The Chatterbox - Jan. 29, 2015 - CIX.08

Volume CIX, Issue 8

January 30, 2015

Walnut Hills High School

Walnut Hills’ diversity compared to that of other local schools Allie Berding, ‘16 Avery Samuels, ‘16 The Chatterbox gathered data to compare diversity of both race and gender between Walnut Hills and other high schools in the Cincinnati area: The Summit Country Day School, Withrow University High School and Clark Montessori High School.

Walnut’s student population is more diverse than those of the other schools compared with a population that is 57% white, 30% black, 2% Asian, 1% Hispanic and 3% multiracial. It is 53% female and 47% male.

Walnut’s diversity is prevalent among its clubs and other organizations within the school. “From going to an almost all-white school growing up, Walnut is completely different…Academically you get people from all different kinds of backgrounds who often times see things differently than you do, and that lets you see things from a different perspective,” SENIOR Martin Myaka said. “[Diversity] provides a comfort knowing you can freely speak your mind without feeling like people are going to judge you for it.”

For more information about the diversity of Summit, Withrow, Clark and other high schools, visit <http://www.niche.k12.com>.

Information about Walnut Hills provided by registrar Julie Nash-Holt.

ALL GRAPHS DESIGNED BY ALLIE BERDING AND AVERY SAMUELS

Features 2 How informed are students about conflicts in the Middle East?

ADAM MANCINI/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

A first lieutenant in the US Army, Jared Tomberlin (left) watches over a mountain with an interpreter in Afghanistan’s Zabul province. The United States has had a presence in the Middle East for more than a decade, yet few students know the complete details about these situations.

Zoe Cheng, ‘15 Ashwini Kamath, ‘17 For hundreds of years, the United States has been actively involved in numerous military affairs in the Middle East. Many high school students, however, may not know the details of a number of these conflicts, or even realize that they exist.

“I think we should know more than we probably know...Because if we don’t know what’s...going on in the world, we’re kind of like blindsided by stuff like that, and...we take -Arianna stuff for granted more,” Arianna Boddie, ‘19 said.

Like Hannah Niehaus, ‘17, many students are aware of “the war on terror/fight against [the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria] ISIS as well as the ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts in countries like Afghanistan.” Several Middle Eastern governments are deteriorating, and Western borders are beginning to dissolve. Due to advances made by the militant group ISIS, there is

more attention focused on Iraq.

Founded in 1999 by Jordanian jihadist Abu Musab al-Zarkawi, ISIS first gained global attention during the US-led occupation of Iraq, when it sided with al-Qaeda to oust coalition forces, thus reinitiating sectarian violence.

In 2010, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi became the new leader and transformed the terrorist group into a welldisciplined army.

The group would later become the most important conBoddie, ‘19 tender in the Syrian civil war.

Despite heavy global opposition, the forces now control most of northern Iraq and eastern Syria.

Their goal is to establish an extremely orthodox, Islamic-based theocracy -- a caliphate -- that will ultimately take over all of Arabia.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) annual Preventive Priorities Survey, the Iraq crisis is the top conflict prevention

“I think we should know more than we probably know...

Because if we don’t know what’s...going on in the world... we take stuff for granted more.”

®

Dr. Kenneth J. Manges & ASSOCIATES INC.

EVALUATION, TREATMENT & CONSULTATION SERVICES

priority.

In the fall, the Center for Preventive Action (CPA) invited more than 2,200 government officials, foreign policy experts and academic leaders to rank the likelihood and potential impacts of suggested conflicts and their impact on U.S. interests in 2015. Last year, the situation is Iraq was deemed moderately important and low in impact compared to other conflicts. This year, however, not only was the ISIS crisis rated most likely to occur, but also the most consequential.

War is not unfamiliar to Iraq, especially in the recent decades.

