clarioncolonelthe

oldham county high school 1150 n. highway 393 buckner, KY 40010 www.oldham.k12.ky.us/ochs october 2010ldh t hi h h loldham county high school hi h b k KY ldh k k / h1150 n highway 393 buckner KY 40010 www oldham k12 ky us/ochs t boctober 2010

A Scrapbook of Victory:Keeping Tally of the O-Zone’s Games of the Week

News: Take a peek At The KFC Yum! Center

Page 8

Opinions: Examining The Freshman Academy

Page 12

Features: Q&A with Two Talented Students

Page 16

Sports: Following a Four-Year Athlete

Page 23

October 2010BRIEFS 3Campus Updates Rotary Students

September October

Career Goals: Obstetrician, Dermatologist, PsychiatristCollege Choices: Bellarmine University, Centre College, Georgetown University, University of Louisville, University of KentuckySchool Activities: Student Council, Drama Club, Choir, Service Club, Science ClubInterests Outside of School: Watching “Glee,” Singing “Glee” and daydreaming of being on the cast of “Glee”Honors or Awards: Junior and Senior Class President, Drama Club President, Science Club Vice President, Academic Awards in Advanced English I, Foundations, Geometry, World Civilization, Biology, Humanities and Advanced English II

Career Goals: Diplomat, Translator, Lawyer, Start a charity, Travel the WorldCollege Choices: UndecidedSchool Activities: Varsity Cross Country, Service Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Clarion Colonel Staff , Student Council, BETA ClubInterests Outside of School: Church Youth Group, Running, Politics, Reading, Learning SpanishHonors or Awards: Governor’s Scholar, Commonwealth Ambassador, Class of Kentucky Program, Hugh O’Bryan Youth Leadership Award, National Leadership Summit, VP of Service Club, Captain of Cross Country Team, National Writing Study

Career Goals: Oncology nurse, High school teacherCollege Choices: Western Kentucky University, Bellarmine University, University of LouisvilleSchool Activities: School President, FCA Offi cer, Cross Country, Yearbook Staff , National Honor Society, Relay for Life, Colonel AmbassadorInterests Outside of School: Youth Minister, MissionaryHonors or Awards: Rotary Student of the Month, School President, Yearbook Editor, NHS, Colonel Ambassador

Career Goals: Become a Lawyer, Give back to the community, Travel the WorldCollege Choices: Xavier University, Georgetown College, Purdue UniversitySchool Activities: Varsity Golf Team, Varsity Tennis Team, Clarion Colonel Staff , National Honor Society, BETA ClubInterests Outside of School: El Acapulco, “The Amazing Race” and “House,” University of Kentucky Athletics, GolfHonors or Awards: Governor’s Scholar, Commonwealth Diploma Recipient, Commonwealth Ambassador, Brandon Berry Gold Award, Varsity Golf Team Captain, Varsity Tennis Team Captain

DANCE TEAM The dance team raised money for the American Cancer Society by working with Mr. Lavelle Smith, professional choreographer. Smith is the choreographer for Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, and has danced and choreographed for the late Michael Jackson. The team will be competing at North Oldham on Saturday, Nov. 6.

FCCLA The FCCLA is accepting new members. Anyone interested should see Ms. Hardin in room 240.

POWDER-PUFF FOOTBALL The annual senior/junior powder-puff football game is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.

SERVICE CLUB Members of the service club are invited to participate in a yard beautifi cation/leaf raking activity at Rosehaven in early November. See the service club board for more information.

SPEECH AND DEBATE The Speech and Debate team will compete in their fi rst tournament Oct. 30 at Campbell County High School in the following categories: Duo Improv, Prose Interpretation & Poetry Interpretation.

4 October 2010 NEWS

The 2010 KCCT scores are in, and Oldham County High School failed to meet an incredible four out of 13 target goals, thus not meeting reading, mathematics, and overall Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Since 2001, there AYP has been the term used by the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act to determine whether a school or school district has met required federal accountability levels. A school or school must reach 100 percent of its target goals

President Barack Obama revealed his plan to improve the nation’s failing education system during NBC’s fi rst ever Education Nation Summit. Among the many points made during his interview with TODAY’s Matt Lauer, Obama made it clear that he thinks lengthening the school year and weaning out poor teachers would go a long way in advancing the nation’s current education system. American students have fallen behind their foreign counterparts in core subjects such as math and science. According to Obama, the United States now ranks 21 in science and 25 in mathematics on the world scale. Along with the drops in scores, nearly one-third of children are dropping out of high school nationwide. The president believes that in some cases teachers need to be held accountable for their student’s low scores and he has endorsed fi ring teachers

who, once given the change and the help to improve, still fall short. “We h a v e got to identif y teachers who are d o i n g w e l l . Teachers w h o are not d o i n g well, we have got to give them the support and the training to do well. And if some teachers aren’t doing a good job, they’ve got to go,” Obama said.

Obama also believes that students should have less vacation t i m e , or an extended s c h o o l year. “We now have our kids go to s c h o o l about a m o n t h less than m o s t o t h e r advanced countries and that m o n t h

makes a diff erence. It means that kids are losing a lot of what they learned during the school year during the summer,” Obama

Education nation: Obama’s initiative

MATT STEWARTmanaging editor

said. The president’s goal to lengthen the school year faces looming obstacles, including budgetary and contrary citizen opinions. Although Obama said lengthening the school year would be money well spent, it would also be a challenge for states and districts if the federal government does not supply all of the funds needed to extend school calendars. The average public school year lasts about 180 days, and state and local school district treasuries are having a hard enough time aff ording that. Lengthening the school year would involve extra staffi ng, additional busing, increased funds to keep buildings operating and various other expenses. “What I’m not prepared to do is shortchange our children’s education,” Obama said. “At a time when most of the new jobs being created will require some kind of higher education, when countries that out-educate us today will out-compete us tomorrow, giving our kids the best education possible is an economic imperative.”

KCCT results don’t reach academic goalsMathematics and reading scores continue to decline

to meet AYP. Schools that do not meet the testing requirements for two or more years in a row are then eligible for state assistance, in the form of government provided personnel. “We have to strive to do the best in every course, while pushing every student to do his or her best,” Brent Deaves, principal, said. “The scores don’t represent the students adequately, because we’re ranked 13th out of

230 schools in ACT scores, but 39th out of 230 on the KCCT.” Deaves s u g g e s t e d that students didn’t score

as well because they cannot see what their personal benefi t of the test is.

The Annual Measurable Objective expected 49.54 percent of students to get a profi cient or higher in English, and a 49.85 percent in mathematics in 2009, and 59.63 percent on English, and a 59.88 percent in mathematics in 2010. For these two years, students have been unsuccessful on the reading and mathematics tests, which for the fi rst time in history, makes OC eligible for state assistance. Bob Rodosky, a research analyst for Jeff erson County public schools – which had only 27 out of 133 schools meet KCCT goals – reported that the problem is with the goals and not the students or teachers. If schools fail to reach one year’s goal, they are still expected to reach the following year’s goal, making it nearly impossible to achieve. Deaves has suggested new standards for judging how a school progresses, which focuses on the change between test scores

of a group’s eighth grade year and their sophomore year. He believes the goals must change according to the students, and progress should be measured for students individually. “You know the goals are almost right now unreachable the way they are stated in Kentucky. And next year is going to be the same for the state,” Rodosky said. The goal for 2014 is for 100 percent of students to score over a profi cient, which would require reading scores over profi cient to increase 22.35 percent and 47.1 percent in the mathematics section in a little more than three years. “We’re concerned about it, but not alarmed,” Paul Upchurch, superintendant, said. “These results don’t mean we should panic; we just need to spend some time fi guring out what happened and what we can do to better meet students’ needs.”

KIRBY FIELDSstaff writer

“You know the goals are almost right now unreachable the way they are stated in Kentucky. And next year is going to be the same for the state.”

-Bob Rodosky, research analyst

LAUER GETS SCHOOLED -- President Obama sits down

with Matt Lauer to discuss his proposed changes to

America’s public education system. A reported one-third

of American students don’t graduate from high school.

Revised eduation plan attempts to make the grade

today.msnbc.msn.com

October 2010 NEWS 5Building welcomes veteran staff and alumni11 positions fi lled by experienced, enthusiastic personnel

TOM SCHALLEReditor in chief

The beginning of the school year brought with it a number of new faces in the form of faculty and staff members. The school welcomed a total of 11 new employees ranging from an agriculture teacher to a front offi ce receptionist. Many of the new staff members have

found their niche and are already fi tting in well in their new environments; none more so than receptionist, and school alumna, Amber Waller. “[Waller] always has a great attitude, and is really easy to work with,” Hannah Daep, senior and offi ce aide, said. “She’s doing a great job.” Other faculty members are fi nding similar success in the classroom, including senior English and humanities teacher, Jennifer Girardin.

