Charlie Hatch and Jonah Roth, Editors-in-Chiefhttp://my.hsj.org/chatterbox The Chatterbox

Walnut Hills High SchoolDecember 4, 2012 Volume CVII, Issue 4

Great expectations: New gym, new coach, new players

All good things must come to an end: Walnut sees four December retirees

Charlie Hatch, ‘13

Maybe our expectations are too high, but if this upcoming basketball season pans out to be anything like all of the hype, the Eagles could have a season to remember. A new state-of-the-art gym, a new coach, two new transfers and impressive preseason ranks have all muddled together for much deserved hype. Why? Despite a rocky start to last season, the Eagles went on to win a school record of 18 straight games (including postseason) and finished atop the Fort Ancient Valley Conference, after disman-tling most of their opponents by an average score of 20.5 points per game. That team consisted of mostly juniors. This year Walnut has received a lot of hype from the media. The Eagles were ranked as the number one team in Ohio for division I basketball according to flyintothe-

hoop.com. The Cincinnati Enquir-er’s coaches poll ranked Walnut as the number one team in the city, winning by fourteen votes. The Eagles were already going to be projected as frontrunners to take the inaugural Eastern Cincin-nati Conference title, but two new transfers expanded those expecta-tions all the way to the city, if not the state. After starting high school at Cincinnati Country Day and then Lockland, SENIOR D.J. Wingfield has returned to the school he attended for his seventh and eighth grade years. With him comes along his stats of 17.8 points per game, as well as 8.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists. His big numbers were the key to his “Division IV Player of the Year Award,” given by the Enquirer. Another addition to the Walnut basketball program is SENIOR Jordan Tyson, who is reportedly 6’8”, and transferred from St. Francis de Sales in Co-

lumbus, Ohio. Tyson brings more height to the team to coincide with SE-NIOR ‘Big Dog,’ Isaiah Johnson, who registered 17.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.1 as-sists per game last season. Johnson was the go-to man last year in the paint, and worked really well with SENIOR Kodey Jackson. As for the guards, Walnut has a quintet of SENIORS, Adam Brown, Khari Burton, Sterling Gilmore, Ricardo Hill and Stuart Holt, that each can step up and lead the team in the front court on any given offensive possession. Walnut also has generated excitement, just based on the new gymnasium alone. The venue has 1,200 seats, including a specifical-ly designated area for the student section, the Nut House. But the most important thing, will be how well the Eagles play in their new home. Last year the team went unde-feated at home, thanks to the loud

fans, and the inferno which was the old gym. Walnut is hoping to continue the success. “We just think the atmosphere for the gym for every game is go-ing to be electric,” said first year head coach, Ricardo Hill Sr. “That should give us our home court advantage.” The road to a memorable season won’t be easy though. The Eagles have an incredibly difficult schedule, which includes Hun-tington Prep Academy, a team from Huntington, West Virginia who has the number one recruited junior in the nation, Andrew Wiggins. Walnut also has to play La Salle, Sycamore, Princeton and St. Xavier as part of their non-confer-ence schedule. But if the Eagles are able to stay focused amidst all of the hype, this season has the potential to bring excitement unparalleled to any sports team, including the football team’s recent appearance

in the playoffs for the first time in the school’s history. “This should be a really special season for us,” says Gilmore. “It looks like our hard work will finally pay off. We have all the pieces to do something special with this team.” The road ahead for this team hasn’t been paved, but the team knows how great of an oppor-tunity it faces. The last time this group of teammates played together, their junior high teams went undefeated for two consecu-tive seasons. With the majority of the group back for their third year of varsity experience, history could repeat itself. “All the long practices, the sprints, suicides and everything else are going to pay off this year,” Gilmore said. “I’m really excited... I think we can remain focused...on what’s been our goal since we came [to Walnut] in seventh grade, and that’s a state champion-ship!”

SENIORS Khari Burton (#3, left) and Ricardo Hill (#14) smile before tipping off the first game of the season against Purcell Marian. The Eagles went on to win 85-36. Their next game is tonight against Glen Este in the new gym.

AUSTIN RAILEY/CHATTERBOX

COHEN WALKER/CHATTERBOX

Lisa Faulhaber began working at Cincinnati Public Schools in 1986, and became lead secretary at Walnut Hills in 2006.

COHEN WALKER/CHATTERBOX

Since arriving at Walnut in 1994, treasurer Gail Thomas has created a scholarship for a SENIOR who will study accounting.

OLIVER OLBERDING/CHATTERBOX

“The students are the ones I’ll miss the most,” says Robert Christoph. “They’re like a huge extended family.”

JOE SCHMIDLAPP/CHATTERBOX

Security guard Brenda Ryan is known and loved by many students, faculty and staff members.

of Education meetings to protest budget cuts. Would today’s Eagles react to unpopular decisions the same way? “I think most Walnut students would talk about some kind of protest,” says Sam Petersen, ‘16, “but mostly they would com-plain... or make jokes with their friends.” SENIOR Remington Hackbarth adds, “Many of the students would feel frightened... about repercussions from the of-fice.” Why are Walnut students so prone to protest? Shepherd says it is “because the students think! ...A lot of students [at other schools] succeed because they have learned how to ‘play school.’ [Walnut Hills] students and teachers don’t play by those rules...They’re smart enough to know there are other ways.”