This Middle Eastern country is the home to a multitude of Islamist extremist strikes. Earlier, the target was the coalition military forces based there. Now, however, the concern is that ISIS militants will use Iraq to prepare for strikes from the Middle East. As the group continues to kidnap, rape, torture and kill innocent civilians, it justifies its actions by calling its victims nonbelievers of ISIS’ version of Sharia law.

Over a decade ago, former president George W. Bush declared a War on Terror following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. During this time, there were few refuges

for jihadists. Now, there are many.

While years ago the attention was focused on groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, the focus has since shifted to the ideology. “I don’t think [the War on Terror] is a good name because terror is an idea. You can’t fight terror,” Ryan Schack, ‘16 said.

He believes a War on Terror can never be won.

U.S. intelligence analysts now target aspiring terrorists who support the beliefs of terrorist groups and may even have experienced brief contact with them. With so many different groups controlling training camps, these people can -Ryan travel West feeling a strong need to create chaos. After surviving Al-Qaeda members at Tora Bora fled to Pakistan, new terrorist groups began to form: Al-Qaeda was created to oppose Western strikes in Iraq, which later became ISIS and expanded into Syria, where several Islamist organizations convened against the administration of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

Yemen is currently in the midst of a political crisis: on Jan. 22, President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi quickly resigned after his house was shelled and the presidential palace was seized by Shiite rebels.

Shiites compose approximately 10 percent of the Muslim population, while Sunnis compose 90 percent.

Shiites believe Muhammad named a successor, while Sunnis believe he did not. If the Shiites are successful, they will eventually control a predominantly Sunni country. While both the previous government and this Shiite rebel group have opposed al-Qaeda, the terrorist group is only further encouraged by the instability. As for the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the most challenging aspect of the government’s unreliability is access to their oil and natural gas.

To stay informed, Niehaus watches the news and listens to NPR. “I talk to my friends and family about whether certain ac-

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tions are justified and just about current news and other topics involving the U.S.,” she said. Boddie said that she learns of American involvement abroad via “the news,” however, “I don’t read newspapers.”

Tatum Rogers, ‘20, said she talks to her family about these world events. “Sometimes, if we’re eating dinner, and we overhear something about it then we might go into a little chat about it, but not too d e e p l y. . .

Like, I would ask them, ‘So what’s the deal with ISIS?’ And they would Schack, ‘16 be like, ‘Well, they’re just extremists [who] have done stuff and…the US is like trying to stop them,’” Rogers said.

Despite the fact that these conflicts occur in foreign territory, many students believe that it is still important to recognize and be aware of these happenings. “I do think it is important for students to be aware of military conflicts, however, I believe it to be just as important, if not more important, to be aware of social and political issues involving the U.S. rather than only focusing on war and conflict,” Niehaus said.

Other students do not support the idea that events that happen abroad are relevant to American adolescents. “Well, we’re kids...so I really wouldn’t think so, because that’s more of like the adults’ thing, but on the other side it also would be really smart to know about it, because then it would also be like current events, what’s happening in the world right now,” Rogers said.

“I don’t think [the War on Terror] is a good name because terror is an idea. You can’t fight terror.”

For more information about US involvement in the Middle East, visit: <www.npr.org>, <www.newsweek.com>, <www.cnn.com>, <www.bbc.com>, <www.forbes.com>, <www.usnews.com>, <www.huffingtonpost.com> and <www.thediplomat.com>.

Subscribe to Dr. Kenneth J. Manges & Associates Inc. on YouTube MAIN OFFICE 810 Sycamore Street 203 Cincinnati OH 45202 EMAIL drmanges@gmail.com WEB www.drmanges.com FAX 513-338-1920

Comprehensive Psychological and Vocational Services

3

Viewpoints

Competition

or encouragement ?

