2013 12 13 cviii 6

Walnut Hills High School

Volume CVIII, Issue 6

December 13, 2013

Boys’ varsity basketball starters have a legacy to live up to

KIBRET ALEM/CHATTERBOX

SENIORS share exam-cramming wisdom “Organize and review all notes, tests and homework.”

-SENIOR Christina Patton.

“Create helpful study guides.”

-SENIOR Jordan Fuller.

“Be active while studying; if you pace or set a rhythm to information, you’ll retain it better.”

-SENIOR Quinn Connor.

“Motivate yourself with candy.”

-SENIOR Lexi Barrett.

PHOTOS BY ALEX PERSIANI & JOE SCHMIDLAPP/ CHATTERBOX

Jazlyn Day, ‘14 As the light of winter break creeps closer and the semester dwindles to a close, exams

whhscbox.com

begin to seem more and more inevitable. Students may pretend exams are just a myth, but there comes a point when even the most seasoned procrastina-

tors have to crack open a book and start studying.

This year, exams take place from December 16 through 19. While seventh-graders will

experience exam week for the first time, SENIORS may get sentimental while preparing to take some of the last exams of their high school careers. From

Hannah Shaw, Editor-in-Chief

professional procrastinators to first-time examinees, here are four tips from SENIORS to remember when studying gets down to the wire.

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Features The Naviance nuisance Electronic college applications worry students and teachers

ALI MCNAIR/CHATTERBOX

Counselor Linda Sawan speaks with SENIOR Noah DeRose about his college plans. Beginning in September, Sawan writes approximately 125 letters of recommendation for SENIORS each year and organizes them with Naviance.

Zoe Cheng, ‘15 Ashwini Kamath, ‘17 The first half of SENIOR year notoriously has students gripping their desks over the college application process, a prospect to face on top of maintaining grades, participating in extracurricular activities and perhaps maintaining a job. In a time when some students are applying to six to ten colleges, each requiring separate supplements, there seems to be an endless supply of stress flooding the hallways.

However, this year’s SENIORS are, in a way, different from every other class of SENIORS that came before them: they are the first to apply to college using both Naviance and the Common Application.

SENIOR Nadja Simmonds is applying to 11 colleges, ten of which use the Common App. Simmonds is applying early action to all of them and has deadlines in November and December. She cited several issues she had with both the websites; in particular, the Common App would not allow her to add a retired teacher to her letter of recommendations

list. She added that she also had trouble “syncing my teacher recommendation and Naviance and Common App all together.”

According to counselor Linda Sawan, each counselor writes approximately 125 letters of recommendation each year, since the Common App requires one for each student. The requests for letters begins in September with the announcement of the National Merit Semi-Finalists. How do they deal with this? “Besides going crazy?” asked Sawan, laughing. “[We’re] highly organized [and] work according to deadlines.”

Despite this system, some students still experience communication trouble with their counselors. “I got an email sent from a couple of colleges saying that my transcript wasn’t in, but when I talked to my counselor, apparently it was,” said Simmonds.

SENIOR Maddy Bonfield is applying early action to several of her eight colleges, five of which use the Common App. Bonfield is among one of the many students who missed deadlines due to glitches in the system. “I couldn’t submit one of my applications on time, because [it] took so long to

load the PDF to preview my application that I kept getting timed out.”

Naviance has caused annoyances for both staff and students alike. Many teachers -- whose largest role in the application process

Geography teacher Justin Demoss also acknowledged this problem: “We thought we had it all done for a student and then the student comes in and is like, ‘Hey, this is due tomorrow and you haven’t put it in there yet.’”

“Naviance did not explain everything clearly,” said biology teacher Rajni Harsh. She remembers a situation where a student requested a letter for a school that only accepts one letter. “He wanted to send my recommendation letter,” said Harsh, “but [another teacher] had already uploaded hers, so it was not accepting mine.”

Sawan notes that this problem might have occurred because of lack of communication. “[Counselors had] training but it wasn’t the greatest….[and] the teachers didn’t really receive any training,” she said.

“You get used to writing a dozen or more recommendation letters and trying to help students out and knowing how to help them, to somewhere where you’re sort of learning on your own,” said Demoss. “It’s kind of hard to be supportive and comforting for

The screen that appears on the Common Application screen after a PDF generation has failed or access to the site is deemed impossible. This remains a problem for many SENIORS.

is writing recommendation letters -- have found the new process difficult.

“Most of [the teachers] -- once we uploaded the letter -- didn’t realize that you then had to go to another page and send it and check off the schools you want it sent to,” said chemistry teacher Jeffrey Lazar. AP Human

[the students] if you yourself really don’t know what’s going on.”

For teachers, the benefits of Naviance include a consolidated list of student requests and notifications of upcoming due dates.

“It’s nice to be able to go to one place, see all the student’s requests, whether they’re Common App or just a recommendation letter and

be able to do all of that,” said Demoss. “But it’s a little clunky and it’s not overly convenient.”