December 4, 2012Page 2 Issue CVII.4

NEWS & FEATURESJade K. Clark, Editor

News & Features StaffGraham Fowler, ‘13

Jeongwoong Noh, ‘13Satia Hardy, ‘14

Breakin’ Down the Barriers: A Walnut showcaseJade K. Clark, ‘13

Walnut Hills is calling all tal-ent. This year Walnut’s very own Black Culture Club is sponsoring the first annual Black Culture Arts Showcase. Breakin’ Down the Barriers is an event to showcase the African and African-American arts. This event will take place on the evening of Thursday, March 21, 2013 in the newly-remodeled auditorium. BCC wants not only to give Walnut students the opportunity to showcase their tal-ents, but they also want to “break down the barriers” and show the entire Walnut population the many different facets of African-American art. The BCC’s advisor, science teacher Jerron Gray, stated that it is “not a talent show, we’re just showcasing their talent.” There will be no winner and no prizes. BCC wants to take more of a neutral stance and allow those participating to perform and not be judged. Also, this event is not just for African-American students, but for any high school student interested in showcasing their talent, whether it be dance, stepping, singing, rapping, spoken

word or poetry. “One of the purposes is to get people involved and to teach,” says BCC showcase committee chair and Walnut Hills SENIOR Nia Simmonds. “It’s not just for African-American students, it’s for everyone of every culture and ethnicity to experience.” The event will be comprised of

roughly 14 acts who will perform for about 6 minutes. These acts will be chosen in January by an audition panel including faculty members and BCC’s own student-led audition committee. Showcase Chairperson SENIOR Breanna Jones states that she expects “qual-ity acts.” The acts picked will be announced in February, giving

Blue and gold march on Walnut Hills: A history of student protestsJonah Roth, ‘13

On March 22, 2001, Wal-nut students skipped class with a purpose. A week earlier, the Chatterbox had published an issue containing a controversial opinion piece criticizing the administration for handing out Saturday schools. Alongside the article was a cartoon depicting assistant principal Gerald Houghton as the character “Two-Face.” The administration almost immediately suspended distribu-tion of the Chatterbox. Principal Marvin Koenig met with Chatter-box staff, and over 125 non-Chat-terbox Walnut students walked out of class at 1 p.m. on March 22, chanting things like “Bring back the box!” This, however, was far from the first time that Walnut Hills

students have staged a protest, according to former principal Dr. David A. Shepherd. In fact, over his fifteen years as principal, he witnessed many protests by students. During teachers’ strikes in 1976 and 1978, “a number of students… walked out in support of the teachers” for multiple days. In 1980, when the district ran out of money and Walnut was closed for 28 days, students picketed, sit-ting down in Blair circle, in what Shepherd calls a “well-planned and well-organized” protest. In 1982, the district “at-tempted to get more work out of the teachers” by transitioning all schools to an eight-bell day. Only at Walnut Hills did students “pick up on the teachers’ upset” and walked out of school for over three days. When the teachers’

Being green is not only for hippiesEmily Friedman, ‘13

A research study at the Univer-sity of Arizona found 25-year-old hotdogs, corncobs, grapes and 50-year-old newspapers that were still readable in a landfill. Over 40% of what’s going into Cincin-nati’s landfill could have been recycled. The first step to personal environmental awareness and con-servation is realizing that nothing thrown away ever leaves the earth. Walnut Hills has a recycling program already instituted. The AP Environmental Science class

takes care of emptying the bins into the recycling dumpsters every week. The following can be recycled in Cincinnati: clean pizza boxes without food or grease, glass bottles and jars, aluminum, steel and bi-metal cans, aerosol cans with the lids and tips removed, paper and cardboard. However, these cannot be recycled: plastic, Ziploc bags, chip bags, tissues or even paper plates. Furthermore, cans or bottles should be emptied before being placed in recycling bins. Every classroom is equipped with a bright blue bin. Erin Speno, ‘14, an AP Environmental Science recycler confirms that one can place any recyclable in them by removing the lid. Composting, a process in which any decomposable ma-terial can be used to produce

organic fertilizer, is also a feature of Walnut’s recycling institution. Walnut’s composting bin, located in the corner of the bio-gardens, collects waste that is then decom-posed and used to help plants in the bio-gardens grow. Eggshells, fruits (banana peels, orange peels, apple cores, etc.), teabags and cof-fee grinds can all be composted. Bio-Eco Club is working on acquiring composting bins in the future to facilitate the pro-cess for students. The club will also be terra-cycling: collecting certain garbage like chip bags and recylables like water bottles, and sending it away to be made into bags, benches, etc. If you would like to contribute bring any empty chip bags, water bottles, or candy wrappers to Dr. Harsh’s room, room 2720.

union re-negotiated a seven-bell day in 1988, students protested again over the reduction in course options. During this protest, the superintendent invited students to the auditorium, where he threat-ened administrative action—and they walked out on him. On November 2, 2005, long after Shepherd’s departure from Walnut Hills, over 100 students in the club Students Against War skipped their seventh bell in protest of the war in Iraq, chant-ing anti-war slogans and holding signs. Koenig was quoted by the Cincinnati Enquirer saying that students who skipped class to protest on this occasion would receive a Friday school, the stan-dard punishment for skipping. The administration also requested attendance lists for that bell from

teachers. “I ignored the request for attendance lists because it was an unusual request,” social studies teacher Scott Grunder says, “and yes, also because I believe in the right to protest.” Grunder recalls other events, such as “little tombstones” placed in Blair circle to commemorate

those who died in the war, stu-dents participating in a “moo-in” (where students sat on the steps moo-ing because they thought they were being treated like cattle when they were unable to eat lunch on the front steps) and a “sizeable group” attending Board

“ ...over 100 students skipped their seventh bell in protest of the war in Iraq...”

them a month or so to rehearse. This event will also be family-ori-ented and for all ages. There will be refreshments and an introduc-tory slide show that will entertain the audience while they await the acts. The Black Culture Club will also be giving back at the end of the school year. A portion of the

proceeds earned from the showcase will be used as a scholarship and given to a graduating SENIOR. Black Culture Club President SENIOR Kaia Amoah remarks, “This scholarship is a really great opportunity for Walnut Hills students to improve their college experience. We hope that more people take advantage of this of-fer.” More information about this scholarship will be provided as the showcase approaches. “It’s about time Walnut had an event like this,” Jones remarks. Although this is not Walnut’s first talent show, its old traditions of the Walnuts and P-Nuts shows have been nonexistent for years. The show intends to be a window into the heart of African-American culture. Simmonds says that “this has the potential to be a tradition at Walnut.”