Taylor Darks, ‘15

The “buzz” around the school has been about the two dance teams, which one should perform on Fridays and who is better or worse. Although these are good conversation starters, perhaps students should embrace both teams instead of pinning them against each other. It takes a lot of courage to go in front of a full gym and perform. Many cannot even handle dancing at prom without looking over their shoulders once or twice to see if someone is looking. It is also very different than being an athlete on the court since most of them have been getting used to it since they were little, and most of the members of the Black Culture Club Step Team and Dance team are just now getting used to these new experiences. Maybe they could share the Friday spot, or even perform together? Either way, both teams work hard and put in a lot of practice time to perfect their choreography. So while some may criticize and harp on their mistakes, be sure to appreciate the little things and the huge amount of guts that must they have to step out of their comfort zone and into the spotlight.

Dance Step Team

Team

Walnut’s dance team has an experienced assistant coach, Lori Ware, going on her fifth year, and new dance coach Alison McElfresh. “The team knows that I am carrying integrity, passion and technique in my teaching skills,” McElfresh said. Practicing two times a week the team hopes next year to push towards competing in dance competitions, and making Walnut a home for dance.

They are constantly recruiting new members so all are welcome to come try out. One of their newest members, Molly Wimberg 18’, said, “Well I always loved to dance, especially hip-hop and jazz. I went to the meeting last spring and it sounded like a really cool experience.”

McElfresh plans to incorporate even more techniques such as hip-hop, jazz and ballet into their upcoming performances at the last few home games, and take their routines to the next level.

Two years ago at the local Alpha Esquires performed at the Black Culture Club Showcase, “Breaking Down the Barriers” inspiring the sophomores and now SENIOR members of the Black Culture Club to take initiative and start one for Walnut Hills. The step team was created by black culture club members, and is supervised by science teacher Jerron Grey and English teacher Janis Frazier. SENIOR Tyela Segar said that “It was something different and a way to bring not only black culture to walnut but also invite anyone to try something different.” SENIOR Mozika Maloba and SENIOR Kayla Johnson are captains of the team and the official choreographer is SENIOR Marquez Jones, but it is still a group effort and the opinions from the rest of the teams are valued.

There are no more chances to join this year, but after making history they also hope to make the step team a tradition.

National dance week is April 24thMay 3rd.

This Year’s Black Culture Club SHowcase, “Breaking Down the Barriers” is March 19th.

The Dance Team will perform in their First Dance Competition February 22nd at Withrow High School.

The Alpha Esquire Youth Group was established in 2002 as a mentoring program for youth ages 8-18 years.

The Step Team is planning a preformance for the Gabe Robinson game, featuring the Walnut’s staff members.

“DANCER” DESIGNED BY ANSTEYDESIGN/ THE NOUN PROJECT; INFOGRAPHIC DESIGNED BY TAYLOR DARKS/THE CHATTERBOX

Alison McElfresh is an alumni of School of Creative and Performing Arts.

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 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.

SARAH DAVIDOFF, ‘13

The Chatterbox Editorial Staff Zoe Cheng and Celeste Kearney, Editors-in-Chief

Karinne Hill, Managing Editor Grace Hill, Managing Editor of Design Alex Persiani, Managing Editor of Photography Neriya Servant, Business Manager Oliver Olberding, Online Manager Aisling Grueninger, Circulation Manager Allie Berding, News Editor Isaac Stephani, Features Editor

Taylor Darks, Viewpoints Editor Tony Heim, Sports Editor Swede Moorman, Fine Arts Editor Nisa Muhammad, Style and Culture Editor Augusta Battoclette, Peanuts Mentor Sean Wood, Arcade Editor Samantha Gerwe-Perkins, Adviser Dawn Wolfe, Adviser

The Chatterbox The Chatterbox welcomes reader submissions such as all forms of creative and journalistic writing, cartoons, letters to the editors, article ideas and suggestions Reader Submissions for improvement. You may submit them to the Chatterbox Submissions Mailbox in room 2306 or by email to <cboxwalnut@gmail.com>.