“I really enjoy her class,” Anthony Rose, senior, said. “[Girardin] is really easy to converse with and is a lot of fun. She defi nitely makes class discussions enjoyable.” Likewise, librarian Christi Unker has had little trouble making the transition from the elementary to high school level. Unker most recently worked at Buckner Elementary, but felt her true calling was at the high school. “High school is my favorite age group,” Unker said. She has worked at the high school level in the past and has been able

to adjust easily, but not without the help of her fellow co-workers. “Mrs. McHargue has been a lot of help,” Unker said. The new faculty and staff members include: Unker; Girardin; Waller; Brandi Beichler, special education; Tiff any Dunn, Spanish; Andrew Haselton, agriculture; Kelly Holsclaw, special education; Joy Kinney, special education; Trent Mitchell, special education assistant; Stephen Mullins, school psychologist and special education; and Gail Sowell, English.

NEW FACES -- (Left)

Mitchell works one on one

with a student. (Center)

Beichler, Holsclaw, and

Mullins conference about

departmental procedures.

(Right) Kinney, as lead

teacher for the special

education department, is

responsible for excessive

paperwork. photos by BethAnn Harvey

October 2010 6 NEWS

Adama Kamara, sophomore, recently created a website called YourBullyStory.com. Kamara was bullied and harassed in middle school and wanted to create an online resource that would give other victims a voice. “[I created the site] to have myself and other people who have been bullied share their experiences,” Kamara said. YourBullyStory.com hosts an open forum where teens can share their stories, anonymously, if they wish, and read the

stories of others. It also includes inspirational quotes and a resource center with information about bullying and helpful hotlines. Kamara was bullied incessantly at her old school. Problems increased until she transferred to Oldham County. Even after she moved, she received harassing phone calls from kids at her old school. “I guess people don’t change no matter where you go,” Kamara said. “They still talk about me over there.” Kamara’s website has received a very positive response so far. “I think [the site] is going to be very benefi cial to kids who are having bullying problems because people

Musician Alexandra Bolus, junior, was aired on 91.9 WFPK radio Oct. 6. The performance was recorded live for an audience sponsored by Kentucky Homefront Performances on Aug. 14. Bolus got the gig with the help of her father, Todd Bolus, who sent a demo of her CD to multiple music gurus in the Louisville area. “I received a CD of hers and I had never heard of her before. There was a little note attached to it and what really impressed me was the follow up call,” John Gage, host and head of Kentucky Homefront Performances, said. “She is very young and I recognized her talent and I wanted to encourage her.”

The process of creating and submitting a demo, making her an offi cial part of the set list and developing the actual show h a p p e n e d t h r o u g h o u t this year. At the Clifton Center, a performance and meeting complex in Louisville, her transition from an underground lyricist into a real performer was

can respond and give them advice about their situations,” Rachel Bolus, sophomore, said. The website has also made a positive impression on the school’s staff . Pamela Hart, an OCHS administrator who has been working in schools for 27 years, said that she has seen an increase in bullying over the years due to technology. Hart said that while sharing stories alone won’t eliminate the problem, it is an important fi rst step for many victims of bullying. “It’s always important that students have an outlet for things that are bothering them,” Hart said. Though Kamara had friends

made known to the crowd of 500. This gave Bolus a new confi dence in her music and an equal excitement for the air date on WFPK. “It was really nerve-racking at fi rst because all you could hear was the rummaging of the audience and all I could do was wait behind stage,” Bolus said. “But when I got on stage, there was a

HANNAH LORENZbusiness manager

CORTNEE GRAYstaff writer

veil between me and the crowd and all of my nerves disappeared.” Other local artists that were featured in the show included Next Exit Bluegrass Band, Storefront Congregation, and Jenny Madison. “She handled it professionally just like all the other artists did. She had a unique style and there was a nice interaction between her and the piano,” Gage said. Her performance made a name of her music career, also made apparent by her airing on 91.9. “I was happy to help Alex because it contributed to the show and it let the community know more about her. People have no idea that they have kids like her right there in their own neighborhood,” Gage said.

at her old school, she started feeling uncomfortable telling them about the problems she was having. “I had people to talk to, but I felt like they were being annoyed with me telling them all the time,” Kamara said “So, I backed off and tried to handle it myself.” YourBullyStory.com has been steadily gaining publicity since its creation over the summer. Kamara was recently featured on Louisville news station WLKY. “I have mixed feelings about it,” Kamara said. “I’m excited for the website, but for myself, I’m really nervous because I could get any reaction.”

Student creates website as an outlet for bullied teens

Spotlight shines on local artist broadcast on 91.9 WFPK‘From an underground lyricist to real performer,’ a starlet is born

RIGHT ON PITCH -- Bolus plays the piano at her

performance at the Clifton Center. She composes

and performs all of her own music.

photo submitted

October 2010NEWS 7

Bedbugs creep closer to homeP a r a s i t i c p a n d e m i c h a s c o u n t y p o t e n t i a l

MICHAEL ROUPnews editor

The United States is experiencing a major resurgence of bedbugs, a pest that was hardly heard of after the mid-2oth century. Bedbug infestations are primarily springing up in high traffi c cities such as Louisville. Their small size and resistance to many pesticides makes bedbugs easy to transport and hard to remove. Bedbugs are small, reddish brown parasites that suck the blood of humans and other animals. They get their name from living in and around the beds of their victims. The reemergence of bedbugs in the U.S. is believed to be the result of increased domestic and international travel as well as a built-up resistance to pesticides. “It’s more like the plague,” Randy Bright, operations manager of Bright Pest Control, said. “No one’s exempt.” According to bedbugregistry.com, a website that allows users to submit reports of hotels and apartments that have bedbugs, Kentucky has over 120 reported cases of bedbugs. Approximately 40 of these reports are in the Louisville area. So far, the website has received no reports for hotels or apartments in Oldham County. “We had a few problems in 2008, but we

quickly took care of them,” Chad Lynch, environmental health specialist with the Oldham County Health Department, said. “We’ve pushed and encouraged hotels and motels to have a comprehensive plan for dealing with bed bugs with certifi ed pest control companies.” While the OCHD is required to inspect hotels and motels, apartments are left out. It can be diffi cult to eradicate bedbugs from apartments because they can often travel between units through small cracks in the walls. Bedbugs are also diffi cult to remove because they are often r e s i s t a n t to the p e s t i c i d e s that are approved to fi ght them. Hotels and apartments are not the only places that can experience b e d b u g infestations. M o v i e theaters and other public b u i l d i n g s can collect b e d b u g s as well. A c c o r d i n g

Student email accounts have changed this year. Ketsmail no longer exists, as the school is now using Microsoft Outlook. Students can reach the new email server by visiting the school website and clicking the “Webmail” link at the top of the page. Student users must also change their login information to log onto the school network. Instead of the former user names, students must use their email address (fi rstname.lastname@stu.oldham.kyschools.us) and change their passwords. For more information, visit the school website. A link is provided under the “For Students” section that leads to detailed directions on how to set up new email accounts.

HANNAH LORENZbusiness manager

New student emailImportant information for

accessing your school account

to Bright, bedbugs can live anywhere where they can feed and multiply. Bedbugs hide during the day and generally stay within eight feet of where people sleep. The fi rst indication of a bedbug infestation is the presence of mosquito-like bite marks on the body. According to a joint statement on bedbug control by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency, the bite marks can take up to two weeks to develop in some people, so people should look for

other signs of their presence. The insects can leave dark, blood-colored spots on sheets and furniture and exoskeletons may be found lying around. The vampiric insects can go without a meal for up to a year. They remain dormant until a new food supply turns up.

SNEAK ATTACK -- A bedbug takes a meal from a human host. Bedbugs

were once believed to live only in unsanitary housing; however, the belief is

now known to be false.

phil.cdc.gov/phil

October 2010 8 NEWSKFC Yum! Center spices up Louisville JAMES ENSORasst. photo editor

The much anticipated KFC Yum! Center opened Oct. 10 as a new highlight to the downtown Louisville skyline. Events from NCAA championship games to concerts will be held in the state of the art venue. “This is a monumental event that has been years in the making,” Jim Host, chair of the Louisville Arena Authority, said. “I speak for the entire Arena Authority when I say how excited we are this moment has fi nally arrived after years of research, planning, development and construction. I am so proud of this facility and all the hard work that has gone into making this dream a reality.” From Nov. 28, 2006 to Oct. 10, 2010, crews worked non-stop to complete construction. The center opened its doors to the public after 1,412 days of construction. “I am pleased the doors to the KFC Yum! Center are offi cially open,” Harold Workman, president and CEO of the Kentucky State Fair Board, said. “I look forward to the variety of concerts, conventions, shows and other events that will be attracted to this state of the art facility and will bring millions in economic impact to the community.” The arena is owned by Louisville Arena Authority and operated by the Kentucky State Fair board. It was designed by Populous located in Kansas City along with a local

fi rm, Louis and Henry Group. “It’s absolutely stunning,” Katie Fitzner, Cardinal fan, said. “I can’t believe it’s actually in Louisville. What a great addition to Louisville’s curb appeal.” The massive 721,762 square foot building cost an estimated $238 million dollars. Despite costs, the arena is expected to generate a projected revenue of over one billion dollars through the course of the next 30 years.