Interested students should email <thebccwalnuthills@gmail.com> for more information.

[Editor’s note: Jade Clark is the News & Features editor of the Chat-terbox and a member of the BCC.]

The SENIOR BCC showcase committee members (pictured from top left to bottom right): Jade K. Clark, Kaia Amoah, Precious Adeleye, Faheema Hughes, Taiwo Oyadiran, Breanna Jones and Nia Simmonds.

EMILY FRIEDMAN/CHATTERBOX

CHARLIE HATCH/CHATTERBOX

The composting bin in the bio-gardens.

DeIssue CVII.4 Page 3

VIEWPOINTSJaylen Hill, Editor

Viewpoints StaffBrendan Franke, ‘13Kyren Palmer, ‘14Abrena Rowe, ‘14Cohen Walker, ‘14

The Chatterbox Editorial StaffCharlie Hatch and Jonah Roth, Editors-in-Chief

Emily Friedman, Senior Managing Editor Garretson Oester, Junior Managing EditorJosh Medrano, Copy Editor KeMarca Wade, Copy EditorJoe Schmidlapp, Design Editor Martine Williams, Business Manager

Page EditorsJade K. Clark, News & Features Editor Jaylen Hill, Viewpoints EditorJenna Weber, Fine Arts Editor Hannah Shaw, Style & Culture EditorAustin Railey, Sports Editor Brandon Wagner, Arcade Editor

Celeste Kearney and Rico Blackman, Peanuts EditorsAdvisors: Samantha Gerwe-Perkins and Dawn Wolfe

Illustration by Sarah DavidoffThe Chatterbox Policy Statement The Chatterbox has been guaranteed the right of freedom of the press through the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The administration of Walnut Hills High School is thus bound to support and protect the Chatterbox’s inalienable rights as a free press. As an integral part of the Walnut Hills High School community, The Chatterbox has the responsibility to report in the most comprehensive and objective manner possible. Students, parents, faculty, and

administrators are encouraged to use this publication as a forum to express any ideas or concerns, whether they be personal or of local, national, or international scope. Journalists are required to work under established guidelines. Invasion of privacy as a means of news gathering is prohib-ited. Articles found to be discriminatory, libelous, or unnecessarily obscene (as determined by the editors or the advisor) will not be published. Finally, journalists are granted the right to keep private the name of a source from whom they received

information with the understanding that the source was to remain anonymous. The role of the newspaper advisor will be to provide counsel and criticism pertaining to the newspaper’s content and production. Although both the advisor and the admin-istration hold certain powers regarding the Chatterbox, both must respect the paper’s autonomy. No student shall be prevented from joining the staff on the basis of sex, race, creed, or national origin.

Questions or comments?We would love to hear your thoughts! All feedback and corrections for the Chatterbox should be directed to

<cboxwalnut@gmail.com>. Written feedback and submissions can also be dropped off in Room 2307.

Wally Hill, ‘13

The upward inflection at the end of a sentence. That strange squiggle that appears at the end of a line of text—and on the car-toons that depict my face! Although we forget about it, it’s astonishing to think about how large a part asking, and answering questions plays in our daily lives as students. Questions as simple as “What’s for dinner?,” as important as “What college will I say yes to?,” as convoluted and annoying as “How does the main character’s childhood, as described in chapter three, help develop the theme of the novel?” And the holidays are coming up. I’m sure we all remember sit-ting on Santa’s lap and answering the question “What would you like for Christmas?” (Or whatever holiday or gift-giving occasion you observe this time of year). It was a simpler life then. We didn’t have the English essay question to worry about, or the questions on the upcoming physics exam, -- or the questions about personal identity, the inner workings of the universe or romantic love. We could spend the season pondering what gifts we wanted to emerge from under the tree, the budding skeptics among us questioning the existence of the iconic man in the red suit. It does us all good, now and at all times of the year, to have journalists. Newsmen and women research countless sources, travel to the

BRANDON WAGNER/CHATTERBOX

Holidays and questions with Wally Hill

Abrena Rowe, ‘14

What is stress? According to dictionary.com, stress is a physical, mental or emotional strain or ten-sion (synonyms: anxiety, burden, pressure, oppression; effort, exer-tion, struggle). Without a doubt, we have all felt this way, even if mildly, about one of our AP classes. These classes are demand-ing and expect you to be more re-sponsible and more aware of what you are learning and doing than in regular and advanced classes. When asked what she’s looking for from her students now that first semester is coming to an end, AP Language and Composition teacher Dawn Wolfe said, “I’m ex-pecting...greater enthusiasm from my students in what we’re doing and looking forward to third and

fourth quarter,” This is similar to what most of the AP teachers are looking for because the exams are five months away. However, with first semester coming to an end and third quar-ter approaching, the reality of the May testing hits home--sometimes enthusiasm translates into stress. Benjamin Cail, ‘14, who is tak-ing four AP classes, shares that he’s “a bit stressed because it is a lot of work,” but his teachers “are good at spreading the workload” which makes it easier for him. For a person who is taking multiple AP classes, it’s important for teachers to lessen the stress students experi-ence but still be able to teach the material needed in the time frame of the exams in May. If you come from a family where grades are extremely impor-

Music, like fashion, changes with taste. Just as afros, bell-bot-tom pants and tie-dye have faded from the fashion scene, so have various types of music. Disco and glam rock are two types of music not often seen on the Billboard Hot 100 charts nowadays. It makes me wonder, has music got-ten better or worse? Music of the past spoke of every situation under the sky (maybe not literally, but you get the point). Today, the most popu-lar music genres, pop, dance, indie

rock and R&B/hip-hop, mostly feature themes of drugs and drink-ing, fast living and partying. Per-sonally, my favorite types of music are rock and alternative because the recent songs are still about life and love. Other genres still address those themes, but I prefer the instrumental melodies of rock and alternative music. Certain popular artists, namely Justin Bieber, One Direction, Nicki Minaj and Lil’ Wayne, are blamed for destroying the music scene; others believe they are some of the greatest artists ever. I guess it depends on what type of music floats your boat. Remember that there are plenty of genres to choose from: rock, pop, rap, hip-hop, alter-native, blues, jazz, oldies, soul, reggae, classical, country, indie pop, techno, trance, dance, easy listening, electronic and inspi-

rational. Let’s not forget inter-national music such as Japanese pop, Korean pop, German folk, or anime (yes, it is also a music genre for you otaku, or anime/manga fans, out there). While some people think music has gotten worse, I agree with SENIOR and Chatterbox member Charlie Hatch with his view that it hasn’t really changed. “There’s always good music out there if you’re willing to look for it,” he says. Some of the music genres listed may not seem like your thing, but don’t knock ‘em until you try ‘em. Go outside your music box and listen to someone you’ve never heard of before. Who knows? You might discover you actually like something you’ve been bashing forever.