However, for many SENIORS, it can seem like Naviance’s liabilities seem to outnumber its assets.

Many agree that for students to better familiarize themselves with both the college application process and Naviance, students should take action early. Simmonds wishes that SENIORS would receive notice of new features that pop up on Naviance or a step-by-step list “of all the stuff you have to do instead of trying to figure it out from different people or from Facebook.”

“If you talk to your counselor, they can usually help, but I feel like there was a lot of information we need to know that you aren’t told unless you ask,” recognized Bonfield.

SENIOR C.J. Sherwood applied to three colleges, all using Common App, her advice to jurniors: “I believe [the school administration has handled problems well], but in tenth grade I didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. I walked into my counselor’s office the week before my deadline and had to ask the difference between early action and early decisions. [Counselor Adrian] Cabrera laughed and said, ‘We’ve been explaining this for years!’” “[They] opened up [the Naviance] portal before finding out glitches,” said counselor Tanya Ficklin. “[It’s been] time-consuming trying to figure out glitches.

The problems were larger than they expected them to be.”

So will the benefits of Naviance soon become as clear as its faults?

“I think in the long run, it’s going to work out,” said Demoss.

“I’m hearing from the counselors that there are other aspects of the process that [Naviance] is going to help students with.”

“I’m sure [SENIORS are] very frustrated [and] at times discouraged,” said Ficklin. “Our SENIORS have been troopers; [it is] amazing how they’ve handled it.”

Secret spaces Garretson Oester, ‘14 Walnut Hills High School features renowned academics, extracurriculars and architecture. Students generally have their own personal preferences in the spaces they frequent; some appreciate the new construction: “I like the new music wing,” said Alainna Santegret, ‘16. “It’s spacious and it’s easy to navigate.” Others like being under the old dome: “I like the library because it’s so open and light,” said Amy Gutmann, ‘16.

But unknown to most students, there are darker and more difficult spaces to access.

The auditorium features a double-ceiling, with space for air ducts, maintenance and dust. The rafters support the visible outer roof while what appears to be a floor in the image is actually the ceiling of the auditorium as viewed from the audience.

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GARRETSON OESTER/CHATTERBOX

December 13, 2013

Page Editor: Garretson Oester

Viewpoints The wildfire known as germs

Letter from the managing editor

Sarah Wagner, ‘14 Do you ever feel like one day your class has perfect attendance and then later in the week, half the class is absent? In Walnut’s recent production of Oklahoma!, I came in for the final show to learn that around 31 kids in our cast and crew had thrown up in the past 24 hours. As a member of the crew, we were instructed by our stage manager upon arrival to grab a bottle of water, write our names on the side and lid and — under no circumstances — share it.

Being the Prop Mistress, manager of all objects used and referred to on stage, I was especially horrified by this fact, knowing that I touched every item the highly-contagious and spewing actors touched. Immediately, I wiped down every prop with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes® and had hand sanitizer at the ready. I wasn’t going to come down with that stomach bug. I refused.

The show must go on, as it is commonly known in theatre, so us “clean” stage-crew members set up stations of garbage cans every 20 feet or so to the bathrooms, the trails beginning in the dressing rooms and on both sides of the stage. We had extra trash bags on hand which we, of course, would run out of by the end of the show,

Think back to your first day of seventh grade, whether this was a few months or even years ago. How have you changed? Have your essays improved in English class? Have you finally been able to master that piece in orchestra? Have you learned how to do the math problem that caused you stress? Just like you, the Chatterbox is also improving. We are incorporating new elements of design to make the newspaper something the Walnut community loves and enjoys reading.

From the fall leaves of our Fall into Autumn feature of Issue 3, to the infographic on the Italy trip, to the pictures really taken by Chatterbox photographers, the Chatterbox is evolving. As you flip through this issue while avoiding studying for exams, notice the changes in the writing and layout from the first Chatterbox you picked up as an Effie.

Season’s greetings!

Celeste Kearney, ‘15 Managing Editor

Is being hipster even hipster?

Wally Hill, ‘14

I must admit that I didn’t read The Hunger Games before it was cool, but I didn’t read it after it was cool, either. So what does that make me? I am neither cool for being a hipster, nor am I cool enough to be on the bandwagon.

I do not profess to be a trendsetter (except for when I am), a follower or a hipster. I embrace dorkdom and nerdiness and, most of all, my individuality. Have you noticed how the hipster movement has now become the very quality it rejects: mainstream? Have you ever thought about the irony of the hippie movement as pop culture?

Why can’t we just make decisions based off of what we think, know and feel as individuals?