4 Schwartz causes Chaos in the Netherlands

The Cup is played indoors. For instance, there are rules for ceiling heights, which are not needed since softball in the United States is played outside.

Schwartz’s team came in fourth place overall out of 16 teams. She had a .620 batting average and her on-base percentage was .750. She

COURTESY OF KRISTA JONES-GEHRING

Krijn Schwartz, ‘16 prepares to face the opposing pitcher in a game against the Czech Republic. Chaos United won 5-3, helping them advance to the winners bracket of the tournament.

Whitney Bronson, ‘16 Krijn Schwartz, ‘16 is a softball player who was selected to be on a national softball team, composed of the best players in the United States.

Her team consisted of 15 girls from different states such as California, Texas, New York, Colorado, Mississippi, South Carolina and Florida. In 2013 she went to a softball showcase and was selected

by Kirt Whiteside, owner of Whiteside Manufacturing Co., to play left and center field on team Chaos United. The team only practiced four times with each other before the tournament - twice a year for

two years.

The Cup 2015 took place in Rotterdam, the second-largest city in the Netherlands. Team Chaos United was one of six teams from the United States that traveled to the Netherlands.

The tournament took place from Jan. 14-22, involving 16 national teams with the best players from all around the world.

There were five total countries represented in Rotterdam, including two from the Czech Republic, one from France, one from Italy, six from the Netherlands and six from the United States of America.

The rules differed from games played in the United States because

Sports Player Profile

SENIOR Brandon Davis

“[This experience was] hands down the greatest experience I’ve had so far and I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity.” converted on four of her five attempted stolen bases.

Another team from the United States, USA Avengers United, placed second after a 4-3 loss to France’s national team, Equipe de France de Softball.

Schwartz toured Amsterdam and Paris with her parents while in Europe for the tournament. She visited such icons as the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Schwartz said that the trip “was hands down the greatest experience I’ve had so far and I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity.”

TARA SALES/CHATTERBOX

SENIOR Brandon Davis has been surrounded by bowling his entire life. Davis entered into his first league as a twelve-year-old and he quickly fell in love with the sport. He first tried out for the Walnut Hills bowling team as a sophomore, averaging a 190.5 placing him third on the team.

His average this year is 198.7 points, placing him fourth in the conference. He is in contact with the bowling program at Wichita State and was recently contacted by the coach at Morehead State. The highlight of Davis’ career was his first of three perfect games, which was rolled on Jan. 12, 2013.

Dunking with Cory Cory Davis, ‘18 has been dunking since seventh grade. Davis is a member of the Walnut Hills varsity basketball team, averaging 5.5 points a game. When it comes to dunking he “thinks about how hyped the crowd will get.”

ALEX PERSIANI/CHATTERBOX

5 Veronica Victa, ‘16

Fine Arts

THE OVERTURE AWARDS

The Overture Awards scholarship competition is a Tri-State area competition for high school students gifted in creative writing, dance, instrumental music, theater, visual arts and vocal music. The

winner of each category receives a $4000 scholarship, and the other three finalists receive a $1000 scholarship.

In 2015, Walnut Hills had 11 semifinalists, almost twice the amount in 2014. In creative writing, Walnut’s semifinalists are

SENIOR Zoe Cheng and Emma Rankin, ‘16. In instrumental music, they are Beatrice Baker, ‘17, Isabella Geis, ‘16 and SENIOR Johnathan Weirs. Visual Art’s semifinalists are SENIOR Claire Bowman and Sophie Shiff, ‘16.

Lastly, the vocal music semifinalists

are Anna Donnelly, ‘16 and SENIORS Bradley Buchman, Claudia Neff and Jake Kolesar. Of these, four became finalists: Zoe Cheng (creative writing—poetry), Isabella Geis (instrumental music—violin), Claire Bowman (Visual Art—2-D Art) and Jake Kolesar (vocal mu-

sic—baritone).