Is music still in good condition? There’s a chance...

APPLE, INC.KeMarca Wade, ‘13

AP now stands for Added Pressure

ends of the earth and often risk their lives to find the answers to daunting questions. And that’s where I come in. No, no, don’t make me laugh; I’m not travelling to the ends of the earth. But I am going to answer some of your questions. That you send me. From the comfort of my swivel chair. I’m serious—send me questions about anything—about myself; my very face is shrouded in mystery…you can start there. Or you can ask for advice, or for the solutions to those even numbered math problems that aren’t in the back of the book. E-mail your questions to askwallyhill@gmail.com. Please let me know if you’d like to remain anonymous. Next issue I’ll print some answers. Just keep in mind they’ll be wordy, cryptic and gen-erally unhelpful. Other Chatterbox reporters do the heavy lifting; I provide the entertainment. Entertainingly, Wally

Brendan Franke, ‘13

The end of the world is rapidly approaching us! Doomsday is slated to kick off on December 21 of this year according to the Mayan calendar. The Mayan Calendar is said to be over 5,000 years old and the last date on this calendar is December 21, 2012. Set to occur on this date is the arrangement of various astronomical alignments and patterns. This is supposed to be the end of humanity and a start of a new era of life, perhaps. Other theories suggest an end in which the earth collapses upon itself followed by worldwide devastation or the collision of the earth with a planet known as “Nibiru.” Nibiru is also classified as Planet X. This term is used to describe a planet yet to be discov-ered or believed to exist outside of our vast solar system. The planet is supposedly somewhere in the universe, but there is no factual evidence regarding the planet making an impact with Earth.

Most people do not believe in this interesting phenomenon, and with good reason. Every 21st of December marks the day of the winter solstice and, according to scientific researchers, there is no indication of any world catas-trophe or impending threat to humanity based on a certain date. Similar to our yearly calendar ending on the 31st of December and the new year beginning on the first day of January, the Mayan calendar suggests the end of the long count period, but another one occurs after. No scientific evidence has been provided to support suggestions of the world ending, thus it’s been decided to be fictional by many scientists. As we advance into the future we can track whether anything extremely serious or catastrophic may impact earth at any time, thanks to technology. As of right now, nothing suggests an apocalypse. Skip out on holiday shopping, sleep through school and party all you want until December 20th if you feel it’s necessary, but be ready to return to class in January; there’s still a while to go.

End of the world as we know it?

tant and are pressured to take as many AP classes as possible, or are a driven individual who chooses to take these classes just because you can, it’s likely you are dealing with or have dealt with some level of stress in your AP classes. The important thing to remem-ber is that you should not stress over them because the stress won’t help you out in the end. You don’t have to take a million AP classes if you don’t want to. With the wide variety of APs available, take ones that interest you, and you know you will enjoy learning from. Or use the method proposed by Nate Jones, ‘14: “Just stay positive and just get the work done.”

For full interviews, view the online extension of this article at <my.hsj.org/chatterbox>.

December 4, 2012

December 4, 2012Page 4 Issue CVII.4

SPORTSAustin Railey, Editor

Sports StaffKibret Alem, ‘14

Austin Carpenter, ‘13Isaiah Johnson, ‘13

Kate Warren, ‘14

Eagles, get your water wings!

Austin Carpenter, ‘13

“This season is going to be a good one,” says SENIOR Max Holden. With the addition of new swimmers as well as a renovated pool (supposed to be done by the SENIOR night in February), the

teams are ready to go. The Walnut Hills men’s and women’s swim teams are look-ing to resume where they left off last season. The women’s team is coming off a season where they finished second in the FAVC (Fort Ancient Valley Conference) and

the men are coming off a season where they finished fifth. “I am looking for the program to [come together] as whole so that we can compete at a high level again,” says SENIOR Zach Fisher. Fisher and Holden are the only two SENIOR men returning from last season. “We have strong junior and SENIOR leadership and every-body is highly motivated as well as dedicated,” Fisher says about the leadership role he has stepped into. “We all have to step up and take charge so that we as a team can reach our goals, which includes beating rival Oak Hills High School.” The men’s team is full of underclassmen, including Andrew Tengen, ‘14. When asked about how this year’s team stacks up against last year’s, Tengen says that “this year’s team is better and more well-rounded; both the men’s and women’s teams are stacked with club swimmers—the talent is there.”

Tengen also says that “the men’s team has a chance to make the state championship with our relay team.” The team has very high expectations for itself and its members push each other as far and hard as possible. Both teams have chemistry in and outside the pool. “We all are really close; we are like a family,” states Fisher. The women’s team is led by SENIORS Emily Cashell, Amara Barakat, Margaret Ross, Clara Smith, Natalie Barone and Rosie Giglia. “We have a SENIOR led team this year,” Ross says. “Not one SENIOR has a specific job, we all work together in motivat-ing the team.” Margaret as well as the other SENIOR girls have been together since freshman year. “This year is going to be fun,” says Smith. “We all have a firm friendship and us SENIORS will be stepping up as we go through the many major changes this year.”