It’s just so hard. We are so driven to either fit in or completely reject the system: the battle between convention and anti-convention. Is either one any worse than the other? Try this little trick: if you’re in a group of two or more people and a question is asked, does your answer vary depending on the company you are with or if you answer first or last? I wish you the best of luck in navigating the world of conventionalism and hipsterness, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

COURTNEY HICKENLOOPER/CHATTERBOX

“I did see kids in the office prior to Oklahoma!, so I was a little concerned that there was something in the building,” said medical staff member Meg Dietz. This dispels the rumor of food-poisoning to the cast and crew and shows how proper care for one’s health is beneficial. resorting then to taking the trash bags from bathrooms in other portions of the building. It felt like we were fighting the plague and, in a way, I guess we were.

The sickness spread so fast, even the orchestra began to take a hit. Kids who were perfectly healthy upon arrival had a pallor similar to zombies out of The Walking Dead by curtain call.

There is nothing worse than feeling as though you and your peers have reached a stomach-virus apocalypse from which none of you have a chance of making it out healthy. Luckily, however, the ridiculousness of our experience backstage went unnoticed by the audience and a handful of us, including myself, were able to escape that night alive and well.

This led me to wonder, though, how did the epidemic reach such a level? And more importantly, how can we be sure we never go through that again, especially now that we’re entering flu season? The answer lies in those common-sense health rules we were supposed to ingrain in our minds at childhood, but need reminder of as we get older.

“We talked to Mr. Brokamp on Monday morning and he made sure everybody heard,” said medical-room staff member Meg Dietz.

“I was just concerned to make sure that everybody was aware that there might be something contagious in the building.”

Dietz has many tips when it comes to staying healthy, a big one being that “soap and water [are]

your best [friends].” She said that “alcohol [in disinfectants] does not kill all of the viruses that can make us throw up, so that’s why I want everybody to wash with soap and water because it’s a physical elimination of the virus.”

Dietz expresses how “it is so, so important that, if you are sick, you don’t come to school,” clarifying that being sick means having a fever, throwing up, diarrhea and/or actual symptoms of illness. Sorry, SENIORS, not feeling up for the day doesn’t classify you as being sick, but if you are, then definitely stay home, since “you’re not necessarily doing yourself or your classmates any favor by bringing [the illness] to school — nor your teachers.”

“Kids need to try to get enough sleep, which I know is a joke at Walnut and, you know, don’t share water bottles and gum and things like that,” Dietz said. “The biggest tip is: try to eat healthy and stay hydrated; it’s half the battle — and wash your hands.”

In high school and theatre productions especially, these helpful tips are quite easily forgotten and teenage euphoria kicks in.

However, take it from those of us in the cast and crew of the fondly called Puke-lahoma!, and you will benefit to remember.

“Merry Christmas” versus “Happy holidays” Jason Hettesheimer, ‘14 The monstrous exams are about to take their reign of terror once again.

Although the student body is not thrilled about it, many know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel: winter break. And though this wonderful time away from school may seem like one that has no controversy around it, it bends the sides of church and state and causes a divide between the sayings “Merry Christmas” and “Happy holidays.”

“I use Merry Christmas,” said Emma Kazpernack, ‘15. “The positive [of using Merry Christmas] is that it seems like you care about someone, but the negative could be if someone

doesn’t celebrate Christmas.”

Others, such as Tatyana Woodall, ‘16, do not change their greetings according to the season. She sticks with the everyday “How are you doing?” but still works Merry Christmas into the conversation.

There are groups, however, that feel strongly toward using “Merry Christmas” in conversation. In an article for the Catholic News Agency, Bishop Larry Silva argued that people should prefer “Merry Christmas” to “Happy holidays” because “it more accurately depicts the truth.” The idea is that Christmas is purely religious and not secular.

Though it would be easy, according to Silva, “to rail against this contemporary bow to secularism, we might also be challenged

to scrutinize our own attitudes about faith.” This means that it would be easy to go against saying “Happy holidays,” but then Catholics would have to question whether they could make the argument for this debate.

However, Paul Raushenbush, Senior Religion Editor for the Huffington Post, points out that “Happy holidays” is not a phrase which takes away from Christmas, but a way to acknowledge all holidays that occur within this time of the season.

Raushenbush says in an article for the Huffington Post that “there are several holidays that fall in December… they all deserve to be acknowledged and respected.” He explains that the American population is becoming more and more diverse and

that we need to change with the population and the influx of more holiday celebrations.

However, many people do not have a strong opinion on the matter. According to a 2005 PewReaserch survey, 45 percent of people do not care about what greetings people use and that percentage increases to 60 percent for anyone under age 30.

So as the holidays approach, be mindful to the fact that not everyone celebrates Christmas, but still hold this month to be special. If you know someone who celebrates Christmas, go ahead and give them a warm “Merry Christmas.”

If not, play it safe and opt for “Happy holidays” or “Season’s greetings.”

The Chatterbox Policy Statement

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 administrators are

Page Editor: Sarah Wagner

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.