The final competition and awards ceremony will take place on Feb. 28 at the Jarson-Kaplan Theater in the Aronoff Center.

SENIOR Claire Bowman

Veronica Victa, ‘16 Bowman submitted eight works into this year’s Overture Competition.

Her eight submissions center around the theme of pen and ink drawings of people as well as a few in charcoal. People are her favorite subject because, she said, “The human figure can be so varied and has so much emotion and can reveal a lot just through one simple pose.”

Bowman’s favorite work that she submitted is “Three Brothers,” a black and white ink work of her grandfather and two of his brothers.

“It’s very flowy and I used washes of ink, which is diluted ink with water and sharp crosshatchings—sharp lines.”

For college, Bowman does not plan to major in art. “There are just a lot of things I’m interested in...I don’t just want to limit myself to just one thing,” she said. However, she will continue in art “no matter what.”

SENIOR Zoe Cheng Swede Moorman III, ‘16

Cheng first got into writing in kindergarten, but did not start sharing her work seriously until her freshman year in high school. Her writing is inspired by people, who are struggling either internally or externally.

As a sophomore, she decided to enter into the Overture Awards to broadcast her work to as many people as possible. “[The Overture Awards is] a good way to get your name out there,” she said.

In this year’s competition, Cheng entered eight poems. When writing poems, Cheng said, “[the] vibe of the poem becomes a part of my mindset...the words start to become inherent to me.”

Having won the competition last year, Cheng hopes that this year will produce the same results.

Disclaimer: Zoe Cheng is a member of the Chatterbox.

Isabella Geis, ‘16 Swede Moorman III, ‘16

At this year’s competition, Geis played a piece titled “Zigeunerweisen,” German for “Gypsy Airs,” by 19th century composer Spanish Pablo de Sarasote. When asked why she chose this piece, she said, “the first section is almost like improvising,” said Geis. “Then it transitions into a folk dance...[it] shows a lot of skills for the competition.”

Geis first entered the Overture Awards as a freshman, and has competed every year since. Each year, she has reached the finalist stage.

She started playing violin at the age of six, inspired by gypsy music, a genre of music charictarized by fast passed rythms and violin parts. “I liked violin because I’d heard gypsy music when I was younger,” said Geis.

For college, she is considering majoring in performance at conservatories such as CCM and Indiana University’s Jacob’s School of Music.

MiXED MEDiA = MiXED FAiTH Art as a Spiritual Connection™ is a new kind of creative experience that uses the art medium as a pathway to connect with the Divine in all of us.

With a variety of art programs for all ages, Art as a Spiritual Connection™ creates a nurturing environment to foster connections to God, self and others through the creative process.

SENIOR Jake Kolesar

Veronica Victa, ‘16 At the Overture Semifinalist Competition, Kolesar sang an excerpt from Purcell’s opera, “Dido and Aeneas,” and Strauss’ “Zueignung.”

In the excerpt, Kolesar sings the part of Aeneas when he realizes he has to leave Dido, a “really emotional part.” Kolesar describes “Zueignung” as a “German love song.”

Classical music is something that Kolesar has most recently gotten into through choir and voice lessons. The Romantic period is his favorite one, “I just love all the long, flowing melodies and the lush orchestral textures.”

Kolesar also enjoys folk music. “I like all kinds of music, but I really like folk music. I’ve always been drawn to music that arises in an organic way,” he said. He has composed and performed in both genres.

For college, Kolesar is planning to continue in music. “I really want to double major in voice and composition. That’s the hope,” he said.

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY AISLING GRUENINGER/CHATTERBOX

SoulCollage® workshops for adults are here. Summer youth camps are coming!