LAUREN STARRETT

Young Lady Eagles ready to soarIsaiah Johnson, ‘13

The Lady Eagles varsity basket-ball team is gearing up for a new season in a new conference. “I expect to challenge the league this season and to get bet-ter the more we play”, says Head Coach Tony Johnson. This year’s team is going into this season with hopes of being better than they have the last few years but to have fun while they are doing it. “The great thing is having a lot of talent but the hard part about being young is the consistency that may or not be there every game” said Coach Tony Johnson. “I think it’s going to be a re-building year”, says Amber Wilks, ‘15. “We have a young team, but our season will be better than last year’s.” “It can be challenging (to be the captain) because the under-classmen don’t have very much varsity experience,” says SENIOR Caitlin Perry. “They have a lot of talent and keeping them focused and giving their all is a captain’s job.” Despite a little more than a third of the team having never experienced a varsity game first-hand, the girls’ confidence for this year is high. The reason for this confidence, even though there are only four SENIORS on the team, is “the leadership that we have this year is more prominent than it was previously,” says SENIOR Ashley Brewster.

Kate Warren, ‘14

“Bodybuilding is the search for the perfect body,” says Collin Young, ‘14, when asked about his number one sport. Bodybuilding takes up a lot of Young’s time. From dieting to working out, this sport requires determination and structure. “I eat 6 meals a day, spaced 2-3 hours across the day,” says Young,

“I monitor every calorie that enters my body.” Regulating one’s diet is a key part of the bodybuild-ing process, but training is also important. “If you do not go all the way in both, you will not be successful in bodybuilding.” Many wonder what the point of bodybuilding is; for Young, that gets personal. “Up until seventh grade, I was very overweight,” he says, “I decided to change, so I lost all my weight and became a bean pole and I decided to lift.” Young also shared another reason he is competitive in bodybuilding. His role model: his father. “Seven years ago he fell from a three story building, shattering his ankles. His doctors said he would never walk again. Since then he has not only walked, but has started training again.” Inspired by his father’s love for the sport, Young competes in bodybuilding shows. Contestants take the stage, a few at a time, and flex in a variety of poses while judges score them in areas includ-ing symmetry and definition. “People tell me it is easy, but try flexing your biceps for 30 seconds. Now imagine doing that with your whole body for 20 minutes.” Young is very passionate about his sport and takes pride in what he does. He strives towards every bodybuilder’s goal of looking like an “anatomy chart,” as he says.

[Editor’s Note: Last issue Charlie Hatch asked for feedback from his commentary regarding the Walnut Hills football team. This was one of the responses.]

Kyren Palmer, ‘14

As a Walnut Hills football play-er, I constantly hear things around the halls, like “Walnut Hills’s foot-ball team sucks this year,” or “they need the Class of 2012 back.” People are so fast to criticize the football team because we didn’t have as good a season as last year. But you all are on the outside looking in and are judging our season on things that you all don’t know about. For example, there were ten people who quit who could have contributed a lot to our team. Three out of the ten were starters last season. We had three play-ers who were kicked off the team mid-season. And injuries played a big factor too. We had people getting injured left and right and most of us had to play through our injuries. Kevin Snape, ‘13, for example, got injured a few times this season and played through them. This season we had a very inexperienced team. People who didn’t even dream about playing varsity last season were turned into starters this season. For Kevin Blount, ‘15, this was his first year as starting QB, and you can say he was “thrown into the fire” because last year’s starter quit. Our linebackers were inex-perienced and there wasn’t enough

depth so we had to bring up a freshman to play varsity. Last season, of course we had 2012 SENIORS with plenty of varsity experience. Kenneth Davis, James Smith, Jason Stargel, Kamree Maul, and others, all had experience from playing since their freshman or sophomore year. The 2012 SENIORS had an opportunity to play on teams where if they made mistakes it really didn’t effect the team. So after coming off an 8-2 season and losing many SENIORS, our inexperienced guys didn’t have a lot of room for mistakes. What’s more, this year we moved to the Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) where the competition was tough. The outcome of the season wasn’t what we wanted to be, but as the famous Coach Turner would say “We’re not where we want to be, but we’re not where we were.” This year we were not expect-ing a 5-5 season, but neither were we expecting some of the things that happened to us this season to happen. Yes, we went 5-5, and yes, our team was inexperienced, but think about it, before we went 8-2 we went 5-5 two seasons in a row. Why do you think that was? The Class of 2012 were sophomores, and juniors those years. They had the time and the experience to struggle for those two years and make mistakes with the team and their SENIOR year help the team come out with a 8-2 season and establish a playoff birth.

From the perspective of a player Building bulk: insight with Collin Young

Collin Young, ‘14. is body building for more than just looks; he also is inspired by the actions of his father.

COLLIN YOUNG

Question of the monthWho do you want to see in the BCS National Championship game this January?

Responses:

@Sat_UrA**_Down Georgia vs. oregon #GODucks

@IGotYoBack_Alabama vs. Oregon #rolltide

@QB9JakeNotre Dame vs. Georgia #notide

@An_The_IsAlabama and Notre Dame #rolltide

Send your tweets to @chatterboxWHHS and YOU could be in the next issue. Visit the Chatterbox’s Twitter page to see next month’s question.

@ChatterboxWHHS

Check us out on Twitter for the latest content from the Chatterbox!

SENIOR Max Holden believes this year could be the best yet.

FINE ARTSJenna Weber, Editor

December 4, 2012Issue CVII.4 Page 5

Fine Arts StaffMaggie Garrigan, ‘13Karinne Hill, ‘15Charlie Bales, ‘14

Staff picks: Photography featureIn every issue, the Chatterbox Fine Arts staff will pick two pictures submitted by students to feature on our page. The reason for this spotlight on photography is to bring attention to the talent of the Walnut Hillls student body in non-conventional media. All other submissions will be displayed on our online publication. To submit photos for future consideration, email a JPEG file to <cboxwalnut@gmail.com>.

KYLE CHASE HENRY SEVERDING

The Fine Arts in Cincinnati calendar will be featured on the online edition of the Chatterbox. Visit <http://bit.ly/RltNlv> to view the calendar and other Fine Arts articles.