December 13, 2013

SARAH DAVIDOFF, ‘13

The Chatterbox Editorial Staff Hannah Shaw, Editor-in-Chief Zoe Cheng, Managing Editor Celeste Kearney, Managing Editor Joe Schmidlapp, Design Editor Alex Persiani, Photo Editor Neriya Servant, Business Manager

Oliver Olberding, Online Manager; Abrena Rowe, News Editor Samantha Gerwe-Perkins, Adviser Dawn Wolfe, Adviser

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Sports Back to the mat

Player Profile: SENIOR Jack Bargemann

COURTESY OF WILLIAM MYLES

Left: Edward Hampton, ‘15 (right) grapples with an opponent at the Anderson High School tournament.

Right: On the same day, Markus Myles, ‘16 was able to take down his adversary.

Whitney Bronson, ‘16 Perry Stargel, ‘14 started wrestling because, according to him, “I’ve always been pretty athletic, so I guess I wanted to try a different sport during the winter months, and I definitely can’t swim, so I chose wrestling.” Many wrestlers got their start by trying to find something to do during the winter sports season. Nevertheless, through other sports and meeting new people on the wrestling team, the athletes have created a bond and everlasting memories.

Tony Mitchell, ‘16 says that his favorite part “about being on the team is that it gives us the chance to stay together after football season.” Most of the students in the wrestling program are two-sport athletes, and play sports such as wrestling and football or wrestling

and boxing. Being a two-sport student athlete can be difficult and often comes with challenges.

Stargel struggles with playing two sports; he can not commit to yearround boxing because of wrestling.

Some wrestlers need to pay attention to what they eat and how they take care of their bodies.

Hydrating, fueling properly, lifting weights and running extra laps are crucial aspects of conditioning their bodies for competitions. For Edward Hampton, ‘15, size can be an additional challenge. “Yeah, I’m short,” said Hampton, “but I know I can beat a top wrestler and I’ve done it before plenty of times.

I just keep motivating myself to reach my full potential.”

Wrestling may have at first just been “something to do,” but now many of the wrestlers are serious competitors and are trying to win

big titles. This year, Markus Myles, ‘16 hopes to “win more matches, go farther in the ECC, which is the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, and win first rather than fourth in the ECC.” He stated that “another thing I would like to accomplish is to go to regionals, which is a big thing for a sophomore from Walnut Hills.”

In the past, Walnut has had a relatively small wrestling team.

However, this year the wrestling team has more experienced wrestlers who are prepared and motivated to take the team in a new direction. Myles hopes to inspire later generations into believing that a smaller team can advance far into state or regional tournaments while competing with the larger teams.

ALEX PERSIANI/CHATTERBOX

Bargemann came to Walnut in the tenth grade and has excelled ever since. Bargemann joined the quiz team sophomore year and earned a spot on varsity as a junior. As well as quiz team, he participates on the men’s varsity cross country team. This hard work helped him win the SENIOR superlative “Best Legs.” This year, he is a captain of both teams, while maintaining a 4.0 unweighted GPA. Competitor’s comment: “Physics is everywhere.” - Naseer Chugtai

New leader, new year, new promise

ALEX PERSIANI/CHATTERBOX

Amber Wilks, ‘15 goes up against Anderson at the basket at a home game. The Lady Eagles are fighting hard for a championship season this year.

Alina Tashijan, ‘14 The women’s varsity basketball team were left last season with a 10-13-0 record, facing the loss of four SENIORS and a coach.

Now it’s the 2013 season, and new coach, Keith Gwynn, is proving to be a beacon of hope for the Eagles,

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starting off their season well with a 4-2 record.

Gwynn is an avid basketball player and began coaching at the age of 16. “At my school, there was no freshman or JV team; you either made varsity or didn’t play.”

He went on to explain, “I made varsity as a freshman and during

my sophomore year, I asked my coach why I wasn’t getting the minutes I thought I deserved. He told me that basketball is about finding those five players that gel well together, and that if I became a coach, I would be able to see that. I took that as a challenge and became a coach shortly thereafter.”

December 13, 2013

Gwynn says that making sure his players “gel well together” is a very important aspect of the game.

“When I came here we had a lot of girls playing as individuals,” Gwynn said. “I had them focusing on accepting each other for all that they are and becoming a family.” A family they now are, with three captains helping to bring the family together: Amber Wilks, ‘15;Taylor Darks, ‘15; and Arielle Varner, ‘16. “Darks is a captain by the way that she plays on the court and her hard work ethic,” said Gwynn. “She leads by example.

Wilks and Varner are captains by the way that they talk; we actually call Amber a fire-starter with how vocally intense she is.”

The Lady Eagles live by the motto “championship behavior” meaning that they work to perform well not just on the court, but also in all aspects of life — especially the classroom. Gwynn stresses to develop characteristics that will be beneficial on and off the court, such as confidence, a good work ethic and being able to get along with the people around you. The girls becoming a family is very important to their overall success. “How you approach a

sport is how you approach life,” he said. “If the girls have everything in their lives together [not just basketball], then success will come to them.”

Darks has been playing basketball for Walnut since the seventh grade and believes that this season will be a great one. “ We have a lot better chemistry and everyone worked hard this offseason,” she said. “Everyone is also buying into the new coaching staff for this year,” said Darks.