For more information:

www.artspiritualconnection.com www.facebook.com/ArtAsASpiritualConnection

Fine Arts in cincinnati

Maddy Fixler ‘16 THEATRE The Handmaid’s Tale (Jan. 23 to Feb. 20) Based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale follows Offred, a handmaid, through a dystopian, ultra-conservative America in which women are forcefully subjugated to the sole role of child-bearing. Know Theatre of Cincinnati, 1120 Jackson St. <knowtheatre.com> ART Slam Bam Comic Jam: (Jan. 30 to Feb. 27) An expo running for close to a month at the AAC, Slam Bam Comic Jam features a celebration of comics, television, movies, art, and more, as well as guest speakers and workshops. Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St. < artacademy.edu> Additional events can be found online in the Fine Arts page at <walnuthillseagles.com/chatterbox/>

Style & Culture

New TV show “Empire” rocks FOX

The television show “Empire” premiered on FOX on January 7, 2015. The dynamic of family relationships is an important part of the plot; the show consists of family rivalry and strategic manipulation.

MaKayla Gentry, ‘16 Nisa Muhammad,’15 FOX kicked off the new year with its new show “Empire,” which premiered on Wednesday, January 7. According to Entertainment Weekly, the drama received the “highest-rated series debut [for FOX] in three years.” The show centers around an illustrious, fictitious hip-hop record label called Empire Enterprises that was founded on drug money.

The show has a predominantly black cast. It features well-known actors Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard, who are no stranger to each other on set. The two appeared in the 2005 indie film,

Hustle & Flow, ten years ago. It was actually Henson’s idea to get Howard on “Empire.”

The main characters of the show are Lucious Lyon (Howard), Cookie Lyon (Henson), Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett), Andre Lyon (Trai Byers), Hakeem Lyon (Bryshere Gray) and Uncle Vernon (Malik Yoba). Actors Naomi Campbell, Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Courtney Love compose the supporting cast.

The on-screen diversity does not stop there. There are six people of color writing for the show. “To have a show that’s this black, from the stars to the writers, it’s going to be like a nuclear bomb. It’s a watershed moment,” writer and producer Malcolm Spellman said

in an interview with Variety.

With 10.9 million viewers for the third episode, creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong weave an interesting story that has attracted the attention of a vast audience. “My mom and I fell in love with the show at once,” Madison Givens, ‘16 said. “We haven’t missed an episode yet.”

Strong says the show is based off the plays King Lear by William Shakespeare and The Lion in the Winter by James Goldman.

The plot of the show stems from power couple Cookie and Lucious.

However, when Cookie goes to jail for a crime Lucious commits, Lucious is left to raise the couple’s three sons: Jamal, Andre and Ha-

ambassador, since they are able to talk to people from different countries. Rosetta Stone, a languageeducation software, found that

“I had to learn a new language because my dad speaks English and I had to go to school in America.”

-Sydney Yee, ‘17, fluent in Thai and English KATHERINE HANLEY/CHATTERBOX

Flags hang on the classroom wall of Johanka Hart-Tompkins, who teaches German and Russian. On average, bilingual speakers earn more per year than monolingual speakers.

Augusta Battoclette, ‘17 Emily Glazer, ‘17 Being bilingual has many benefits in one’s life, but possibly the biggest is the ability to communicate with people of different nationalities.

“It is really cool to know many languages, and there are many advantages to knowing two or more languages, like more job opportunities, or even just bragging rights,”

Shelly Gillman, ‘18 said. Native to Moscow, Russia, Gilman is fluent in Russian, her first language.

In Europe, it is usually required for students to learn English as a second language. There are 65 countries in the world that include English as one of two official languages and 35 list it as their sole official language.

Bilingual students have a better chance at being hired for a job that pays well, such as an international

bilingual people have an average annual income $10,000 higher than the income of those who know only one language.

Bilingual students also have an advantage in focusing in school.

Adults who speak a second or third language show signs of focusing better and tuning out distractions if they became bilingual at an early age.

“It is thought that being able to filter things out when switching language enhances the brain’s ability to focus and ignore irrelevant information,” according to the website Bilingual Parenting.

