A look inside:

Vol. 5 Issue 4Drumbeat

Copley High School

Friday, April 1, 2011

The art of bromance Page 4

What happened to “Music Television”?Page 7

Students react toRachel’s Challenge

Above: Seniors at Copley High School take part in the signing of Rachel’s Challenge. Right: Words of encouragement were posted on students’ lockers the day prior to the assembly.

Photos by Amanda Wanner and Alaina Bartel

A plethora of adversity and confusion surrounds the recent proposal of Senate Bill Five, as was demonstrated by Copley stu-dents’ plan to protest the bill on “Walk-out Wednesday.” The Ohio Senate has passed the bill with a 17-16 vote, and it has moved to the House for further consideration. Since the measure is likely to receive strong sup-port in the House, where the Republicans hold a 59-40 majority, it is important that Ohioans are knowledgeable about the pos-sible ramifications of the bill. That way, all citizens, including students, can understand how it could affect those whom the bill con-cerns.

If passed and subsequently converted to a law, Senate Bill Five will:

•Ban strikes by public workers and pe-nalize those who participate in walkouts

•Cease automatic pay wages and base future wage increases on merit

•Give elected officials the final say in contract disagreements

•Eliminate binding arbitration, which police officers and firefighters use to resolve contract disputes

•Require workers to contribute at least 15 percent of their medical premiums

•Prohibit governments from paying part of public employees’ share of pension costs

•Only permit union workers to bargain for wages, hours, and working conditions

•Eliminate seniority as the sole deter-mining factor in order of layoffs or dismiss-als

•Prevent union contracts from setting ratios, such as the number of students per teacher

•Allow governments to terminate, mod-ify, or reopen a contract if the state auditor or governor determines that the government is in fiscal watch or emergency

•Limit union employees’ vacation time to no more than six weeks before 20 years of service

•Limit union employees to a maximum of 12 paid holidays and three paid personal days

•Prohibit privately run, publicly funded charter schools from collectively bargaining

Governor John Kasich praises the bill as “a major step forward in correcting the imbal-ance between taxpayers and the government unions that work for them.” Democrats and labor leaders, however, called the bill an at-tempt to “bust unions” and disagree with its necessity, claiming that workers are willing to accept concessions. They are also unhappy about the amount of negotiating power the bill will give to public employers.

Students had the chance to voice their opinions and concerns regarding Senate Bill Five on March 29. Attorney John Britton discussed the bill with students, and after-ward, students had the opportunity to record their thoughts onto a DVD that will be sent to Ohio representatives.

By Abigail Grable

Fact check:Senate Bill 5

Rachel Joy Scott was a young girl with enormous dreams. The first person to die in the infamous Columbine shooting of 1999, Scott dedicated her short life to touching the lives of everyone around her. She had an unchecked passion for reaching out to others with kindness, and in the wake of her death, she has challenged all people to do the same. On Tuesday, March 22, her message called out to the students of Copley High School.

Rachel’s Challenge is a foundation created by Scott’s father, Dar-rell Scott, which encourages people everywhere, particularly teenag-ers, to create chain reactions of kindness and compassion in their communities. Through entries in her diary and an essay entitled “My Ethics, My Code,” Scott revealed her basic beliefs about life and mankind; that one should stay true to oneself, keep a positive character, and resist peer pressure. Consequently, after Scott’s death, these words inspired her father to establish Rachel’s Challenge and its five basic principles:

1. Look for the best in others and eliminate prejudices in one’s heart2. Dare to dream, write goals, and keep a journal3. Choose positive influences4. Kind words and little acts of kindness produce huge results5. Start a chain reactionThe assembly regarding Rachel’s Challenge evoked various re-

sponses from the students at CHS. Many shed tears as they watched the footage of the Columbine shooting and Rachel’s funeral. Senior Erin Cawthorne was impressed by the amount of perspective that she was able to gain from the presentation.

“It was moving and really inspirational, like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” Cawthorne shared.

Others were shocked as they were told that Scott had inadver-tently predicted the timing of her own death. However, some CHS students were left unaffected by the presentation. Many, such as sophomore Cory Schepp, failed to see the depth of Scott’s message. Although Schepp was moved by the assembly, he feels that display-ing kindness and helping others “are things people should be doing everyday. Just because a girl dies shouldn’t be a reason to start doing them.”

Similarly, sophomore Tevin Griffin feels that Rachel’s Challenge

unfairly downplays the significance of the other victims of the Col-umbine shooting.

Yet, most students extracted their own meaning from Rachel’s Challenge: that life is a fragile and mysterious entity, with an un-known end and uncertainty as to when one will see someone else for the last time. Seniors such as Erika Tribuzi took this aspect of the presentation to heart.

“After you graduate, there will be some people that you’re never going to see or talk to ever again. That’s just scary to think about,” Tribuzi confessed. Accordingly, the speaker encouraged students to tell their friends, loved ones, and even acquaintances how much they mean to them.

Furthermore, Scott’s story highlights the importance of making every day count, and of using each day of one’s life to leave a small, positive impact upon the life of another. By doing so, one can rest as-sured that he or she has, no matter how seemingly insignificantly, left a legacy behind. Sophomore Mackenzie Barker believes that Scott’s story has “helped a lot of people realize that tomorrow is not prom-ised.” The motivation to cherish each day is reverberating around a growing number of communities as Rachel’s Challenge is presented to students and citizens around the world.