Being a first-year coach to a high school team is not always an easy task, however Gwynn said that “it has been a relatively easy move; I’m lucky to come to a team with such talent.” He continued that “Josh Hardin, Tom Donnelly and [Principal Jeffrey] Brokamp have set the tone to make things easy for me, because they all run such a wonderful place together, and I’m fortunate to be able to coach at Walnut.”

He adds that “of course, like every team, we want to win the conference. But our real goal is to not worry about the stats and the records and just play for each other.”

Page Editors: Kyren Palmer and Kibret Alem

Fine Arts

Making a difference, one bench at a time

COURTESY OF CRAIG WHISTLER

COURTESY OF CRAIG WHISTLER

These two benches sit next to each other near a gas station in Carthage. Put together, they form a panorama of Mill Valley, a historic area of Cincinnati.

Karinne Hill, ‘15 During the end of the 20122013 school year and over the summer, SENIOR Iris Carson, and art teacher Donald Stocker worked to spread art throughout part of Cincinnati in an usual way.

Carson, a member of the Walnut Hills photography club, and Stocker have refurbished and repainted seven benches in Carthage in Cincinnati. The two originally got involved in the project to raise money for the club’s trip to Italy this Spring Break. They ended up

raising approximately $700 for the slats.” Only then could the the trip. painting begin, which was also “The process was long and took an intensive process. “After we a lot of hard work,” said Carson. put them all back together, we The project hauled them back “It feels good to know that out to Carthage and involved several steps you’ve given people some- reinstalled them.” to remake Many of the thing...to smile about.” the benches. benches are located at “First, we bus stops on Readhauled them -SENIOR Iris Carson ing Road. All of to Walnut, the benches were then we took designed to feathem apart completely,” explained ture Cincinnati’s unique history Carson. “Then we had to sand off by depicting a historical site in all the paint that was already on Carthage. “Mr. Stocker came up

[with] the design,” said Carson. community members come out to “[He also] did all the detail paintexamine their hard work. Carson ing.” said, “the project Carson and “The hard work was re- was a lot of fun and Stocker were the hard work was ally rewarding.” inspired to really rewarding, not rehabilitate the because we got paid benches by the because we got to -SENIOR Iris Carson but photo club’s see the people in Cargoal to do one thage get excited… project every year that makes a It feels good to know that you’ve difference in Cincinnati, according given people something beautiful to Stocker. to smile about.”

At the conclusion of the summer, the photography club had the satisfaction of seeing many

Nims establishes extracurricular chamber choir The shadow Skye Vaské, ‘17

ALI MCNAIR/CHATTERBOX

The Walnut Hills Chamber Choir meets after school to learn their advanced music, instead of during regular school hours. The group will eventually perform one large choral work.

Kemi’ Goode-Mayo, ‘14 Choral director Anthony Nims has decided to take singing beyond the given school period. He has recently formed the Walnut Hills Chamber Choir, which is comprised of 22 students: 20 from Senior Ensemble, one from Men’s Ensemble and one from Women’s Ensemble. According to Nims, the “choir is a highly-select ensemble, which specializes in college-andprofessional-level acappella choral repertoire.”

The idea of creating this extra-

Page Editor: Karinne Hill

curricular choir arose from what Nims had already accomplished at previous schools. Nims says that when he was “a teacher at Anderson High School back in 2000, [he] was struck by the amount of talent on the stage during the musical. It occurred to [him] that [he] could unite all of these amazing students into one highly select ensemble if [he] were to rehearse it outside of the school day.”

Nims said that “I have founded an extra curricular chamber choir at each school where I have worked...It allows me to teach

and perform music at a higher level than is achievable in regular curricular choirs, and therefore it fulfills a musical need in my life.”

Not only are choral students able to enhance their musical abilities, according to Nims, “the skills achieved by the students in [the new] Chamber Choir are then taken back with them to the curricular choirs of which they are members. This raises the level of our overall choral program at Walnut Hills.”

For the full story on this choir, visit <www.whhscbox.com>.

December 13, 2013

There she stood shivering in the cold Looking for the friend of whom she was told Someone loving, compassionate, there ‘til the end Poor girl how she longed for just one friend But none came no one showed their face She searched and searched yet there was no trace She cried and she wondered “how can this be? to no one ever, ever was I unfriendly.”

She sat and she sat for there was nothing to do And when she let go of time like a bird her mind flew Soaring through the skies to her own little place Where a ruler full of hatred wasn’t the case The birds sang their song while she hummed the melody The flowers danced their dance and finally she felt free She had never noticed the clouds before but she did not know why It’s funny how different things look with a tear in your eye From there she journeyed through the depths of her mind Wondering and smiling at what she might find A bear? Perhaps. Or a fox Or maybe a stream full of fish and rocks And in that moment she had forgotten about The cold and the old and the people no doubt But of all the things to see, what did she find?

