may 14

LeafThe

Sycamore High School Student News Magazine Volume 1 | Issue 10 | May Issue 2014

Pixar thrives in its own little worldp. 5Boys volleyball has a lighthearted seasonp. 17

Gender equality

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We Proudly Support the Teachers, Administrators and Students

at Sycamore Schools

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1THE LEAF | TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE LEAFVol. I | Issue X| 05.27.14

The LeafSycamore High School7400 Cornell Road Cincinnati, OH 45242Print Editors-in-Chief: Atiya Dosani, Lauren SaxonLeaflet Editor-in-Chief: Lauren GlynnAssociate Editors: Joseph Ahn, Madeline Marsh, Anna ZhouManaging Editors: Abbey Baker, Isaac GoldsteinCreative Projects: Joseph Ahn, Taylor Evans, Hannah Frey, Elizabeth Rickert, Orion SchlosserBusiness Manager: Caroline GaoWeb Master: Eli Seidman-DeutschWeb Editor-in-Chief: Kathryn TenbargeStrategic Coaches: Lila Englander, Brenda ShenBroadcast Editor-in-Chief: Victoria Swart

PhotographerMcDaniel’s PhotographyAdviserCheralyn JardineAbout usProfessional memberships:• Columbia Scholastic Press Association• Journalism Education Association• National Scholastic High School Press Association• Ohio Scholastic Media Association• Ohio Professional Writers (National Federation of Women Writers)• Quill & Scroll International Journalism Honorary

SportsAlex WittenbaumEli ZawatskyA&EBen RuskinCartoonistJoseph AhnSpotlight Brooke LandrumFun & GamesRujula KapoorStaff Writers

Jordan BakerAnais CabelloCamila Cardenas Benjamin CohenWilliam ColemanAmy DengCameron FoyMax FritzhandZachary FritzhandSarah HorneLauren Kurtzer

Beverly LiuJack Loon Ellen MartinsonHannah May Joshua PattersonOrion SchlosserZoe SchlosserLauren ShassereEmily TylerJennifer WeberDavid WertheimJessica Wocks

It’s hard to believe that these next few weeks will be the last ones of the 2013-2014 school year. As we alluded to in our past editor’s note, a great deal of change is coming to The Leaf publication over the next few months. Like many other SHS students, we must say goodbye to our senior friends as they move on from their high school lives. Although the loss of these seniors is significant, The Leaf is excited to say hello and welcome new faces of the incoming freshmen joining our staff. Over the course of the summer, we will be redesigning the print portion of our newsmagazine as well as the online portion, as we introduce a new Leaflet magazine and website, www.shsleaf.com, to be updated daily. This May issue is our first publication in which we used the updated positions implemented on staff. Although some of us now have new, different jobs on The Leaf, we will all be working tirelessly to accomplish the most important job of all: continuing to serve as the voice of SHS.

Editors’ Note

-Atiya Dosani and Lauren Saxon

Inside this issue:

2 | Leaving SHS

3 | South Korean tragedy

FEATURE5 | Pixar through the ages

Classic musical comes to the Aranoff

NEWS

Ferry carrying 476 people sinks at sea

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Gil Kaplan, 12, writes about his skipping experience

19 | Confessions of a truant

OPINION

SPOTLIGHT

17 | Softball heads to playoffs

16 | Girl’s lacrosse 21 | Student earns Gold AwardCarolyn Fisher, 10

8 | Staying in styleStaying busy when school is out

SPORTS

14 | Phantom of the Opera

Breaking gender roles that have been in place for centuries

6 | Summer bucket list The history, success, and future

9 | Gender equality redefined

15 | Boy’s lacrosseBonding and supporting injured team members

Alma Rechnitzer, 11, graduates early

13 | Bangerz tourMiley Cyrus forced to cancel concerts due to sickness

Striving toward tournamentPopular fashion for hot weather

What to do while at SHS20 | Upperclassmen give guidance

18 | Expectations we can’t supportStaff view on gender roles

New coach leads team to GMCs

Gender stereotypes plague teenagers all over the world, as well as in our small world of SHS. Girls are expected to be beautiful with their war paint of lipstick and mascara, and boys are really only considered manly if their face is covered in anticipation of a football game.

However, it is time to see these ancient roles go away; we are creating gender equality.

IMAG

E BY LAUREN

GLYN

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2 SHSLEAF.COM | THE LEAF

News briefsMAY 27, 2014

LOCAL15 SHS students competed against 86 other teams from southwest Ohio in the annual Envirothon. Ronald Hochstrasser, A.P. Environmental teacher, led three student teams to top places in the Envirothon.

Over the summer SHS offers summer classes for students online and at school. In one month, students get credits they would otherwise take a semester to complete. Email your counselor to

sign up for summer classes.

You may not have heard of synthesized cannabinoid. It is better known as a legal high, or fake pot. Synthetic pot is often sold in small packets in gas stations under the name of “herbal incense,” or “potpourri.” This drug can be bought for much less money than marijuana, can pass a urine test, and it’s completely legal. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cannot investigate the product because the packets are labeled “not for human consumption.” Synthesized marijuana has side effects like vomiting, hallucinations, increased blood pressure, and heart attacks. Countries like Germany, Italy, Poland, and Great Britain have totally banned the synthesized marijuana, and 41 states, including Ohio, have banned it as well.

Fake pot bannedEMILY TYLER

STAFF WRITER

With graduation approaching, I have recently received many questions from classmates about my decision

to graduate high school after junior year. After explaining nearly a dozen times that yes, indeed everyone has the option to graduate early if they plan accordingly, it has come to my attention that most students are simply not aware of all the opportunities they have to customize their education. In fact, many students have told me they would have seriously considered early graduation if they had known about it earlier. Everyone may have their own reasons for wanting or needing to customize their high school career, but it essentially comes down to the fact that high school is not a “one size fits all” solution. You, as an individual, understand your learning pace and style better than anyone else does. Whether you are interested in graduating early, enrolling in college courses through local public universities, studying abroad, taking online classes, or even homeschooling, I encourage you to approach your guidance counselor and your parents and at least get informed. From my experience, the information will not just fall in your lap, but it is not too hard to find. Amongst the resources I have found, here are some great ones to start with. Grace Llewellyn’s book, “The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life Education,” is available at the public library. Studentliberation.com has resources, advice, and support. Ask about Post-Secondary Enrolment options at the guidance office to learn about free college courses available nearby. Aves Academy also allows students to work at their own pace. I opted to complete the high school graduation credit requirements by taking online classes during the summer and winter break. If you are interested in learning more about my early graduation process or the research I have been conducting about the problems with standardized education, I encourage you to check out my blog: www.benefitsofunschooling.wordpress.com.

ALMA RECHNITZERGUEST COLUMNIST

GUEST COLUMN

14 percent of high school males and 8 percent of high

school females use fake pot

11,406 visits were made to the ER

because of fake pot in 2010

75 percent of these cases were represented by

people ages 12-29

to see Envirothon Rankings

SCAN HERE

2014 FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE

Monday June 2 Tuesday June 3

7:20-9:10 Bell 2 exam9:15-11:05 Bell 5 exam12:30-2:00 Exam makeup

Wednesday June 4


Friday June 6Thursday June 5


7:20-9:109:15-9:5810:03-10:4110:46-12:11 10:46-11:11 11:11-11:41 11:41-12:1112:16-12:5412:59-1:401:45-2:20

Bell 1 examBell 2Bell 3Bell 5 Lunch A Lunch B Lunch CBell 4Bell 6Bell 7

Because one size does not fit all

ANNA ZHOUASSOCIATE EDITOR

Relay for lifeOn May 9, students from Ursaline Academy, St. Xavier, and SHS gathered for the annual Relay for Life event to benefit cancer research. However, that particular event was very different in comparison to past events. First, With the construction of the new field, students were unable to stick the stakes of tents into the turf, forcing the overnight event to end at midnight. In addition, the forecast of inclement weather resulted in the event being moved indoors; however, the events and activities that were originally scheduled continued as planned.