In response to Rachel’s Challenge, Principal Ryba collected a group of 35 CHS students that visited the middle school in order to deliver leadership training to the students there. During this meet-ing, both CHS and CFMS students stood up in a line and explained the impact that Rachel’s Challenge had on them. Sophomore Emily Ahern said that most students claimed they would treat siblings and friends better, and that overall, students understood Scott’s message.

“It opened my eyes about how much things matter to people. What surprised me is my realization that my actions could have such a large impact--both negative and positive--on others,” Ahern admit-ted.

This group will meet periodically throughout the next school year to discuss and plan potential projects that will apply to Rachel’s Challenge. Furthermore, clubs and sports teams will undertake a project related to Rachel’s Challenge during the 2011-2012 school year. Thus begins the chain reaction of kindness and compassion throughout the Copley community.

Coming to a plaza near you Page 2

Copley High School Drumbeat

OpinionApril 1, 2011 2

Libya: SOSBy Adam Brown

Copley High School Drumbeat3807 Ridgewood Rd.Copley, Ohio 44321

Phone: 330.664.4999 x527068Fax: 330.664.4951

sarah.petry@copley-fairlawn.org

EditorsEditor-in-Chief: Abigail Grable

News Editor: Adam BrownFeature Editor: Amanda Wanner

Entertainment Editor: Paula RamseySports Editor: Kelly Fields

Layout Editor: Iman AbdoulKarimPhotography Editor: Alaina Bartel

Staff WritersJen Smaltz

Emma Webb

AdviserSarah Petry

DrumbeatCopley High School

Note: The Drumbeat, Copley High School’s student newspaper, is a limited public fo-rum. Any opinions expressed are those of the author or speaker, and not necessarily those of this newspaper, its staff, Copley High School, or the administration.

........It’s our turn now........

It’s huge, it’s vast, and it’s coming to a town near you: The Rothrock Road Retail Center, which will include a Super Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, and a 24/7 gas station, is tentatively scheduled to be constructed in Copley Township. Considering that a regular Wal-Mart and a Sam’s Club exist less than two miles from the proposed building site, and since the new establishments will take revenue away from Fairlawn and into Copley, those who live in the Montrose area are less than excited. As a former inhabitant of Rosemont Ridge, I can understand why.

The precise location of the new shopping center is an isolated corner of Copley Township that lies between an interstate highway, the city of Fairlawn, and a state highway. People who live in that area will undoubtedly fight increased traffic in addition to enduring the eyesore that the center will create. In regards to the traffic situation, the Rosemont entrance that leads straight to Montrose will be sealed off;

that way, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club shoppers cannot cut through the development. While

some may say that this is a seemingly drastic measure, but I understand why it is necessary. I used to ride my bike to Rosemont Country Club almost every day in the summer, and increased traffic flow could be a potential hazard to other children who do the same.

Secondly. what’s wrong with the

regular Wal-Mart and the Sam’s Club that already exist in our area? The people of

a b e t t e r m o n t ro s e . c o m argue that the parking lot of the current Wal-Mart is large enough to expand the store. Thus, this entire construction process is largely unnecessary, and the inevitable feud between Copley and Fairlawn could easily be avoided.

Moreover, is a Super Wal-Mart really necessary? Sure, it offers produce while a regular Wal-Mart does not, but Acme and Giant Eagle are right down the street. How much cheaper can a Super Wal-

Mart offer those goods anyway?

Rosemont Ridge inhabitants have the right

to preserve the safety of their development, and the city of Fairlawn has the right to keep the revenue that it already receives. A Super Wal-Mart is superfluous and will create a hulking eyesore for all who live in its vicinity. The Rothrock Road Retail Center is an unnecessary and poor investment.

Super Walmart: Taking over Copley?

High school: As much as it is the most common place to receive an education, it is also the place where most teenage fads seek origin. Fads are obviously something that have existed for centuries. You would think that after some of the ridiculous trends, like those venetian-blind sunglasses, things could only get better—but that is obviously not the case.

It’s March already, so the obsession with the Uggs and Ugg-like boots needs to end soon. Everybody has been wearing the same boots since the first week in October and by now, you can smell a pair of Uggs from halfway across the school. The snow has pretty much ceased for the season, and so should the Eskimo gear. To supplement the absence of snow and slush, the sun should be fully-fledged in its radiant glow by sometime next week. Hopefully this means that the

fake tans can come to a long awaited halt for the season. Those who have been religiously sprayed down with a Super Soaker full of Tropicana all winter can shortly get as many natural rays as they want.

Pajama days are awesome; everyone has to have them occasionally. But wearing pajamas to school puts a question in all of our minds: Did you wear the pajamas you slept in, or did you seriously wake up and put on entirely new pj’s? Whichever the answer may be, it gets a little ridiculous. And if you are going to wear your sweats to school, what is the point of applying a full face of makeup and having your hair perfectly in place? In my opinion, some of these new fads make absolutely no sense at all—or is that the point?

Hair. We all have beef about other people’s hair, and this is mine: First of all ladies, your bangs are supposed frame your face; it is not supposed to look like an old

man’s comb-over. Even Justin Bieber fixed his comb-over bangs, which means everyone should (according to the twelve-year-old girls of America). Secondly, if you’re not going to do your hair in the morning, at least don’t throw it up into an awful messy bun that looks like a dead hamster. A nice ponytail never goes out of style. Last but not least, guys, please wash your hair. If your hair is longer than an inch this means you actually have to scrub. I will personally go out and buy you some Head and Shoulders; just wash it.

As silly as the trends we may follow may be, our parents jumped on the exact same bandwagon twenty or thirty years ago. Some of the fads our parents had have even resurfaced in this day and age; however, there is no one I sympathize for more than the brave-hearted educators and administrators who so boldly stand by and watch as the trends change from year to year.