A bear of the worst and nastiest kind In the land, right there, where nothing went wrong!

It was a sign she couldn’t stay there very long And then she awoke disrupting her peace To the hustle and bustle of the city and streets She glanced around looking for the friend The one to be there and stay ‘til the end But sadly again there was nothing to see No one waiting there to keep her happy And so there she stood shivering in the cold Looking for the friend of whom she was told

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Style & Culture Artists to watch Nisa Muhammad, ‘15 Winter break can be one of the most boring times for some, and the most interesting times for others. Whether you are going to be in the house all break, going on a road trip or just hanging out with your friends, here is a list of artists that you should definitely add to your music library to keep things interesting.

Chance the Rapper – Also known as the “Acid Rapper,” this Chicago-based indie rapper brings a new flavor to hip hop. Not only does he rap, he also sings. He first gained popularity through his mixtape 10 Day, which he made as a result of his ten-day expulsion during his senior year in high school. His sophomore mixtape, Acid Rap, ranked at 26 on the Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Albums of 2013 list. He has worked with artists such as Childish Gambino, Lil Wayne and Justin Bieber.

Arctic Monkeys – Finally breaking into America, this English indie rock band is sure to become one of your favorite bands. With Alex Turner as the lead singer, Matt Helders on the

drums, Jamie Cook on guitar and Nick O’Malley on the bass, this band is the perfect mix of charisma and intensity. Their fifth and newest album, AM, is currently ranked sixth on the Billboard 200.

Lianne La Havas – This English folk-and-soul-singer can best be described by the words “subtle” and “sweet.” This Jamaican-andGreek beauty is a multi-instrumentalist who has teamed up with artists such as Willy Mason. Her debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough?, won the iTunes Best of 2012 award for Album of the Year.

SZA – If you love Erykah Badu or The Weeknd, this one is for you! Known for her association with rappers Kendrick Lamar, AbSoul, ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock, this R&B singer just stepped into the music scene. Her singles include “Teen Spirit” and “Julia.”

The Neighbourhood – This newly-formed American alternaterock band, just released its debut album I Love You. The album ranked at 36 on the Billboard 200 album list. The band has received significant airtime on alternative radio stations throughout the nation. Their singles “Sweater

Twerking over time

Jazlyn Day, ‘14 Abrena Rowe, ‘14 Something you would never expect to hear is Morgan Freeman reciting the definition of “twerking” on the Headline News Network. A newly-added word to the Oxford Dictionary, “twerking” is defined as “dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.” Twerking has been around for decades, but with recent events in pop culture, it has gained attention from many who have previously turned a blind eye to it.

Twerking itself is about 20 years old and was introduced to American culture in New Orleans with the release of the song “Do the Jubilee All” by D.J. Jubilee. In the song’s music video, the dancers are seen acting out the twerking dance as D.J. Jubilee instructs them to “twerk baby, twerk baby, twerk twerk twerk.”

Following the release of D.J. Jubliee’s song, the dance grew in popularity. Soon, more and more artists began to implement the dance into their songs. From 2000 to 2005, several songs released either included the main

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topic of twerking or were instructional songs to different dances that resembled twerking. Some examples of these songs are “Pop Lock and Drop It” by Huey and “Drop It Low” by Ester Dean. In recent years, the trend of mentioning twerking in songs or creating “twerk songs” has only grown in popularity. Some of the more popular songs of today are “Red Nose” and “Gas Pedal,” both by Sage the Gemini.

YouTube recently blew up with Miley Cyrus’s video to her song “We Can’t Stop.” The tie between Cyrus and twerking has caused those who either did not know or were not concerned with twerking to learn about it. Cyrus’ performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards has contributed to the twerking phenomenon.

Contrary to popular belief, twerking is not only done by teenagers, but by children of all ages, as well as some grown men and women. Video-sharing technologies such as YouTube and Vine have lent a hand to the recent increase in the twerking craze.

Millions of people have been uploading videos onto social media sites of themselves twerking.

However, these sites are not

Style tips: Ladies:

#29: New Years is coming!

Gear up early by experimenting with sequins in your everyday look. #47: It is Ugly Christmas Sweater season. Purchase one or get crafty and make your own. #70: Go long with your skirts-- maxis are perfect for the cold months.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The above photos represent logos and album covers of these artists. Though some are still unsigned, each artist manages to impact listeners through song.

Gentlemen:

#92: Don’t be afraid to experiment with patterns. #175: Band tees look cool and show off your musical taste.

Weather,” “Female Robbery” and “Afraid” have helped the band gain exposure and attract a large following.

Chester French – Though currently disbanded, D.A. Wallach and Maxwell Drummey make up this eclectic duo. These

Ivy-League-educated men bring a balance of rock and pop to their craft. They have released two albums: Love the Future and Music 4 Tngrs. Singles from the band include “She Loves Everybody” and “Black Girls.”

the only places that people have observed twerking. According to secretary of ninth and 10th grade students Barb Otten, twerking is mentioned on “entertainment shows like E! and The Soup.”