A “Belize Adventure”Karinne Hill, ‘15

This spring break, art classes at Walnut will be taking an eight day trip to Belize, leaving on March 29. The student-planned trip, costing between $1,849 and $1,899 depending on the number of people on the trip, includes things from round-trip airfare

to a professional bilingual tour guide. It is open to photography classes, other art classes, and some students otherwise involved with the Art Department. The group will spend days in Belize City, San Ignacio and Ambergris Caye. All nights will be spent in 3 or 4 star hotels, with four students staying in each room. During the day, some activities planned will consist of a boat ride down the New River to the Lama-

nai Ruins, a tour of San Ignacio under cover of a canopy, a tour of the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins and a day at the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center. Spring Break trips have a popu-lar reputation among students. “It was really fun,” Brie Rothan, ‘15, said about last year’s trip around Europe. “All of the new scenery and learning about all of the cultures of Europe was really inspiring.” This ties in with Art teacher Donald Stocker’s wish to

Alumni in the artsJenna Weber, ‘13Charlie Bales, ‘14

Most likely, when thinking of famous Walnut Hills graduates, names like Mary Wineberg or Charles Manson come to mind. However, many other alumni have left their mark in the world of the arts. From painters to direc-tors to musicians, the range of talented students that have passed through Walnut is vast. Their presence is still strong within our school and they stay involved with the Walnut community. Have you ever wondered where the painted wooden benches placed throughout the school came from? The bench with the multiple paint brushes and brush strokes is a student’s rendition of the work of Walnut Hills alumnus Jim Dine, ‘53, as well as a tribute to the artist. An Ohio University graduate, Dine is considered an influential artists in the Modern Art movement. He is often dis-cussed alongside world-renowned artists such as Roy Lichtenstein,

Robert Rauschenberg and Claes Oldenberg. Dine developed his reputa-tion by painting objects such as bathrobes, stylized hearts, paint brushes, tools and other utilitarian household objects. Dine’s 12-foot tall bronze sculpture of the pup-pet Pinocchio, named Pinocchio (Emotional), stands at the entrance of the Cincinnati Art Museum. His works are also on permanent

display at MoMA and the Gug-genheim. To view his art, visit <pacegallery.com> and select the Jime Dine biography page. Members of the Walnut Hills jazz band are not the only Walnut Hills musicians that have played at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club. Fred Hersch, ‘73, has played mul-tiple shows alongside the Walnut Hills jazz band at the Blue Wisp. Hersch is an internationally rec-

ognized contemporary jazz pianist with three Grammy nominations. Vanity Fair calls Hersch “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade or so.” Every actor or actress dreams of the day his or her name is immor-talized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Evelyn Venable, ‘30, went on after her high school career to receive this honor. She was cast as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and

teach his students about the cul-ture of different areas of the world, as well as their art. He wants them to understand that “art is a lifestyle.” Stocker himself is very excited about the trip, saying that he expects it to be “an event more than anything else.” Interested students that are in art classes, or have been in the past, should go see Mr. Stocker in room 2711 as soon as possible.

Rosalind in As You Like It on the stage at Walnut Hills. Two years after graduating, she signed a contract with Paramount Pictures and now stars in over 25 films. Venable herself was the inspiration for her made-to-fit character, the Blue Fairy, in the Disney animated film, Pinocchio (1940). Theater buff or not, Broadway shows such as Hairspray, Into The Woods and Jersey Boys are produc-tions known by many. What is not well-known is that Rick Steiner, ‘64, is the producer of these shows, which have won 37 Tony awards and two Pulitzer prizes. His show Jersey Boys currently runs at the Aronoff Center until De-cember 9. Steiner has maintained a Cincinnati presence by serving on boards for the Cincinnati Play-house in the Park and the School for Creative and Performing Arts. With over 110 graduated classes and thousands of alumni, it is not surprising that so much talent has passed through the halls of Walnut Hills. Look around, the person sitting next to you may win a Grammy someday. Maybe they will write a song that reaches the iTunes Top Ten. Maybe they will be president. Or maybe you will.

KYLE CHASE/CHATTERBOX

The student-designed bench inspired by Jim Dine’s artwork resides in the hallway near the art rooms.

December 4, 2012Page 6 Issue CVII.4

STYLE & CULTUREHannah Shaw, Editor

Style & Culture StaffKyle Chase, ‘13Grace Hill, ‘15

Sarah Wagner, ‘14

Join other 9th-12th graders for high stakes fun at theFeeling lucky?

High Roller’s ClubHigh Roller’s ClubSaturday, December 15th

9pmMayerson JCC, Amberley

J�| 513

& Beverages served to you right at the gaming tables!

Win an iPod Touch,mall gift cards and other prizes!

Blackjack · Craps · Roulette DJ · Dancing · Photo Booth

RSVP to JCC513.org. More info call Matt 722-7244Everyone else $10 at the door and subject to waiting on lineEveryone else $10 at the door and subject to waiting on line

FREE admittance and VIP Access to the first 250 to RSVP!Open to all 9th-12th graders