Fads: the bold, bizarre, and downright crazy

Ritzy Revere, country corn-fed Clover-leaf, Barbertucky, Firestoned, and the list goes on. Copley students heedlessly use these nicknames, stereotyping every school we come across. While it’s not unusual for local high schools to throw figurative sticks and stones at neighboring districts, have any of us stopped and wondered what other schools think of our Alma Mater?

Copley sophomore Chris Haskins feels that he can speak for his peers, saying, “Copley is a good, normal school with a di-verse student body, great academics, and a lot of good underrated sports.”

It’s true. Copley’s diverse student pop-ulation is unmatched by the majority of Ohio public school systems. Furthermore, the high school has been rated “Excellent” eight years in a row by the state of Ohio; Sam Wheeler just captured a state title in wrestling; and Lear Jiang is putting Copley’s name on the map at the national level for

Speech and Debate. However, we can’t ignore the recent ste-

reotypes that exist due to local and national headlines: “Police investigate high school fight,” “Copley-Fairlawn students voice con-cerns,” and “Sparks fly in debate on ‘Dr. Phil Show.’”

Unfortunately, one instance can create a stereotype that is hard to dismiss in the minds of outsiders.

Revere junior Kara Gerheart confessed, “A lot of our students dislike Copley because they’re our number one rivals, and most peo-ple say it is a scary, bad school with all of the fights that go on.”

Copley, scary? Although we voice our opinion only as a newspaper staff, we believe that the majority of CHS students do not feel that they’re threatened, scared, or in danger’s way when entering the building each morn-ing. Yet, our rivals have generalized that each of us is ready to “throw down” at a moment’s

notice, just like we claim every teenager at Revere has truckloads of money and thinks he or she is better than everyone else.

While most would like to think Copley and Revere have nothing in common and are simply just competitors, it seems that we are getting a synonymous stereotype.

Morgan McHargh, a sophomore at Fire-stone, explained, “People at my school think Copley is stuck-up, but other than that, I know a lot wish they were in your place as far as sports and stuff like that.”

Unfair stereotypes and perceptions exist for every school. However, the Copley dis-trict does not have to live up to them--in fact, we should do just the opposite. As a whole, our student body can positively change our image by showcasing our true character and talent at each opportunity to do so. Then, students from other school districts can un-derstand what Copley is really about.

By Abigail Grable The Middle East and North Africa are in turmoil and need help. Revolutions, both violent and non-violent, have sparked in Africa and will be put

into books as historical landmarks, but how history will record the Libyan revolution remains unknown. What is clear is that the people of Libya need serious aid to achieve freedom.

Colonel Gaddafi, Libya’s dictator since 1969, is massacring his citizens by means of airstrikes, artillery barrages, and firing squads. Unfortunately, the leaders of the free world were indecisive in what action to take. But finally, the United States, along with other nations of the free world, are doing the following: supporting the people’s efforts, but not taking over their revolution for them.

The United Nations decision during the middle of this month to establish a no-fly zone over Libya should give the Libyans the edge they need to achieve freedom. A no-fly zone means exactly what its name implies: no aircraft may be used in the no-fly zone area. Gaddafi won’t be permitted to use his air force, and since Gaddafi broke the no-fly zone almost immediately, the UN justifiably provided air support to the people of the country, increasing their capabilities for the successful achievement of freedom.

The no-fly-zone should please most people. Those that want more dramatic support for Libya will get it; the United Nations is providing military aid to bring down a dictator. And providing only air support prevents another long, drawn out ground war for the US.

Most importantly, the Libyans will be more likely to achieve freedom and democracy for themselves. The notion that the U.S. can spread democracy with little personal cost should be appealing to all.

But President Obama and other world leaders fear ground war still. They feel that once this “act of war” is used, there may be no other choice but to provide ground support. This fear is reasonable, and I think that the world leaders need to set firm boundaries for themselves. If the leaders do cross the line into ground conflict, potential exists for thousands of non-Libyan lives to be lost, and I agree with President Obama that that would be disastrous.

By Jen Smaltz

Cartoon drawn by senior Megan Zimmer

Copley High School DrumbeatFeature

April 1, 2011 3

Lear Jiang, a national qualifier in Lincoln-Douglas debate and second-runner up at the state debate tournament, is well-versed in philosophical thinking and conversation.

Yet he didn’t join debate to argue foreign policy or discuss his political views.

“It was something to solidify my college application,” Jiang admitted.

Then why stick with debate for four years? “I liked it a lot because it made me think about the gray area

that exists within a lot of issues. I was forced to see both sides, not the narrow-minded approach I had before, and I liked that,” Jiang explained.

The previous statement summarizes the purpose of debate: to understand and comprehend multiple viewpoints while de-fending your own. However, the capability to see both sides of an issue, intelligently, while articulating your viewpoints is by no means easy.

“I’ve got to do a lot of work and read a lot to know the issue, usually 8 to 10 hours a week,” Jiang said.

The work sounds strenuous, but when one must answer a question concerning the voting rights of felons or if the United States is justified in its use of private military contractors, one

can’t simply read a Wikipedia article summary on the topic. Someone also can’t understand multiple viewpoints entirely by working alone, thus, the debaters need a dedicated coach, which is where Marie Rote comes into the equation.

Rote coaches Jiang, as well as all debaters on the Copley Speech and Debate Team. With degrees in both economics and philosophy, she is more than qualified for her job.

During practices, Rote has students brainstorm, discuss what they think the main arguments for both sides of a topic will be, and take part in “start and stop debates.”