IMAGE BY BRENDA SHEN

Regular schedule

3THE LEAF | NEWS

NEWS

JOSEPH AHNASSOCIATE EDITOR

A mourning nation: Sinking of Sewol devastates South Koreans across globe

When the South Korean ferry Sewol, carrying hundreds of teenagers en route to a tourist destination, capsized and sank at sea, hundreds

of people across the world watching news sites were shocked and bewildered. The ferry capsized while carrying 476 people, mostly secondary school students from Danwon High School. The tragic pictures of mourning parents that flooded the internet were eerily reminiscent of the Malaysian plane accident. “It’s horrible. There’s been no event like this in modern day South Korea, where hundreds of teenagers were killed. It’s horrible for the parents of course, but it’s also extremely embarrassing and tragic for the nation of South Korea,” said Kyung Hwan Ahn. More recent reports now speculate that the ferry company had overloaded the ship with cargo, and investigators have said that the cargo may not have been tied down properly, which was partially responsible for the sinking of the ferry. “It's a tragedy to everyone because the victims were the youth of the nation, students our age. I think that the parents are especially devastated, even if their child wasn’t in the wreck,” said Michael Choi, 11. The mourning nation is beginning to arrest ferry

staff members, as well as ‘higher-up’ members of the Cheonghaejin Marine Company, which owned the ferry. Kim Han-sik, chief executive officer of Cheonghaejin Marine Company, is being charged with "causing death by negligence, as well as causing the capsizing of the ship in the line of duty.” Furthermore, the ship’s captain, investigatory scuba divers, and even the president of South Korea, are being accused of playing a part in the sinking of the Sewol. Emergency workers are being accused of responding too slowly, as dozens of rescue vessels and teams in the area took hours to get to the site of the accident. However, unlike the Malaysian Airline accident, the rescue team had no trouble locating the ship as dozens of panicked phone calls reached emergency services immediately as the ferry began to sink. At press time over 200 bodies had been found; many have broken fingers or toes due to people fighting to escape through windows or doors. Over 100 bodies are yet unaccounted for. “The ferry sinking was such a huge tragedy and it's awful to think about the lives that were ended there. The friends and family of the victims have every right to be angry, but hopefully one day the people will be able to stop pointing fingers at each other and the nation will recover,” said Sarah Kim, 9.

Nige

rian g

irls h

eld

host

age CAROLINE GAO

BUSINESS MANAGER

SCAN HEREfor more information and a full map of the ferry accident

For over a month, more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls have been held captive by Boko Haram, the Islamist militant group. This terrifying raid commenced with a ring of gunfire and explosions sent shock waves throughout and beyond Nigerian borders. A recent video release of the kidnapped girls reveals the first glimpse of them since Boko Haram fighters snatched them from their boarding school in Chibok. The abductions have resulted in worldwide outrage aimed at the terror group and an invasion of Western counterterrorism and law enforcement experts to help Nigeria fight it. According to CNN, Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram, states that he will release the schoolgirls only after imprisoned members of Boko Haram are released. The militants have been engaged in a violent campaign against the Nigerian government since 2009. A team of around 30 U.S. experts and members of the FBI have been sent to Nigeria to help with the search.

PHO

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187girls still missing*

43girls escaped*

*approximately and as of press time

Extre

mist

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nap

stud

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in sc

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"I hope that any young people in America who take school for granted...will learn the story of these girls and

recommit themselves to their education.”

-First Lady Michelle Obama


Fun & GamesMAY 27, 2014

1

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Sudoku:

Summer word unscambler:

Wordles:

1. macp

5. ecahb

4. ssncuerne

3. olop

2. nhssinue

6. esaablbl

10. on cohlos

9. cei rcame

8. amhurgbre

7. lipf lfpso

Answers: 1. camp, 2. sunshine, 3. pool, 4. sunscreen, 5. beach, 6. baseball, 7. flip flops, 8. hamburger, 9. ice cream,10. no school

Ears Ears

Answers from left to right:Nothing between the ears, Pick it up a step, Drawn to scale, Change of scenery, Bend the rules, On the outside looking in

PICK

IT

DRAWN SCALE SCALE SCCENERY

RU

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LOO

KIN

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LAUREN GLYNNLEAFLET EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

5SHSLEAF.COM | THE LEAF

MAY 27, 2014

Feature

One UniverseThe Pixar theory is founded on the concept that all of Pixar’s movies since Toy Story take place at different times in the same universe.

BRAVE The Incredibles

Toy

Sto

ry 1

/2 Finding Nemo Ratatouille

Toy Story 3Up

There are perhaps no animated movies more nostalgic and recognizable than Pixar films. Over the past 20 years,

Pixar has compiled 14 successful movies, starting with Toy Story in 1995. All of Pixar’s full length films have

been both financially and critically successful; all of them are within the top 50 highest grossing animated films of all time. “Toy Story 3” is second on that list

only behind Disney’s “Frozen”. Over the past 19 years, the animation studio has won 27 academy awards, seven

Golden Globes, and 11 Grammy’s. One of the reasons Pixar has been able to produce such lucrative movies is their appeal to all age groups; children through adulthood all the way up to the elderly stage of life, Pixar has something for everyone. For the younger children there are goofy characters such as Dory from “Finding Nemo”, whose sheer personality is enough to bring about plenty of laughter. But there is a reason that both the second and third animated films of all time to be

nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards were created by Pixar. It is because of their appeal to older generations.

In 1986, Pixar was struggling as an animation studio but a man by the name of Steve Jobs stepped in and became a majority shareholder of the

company to save it. Jobs, CEO of the successful Apple Inc., saw the potential of the company from the beginning. Pixar goes deeper into their movies than just scratching the surface with juvenile humor and silly characters. They usually incorporate important themes into their films.The Pixar Theory This theory was created by Jon Negroni, a digital content editor for ABC News. The main premise of the theory is that every Pixar movie takes place within the same world, just at different times. Negroni says that the first movie on the timeline taking place in the 1400s or 1500s is “Brave” where magic is discovered in the will-of-the-wisps and the last movie is “Monsters, Inc.” which occurs somewhere 3000 years from then. The theory explains how the toys such as Woody the Cowboy from the “Toy Story” movies are able to live and also why there is a common theme of an “energy crisis” in many of the movies. The company “Buy N Large” appears in several of the movies, most prominently in “Wall-E”, and is said to have exhausted the world of all its energy. It is used as a common thread between films.Easter Eggs Another common thread throughout the

movies are “Easter eggs”, or characters/items from one Pixar film found within another. For example, during “Toy Story 2”, there are clearly characters from “A Bug’s Life” sitting on a leaf right next to Woody’s head. Another thing that is quite unusual is how the pizza truck from the original “Toy Story” is found in almost all the movies, even in “Brave” where cars did not exist. This is said to be explained by the doors in “Monsters, Inc.” that allow time travel. What’s next for Pixar? Pixar has been able to come out with a new movie every year since 2006; however, they will not be able to do the same for 2014. The next two Pixar films are coming out in November 2015. They are entitled “The Good Dinosaur” and “Finding Dory”, and they may even play an important part in the Pixar Theory.

P xar: Appealing to all ages

14th - 15th century 2003 2007 2010 2011-2016 2100-22001997-19991950’s - 1960’s

ELI ZAWATSKYSPORTS CHIEF

CAMERON FOYSTAFF WRITER

SOurCE: HTTP://www.PIxArTHEOry.COM/InFOgrAPHIC by ELI zAwATSky

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Shown is Mr. ray, the school teacher from “Finding nemo.” He appears in Toy Story as an action figure. “Easter eggs” like the one shown here appear all throughout Pixar movies.