However, twerking is not seen only on American social media and television. Similarities to twerking can be observed through different world cultures. “My aunt does Jamaican dances and that’s basically the same thing,” says Jada Prophet, ‘18.

Twerking is done by both males and females. For example, on YouTube, an all-female Twerk Team has posted over 60 twerking videos and have approximately half a million subscribers. On the other hand, the all-male Dem White Boyz has 2.8 million followers on their main Vine account and are well-known on Vine and YouTube.

In addition to some misconstrued thoughts about twerking, it is apparently not limited just to parties and promiscuous behavior.

Rapper Juicy J had even offered a $50,000 college scholarship to the girl who could “twerk the best.”

Young women were encouraged to upload videos of themselves showing off their twerking skills. The scholarship opportunity is inspired by his song “Scholarship.” There has been massive controversy over the rapper’s intentions and the incident has fueled both extreme positive and negative public reactions.

With its recent addition to the Oxford Dictionary and its massive impact on today’s youth, this dance has literally defined our generation. There is no question of its cultural significance. Whether you like it or not, twerking is here to stay.

Ugg boots: label or comfort?

December December13, 4, 2012 2013

Kristian Tatum, ‘14 Ugg boots are becoming more and more popular every year. But there is a controversy revolving this popular footwear. Do people wear them because of their popular label or do people wear them for warmth, comfort and style?

According to the Ugg website, Uggs were started in Australia as unisex boots. Uggs emerged in the U.S. in the late 1990s and the public soon caught on. Although Uggs are for both men and women, girls picked up on the trend of these boots and began investing in the trend more. Since the popularity of Ugg boots increased rapidly, other manufacturers wanted a cut of the profit, so companies began to make similar boots. The advent of these new shoes gave consumers access to cheaper alternatives.

Bearpaw is a big competitor to the Uggs mainly because of price and style. Uggs costs approximately $200 a pair at local stores and

#211: Bomber jackets are the way to go when looking for stylish outerwear.

online retailers, while Bearpaws range from around $85 to $95.

However, some people prefer to wear Uggs because of their brand name. No one knows where this habit started; it could just be a natural occurrence among girls.

SENIORS Haley Thompson and Hannah Rosenthal are both Ugg-wearers. Thompson said, “I just would prefer real Uggs.” However Rosenthal stated that “I’ve had a pair of Bearpaws and I have Uggs.”

Thompson elaborates by saying that her preference toward Uggs stems from the label. She wears Uggs “because the name brand matters.” Rosenthal stated that “girls care about labels. People wear [Uggs] because they are in style, but to be honest, it really shouldn’t matter.” Some consumers don’t care about labels, but many wear pieces specifically for the name brands associated with them.

ALISON MCNAIR/CHATTERBOX

New styles of Uggs, such as these, are making a splash at Walnut. Companies are following Uggs’ example by utilizing up-and-coming trends in their shoes.

Page Editor: Issue Grace CVII.4 Hill

Peanuts Catching Fire catches audience’s attention

YAHOO! IMAGES U.K.

Camille Williams, ‘18 First came the hit trilogy by Suzanne Collins; last year came the first The Hunger Games movie.

And this November came the epic sequel: Catching Fire, directed by Francis Lawrence. The story picks up a few weeks after the end of the 74th annual Hunger Games, a brutal televised event set in future America, Panem, in which the tributes, or participants, in the Games must kill one another off until only one remains. Designed to keep citizens under the Capi-

tol’s complete control, the Games only features teenagers -- one male and one female from each district, or region. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, two tributes from District 12, won the 74th Hunger Games together, both seemingly willing to commit suicide rather than to kill one another. The citizens of Panem see this as an act of rebellion and beacon of hope, and just like that, Katniss becomes a symbol of the rebellion.

As the 75th Hunger Games, or third Quarter Quell, begins, a full-scale revolt is already in the

works to shake up Panem. For the third Quarter Quell, President Snow wants to end the rebellions in the districts by destroying Katniss. Snow decides to make one previous male and female victor from each district compete in the Hunger Games again, in the hopes that he will see the demise of Katniss, the symbol of hope for the districts and the rebellion. Will Katniss try hard to be the Capital’s pet or be the mockingjay for the citizens?

As a Hunger Games fan, I almost screamed when I heard they were making a second Hunger Games movie. After all, it was my favorite book out of the trilogy by far. I had high expectations for this movie and the film definitely exceeded them. I loved almost everything about it: Effie Trinket’s intricate outfits, the exhilarating moments in the arena, President Snow’s evil personality and the return of hotties Gale, played

by Liam Hemsworth, and Peeta, played by Josh Hutcherson. I had read Catching Fire so long ago that I almost forgot all of the intense, sad parts. Although I almost cried five times during the movie, the humorous lines of the sarcastic, always-drunk Haymitch and the wacky, unsettling demeanor of District six’s Johanna Mason balanced out the movie. Catching Fire, unfortunately, is two-anda-half hours long, and, like the book, focuses more on the road to the Hunger Games rather than the actual Hunger Games. For fans of the book, the movie is incredibly accurate; it even quotes direct lines from the book. In conclusion: GO SEE CATCHING FIRE!

