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Homecoming Special Issue
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sept. 24, 2009 • vol. 55 • issue 2
carmel high school • 520 e. main st., carmel, IN 46032
feature
24 Hounds prepare to play rival Warren Central in hopes of Home-coming game victory
insidethis issue
08 Parents on social networking sites may be too overbearing for students
10 Homecoming spirit may foster conflict and too much rivalry between classes
10 Rather than purchasing from stores, students create dresses for Homecoming
>>
>>
volume
PumP the Volume
Students, administrators struggle with line between spirit and unruliness
Check us out online @ www.hilite.orgfor the latest news, scores, video, polls and multimedia content
(down)
24 With several returning veterans this year, women’s golf team drives harder to a State title
sports
28 PerspectivesStaff perspective: Administrators need to clarify behavior expectations
table of contentsSept. 24, 2009 • Vol. 55 • ISSue 2
Carmel High School • 520 E. Main St., Carmel, IN 46032
Contact informationMailing Address: 520 E. Main St., Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: (317) 846-7721, Ext. 7143
Web site: www.hilite.org
E-mail: Staff members of the HiLite may be contacted by using their first initial and their last name appending @hilite.org. For example, Michelle Hu will receive mail sent to [email protected].
Responding to the HiLiteLetters to the editor will be accepted for the Oct. 29 issue no later than Oct. 15. Letters may be submitted in Room C147, placed in the mailbox of Jim Streisel, e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to school. All letters must be signed. Names will be published. (Letters sent via e-mail will be taken to a student’s SRT for him to sign.) Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual and may be edited.
PurposeThe HiLite is a student publication distributed to students, faculty and staff of Carmel High School, with a press run of 4,500. Copies are distributed to every school in the Carmel Clay district as well as the Chamber of Commerce, city hall and the Carmel Clay Public Library. The paper serves as a public forum and two-way communication for both the school and the community. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are not necessarily those of CHS nor the Carmel Clay system faculty, staff or administration.
AdvertisingBusinesses may advertise in the HiLite if their ads adhere to guidelines. The advertising policy is available in Room C147 or at www.hilite.org.
CredentialsThe HiLite belongs to the Indiana High School Press Association, Quill & Scroll and the National Scholastic Press Association.
Editor in Chief Michelle HuManaging Editors Rosemary Boeglin Sarah SheaferAccountant Andrew BurkeAcumen Arjuna Capulong Jinny Zhang15 Minutes of Fame Afra Hussain Artist Daniel Li Rebecca XuBeats/Calendar Emma Neukam Amanda Nguyen Laura Peng Nina UndermanCover Story Sara RogersEntertainment Maddie Bourgerie Ellie SetaFeature Hera Ashraf Rebecca XuFront Page Tim Chai Steven Chen Graphics Daniel LiNews Susie Chen Beverly JenkinsPerspectives Julie Kippenbrock Jade SchwartingPhotography Nick Johnson Kaitlyn LampeSpecial Projects Kelsey Binion Amanda Nguyen Min Qiao Tracy SunSports Mackenzie Madison David ZhengStudent Section Lauren BurdickWeb Mike Jiang Nishanth Samala
Staff
Sally BaeAudrey BaileyMeredith Boyd Hope BoyerMaggie BrandenburgAndrew BrowningPatrick BryantMonica ChengRyan DuffyCassie DuganYameen HameedGrayson HarbourKendall HarshbergerBen LuAlex Mackall
Faraz Majid Katie Norman Priya PatelDarlene PhamThalib RaziMitch RingenbergErum RizviKatie WalstromReuben WarshawskyJackson WhitekerCelina WuMichelle YunSarah YunCaroline Zhang
Reporters
Adviser Jim StreiselPrincipal John WilliamsSuperintendent Barbara Underwood
04 News
36 15 Minutes of Fame >>
Schoolwide testing planned for Oct. 14
Religions force students to fast during lunch
24 Sports >>Greyhouds prepare against homecoming rival Warren Central
Women’s golf team drives to State title, despite added pressure
Senior Just in Groot wr i tes and publishes his own books
08 FeatureStudents respond to parent accounts on facebookStudents save money on clothes during this era of recession
14 Student SectionJunior Colin Kane recounts his frequent injuries that shaped his rugby game
<< 20 Entertainment Maddi Bourgerie reviews the sandwich store Which Wich
16 Cover Story >>Drawing the line in school spirit
Photographers Gabrielle Bowers Arjuna Capulong Shirley Chen Stephanie Coleman Shokhi Goel Lizzy Grubbs Kate Grumme Stuart Jackson Emily Puterbaugh Daniel Smith Jinny Zhang
Web team Michael Luo Pedram Navid Matt Pickard Michael Price
Video Marianna Cooper Parker Myers
Ellie Seta provides a guide to the Monon Trail
Hera Ashraf discusses clothing brand controversies
Daniel Li and Rebecca Xu present their graphic perspectives
Health care reform impacts locally as well as nationally
COvER >> Staff / photo illuStrationS
>>
Homecoming 2009<< just a minute 03HiLite • September 24, 2009
Dress up Days:Monday: Neon DayTuesday: Harry Potter DayWednesday: Superhero DayThursday: Disney DayFriday: Blue and Gold Day
Class rivalry5K Walk/Run: Saturday, race begins at 10 a.m.Charities: • Freshmen:Chaucie’sPlace • Sophomores:SchoolonWheels • Juniors:Joy’sHouse • Seniors:SimonCancerCenterPlayhouse building: Wednesday,4p.m.,stadiumparkinglot
HomeComing DanCeSaturday,Oct.3,8to11p.m.,FieldhouseBring student IDPre-saletickets:$10($15atthedoor)Tobringaguest:
Filloutformfromactivitiesandreturntothedean’soffice(dueSept.30)
HomeComing DayPeriod 1:7:50to8:10a.m.Period 2:8:20to8:40a.m.Period 3:8:50to9:10a.m.Period 4:9:20to9:50a.m.Period 5:10to10:20a.m.Period 8:10:30to10:50a.m.Period 7:Allthreecafeteriasopened AandBLunch:10:50to11:25a.m. CandDLunch:11:30to12:05p.m.Convo:12:14to12:45p.m.12:45 p.m.: Students dismissed to stadium1 p.m.:Boothsopen;bandsperform1:10 p.m.: People in parade load buses at flag pole to depart
forHamilton-Boone-Madison1:30 p.m.: Parade starts1:45 p.m.: All booths close, bands stop playing, all students
into stadium 2:15 p.m.:Paradearrivesatstadium,football
team unloads 2:45 p.m.:Endoftrikerace,announcement
offootballteamandHomecomingcourt
3:05 p.m.: Dismissal
lunCH aCtivitiesWeek of Sept. 26 Penny Wars
• Dropoffchangeintoclassbucketslocatedinthecafeteria
• Classwithmostdonationsreceivepointsforclass competition
• Droppenniesintootherclasses’bucketstosubtractfromtheirtotal
What would you do for a Klondike bar?
Staff / Photo IlluStratIonS
12
3
4
5
WHat about everytHing else?Go to www.hilite.org throughout the week
for stories, videos, slideshows and
more.
5 things you need to know for
04 news >> HiLite • September 24, 2009
by nina [email protected]
speak up Compiled by moniCa Cheng and gabrielle bowers
What do you think about the health-care reform?
sophomore nimisha kumarjunior andrew aisen
“i think it would be good for families
that would receive the health care, but i think the
overall quality of health care would
decrease.”
senior yao “amy” chen
“i think that a universal
health-care will substantially
increase national debt and make
emergency rooms even more
crowded.”
National health-care reform impacts Carmel families, businesses
“i think the government
should fix the unemployment
problem first, and everything will fall
into place after that, including the
health care.”
Sophomore Emily Cooprider knows a little more about the current health-care debate than the average high school student. That’s because Emily, whose mom, Liz Cooprider, owns Saddlebrook Golf Course in Indianapolis, has heard her mother talking about the stress of providing health insurance to her six full-time
employees in the current economic climate.
Mrs. Cooprider, who has owned Saddlebrook for 15 years, is responsible for purchasing health insurance for her employees and family of four. However, Mrs. Cooprider said rising costs of health care have led to her employees absorbing more of the costs in recent years.
“We’ve had to cut back on what we provide in terms of health insurance for the employees,” Mrs. Cooprider said. “Also, we’ve had to raise the deductible to where it’s almost silly for most employees to even have health insurance because, after they
pay the premium and the deductible, it’s not very cost-worthy.”
Small business owners like Mrs. Cooprider are not alone. According to the Obama Administration’s health reform Web site, those like Mrs. Cooprider who purchase insurance through the individual market face deductibles that are two times what those with employee-sponsored insurance plans pay. “In a larger company, like (Eli Lilly & Co.), the workers pay $700 a month in premiums,” Mrs. Cooprider said. “We haven’t paid that in 15 years.”
Maureen “Mo” Merhoff, president of the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, said, via e-mail, that providing affordable health care for employees is one of the biggest challenges facing small businesses here and across the country.
“Obviously, small businesses rely on attracting and keeping the best employees they can find, and insurance packages
are increasingly important for employees because they find they cannot afford coverage on their own,” Merhoff said. “(Regarding the proposed health care legislature,) small
businesses are hoping for whatever solution will offer them more affordable ways to insure their employees.”
For Mrs. Cooprider, the ideal solution would allow her to join with other like-businesses to purchase a private insurance plan as a group, rather than individually.
“If 20 small golf courses were able to go in together to buy health insurance for 100 people instead of each business having to buy a plan to cover six people, it would be much less expensive,” Mrs. Cooprider said.
“I think for the quality of health care that we’re used to in this country, we’re going to have to stay a private system, but reform is absolutely needed,” she said. “For small businesses, the price of health care has just skyrocketed. It’s ridiculous.”
“For small businesses, the price of health
care has just skyrocketed. It’s
ridiculous.”
liz cooprider
shock to the system
4news 05HiLite • September 24, 2009
Who Will Pay?The prime target is the wealthy. The government will limit itemized tax deductions for families earning more than $250,000 a year, according to the Wall Street Journal, impose surtax on wealthy individuals, or tax sugary drink.
compiled and written by monica cheng
To put it simply, the need for health-care reform is an obvious issue not to be ignored; however, my views on President Obama’s proposed plan remains skewed. As usual, there is still room for improvement, just as in any other case of critical government decision.
There are alternatives, and their most heavily doted upon facets are centered largely around the “public option/private option” controversy, as the two most apparent ideas are that of removing the said “public option” completely and implementing a system of co-ops to replace the need for a public option.