“Major sports competitions, concerts and conventions

have already added Louisville’s KFC

Yum! Center to their list of prime destinations – the types of bookings that used to bypass us in

favor of bigger, more modern

amenities,” Governor Steve

Beshear, said. “Now we have a fi rst- class arena

in a thriving downtown that will spur economic growth throughout the state. This is truly an exciting day for all of Kentucky.” A lineup of events for the center has already been released. Sporting events such as UofL mens and womens basketball games have been scheduled. Musical guests Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga are also expected to perform at the new arena. “I am so excited for all of the singers coming here,” Cammie Rickson, sophomore, said. “I really want to see Gaga. I might go see the Biebster too.”

Multifunctional arena opens its doors to the public

“I am so proud of this facility and all the hard work that has gone into making this dream a reality.” -Jim Host

photos by James Ensor

over their ability to succeed in school, as well as on standardized tests, and they then often fall victim to a “why try?” mentality, which only intensifi es the real problem. If schools want to see improvements on

standardized tests, or at least glean an actual indication of what is learned in school from them, then students must be held accountable for the eff ort made on any exams. That’s not to say that holding teachers accountable isn’t important as well. In fact, many areas of the country suff er greatly from a lack of discipline among their teachers, but that doesn’t mean that students should get off scot-free. For scholasticism in America, and Oldham County, to truly progress, the importance of disciplining both sides of the academic spectrum – teachers

and students – must be realized. Teachers should not have to shoulder all of the blame when inevitably it is the students that are taking the tests, and it’s also the students who are not taking them seriously. Students must be held to tougher standards, as, clearly, the “good faith eff ort” involves very little eff ort at all.

Colonels, we want to hear what you think! Submit a Colonel’s Voice letter in response to one of our October articles and you may be published in next month’s issue!

he gort at all.

October 2010 9 9 OPINIONS

t h e c l a r i o n v i e w s t a f f e d i t o r i a l

Staff WritersAlex Bolus

Katherine CollinsBuddy ElderKirby Fields

Brooke GorbandtCortnee GrayErin Kohnke

Austin MullenPaige RietveldChloe Sedoris

Kristen ShircliffSam Tabor

The clarion colonel welcomes letters to the editor. Letters can be put in Mrs. Joan Thompson’s mailbox or be sent to: Newspaper, Oldham County High School, P.O. Box 187, Buckner, Ky 40010“The clarion colonel” is published monthly by the students

of Oldham County High School, Buckner, Ky. Oldham County

High School is not responsible for the accuracy of opinions or

claims appearing in “the clarion colonel.” Opinions expressed

do not necessarily represent the views of the staff or its

publisher. The appearance of any advertisement does not

constitute endorsement of any product in “the clarion colonel.”

Managing EditorMatt Stewart

News EditorMichael Roup

Features EditorCassidy Bliss

Online EditorKhrysin Samuels

Asst. Photo EditorJames Ensor

Circulation ManagerBrooke Daugherty

ColumnistKayla Aschenbeck

AdviserJoan Thompson

Editor in ChiefTom Schaller

Production EditorDuall Schutte

Opinions EditorMandy Hogue

Sports EditorKyle Stewart

Photo EditorBethAnn Harvey

Business ManagerHannah Lorenz

ColumnistMatt Lawson

Chief IllustratorCarly Besser

the clarion colonel staff

Editorial Board This re�lects the view of the Editorial Board. The members of the board this month include Cassidy Bliss, Buddy Elder, Cortnee Gray, Paige Rietveld, Tom Schaller, Chloe Sedoris, and Matt Stewart

As test scores continue to decline on both national and local levels, educators and legislators have searched for the source of the problem. The conclusion often found is that teachers are the ones to blame for the unsatisfactory scores. With nationwide attention brought upon the topic trough NBC’s Education Nation Summit, as well as the hard-hitting documentary, “Waiting for Superman,” which analyzes the problems with the current public school system, it is clear that teachers are on the chopping block. This condemnation hardly seems fair when there is a much more obvious source of the plummeting scores - apathetic teenagers. As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. This couldn’t more accurately describe teacher-student relations. As an educator, it is the teacher’s job to provide students with the opportunity to learn to the best of their ability. At the same time, it is the student’s responsibility to learn the subject matter to the best of his or her ability. The only component that a teacher can truly provide a student is the chance to learn. Without the thirst for knowledge on the student’s end, teachers are powerless. And, unfortunately, many classrooms around the country face this problem on a daily basis. Students simply have no desire to further their intellectual growth, especially if it entails even the slightest amount of work. Not only has student apathy clawed its way into the classroom, it has completely engulfed standardized testing. Standardized tests are essentially the only current manner by which progress is assessed within schools, and with strict policies such as our own school’s “good faith eff ort” policy,

to say that these tests aren’t taken seriously by students would be an understatement. Students are not being held accountable for their performance on these tests, and, therefore, the scores are in no way a suffi cient i n d i c a t i o n of student progress. This is made painfully evident by the d i s c r e p a n c y in our own school’s state s tandard ized test scores and our ACT scores. When the results matter to, and come with a price for, students, their scores are higher. When words such as “accountability” are thrown around with teachers and not with students, these statements are nothing but laughable. What’s worse than the fact that student acquiescence goes by seemingly ignored is the fact that it has actually become encouraged. When society tells students that their teachers are to blame for falling test scores, it simultaneously removes all blame from the students. Students are essentially told that they have no control

Giving a good faith effort is lost in mediocre results

illustration by Carly Besser

October 201010 OPINIONS

the LawCase 2010-01: Lawson v. Dubious student cop-outs

Case closed

\Skit-suh-KA Y L A -free-nee-uh\ (n)KAYLA ASCHENBECKcolumnist

MATT LAWSONcolumnist

The Defendant: The student who has work to be done and no justifi cation for not doing it.

The Prosecution: Attention Defi cit Disorder (ADD): the frequently muttered excuse for the evasion of

yet another night’s homework. With the onslaught of school assignments now in full-swing, many students are left scrambling

for the right excuse to explain the lack of fi nished work and to disguise their inner laziness. Teachers and students alike are now becoming convinced of the legitimacy of lies only meant to hide the new ADD: Apathetic Decision Disorder. These invented defenses and outlandish alibis have a variety of “symptoms” that deprive one of the ability to work. Often, I must shake my head at the absurdity, creativity and desperation that come from these excuses. There is the classic “I was too busy with activity A, B, and C,” the not-so-creative “I just didn’t feel like it,” the ADD claim of “I just couldn’t concentrate” and the pitiful pleas of “I can’t do it so why even try?” Don’t get me wrong, there are defi nitely legitimate excuses that are based on hard fact. Certainly, the clinically diagnosed

ADD cases and other valid obstacles are justifi able. Yet, the case at hand is based on the excuses that are imagined in the minds of students whose sole goal is to fi nd the easy way out. Work should receive the attention and care it deserves, be it a school project, a college application or a job. Procrastination, and the desire to slip into apathy, happens to the best of us. There are times when we desire to do absolutely nothing and just sink into a couch, drifting away into a land of nothingness. Our excuses do not change the reality that there is something more important to accomplish. True dedication

comes when we do what we know should be done even when our mind tells us to do the opposite. To fi x your case of ADD, one should simply think… what would be the best use of time?

Is it not better to be productive by fi nishing one’s work, instead of making up an excuse to tell teachers when they collect it? When you do your work, you don’t have to put the eff ort into coming up with

some pathetic excuse for your laziness. Don’t be apathetic; make the best use of your time and cut the cop-outs.