The last holiday Kendall Young, ‘18

As I watch the snow fall I shed a tear Thinking, what if today is the day?

That the end of my life is near The cold breezes slow my mind and spirit The little heat in my home aches my joints My body can no longer function My life is at its endpoint I hope to see the last snowfall The smell of hot chocolate in the air The Christmas carolers at my door Who show their peace, love and care I want my final words to be under mistletoe My love to be shown by a holiday miracle My happiness to be rediscovered My legacy to be the unthinkable My smile to be found by joy Joy to be found by me Gratefulness will come of it I entirely guarantee But as I see the time fly by My desires and hopes have not been granted I see myself not living to see the new year I feel as if I’m stranded As the holiday spirit overwhelms me so I love it more than you can ever know With the happiness and love somewhere deep in my heart When I’m gone it will glow, glow and glow For I am not letting this sickness take me forever For I will love the holiday and be happy For I will make my love and care show From Barcelona to Cincinnati I am living to see my last holiday I am not letting my life go so fast If someone wants me sooner, come and find me For I am living to see my future which in time will be my past.

Oatmeal-raisin cookies recipe

Peanut of the issue

Get into the festive spirit by baking this simple, yet delicious, winter snack!

Riley Taylor, ‘18

Kendall Young, ‘18

Ingredients: ½ cup (1 stick) plus 6 tbsp. butter (softened) 2 eggs 3 cups of oats 1 ½ cups all purpose flour

1) Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy.

2) Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.

3) Add combined flour, baking

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup granulated sugar

¾ cup firmly packed brown

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup of raisins

½ teaspoon salt (optional)

1 teaspoon baking soda

soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well.

4) Add oats and raisins; mix well.

5) Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets.

Page Editors: Kandyce Clark and Kendall Young

6) Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden-brown. Cool for a minute on cookie sheets. Store tightlycovered. This makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Who is this Peanut? This peanut is a seventh grader at Walnut. Before attending Walnut, she attended the Cincinnati Waldorf School. Her parents are both from Nepal and she aspires to study art and dance in college.

This Peanut is Suja Pandey, ‘19! Coming to Walnut was not the most obvious choice for her. But in the end, Pandey decided to leave The Cincinnati Waldorf School, which goes to eighth grade, and join her older sister, Sahaja Pandey, ‘17, here at Walnut.

Pandey has a strong connection to her ancestry, even though she was born here in Cincinnati.

“My parents came here for college, and decided to stay,” says

Pandey. Because most of her extended family lives in Nepal, she tries “to go [to Nepal] every two or three years to visit them.”

She participates in Indian dance and even knows how to speak Nepali.

Pandey has participated in Indian dance for five years.

She uses dance to express her artistic side and learn more about her culture. Pandey has many hobbies, including: violin, dance and art. She enjoys art because, “it’s interesting and there's no definition of right.” When asked how she got into art, she said, “My favorite teacher at my old school got me into art.” Pandey hopes to be an artist and looks forward to going through the art program at Walnut.

7) Enjoy!

RILEY TAYLOR/ CHATTERBOX

December 13, 2013

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ARCADE SENIOR Knievel

CVIII.6 sudoku

A.J. Newberry, ‘14

Sean Wood, ‘15

The object of Sudoku is to place the numbers 1 through 9 in each column, row and 3x3 box without repeating any of the numbers. Order is not important as long as the numbers don’t repeat.

Leisure time Letdown A.J. Newberry, ‘14

CVIII.6 holiday crossword Joe Schmidlapp, ‘14

Across

1. A nine-branched candle-holder used in the celebration of Hanukkah 5. Satisfaction in one’s own beliefs, actions or ideas 7. A red-and-green-leafed plant indigenous to Mexico 9. A four-sided top used to play a Jewish game of the same name 10. A small social unit that shares common values 11. A winter holiday that celebrates the birth of this religious figure 13. The French word for Christmas

Down

2. Something inherited from the past 3. A week-long holiday honoring African heritage 4. Sympathy for another’s feelings and beliefs 6. A Christian season awaiting the Nativity of Jesus Christ 8. A parasitic, flowering plant hung as a Christmas decoration 12. Metallic strands of plastic used to mimic icicles as decorations

Choose your path.

• Attend out of state conferences • Get published in the Chatterbox and Rembrancer

Intro to Journalism Pre-requisite for Newspaper Production and Journalism Production classes

• Get special access to school events • Let your voice be heard

Newspaper Production

Journalism Production

The Chatterbox class

The Rembrancer class

Get involved in Walnut Student Media!

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December 13, 2013

Page Editor: Sean Wood