Perhaps the next most crucial aspect of the situation is how the government plans to fund the reform. Recent proposals include schemes involving taxation on various levels of various people and institutions, namely households making over $350,000 per
year and insurance companies offering “gold-plated” insurance policies to select individuals. However, explaining the complicated fabric involved is a tedious and wordy task and will not be addressed here.
Also, having both the Senate and House provide suggestions for the bill is an admirable affair, and as such, I hope that most flaws in the much-anticipated bill can be tailored into an agreeable final result.
With all this in mind, my opinion on the issue rests in this: in this chapter of American history, general welfare undoubtedly should be held in higher esteem than any extraneous profit for immortal institutions, such as the insurance industry, etc. This has not been the case in the past, and the fallacy in this is that the government is an institution (in this country, at least) by the people and for the people.
Health-care reform needed, plan still requires revision
things you need to know
UninsUred statisticsNearly 46 million Americans are uninsured in the United States . More than 8.3 million of the uninsured are children. More than eight out of 10 uninsured persons are in working families that cannot afford health insurance, and most are not eligible for public programs. 12 percent of the population in Indiana is uninsured.
cUrrent health care PlanThe United States spends $2 trillion a year for health care; 46 million people still do not have health coverage.
As the recession continues, the number of uninsured appears to be on the rise. As many as 14,000 people lose their health insurance every day because of job cuts, according to a study by the left-leaning Center for American Progress Action Fund.
ProPosed health care PlanEliminates discrimination for pre-existing conditions, health status, or gender. Prevents these same companies from denying coverage based on health, and it will end discrimination that charges more if you’re sick or a woman.
Options: have a Medicare-like plan where the government would directly set premiums and services, therefore competing against private companies or delay creating a whole new plan and, instead impose rules on the insurance companies that would try to make coverage accessible.
Improving care for children and seniors: 21 percent of children in Indiana have not visited a dentist in the past year, and 28 percent of seniors did not receive a flu vaccine. Health reform will ensure coverage for kids’ dental, vision and hearing needs, as well as promote quality coverage for America ’s seniors.
Increase the number of people who would qualify for Medicaid and Medicare.
Guest Columnist
jaz denny
to Read the Rest of Jaz’s Column, Go online to
www.hilite.oRG
Wait…there’s more.
Health Care1
2
3
4
<<
HiLite • September 24, 2009
Religious fasts begin, end on SundayMuslims, Jews find common ground as they forsake food, drink during this month’s observances
Lonesome Lunch: Junior Rostam Razban spends his lunch studying in the library. Because he observes Ramadan, a Muslim holiday, he is not allowed to eat between sunrise and sunset.
kate grumme / photo
Gail Stotsky, a doctor for IU Medical Group, observes the Yom Kippur fast. About four hours after a meal, she said, the body begins to break down its glycogen, reserves of energy stored mostly in the liver.
“For Yom Kippur, (glycogen’s) most of what is getting you through the day,” Stotsky said. “You’ve generally got enough to last you eight to 12 hours.”
Stotsky said she recommends a balance of carbohydrates, fat and protein in the meal before fasting in order to have long-lasting glycogen as well as quick-acting calories. “You’re not in danger of losing nutrients in the one day of Yom Kippur, but think how bad you would feel if you just ate McDonald’s for the whole month of Ramadan,” Stotsky said.
According to Stotsky, people usually can’t overeat or binge during the breaking of the fast because of such regulating mechanisms in the kidney and the stomach.
“You feel full pretty fast,” Stotsky said. “And you’re kind of tired, so you rest and talk with your friends, and then you go to bed. That’s it, really.” By Thalib Razi
Fasting:a medical PersPective
by thalib [email protected]
For most of this month, junior Rostam Razban woke up before dawn to eat a meal in observance of the fast of Ramadan. It might be a sandwich with meat or cream cheese, plus cereal and plenty to drink, he said. After dawn, Razban went without food or water until sunset, at which point he ate dinner
and prayed with his parents. This general schedule repeated itself for the following 30 days.
“Your body gets used to it,” he said. “You have this state of mind where you’re not supposed to eat.”
Last Sunday, Muslims worldwide completed this month of daylight fasting with the festival known as Eid al-Fitr. This Sunday, however, marks the start of Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday where the devout also abstain from food and drink until the setting of the sun.
Junior Aaron Melemed said he will observe this day of
repentance, which begins at sunset with a service called Kol Nidre. The next morning, he said, he will wake up and go to the temple until noon, though the more observant remain there, praying, reciting and listening, until the closing hours of the 24-hour fast.
“We normally have a bunch of families over (at sundown) and have a big celebratory feast,” Melemed said.
Islam and Judaism share much in common besides fasting practices, including a common Semitic origin and culture as well as similar beliefs about God. These similarities are often obscured by the turmoil in Israel, including Palestinian anger towards an official approval on Sept. 7 by the Israeli government of 455 new homes to be built in the occupied West Bank.
Michael Saahir, imam of Nur-Allah Islamic Center, said this enmity between Muslims and Jews isn’t an old feud, citing the period of Muslim rule in Spain as one of many examples of the two communities coexisting.
“Only in modern times, with the turmoil that resulted from
Story continued on next page >>
afra hussain / photo
fasting for faith: A platter of peaches, pita bread, plums, chickpeas and dates is set out before breaking fast during Ramadan. Those who observe Ramadan eat these foods, among many others, to stay satiated throughout the day.
06 news >>
HiLite • September 24, 2009
Sophomores question value of next month’s PSAT
On Oct. 14, both sophomore and juniors will take the PSAT, but since only juniors can qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program, some sophomores, like Kelsey Curran, wonder about why they take the test this year at all.
“I don’t really think that the PSAT is all that important if we’re just going to be taking it next year,” Curran said.
Junior Sarah Knapik said she didn’t think much of the PSAT as a sophomore either. “I walked into class having no idea what the test was over,” she said via e-mail. “Some of my class had already studied over the summer, which I thought was a little ridiculous.”
Assistant Principal Ronda Eshleman said sometimes students do think the PSAT isn’t important as sophomores. Still, Eshleman said that the test does have its benefits.
by kendall [email protected]
Only juniors’ scores qualify for National Merit status, yet administration says there are benefits
PLAN, the test the freshmen will take, is a test to help students prepare for the ACT, according to Eshleman.
“This helps them prepare tremendously for the ACT. It can give the freshmen recommendations on what classes to take in their future high school years, and what their strengths and weaknesses are,” Eshleman said. There is a $10 fee for all students taking PLAN.
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), the test the seniors are taking, is one of great importance, according to Eshleman. “It’s an achievement test, measuring the level of achievement students have had throughout their high school career,” she said. “It’s a really great test; we’re all very excited about it.”
ASVAB is used in schools nationwide, but it is also used as an admittance test for the military. Students looking into the military will not have to take ASVAB again, Eshleman said. The test can provide takers with both civilian and military career information.`
“It really is a great, important tool for students. It can help them see what kind of college to go to, what classes to take in that college, maybe some possible majors if they’re unsure of what to major in,” Eshleman said. “I think it will help students a lot.”
In previous years, seniors had been allowed to take a college day during ISTEP. This year, though, seniors will take ASVAB and have to come to school.
“We’re just treating this as a normal school day,” Eshleman said. “Everyone will be testing in the morning, and from then on there’s regular classes with adjusted times.” By Kendall Harshberger
Freshmen, seniors to test oct. 14 as well
the creation of a new state, has the relationship between Jews and Muslims suffered,” Saahir said.
“I was over in Israel last June, and there’s an international group called Rabbis for Human Rights, and they do a lot of good for Palestinians,” Saahir said. “But bad news makes news, so the actions of Arab militant groups or the Israeli
Continued from previous page >>
“One of the great things about taking the PSAT is that after taking it each student receives a personalized study guide for the SAT,” she said.
The sections of the PSAT include critical reading, mathematics and writing. If a junior receives a certain score on all of these areas, they may be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program. But even if a student isn’t a finalist or a junior, according to Eshleman, the PSAT scores can still help in other scholarship areas.
In addition, testing as a sophomore can help build experience for when the junior testing day comes and National Merit status is on the line, according to Eshleman. When testing day comes, Knapik said that she is planning to be more prepared.
She said, “After receiving a terrible score last year, I realized how important it’s going to be this year. This year I’m hoping to do much better on it.”
p r a c t i c e m a k e s p e r f e c t : Sophomore Kelsey Curran works on her history homework instead of practicing for the PSAT. Currran, who will take the test for the first time on Oct. 14, said she does not see the point in taking the PSAT sophomore year.
Jinny zhang / photo
government make headlines instead of (the international group’s) actions.”
Razban said he knew little about current events in Israel, though he did know the length of Yom Kippur. According to him, most Muslims acknowledge Jews for their work ethic and for their religion, whose prophets Muslims also consider authentic. Razban also said he has some Jewish friends, among which were Melemed.
Melemed said, “(Yom Kippur’s) just like Ramadan, you’re trying to stay away from some of the pleasures of life.”
According to Saahir, fasting is Allah’s prescription to the human family for self-restraint and God-consciousness. This instruction, among others, was sent down by God to his prophets, he said, including Moses and Muhammad.
Saahir said, “Peace be upon both of them.”
07<< news
8 feature HiLite • September 24, 2009
An avid Facebook user, junior Mercedes Massey said she frequents the popular social networking site every day of the week. When she logs into her account, she usually receives various notifications
alerting her of her friends’ activity on the site, such as wall posts on her profile or comments on her photos or status. But in addition to receiving the typical feedback from many of her friends and peers, Massey also finds notifications from an unexpected group of people - her parents and relatives.
“My dad, my mom, my step dad, my aunts and uncles all have Facebook accounts, and all of them are my Facebook friends,” Massey said. “My family usually posts things asking
how I am doing or how I am doing in school in a regular basis.”
Massey is not alone in her current situation as she is among the rapidly growing number of the younger Facebook demographic dealing with the integration of the older generation into a social network that teens and young adults previously dominated.
According to iStrategyLabs, a digital agency focused on providing clients with interactive strategy, experiential
Students dislike the potential for parents and relatives to snoop as more of the older generation create Facebook accounts By Celina Wu
Story continued on next page >>
Mercedes Massey
>>
amily riends
Michelle hu and arjuna capulong / graphic
feature 9HiLite • September 24, 2009
marketing and content creation services, the number of Facebook users who were between the ages of 35 and 54 grew approximately 190.2 percent within the last six months. In addition, this age group accounts for the largest percentage of all Facebook users at 30.8 percent as of Aug. 4. Furthermore, during the same time period, Facebook saw a 513.7 percent growth of individuals who were 55 years old or older with profiles on the site. These accelerated increases of older Facebook users have caused certain feelings of aversion stemming from the younger generation, including Massey, who have accounts.