To Rote, the results of her methods, in addition to a good work ethic from her debaters, ultimately pays off.

“The comprehensive skills that debate teaches these kids are amazing; I’m surprised sometimes at the developmental jumps these kids make,” she said.

However, her motivation isn’t limited to the “developmental jumps” or trophies her debaters win. Rote believes that she posi-tively affects the future of her debaters.

“In general, inspiring or motivating kids to do the things that aren’t as fun, will ultimately make the biggest impacts on their success,” Rote said.

Lear’s advancement to the national tournament in Texas, an all-expense-paid trip, is obviously a form of success Rote men-tioned.

Jiang argues his way to the top

Imagine starting over with unfamiliar faces, a different school, and even a change of language. New students Wen Hang, who goes by Tony, and Dayhana Tascon, who Americanized her name by changing it to Diana, are two students who recently enrolled at Copley High School. With the help of the staff and students, they are slowly but surely growing accustomed to their new environments.

Tascon, a sophomore who recently moved from Santiago

de Cali, a town in Colombia, came to America for the first time only a few weeks ago when her father was offered a job at Good-year.

Tascon, through translation of foreign language teacher Mr. Hendrickson, shared some of the adjustments she has made dur-ing the past few weeks.

“The most frustrating change is definitely the language bar-rier, but besides that I can’t stand most of the food. I hate the cheese here, but I do like fries,” she said.

Tascon still eats traditional Colombian food at dinner. Her mother makes goulash, a beef and vegetable stew with paprika and other seasonings.

Tascon noted her unfavorable first impression of America.“It was very dark and rainy. We couldn’t find our house, and

it was very frustrating,” she explained. This year was the first year Tascon experienced snow, which

she admits she “could do without.”Hang is considered a freshman at Copley High School. He

has been in America for three months and is originally from Fu-jian, a large city located in southern China. Hang noted how the first two months were a struggle because of language and cultural adjustments. Although, in the past month Hang has opened up and has begun making friends. With the help of foreign language teacher Ms. Sung, Hang, through translation, expressed some of his views on life in America.

“I feel better now. The people here are very friendly, but the language difference is still frustrating. When I am home or go out, I am with my family who I can fully understand which is a little easier,” he said.

Hang has adjusted well to life in America. At home, Hang still enjoys casual Chinese cuisine, although he does not mind the school’s cafeteria food.

When discussing how schooling in China differs from the U.S. educational system, Hang shared, “When you are finished with a class, the students stay stationary in their rooms, and it

is the teachers that are exchanging rooms. It was really convenient because the halls were never crowded and you didn’t have to worry about being late to class.”

Tascon and Hang both are not sure if they will stay in America after graduation, but when asked what Copley students can do to ease the already difficult transition, according to Tascon students can, “talk at a slower pace, or at least speak more formally.”

Hang seems to be satisfied with the help that has been offered to him.

“I love America!” he said with a smile.

Coming to America

By Adam Brown

Jiang collects his thoughts in the midst of a challenging debate.Photo provided by Lear Jiang

By Amanda Wanner

Diana and Tony, new to Copley, reveal the ups and downs of acclimating to American culture.Photo by Amanda Wanner

Copley’s own “If You Really Knew Me”

As a child, she hoped to dazzle millions under bright stage lights while singing the lyrics of her greatest idol, Britney. Flash forward several years later and her overall dreams haven’t changed...other than the short-lived aspiration of catching frogs for a living.

Many of us at Copley High School have watched her perform on stage. Even though she isn’t exactly singing like her childhood pop star icon, she has dazzled the audiences of various school musicals and productions. She has participated in numer-ous summer vocal camps and scholarship competi-tions, but her favorite performances have been with Copley High School’s Chamber Choir, and she says that she loves volunteer work because it can instantly brighten someone’s day.

Along with other family members, her parents, both being musically inclined and participants in the Praise and Worship team at their church, helped to ignite her interest in singing. In the seventh grade while taking classical music lessons, her aunt told her that if she became classically trained, she could perform any style. With the help of her aunt’s men-toring and inspiration, she found her true musical passion: opera.

Her “whimsical and musical” family has been her strongest support system.

“So many people in my family have helped me through the difficulties of my chosen career, and they are my strongest spiritual leaders. My parents take me everywhere. They would do anything to see that I achieve and it is so easy for me to forget their dedication because they never complain. I would be lost without them,” she said.

Although she is not certain what school she will go to, she knows she will study vocal performance. When she graduates, she hopes to travel with an op-era, whether it is in Chicago, New York, Germany, or Italy.

Even though singing plays a major role in her life, it is not her only passion. She has a huge love for art and considered studying it as a minor in college, but she finds that singing consumes too much of her time. Besides her love for the arts, she takes great joy in learning theology, cooking, reading, playing bad-minton, and doing many other interesting things.

“I’m double jointed, I play Pokemon, I go to Renaissance fairs, and I have arachnophobia,” she confessed.

Even though she feels she is naturally very shy, she still finds joy in typical teenage activities.

In her spare time she loves bonding with her friends and says that she finds herself “constantly gig-gling” while she is with them. During the week, she holds a bible study group here at the high school. This senior has hit all of the right notes through-out her life. With this in mind, we can only imagine that we will someday see her name in bright lights, and if that doesn’t work out, there are plenty of frogs in the area to occupy her time.

So if you really know her, who is she?