Hallway breaks provide the insight into the mind of a teenager. D i s c o u r t e o u s behavior during this time is the norm of a typical school day. I must constantly remind myself that I walk among my

peers as a high schooler, not a hormonally crazed lunatic, ricocheting off the walls and hallway walkers. If you’re someone who thinks it’s funny to have a WWE smack down in the middle of the hallway, think again and kindly step out of the ring. Not only is it completely immature to toss people around in the hallways, but it also shows a complete lack of respect for the human body. The last thing someone should have to worry about

during a hall break is getting quarterbacked from the left fl ank or being caught in the middle of a ten student pile up. Please save the physical urges to body slam your bro for after the 3:30 p.m. bell, or at least invest in a couple of stress balls. Not that I have anything against clustering in the hallway, but when a group of people decide to develop into a cancerous mass that takes up half the hallway, leaving a space the size of a worm hole for the rest of us to squeeze through is an overwhelming problem. As if squeezing through a worm hole wasn’t challenging enough, the kindhearted hallway victim also must fi ght through an endless sea of backpacks and fl ipping ponytails. Passing to class shouldn’t feel like walking into a mash pit as one ventures into the 84-wing. I understand that it’s been a while since any of us were in elementary school, but forgive me for thinking that “inside voices” was a catch phrase that would just stick with us through grade school years. Is it really necessary to yell to your pal across the hall

and six lockers down about homework for next period that you didn’t do? It’s not like you’re going to have time to fi nish it before break is over, and what’s wrong with calmly and maturely gathering your materials and walking the short distance to quietly discuss the situation? Ears shouldn’t start spontaneously bleeding when you’re telling your friend about what you had for dinner the night before, and the only way to prevent this is to use voices appropriate for the environment you inhabit. Certainly, common sense is something I thought everyone was born with, but the longer I walk the hallways, the more I realize that it’s a trait missing in the chromosomes of certain people’s DNA. What human instinct could possibly tell you that it’s okay to stop in the middle of lunch period rush hour to hug a friend? Not only does the fl ood of blindly-hungry people behind you have to expect delays or fi nd alternate routes, but you’ve disrupted the cosmic fl ow of the universe. If you’re craving a warm embrace from your bestie or you’re feeling a make-

out session with your signifi cant other is in order, be sure to save all physical contact for the outer rims of the hallway, or even a dark corner would suffi ce. This isn’t America “hands of the free,” so keep em’ where I can see em’ and respect that the school is a PG-rated zone. Being able to watch your breath condense on the back of someone’s neck is a clear sign that you’re a bit too close or if you happen to look down at your arm and notice it slowly morphing into your neighbor’s, then it’s time to reconsider walking so close to people. Give me a break; walking down the hallway shouldn’t feel like you’re at a rave. Keep the bumping, grinding and groping to a minimum and remember that fl ashy neon colors are so last year. Hallway breaks are meant to be a transitional escape from the classroom grind. Instead, it’s a hectic scene that haunts my daydreams and frustrates me to the point of no return. Let’s start a new fad this year, and practice safe and ethical hallway behavior. Keep it classy, OC.

“Our excuses do not

change the reality that

there is something more

important to accomplish.”

Hallway etiquette has been lost in a ‘sea of backpacks’

October 2010OPINIONS 11

Crossing the comical lineW h e n a p r a n k b e c o m e s a c r i m e

Pardon me, but if I may, I would like to take a moment of your time to talk to you about pranks. You may happen

to be in the middle of a prank right now. If so, then don’t worry, I understand that you might have only seconds to stick your sleeping friend’s hand in that warm water before he wakes up, and I’m not going to be mad if you wait until after he pees himself to read my article. However, if you’re merely standing in your sister’s closet, wearing a Halloween mask while you wait for her to grab a jacket, please be so kind as to fi nd a fl ashlight and read what I have to say until it’s time to yell “BOO.” Halloween is popularly known for being a holiday surrounded by mischievous activity and everyone knows that a good practical joke can be very humorous for everyone involved. Even the person that is pranked can have a good laugh once they’ve rinsed out all the cherry Kool-Aid from his or her hair that you put in the shower head. However, it is possible for a prank to go too far. When this happens, it is no longer comical; instead it becomes cruel toward those at the receiving end. So how does one choose between smashing mailboxes and putting fake spiders in his mother’s bed? “A prank stops being funny when people are seriously hurt or personal property is broken,” Matt Tarter, sophomore, said. It is important for people to understand that it is not funny to hurt someone or to break anything that is either irreplaceable or that would cost a lot of money for the victim to fi x. “Slashing someone’s tire, that’s not a prank, that’s a crime,” Leila Kronfl i, senior, said.

“When it comes to pranks, I’ve learned going too far is defacing public property. You can be funny without destroying property,” Michael Stone, senior, said. Stone received ten days in transition at Buckner Alternative High School and lost his privilege to attend after-school events when he was caught vandalizing East Oldham Middle School. “Anytime you infringe on someone’s

rights, it is a crime. Repetitively prank calling someone, that doesn’t [seem to] hurt anyone, but at what point does it become harassment?” Dennis Summitt, police offi cer, said. The best way to prevent your victim from fi ling charges against you is to make sure they are someone who knows you and will understand the humor in your joke. “[You shouldn’t} prank someone who you don’t know; you don’t gain anything from that. It’s just mean spirited,” Summitt said. While your best pal may understand that it’s just for fun, your new neighbors, on the other hand, might not take your thrill of stabbing hundreds of plastic forks in their yard so lightly. For this reason, it is important for pranksters to keep in mind that if a prank is to be played in the spirit of

fun, then it is best to prank friends rather than strangers who might not react in the way intended. I hope your friend wasn’t too angry about his warm, wet awakening and that your sister was

thoroughly frightened. If not, don’t worry because you will have plenty of other chances to do so. The important factor is to remember that it is not acceptable to intentionally and viciously cause harm to others or to their property just for the sake of your own amusement. Doing so is hurtful, it is criminal and it is crossing the comical line.

DUALL SCHUTTEproduction editor

Announcements cause chaosChanged time proves to be inconvenientKRISTEN SHIRCLIFFstaff writer

Delivering news announcements during fourth period is a growing inconvenience. This year, students

are interrupted three times during the school day, once in the morning for the pledge, once in fourth period for the main announcements, and then once in seventh period where more announcements are made. It seems unnecessary and quite bothersome. The announcement time in fourth period is especially inconvenient because it interrupts either the beginning or the end of class, both critical i n s t r u c t i o n a l times, and teachers have a tendency to forget that they’re on. Since they begin and end class, even when the announcements are shown, classrooms are so noisy that most students can’t hear them anyway. This happens because students are gathering their things for the next class or are conversing with their friends. This prevents students from hearing announcements that might concern them. Likewise the announcements interrupt class time for longer than they should. Most of the time, when announcements are turned on, what is supposed to be only three minutes long turns into six or seven minutes because they are on doing sound checks and fi xing the system before the actual delivery starts.

“Sometimes I watch announcements, but class is usually too loud to hear them,” Cade Barlow, sophomore, said. This problem is caused because students are, again, too focused on socializing at the end of class, instead of listening to the important information that is given during announcements to many students are prevented from hearing potentially vital announcements. Especially those concerning event dates or due dates for important school related items. “I liked it better when announcements were at the beginning and the end of the day,” Colton Hounshell, junior, said. This makes

the most sense, especially with the seven-period schedule; it is at a convenient time for everyone and gives students a reminder of what is going on and what they need to do. Students can get the “big picture” of what is going to happen either that day, or that week, instead of fi nding things out at the last minute, if ever fi nding them out at

all. Though the school has made strides to make the announcements more accessible by playing them at the beginning and the end of fourth period, this doesn’t make up for the fact that some teachers refuse to play them, and that they can’t be heard when they are played. It is most logical that announcements be shown, once again, at the beginning of the day. This allows all students to view them, and assures students that they won’t miss any important details or dates.

“You can be funny without destroying property,”

-Michael Stone

illustration by Carly Besser

October 201012 OPINIONS

Hallways, classrooms, and the cafeteria have been stuff ed with eager, fresh, new faces this year. The

freshmen class of 2014 has seeped its way into the once segregated schedules of the upperclassmen. I fully embrace this change, and am excited about the dissolution of the freshman academy. With the freshman academy dismissed, ninth graders will now be allowed to again mature quicker than they did with t h e academy in place. As

incoming freshmen, students are ready to stop being babied, and experience the freedoms that come

along with a high school experience. This includes being tossed in with the sometimes u n h e l p f u l upperclassmen,

and often having to fend for themselves during hall breaks and lunch. “I don’t think the freshman academy would have helped me adjust to the way

high school works. I did fi ne without it,” Sydney Hall, freshman, said. Most of what the Freshman Academy did was separate hall breaks, and give the freshmen their own lunch. Few felt that they were even a part of the school because of the isolation. The building has a feeling of unity this year compared to previous years where the freshmen were isolated. “I think it’s really excellent that the freshman academy has been removed. It gives [the freshmen] a chance to meet some older people, and not be so secluded from the rest of the school like we were last year,” Erin Weber, sophomore, said. Sure, the hallways are a smidge crowded with the added group of kids making their way to class. However, the pure chaos in the passageways is caused by the kamikaze students who are ignorant to hall etiquette, just as they did last year, and kamikaze actions are shared by students of all grade levels. Freshmen, who are now intertwined with the rest of the school, are experiencing how benefi cial it is for both the freshmen themselves and for the rest of the school. Freshmen now have the opportunity of integrating with their older schoolmates. With the academy in place, the upperclassmen might not have had the privilege of meeting these young scholars. I could not be more thrilled with the newfound unity of the school created be the termination of the freshmen academy and its isolationist nature.