The main point of contention that has brought about unsettling sentiments among students is concerning the objective of their parents and other relatives, in obtaining a Facebook profile. Massey and most all others in the teenage and young adult age group assert that their family members mainly want to utilize Facebook as a convenient forum through which they can keep tabs on or embarrass them.
“I feel like my parents and relatives, especially my dad and uncle, are invading my privacy through Facebook,” Massey said. “My dad and uncle are on Facebook all the time and since I am friends with both of them, I know they go through my profile to check up on me, like looking at me and my friends’ wall-to-walls, my pictures and other comments on my profile.”
According to Massey, there have been various instances in which it was evident that her relatives were checking up on her. Specifically, she said, “One time, my uncle sent one of my best guy friends a two page long message about how he didn’t approve of a comment that my friend left on one of my statuses.”
Although Massey said her family members use Facebook to snoop on her profile and meddle in her personal life, her uncle, Chris Barron, said he does not intentionally survey her profile to check up on her. “I never specifically look at Mercedes’ profile to spy on her. I only go to her profile when I see that she has posted something that catches my interest. Then, I go see what it is, and I might respond to it as well. However, I don’t study her photos or scrutinize what is on her profile,” he said.
Another student who has had firsthand experience of having family members with Facebook accounts is junior Karlie Hansen. She said her two sets of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles all have Facebook profiles.
Hansen said one of the particular problems she has is concerning the photos that her mom displays on Facebook. “My mom takes a lot of pictures and has posted pictures of me at various ages on her profile,” she said. “I untag myself in those pictures because I don’t want my friends seeing photos of me taken during my awkward stages or when I was a baby.”
Both Massey and Hansen said they have learned to deal with having parents and other relatives on Facebook. Massey said she has purposely deleted some comments and untagged herself in some things to prevent conflict with her family. Likewise, Hansen said she has intentionally censored herself in various items she posts
on Facebook so that those she does not get in trouble for those comments .
According to Sergeant Phil Hobson, students should use extreme caution when posting information on any social networking web site because if they are not used responsibly, they can be very dangerous.
“When you place photographs and personal information on the World Wide Web, you automatically lose a right to privacy that some people take for granted,” Hobson said via e-mail. “I cannot stress enough the importance of using these sites in a responsible manner. A good analogy would be ‘anything you would not post on a billboard in front of the school’ should not be posted on your page. Anyone from prospective employers, college admittance officials, parents, school personnel and law enforcement could have possible access to the information placed on these networking sites.”
Furthermore, Massey and Hansen said they both agreed that they don’t really mind having family members on the same social network as long as their parents and relatives don’t use Facebook to get involved in their personal and social lives.
“I don’t like how my family can easily see what my friends and I are up to and snoop around my profile by using Facebook,” Massey said. “Besides that, I don’t have a big problem with the older generation on Facebook.”
Friend or Foe: Junior Mercedes Massey checks her Facebook profile page. Massey said many of her immediate relatives have Facebook accounts.
Stephanie Coleman / photo
“I feel like my parents
and relatives, especially
my dad and uncle, are invading
my privacy through
Facebook.”
merCedeS maSSey
<<CheCk this out
myparentSjoinedfaCebook.Com / SourCe
www.myparentsjoinedfacebook.com
Mom - “Yo Mike, it seems I’m on your wall. I wanted to get on my own. I guess I’ll keep trying”
Dad - “Who is Flo Rida? I think I remember Flo from the ’70s TV show. Good times...wasn’t
she Jimmy ‘Dynamite’ Walker’s mother? Any connection?”
A collection of embarrassing Facebook posts that relatives leave. Some examples:
10 feature HiLite • September 24, 2009
Every day junior Samantha “Sam” Volpe comes home from school and goes straight to work on her latest project: her Homecoming dress. Volpe said she has made her own Homecoming dress since freshman year. She’s taken sewing classes all through high school, but she said her love of fashion started long before then.
“I got serious about making my own clothes in middle school,” Volpe said.
With today’s economic downturn, more and more students are looking for new ways to save money. This means spending less on luxurious items such as expensive Homecoming dresses. Little did Volpe know that her talent would also save her money in a creative and fun way.
Volpe said her favorite fashion magazine is Teen Vogue and the clothes she makes are often inspired by Lauren Conrad, her favorite designer. The Homecoming dresses aren’t
Volpe’s only projects.
During her freshman year in mid-October, Volpe created her own tote bag by sewing together World Trade Market plastic bags. Volpe said it’s her way of “efficient recycling that just happens to have style.”
Students not only have to cut back on dress shopping, but other Homecoming expenses as well. In the past, students have gone to the extremes of getting their hair and nails done professionally, renting a limo and going to expensive restaurants before the dance.
“I think the money people spend is unnecessary and over the top,” Volpe said. “You can have fun without going all out with limos and manicures. Save your money and do your own hair and nails.”
Not only do students have to limit their spending, but the school does as well. Homecoming can become pricey. House co-sponsor Sarah Wolff said House is responsible for most of the work that goes into school dances such as Homecoming and Winter Formal.
To save money, Wolff said House began to do little things like making the signs for the convertibles themselves. In addition for the dance itself, WHJE provides the music while the 300 students in House provide food and drinks. “Both efforts help to cut costs,” Wolff said.
“Money comes from the student government budget and we have enough,” Wolff said. “We don’t have a lot of expenses made.”
Along with House, the Senate also helps prepare for Homecoming. Senate sponsor Michelle Foutz said, “About $600 is spent on Homecoming, including the spirit games during the Homecoming week. It used to be probably double that.”
Like Wolff, Foutz said she believes the school is all right as far as money. “A decrease in students attending Homecoming is definitely a possibility, as well as prom,” Foutz said. ”But students can cut costs by spending less at dinner or finding an inexpensive dress.”
As for Volpe, she said that her hand-made dresses have an added benefit besides just the savings.
Volpe said, “It’s easy on your wallet, and you get more satisfaction.”
Dressing for a RecessionBY Katie walstRom
Lizzie grubbs / photo
A ThreAd AT A Time: Junior Sam Volpe works on sewing a dress. Volpe has made all her past Homecoming dresses to save money.
Students save money on Homecoming expenses by using their own skills in tough economic times
Made at HoMe:
Total cost: $30 - $50
Time it took to make: 3 days - 2 weeks
Perfect fit
>>
Vs. FroM tHe store
(Macy’s):
Total cost: $168
Time it took to find:Two hours per trip
to the store
At least $20 for possible alterations
YEARBOOK?Still want a 2010
...it’s not too late!
$45Pay with cash or check (payable to CHS Yearbook)Come to C145 during SRT or after schoolPrice increases to $60 on Oct. 16All sales end Dec. 4
SENIORS:Don’t forget to have your yearbook headshot taken at Prestige Portraits by Oct. 21 if you want to be included in the senior section of the 2010 Pinnacle yearbook!
AA Indiana Driving School
October 5 - October 23October 26 - November 13
November 16 - December 11 (No class November 23-27)
4-6 pm and 6-8 pm
1430 West Carmel Drive, Suite 140, Carmel, IN 46032
From Sept. 24 to Oct. 3, show your CHS I.D. and
recieve a FREE chocolate chip cookie with any
purchase of a sandwichAsk about the Wich
Loyalty card
8-11 pmIn the Fieldhouse
Pre-sale Tickets $10Door Price $15
Pre-sale tickets sold at lunch Sept. 28-Oct. 2
All students will be breathalyzed, must wear shoes, and have their student ID.
Shuttle service will be available from visitor’s side of the stadium 8-10 pm.
Featuring the music of Heartbreakers Video Disc Jockey
2009 CHS Homecoming Dance
Saturday, October 3
317-862-68347525 Acton Road, Indianapolis IN 46259
Open every Friday and Saturday in October 20097 p.m. to Midnight... if you dare!!
Frite Lodge Haunted House
Your Name HereOr, well, yOur business name.
Visit www.hilite.org
fOr mOre infO
feature 13HiLite • September 24, 2009
Sophomore Jillian Shelly said she originally became interested in Hound Pound due to the realization that her sport, volleyball, got little attention compared to other activities at this school.
“I decided to join Hound Pound because I wanted to support the athletics that don’t normally get support, like
volleyball,” Shelly said.
Hound Pound is an organization that allows students of all grades and genders to cheer for this school’s athletics, clubs and activities. Even though Hound Pound strives to cheer for the sporting activities that do not get recognition, they a lso suppor t c lubs and other
organizations this school has to offer. According to Shelly, participants of Hound Pound try to build bigger cheering sections at games in order to get students from all grades involved.
Hound Pound promotes spirit among different grades
Freshman Katelyn Nordhoff said she is not intimidated by upperclassmen. She has friends that are juniors and seniors and said she loves her Greyhound Kick-off Mentors (GKOMS). If a senior gives a freshman a
hard time she said she feels like it is hardly ever out of spite.
“I feel like it’s more of a joke than (the upperclassmen) actually being mean,” she said.
On the other hand, senior Scott Pison said he’s going to get involved in Homecoming competitions. He plans on putting together a tricycle team and entering his truck in the car decorating competition. Despite how involved Pison plans to be, he said he is not doing these events to necessarily “beat” the freshmen. “It’s cool for seniors to be able to go crazy (competing), and it also shows the younger kids (freshmen) what they have to look forward to,” he said. But, it wasn’t always like this for freshmen and upperclassmen to be so at ease around each other.
According to GKOM head sponsor Jennifer Powell, this school takes many of the right steps in bringing the classes together.
Programs including the GKOM program, peer tutoring and Hound Pound are a part of improving upperclassman-freshman relationships.
She said, “(The GKOM program) really has helped bridge the
BY audreY BaileY and meredith BoYd
[email protected], [email protected]
While some tension remains, class relationships amiable
gap because now juniors and seniors have freshmen that they’re kind-of responsible of to take under their wing.”
And in fact, she said actual competition during Homecoming does not reverse the efforts made by organizations at this school but actually helps unify the classes.
“Obviously healthy class competition is good. It helps promote healthy class camaraderie,” she said.
Like Pison, Nordhoff also said she plans on joining in on the Homecoming competition by doing the 5k walk/run with her friends. She too said she is not so much interested in beating the seniors as being involved. This is an instance where friendly competition can be beneficial to the community. The 5K walk/run along with penny wars and playhouse building all unify the classes to raise money for charity.
Jim Inskeep, athletics director and sponsor of Hound Pound, said, “Competition is good for charity.”