Not only does learning a second language contribute to learning

keem. It is Cookie’s investment that starts Empire Enterprises.

Many years later, Cookie is released from prison. Lucious has a new girlfriend and Empire is thriving.

The show takes a turn when Lucious is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and has to choose a successor. His three sons are trained and tested to see who can take over Empire.

The show deals with familial love, deceit, homophobia, the inter-sectionality of race and the American dream. Creator Lee Daniels, who is openly gay, uses some of his own experiences for scenes with his middle son Jamal, whose sexuality both disappoints and embarrasses Lucious, despite Jamal’s profound creative and musical abilities that exceed his own.

“I don’t feel like he should mistreat his son the way he does. It isn’t fair. To me, Jamal is the most talented one out of all the sons,” Julius Freeman,’16 said.

The show has received a large amount of positive feedback. The intricate and suspenseful way that the creators set scenes leave viewers on their toes. “I don’t even think I’m old enough to watch the show, but it’s so entertaining,” Ashleigh Jackson, ‘20 said. “My friends and I talk about it all the time.”

6

Interested in journalism?

Consider optioning for News Writing 1 or Newspaper Production for the 2015-16 school year!

Troop 44871

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES Support Walnut Hills Cadet Allison Meier www.tiny.cc/troop44871

“Empire” plays on FOX every Wednesday at 9 pm. On January 17, 2015, the show was renewed for a second season. To catch up on episodes, visit <www.fox.com/ empire>.

and focus, it can also lead to enriching cultural experiences.

“I have had the good fortune of traveling to quite a few Spanish-speaking countries,” Spanish teacher Max Wuesthoff, who is also fluent in the language, said. “Some of my most precious memories come from my experiences abroad, which is why I am always looking forward to my next opportunity to travel. There is nothing quite like immersing yourself in such a beautiful language and culture.”

The terms “bilingual,” “trilingual” and “polyglot” (someone who can speak multiple languages fluently) can, however, be misleading. <Dictionary.com> defines a bilingual person as someone who is “able to speak two languages with the facility of a native speaker.” This means that in order to be considered bilingual, one must be able to fluently speak two languages. Some people may claim that they are trilingual when in fact they speak one language as a native speaker, a second language fluently and the third at only a proficient level.

For more information about bilingualism, visit <iseek.org> and <bilingualparenting.com>.

girlscouttroop44871@gmail.com

Peanuts Augusta Battoclette, ‘17 Julia Duell, ‘19 Allison Meier, ‘19

Perdrix vS. McCormick

7

Students at Walnut Hills may have heard about social studies teacher Mitchell Perdrix’s love for the University of Cincinnati. Fellow social studies teacher Kevin McCormick is also known for his ever-present coffee pot, used by both him and his students throughout the school day. The two have a friendly relationship, but like to joke with each other at times. This particular incident started with some of McCormick’s 9-Honors students taking Perdrix’s stuffed bearcat out of his classroom. In retaliation, Perdrix took McCormick’s beloved coffee pot from his classroom when McCormick was not there.

Kidnapped bearcat How did this whole thing start?

MP: Several students from the ninth-grade honors program thought it would be funny to kidnap my bearcat that hangs in my room and watches over all of us, and leave a ransom note. They know my deep-rooted passion for all things University of Cincinnati, and the fact that it’s drastically underrepresented here at Walnut, so they were trying to hit me in a sore spot.

Abducted coffee pot

How did this start?

KM: Just some harmless fun, harmless fun.

Why did the 9-Honors kids do it?

KM: I think they’re all Xavier fans and they wanted to show their disdain for the Bearcats.

What was your reaction?

KM: I was surprised. I love Perdrix, he’s a great guy, but I was surprised that he would compare his need for a stuffed animal for my need for coffee. [There was] shock, and some tears.

What was your reaction?