MANDY HOGUEopinions editor

K e e p i n g o n t h e h e l m e tAbsence of freshman academy brings anxiety to campus

If you haven’t heard all of the chatter in our hallways about the recent changes to the freshman academy, let me inform

you. The academy no longer exists. Overall, the freshman academy was very helpful and organized for building newcomers, and no one seemed to have a problem with it. “I liked the Freshman Academy when I was a freshman,” Kaitlin Parrish, junior, said. Without the academy, there is much more chaos. With our already short hall breaks, it’s much more diffi cult to get from class to class with other grade levels crammed in the halls too. Now don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely no problem with freshmen; I was even one once. They have just as many rights as anyone else in our school, but without having their own central area, it makes life in the school much more stressful. “I don’t like it because there are too many people just standing in the hallway because it’s now so crowded,” Tyler Lowe, senior, said. More people means more crowded. More crowded means that it is harder to get to class. Making it hard to get to class means more tardies, and more tardies means detention and possibly Saturday school. I don’t know about you, but I never have really thought of detention being a “fun” thing to do in my spare time. “I think it’s annoying; there are too many

freshmen everywhere,” Zach Hughey, junior, said. Not only is getting to class a pain, but so is the lunch period. “Lunch is awful. It’s extremely hard to get your food,” Regan Hardaway, freshman, said. Unless you sprint to the lunchroom everyday to get there fi rst, getting your food literally takes twice as long as it did before. There are so many more people in the cafeteria because of the disappearance of the freshman lunch that it is sometimes hard to even fi nd a place to sit. Multiple times, it has taken me fi fteen minutes to get my food, which means I have hardly any time to socialize, or eat for that matter. Certainly, without the Freshman Academy, there is much more confusion than there used to be. Our new students are basically thrown into the whole high school experience from day one with the upperclassmen. Bringing back the Freshman Academy in the years to come will be easier for everyone, and make the high school experience more enjoyable.

SAM TABORstaff writer

Taking o f f the t ra in ing Freshmen get a taste of the real high school experience

Complaints have been voiced in recent years regarding the levels of school spirit. This year, those criticisms have

been silenced. The school has taken various steps toward fostering a much increased level of spirit within the student body. I admire the new interest in helping out our sport teams. The O-Zone is a great approach to a peppier school. With the Associated Student Body (ASB) responsible for organizing our awesome pep rallies and those to come, we have more opportunities to show off our strength as fans.

“We’re making it a priority, a new part of the day,” Adam Springer, social studies teacher and cheerleading coach, said. Compared to past school years, we have regained our school pep. The student body, teachers, and the new ASB council have been largely successful in making the school a more spirited environment. Along with the school’s new energy, created by the ASB, comes new found spirit for coaches as well.

“I would love to see lots of students at the home

varsity matches,” Aaron Riordan, science teacher and wrestling coach, said I endorse students

walking down the hallways on game day and enjoy seeing

the increased amount of blue attire, all of which makes for a

quicker and more day. Our teams need our support and this year it’s a whole lot easier and interesting to give it to them.

S c h o o l s p i r i t o n t h eStudents kick the pep into Overdrive with the O-zone

r i s e

KHRYSIN SAMUELSonline editor

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more involved in school events.

photos by Cassidy Bliss

THINKING PINK --Michael Stone and

Tyler Glickman, seniors, paint up at a

football game. They make it a priority

to attend all sporting events.

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October 2010 13 FEATURESHow we like them apps!

iTouch

“I like the iTouch because it has cool applications, it has internet, and it’s touch screen, all of which is really awesome.”

Chris French, freshman

iPod Nano

“The nano is small and people don’t usually steal it. Plus, it comes in diff erent colors!”

Ashley McDonough, junior

iPod Classic

“The classic holds the most music out of all the iPods. To me, it’s all about the music and not the fancy extras.”

Sean Hatfi eld, junior

iPhone

“I chose the iPhone because it holds so many possibilities. It has facebook! Also, you can call, text, and listen to music.” Molly Braden, senior

iPod Shuffle

“I like the shuffl e because it’s small and compact, and it just gives me the music. It doesn’t get in the way when I work out.” Zac Gnadinger, junior

MANDY HOGUEopinions editor

With so many fresh Apple products hitting the shelves, it’s hard to decide

which gadgets are suitable to buy; more specifi cally, what iPod satisifi es the music-minded consumer. An iPod choice often refl ect one’s personality. A shuffl e, for instance, is handy for those users who aren’t concerned about many more features than simple background music to their daily routine or athletic regimen. The trendy iTouch owner is one who enjoys portable entertainment ranging from movies to game applications, while the iPhone holder prefers straight forward, yet sophisticated technology.Which iPod defi nes the techie in you?

photos by Mandy Hogue

Students reveal their personal iPod choices

650 students share their iPod faves

October 201014 FEATURES

OC - 46 Waggener - 8

OC beats North(25-13, 25-22)

OC - 3 South - 1

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OC - 3 South - 1

This year, school spirit was taken to the next level in the form of the “O-zone.” Students flooded to games, creating an atmosphere

that inspired our athletes and left our opponents in awe. The O-zone’s presence helped to inspire a nine-game sweep of the “Games of the Week” for the fall sports season, displaying its mighty influence. Look back with us as we highlight the triumphs of our O-zone.

8/27/10

9/1/10

9/9/10

9/16/10

October 2010FEATURES 15

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photos courtesy of OCHS Journalism Department

16 FEATURESOctober 2009

Extraordinary skills within the halls are illuminated

At age 14, Javier Quijada, now a senior, happened to fi nd his knack for making music while doing

something many kids do on a daily basis: playing a video game. Quijada’s unique ability involves creating

special beats for hip-hop songs, which just so happens to be the skill he hopes to pursue as a career. The individual sounds he uses come from a program on Quijada’s laptop, but the way he pieces them together makes for some catchy melodies that keep listeners wanting more. I spent a few moments with Quijada and was inspired by what he and his artistry revealed.

CASSIDY BLISSfeatures editor

What specifi cally got you started in music making?

alllyyy y ggogoogot tt yyou started in ?

Q

A I was playing a video game on my Xbox called MTV Music Generator 3. I was just messing around when I fi gured out how to play with diff erent sounds.

How much time does it take to make a new beat?

Q

A I spend about a week for one beat.

Q How often do you make beats?

A Usually, I work on this everyday when I get home from school.

What inspires you?Q

A When people tell me my beats are good, I want to keep making them, because it raises my confi dence.

BETHANN HARVEYphoto editor

Carlos Gomez, senior, started dancing when he was eight years old. Hoping to keep the family tradition alive, his

father, a former professional dancer, trained him in the art of salsa dancing. When Gomez was 14 years old, he found

an enthusiasm for salsa that quickly fl ourished. Despite interfering at times with school and with his social life, Gomez loves what he does. Likewise, he has come to enjoy the additional benefi t of being paid for having talent and a diverse fl air for a popular cultural dance form. Gomez and I chatted about his dance experiences and the following includes some of the insights that he had to share:

What types of dance do you perform?

Did you have any background knowledge with music before you started?

Q

A I play piano occasionally; I taught myself.

Will you continue to make beats after high school?

Q

Yes, I want a career involving this, along with working on it with my cousins. They share this interest too.

A

Q

A I do salsa and ballroom the most, but I also do jazz and ballet.

Q Who are your dance partners?

A For salsa/ I dance with Diana Sanchez from Los Angeles, CA. For ballroom/ I dance with Tabitha Haste, a freshman at UofL.

Q Where do you dance?

A At Arthur Murray studio on Shelbyville Road and Breckenridge Lane, where we teach and train.

Q What do you love about dancing?

A Dancing is all a big mistake, everything I do is an outcome of something else that I was trying for. You get to make it your own.

Q What is a usual gig like?

A We get hired for the weekend to perform for a night and to teach a workshop. They pay for all of our expenses, plus they pay us to dance.

Q What kinds of awards have you won?

A My partner Diana and I are in the top 30 in the world for salsa. In December we’re competing in the World Championships in San Diego, and we’re hoping to get into the top ten. Tabitha and I are currently National Champions for ballroom.

Q Do you plan on pursuing a career in dance?

A I’d like to get a degree in business management and travel for a while. Once I settle down I want to open up my own dance studio.

Spotlighting special talents

October 2010FEATURES 17

AUSTIN MULLENstaff writer

goes gl bal

¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás? ¿Kemon Acho? ¿Miten olet? Who would want to live in a diff erent country away from their customs, family, friends, and food for a whole year? Eeva Asikainen, a senior from Finland, Pilar Ruiznavarro a junior from Spain, Prapti Anandita a junior from Bangladesh, and Alvaro Parra, a sophomore from Spain would. A combined total of 21,062 miles separate these exchange students from everything they call home. Leaving home would scare many students, but not these four. “I wanted to be a foreign exchange student to understand my culture and the United States culture, to get a good command over English, to develop leadership ability and most importantly to learn about myself and learn how to take responsibility,” said Anandita. The main goals of the other exchange students are to better their English, meet new friends, and become acquainted with the nuances of the American culture.