While as a whole, competition between classes seems to be minimal if not beneficial according to Powell some strain may still exist. Powell said, “I think tension can be seen internally rather than externally.” In other words friction between classes is seen mainly on a case-by-case basis but not as a whole.
Still, according to Inskeep this school’s main goal is to be unified. “(Class hostility) doesn’t fit the vision of Carmel High School ,” he said.
For the most part Powell said students of different grades get along pretty well. “At the base level I feel like everyone knows we’re one big school,” Powell said.
Kaitlyn lampe / photosenior spirit: Senior Minh Nguyen picks up her Wild Bunch T-shirt. Wild Bunch is a spirit club for senior girls. Pison said that class competitions give underclassmen something to look forward to.
Jillian Shelly
>>
According to Jim Inskeep, sponsor of Hound Pound and athletics director, the focus of this organization is simply to get everyone involved. Unlike Wild Bunch and Big Game, which include only members from the Senior Class, and, therefore, a more limited crowd, Hound Pound focuses on including all grades. For example, according to Inskeep, the seniors make an effort to recruit freshmen and sophomores, hoping to get them more engaged with all Carmel High School has to offer.
“(Wild Bunch and Big Game serve) the Senior Class only, but not the student body as a whole,” Inskeep said.
The idea of class competition and the hostility among the grades does not seem to affect Shelly’s purpose for joining Hound Pound. Shelly said she joined in order to meet new people, to get involved and to cheer for her school’s teams.
“Hound pound is a great way to be a Greyhound,” Shelly said. By Meredith Boyd and Audrey Bailey
Group created this year in an attempt to unite classes
14 student section>> HiLite • September 24, 2009
#1,971 of 4,644 recounts his time on…
Injured ReserveFrequent childhood injuries shaped junior Colin Kane’s rugby game today
As a child, now junior Colin Kane suffered many injuries. He had two concussions, got hit with a golf club, broke his arm twice and has had a few staples in his head. After all of these injuries, many people would not even consider playing a violent sport like
rugby where many more injuries are likely to happen. Cane, on the other hand, believes that these injuries have made him a better rugby player.
“Getting rocked around as a kid made it easier because I have less fear of getting injured, and the less fear you have for getting injured usually means the less likely you are to get injured,” Kane said.
According to the South Wales Osteopathic Society, as many as one in four rugby players get injured during the season. Also, most injuries are experienced by youth ages 10 to 18.
Scott Cash, doctor and manager of rehab services at Clarian
Acute traumatic injury: An injury that occurs from a single force or
occasionChronic injury: Often stems from the overuse of a certain
areaContusion: Medical term for bruiseAbrasion: Medical term for scrapeLaceration: A scrape large enough to cause one to seek
medical attention
By jackson [email protected]
some of the huge guys,” Kane said.
Kane said that he thinks that his injuries could have made him less likely to get injured again.
“The fact that I’ve been to the ER six different times makes me not afraid of that kind of stuff happening to me because it has all happened before,” Kane said.
Cash believe sports injuries should still be prevented. “There is no way to prevent injuries 100 percent,” Cash said, “You can help prevent future injuries by eating correct types of foods, stretching, warming up, wearing protective equipment,” Cash said.
According to Blake, Kane’s injuries have never been an issue. “I would have never guessed that he had head injuries. He’s a great player that almost never falters,” Blake said.
From Kane’s perspective, the injuries have only helped. “The injuries made me tougher, which helps me in rugby,” Kane said, “I can see why someone would think that they don’t, but I still think that they did.”
Kidshealth.org / source
North, thinks that out of the injuries that Kane got, the concussions are the most serious. “Swelling in the brain can lead to more disability later in life,” Cash said.
Kane admits that rugby is a rough sport, but he said that his previous injuries made him a better rugby player. “If it happened to me before, then I’m not as scared of it happening to me again,” Kane said, “I know what to expect the second time,”
Carmel rugby coach Baird Blake also thinks that previous injuries could help a rugby player. “It helps to be aggressive on the field. If it helped his aggressiveness, then yeah, that’s great. If someone is thinking about getting hurt, it will probably affect their play,” Blake said.
Cash believes otherwise. “It depends on the athlete, but there’s no real evidence that suggests that injuries can improve someone’s ability in sports,” Cash said.
Kane still has a love for rugby that makes him play even after many injuries. “I like that everyone on the field can play offense and defense,” Kane said, “One moment you can be
running with the ball and a couple seconds later someone else has the ball and you have to tackle them. This keeps the game fast.”
Blake has similar views on why players play rugby. He says that most of them play because it’s a hard-hitting athletic sport that they just love.
“A few other players probably just play for scholarships, or for their transcript, or even because of pressure from their parents. You can’t really avoid that. Although, I think that most of them play because they really like the sport,” Blake said.
Kane even seems like the perfect person for his position of wing and fullback , which are usually smaller, faster people. Although, Kane is good for his position for more reasons than his build. “I get tackled a lot. I do some tackles, but I’m usually the one getting tackled. I kind of like it though because it ’s sometimes tough to tackle
Kate grumme / photo
HArd Hit: Senior Danny Im tackles Colin Kane for the ball during rugby practice. Although he dealt with serious injuries in the past, Kane still plays to his fullest extent.
Ouch!Injury terms every athlete should know
<<student section 15HiLite • September 24, 2009
Stepping into the middle of over 4,000 people is extremely nerve-racking for about anybody. Knowing the entire school is watching and scrutinizing you is a fear of anyone in this position. Imagine having those exact fears and then add that you have to dance in front of all these people and remember three minutes of choreography, formations, and transitions. Think about the fact that not only do you have to remember this, but twenty other girls have to as well for it to look perfect, and because the goal is perfection, you cannot strive for anything less.
But the dance teams, Charisma and Coquettes, are always ready for this moment because it is what we have been working so hard to achieve. As our music starts and the dance begins, nothing beats the exhilaration of hearing the crowd go wild. When the dance is finished, everyone cheers as we exit the floor. Students may talk about the dance for a moment or two, but then it is time for them to head to the rest of the day’s activities. Few students realize just how much work goes into creating a dance that is simply for the viewer’s “halftime entertainment.”
Guest Column: More than halftime entertainmentJunior Molly Cason talks about Coquettes’ and Charisma’s role in athletics
Upcoming charisma and coqUettes events and reqUirements
Different groups within the team first have to adjust to the difficult role that has been assigned them. This adjustment incites some of the greatest worries for choreographers. These choreographers struggle with contradicting thoughts that the dance is awesome, but then nightmares that it’s not, as well as a hope that the audience will absolutely love it. After picking out the music, making up the dance and creating formations, the dance is ready to be taught to the rest of the team.
Teaching the dance brings the process into a whole different spectrum. Each meticulous detail must be accounted for. Whether it’s a head, hand, or foot, everything must look exactly the same from person to person. If you are not on with the person in front of you, the dance
looks dumb. This year, on average, we learn our dances in about a week. This is three minutes worth of material that must be absorbed and retained for the remainder of the season.
When the dance is finally taught and all formations are put into place, the next week is spent cleaning in hopes of reaching the potential of perfection. The choreographers clean first by watching the dance and re-teaching certain parts to make sure it looks exactly as they want. Then the entire team pairs up for a partner clean. This is the most helpful
part of the process because everyone is trying to aid one another in reaching their potential. Knowing that someone is watching you the entire time may be nerve racking for some, but I look forward to it as a chance to make myself a better dancer. After all this is done, we break into even
smaller groups for one final clean to catch anything that might have been missed. In total, a dance is taught and perfected in the time span of two weeks. The process then begins again with a new dance.
When I am out dancing in front of my school, I am having the time of my life and I know that my teammates feel the same. Being able to dance at halftimes, convocations, and special events like Dance Marathon is our way of showcasing how hard we have worked. So next time you are watching us dance, take a minute to think about how much we care and work for you and your halftime entertainment.
“When I am out dancing in front
of my school, I am having the time of my life and I know
that my teammates feel the same.”
Charisma CoquettesAll upcoming Coquette events will be decided at the Coquettes meeting in
October
Members must able to do:Turns in second
Double TurnCalypso
High Kick
Sarah maurer / Submitted photoS
DANCE IT OUT: Charisma performs at halftime during a soccer game this season. The members of Charisma and the winter dance team, Coquettes, worked through strenuous practices to perfect their craft.
Upcoming events:Today’s men’s soccer game
Oct. 7 women’s soccer gameHomecoming Pep Session Oct. 2
Members must be able to do:Double turn
CalypsoHigh kick molly CaSon / SourCe
We’ve Got Spirit16 cover story >> HiLite • September 24, 2009
(...but not too much)
ArjunA cApulong / photo
With 4,500 students, enthusiasm for the school has the potential to get out of hand. So who decides what
behavior is right and what goes too far?By Cassie Dugan
On Aug. 15, over 4,500 students filed into the varsity gymnasium in order to celebrate and discuss the beginning of the new school year.
Principal John Williams kicked off the convocation with a short speech. Afterwards, student body president Steven Brisley and speaker of the House Sunny Huang introduced the individual class senators.
After introductions, classes began showing their pride through cheering and clapping. However, according to administrators, the senior class got
“At the time I felt like it was (disrespectful) because I was trying to talk in front of 4,000 kids and I was already very nervous,” Huang said. However, she also said that looking back on the situation, she thinks the seniors were just excited and trying to show everyone that they could be spirited.
But all the excitement and energy created a situation that the administration felt the need to address with the Class of ’10. Principal John Williams held the seniors after the event to remind them of certain class spirit expectations.
“Our expectations have always been that school spirit is exactly that- school spirit. School spirit, in my opinion, has always been about being positive. What we don’t want, and this is what I explained, is for someone to have rude, inappropriate or unsportsmanlike behavior and wrap that around school spirit,” Williams said. “From time to time it’s a thin line between having fun and being obnoxious.”
That very line has been tested so far this year, resulting in a few
The crowd was raging. It was Aug. 14, the first all-school convocation of the year, and there was no holding back the Class of ’10 from showing everyone what it was made of. The spirit radiated from each screaming senior. But for speaker of the House Sunny Huang, trying to speak over a thousand
screaming seniors was not easy.
After year’s first convo, administrators take issue with seniors’ behavior a little out of hand, bordering on unacceptable behavior.
Following the convocation, Williams asked the seniors to remain in the gymnasium while other students returned to their SRTs.
Senior Chloe Lyzun said, “It was fun having the whole school together and getting to show ‘senior pride.’ It was kind of embarrassing getting yelled at, but maybe that made us think twice about what we were doing.” By Sara Rogers and Cassie
Dugan
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Principal John Williams talks to a quiet senior class after the first convocation. Administrators dismissed students back to their SRTs, Williams spoke to the remaining seniors.