Kyle Chase, ‘13 Writing on walls has been a part of human nature since the beginning of mankind. However, it has greatly evolved since then. Today, the art of writing on walls is better known as graffiti. A local graffiti artist describes it as “a way to express myself beyond the norm and keep it all my own.” The prac-tice is appreciated by some, but frowned upon by many more. “It depends on the context,” says SENIOR Harrison Hildeb-randt, “If it’s done tastefully with intent to be meaningful, I feel it’s art, but when it’s inappropri-ate scribble it’s more of a crime.” While a portion of the world views graffiti as a crime, the “criminals” who practice it consider it a form of art. “Delinquency is a good word for a portion of what graffiti is,”

says the graffiti artist. When most people see graffiti, they link it to gangs, assuming that all graffiti has something to do with gangs and posses. “In no way is... a [graffiti] crew a gang. It can be formed to act as a gang,” the artist clarifies. “Really it’s just a group of friends who like to paint together.” “There is definitely a sneaky part of graffiti, considering it is illegal,” SENIOR Sylvie Hayes-Wallace chimes in, “but the good graffiti artists are like any other artists—willing to do whatever to get their point across, regardless of breaking the law.” To those who spray, it is an art form; a way to express one’s feelings or emotions. The graffiti artist says that the art has become a passion for him, an adrenaline rush he finds addictive. “Graffiti is its own subculture. People just have the wrong idea about it,” he

says, “as an artist myself, I will always love the art and everything about it” “There’s no better feeling when you are proud of what you just wrote on the wall, legally or il-legally, or if anybody will ever see it.” The spray painter explains, “To me it’s about you and what you did, not what anyone else thinks.” Despite the graffiti artist’s passion, many say that there is no way that graffiti is art, especially if it’s not in galleries anywhere. However to these artists, the streets are their gallery. Here in Cincinnati there is a large area re-ferred to as “the channels,” where Cincinnati’s rainwater is collected into the river. It also serves the purpose of being a gallery of graffiti in the streets. The artist describes the channels as “a great place to get your work seen by other writers [artists] on a regular

basis.” Most who consider graffiti to be a crime say that it is in no way an art. When they see it, they think of vandalism. Over-the-Rhine is home to an organization called Elementz. One of the many things they do is provide classes on the art of graffiti. With the realization that graffiti is illegal, Elementz provides its students with large canvases where they can showcase their art and have them displayed in actual art galleries. “Graffiti is hard,” the graf-fiti artist concludes. “Everything about it seems to be against you. To stay passionate about it and become skilled show strong quali-ties about a person. So, when you see burners (artwork) in the streets that are so bright and colorful, it is nothing but art.”

Style Tips

Gentlemen#148: Two words: Chuck Bass.

#127: A patterned but-ton down under a winter sweater achieves class, versatility and warmth.

Ladies#216: Proceed with caution when consider-ing straight across bangs. They are trendy, but hard to pull off and take a long time to fix.

#273: Don’t abandon dresses just because the season has changed! Pair your favorite frocks with knit tights, a scarf and a jacket for a revamped winter look perfect for cold days.

The rise of artistic delinquency in Cincinnati

KYLE CHASE/ CHATTERBOX

The channels serve as a gallery for Cincinnati’s graffiti artists. From seasoned pros to juvenile taggers, there is no space left untouched by graffiti.

December 4, 2012Issue CVII.4 Page 7

PEANUTSCeleste Kearney and Rico Blackman, Editors

Peanuts Staff Zoe Cheng, ‘15 Justeen Jackson, ‘18Adrianna Smith, ‘18

Join the Peanuts family! Who: 7th and 8th graders

What: The Peanuts section of the Chatterbox is all about our lower- classmen. The articles cover a wide variety of topics pertaining to 7th and 8th graders at Walnut Hills.

When: Meetings are every 1st and 3rd Wednesday during 2nd lunch.

Why: The Peanuts section is a great way to learn more about the Chatterbox, journalism and school newspapers. Working on Peanuts will also help you decide if you want to be a part of the Chatterbox in high school. Peanuts will help you practice and develop your writing and photography skills. There is always room for other talents that would like to be showcased in Peanuts.

Contact: Email <peanutschatterbox@gmail.com> or come to one of the meetings.

Zoe Cheng, ‘15

There may not be snow on the ground yet, but you shouldn’t lose hope! For some, snow days are the best parts of a school year. They provide both a pleasant and unexpected respite from classes. Here are some fun ways to spend your snow day:

1. Play in the snow. Even though singing about Frosty and fighting in snowball wars seem like childhood memories come junior high, it’s important to remember that even the most serious students need to have fun sometimes. So next time you wake up and see snow, go outside and make a snowman! 2. Have a movie marathon. Unearth your old favorite Disney movies from the basement and pop some popcorn. This will add some sentimental value to the fun of snow days.

3. Bake. Look up new and in-ventive ideas on Google or search through a cookbook. Baking is a great way to get into the holiday season. Try holiday-themed cook-ies or cupcakes. 4. Start a project. This isn’t the same as a school project; it should be a project all your own. Do you want to paint a picture? Make a collage? Clean out your room? Now is the perfect time! 5. Discover something new about yourself. Draw a picture or write a poem, or sit down and practice an instrument. Create something you have never created before. Snow days create the ideal environment for you to invest in your own creativity.

Next time you wake up to a snow day, don’t just go back to sleep. Hop out of bed, pick up a book or a pencil, and do some-thing. Remember, snow days are rare, so make the most of them!

Tip of the month: “Snow days!”

Ask Piper Peanut: Effie advice

The Peanuts staff is proud to intro-duce Piper Peanut. Piper is a secret seventh-grader who is here to answer your burning questions about life at Walnut Hills High School. As with Wally Hill, Piper’s identity will be revealed at the end of the year.

Dear Piper Peanut, It’s second quarter already, and I’m getting kind of scared. First quarter was a little hard, but at least we didn’t have exams. I really need to do well on exams so I can get a good first semester grade. Do

you have any tips for how to re-main calm during such a stressful time? Truth be told, I’m freaking out already. I feel like I am the only one that is stressing out about exams and the end of the quarter. What should I do?

Sincerely, Stressed Out!

Dear Stressed Out, It will be okay, don’t worry. Just take a deep breath and check your calendar. Since you have been paying attention in class, it should be a breeze. I know, I know. Don’t believe me now, but seriously it’s really okay. Plus, I think we’ve all been stressed out about exams lately, so don’t worry you’re not the only one. Just breath, study, and go into the class with a posi-tive attitude, and you’ll do great!

Sincerely, Piper Peanut, ‘18

Ask Piper a question at <peanuts-chatterbox@gmail.com>!

Video games... a problem?