The miles come with many diff erences. “The biggest diff erence here is if I want to go somewhere, I have to ask for a ride. In Finland, I can ride my bike or take a bus,” Asikainen said. Transportation and schools are diff erent in the exchange student’s native countries. “School is so much harder in Finland,” Asikainen said. Parra and Ruiznavarro, the two Spanish exchange students, live less than 15 minutes away from one another in Spain. Parra believes school is harder here while Ruiznavarro thinks this school year is easier. School days are longer in Spain and

students remain in the same classroom the whole day, “You barely ever get to see your

friends,” Parra said. The debate ended when the fi rst day of school was c o n s i d e r e d . The fi rst day is hard for students in general, but it was even more diffi cult for these four. They had to

walk around in a school they knew nothing about.

“It was very scary and the school was so much bigger than I was used to,” Ruiznavarro said. “It was good. I met a lot of people and it helped that I was on the soccer team because

I knew people,” Parra said. Every year, the school gets a new group of exchange students, but how do they end up in Oldham County? Exchange students don’t choose to come to Buckner, they are chosen by their host families to come here. Parra lives with Kaleigh Ballinger, freshman. “Now that he is living with us and I know him better he is like a big brother,” Ballinger said. “I like my family a lot and I am so happy that they live here because it is the greatest county of America,” Parra said. Asikainen lives with Julia Vowels, junior. “It is awesome having Eeva around, especially since we are on the same soccer team,” Vowels said. “My host family is very nice. They make good food, have a nice house and I don’t have to clean. They treat me like a princess,” Asikainen said. The thousands upon thousands of miles don’t change these exchange students’ personalities. They can be seen in halls with peers, at lunch, and even at football games. socializing with their new American friends.

COMMON GROUND -- A combined 21,062 miles

have been traveled by these four to reach Oldham

County. Shared experiences will build bridges of

new cultural awareness.

School experiences diversity from abroad

photo by James Ensor

Walk through the creepy, six-acre haunted maze. Along with encountering countless ghouls, creeps,

and freaks, you will also have to make your way out of this extremely diffi cult maze. Beware, once

you enter, there is no turning back.www.thefi eldofscreams.net

Field of

18 FEATURESOctober 2010

CHLOE SEDORIS

staff writer

jaunt your way to these daring haunts

This haunted house isn’t for the weak or the faint of heart. Don’t let the

name deceive you, there are more than 13 fears

that you will meet face-to-face in this frightening

haunt.www.13fears.com

13Fears

This is not your everyday walk in the dark; this two

mile trail is fi lled with nightmares and torment. You will meet face-to-face with twisted clowns, and walk through a dark and creepy mine shaft, where gold will be the last thing

on your mind.www. Yournightmarebegins.com

Nightmare Forest

WalAlon

and

Live your worst nightmares in the

Haunted Hotel, fi lled with more blood and

insanity than ever before. Witness the unnerving scares in Louisville’s longest

standing Halloween attraction.

www.hauntednetwork.com/HauntedHotel

Haunted Hotel, Inc.

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Take a drive with your friends through this freakish haunted Halloween game. You will be given rhyming clues to guide you to two other

haunted houses. Also, you have a chance at winning great prize packages!

www.dangerrun.com

Danger Run Named one of the most haunted places in

America, Waverly Hills has condensed the frights of one night’s stay at the former tuberculosis

hospital into a horrifying haunted house.www.therealwaverlyhills.com

Waverly Hills

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Baxter Avenue Morgue

This Halloween will be the ten year anniversary of the reopening of the Baxter Avenue Morgue. There are endless fun

things to do, from paranormal classes to

the Caufi eld’s Halloween Parade, but beware, just because these activities

sound fun, doesn’t mean that you’re not in for a

very scary night!www.baxtermorgue.com

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Local area fright nights

LOUISVILLE, KY

The MACABRE

Screams

October 2010FEATURES 19

REVIEWS20 October 2010

Secretariat and his owner, Penny Chenery, defi ed all odds in 1973. No one thought this determined housewife would be able to continue her father’s success and raise a horse that would eventually win the Triple Crown. The inspiring story of Secretariat resulted in two track records, two world records and a whole cabinet of fi rst place trophies. The hardworking horse’s life ended in 1989 at age 19. An autopsy was conducted after Secretariat’s death

Though Lil’ Wayne was in solitary confi nement for his mp3 player, which is against prison rules, listeners

everywhere can listen to his new album on theirs guilt free. Anxiety has been building since rap music’s crown holder, Lil’ Wayne, was placed in Riker’s prison on Feb. 9, 2010. Much to the avail of hip hop addicts everywhere, Dwayne Carter successfully introduced his new EP, “I Am Not A Human Being,” to iTunes on his birthday. As expected, Lil’ Wayne has successfully blown the lid off of today’s rap culture with his clever lyrics, spaced out beats, and great choices in collaboration. Lil’ Wayne learned a lesson from the disappointment of his last album “Rebirth,” and stayed away from rapping to hard rock.

Hip hop’s caged bird sings againLil’ Wayne’s ‘I Am Not A Human Being’ is released to pleased audiences

CARLY BESSERchief illustrator

ERIN KOHNKEstaff writer

Here, he returns to his dirty-south style that made him popular in the fi rst place. On his track ‘With you,’ the mellow beat and in-your-face lyrics bring back the nostalgia of his successful tracks from the “Tha Carter” albums. Rapper Drake also balances Wayne’s hardcore attitude with his smooth voice and breathless fl ow in this ballad. Wayne accompanies his softer songs with hardcore tracks such as the song “Hold up,” a collaboration with artist T-Streets. Though T-Streets assists with this track, he doesn’t deliver much beyond forgettable lyrics. The bass-heavy beat is what makes this track exceptional along with Wayne’s quick metaphors and lyrical fl ow. The track is similar to most of the songs on his mixtape “No Ceilings,” which achieved mass popularity among avid listeners. Originally intended to be released on “Tha Carter IV,” Lil’ Wayne presents the song “Popular” as a radio-intended hit with his autotune choruses. Though this

wasn’t the most original song, it gets the job done by delivering a steady beat. Though the tracks on the EP are legitimate, it leaves one wanting more. The entire album only has 10 songs adding up to 43 minutes of music, leading me to believe that it may have been rushed, and could have been better if he had more time to produce the album outside of prison.

and it was discovered that he had a heart that was twice as large as that of a normal horse. Secretariat, portrayed by Walt Disney Studios, is a light-hearted portrayal of this big-hearted horse’s tale. Though Disney has once again created a happy family fi lm, it will be nothing more than just that. This memorable story was transformed into a temporary, mediocre movie. The larger than life caricatures made it impossible to

believe that this movie accurately portrayed the real people. Facts of the true story seem to be lost somewhere between the unrealistic dancing and the obviously scripted dialogue. Though I found Secretariat to be less than impressive, the uninformed viewer who is not searching for an

Secretariat races into second placeThis legendary horse’s tale turns out to be a less than extraordinary �ilm

accurate portrayal of the story might think otherwise. The colorful characters were likable, despite the inaccuracies. The loving connection between Secretariat and Penny in the movie would appeal to animal lovers everywhere and the humorous quips from the talented cast will have everyone giggling. Secretariat may be a disappointing portrayal of the true story of this horse, but the story remains just as tear-jerkingly inspiring as the real story of the horse a nation loved, Secretariat.

Overall, “I Am Not A Human Being” achieves what it was set out to do: give listeners

something to tide them over until Lil’ Wayne is free to make more hit music. Though it isn’t his greatest album, it defi nitely supercedes “Rebirth” and will leave listeners expecting a lot of great new material from the “best rapper alive.”

The Verdict

Though forgettable and inaccurate, animal lovers and anyone looking for a happy-

ending type of movie will love Secretariat. Its inspiring characters and touching ending create the perfect equation for a fun family movie night.

The Verdict

If you liked Secretariat, watch:

Seabiscuit (2003) The true story of a Depression-

era racehorse that not only lifted the spirits of the people behind him but also those of the nation.

Hidalgo (2004) The inseparable team of a man

and his horse, Hidalgo, compete in a race that sends them around the world.

Dreamer (2005) A young girl and her father

take a leap of faith and adopt Sonador, a horse with a broken foreleg, with dreams to enter it in races once again.

