OF JIM KOPENY

Lead singer Benjamin Davis sings at a Bad Veins concert. Eberhardt, French and Scott first saw the band open at a Walk the Moon concert and eventually became friends with the members.

Grace Hill, ‘15 This October, Cincinnatinative band Bad Veins dropped its newest music video for its song, “Kindness.” Three Walnut Hills students -- Lea Eberhardt, ‘15; Delaney French, ‘15 and Sarah Scott, ‘15 -- were lucky enough to hang out with the band and participate in the filming of the video.

Eberhardt has “been a big fan of the band for about a year and a half.” She explained that before filming, she had already gotten to know the members of the band personally before their popularity increased. “When [the band] decided to make the music video, they put out an announcement on [their] fan page on Facebook and invited anyone and everyone to

Page 6

come participate in the filming,” she said. She was excited by the prospect of being in a music video created by one of her favorite bands. So, of course she got involved.

French, who also became good friends with the lead singer within the last year, was also interested by the invitation to be a part of the video. “When they had the idea to incorporate their biggest fans in their video, my friends and I were the first to sign up,” she said. “[Filming] was super fun,” said Eberhardt. She recalled spending hours on end in a mess hall filming the video. Lead singer Benjamin Davis and drummer-atthe-time Sebastien Schultz -- who left the band in early 2013 and was replaced by Jake Bonta -- were there the whole time having fun

with the fans. “It was really cool getting to just hang out with Ben and Sebi,” said Eberhardt.

The students were very excited for the experience but did not have a clue what they were getting themselves into. “We learned a dance for the video a couple weeks before the [shooting] date, but other than that we really had no idea what we would be doing,” remembered French. The girls even got to dress up as beauty queens. “[We] listened to the song on a loop for almost the whole time so I know the song inside and out now,” Eberhardt said. After being on location for over eight hours, Scott remembered that “it got really tiring after awhile because we had to redo shots over and over.” Overall, Scott described it as a “very low-key shoot;” Bad Veins even ordered pizza for their participants.

The video was created around the premise of killing with kindness. Davis sings the lyrics, “I’m gonna kill you, I’m gonna kill you with kindness,” throughout the video. “The plot is based around this talent show, and the guy you see in the beginning holding a bouquet of oranges is trying to kill off his competition,” explained Eberhardt. At the end of the video, the entire audience, including Eberhardt, French and Scott, end up dying after eating the bouquet oranges that had been injected with a poison called “kindness.”

Since filming, French has stayed in contact with the band and continues to attend concerts. She also stays updated through social media, where she says the band

November December21, 4, 2012 2013

is very active. The band connects with fans through the “Bad Veins Army.” The “army” is, according to French, a “super cool way for [the band] to stay in touch with their fans from all over the country.” Members are sent Bad Veinsrelated “missions” by the band and are encouraged to participate.

In the Bad Veins Army, you begin as a private, and move up in the ranks as you participate more. “Finding the ‘Kindness’ video was actually the first mission they sent us...and when the first person found it, it was released to the rest of the fans,” said French.

Scott, too, is a member of the Bad Veins Army, and she remains active in the band’s other social media ventures, such as the groups Bad Friends and Super Friends.

Though Eberhardt is not a fullfledged member of the Bad Veins Army, she thinks that the army is a “cool concept.” She likes that “it bridges the gap between fans and the band.”

After about five months of anticipating the video’s release, Eberhardt, French and Scott finally got to see the final edited product.

They now have the memories of this unique and, according to French, “super exciting” experience with a video shoot that they can share with all their friends.

Scott said jokingly that “we’re basically celebrities.” French added that “when it came out we spread the word everywhere and were so excited.”

To see the Official Bad Veins video for “Kindness,” visit <http:// www.youtube.com/user/OfficialBadVeins>.

a waste of tax dollars,” he said.

“The city would be losing money that could go towards more useful ventures.”

“It’s not a waste of money, but it is a misallocation of money,” said Vaské. “We would benefit from the rail, but it wouldn’t be as great of a benefit as if we enhanced the quality of the city.”

SENIOR Taylor Edwards added to the sentiment of Pogue and Martin by saying, “It seems like the majority of the citizens of Cincinnati don’t agree...as... [many] council members...are against the streetcar.”

There are two referendums regarding the streetcar issue: Issue 9, which would make it so that any future rail project would have to pass a citywide vote, and Issue 48, which would block funding for any passenger rail car defined as “a system of passenger vehicles operated on rails constructed primarily in existing public rights of way” until 2020.

Whether or not the streetcar will join the unfinished subway system is still up in the air. The only way anyone will be able to see what happens is to wait the controversy out.