Riley Taylor, ‘18Tatyana Woodall, ’17 Kendall Young, ‘18

Rico Blackman, ‘15

“If it’s in the game... it’s in the game.” This phrase was created by popular video game franchise EA Sports to introduce who they are. The very first video game system was developed in 1948 by Thomas T. Goldsmith, Jr. and Estie Ray Martin, and it was called a Cath-ode ray tube. Nowadays, video games are more than just expensive, high-rolling gifts bought to please children and amuse the elderly. The age group of avid video gam-ers range from all ages. While video games may be used 24/7 by our generation, have video games become too time consuming? Does it have an effect on students and their productivity? Being a student at Walnut Hills High School, or any high school, demands a lot of time that most students have to devote to homework and studying. But does this time allow for extra activi-ties such as playing team death-match on Call Of Duty? Quinton Mincy, ‘17; Jared Sower, ‘17 and Isaac Clark, ‘17, all agree that “video games are sometimes only available on a non-school day.” When asked if school takes up all the time for playing video games on weekdays, they all responded “No.” Are video games a bad habit? Some say no, while others

say yes. According to a study con-ducted by Rochester University, people who played action-based video and computer games make decisions 25 percent faster than others. But according to a study by Indiana University, there is an association between compulsive gaming and being overweight, introverted and prone to depres-sion. Also Iowa State University Professor of Psychology, Craig Anderson, led a study analyzing 130 research reports on more than 130,000 subjects worldwide decides conclusively that exposure to violent video games makes more aggressive, less caring kids -- regardless of their age, sex or culture. The studies did not com-pare the positives to the negatives of such gaming. Interesting...

“Video games change your brain,” said University of Wis-consin psychologist C. Shawn Green, who studies how electronic games affect abilities. “But games definitely hit the reward system in a way that not all activities do.” I believe, despite controversial opinion, that video games can be beneficial and fun. Video games give children a mission and a drive to want to complete that mis-sion; from Super Mario to Halo 4, people need to have that drive to accomplish anything they put their mind to. I have played video games since I was three, and I have played every type of game there is, including Grand Theft Auto and the Madden series. Video games are not good all the time. Some claim that games promote violence, but don’t let the control-ler control you!

EMILY FRIEDMAN/CHATTERBOX

All the Nut’s a stage: Junior high theater at WHHS

COOLCAESAR/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Jonah Roth, ‘13

Have you caught the theater bug? Although it may not be im-mediately obvious, Walnut Hills offers many opportunities for sev-enth and eighth graders to express their dramatic side. Creative Dramatics, an elective class available to both seventh and eighth graders, is taught by drama teacher Marlene Shmalo. This class introduces students to public speaking, oral interpretation, im-provisation and scene performance over the course of a semester. Students in the class are cur-rently rehearsing scenes from shows such as You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and The Diary of

Anne Frank in preparation for a final performance. Other notable activities this semester include three rehearsed speeches, an audi-tion skills workshop and a study of performing and a wide array of improvisation activities. Max Skove, ‘18, describes the class as “kind of hectic, [but] entertaining and quite fun.” Camille Williams, ‘18 adds, “There’s lots of creativity just circulating.” If you don’t have room in your course schedule to take a drama class, there’s still room for you in the theater. Auditions are currently open to all seventh, eighth and ninth graders for the junior high musical, Bye Bye Birdie, a musical comedy set in the 1950s. The play

has “over 70 parts,” according to Garretson Oester, ‘14, one of the show’s student directors, “which provides a lot of opportunity for... students to be involved in the show in many different-sized roles.” Devin Knott, ‘17, says that Creative Dramatics had “a lot of influence” on his auditioning for Bye Bye Birdie, because in the class, “I realized that acting is fun.” The announcements over the past few days have stressed that no previous theater experience is needed, and that there are op-portunities for everyone, whether or not you want to sing. “Musicals are fun,” says Griffin Roberts, ‘16, “and they [create] a strong sense of community that makes [them] hard not to enjoy.” Rachel High, ‘16, says that “the friends and memories you make and the sense of accomplishment... you get at the end are worth all the work you put in.” If you haven’t signed up to audition yet, auditions continue until Thursday, December 6. “Theater provides so many opportunities... to be on stage, to make new friends,” Oester says. “It’s especially great for seventh graders, because... the musical really helps you spend an extended amount of time with a specific group, and... get involved in the community.”

[Editor’s note: Garretson Oester is the junior managing editor of the Chatterbox. Jonah Roth is a student director for the show Bye Bye Birdie.]

JONAH ROTH/CHATTERBOX

Courtney Riesenbeck, ‘18 (left), and Kaeleigh Taylor, ‘18, rehearse their scene, entitled To Bee or Not To Bee.

December 4, 2012Page 8 Issue CVII.4

ARCADEBrandon Wagner, Editor

Arcade StaffT.J. Brame, ‘13

Shawntez Robertson, ‘13Sean Wood, ‘15

Brandon Wagner,‘13

Flash a happy smile!! Still Smiling!! Man . . . she is happy!!

In Character: Kyana FriersonKyana Frierson, ‘14 has a passion for dancing and smiling. Her dislikes include lifting weights and school lunch food.

7 1 4 86 9 1 7

9 8 44 1 9

32 5

6 9 88 7 1 4

2 6 5 1

Grass

Narrow emerald bladesGreen is color and in stainGrass is nature’s sword

Acorns Acorns are falling Squirrels chase ricocheting bombs Ping! Plunk! Ping! Plunk! CRUNCH!

Willows The willows dancing Leaves pirouette in the air

Fall...Fall...Fall...Fall...Fall

Fall Poetry SubmissionRiley Taylor, ‘14

SudokuSean Wood, ‘15The object of sudoku is to place the numbers 1 through 9 in each column, row and 3x3 box without repeating any of them. Order is not important as long as they don’t repeat.

We salute you Hostess

Acorn Hills No. 1“BREAKING NEWS!”Shawntez Robertson, ‘13

Brandon Wagner, ‘13

BRANDON WAGNER/CHATTERBOX BRANDON WAGNER/CHATTERBOX BRANDON WAGNER/CHATTERBOX