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This Summer . . .1

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10

I want to make new f ri ends because I’m mo vin g to North Caro li na - A bi g ai l B e l c h e r, 11. “I want to go on a vacation with my f ri ends because I didn’t do that this s p ri n g break - M e ga n Cro n e , 12.“

I want to li ck a l o l l i po p at a candy s ho p without buyin g i t - A n d rew S c hmid l i n , 12. “

I want to go to con certs, read books, and watch a l l o f “Breakin g Bad” - Ha n na h B row n , 11. “

I want to pu l l an a l l ni g hter be cause I’ve ne ver had the chan ce to do so - Ma ry Fry, 10.“

I want to go rock c limbin g with my f ri ends - I va n M e di na , 12.“

I want to c limb a mountain i n A laska when I g o there this summer - A l exa n d ra M e cke s , 9. “

I wou ld l o ve to s pend i t on a road tri p a l l a round the U. S. to di ffe rent p la ces - Ma ri s sa Vi l a rd o, 11. “

I want to ha ve a water ba l l oon fig ht with the ba l l oons fil l ed with pain t i nstead o f water - Emma St ewa rd , 10. “

I want to go to the I n ternationa l J ugg li n g Association Con vention - Ke v i n S h e e tz , 9.“


FEATURE

ELIZABETH RICKERTCREATIVE PROJECTS EDITOR

ANNA ZHOUASSOCIATE EDITOR

. . . in Cincinnat iMusicBunbury Music Festival • Taking place at Sawyer

Point and Yeatman’s Cove

• July 11, 12, and 13 • Tickets range from $65

to $325. • There will be 83

performers including “Fall Out Boy” and “Paramore”

Buckle up Music Festival • On July 18, 19, and 20• A one day ticket is $55

and a three day ticket is $110

• The festival has 80 performers including “The Band Perry”

Riverbend• “One Republic” and “The

Script” on Aug. 5 • “Panic! at the Disco” on

Aug. 12• Will be held in the

outside amphitheater• Ticket prices depend on

where seats are located

Movies

Att ract ions

“The Fault in our Stars” • Comes out into theaters

on June 6• Based off of the popular

book by John Green• Tells the story of a

cancer patient“Maleficent” • Comes out on May 30 • Mirrors “Sleeping

Beauty,” but it is from the point of view of the villain.

DIYThe City Flea Market • In downtown

Cincinnati in Washington Park

• Local vendors gather• May 17, June 14, July

12, and Aug. 16Hyde Park • Sunday mornings• Farmer’s Market• 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.• Local vendors will set up

stands and sell fresh food Kings Island• Opening day was April

18• 48 rides and attractions• Soak City waterparkLazer Kraze• Laser tag• Arcades• Indoor trampolines• Zero gravity inflatablesFull Throttle Indoor Karting• Indoor racing• Various prices based on age• Hours: Mon.- Thurs. 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.

ALL

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The concept of “do it yourself” has become a craze among people of all ages. DIY projects are a great way to repurpose ordinary objects and spend time over the summer. By simply typing three letters into a search engine, anyone can gain access to thousands of DIY projects ranging from home decor to beauty.

7ThE LEAF | FEATURE

FEATURE

FEATURE


The annual March of the Living (MOTFL) trip will always make for a spiritual or emotional experience.

MOTL is when hundreds and thousands of students and advisors go to Poland and Israel to remember the Holocaust and celebrate Israel as an independent state. There were six SHS seniors who went on the trip this year: Matthew Schneider, Rachel Klein, Dana Coleman, Dan Ginsburg, Madelyn Dukart, and Alex Weisser. Weisser’s grandfather, Louis Weisser, is a Holocaust survivor. “I tried to see what he saw,” said Weisser. “Times have changed and so has the landscape, but that didn’t stop me. Also, we flew into the city where my grandmother was born and her father was executed for revolting.” The trip starts in Poland where participants explore the remains and mysteries of concentration camps. The main part of the trip is the actual ‘march.’ Everybody walks

from Camp Auschwitz to Camp Birkenau, nearly a two mile walk. However, the Poland part of the trip is not all about concentration camps. The Majdanek Memorial is a former concentration camp that is now almost set up like a museum with artifacts and outdoor monuments. After a long week in Poland, participants traveled to Israel for a more uplifting week. Israel activities consisted of a nice Shabbat dinner, a tour of Mt. Hertzel, climbing Masada at sunrise, and a party on a disco boat on the final night. When students become eligible to take part in the trip, they are highly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. “The March of the Living trip is a lot different than any other trip you take to Israel,” said Cincinnati trip advisor Abby Solomon. “It adds a whole other aspect with visiting Poland and you feel more connected to your heritage. You come out of the trip with a completely different mindset about Judaism.”

MOTL: students visit IsraelWILLIAM COLEMAN

STAFF WRITER

Cincinnati has already seen temperatures as high as 90 degrees. It is about time that girls put away their jeans, leggings, and sweaters and opt out for summer with shorts, dresses and especially skirts and crop tops. There are all different kinds of skirts: pencil, high-low, a-line, maxi and circle skirts, also known as skater skirts. Maxi and circle skirts are the skirts that are becoming the most popular. Maxi skirts go all the way down to one’s feet. Maxi

dresses can be paired with a crop top or a tucked in normal length shirt. Crop tops are also popular during the hot weather. They can be paired with high waisted shorts and skirts. Crop tops cut off above your belly button. There are also different styles of crop tops, including halter, short sleeves, long sleeves, turtle neck, tanks, and bustier. Crop tops can be elaborate or understated, fitted or flowing, versatile, and comfortable. The crop top is the crown jewel of warm-weather style, and can be worn for every occasion and event. One can find maxi skirts and

crop tops at Target, Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Kohl’s, and Nordstrom and prices range from about $4.50 to $25. American Apparel has the priciest option for circle skirts and crop tops; Urban Outfitters is still expensive but costs less than American Apparel. H&M and Forever 21 have the best option for reasonable priced, quality skirts and tops. Altogether, skirts and crop tops will be big this summer and especially pairing them together will make a cute, simple and put together outfit during the hot summer time.

Warm weather brings new trendsBEVERLY LIU

STAFF WRITER

ANAIS CABELLOSTAFF WRITER

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With the weather beginning to change and summer approaching quickly, fashion trends are making a transition. For girls, this means throwing out the jeans and heavy coats and pulling the crop tops and high waisted shorts from the back of the closet. This is a great time to experiment with different outfits and mix and match to create countless looks to keep up with the latest trends. IM

AGES

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Cover storyMAY 27, 2014

we a

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You are breaking the stereotype

you have risen above

representing the men

you are an inspiration

bo ldshow your true colors

be you

there is nothing wrong with youconfident

unique

stay proud of who you are

boast your talent

cool

stay positive

you are an inspiration

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stay proud of who you arecool

boast your talent you are an inspiration uniquesh

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be you

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COVER STORY

Women have been able to vote for almost a century.

So why are they not completely represented in politics yet?

Female leaders are trying to create

equality in our representative government,

but are often met with social obstacles. Hillary Clinton has been

active in politics for over 30 years, and has come under scrutiny for not just running

for presidential office, but also for the fact that she is a woman.

“As First Lady, Senator, then as Secretary of State,

Feminism, like the word ‘literally,’ has morphed in meaning over time. ‘Literally’ is defined as being exact in sense. However, because of the constant misuse of the word, a secondary definition has been officially added to the Oxford Dictionary: used in emphasis. Similarly, feminism means the belief of equality among genders, but its connotation has now taken the shape of a shrew who deems chivalry toward women as an act of mockery. Perhaps a new word should be added to clarify the difference between feminism and misandry, or the hatred of men as a whole. To add to my confusion, even my female friends do not unanimously agree with the issue of feminism. While one female friend brings up the issue that equal pay among genders should be common sense, the other side raises the point that women are physically and biologically not identical to men with the Equal Rights Amendment. Moreover, men cannot comprehend the struggles that women have to deal with nor the prejudices that are force upon them. How can men hold an outlook on a situation that they have no firsthand knowledge in? Simply put, my opinion on feminism is that men should not hold an opinion.

When a man takes a stand and speaks his opinion, he is a leader. He is somebody to be proud of, somebody to look up to. When a woman does the same thing, she is ‘bossy.’ When a man sleeps around with dozens of girls, it is ‘cool,’ because he is proving his worth. When a woman has

more than a few boyfriends a year, she is called derogatory terms. Yes, we have made enormous steps in the movement for gender equality. But there is still so much we need to do to ensure fair and equal treatment. Many of us may need to change our entire mindset. It must happen. Otherwise, our society will remain backwards and cease to develop how it needs to. I want to be able to voice my opinion without being labeled as bossy. I want to be able to find my place in this world, in this

society, without being held back by gender stereotypes.But please, do not get me wrong, I have nothing at all against men.