MP: My first feeling was sadness, followed by concern for its well-being and safety. Then my thoughts turned to a long and painful revenge...and that is ‘You don’t do anything instantly. You let it sit, you let them forget, and let them think nothing’s going to happen.

Then when you see your moment, you strike.

How did you put this “revenge” into action?

MP: I waited ‘til the cold day, when nobody was here. Then I noticed just by chance that Mr. McCormick was silly enough to leave his room open. I then entered said room, saw my bearcat over in the corner by himself, took him back, then on the way out I noticed that, free for the taking, Mr. McCormick’s beloved coffee pot, which then found its way to my room.”

“My personal perspective...[is] it’s kind of stupid of the ninth-grade honors students to try and take Perdrix’s bearcat because...bearcat is life for Perdrix, so it’s kind of silly, but I, being not involved in the incident myself, I’m enjoying this

How did you act while he had your coffee pot?

KM: It was about ten days, ten days of drinking bad coffee from coffee shops. This one day I was acting kind of off during my class and the students noticed it, and it turns out that at the coffee shop I accidentally poured a cup of decaf and had been drinking decaf all day. Decaf is a nasty word in my vocabulary.

I was forced to drink decaf because of Perdrix.

What did the ransom note say?

KM: There wasn’t any demand that was made. They just said, ‘We’re stealing your bearcat.’ In no way was it about a ransom, demand, or financial exchange.

REHME LEANZA/CHATTERBOX

AUGUSTA BATTOCLETTE/CHATTERBOX

Opinions of 8- and 9-Honors students on the events quite a bit because it’s very funny because I have lots of ninth-grade honors friends.”

-Martha Dameron, ‘19

“Yeah, we had to go up to Mr. Perdrix’s class during one of his bells.

We went up second bell, our bell with Mr. McCormick, and we had to sing the UC fight song.”

-Riley Taylor, ‘18

“I didn’t like that we did his list of commands...Riley had to go and sing the UC fight song.”

-Isaac Smitherman, ‘18

“I think that it’s just fun to see two honors teachers fighting over a bearcat and a coffee [pot]...It’s fun because most of my teachers in seventh grade were serious, and they didn’t like this fun stuff.”

-Yajat Dhawan, ‘19

Arcade CIX.8

8

Sean Wood, ‘15

Keep up-to-date with the Chatterbox online: Like us on Facebook: Walnut Hills High School Chatterbox Follow us on Twitter: @ChatterboxWHHS Follow us on Instagram: @walnuthillschatterbox Email <cboxwalnut@gmail.com> to enter for a chance to have one of your photos featured in the Chatterbox!

SARAH DAVIDOFF, ‘13

CIX.8 Sudoku

Rules: The answers to these clues exist in the word search. Solve the clues to find the hidden words. The answers are listed below backward.

Sean Wood, ‘15

Clues: 1. The absence of matter 2. Retail chain created by Samuel Walton in 1962 3. The study of thinking and behavior 4. The only word in the English language that contains every vowel in alphabetical order 5. An annual speech given by the President of the United States, as required by the Constitution 6. The “windy city” 7. The Latin word for “gold” 8. The abbreviated name of the school yearbook (three letters) 9. The antagonist of the Harry Potter Series 10. The study of fungi Answers: 1. muucaV 2. tramlaW 3. ygolohcysP 4. ylsuoitecaF 5. noinU eht fo etatS 6. ogacihC 7. muruA 8. MER 9. tromedloV 10. ygolocyM

Perspectives

“What would you write on your own gravestone?”

“Your life is an occasion, rise to it”

“Went in too deep, still got paid”

“$”

“SWAG MONEY BABY”

“Inter duas pulcherrimas Iaceo”

- Kyle Schudder, English Teacher

- Brandon Raifstanger, ‘15

- Sophia Necco, ‘19

- Cory Davis, ‘18

- Thomas Wilger, Latin Teacher

Photographs and prompt by Oliver Olberding, ‘15