By Iman AbdoulKarim

Answer on page 5

Copley High School Drumbeat

FeatureApril 1, 2011 4

In the spirit of Alan from The Hangover: They’re the two best friends that anybody could have... and they will never ever ever ever leave each other. Every school has them: those two boys who can be seen together 24/7, who can basically read each other’s minds from being so close. Copley seniors Bobby Redd and Joe Connolly, and seniors Tim Fries and Jon Garrison, epitomize the word “ bromance.”

Coined in the 1990s by the editor of Skateboard Magazine, Dave Carnie, bromance combines the word “brother” with “romance.” While the word is nearly impossible to pin-point an exact definition for, it has multiple interpretations.

“A bromance is simply when two guys’ friendship blossoms into something extraordi-nary,” Redd says.

Connolly defines bromance as “when two guys talk and hang out on a daily basis without ever running out of something to do or talk about, and who show genuine concern and care for each other.”

Redd and Connolly’s friendship began when the boys were two years old. They lived in the same neighborhood until fifth grade when Redd moved. They “still hung out and stuff” until Connolly moved to Redd’s new neighborhood again in the seventh grade.

Being voted “Most Inseparable Friends,” Redd and Connolly can be noted as bromance experts. The boys are “often referred to as an old married couple” by other friends.

Redd jokes, “I tend to be the one to wear the pants in our relationship.”On the other hand, Connolly claims, “Our other friends often refer to him [Redd] as the

wife because of my obvious dominance over him.”To keep the spark alive, bromancers need to make an extra effort to see each other. That

extra effort has been formed into what Redd and Connolly call “man night.”Connolly explains that “mandatory man night is where the men in our group chill every

Saturday night with limited exceptions.” Communication is the key to a successful relationship, whether the relationship is one

of romance or a bromance. “We often ask each other for advice for things both big and small,” states Connolly.With their friendship being “pretty solid,” there’s no question that this bromance’s spark

will remain lit for quite a while.Fellow bromancers Garrison and Fries met back in ninth grade when Fries moved to

Copley. Due to living in the same neighborhood, their friendship began on none other than the school bus.

Garrison describes a bromance as being, “two guys who are as close to brothers without being biologically related.”

Agreeing with Garrison, Fries adds, “and doing everything together no matter what.”Running cross country and track together, these boys don’t get sick of each other’s com-

pany. However, Fries says, “I try not to talk to him [Garrison] during wrestling season because

he’s cranky, but during track season he’s okay because he can eat.”Sometimes being involved in a bromance means going through traumatic experiences

together. After one of Copley’s home football games, Fries’ brakes went out in his car. “My foot went all the way down to the floor,” Fries states, “and we weren’t stopping.”“We were literally as close as we possibly could be without hitting the car in front of us,”

Garrison said. Other memories between the boys include sneaking into the Hilton’s pool, and having

annual snowball fights. The relationship between two boys involved in a bromance forms a bond that can never

be broken. Just like the saying goes, “Seasons come and go, but a bromance is forever.”

By Emma Webb

With spring in full swing, flowers aren’t the only things in bloom. Newly formed couples are making their debuts, and seasoned veterans are looking forward to the sunshine in the months ahead.

Science has proven that hormones, such as melatonin, are extremely high in the winter and consequently give off feelings of sluggishness and tiredness. As spring approaches and the days grow longer, the amount of melatonin produced is significantly lower, thus giving people more confidence and the initiative to be more productive.

Dr. Julie Albright from the Department of Sociology at USC noted how “a lot of that new energy is put towards looking for love, and this makes sense: people seem to be happier in the spring. This happiness can lead to an open attitude towards meeting people, which can lead to love.”

In the winter, even one’s motivation to look good may completely fall to the wayside. Even though people still go out, they do so less often. When people do venture outside of their homes, most bundle up so much they they begin to resemble the marshmallows in their cocoa. Fortunately, the recently-official couple of senior Scott Nixon and freshman Maria Fragale have pulled through the winter and are heading toward the spring months together.

“Maria’s my best friend. She makes me laugh, and I can be my goofy self around her,” Nixon said.

Even though Fragale and Nixon have only been together for two months, they have already built many memories. Nixon’s favorite so far took place this spring.

“When the weather first cleared up, we took her dog Chloe on a walk, and we really had a great time,” Nixon confessed.

Long-time senior couple Ethan Blashford and Erika Gill have been going together for over a year. They feel that their relationship, which started in November of 2009, can with-stand any test.

During the winter months, Blashford admits, “It is more difficult to find activities to entertain us.”

However, they both believe that the flame they have sparked will not extinguish. Blash-ford and Gill have attended every high school dance together since sophomore year.

When asked how different seasons affect their attitudes towards each other, Gill noted, “No matter the season, we never really fight, but I think the hardest part is putting the other person before yourself. In the spring, we seem to have more free time for each other, which probably does help our relationship,” Gill said.

So whether you’re in a long term relationship or are looking for a fresh start, spring really is the season for lovers.

By Amanda Wanner

Senior couple Ethan Blashford and Erika Gill reunite to show their love.Photo by Alaina Bartel

Seniors Joe Connolly and Bobby Redd, lifelong friends, joke about their “bromance.”Photo by Alaina Bartel

BROMANCE

Copley High School Drumbeat

FeatureApril 1, 2011 5

In a December 2010 viral video, Disney actress and pop singer Miley Cyrus shocked her fans, including father Billy Ray Cyrus, who used Twitter to express his disappointment in his daughter saying, “Sorry guys. I had no idea. Just saw this stuff for the first time myself. I’m so sad. There is much beyond my control right now.”

The teen star was videotaped smoking salvia, a strong psychoactive plant that produces visions and many other hallucinatory experiences, from a bong days after her 18th birthday.