In fact, I think that all genders need to work together to improve our society and make positive change happen. We can never be

quite the same. But we can be given the same opportunities, the same treatment, and the same expectations. Only in this

way will our society continue to progress.

Women begin claiming podiums

Boy

BY: JENNIFER WEBER

BY: Dasha BENIash BY: JONaThaN JIh


Girl

Guest columns:

BY: haNNah MaYIn 2009, a study by University of South Carolina and Purdue University showed that 96 percent of sports news coverage was on men’s athletics. That means only 4 percent of all sports news covered women’s sports. This contributes to the uphill battle women must climb to participate in professional sports other than tennis or golf. Though there are many women’s teams in the United States, they are rarely covered on major sports networks and their pay is less.This problem is not only pertinent to females. Men who are engaged in ‘womanly’ sports face just as much harassment than women who are a part of a ‘manly’ sport.

I had the chance to travel on behalf of all of you,” said Clinton at the World Affairs Council of Oregon. “I’ve sat across the table from some high-ranking official in some country … whose eyes glaze over when I say, for example, ‘Don’t you think you ought to let your women drive?’” Clinton has worked around the world to achieve political and social equality for women, yet media outlets often comment on her age (66), forgetting that Ronald Reagan started his presidency at 69, and George H. W. Bush took the seat at 65. Clinton was not the only breakthrough female politician. Geraldine Ferraro accepted the Democratic nomination as

Vice President in 1984. Losing to Reagan, it was not until 2008 that there was another female Vice candidate, but she started a lot of the political momentum for women. There have only been four female justices on the Supreme Court, the first being Sandra Day O’Conner, appointed in 1981 by Reagan. She retired in 2006, leaving three incumbent judges: Ruth Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. Women vote and represent half of the United States, but the representation in the government is not currently showing this statistic. In both houses, women make up only about 20 percent, leaving many gender issues unequally represented.

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11THE LEAF | COVER STORY

The ‘F Word’ encourages the belief that

Hemlines are getting shorter, necklines more low cut, and everything is getting tighter, which can mean a plethora of things. But one thing these developments do not constitute is street harassment or ‘catcalls.’ While to those men who participate, this may seem like a harmless way of showing interest or trying to ‘pick up a girl,’ the reality is much different. Street harassment is demeaning, which leads to the development of slogans like ‘I am not a dog, please don’t whistle at me.’ The harsh reality is that sexual or sexist comments can lead to more severe attempts at attention. Stories and studies have shown that a shocking number end in stalking, assault, rape, or even death. There are many stories of girls harassed with offers of sex, who declined and whose abusers then

Street harrasment: Bechdel Test courage to push through her darkest days. Yet, the film fails the test by all accounts. The main point is that the test cannot tell us anything of worth on the merits of the film in question or female characters in it, resulting in a lot of better movies with great characters being labeled as unequal. Films such as “Citizen Kane,” “Star Wars,” and the entire “Lord of the Rings” trilogy all fail, while “The Bikini Carwash Company” passes. The original point of the Bechdel test was to be a clever way to show us that there is problem in the popular culture. But when we ignore strong examples of progress, is there really any progress made?

BY: ATIYA DOSANI

BY: BROOKE LANDRUM BY: BEN YOUNG Hollywood films have been dominated by males for as long as they have been projected on the silver screen. And while there have been advancements in equality, there is still room to grow before all genders can be represented. The Bechdel test asks if a movie contains at least two female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man. If you have not guessed already, many films do not pass. The test, which has become an internet phenomenon, appears to be sound in theory. In practice it leaves out important factors of determining gender equality and alienates movies that may have strong females but cannot pass the test. Take, for example, the 2014 Best Picture nominee “Gravity.” Dr. Ryan Stone grapples with her personal struggles and shows the audience the limits of her

took drastic measures. Besides being physically beaten, the most common example of this is girls being run over by men in cars after they say no. With examples like these, men need to know that this is not a form of flattery. It is a form of sexual harassment. This is not just a message to men, this is a message to all of the young girls who have been called to or have had comments made to them about their physical appearance. Those comments are not flattery and they can lead to very unsafe situations. If you find yourself in a situation like the ones described, call for help and try not to encourage perpetration. Respond as little as possible, keep your head up and know that the comments you hear do not define you.

In an age of powerful women like Hillary Clinton, Sheryl Sandberg, Michelle Obama, and even Beyoncé Knowles, the feminist movement is progressing along smoothly. Sometimes. Unfortunately, self-proclaimed ‘feminists’ are often met with muffled groans and eye rolls when declaring their passion and dedication to this cause. Here are the facts: a feminist is someone who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of men and women. According to a “Huffington Post” and YouGov poll, 82

percent of people agree that “men and women should be social, political, and economic equals.” However, only 20 percent of Americans identify as ‘feminists.’ It seems that it is the bra-burning, man-hating, radical image of a woman that scares people away from the word feminist. The abundance of misconceptions clouding around feminism often makes it difficult for people to pledge their allegiance to feminist goals. I started to think that maybe it would be better if we stop using that troublesome ‘f ’ word. The term has picked up

a negative connotation among so many who no longer feel they can identify as feminists. If getting rid of the usage of one small word would help advance the feminist cause, then why would we not we get rid of it? It makes sense, right? But still, every time I come to terms with letting go of ‘the f word,’ I feel conflicted. It seems unfair that one little word could hold back such a paramount movement. One little word that has so much history. At the same time, it seems unproductive to have to preface any talk about

feminism by clarifying that feminism is not in fact a misandrist movement to combat the misogynists of the world. Maybe we shouldn’t get too caught up with labels because that isn’t what is important here. For the good of the cause, maybe we should clean up our mouths and reduce our usage of the ‘f ’ word. But we all know that resistance is hard. Once in a while, the ‘f ’ word is bound to slip out of our mouths. And the movement for gender equality cannot be compromised.

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The total prize money for the Professional Golf Association tour is

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Another way that discrimination has been weaseled into society is through marketing. It just happens to be one of the sneakiest forms of bias. A prime example of discrimination in marketing is in Dr. Pepper and other various soda companies. They often have one version of soda advertised to women and one advertised to men. Dr. Pepper 10’s slogan is “not for women.” That is not the only example. If you look in costume stores

or websites in the months leading up to Halloween, you will see a definite difference in how the costumes are marketed. Women’s costumes are often labeled as “sexy.” Some costumes go to the point of being sacrilegious or offensive to various different cultures. The day that you can buy a “sexy” version of any childhood character like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, is a day that change is needed. Meanwhile if you look at male costumes, they can be clever, funny, scary or

macho and any one of these is perfectly accepted. Men do have some pressure to be manly but in costumes funny works just as well. Moreover, products marketed to girls are far more expensive than those sold for men. Shaving cream is one example. Prices for female shaving cream can be over two dollars higher than men’s. This is largely because girls pay for the pretty packaging. Marketing shows prime examples of the differences between men and women.

BY: BROOKE LANDRUM

Hitting the target audienceProducts show gender bias

20There are


Most Powerful People: Both men and women

Religion

Media

Celebrity

Pope Francis Pope of the Catholic

Church

Ellen DegenerousTalk show host

Beyoncé KnowlesSinger

TechnologySheryl Sandberg

COO of Facebook

BusinessIndra NooyiPepsiCo CEO

FashionCalvin Klein

Designer of own line

PoliticsVladimir PutinRussian President

LawJohn Roberts

U.S. Supreme Court Justice

LocalDr. Adrian JamesSuperintendant of

Sycamore

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U.S. Female Senators

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13THE LEAF | ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

Arts&EntertainmentMAY 27, 2014

Not being invited to a party can be a real bummer, but there has yet to be a more irrational response to such an occurrence as Maleficent’s reaction in the Disney film “Sleeping Beauty.” This response involved cursing a baby to die from pricking her finger on a spinning wheel on her 16th birthday. When it comes to all out cruelty, Disney villains are the kings, or queens. Whether it is throwing their sibling off of a cliff, handing out poison apples, or making coats out of puppies, these animated villains are known for their acts of malice. With the new film “Maleficent” being released on May 30, all of this might change. “Maleficent,” starring Angelina Jolie as the titular character, will tell the story of “Sleeping Beauty” from the villain’s point of view. Much like “Wicked” did for the Wicked Witch of the West, “Maleficent” will explain how this horned sorcerer came to be so, well, maleficent. If the film is a success, Disney will release more films featuring their iconic villains front and center. Disney is already developing a live action film based on Cruella De Vil and a Disney Channel movie, “Descendants,” is being made about the children of such Disney villains as they struggle to get through high school. Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth has been cast as Maleficent in the latter. Speaking of big names playing Disney villains, Oscar winner Meryl Streep will be staring as The Witch later this year in the Disney produced movie musical adaption of “Into the Woods.” Another Oscar winner, Cate Blanchett, will be playing the evil stepmother Lady Tremaine in the live action adaption of “Cinderella,” due for release in 2015. This could be very good for Disney, seeing how Disney villains are already some of their most popular characters, next to the princesses of course. But, as they say, a hero is only as good as his villain.