<< cover story 17
We’ve Got SpiritHiLite • September 24, 2009
(...but not too much)
Story continued on next page >>
With 4,500 students, enthusiasm for the school has the potential to get out of hand. So who decides what
behavior is right and what goes too far?By Cassie Dugan
“At the time I felt like it was (disrespectful) because I was trying to talk in front of 4,000 kids and I was already very nervous,” Huang said. However, she also said that looking back on the situation, she thinks the seniors were just excited and trying to show everyone that they could be spirited.
But all the excitement and energy created a situation that the administration felt the need to address with the Class of ’10. Principal John Williams held the seniors after the event to remind them of certain class spirit expectations.
“Our expectations have always been that school spirit is exactly that- school spirit. School spirit, in my opinion, has always been about being positive. What we don’t want, and this is what I explained, is for someone to have rude, inappropriate or unsportsmanlike behavior and wrap that around school spirit,” Williams said. “From time to time it’s a thin line between having fun and being obnoxious.”
That very line has been tested so far this year, resulting in a few
The crowd was raging. It was Aug. 14, the first all-school convocation of the year, and there was no holding back the Class of ’10 from showing everyone what it was made of. The spirit radiated from each screaming senior. But for speaker of the House Sunny Huang, trying to speak over a thousand
screaming seniors was not easy.
kaitlyn lampe / photo illustration
18 cover story >> HiLite • September 24, 2009
CHS Spirit ClubS
wild bunchwho can join: All senior girls
Sponsor: Assistant Principal Amy Skeens-Benton
co-Presidents: Seniors Madison Brake and Deanna Daly
colors: Pink and black
who can join:All students (grades 9 to 12)
Sponsor: Athletics Director Jim Inskeep
Founded by: Student Athletic Board
colors: Blue and gold
who can join: All senior boys
Sponsor: Science teacher Dale Herr
President: Senior Mathew Page
colors: Orange and black
activities office / source
suspensions, which raises the question of what exactly the rules and limitations on spirit are. The conflict between how students want to show their school spirit- and what administrators say is acceptable behavior- has created a divide.
Assistant Principal Amy Skeens-Benton was one of the administrators who helped restore order among the seniors at the convocation. She said that part of the problem was simply manners. While some students were cheering and showing school spirit according to the rulebook, others were displaying spirit in a way that has been deemed inappropriate by the faculty and administration.
“Unfortunately, you have kids out there who don’t really care about school spirit and are just there to be obnoxious, and that’s where the distinction is. Some kids are really not there to be supportive or helpful. They were throwing papers at one another, wouldn’t settle down when they were supposed to, and frankly just needed a lesson in how to behave,” Skeens-Benton said.
Deanna Daly, Wild Bunch co-president and senior, said she thinks the administration is expecting more order this year, though.
“In reality, we try to do the best we can, but with it being senior year and everyone is excited, it is kind of hard to put limits on what you can and can’t do,” Daly said. “I’m the same age and same status as everyone in all these clubs and things so I don’t feel like I have the right to tell people to cool it or calm down.”
The verbal warning the Class of ’10 received was the first in recent memory. This gives rise to the idea that the administration has altered its expectations. Regardless of this perception, however, Skeens-Benton and Williams agreed that expectations have not changed at all this year.
To decrease rivalries among classes, though, one thing that has changed, is the existence of an all-school spirit group named the Hound Pound. With the presence of this all-inclusive spirit club, this year will help determine whether Hound Pound will unite classes and eliminate harmful class competition or incite more rivalry, especially between seniors and underclassmen.
Daly said she thinks Hound Pound is a great idea. “Wild Bunch and Big Game are so specific on
senior girls and senior boys and Hound Pound gets everybody else involved. So
it’s good for everyone because then freshmen and sophomores and
juniors can feel like they’re just as important,” she said.
Still, despite the similarities among the clubs, separation remains.
Representatives from both Wild Bunch and Big Game have made it clear that there will be
a definite distinguishing factor between the groups, though. According to Daly,
certain sporting events will be “given to” each of the groups,
so that all outings have fans but that
Get to know the various clubs involved with keeping the stands filled and the crowd excited
biG GAME
hOund POund
<< cover story 19HiLite • September 24, 2009
STUART JACKSON / phOTO
Ready to paRty: Hands in the air, students cheer on the football team during the game against the Cathedral Irish on Aug. 21. The Hounds lost the game, 7-3. While students have more freedom in terms of spirit during sport events, administrators still keep watch over the crowd to make sure nothing gets out of hand.
“(Administrating school spirit is) not
about a specific thing. It’s about a realization
and stepping back to say, ‘What is our
purpose here?’”
pRiNCipAl JOhN WilliAmS
equal representation among all three spirit groups can be achieved, as well. Both Daly and Big Game members said seniors probably will not feel threatened by Hound Pound, but that it will be mainly an underclassman club.
Skeens-Benton said, “The seniors are the leaders of the school; if anything they should be cheering on the freshmen. They are leaving behind a legacy and should be positive role models by encouraging the freshmen. The booing is not useful. It’s not respectful.”
Booing and other class-specific chants are some of the expressions of spirit that students and faculty have a differing opinion on, and it is one of the traditions that has not officially been deemed as acceptable or not, further blurring the line that rests between the two.
“It’s always a touchy situation when you try to bring a lot of kids into one area,” Williams said. “There is a time when throwing paper up in the air may be perfectly fine. There’s a time when yelling and screaming may be perfectly fine. Obviously, if you’re doing crowd surfing and other things that are dangerous, that’s never perfectly fine. But it’s not about a specific thing. It’s about a realization and stepping back to say, ‘What is our purpose here?’”
Unlike most rules and regulations, limitations on class spirit and appropriate behavior are not listed in a place where students can easily access them. This is because according to Williams, determining what is and is not appropriate is
a situational thing and cannot easily be divided into two separate categories.
“I would not want to say that screaming is unacceptable at a convo because there are times when I will scream at a convo,” Williams said. “We really rely on people just using good common sense. I think it would be offensive to you folks for us to say ‘In a convo when someone else is talking, please listen.’ So there won’t be anything in the Pathways about behavior during a convo.”
In order to combat the excessive and potential ly unacceptable energy, Williams said barricades will be moved back for the upcoming all-school convocations and other measures will be taken to subtly control the crowds.
He said, “We give a lot of freedom to you guys. We trust you guys, we trust you a lot. And every year, you’ve lived up to that trust, and not because there was something in the Pathways, but because you as a student body respect what we are doing here. And that is the unbelievably great thing about Carmel High School; we don’t have to live by the Pathways.”
20 entertainment HiLite • September 24, 2009
Its limited menu makes this sub shop simple by selling only subs, cookies, shakes and chips. There is no set menu, so every order can be unique.
To order , Which Wich uses a numbered menu which list the types of subs like turkey or ham, on top of a brown paper bag. The customer then takes a Sharpie and fills out the rest of the brown bag, indicating their options of any bread, cheese and toppings. There is also a slip to fill out for anything that one would like to add to their order, like a warm cookie or a chocolate shake.
Some may find the ordering system as an inconvenience. Even though one of the shop’s main consumers are meant to be young families, writing down the orders for those ages six and under may be a hassle. Overall, though, the process was fun, and it’s what many
Personally, the everyday sub shop has lost my interest. The popular sandwich franchises have just simply become
overrated and boring. But now there is a new option in town, Which Wich, a superior sandwich shop with new and innovative ideas for a delicious sandwich. With its unique ordering system patrons can customize their meals to their own preference. Because you are the creator of your own sandwich. It’s different than any other sub shop; it’s not only delicious, it’s also an entertaining experience.
Catering to young families, the younger generations and businessmen, Which Wich meets expectations of any audiences idea of a perfect sandwich.
Subs out, Wiches in would look forward to when going back. It’s possible to come up with a new sandwich each visit to enjoy.
As for the meal itself, the service was quick, the sandwich was steaming, and it was the perfect size. The turkey sandwich on white bread with two cheeses and my favorite toppings hit the spot. However, the item I enjoyed the most was the Oreo shake. It was by far better than shakes at Steak n’ Shake. It was creamy and delicious, the perfect ending to any meal. The only downside was the price; at $8.50 per sandwich, it was a little more than I expected, but not unrealistic.
Price aside, another positive aspect of Which Wich was how its employees, mostly CHS students, related to their customers. The familiar faces made the atmosphere much more comfortable. The walls were decorated with the local schools’ mascots. But don’t go to Which Wich for a quiet lunch because it’s an upbeat place, not exactly comfy and cozy. The store features a lot of seating and a flat screen TV usually tuned to ESPN.
The difference between Which Wich and any other ordinary restaurant is that teens are meant to feel welcomed here. Unlike many other places throughout town that lower their standards of service and treatment just because the customer is a teen. Which Wich has put efforts towards meeting teen demographics. The store uses Facebook advertising, has a Twitter account and promotes itself by catering the women’s soccer team here.
The restaurant is so good that I will probably not only go back to Which Wich, I may even pick up a loyalty customer card so that I can get a free sub after every 10 purchases.
By Maddi Bourgerie [email protected]
Maddi Bourgerie / photo Picky while Picking: Senior Samantha Cook picks bag number two and grabs a red pen to fill out the order form. She takes her time to carefully specify her order to make her ideal superior sandwich.
Which Wich claims to have superior sandwiches and a business that is as unique as Carmel
books. movies. music. previews. food. style
Which Wich is Worth
Menu iteMs
hot Wiches
chips
shakes
cookies
XXXX
Food Quality
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
atMosphere
Maddi Bourgerie / graphic
inForMation
ratings
service 1 2 3 4 5
overall
1 2 3 4 5
1= poor 2= okay 3= good
4= great 5= excellent
located on West
carMel drive Mon- sat: 10aM-9 p.M.
sun: 11 a.M.-7 p.M.
XX
trying?
> >
>
>>>
>
‘Boo!’entertainment 21HiLite • September 24, 2009
books. movies. music. previews. food. style
For the most part, modern horror films are devoid of originality. They all abide to the same dull, predictable formula that has been applied to the genre’s films for the past 30 years or so. When a film from this very limited category actually attempts something new or out-of-the-ordinary, credit should be given where it is due. Unfortunately, this kind of risk-taking doesn’t completely save “Halloween II” from its major flaws.
Musician-turned-director Rob Zombie is somewhat new to the filmmaking game, making his directorial and screenwriting debut with “House of 1000 Corpses” in 2003. Zombie’s skills as a filmmaker are in fact much more considerable and unique than many (most) would expect. His first film, along with its sequel, “The Devil’s Rejects” were by no means smash hits at the box office, however, a few prominent critics and a lot of horror fans took notice of the films’ interesting style which is reminiscent of the ultraviolent exploitation films circa ‘70s.