Salvia is legal in California, where Miley was taped, but many states including Alaska, Florida, Iowa, and Ohio have proposed legislation against it.

Salvinorian A, the psychoactive constituent in salvia, is the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen; a high dosage of salvinorian A can lead to an altered state of consciousness.

According to Scientific American Magazine, the Drug Enforcement Agency is “looking into the drug” to settle on whether or not salvia should be “on par” with LSD and heroin.

Copley High School’s health teacher, Janet Coon, explained that the effects of salvia “appear quickly and wear off quickly.” She also included that many users of salvia “do not like the effects of the drug,” and that an out of body experience is “often described with many users, not wanting to use it again.”

Howard C. Samuels, the executive director of an L.A. drug treatment center stated his concern with salvia, saying the fact “that this drug is legal is shocking.”

Surprisingly, salvia is not the only legal substitute for drugs that is being marketed towards teens.

Spice, an herbal incense, is a dangerous substitute for marijuana that is packaged various ways such as being in small vials, packets, and bottles that warn the buyer in small print that says spice is “not for human consumption.”

The effects of marijuana and spice are very similar, except spice contains no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana).

Spice has an artificially produced chemical in it, called JWH 018, which affects the same part of the brain that THC does to produce the same “high.”

However, since the chemical structure of JWH 018 is not directly related to THC, spice remains legal.

“Spice is already illegal in many other countries. Other states have or are in the process of adopting laws to make it illegal. I assume that Ohio will follow soon,” Coon said. “In today’s world, chemists will always be able to create new forms of illegal drugs that skirt the law. This doesn’t make them safe to use.”

So why is there an increase of spice users among teens? Well, it is easier to get, being available online and at gas stations; it is currently legal to do so in Ohio; and spice does not show up on drug tests.

After asking students at Copley High School about their knowledge of spice, their answers were all the same: “the legal marijuana.”

Even if spice and salvia are legal, Coon cautions students to be aware of the long term damage of drugs, legal or illegal.

“Your brain is not fully developed until you are in your early to mid twenties,” she said. “This means that when you are using any drug, you can actually permanently change the way your brain functions for life. These changes make addiction a serious problem for teens.”

Cause for concern: legal drug substitutesBy Alaina Bartel

The Copley High School class of 1984 will forever live in infamy due to the extraordinarily creative seniors who dreamed up such an outrageous idea.

During the announcements on a day known by many as “senior prank day,” a few students dressed in fatigues with ski masks and war paint proceeded to commandeer the P.A. room and its two occupants. The two students who were conducting the morning announcements were held hostage by their fellow classmates. Over the loudspeaker, the so-called abductors claimed to be “from a third world country and that if their demands were not met…” as described by art teacher, Laura Addis.

In 1984, the threat of a terror attack in Copley, Ohio would not have been taken as seriously as it would be today considering the circumstances of 9/11. But even in 1984, this prank was still alarming. During this part of the day, the principal and assistant principal were both out of the building. This left the head of the math department, Mr. Ruhling, to deal with the three pranksters. Ruhling called the police and the three boys were arrested.

Several other senior pranks live on as legends to upcoming seniors throughout the years, but as assistant principal Mr. Borchik plainly stated, “They all just fade together.”

In 2006, seniors conducted a prank known to many as “the beaver dam.” Seniors built a dam made of fallen logs and twigs spanning across the entry way to the vocational wing

and blockading the stairs that lead up to the freshmen hallway. On top of the dam was a sign that quoted “Dam! We’re outta here!”

Several other senior pranks have occurred throughout the years, including a time when seniors all parked their cars in a circle, surrounding about one hundred students and trapping them inside the ring of cars. The seniors then proceeded to pelt the group of students with roughly “a few thousand water balloons,” according to Borchik.

Some classes, however, turned to more unconventional pranks, like placing a boat in the student parking lot and lighting a few grills atop the boat to tailgate.

Most of the pranks described were entertaining and not harmful to the school or its students. Of course, the realtors of Copley-Fairlawn may have a score to settle with the seniors after a year when all of the “for sale” signs in Copley were placed on the front lawn of the school.

For any seniors cooking up how they can end the school year “with a bang,” Principal Ryba asks you to not cause destruction to the school or disrespect your peers. As long as the pranks are harmless and not disrespectful, they will be tolerated. To keep the tradition alive, please abide by these guidelines and make sure that the pranking this year is all in good fun.

In 2006, seniors constructed a beaver dam in the hallway as their final prank. Photo taken from CHS yearbook of 2006.

Staff recalls legendary senior pranksBy Jen Smaltz

Answer to Copley’s “If You Really Knew Me”

(page 3):

Heidi MiddendorfCHS Senior

Spice, also known as K2, is packaged and sold at gas stations and online; however, several states, including Ohio have proposed leg-islation to ban it.

For the majority of track athletes, the thrill of the sport takes place on the ground as their spikes pound the pavement; but for pole vaulters, the adrenaline rush takes place as they soar through the air. Unfortunately, this feeling of excitement and risk is only a couple decades old for high school females.

Until the mid ‘90s, pole vaulting was as-sumed to be too dangerous for women, and people believed that females did not have the physical capability to produce the speed and power for good vaults. College women only began vaulting in 1996 and females were not allowed to vault in the Olympics until 2000.

Junior Casie Aitken, who has only been vaulting for two years was not aware of this.

“Girls can do anything guys can do, so the idea that girls didn’t even pole vault until the ‘90s is surprising,” she said.

Casie’s identical twin sister, Kayla, who has been pole vaulting for three years, has nev-er felt as if she was in danger's way more than any other sport.