BENJAMIN COHENSTAFF WRITER

‘Maleficent’ brings iconic Disney villain to big screen

‘Spiderman 2’ fails to electrify crowds Dashing and daring, the second installment of Andrew Garfield’s Spiderman debuted on May 2. “The Amazing Spiderman 2” was just as action packed and joke filled as the first, but it did take a darker turn. No superhero movie would be complete without epic fight scenes and villains with a vendetta against the justice serving hero, and Spiderman is no exception. Using computer generated imagery (CGI), the fight scenes are enhanced past the previous “Spiderman” and much more detailed.

The villain, Electro, was a little disappointing. He had an overused origin story- he was obsessed with the hero until the hero could not save him, then he obtains powers and uses these power for revenge. Jamie Foxx was able to play Electro in a sympathetic light, adding to the movie’s on-screen tension, but it was not enough to fix character flaws. For Spiderman, Gwen Stacy was what kept him fighting. As in many heroic movies, Spiderman was afraid to put her in danger, but she still managed to find it when they were apart.

The chemistry between Garfield and Emma Stone was clear, making the story much more upsetting than when Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy split. The scenes they did share were passionate and genuine. Just like the main relationship, the movie was engaging. The international community agreed, it seems, as the movie earned around 370 million dollars, 92 million dollars in the US alone. Kicking off the summer box office with the increasingly popular hero movies seems to be the trend. On May 23, “X-Men: Days of Future Past” hit the big screen, and it is hoped to beat the opening weekend of “Spiderman” in profit.

JENNIFER WEBERSTAFF WRITER

The 21-year-old rising star recently had a pause in her tour when she had a severe allergic reaction.

Miley Cyrus has been forced to cancel up to three shows and is extremely devastated because she already canceled a show a month ago because she had the flu. “I’m really happy I got to see Miley before she got sick. It was so much fun. I love the new Miley,” said Taylor Miller, 10. The singer was admitted to the hospital on Tues., April 15. She was identified with a sinus infection and was prescribed cephalexin, an antibiotic from which she later got the severe reaction. Cyrus’ concerts are known for their provocative dance moves and gestures. Recently, she has been seen in marijuana outfits and revealing costumes. “I went with my two other friends and it was an amazing concert. Shirts were really expensive, but it was worth it,” said Patricia Blood, 10.

Miley Cyrus gets allergic reaction Cyrus has made sure she has been keeping her fans up-to-date with the correct information and not rumors. “I follow Miley on Twitter and I was refreshing her page the whole day hoping she wouldn’t cancel her concert but she did,” said Alexis Hagenmier, 10. She has now postponed her upcoming shows in Amsterdam and Antwerp for this weekend. Some doctors fear that the relapse for her severe reaction can last up to 27 days. Several false rumors have spread as to why the singer ended up in the hospital. Reporters say that Cyrus was sent into a tail-spin after the recent passing of her dog, Floyd. Tickets for Spring Center are being refunded as Cyrus prays for a quick recovery. She is hoping to be back as soon as possible and is told that she is getting better.

CAMILA CARDENASSTAFF WRITER

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For comments on this column, please write to [email protected]

A NIGHT

OUT Looking to go see a movie? You may want to skip out on going to see “Transcendence” because most likely you will be confused and not enjoy your time. “Transcendence” is a movie about a man who researches artificial technologies (robots) and then eventually transfers his conscience into a machine. Overall it’s a very confusing movie and if you have a hard time following complex plots, “Transcendence” is not for you. On the other hand, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is a lot easier to follow. It’s a classic superhero movie with some good guys and some bad guys and some twists along their journey. Viewers all over the nation enjoyed watching their favorite superheroes in “The Avengers” and if you are planning on going to see “The Avengers 2” I recommend you see “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” because the plots will tie together in some ways. If you are looking for a summer movie, “Transformers: Age of Extinction” is probably not what you are looking for. If “Age of Extinction” is anything like the last Transformers movie, then this one is probably going to be very bad. Although, Shia LeBeuf is being replaced by Mark Wahlberg in “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” I really do not think Wahlberg could save the dying franchise. If you are someone who would rather take a night in than a night out, Netflix is always a good option. If you are in the mood to laugh and you are looking for some shows to binge on, “Arrested Development,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and “30 Rock” are all good options. If you also are looking for somewhere to go to lunch or dinner, consider going to Which Wich. Which Wich is similar to Subway except it is better. You have more of a variety and different kinds of tastes when you eat a Which Wich. Piada is also a good choice for a place to eat a delicious lunch or dinner. Have you ever been to Chipotle? Piada is pretty much just an Italian version of Chipotle. Also, Piada has good Italian sodas, so if you go there make sure you try them. If you do all the things I wrote about above your eyes will hurt from all the movies and you will be sick from all the food, so just choose a couple to do and have a good night.

BENJAMIN RUSKINA&E CHIEF

Phantom of the Opera.” A classic tale of a man, deformed in body and growing deformed in spirit, who falls

for a young soprano, Christine Daae. To complete the love triangle, her childhood friend the Vincomte de Chagny has taken a romantic interest in the budding prima donna. This classic musical ran April 30 to May 11 at the Aronoff Center in downtown Cincinnati. The run time is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes (including the 20 minute intermission). The set is quite amazing. Set in a circular fashion, the sets move easily from the Opera House, to a room in a house, the Phantom’s lair, and the cemetery. This musical features smoke, strobe lights, pyrotechnics, and the sounds of gun shots. The actors are not a disappointment either. This is Julia Udin’s, who played Daae, touring debut. The other leads are more experienced actors, including Cooper Grodin, who has done “Les Miserables” (25th anniversary), “The Fantasticks,” and “Carousel” to name a few. Grodin plays the Phantom of the Opera. The singing was clear, loud, and had note accuracy and quality. The Phantom had a large vocal range, which is needed to sing the song “Music of the Night.” Christine could reach the high notes and her performance left the listener with a good feeling. Raoul was wonderful in the romantic duet with Christine, “All I Ask of You.” The director made a few changes, supposedly making the musical more like the classic novel by Gaston Leroux. “Phantom of the Opera” is a dark, bittersweet tale of a man consumed by loneliness and hate, who learns to love too late.

MADELINE MARSHASSOCIATE EDITOR


The iconic scene is where the Phantom appears to Christine. Near the beginning of the play, Christine has the idea that the Phantom is the “Angel of Music” her deceased father has promised to send to her. In this scene he takes her to his lair under the city of Paris so she can sing for him.