In 2007, Zombie succumbed to the temptation of a fat studio paycheck and agreed to remake John Carpenter’s highly
By Mitch RingenBeRg [email protected]
Rob Zombie’s “Halloween II” not as successful as his first franchise remake
1“The Shining” – Stanley Kubrick’s classic tale of isolation and madness
ranks as one of the most e f f e c t i v e l y cerebral films in the horror genre. Jack Nicholson’s n o w - i c o n i c performance as a deeply
disturbed hotel caretaker is among the greatest in film. “The Shining” uses its eerie atmosphere and pace rather than over-the-top gore to provide suspense.
2 “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974) – Countless imitations have attempted to recreate the
shocking brutality and downr ight weirdness of this groundbreaking h o r r o r f i l m , however, few have succeeded. The film provides a frank depiction of a deranged,
cannibalistic “family” in Texas, for whom a typical summer day includes various forms of torture and mayhem. Hugely controversial upon its release, the movie still has the power to shock and frighten viewers 35 years later.
3 “Dawn of the Dead” (1978) – The zombie subgenre has long been exhausted, but in “Dawn
of the Dead” director George A. Romero added depth to this film (a sequel to his equally revered classic “Night of the Living Dead”) by us ing the story’s setting,
a deserted shopping mall, as an opportunity to satirize American consumerism. The movie’s subtle humor and startling scenes of gore combine to create the best zombie film of all time.
4 “Alien” – Before Ridley Scott was known for creating big-budget Hollywood epics such
as “G lad ia to r” and “Amer ican G a n g s t e r ,” h e created one of the most acclaimed horror films ever with “Alien.” The f i lm p rac t i ces great rest ra int when using special
effects, which helps give “Alien” its scenes of nearly unbearable suspense. Vastly inferior sequels and spin-offs have cheapened the movie’s image, but nearly every aspect of the film feels fresh and unique today.
acclaimed 1978 film, “Halloween.” The critical reception was overly negative; however, its box office success temporarily revived the dying franchise, guaranteeing itself a sequel.
Whereas Zombie’s first entry tried to follow the original story line at least somewhat accurately, “Halloween II” is a different film altogether, bearing literally no resemblance to anything else in the series.
The plot is fairly standard. Masked psychopath Michael Myers is back after being shot in the head at the end of the last film. After a very quick recovery, Myers sets out to find and do away with his little sister, Laurie, who narrowly escaped him the last time around. Along the way, the film delves into bizarre and unnecessary subplots involving Michael’s interior motives and his former psychologist.
Compiled by Mitch Ringenberg
Want more scares? check out these classic horror flicks
To Read The ResT of MiTch’s Review, go online To
www.hiliTe.oRg
Wait…there’s more.
<<
5. Central Park and the Monon Center Features: a fitness center, a 1/8 mile indoor track, three basketball courts and two pools.Cost: $10 daily (adults)
www.carmelclayparks.com / source
22 entertainment >> HiLite • September 24, 2009
Break out your bikes and roller blades and plan to spend a day on the Monon Trail.
By ElliE SEta
4. The Indianapolis Zoo Features: Dolphin In-Water Adventure where participants, with an instructor, can swim with dolphins. Cost: Adults $14.Hours: Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
and Friday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
www.indyzoo.com / source
Movin’ on downthe Monon
daniel li / graphicsmichelle hu / photos
1. Broad Ripple VillageShopping: Chelsea’s and French Pharmacie.Restaurants: Ripple Bagel & Deli or Rene’s Bakery for pastries and baked goods.
www.discoverbroadripple.com / source
4
1
2. The Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Lilly Gardens Features: 152 acres of gardens, including the Oldsfield and Ravine Gardens. Cost: Free, may be a charge for special exhibits.Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Monday.
www.imamuseum.org / source
52
3
3. Downtown Indianapolis Features: The Indianapolis City Market, sells fresh produce and baked goods. Segway Tours around the Canal during nice weather. Hours: Indianapolis City Market Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Closed Sunday.
www.indydt.com / source
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24 sports>> HiLite • September 24, 2009
Team takes Homecoming match like all others, ‘one game at a time’
By Ryan [email protected]
Moriarity said the lessons learned in the Cathedral loss will help the team grow as a whole. “I think we felt like we played a good game defensively,” he said. “We need to keep from making mistakes at critical times.”
Devin Brinson, running back and junior, said that he thinks the team can take what it learns from every loss and use it as a tool for the rest of the season. “What we learn from every loss sharpens us up,” Brinson said. “It then allows us to play better overall and helps us execute.”
Warren Central has become a big rivalry for this school over the course of the past few seasons; the teams even met at State in 2006. Two seasons ago, the Greyhounds defeated the Warriors in a 42-35 victory for the Homecoming game.
Fowlkes said the team feels no added pressure playing Warren Central, despite the Warriors being a tough opponent. “I think we are confident that we can pull off the win,” Fowlkes said. “I don’t think that the success from the last two seasons has anything to do with this season. If anything, I think the previous success lessens the pressure put on us and gives us more confidence to win.”
Moriarity said he thinks that pressure is constant for this school’s athletics. “We have had pressure on us for some time,” he said. “Going to the State championships in three years makes expectations very high. Pressure is just something we have learned to live with; any one game won’t change it.”
Despite any perceived added pressure to win the Homecoming game, Brinson said that the team isn’t even
Head to Head: The Greyhound offensive line prepares to snap the ball against rival Center Grove. The Hounds controlled possession of the ball for most of the night, as they edged the Trojans 326-138 in yards gained.
Kaitlyn lampe / pHOtO
Players, coaches say Hounds feel no added pressure just because of event’s significance
20 08t 20 07t
HOMECOMING OPPONENTS OVER THE YEARS
20 06t 20 05tOpponent: TH South
Result: W – 48-0
Opponent: Warren Central
Result: W – 42-35
At this point in the season, Head Coach Myron “Mo” Moriarity said he feels the football team is off to a good start, and with the Homecoming game scheduled for Oct. 2 against perennial powerhouse Warren Central, building off of that good start with a win is important.
“I think we’re getting better each week,” he said. “It is important that we just take things a week at a time, and I feel we are doing that.”
Carmel lost to Cathedral 7-3 in the first game of the season, and cornerback and senior Ronald “Ronnie” Fowlkes said he thinks the team learned a lot from that loss. “We learned the strengths and weaknesses of our offense and defense and we figured out what we need to work on,” Fowlkes said.
Opponent: TH South
Result: W – 42-13
Opponent: Lawrence North
Result: W – 10-9
Story continued on next page >>
<<sports 25HiLite • September 24, 2009
Rivalry against Warren Central to be renewed in next week’s Homecoming game
I love this rivalry.
For me, that stems from being a cross-country runner. My freshman year as a runner, I watched the Warren Central Warriors tear up the course, led by the unforgettable De’Sean Turner. They ripped apart the competition all the way through the season, ending with a State Championship.
As a result, I always associate Warren Central with a big-time rivalry. This is especially true with football. You’ll understand if you take a look at the two teams’ recent history.
The same year that Tur ner was dominating cross-country races, the Warriors were unstoppable on the turf also. Matt Upshaw and Darren Evans were simply untouchable that year, breezing through a 15-0 season on the way to a 35-14 rout in the State Championship.
A rout of your very own Greyhounds. If you think that’s bad, take a look at how their regular season game went down. Carmel put up a big goose egg in the scoreboard, and Warren Central sailed to a 28-0 victory. You don’t forget a MIC rivalry shut-out like that very easily.
But then Warren Central ran into a wall that we knew around campus as “Mr. Football”: Morgan Newton.
In 2007 and 2008, Newton was dominant in the meetings between the two powerhouses. In revenge for the previous season’s State defeat, Newton ran for three touchdowns and threw for another one in a 42-35 Carmel victory.
The next year, lest the Warriors forget Newton’s name, he lit them up for two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in a 31-17 Carmel victory once again.
Nonetheless, none of these stats or bylines will have any effect on Carmel’s Homecoming game this year. Both teams will come into the game on a level playing field.
In this Homecoming game, the matchup is perfect offensively. Two of the top quarterbacks in the MIC conference? Check. The two leading rushers in the MIC? Check. The two leading receivers in the MIC? Check.
As a result, the game will be decided by defense. It wins championships, and it will win this game for Carmel.
At the time of this writing, Warren Central was allowing about 25 points per game. They will face a huge challenge
in the Greyhounds. The Greyhounds have allowed about 11 points per game. This number is even inflated when you consider that Carmel has sat their defensive starters at the end of less-competitive games.
The Greyhounds will not be able to hold the Warriors to nine points. But
the Warriors will not score at will like they have been. Seniors John Wood and Brian East anchor one of the toughest defenses in the State right now. There’s no way that a MIC rival is going to put up big points on their final Homecoming night, I can tell you that.
This will be a particularly rough game for Carmel. Warren Central’s offense is incredibly potent, and under the Friday night lights of a Homecoming football game, anything could happen.
But this game will belong to Carmel’s veteran defense. My prediction, Carmel defeats Warren Central, 24-14.
Parker Myers is a reporter for the HiLite. Contact him at [email protected]
parker myers
Up Close and personal: Sophomore Shawn Heffern attempts to break way from a Center Grove blocker. Carmel won the game 17-14.
Kaitlyn lampe / pHOtO
20 04t 20 03t 20 02t 20 01tOpponent: TH North
Result: W – 29-15
Opponent: Lawrence North
Result: L – 20-6
“I always associate Warren Central with
a big-time rivalry.”
thinking about Warren Central, yet. Instead, he said the players and coaches are focusing on tomorrow night’s game at North Central. “We take our season one game at a time, and our main focus is always the game in front of us,” Brinson said. “But, after this week’s game, I am sure we will focus in on it majorly so that when the time comes for us to play Warren, we will be ready.”
Overall, Moriarity said the coaches and players are very excited for the Homecoming game this year. “Homecoming is a big deal here,” Moriarity said. “Everyone is involved and it’s a very fun week, and we expect it to be fun this year, just as usual.”
“Homecoming is a great experience for not only the players, but the students as well,” Brinson said. “We are very excited to play a talented Warren Central team and give the fans a good game for Homecoming.”
Opponent: Warren Central
Result: L – 39-14
Opponent: TH North
Result: W – 28-27 (2OT)
<< Story continued from previous page
26 sports >> HiLite • September 24, 2009
Emily PutErbaugh / PhOtO
It’s Rough Being in the SpotlightWomen’s golf team aims for a State title this year despite added pressure
By AndRew [email protected]
The Hounds are scheduled to compete in the Regional on Saturday at Smock Golf Course. Head Coach Ken Kelly said he has the same high hopes as Savich and McDougal for the remainder of the State tournament.