“As long as I do what I’m supposed to do when I vault, there is a slim chance of harming myself,” Kayla stated.

Kayla’s record speaks for itself, as last year she won the district meet with a height of 9’6”, which led her straight to the regional meet.

Before a new pole vaulter is able to step on the runway, the vaulter must first learn the basics of how to plant the pole, run with the pole, and safely land onto the mat. According to the American Journal of Sports Medicine, in-juries are most common among young vaulters due to improper technique.

Copley’s coach, Glen Goodrich, always makes sure that safety comes first.

“We teach a progressive program from be-ginners to the more experienced at the pace of each individual vaulter,” Goodrich explained.

Casie is very aware of the patience she needs to maintain.

“It’s very difficult to nail down the process, but eventually you get the hang of it. Although I still have trouble on my form, I work every day to improve it,” Casie said.

Even though last year was Casie’s first year, she still managed to place fifth at districts with a height of 8’6”.

Coach Goodrich agrees that pole vaulting is not a sport in which athletes can just start

and instantly attain success.“Pole vaulting is a very technical event

in track that takes about two to three years to progress to a more advanced level. Time and patience are extremely important,” stated Goo-drich.

Pole vaulters must have confidence. They have to believe they will be alright, and they cannot be too anxious, or the risk of injury in-creases. They have to put their full effort into every vault.

“You need to trust yourself and dedicate yourself to working on your form,” states Casie. “You also need to have confidence in yourself to jump.”

Pole vaulting is a large risk, and according to Goodrich, the athletes need to be “fearless and confident.” In the end, although a pole vaulter isn’t necessarily a “daredevil” they cer-tainly risk more than a strained muscle; but both Casie and Kayla believe the pursuit of success is worth the work and risk.

Copley High School Drumbeat

SportsApril 1, 2011 6

Wheeler, Garrison represent Copley at State

A season full of blood, sweat, and strict diets all became worth it Saturday, March 5 in Columbus. Senior Sam Wheeler defeated Kevin Hyland, a senior from Cincinnati Elder on the mat to became the third wrestler in Copley High School’s history to win a state title.

After placing second in the state tournament last year, Wheeler began this season looking for redemption.

“A state title was all the motivation I needed,” he stated. Coach Dies knew Wheeler had what it took to become a

state champion.“Sam’s a combination of naturally being an athletic freak,

but also he is constantly pushing himself to improve. Some kids are naturally gifted, but they don’t take advantage of their potential like Sam,” Dies stated.

Copley certainly had high expectations for Wheeler this year, and he made certain he lived up to them. After signing with Oklahoma University on a full scholarship, anything less than first would have been a disappointment to Wheeler.

“My friends already looked at me as a state champ, which kind of made me nervous because they expected me to win, but at the same time it just gave me even more motivation,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler’s advice for any aspiring athlete is the following: “Work hard, and remember that the extra stuff matters. To be a state champ, you have to train in the summer, stay after practice, and push yourself harder everyday.”

According to Coach Dies, Wheeler was never the loudest one in the gym. Instead he

motivated his teammates by “speaking with performance.”Wheeler finished the season with a final record of 48-4, and on the

road to states, he became the Suburban League, Sectional, District, and finally the State champion in the 189 lb. division.

“Nothing has ever felt so amazing. I accomplished my goal,” Wheeler said.

Senior Jon Garrison also had an outstanding season finishing in sixth place and beating the number one ranked athlete in the state. After not placing at State last year, sixth place was certainly an accomplishment.

“Garrison may not get the press Sam receives, but he’s always leading the team by example. He works hard year round, stays after practice, and works hard during practice,” explained Dies.

Garrison knows what the meaning of hard work is. After not even lettering as a freshman, many would not believe Garrison would be standing where he is today.

“Everyone has potential; just because you don’t start or letter in your first year does not mean you aren’t ever able to accomplish anything. I didn’t letter my freshman year, but I worked hard and unlocked my potential over the last three years,” Garrison said.

Coach Dies claims that Garrison works hard to improve his teammates’ potential as well.

“Jon’s not afraid to yell at his teammates when they need to pick it up. He is always making sure they’re doing their best,” said Dies.

Garrison credits his overall mentality as being the source of his success.

“You need to have the determination to do something today that you couldn’t do yesterday,” he explained.

After winning the sectional tournament for the 145 lb. division, Garrison has set his sights on the collegiate level. Next year, he hopes to wrestle at Baldwin Wallace, Muskingum, or Tiffin, where he will continue to improve and surpass expectations.

By Kelly Fields

Female pole vaulters reach new heightsBy Kelly Fields

Junior Kayla Aitken vaults to victory.Photo courtesy of Sarah Aitken

Coach Dies proudly shows off his two

State wrestlers.Photo by Alaina Bartel

When channel surfing, you just can’t seem to get away from the inescapable guidos and guidettes of the Jersey

Shore. Or at least I can’t. Although it’s one of the most popular shows on television, I just don’t understand why.

S u r e , watching the stupidity of others can be entertaining for a while, but it gets old incredibly quickly. During the commercial break, there’s a preview of The Real World: Las Vegas, yet another mindless show of random people

getting extremely intoxicated and hooking up with whoever just happens to be around. Just before changing the channel, I glimpse at the bottom right hand corner of the T.V. screen and cringe. MTV. Music Television. Seriously?

MTV premiered on August 1, 1981, with the famous opening statement by cofounder John Lack: “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll,” followed by the premiere of the “Video Killed The Radio Star” music video by The Buggles. For years following, MTV was a pop culture phenomenon, skyrocketing the careers of artists such as Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Prince, and even “Weird Al” Yankovic. On average, the network played somewhere between eight to ten hours worth of music videos daily.