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Ay‘Phantom of the Opera’ stays there, inside the mind

1. Problem - Ariana Grande feat. Iggy 2. All I Ever Need - Austin Mahone

3. All of Me - John Legend

4. Small Town - Brantley Gilbert

5. Happy - Pharrell Wiliams

6. Heaven (The Voice) - Jake Worthington

7. Turn down For what - DJ Snake & Lil Jon

8. Am I wrong - Nico & Vinz

9. All of Me (The Voice) - Josh Kaufman

10. wiggle - Jason Derulo feat. Snoop

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15THE LEAF | SPORTS

SportsMAY 27, 2014‘Lacrosse is more than a game’

T eams of 100 to 1,000 people squaring off in a symbolic war does not

sound like a modern day sport. However, lacrosse, as played by its inventors, the Native Americans, was played in this way. Lacrosse today may lack the symbolism and size of ancient lacrosse, but both are similar in that they both require physically tough and strong individuals to play. Physical fitness was a priority of first year coach Kevin Hess, who made sure his team was conditioned for the season. “Since last year, off-season training has become more physically demanding. Coach Hess has taken training very seriously, and has really gotten our team stronger and more fit,” said Kevin Fitzgerald, 10, JV A captain. The Varsity team has experienced a bit of hardship, however. Team captain Sean Cliver, 12, was injured in a game against Mariemont. “To me lacrosse is more than a game and the team is

more than a team. All those players are my family. As a captain, cheering and coaching are what I have to do at the moment because that’s where my team needs me. But I’m hoping to be back out there soon with my brothers,” said Cliver. Cliver tore his ACL and meniscus and will eventually need surgery. He returned to play on a hurt knee in the Indian Hill game on May 7, in which Sycamore won 10-9. Varsity goalie Mark Reinhart, 12, was also recently injured in an April 7 game against St. Xavier. Reinhart got stepped on in front of an uncontested shot. His ribs flexed instead of breaking, and slammed into his spleen. The official diagnosis was a grade 3 (out of 5) lacerated spleen. He was told he would be out for the season. “I was devastated, but I accepted it pretty well after a few days at the hospital. It really hit me though when I went to our next game and saw all of my teammates playing without me. I’ve been going to every practice and

ELI ZAWATSKYSTAFF WRITER

Slavery has been abolished for 150 years. Great leaders such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. rocked the world in the 1960’s. Banned Clippers owner Donald Sterling was born in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois. He experienced the civil rights movement while living in a racially supportive part of the United States. However, he is still a racist. His actions are despicable. Why would you tell your girlfriend (Sterling was married during this time, but cheating on his wife) not to bring an African-American to a Clippers game when 12 of the 14 players on the roster are African-American? That’s just not smart. Also, we can tell he does not like black people, but when it comes to basketball, white people are ‘just as bad’. According to Yahoo! Sports, when head coach Doc Rivers (who is also black) wanted to sign white shooting guard J.J. Redick, Sterling said, “I am not paying $7 million a year for a white guy.” The team ended up signing Redick, and he has played a major role this season. So Sterling hates African-Americans, but when it comes to them making him money, he IS fine with it? I compare this to slavery. It is obviously not as extreme, but in both cases, African-Americans are working for a wealthy white man who hates them and uses them to make money for himself. That is malarkey. Luckily for the NBA, new commissioner Adam Silver, who had been the NBA’s leader for 90 days after the retirement of David Stern, brought the hammer down and banned Sterling for life from attending any NBA organized games, practices, or being at the Clippers team facility. Silver is now working on getting a ¾ vote of the rest of the owners to oust Sterling from Clippers ownership and force him to sell the team. It’s 2014. Wake up Mr. Sterling. Racism is not accepted anymore. Hopefully, this is the last hatred we will see in sports.

DAVID WERTHEIMSTAFF WRITER

Column:Sterling shakes up NBA with startling

remarks


Senior signings

Mitch Hill Cassy McDowellAndi DiMasso

every game, because my team is my family, even if I can’t play,” said Reinhart. Reinhart was able to return to the field in a game this May. At press time, the team’s record was 9 and 6, and they had yet to be seeded for the post season tournament. “The team has got all of our injured players back and

Nathan Silverman, 12, throws the ball to Tyler Hegyesi, 11, during a warm up for a game. The Varsity team is 9 - 6.* The team has regained all of their injured players and is at full strength going into the postseason tournament.*At press time

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IT waS a RelIef TO have made my decISIOn. IT gave me SOmeThIng TO wORk TOwaRd and be excITed fOR nexT yeaR

I’ve been PlayIng vOlleyball SInce I waS SIx SO ITS been a dReam Of mIne SInce Then TO Play In cOllege

school: Emory Universitysport: Volleyball

school: gardner-webb Universitysport: Lacrosse

school: wright state Universitysport: Diving

my SIgnIng waS a gReaT way TO nOT Only RecOgnIze my accOmPlIShmenTS, buT my Team’S aS well. I’ve been SO lucky TO be a PaRT Of Such a gReaT aThleTIc PROgRam

Team overcomes injuries, becomes family

Laura Cole

scan here for more

information and results on the boys

lacrosse season

I’ve alwayS wanTed TO dIve In cOllege SO fInally SIgnIng made me feel SO PROud Of mySelf

looks to peak at the start of the playoffs,” said Cliver.

SPORTS


Starting early September, a mix of freshman, sophomore, junior and senior girls have dedicated a great amount of

time to a common interest they all have a passion for. This interest is lacrosse.

When one thinks of SHS, it is a given that their thoughts are directed straight to the superior

athletic program. However, when it comes to the girl’s

lacrosse program, it appears to be a bit more than just superior. This season, the Varsity girls’ lacrosse team is ranked the 4th best lacrosse team in the Midwest Region’s Top 10. The Lady Aves have

come out victorious in all of their games, including wins over Mason, MND, and Ursuline.

The true shining moment for the team this season was their win over Upper Arlington, their number one rival, even before Mason. Heading into the tournament rounds, the team has an undefeated record of 15-0. Though their record is quite impressive, the girls are continuing to work hard, give 100 percent and improve as they gear up to face some of the toughest teams. Nothing so far has seemed to get in

the way of this unstoppable team. If there was one thing that is viewed as a struggle for the Lady Aves and their head coach, Mr. Eddie

Clark, it is the loss that they will have to endure the loss of nine players next season, all of whom are seniors. “I am so sad to see all of the seniors go because I love them all like sisters. They truly are the backbone of this team,” said Mackenzie McMullen, 10. Many of the seniors on the team will be continuing their lacrosse careers in college Elizabeth MacVittie will be playing at the University of Texas, Elise Reardon at Purdue University, and Maddie Baker at the University of Cincinnati. However, the immense effort and dedication the girls have given to the season is not quite over yet. Their season is still in session as they proceed to the tournament and perhaps further on to State.

Striving for state titlesORION SCHLOSSER

STAFF WRITER

Girls lacrosse, boys tennis ranked first in state

The Varsity Gold tennis team poses with the Greater Miami Conference (GMC) Trophy. They defeated Mason to bring the title back to SHS for the first time since 2011. They will play Mason for a spot in the State Final Four.

Kara Marth, 12, is one of the captains of the girls lacrosse team. They finished an undefeated season, with a fifteen win, zero loss record. They are the number one seed in the state tournament.

ALEX WITTENBAUMSPORTS CHIEF

JACK LOONSTAFF WRITER

THIS SEASON'S SENIORS HAVE BETTERED THE LIFE OF EVERY OTHERS WORK ETHIC TALENT, OR OVERALL CHARACTER. THEY WILL BE MISSED.

ALLYSON MARTH, 10

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All three of the tennis teams have had great seasons, and look to do well at State. The Varsity A team has only lost once (CCD), despite injuries to two of their singles players, Deepak Indrakanti, 11, and Alex Taylor, 10. They are currently first in the state rankings, and have beaten seven out of the top ten teams. Regis Liou, 9, who is first singles on the Varsity B team, has been the substitute for these players while they are injured. After a victory at the GMC tournament, the team goes into Sectionals on May 13.

The Varsity B team has also been successful, only losing two matches. After losing to Mason 2-3 earlier in the season, the B team dominated their second match against them, winning on all of the courts, and defeating them 5-0. Led by captains Joseph Ahn, 11, and Rohan D’Souza, 10, the Junior Varsity ( JV) team has had an undefeated season, one of their best seasons ever. Along with being undefeated, the JV team dominated the Centerville doubles tournament, winning all three fights.