Style tips: Girls #52: Don’t be afraid to wear warm clothes.

It’s cold outside! #75: Experiment with your leggings. Look for unique textures and patterns. #86: Wear oversized sweaters. The bigger the better. #104: Stay toasty and fashionable with a faux fur-lined winter coat.

Guys #145: Boldly-colored sneakers add vibrancy to your outfit. #222: Add a blazer to your outfit for a classy vibe. #376: Try rocking a leather jacket over your flannel shirts.

Issue IssueCVIII.5 CVII.4

PEANUTS

Peanuts Staff Riley Taylor, ‘18 Camille Williams, ‘18

Kandyce Clark and Kendall Young, Editors

Eighth-grade Honors students gear up for Science Fair

KENDALL YOUNG/ CHATTERBOX

This Science Fair board made by former eighth-grade Honors student Matthew Heldman, ‘15 has been used for years as a reference for other students. This year, the preparation for Science Fair is in full swing.

Kandyce Clark, ‘15 The 2014 Science Fair preparation has been officially underway since mid-September, inciting much stress in the eighth-grade Honors students, who are mandated to participate. While stress may be inevitable for the students, eighth-grade Honors Physical Science teacher Dominic LoVaglio views Science Fair as “challenging,

yet very exciting.”

LoVaglio, who has been a science teacher at Walnut for six years, has presided over five Science Fairs. He described his first Science Fair as “hectic,” but admitted that being involved in this Walnut tradition is ultimately gratifying. “[It is] stressful but very exciting [to observe] the students’ projects come together,” he said.

Students get approximately

just ignore you. Just don’t let them frustrate you so much.

Let me take this opportunity to say: please try not to be that annoying person in the hallway, whether you’re in the seventh or eighth grade or are even a SENIOR! Try to walk at a reasonable pace on the right side of the hallway, not playing tag and not fighting. That will save your fellow classmates, including Annoyed Annabelle, some frustration.

Piper Peanut

Annoyed Annabelle, I understand where you are coming from. Some of the seventh-graders are still trying to make the transition from elementary school to high school, so they are probably still adapting and maturing. The new seventhgraders always seem like a mess to the eighth-graders. The best thing you can do is just to ignore them if they are being reckless in the hallways. Sometimes, you can just tell them to stop, but if the seventh-graders are as immature as you say, then they will probably

Want to get involved?

All seventh and eighth-grade aspiring journalists, writers, cartoonists and photographers: we want you! Please come to room 2306 at second lunch every Wednesday for a Peanuts meeting, during which we will discuss journalism tips and article ideas. You might even get a spot on the page!

If you have any further questions, please email <peanutschatterbox@gmail.com>.

Issue CVIII.5

Science Fair. “This judge came by and he asked me why I did not do CAT scans on my subjects… like I can just go in my garage and get my CAT scanner,” said Grueninger. In spite of her thorough critiques, Grueninger added that she had fun coming up with ideas for what she was going to do her study on. She said that “the science fair really does help you a lot with [learning more about] science.”

While Williams is eager about her project, she admitted that “we’re sort of procrastinating right now.” This is the very thing that LoVaglio hopes students avoid.

When asked for his best science fair advice for eighth-grade Honors students, LoVaglio answered: “Follow my instructions. Do what I say. Don’t procrastinate.” LoVaglio also pointed out that Science Fair mentors are very devoted, and he encourages students to reach out to their mentors.

While it is too late to sign up for the fair now, a Science Fair Club has been created this year.

This club is for students outside of eighth-grade Honors courses who wish to participate in Science Fair.

If you are interested in joining for next year’s Science Fair, you can contact LoVaglio or science teachers Jarrod Gray or Brian Pinkerton for more details.

Who is this Peanut?

Piper Peanut Hey Piper, I am really annoyed with some of the seventh graders who play in the hallways and block everyone’s way. I have no problems with Effies; I used to be one last year, but I am just trying to get to class and they’re chasing each other and blocking the hallways all the time!

I don’t understand the immaturity.

Please share any advice you have for them.

Annoyed Annabelle

five months to prepare their projects, either individually or with a partner and under the guidance of a mentor from the Walnut staff. Requirements for the projects include: a study designed and completed by the students themselves, a research paper, a scientific write-up, a project board and a journal including official paperwork, pictures and a small notebook or diary of the students’

experience -- including questions, successes or struggles.