What, then, caused such a drastic change in the format? In 1992, The Real World: New York premiered on MTV, making it not only the first reality show on the network, but also one of the very first reality shows ever. This invasive and somewhat scripted concept has grown continuously on MTV, eventually reaching such a gigantic amount of high ratings that hundreds of new shows have been added to the lineup over the years. These shows have taken the place of their usual music video blocks, only showing about three hours of videos a day, and sometimes even less.

Although some of these shows may be entertaining, they shouldn’t be viewed on a station theoretically dedicated to the musical talent of artists. MTV will most likely never be like it was back in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, and it’s a shame to see what was once such a brilliant idea now gone to waste by attention-seeking socialites who have nothing better to do than party 24/7. Unless something changes drastically, I definitely don’t want my MTV.

Copley High School Drumbeat

EntertainmentApril 1, 2011 7

Weaving my way through the school parking lot traffic after school, my ears become clogged with music, specifically rap, blasting from other cars, and I can’t help but notice a

trend.Rap music. All of it, the same. No originality. We

understand that rap artists live a lavish lifestyle consisting of money, cars, girls, and clothes; but how many times do we have to hear it?

I gotta fresh white T, money to blow, and lollipops. Who really cares?

I’m not saying that they don’t have talent, but most rap music nowadays has no emotional connection to any of its listeners.

The beat of the music and the chorus may be catchy, and it might have good bass, but do you really care what they’re talking about? Probably not.

If this is how you feel, pick up Lupe Fiasco’s new album, LASERS (which stands for Love Always Shines Everytime, Remember 2 Smile). Fiasco goes against the grain of present- day rap music by incorporating politics, racial problems and education into something that is also pleasing to the ears.

The second song on the album, “Words I Never Said” explains the problems in the media and the government; these lyrics are representative of our society, and some may not want to accept the truth of his lyrics.

For example, “crooked banks around the world would

gladly give a loan today, so if you ever miss payment, they can take your home away,” and “Your child’s future was the first to go with budget cuts” is the sad truth.

The sixth song on LASERS, “The Show Goes On,” not only has a beat that makes you want to dance, but it is inspiring.

“So no matter what you been through, no matter what you into, no matter what you see when you look outside your window, brown grass or green grass, picket fence or barbed wire, never ever put them down, you just lift your arms higher.”

Fiasco uses his music to encourage people to never give up, not only in “The Show Goes On,” but also in “Break the Chain,” the tenth song on the album.

“It’s like a criminal is the only thing you can become, look at what I became,” and “Wanna see the real change? Look in your mind,” are some motivating words that speak to Fiasco’s audience to find confidence in themselves.

So whether you’re going through some hard times in your life and need some inspiration, or you’re just craving some good music to dance to, Lupe Fiasco is sure to satisfy.

L.ove A.lways S.hines E.verytime, R.emember 2 S.mileBy Alaina Bartel

MTV:Music Television?By Paula Ramsey

“Don’t be a drag, just be a queen,” states Lady Gaga in her new hit “Born This Way.” As the queen of quirkiness herself, she puts on a show that is far from boring: With her crazy outfits and stage props, pyrotechnics, mind-boggling video clips, and inspirational speeches, she has successfully topped my list of best performers.

On March 15, I attended Lady Gaga’s concert in Dallas, Texas. Gaga showcased her love of fashion throughout the night with numerous out-fit changes, and she tailored her clothing and set design to complement the song she was singing. At one point during the concert, while she was singing “Paparazzi,” a giant angler fish (the kind with the light on its head) appeared on stage and pretended to attack Gaga. The visual ap-peal increased further when, in-between songs, gory video clips portrayed Gaga eating a heart, emphasizing the mes-sage behind her song “Monster.” To bring it home, Gaga played “Born This Way” on a burning piano and doused her-self with fake blood for the song “Teeth.”

Beyond the ridiculous visual display that Gaga and her crew provided, she touched the heart of each and every audi-ence member with her rebellious outcries and inspirational speeches. Throughout the show, Gaga insisted that “we were born this way!”—an anthem that, as Gaga explained, has given new meaning to the “Monster Ball.” She made it clear

that, through this tour, she hopes to create a place of refuge for people who have not always fit into mainstream society. Gaga wishes to give her fans a place where they can truly ex-press themselves and find their inner peace, and for me, this message was very important. It warmed my heart to witness that one of my favorite artists is not only musically talented, but is a budding humanitarian as well.

Even though Lady Gaga is notorious for gaudiness, she is, to my pleasant surprise, extremely humble. During the

concert, she gave her fans a tremendous amount of credit for her success and explained to them that, regardless of one’s income, race, social status, or sex-ual orientation, one can be anything that he or she desires. She never failed to include the crowd in the performance, and she even called an audience member during the show and talked to him on her cell phone, which prob-ably will be one of the highlights of his life.

In my opinion, Lady Gaga puts on an all-around ground breaking concert. Her voice sounds even more powerful in person, and her show is an ongoing, never-ending bonanza of visual entertainment. But beyond the concert in itself, the messages that Gaga imparted to all of her fans were arguably the best part of the experience. She told us early on in the performance that her mission was for each fan to love him- or herself a little bit more than when he or she arrived—needless to say, she achieved that goal.

By Abigail Grable

Gaga’s message enhances concert

Lady Gaga performs at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TexasPhoto by Abigail Grable

Copley High School DrumbeatApril 1, 2011 8