Scan here for the results throughout the State Tournament

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17THE LEAF | SPORTS

SOFTBALL CATCHING ON

MLB is ahead in steroid punishment, but in both speed and length of games and TV ratings, they are behind. One flaw Bud Selig and owners did attempt to improve was replay. While MLB is modernizing this aspect of the game by taking out 'human error' of the oh-so loved umpires, the human error is still there; it simply cannot be eliminated. However, it can be decreased. With 12 different angles, each can and will give a different call making the replay crew decide with their own eyes and brain-human parts. This new system is making the umpires increasingly hated. The human error is still evident no matter how hard they try. The mistakes made are humans –who are by no means are perfect-deciding the fate of the games we hold close to our hearts. Technology is a resource, not the answer. A month into the season, there have been multiple occasions where the replay staff appears to get it wrong, getting managers and players alike ejected for debating the play after the call. Players and staff will always have their own opinion no matter what the screen says- they saw it with their own eyes. My solution: have the umpires wear an earpiece, where in NYC each play of every game is reviewed and if the call of the umpire(s) is wrong, the call can change. Replay challenges have slowed down an impossibly slow paced game along with adding more commercials that make me want to throw my remote at the TV screen. The pace of baseball is another flaw of America’s pasttime that is a work in progress. With all their flaws, let’s give props to MLB for at least trying to fix it. MLB has changed their game once again- it is a learning curve, just like my journey with you. It is a time for me to learn, grow and change the journalism game.

Column:


LAUREN KURTZERSTAFF WRITER

Team accomplishes goals with new coach

A t the beginning of the season, players were informed that

their former coach, Mr. Mark Weigel would no longer be able to coach the team. “I really wanted to play for him; he has helped me a lot over the years and I was so excited,” said Elizabeth Izworski, 9. Sarah Melvin replaced Weigel as the new head coach. Melvin is a former student of SHS and was part of the softball team that won their only three State Championships. She played Division I softball in college at Ohio University. The players had to get used to her coaching style, practices and managing the team.

The JV team played its last game on May 8, due to the fact that there is no tournament for the GMC JV teams. “Even though we are not going to GMCs I think the season was a success because we got a lot better and improved throughout the season,” said Allison Fanning, 9. Leading the Varsity team on the mound was Izworski, and Lydia Sloan, 11. For both of them, it was their first year pitching at the Varsity level. Hannah Young and Hannah Frey, both freshmen, also made the Varsity team. After an 11-14 season, their best since 2006, the team will have to bounce back next year after losing

HANNAH MAYSTAFF WRITER

Boys volleyball teams finish up gratifying seasonFocused on friendship:

their entire infield. Injuries throughout the season have prevented some players from participating in games, but going into the championship tournament, most of the team will be completely healed. The Varsity softball team played their first postseason game against Amelia on May 12. After a close game, SHS was able to win with a final score of 6-5. They were scheduled to play Harrison on May 14, but due to severe weather, the team played the next day with a 0-4 loss to Harrison. “All sports take time and dedication but it’s all worth it when the bonds of a team start to grow and bring everyone together,” said Izworski.

Hannah Melvin, 12, hits the ball during a Varsity softball game. She is one of six seniors on the team. Her sister took over as coach at the beginning of the season.

There are over 72 sports offered to SHS athletes. Of those 72, boys volleyball is commonly thought of as one of the least popular among students. “Compared to other sports, not a lot of boys play volleyball,” said Nathan LeRoy, 11, Varsity member. “It’s unique.” Despite its low notoriety, those who know or participate in boys volleyball find the sport just as enjoyable as others offered at SHS. In fact, several of the boys Varsity and JV members participated in volleyball for the first time this year. “This is my first year playing volleyball,” said LeRoy. “I played this year because compared to other sports its less demanding. The season is a

little shorter than most, and there’s also no offseason workouts either.” The Varsity team finished the season with a GMC record of 2-6, but the team players do not feel this record was a direct reflection of their overall season. Friendships themselves played a big role throughout the year. The five seniors -Kyle Hackett, Andrew Hanus, Ben Jervis, Parker Barens, and Pete Lopez- all contributed throughout the season. “Meeting upperclassmen was definitely what I liked the best about our season,” said Andrew Bemmes, 11. Bemmes found that Hanus had a big impact on the team as a whole despite being a first year volleyball player.

LAUREN SAXONPRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Senior Ben Jervis jumps up to spike the ball. Jervis has been on the volleyball team since 2013. He plans to attend the University of Cincinnati in the fall.

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“How do you break the stereotype of

gender roles?

Leafing through the masses:

Staff EditorialExpectations we can’t support


OpinionMAY 27, 2014

As active users of social media, youth, especially teenagers, see everything. At times, Twitter is a constant stream of celebrity pictures. Not only does the media portray gender in an unrealistic manner, but most aspects of society do as well. A classic example is Barbie, the widely popular plastic doll with a thin frame and a perfect face. Thousands of children played with the doll in their youth, and unconsciously were forming ideas of what a ‘perfect woman’ should look like. But, women are not the only ones that face this problem. Men face some of the same issues and sometimes have even more demanding standards to uphold, one being toughness and muscularity. Again, the media is greatly at fault

for creating the very unrealistic ‘perfect male’ that is not only extremely fit and muscular but also has the emotional equivalent of a zombie. Beyond physical appearance, gender supposedly dictates how a person should feel, think, and act. It puts people at a disadvantage they struggle to overcome, and inspires movements for equal rights. These movements still have a long way to go. Regardless of gender, media and society has created expectations that are physically and psychologically damaging. Gender roles pervade every corner of life, from politics and positions of power to everyday life. They influence children, teenagers and adults. And no one winner takes all.

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I WANT TO BE AN ENGINEER. I ALSO LOVE MATH AND

SCIENCE, WHICH ARE NOT CLASSES THAT

STEREOTYPICAL WOMEN GRAVITATE TO.

SAMANTHA CIRICILLO, 11

I LOVE TO COOK, AND I FEEL LIKE THAT IS

GENERALLY MORE OF A FEMALE STEREOTYPE IN

TODAY’S SOCIETY.

KALMAN HEYN, 12

I DON’T REALLY WEAR DRESSES VERY OFTEN

OR PAINT MY NAILS. I’M ALSO A LOT STRONGER

THAN A LOT OF THE GUYS I KNOW.

PRISCILLA WU, 10

COUNSELORS IN MY HIGH SCHOOL

ENCOURAGED GIRLS NOT TO GO TO

COLLEGE. I’M PROUD OF TODAY’S WOMEN.

MRS. VALERIE NIMESKERN, HISTORY

TEACHER

OPINION

19THE LEAF | OPINION

On the Friday before spring break, a rule-abiding student/citizen was sent to Mr. Mark Weigel’s office to be convicted of truancy.

Spare a lunch detention for being late after recess at the Junior High, I have had a clean slate since kindergarten. So seeing as I am in the midst of my last days of my secondary educative years, I decided to rub some dirt on this glimmering slate of mine. There are some psychological reasons for why my disrespect toward authority has been limited through my adolescent years, and why my ‘rebellion’ has arisen now. I put rebellion in quotes because according to Carl E. Pickhardt of “Psychology Today,” rebellion is an act of dependency: “Rebellion causes the young person to depend self-definition and personal conduct on doing the opposite of what other people want.” Granted, a small degree of my motivation was for

this purpose, but the majority seems to resonate with a latter part of the article- “the antidote for rebellion is the true independence offered by creating and accepting a challenge - the young person deciding to do something hard with themselves for themselves in order to grow themselves.” I am lucky that I have parents that support me in almost every decision I make and therefore I am able to challenge myself in a myriad of ways. There are many times when I have been nervous or uncomfortable and I have found the courage to face challenges I never thought I would be able to overcome. With healthy relationships with my parents and being on the verge of getting called a college student, a sudden inclination to disrespect authority would not add up. Next year I am majoring in Theater because I don’t want a 9-5 routine schedule. Through theater I am able to challenge myself, and new experiences and stories are constantly on the horizon. My act of rebellion was simply

a means of challenging myself in a foreign way; a search for a new experience, a trip to Red River Gorge on a typical Wednesday. It’s a challenge for me to go against the grain and defy the rules, but new experiences bring out the courageous side of us, keep us from being bored, and most importantly, force us to grow. I have no greater joy than the moment after accomplishing something I didn’t think I could accomplish the day before. Now, in my final days at Sycamore High School, I know that I have skipped school to have an adventure at Red River Gorge. And I have an article published in The Leaf, which I never would have guessed I would have done when I walked through the lower bus ramp freshman year. This morning at 7:55 a.m., I gladly walked into the detention cell with my laptop and iPod. When our supervisor walked in and closed the door behind him, I thought of Jefferson and smirked.