If you liked “I Am Not A Human Being,” listen to:

Young Jeezy’s “TM 103”

Gucci Mane’s “The Appeal: Georgia’s Most Wanted”

Wiz Khalifa’s “Deal or No Deal”

disnology.com

theurbandaily.com

October 2010REVIEWS 21

‘Mockingjay’ soars to the topA satisfactory ending to an extraordinary trilogy

As one of the most anticipated books of the year, “Mockingjay” by Suzanne Collins had high expectations from readers desiring yet another whirlwind adventure into the depths of the futuristic society of Panem. As heroine Katniss Everdeen takes her spot as the leader of the rebel movement determined to overcome the oppressive Capitol, readers will not be disappointed as they encounter a journey of suspense, love

and trust that successfully concludes this noteworthy trilogy. “Mockingjay” picks up right where “Catching Fire” left off . Katniss has now taken refuge in District 13, an underground country that many thought no longer existed, where she is called upon to fulfi ll her symbolic destiny for the rebel movement against the evil Capitol. Faced with this crucial role, Katniss realizes that this battle will aff ect her, and those around her, more so than anything she has ever encountered, including the Hunger Games. Like the other two books, “Mockingjay” is a thriller: a suspenseful page-turner that keeps you on edge until the end. Readers will encounter surprising moments and are kept guessing plot events. The unique map

of obstacles, traps, and battles that Collins places before Katniss as she crosses the Capitol, leaves the reader anticipating what is around every corner as well as distressing over the ultimate fate of each signifi cant character. In “Mockingjay”, the character of Katniss takes even greater depth as she copes with loss, a love confl ict, and decisions that are essential to the protection of her friends and family. Collins captures the inner turmoil Katniss faces, making the reader sympathetic to one horror-fi lled situation after another. The varying levels of emotion and tension that come out of the plot can interest even the most detached readers, making them consider the value of love and the necessity of trust and courage.

While I would not go as far to say that this book tops the runaway popularity of the fi rst two books in the trilogy, Collins

expertly incorporates action, suspense and an emotion-fi lled storyline to keep readers engrossed in the book to its fi nal, anticipated conclusion.

Restaurant presents delightful ambiance, delicious food

In the midst of mall walkers, shoppers, and Summit security, I found myself heading toward the new Zoës Kitchen located near the Gap. With hopes of staying true to my skinny jeans and my wallet, I entered its realm of Mediterranean bliss, awaiting a potential dining delight. Completely engulfed in its corner-side café charm, cool-toned colors and artistic furniture, Zoës Kitchen harbors

an atmosphere suitable for all types of food enthusiasts. It’s cute enough for a mother-daughter outing, calm enough for the ambitious student, and classy enough for the business man’s lunch break; yet, it maintains a vibe suitable for the brunch date you planned with a friend. Behind the curtain of aesthetic appeal, it’s solely the quality of the food that makes or breaks a restaurant, and Zoës kitchen did not disappoint. My taste buds were quickly wrapped within my tortilla along with the perfectly melted feta, crisp lettuce, fresh tangy tomatoes, and caramelized onions… please, don’t hesitate to wipe the drool off your chin. Thanks to Zoës healthy spin on

all the recipes, the usual food baby hadn’t developed within my stomach fi ve minutes later. Luckily, the $7.35 check didn’t form a dent in my wallet either. Zoës Kitchen hits the perfect medium between fast food and health conscious meals, while sustaining top notch food and inexpensive prices that barely climb into the double digits. Through use of fresh ingredients and heart healthy, original recipes, including Mediterranean dietary favorites such as cheeses, olive oils, produce and fi sh, a balanced diet is well underway. Moderate portion sizes add to a healthy meal. At Zoës, that’s the way the feta crumbles.

With plenty of menu options, diners are treated to an endless number of possibilities in which to indulge. When searching for

the perfect combination between quality food and budget-safe prices, Zoës Kitchen should be your kitchen of choice.

The VerdictMATT LAWSONcolumnist

If you liked Zoës Kitchen, try out:

The VerdictBROOKE GORBANDTstaff writer

Shiraz Mediterranean Grill on English Sation RoadS

Panera Bread in SpringhurstP

The Grape Leaf on Frankfort AvenueT

Zoes Kitchen, a local Mediterranean haven

If you liked “Mockingjay,” read:“The Underland Chronicles” by Suzanne Collins“The Knife of Never Letting Go” by Patrick Ness“The Maze Runner” by James Dashner

Sidelines

October 201022 SPORTS

BOYS SOCCERThe team fi nished the regular season with a record of 12-6-2 with a 6-1 regional record. They earned the top seed in the ditrict tournament which they eventually won. Their season is highlighted by two victories over highly-ranked South Oldham.

BOYS GOLF

FOOTBALL

Summertime brought improvements to three athletic facilities: the gymnasium, the softball fi eld and the baseball fi eld. The changes were made to replace old and worn out parts of the facilities. The gym experienced a makeover in the form of a re-painted and re-stained fl oor, a fresh coat of paint applied to the walls and a change in the location of the locker rooms used by physical education classes. The baseball and softball fi elds had fences replaced and plans await for a new scoreboard and foul poles to be

installed at the baseball fi eld. New concrete underneath the bleachers was put in at the softball fi eld. Players also painted both of the dugouts. All three major improvements started over the summer. The gym was reopened shortly after school started, the softball fi eld was completed just before school opened, and the changes to the baseball fi eld are still

being made. “The fl oor was painted in July, then re-stained in August,” Jason Holland, boys basketball coach, said. “It took two weeks longer than we had thought because of the type of paint that was used.” The basketball court features newly-

colored sidelines as well as a changed logo in the center. The walls feature the new logo as well. Both of the new fences that were installed feature a unique trait. The softball fence has the words “Charlie Prather Field” hung on a banner in center fi eld while the baseball fence is highlighted by the inclusion of a “Batter’s Eye,” an elevated section of the fence that allows for improved visibility of a thrown ball, in center fi eld. The new scoreboard, which is scheduled to be ready for the upcoming baseball season, will replace the current, outdated scoreboard. It will potentially display pictures of the players, statistics and an inning-by-inning score. “Our new scoreboard will be awesome,” Kody Maikranz, senior, said. “There’s going to be some cool features on it that make it better than the one we have now.” Funding for the new scoreboard and foul poles will come from a potential sponsorship from Taco Bell, with the new additions

Senior golf captain Taylor Riggs, named one of the top 3 golfers in the region, participated in the state golf tournament October 8 and 9.On day one, he shot a 77, which was good enough to make the initial cut. On the second day, he shot an 80, fi nishing the tournament at +13 and 27th in the state. “It’s cool to represent the school,” Riggs said, “But the second time there is a lot less pressure.” Riggs has earned a spot in the state tournament, held in Bowling Green, for the past two consecutive years. Last year he

Setting the parSenior advances to state tournament for second consecutive year

BUDDY ELDERstaff writer

photo by Kyle Stewart

fi nished tied for 37th. Riggs gives credit to the people closest to him for his recent success. “My parents help me, my dad in particular, and my teammates and their positive encouragement also helps a lot.” Many of Riggs’s teammates

a t t r i b u t e his success to his c o n s t a n t p r a c t i c e and his desire to do things the right way. “He is a silent

leader, and a good role model to the younger players,” Tyler Potts, senior golfer, said. “He’s got a great mental game, which

is essential to have in golf.” Even some younger golfers on the team recognize Riggs’s constant preparation and practice and aspire to become more like him to help them not only in golf but in life. “Instead of playing like most people do, he practices,” Knick Knezevich, sophomore golfer, said. “He’s always ready when the time is right.” Riggs plans to continue playing golf through college. He’s being recruited by schools such as Eastern Kentucky University and Western Kentucky University for scholarships.

“He is a silent leader, and a good role model to the younger players.”

-Tyler Potts

Team facilities receive needed upgradesRenovations improve play for athletesKYLE STEWARTsports editor

The boys golf team fi nished their season with a thrid place fi nish in regionals. They had a successful year marked by a tournament wina and the sending of Taylor Riggs to the state golf tournament.

With a bruising running game led by the two-headed attack of Tyler Oldham and Brett Leary, the football had a record of 5-3 as of Oct. 15. The team is looking to continue its success into post-season play and is on pace to have home-fi eld advantage during the playoff s.

VOLLEYBALLThe volleyball team carried a 29-9 record into post-season play and are currently ranked 20th in the state. They defeated Trimble county and South Oldham in the fi rst two playoff games.

GIRLS SOCCER

As of Oct. 14, the girls soccer team had a record of 11-6-2, allowing only 24 goals while scoring 45. The team fi nished in second place in both the Bluegrass State Games and the Boyle County Tournament.

DRIVING IT HOME -- Riggs

watches his ball soar to the hole.

Constant practice and a good

work ethic help him excel at golf.