“Expectations (are) higher with all players returning. They are a great group of players and anything can happen around tournament time,” Kelly said via e-mail. “They feel with the experience coming back (this) season that they should improve on last year’s performance as well.”
One could argue that the Hounds may struggle with the additional pressure from those increased expectations. In fact, the Hounds excelled last season during the State tournament when the team wasn’t predicted to make much noise . But when the Hounds did get hot and made the State finals, Kelly and Savich both expressed some disappointment about how the team ultimately fared under the pressure of the State spotlight. However, Savich said she doesn’t think those jitters will be an issue this season.
“We have a huge advantage returning all five State players because we’ve all experienced what it’s like and I think we’ll be able to handle the pressure much better,” Savich said.
After impressive back-to-back Regional championships followed by only ninth-place finishes at State, that experience may very well push the team to the next level. Savich said the Hounds are optimistic that this year will be the one that they make it over the hump.
“We have a positive mind set,” Savich said. “We think we can go just as far as we went last year, and finish higher at the State finals.”
All told, a third straight Regional championship followed by a better finish at State would be a stunning accomplishment for a group that was predicted to do very little in the tournament just a year ago. But can this group be the one to match Carmel’s sole State title in women’s golf? After hearing that the only other women’s golf team at CHS to win a State title was way back in 1980, McDougal simply said with a smile, “I guess it means it’s about time we get one.”
Senior Ariana “Ari” Savich has had plenty of experience with the women’s golf State finals. As a sophomore, Ari watched her sister Milena Savich ‘08, then a senior, lose the individual title on the second playoff hole against Brebeuf Jesuit sophomore Sophie Hayashi. Ari personally contributed
to the Hounds’ ninth-place team finish, shooting a 176 over two days, which was good enough for 42nd overall and third on the team. Last season, with Milena gone, Ari led the Hounds to another ninth-place finish after placing 20th overall with a 159. This season, the team returns all five of its State participants as well as its three other varsity players, and Savich said the team has set the bar much higher.
“(Last year) we didn’t really have high expectations to be honest. We lost six seniors, including my sister who was State runner-up,” Savich said. “But this year we have high expectations because everyone’s coming back and we all know what we’re capable of.”
Of the nine teams who advanced to the second day of the State finals last year, Carmel is the only one that returns all five of its participants. Senior Kate McDougal, who, like Savich, played in the State finals as a sophomore and junior, said being the only team to return all five players will give the Hounds a serious competitive advantage.
“We’ll be a more experienced team and we can learn from the mistakes we made last year,” McDougal said. “We’re hoping to exceed where we placed last year and medal this season.”
<< sports 27HiLite • September 24, 2009
New head coach has big shoes to fill
By MAGGIE [email protected]
By all accounts, Tony Dungy’s replacement has some big shoes to fill. Likewise, when Bobby Knight left Indiana University, the next guy in line had to close up a huge void. And now at Carmel, there are no bigger shoes to fill than those of arguably one of the best high school cross-country coaches in Indiana history, Chuck Koeppen. New Head Coach Erhard “Doc” Bell has stepped up to run a few miles in some really big trainers, and as anyone who has ever run for Koeppen or worked with him will tell you, Bell has got a few uphill runs coming up.
“It’s going to be insane (having a new coach), because no one coaches like Koeppen does and we’re all so used to Koeppen and we all just like how he runs things,” said runner and senior Dan Porter.
According to Athletics Director Jim Inskeep, the process for finding Koeppen’s replacement began with applicants submitting forms. They were then critiqued on their experience and dedication to continuing the excellence that Koeppen began. Inskeep said Bell was chosen based on his experience with the team and its traditions, as well as his passion for cross-country.
“Doc Bell has proven himself to be highly knowledgeable in different aspects of training and racing. He is a good
communicator and has been a dedicated member of the CHS coaching staff. This experience was key in his selection,” Inskeep said via e-mail.
While Porter was part of one of the last classes to be coached by Koeppen, freshman Ryan Arnett will be a part of the first group to be coached entirely by Bell. For many, not getting to run for the famed coach might be disappointing, but Arnett said he is taking it all in stride.
“I didn’t really know Coach Koeppen that well. I mean, it’s just running, it doesn’t really matter who’s coaching,” Arnett said.
For this year’s season, Bell said plans to carry on business as usual for the Greyhounds with their main goal of winning a second consecutive State championship. Bell said he is also continuing one of his long-standing traditions of getting every runner on the team a personal record during the season.
But only time will tell how the new coach will stack up to Koeppen. For now, Bell said he is going to strap on those big shoes and hit the trail running.
Bell said, “I have a very simple phrase that I like to use. I say that ‘fun, in addition to excellence, leads to success,’ So I stress to every kid, you know, I want this to be enjoyable; it’s got to be fun to do this.”
Release the hounds: Junior Chris Walden leads the pack during the varsity men’s race at the Carmel Classic. The meet took place on Sept. 12. Walden and senior Tom Ohlman tied for first place.
Sarah Sheafer / PhOTO
Faraz Majid
“Doc” Bell hopes to succeed as former coach Chuck Koeppen’s successor
Good manners worth a million dollars
From Terrell Owens to Dennis Rodman to Ron Artest to Rasheed Wallace and back around to Terrell Owens, we all know our fair share of obnoxious, temper-tantrum throwing athletes. It’s annoying, it’s a disgrace to their team and their sport —and it needs to stop.
These athletes grow up hearing their names plastered all over ESPN. It makes them swear and scream in frustration after a missed putt or a bad call. It makes them think they can do anything they want to and get away with it. Sadly, this behavior has become the truth in our society; they act this way because we let them.
No one denies Tiger Woods’ prowess on the golf course, but we live in an age where a legend like Woods can swear loudly during a mostly silent golf match and not be told to settle down just because he’s a legend. He doesn’t need to be told he’s the face of the PGA and that’s not the way that group wants to be represented. He also doesn’t need to be told he’s a role model for many boys who want to be just like Woods when they grow up.
These men make millions of dollars to entertain America, not to appall it. For that kind of money, it shouldn’t be that hard to remember your manners. What happened to sportsmanship? What happened to congratulating the other team? These egos are a problem in professional sports that have trickled down to the collegiate level. Case in point, Oregon’s running back LeGarrette Blount hitting a Boise State player earlier in the month after the Ducks lost. How soon until we see that in high school?
I never did see former starting quarterback Morgan Newton ’09 kick a cameraman after a lousy play like Dennis Rodman once did. So far, I haven’t seen Adam Shaffer, this year’s starting quarterback and senior, attack a member of the crowd as Ron Artest so memorably did. I hope I never do.
Professional sports have all the drama of players’ egos and their demands. It’s a shame those egos have superseded the sports themselves, and it’s a sad testament to what sports have become and what their future holds.
Faraz Majid is a reporter for the Hilite. Contact him at [email protected]
28 perspectives >> HiLite • September 24, 2009
convocation, think of the possibilities of trouble during a larger, much more anticipated event like Homecoming.
To be fair, we applaud the administration and faculty for making some efforts to guide student behavior at school-wide events early on in the year, especially at the first few football games of the season. However, students need clearer instructions as to what is appropriate and what kind of behavior is considered over the top.
While some students may see this clarification to be childish, it is important for administrators to clearly define the line between what is appropriate and what is not.
With clearly defined guidelines, students, especially those who are new to the school, will understand t h e r u l e s , a n d f a c u l t y a n d administrators will be able to enforce those rules consistently and fairly.
Everyone, both staff and students here at CHS, wants the same outcome for the remainder of the year — to show the rest of the state just how proud we are to be a part of this extraordinary school.
This includes demonstrating school spirit and excitement for all school functions but being mindful of the boundaries which will hopefully soon be made clear.
We want to remain respectful and represent the school in a positive manner but we also want to prove to others just how unique and impressive this school is.
Homecoming, especially, should not be spoiled because of unclear expectations or miscommunication between staff and students. It should be a time of celebration for all the school has to offer and all we, as students, are fortunate to be a part of.
And with reasonable expectations and continuing clear communication between the students and staff here at CHS, it will be.
As Homecoming week gets closer, school spirit will invade every corner in the building. Just one mention of trike races, convertibles or dress up days and instantly the mood brightens. In fact, it seems like CHS students are constantly encouraged to display excitement for their school and to have school pride, especially throughout Homecoming.
But recently that encouragement for school spirit has been tempered by attempts to quiet, or at least contain, that enthusiasm. This provides a confusing mixed message to students, and it’s a message that administrators need to clarify in the coming days if they expect students to behave appropriately.
With the largest Freshman Class ever (1,228 students at last count) and a school population of 4,426 (over 350 more students than last year), it’s understandable that the faculty is more protective than it has been in years past.
P lus , the number of s tudent transfers from private schools has also increased to 206 this year, 40 more than last year. Besides enrolling more students, CHS has suffered a decrease in staff members compared to prior years, creating even more of an imbalance in the student to staff ratio.
But with this disproportion in the number of staff to students comes a need for both groups to understand where the boundaries are for having spirit and the consequences for crossing those boundaries.
There needs to be more communication between the CHS faculty and administration and the CHS student body over what kind of behavior is acceptable and what is considered too extreme.
For example, at the school convocation during the first two weeks of school, the seniors were reprimanded for their out-of-control behavior. If spirit grew out of hand during such a small, simple event as a school
staff perspective
Administrators must clarify behavioral expectations
speak up!Compiled by Julie KippenbroCK And JAde SChwArting
Do you think that the Senior Class’s behavior at
the convo crossed the line?
Sergeant Phil Hobson
“There needs to be more
communication between the
CHS faculty and administration and
the CHS student body over what kind of behavior
is acceptable and what is considered
too extreme.”
“yes, because they were throwing paper and getting in fights
and stuff like that. we’re supposed to look up to them,
and i don’t want to look up to fighting
people.”
“no, i don’t think they crossed the
line. this is their last year; they’re going
to be excited. there’s nothing wrong with just being excited.”
“well, obviously when you have 4,500 kids in a gymnasium it’s going to make it hard to conduct the convo. there was a lot of enthusiasm, which is good, but it has to be more
containable.”
Sophomore Chance Anderson
Freshman Lauren Harpst
<< perspectives 29HiLite • September 24, 2009
A couple of months ago, the youngest person imprisoned for purposes of national security was released from a New York City jail.