After the students present their projects to their Physical Science classes in January 2014, they will be judged at the Walnut Hills Science Fair on February 6 by extrinsic professionals who act as bearers for unbiased critiques. Students who get high marks at the Walnut fair have the option of applying for the University of Cincinnati regional fair. If a student does well in the regional fair, he or she may participate in the state science fair held on May 10 in Columbus.

Last year, 33 Walnut students competed at the regional fair with 13 advancing to state. This leaves big shoes to fill for this year’s students.

Eighth-grade Honors student Camille Williams, ‘18 and her partner Allison Singleton, ‘18 will be focusing their project on the impact of racial prejudice on memory. “It was Allison’s idea,” said Williams. “She wanted to do [a study] on human behavior.

I wanted to do something on memory, so we just combined [our ideas].”

Former Honors student Aisling Grueninger, ‘15, who also did a psychological study for her project, identified the judging process as the most challenging aspect of

Kendall Young, ‘18 Who is this Peanut? She is a seventh-grader at Walnut. Before attending Walnut, she was a student at St. Mary School in Hyde Park. Her mother is a teacher, her father is a banker by day and a lacrosse coach by night and her big brother is also a student at Walnut. Who is this Peanut?

This Peanut is Grace Sublett, ‘19. Sublett was off to a running start when she joined the junior high cross country team this fall.

As a member of the team, Sublett competed at the varsity level.

Sublett will not spend this winter staying warm and dry. Instead, she will swim for the junior high swim team. “I started swimming because my brother swims,” she said. “I love swimming because I’ve done it forever, since I was two. I met most of my friends through swimming, and [out of ] all of my sports, it’s probably my best sport,” said Sublett. Although Sublett began swimming at age two, she did not begin to swim competitively until age eight. Sublett said that Walnut’s swim teams are different from other swim teams. “Since Walnut is a school team, they have to cut athletes, [unlike] club teams [who] just put you on ranked teams,” she said.

But cross country and swimming aren’t where Sublett’s athletic ability stops. In the spring, Sublett plans to play lacrosse. “I have been [playing] lacrosse since third

November 21, 2013

KENDALL YOUNG/CHATTERBOX

Grace Sublett, ‘19 (right) poses for the camera with her friends. Sublett is serious about her sports and enjoys hanging out with friends. grade,” she said. With a lacrosse coach as a father, it was only natural that Sublett would play lacrosse. Despite this, she stated that “I’m not the best at lacrosse.”

Both her parents have influenced Sublett’s participation in athletics. “My dad wanted me to run cross country,” said Sublett.

“But...I think kids should do cross country because it is a good experience...even if you’re not the best runner, it’s better than not even trying at all.”

Sublett plans to pursue cross

country and swimming in college and even has dreams of reaching the Olympics. “I’ve always wanted to [attend] Auburn, IU [Indiana University] and Miami University,” said Sublett.

What can we learn from Sublett? If you are a student who wishes to pursue a sport as a longterm career, do not be afraid to try out. Even if you’re just starting out, try it! Be an athlete. There’s a little Sublett in all of us.

Page 7

ARCADE

Arcade Staff A.J. Newberry, ‘14 Joe Schmidlapp, ‘14

Sean Wood, Editor

An interview with a college student

CVIII.5 Sudoku

Brandon Wagner, ‘13

Sean Wood, ‘15

The object of Sudoku is to place the numbers 1 through 9 in each column, row and 3 x 3 box without repeating any of the numbers. Order is not important as long as the numbers don’t repeat.

CVIII.5 Thanksgiving Crossword Joe Schmidlapp, ‘14

Across 2. The Pilgrim ship that sailed from England to the New World in 1620 3. A deboned chicken stuffed into a deboned duck stuffed into a deboned turkey 7. The person who led the Wampanoag Confederacy 9. A kind of squash that is round with ribbed skin and is a deep, yellowish-orange color 11. A federal republic made of 50 states 12. The process of collecting crops from fields

Down 1. A basket shaped like a horn and filled with fruits and vegetables 4. The feeling in acknowledgment of a received benefit 5. The edible organs of a fowl, including the heart, liver and gizzard 6. Processed pork preserved by smoking, salting or curing 8. One of the Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims during their first winter in the New World 10. Juices or melted fat brushed over a turkey to keep the meat moist

In character: Grace Mauer, ‘16

Every issue, the Arcade page offers students the chance to express their creativity and personality by featuring them in the “In character” spotlight. Interested? Visit us in Mrs. Gerwe-Perkin’s room, 2306, during all three lunches.

You wake up to find that this school year has been a dream and it’s still summer.

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You look up from your phone to see that you have wandered into the basement of the school with no way out.

November 21, 2013

Show us your sloth face.

Issue CVIII.5