When people think of summer, they tend to think about the warm weather, relaxing by the pool, cool drinks and popsicles, and laughing with friends. But what about summer homework? Summer assignments have become the rule for many students in recent years, making vacation a relative term for students and their parents. “I hate the feeling near the end of summer where I know I still have so much work to do. It makes me enjoy my vacation less. Summer homework can help but I don’t think we need as much as

they assign,” said Sarah Thompson, 10. Reinforcing math and writing skills learned throughout the school year can help students jump right back into the academic mindset quickly during the first weeks of school. However, it can come at the cost of enjoying family vacations and valuable moments with friends. Also, a summer filled with curiosity, imagination, and quiet time can be just as rejuvenating for the mind and spirit of burned-out students. “I could probably learn more from the experiences of going on trips with my friends and family

than reading a textbook stuck at home,” said Sneha Rajagopal, 11. While students are eager to lessen the homework load, teachers might disagree. Many teachers of Advanced Placement classes argue summer homework is imperative in order to finish the syllabus before the exam. Advocates of summer work also argue that summer homework prevents students from forgetting everything they have learned the previous school year. Even eager students say that it keeps them from getting bored. All in all, summer homework, what seems to be a tedious task, may in fact be beneficial to most.

Why I did it Confessions of a convicted truant“I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical” –Thomas Jefferson

Guest Column:

Summer homework brings stress

GIL KAPLANSATURDAY SCHOOL PRISONER

CAROLINE GAOBUSINESS MANAGER

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OPINION

Last month, we discussed the new waste disposal system in the commons. So far the program has seen monumental success. But as a volunteer, I still see people complaining and trying to derail the system. No, it’s not okay to try and throw away 50 napkins at a time. Yes, you do have to separate your tray from your trash. It is true that most of the response has been positive, but any resistance is worrying. What will happen when we try to install more drastic changes? And after we graduate, will any of these efforts stay with us? Are we finally going to be the generation who ‘saves the Earth?’ It is terrifying to see how our planet is transforming, and how rapidly we consume our nonrenewable resources. We hear the lectures on ‘going green,’ but it’s too late for cute presentations and tree-hugger t-shirts. Climate change is happening, and it is going to affect us all in ways we might not expect. Beyond the ever-present threat of the ozone layer there lies even more problems. As high school students, our generation is being set up to take control- of politics, of culture, and of our own society. We need to promote environmental sustainability, and it has to come from individual action. Things like recycling and composting at lunch are just some of the small steps that we must take to insure our success. We need to go bigger, and soon. As students, we can play our part in changing the way we live. It could be as simple as carpooling to school, or as difficult as petitioning for less classroom handouts. Whatever it is, I urge you, and myself, and everyone to never slow our momentum for change. The adults in our lives aren’t going to take care of us forever. As a whole they’ve proven they aren’t going to take care of our environment. It’s up to us now, so please, put your cans in the right spot.

KATHRYN TENBARGEWEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEFISAAC GOLDSTEIN

MANAGING EDITOR

5 things to do before graduating

When the students at SHS graduate, they will have completed a big chapter in their lives. At this point, these students will depart each other and move on to a new

journey. Reflecting on their years at SHS, many have advice to give to the underclassmen. “I would encourage students to not solely focus on the end goal of high school, college, but enjoy it. Select activities because you want to spend your time doing them, and not because you think they will look good on an application,” said Sara Constand, 12. It is not uncommon for students to feel this way reflecting on high school. At the end, when everything is said and done, high school may not seem as bad. But don’t get me wrong, being in the middle of it myself, at times high school can seem unbearable. So, is the advice from these seniors worth taking? It may not seem like the right action to take now, but I bet when I graduate high school I will have similar things to say. Advice from those graduating is advice from the other end, advice that we, students immersed in the middle of high school, may not be able to see.

“It’s okay to do things alone. Classes without friends, dances without dates, seeing bands or movies alone,” said MacKenzie Boyd, 11. Boyd is one of three juniors who are graduating this year and attending college next year. This is a choice that is open to anyone if he or she plans far enough in advance. It is a bold choice, in my opinion, but everyone is different, and some individuals are ready to move on before others. “I would say to enjoy high school and not stress out over the little things,” said Bryan Waterhouse, 12. High school is supposed to be an engaging learning environment, not a torture chamber filled with work. And although sometimes it may seem like the latter, not worrying over the little things may lighten up the mental load. After all, the goal of the teachers and administration at SHS is to prepare us, as students, for the future. So maybe a little trust in their motives would go a long way.

Reflecting on high school: Advice for underclassmen

Fifty shades of going green

high schoolBRENDA SHEN

STRATEGIC COACH

4. Take advantage of elective courses

1. Attend a dance

2. Get pumped for spirit week

3. Go to After Prom

5. Join a club and get involved

MAY 27, 2014

21THE LEAF | SPOTLIGHT

SpotlightFisher finds funds for animals in need‘I want to start a ripple; inspire people to help other people’

BROOKE LANDRUMSPOTLIGHT CHIEF

Carolyn Fisher, 10, is one of the many quiet faces that roam the halls of SHS. Many people

know her as the sweet, down-to-earth girl that is always around when you need her. What most people do not know is the extent to which the goodness inside extends. I asked what her aspirations regarding her work were and her response was simply beautiful. “I just want to make a difference. I want to leave something behind that is bigger than myself,” said Fisher. After hearing all that she had done in such a short time already, including Interact Club and U4U, I have no doubt in my mind that we have a mini Mother Theresa on our hands. Paws in the Park Fisher has her own rescue dog, Sunny, from Hurricane Katrina. Because of the impact that Sunny has had on her life, Fisher has teamed up with a local shelter to organize ‘Paws in the Park.’ This event was a part of Fisher’s efforts to earn a Gold Award. This is one of the highest honors a Girl Scout can recieve. It is equivalent to the Eagle Scout rank. One part of the criteria for this award is doing a service project. This seemed easy for Fisher, who volunteers regularly. However, Fisher found herself going far beyond the call of duty for her project.

‘Paws in the Park’ is an event that Fisher helped start and continues to run that raises money for rescue dogs. 2013 was the first year and they raised enough money to save the lives of three dogs. “It really helped me break out of my shell. I’d never had people looking to me to tell them what to do before,” said Fisher. The walk will be continuing for years to come. Fisher hopes to be part of the walk again and believes that animals are just as worthy a cause as humans. Her philosophy Her philosophy is one of hope. She believes that she has the power to make a difference. Even though it may seem daunting to most people, she thinks that she can do it. “I want to leave behind something bigger than myself. Someone for people to look up to and aspire to be like,” said Fisher. She is a firm believer that little people and little things can make a big difference. She wants to do a little bit of good for a lot of people. With a philosophy like this, this dynamic girl is bound to start the chain reaction she hopes to affect.Her future in perspective Fisher hopes that she will be able to continue her work with animals for the rest of her life. Her dream is

to become a veterinarian and help animals of all kinds. As of now she has a job for the summer working at her dog’s veterinary office. She will be working there by doing odd jobs and trying to gain some experience in the field. She has high hopes for her future and aspires to leave behind something that people can hold on to. She wants to be a source of inspiration for other people who can carry on what she has worked so hard to do.

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1) Fisher poses with her dog Sunny. She got Sunny when she was six years old and chose to adopt her to save her from poor conditions.2) Fisher holds one of the dogs she would be working with while planning ‘Paws in the Park’. She also works with the organization ‘Kyle’s New Hope’.3) Sabrina Kaul, 10, Maya Sheth, 10, Serena Kaul, 10, Fisher and Keara Sontag, 10 all participated and worked at Paws in the Park the first year that it was introduced. The girls made sure that the walk went as planned and ran smoothly.4) Fisher puts together a project for her Girl Scout troop to show what she did to earn her Gold Award. Fischer earned this award for her volunteerism and all around dedication to the Girl Scout program.

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