Mohammed Jawad was captured in Afghanistan under suspicion of throwing a grenade at American troops, which was proven to be an incorrect accusation.
He was 12.
Now, as he returns to his family a young man, they barely recognize him after years of separation. Not only that, but he is now a main target for recruitment by radical Muslim organizations.
As he spent the better part of his childhood behind bars in the United States being questioned for a crime he never committed, he never was able to receive the education necessary to see the West as anything but an enemy. Now, uneducated and hardened after years of imprisonment and torture, he is most susceptible to join the forces he was condemned of participating in and furthering the conflict.
The issue of national security has never been an easy one to navigate. There exists an extremely fine line between despotism and safety, and oftentimes crossing over into the repressive side means a sacrifice of American values.
Last year, one of the reporters on HiLite recounted a significant event in her life on her college applications. As a young Pakistani girl, she was given a Social Security number similar to someone who was suspected of being a terrorist. As a result, airport security screened her specifically (she was 11 at the time) on the grounds that she was on the Homeland Security list for suspected terrorists.
In cases such as these, the actions of the American government encourage the hatred of radical groups to
continue and escalate. Consider this: Americans would be outraged if another country held prisoners hostage under false pretenses. So why are we stooping to that level?
The (weak and ineffective) argument is that these national security policies, which often involve torture, allow law enforcement to keep the peace by incriminating suspects and catching more of them.
T h e r e a s o n w h y t h i s argument holds no standing in America is that too many civil liberties are being infringed upon. This nation has historically and still holds the policy of “innocent until proven guilty,” and these shameful examples of so-called “national security” clearly
demonstrate that the suspects were guilty until proven innocent.
It isn’t difficult to realize that any prisoner, especially one who is most likely innocent and hopes to return home, would confess to false crimes after being tortured or held without a sentence.
That’s why the new policy for prisoners in Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base Prison to question their detainment is a victory for democracy and civil liberties.
I applaud the Senate’s decision to extend American values to citizens in a region where US troops attempt to set up a democracy.
M i c h e l l e H u i s editor-in-chief for the HiLite. Contact her at [email protected].
graphic perspective
Daniel li / art
michelle hu
National security policies intensify terrorist radicalism
“Americans would be outraged if
another country held prisoners
hostage under false pretenses. So why are we stooping to
that level?“ B a g r a m A i r B a s e prison, about 40 miles north of the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul. There are more prisoners detained there than in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
HiLite • September 24, 200930 perspectives >> HiLite • September 24, 2009
Rebecca Xu / aRt
Every day at the beginning of second or sixth period, a chorus of “…one nation, under God…” rings through the classrooms of this school in a unison so strong that an echo, faint as it may be, floats above the silence in the almost empty hallways. I’ll be the first to admit, though I know I’m not the exception, I don’t always undertake this privilege—yes, I called it a privilege—with the complete enthusiasm it deserves.
In France, political tensions are aflame over the place of religious freedoms in a self-proclaimed secular state, particularly with traditional religious garb like the burqa, an all-enveloping cloak that many some Islamic women wear. This past June, Andre Gerin, the Communist mayor of a Lyon suburb with a relatively large Muslim population, initiated a motion, signed by 57 other legislators and supported by French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s own center-right UMP party, calling for a special parliamentary commission to ban the burqa from the French Republic. This comes just five years after France initiated its ban on the hijab, a head scarf worn by Muslim females, from public schools.
Addressing both houses of the French Parliament during the summer, Sarkozy launched into a startling diatribe against the burqa, calling it a “sign of debasement” for those “prisoners behind a screen…deprived of all identity” that has no place in a secular France.
But, by creating too rigid of a barrier between religion and public life, France’s so-called secularism is in danger of being perverted into a form of extremism in itself.
Tim Chai is front page editor for the HiLite. Contact him at [email protected].
graphic perspectiveSecular extremism present worldwide
tim chai
To Read The ResT of Tim’s column, go online To
www.hiliTe.oRg
wait…there’s more.
<< perspectives 31HiLite • September 24, 2009
sarah sheaferI was at the mall with a couple of my friends one weekend and we passed by an Abercrombie and Fitch store. Immediately the store became the topic of our conversation. We talked about the posters in front of the store with the “perfect-looking” models posing “inappropriately,” the over-priced clothing, the mannequins with six-pack abs and our desire as middle school students and freshmen to own just one sweatshirt from the store. I remember as a freshman that’s all I wanted - a shirt with “A&F” written on it. However, I never got one and as time passed, my interest faded.
Then one of my friends mentioned something about the company getting sued for some racist remarks. When I got home, I did some research to find out whether the accusation was true.
I was surprised at the time to learn about the company’s involvement in various controversies and lawsuits filed against it, mostly concerning discrimination against minorities.
In 2003, according to BBC News, Abercrombie and Fitch was sued by 22 year-old Riam Dean, who was an employee at the store. She claimed that the store bullied her and made her work in the storage room because her prosthetic arm didn’t fit the “Look policy.” She ended up winning her case in 2004.
In the same year, the California Labor Commissions sued the company for requiring its employees to buy and wear its clothes while working, according to CBS News. The labor commission officers alleged that the company’s “Appearance/Look policy” was enforced in a way that required the employees to buy Abercrombie and Fitch clothes while working. Although Abercrombie and Fitch denies that it required employees to purchase its clothes, it agreed to modify the “Appearance/Look policy” and reimbursed the employees for all the apparel they bought.
Wait, it gets worse. According to the New York Post, in 2008,
an African-American woman filed a $1 million lawsuit against Abercrombie and Fitch because of racial discrimination. She claimed that her manager fired her because she was black and had blonde highlights, which the company thought was “unnatural” and didn’t fit the “look policy.” How ironic, considering that the owner of Abercrombie and Fitch dyes his hair blonde as well.
A similar story occurred in Tulsa, OK. According to MSNBC.com, a Muslim teen girl accused the manager of a local Abercrombie and Fitch store of not hiring her because her head scarf didn’t fit the “chain’s image.” The store had no comment on the violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states that employers must reasonably accommodate an employee’s religious practices. But Abercrombie and Fitch isn’t the only store that has been deep in controversies and lawsuits. Its sister company, Hollister, has also faced many similar charges.
According to the St. Louis Business Journal, just last year, an employee at Hollister sued the store for firing her because she refused to wear a shorter skirt. The employee said that she tried to tell her manager that she couldn’t wear the short skirt because of her religion, but instead of understanding, the manager fired her. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which filed the case on behalf of the employee, terminating an employee because her religion requires modest dressing is “unlawful discrimination.” Hollister decided to stick its head in sand and avoided to
comment on the case. The company did a great job of avoiding publicity of all these controversial lawsuits. Had my friend not mentioned it to me, I would have never known of all these events.
I’m surprised that in an era of open-mindedness, the media failed to portray the stories of these young people who were humiliated and dehumanized by a popular brand. We have an African-American president leading our country, but numerous teens are being discriminated against in our local malls.
Everyone recognizes the name and symbol of the company but no one knows the dark stories behind it. The company is lucky that the media hasn’t bothered to reveal all of its dehumanizing actions. Now I know where not to go when I’m looking for a job.
Hera Ashraf is feature editor for the HiLite. Contact her at [email protected].
“Although Iran claims it is ready to ‘talk’ with the West, it may not be. The country
might be putting on a show just to buy more time to
complete its nuclear weapons development. “
U.S.and Israel face a possible nuclear Iran
Brand controversies unknown to many
Although the staff member responsible for submitting the op-ed piece entitled, “CHS: There’s no need to apologize for your size” ardently defends Carmel’s unusually large size, the merits of his/her argument focus too much on extra-curricular pursuits and unfortunately not enough on the liberal arts education of which this school was founded.
The columnist in this issue of the HiLite begins his argument by first examining the athletic opportunities offered to students by the size of Carmel High School.
To Read The enTiRe leTTeR, go online To
www.hiliTe.oRg
Nick cooper ’09
wait…there’s more.
“I’m surprised that in an era of open-mindedness, the media failed to
portray the stories of these young
people who were humiliated and
dehumanized by a popular brand. “
hera ashraf
Grad says big school not always best option
Letters to theeditor
more opinions onLinewww.hiLite.org
32 HiLite • September 24, 2009
Why did you start writing A
Rapid Shift?
I’ve been writing books my whole
life. But this is the first one I’ve
actually finished. I wrote it last
November for National Novel
Writing Month. But I was never
intending on publishing it until
I decided to do the IU Honors
program overseas in Germany. I
knew I needed a good fund raising
activity. And so that’s where this
came into play.
Can you give a short summary
of the book?
Well, you know, it’s a pretty
complicated book but it focuses
mainly on seven teenagers who
find out they have super powers
which would be really great for
them except that they are also
being hunted down by a bunch of
like super-powered assassins.
Are you happy with your
finished piece?
I didn’t like the first edition, which
is why I actually went back and
edited some more and removed
some of the filler I put in, because
I originally had a word count
requirement, so I had to go fix
some of that stuff. So eventually,
I ended up with a second edition
which has now been republished
and is now available for purchase.
What other books have you
written?
I wrote a couple short stories
before this that won some money
at the public library. And I wrote a
piece that was kind of rushed for a
contest at school. So I’ve had most
of my success in short stories up
to this point. I’ve never finished a
novel except this one.
How do you
publish your books?
It was actually a pretty easy
process. I learned about a site
called Createspace.com and the
site lets you self-publish things.
Since it is affiliated with Amazon.
com, all your stuff goes up on there
too, which meant that now anyone
who searches Amazon.com for my
name will see all my books.
Do you plan on continuing
your writing?
Definitely. Actually it’s in the works.
I’m on page 25 or 30 right now.
It’s the second book in the series.
It should be released around
Christmas.
What advice do you have for
other teen writers?
The trick is really just to finish stuff,
because it’s really easy to start
a book. It’s really easy to start a
thousand books, but to finish one is
what distinguishes you from other
teen writers.
Daniel li anD Jinny Zhang / photo illustration
A ‘Rapid Shift’ into FictionSenior Justin Groot writes and publishes his own books
To submit nominations for 15 Minutes of Fame,
email Afra Hussainat [email protected]
Books By justin groot
e.e. cummings
Thomas Paine
Christoper Paolini
No Thanks
Common Sense Eragon
other self-
PuBlished
Authors
A Rapid ShiftSummary: A group of seven teenagers with superpowers finds that they are the new target of equally powerful assassins. Price: $8.49Sold at: Amazon.com
Inspirations: A collection of short storiesPrice: $7.99Sold at: Amazon.com
AmAzon.com / SourceJinny zhAng And SArAh SheAfer /
Photo illuStrAtion
bookmarket.com / source
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