IN WITH THE NEW -- A remodeled gym

�loor, brings greater allure for teams and

fans. These changes were long overdue.

photo by Matt Lawson

October 2010 SPORTS 23

High school athletes often begin their careers as freshmen with record-setting plays in mind, hoping to quickly advance to play at the varsity level. For Jake Weigel, senior soccer player and kicker for the football team, this dream became a reality. “I had a goal and I stuck with it,” Weigel said. Weigel has played soccer and football on

the two school teams for the past four years. “As a freshman, I wanted to start junior varsity,” Weigel said. He has been a part of winning the district in football as well as last year competing for the region title in the 5-A Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl. As far as soccer, Weigel has assisted in winning a district title, a region title and contended for the state title. “He has a great work ethic; this year he dedicated himself to get stronger. He worked out with us all off season and now

BROOKE DAUGHERTYcirculation manager

he can put the ball in the end zone. He is consistent and devoted,” Matthew Brown, head football coach, said. Kyle Kraus, senior soccer player, notices his teammate’s hard work as well. “Jake’s determination and will power are the two traits that make him a great athlete,” Kraus said. With his continuing achievements, he seeks to help those trying to achieve the same goals that he had. “My advice for athletes hoping to play at the varsity level is to take practice seriously, but not so serious

that it isn’t fun anymore,” Weigel said. As Weigel balances a schedule full of AP classes and challenging homework, he still makes time for football and soccer practices as well as games. “The key to balancing both for me is taking advantage of the time that I have. Also having a study hall helps me get my work done,” Weigel said. Although the workload can be heavy and the practices can be tiring, he keeps one factor in mind. “Sports teach you mental strength, and without mental strength, you can’t succeed in life,” Weigel said.

Fourth [year] and two [sports]Jake Weigel completes his senior season as a dual-sport athlete

photos submitted

24 SPORTS October 2010

The creation of the “O-Zone” has brought about obvious changes to the atmosphere of sporting events. It has undoubtedly raised school spirit, drawn more attendance to games and made every home game a living nightmare for opposing teams. In addition to these eff ects, the “O-Zone” has greatly changed the mentality on the fi eld during the game for athletes. “My teammates are getting a lot more pumped up,” Drew Perry, junior lineman, said. “Our games have never been like that.” The “O-Zone” appears weekly at the featured “Game of the Week” and as of Oct. 8 had an undefeated record at 8-0. Josh Gonzalez, senior goalie for the boys soccer team, is convinced that the presence

KYLE STEWARTsports editor

PAIGE RIETVELDstaff writer

Getting in the zone sparks newfound prideRevived student section helps bring teams to victory

County-wide all sports teams are being introduced to a new test. All participants for any sport in the 2010-2011 scholastic year are required to take a concussion test. “This test is designed to make sure that after an initial concussion, a student is back to being as normal as possible by comparing you to you,” Nick Sarantis, athletic trainer, said. Student athletes take the test on computer while being monitored by the school’s

Concussion test adds protective “padding” for athletesAssessment provides new clinical insights into sports injuries

photo by Cassidy

Blis

s

trainer. “Certain pictures came up and you had to press a button as fast as you could and you had to remember numbers throughout the test,” Bret Wisecarver, senior off ensive lineman, said. Players who have never experienced a concussion before were not completely sure about why they were taking the test, but for some sports, it made complete sense.

“I didn’t mind taking the test, but I didn’t know the reasoning behind it.” -CJ Weires

of the “O-Zone” has a direct infl uence on the outcome of the game. “The ‘O-Zone’ helps a lot. We wouldn’t win as many games if we didn’t have it,” Gonzalez said. Students in the “O-Zone” have exhibited a drastic makeover from the spirit-less atmosphere that was present at many games last year. The student section was fi rst featured at the home football game

against Waggener High School on Aug. 27.

“The Waggener game was incredible. When

we walked out of the locker room doors and saw the human tunnel, the faces of the players were priceless,” Matt Brown, football

coach, said. The true infl uence

of the “O-Zone” was evident when the boys

soccer team upset the then second-ranked South Oldham soccer team. The team won the game 3-1 as the “O-Zone” drowned out any inkling of excitement

from rival fans. “It was motivation knowing that there were people there to support us,” Gonzalez said. The Associated Student Body, also known as ASB, initially created the “O-Zone” by planning the “Game of the Week,” publicizing the games, introducing new cheers such as the “I Believe That We Will Win” chant and the “Jump Around” dance, and organizing human tunnels involving any fan who wishes to participate. “This just shows that we have a student body that cares about our teams,” Perry said. Students who have been a part of the “O-Zone” are making a diff erence to the fan base for school athletics, both on the fi eld and off . “Having the ‘O-Zone’ helps us get more excited. It’s defi nitely a tremendous advantage at every home game,” Brown said. The record speaks for itself.

“I didn’t mind taking the test, but I didn’t know the reasoning behind it,” CJ Weires,

JV boys soccer defender, said. Should a c o n c u s s i o n occur during a sporting event, new baseline test

provides solutions. Students have to then re-take the test. If they pass they are free to continue with participation. If they fail, they

have to keep re-taking the test until they pass. Dean Morgan, freshman JV boys soccer goalie, recently had a concussion during an away game against Central Hardin. To prevent another incident, Morgan is taking a big precaution. “I wear a helmet; it’s padded with a net, when I play goalie. My dad thought it would be a good idea and it doesn’t bother me,” Morgan said. “It honestly didn’t bother me, but they [other teammates] thought it was a joke,” Ericka Hardin, senior golfer, said.

SEEING BLUE-- Seniors show

spirit at the annual football game

against South Oldham. The team won

40-19 on Oct. 1.

October 2010SPORTS 25Fremont triathlete takes team by stormIsaac Bowling thunders into athletic program

Middle linebacker and guard, Isaac Bowling came to OC at the start of this year. Moving here from St. Joseph Central Catholic in Fremont, Ohio, Bowling has become a standout on the football team and plans to participate in track and fi eld. Due to his dad’s promotion and relocation, Bowling has since taken charge on the football fi eld. As jersey number 50 for his

senior year, Bowling has caught the eye of many in the school. Upon moving, Bowling was introduced to a diff erent school environment compared to his old school. The increased school size greatly impacted his experience in playing. “Oldham County is bigger; the schools we play are bigger. I went from a 2A school to a 5A school,” Bowling said. Playing multiple sports is not an easy task for any athlete, but Bowling takes it all in stride. “My favorite sport would be football,

because it’s not only about you, it’s about everyone, which only makes you better,” Bowling said. Previously, Bowling made state in wrestling, track and fi eld, and football in his time at Fremont. “Wrestling is the hardest. It takes more of a mental toll than any other sport,” Bowling said. In track, he throws shot put and discus. “I like it [track] because the amount you put in is what you get out,” Bowling said.

Bowling is not sure whether or not he will participate with the wrestling team. He is focusing on his talents and energies on football

and track at the moment. He hopes to get a dual scholarship in track and football at Ohio State, the University of

Kentucky, or the University of Cincinnati.

From the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics battles of the ‘80s, to the epic showdowns between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, rivalries have always been a part of main stream sports. They are the typical reason many have devoted love for their teams. There’s no disputing who our biggest rival is: South. Being only seven miles from our school and pretty much

Driven by a rivalSchool spirit is fueled by motivation, interest, pride

accessible from the same road only adds to the bitterness between us. Though in recent years we’ve had some

success against them, this year stands out as a marker of fan

base distinction. We have defeated them in girls and

boys cross country, girls and boys soccer, boys golf, girls volleyball, and the one we all know gives us bragging rights for the year, football.

While some think rivalries set a negative attitude for

students, to me this is dead wrong. Without such rivalries,

athletic events wouldn’t be nearly as fun and entertaining. In an environment where athletic rivalries are not present, I think

fans or students show a lack of interest in most athletics. This can cause the school and the athletic programs to lose money from lack of attendance and making kids just have no school spirit whatsoever. Rivalries are motivational when they are inspired by a relevant and ambitious fan base. Spontaneous and compelling fans add to the intensity of the game. Winning or losing can mean the world to supporters as the emotional investment in a game can be tremendous.

Students have more pride in our school, which has raised the rivalry to a whole new level. This new level has students painting up for any

type of game they can think of, staying out late on school

nights to see soccer games, and joining the ‘O-Zone’ in support of their school, therefore, making the rivalry even more intense.

Continuing on the path we are on right now as a school

will raise whatever we thought was a rivalry to a whole new intensity and keep students pushing their school on to victory. The reality of championship trophies

may be closer than we think.

BUDDY ELDERstaff writer

KATHERINE COLLINSstaff writer

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28 October 201028 CAMPUS CLICKS

Dagorhir, which means “battle lords” in J.R Tolkien’s Sindarin Elven language, combines both

fast-paced, full action simulation with live-action role playing elements. The local Dagorhir group meets every Sunday in Louisville’s Seneca Park and at Hayswood Nature Reserve in Corydon, Indiana. This group is open to lords and ladies of all ages.

photos and spread by BethAnn Harvey

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