Prom Fashion Show

Juliana Discher | Staff Writer

On March 23, National Honor Society hosted Prom Fashion Show for an audience of students and adults. The stage was set for student models to show off outfits from local business sponsors.

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Crossing the line: Can student sections go too far?

Juliana Discher | Staff Writer

Student sections in southwest Ohio are known for getting pretty close to the line, while others often cross it.

Whether it’s swearing, destruction of property, or insulting players, many high school and college student sections can go from friendly cheering to outrageous acts of vulgarity. The Black Hole is no stranger to this, often dancing on the line between cheering and inappropriate behavior. Sophomore Alexis Hoehler said she usually refrains from taking part in the Black Hole because she feels their behavior is immature.

“Usually, they just trash talk the other team,” Hoehler said. “It’s unsportsmanlike, so it makes me not want to go. I don’t think the Black Hole is accepting of underclassmen, either.”

Sophomore Christian White said the heat of the game causes teenagers to act in a way they normally would not.

“During the game where students threw powder, there were a lot bad words going on because kids threw it in each other’s faces,” White said “Teenagers just go a little crazy in high school and college student sections, I think, because it’s unmonitored for the most part.”

Senior Michael Magness, an avid Black Hole participant, said he believes student sections never cross the line, and it’s purely for fun.

“I don’t think that there is a line at all,” Magness said. “You have to have thick skin when you’re out there playing sports. We recognize the weak link, like Tate, a basketball player from Sycamore; we called him fat. His dad didn’t think it was funny, but we all thought it was funny. Parents get offended easily, so we are being censored a lot more.”

Magness said members of the student section will go to any extreme to help Mason succeed.

“We try to get in player’s heads and make them make as many mistakes as possible,” Magness said. “I remember last year against Lakota West, a kid fouled out and punched the bleachers and hurt his hand, so he was out the rest of the game. Any time, we can get someone to commit a foul or turn the ball over, it’s a win for us.”

Comments can get personal towards the opposing players. Senior Eric Thomas said he’s taken part in several occasions of what others may deem controversial behavior.

“At a game versus Hamilton, this old guy came down because I was yelling at his son,” Thomas said. “He yelled at me, and I told him I would fight him in the parking lot if he wanted. Another time, we looked up this dude’s girlfriend and chanted ‘ugly girlfriend’ when he made the free throw. He made the first one, so we chanted ‘She’s still ugly’ and he missed the second one.”

When behavior becomes too inappropriate, Mason administration intervenes. Administrator Laura Spitzmueller said they monitor the behavior of students at games.

“Sometimes, Mason students will say things they shouldn’t, that are inappropriate,” Spitzmueller said. “Usually, I go to the Black Hole leaders and say something to them.”

Oak Hills senior and varsity basketball player Ryan Batte has noticed some of Mason’s behavior is inappropriate at times during games. Batte was on the basketball court last year when Mason students stormed the court following a close game won by a buzzer beater.

“As a team, we felt disrespected,” Batte said. “The student section is not distracting to us when we play, but doing all the extra stuff like looking up players’ personal information is unnecessary sometimes.”

Sycamore senior Nonso Okonji is a regular in Sycamore’s Ave Cave. Okonji said all student sections can get crazy in the heat of the game, but no serious damage is ever done.

“It’s all for good fun, but it can get personal at times,” Okonji said. “Mason dances on the line when they personally point out our players,

Being a Leader

Leadership is ingrained in me. Read about what I have learned as a leader in high school.

In middle school, I struggled to find a fulfilling sense of purpose. I was self-conscious and immature. Nevertheless, I still exceeded the expectations of others, being known as the nice girl, the excellent student, and the soccer player. But I had not found a passion. With 7.4 billion people on the planet, how could I contribute?

Leadership became the answer. I entered high school somewhat reserved about going to such a large school, with over 4,000 students. But by diving headfirst into a variety of clubs, I started to make a name for myself.

I learned about what skills I possessed and which ones I needed to develop as a leader. I am reliable, organized, energetic, and happy-go-lucky. Despite my get-it-done attitude, I needed to improve my delegation skills. Initially, I got excited and attempted to complete all the work myself, but after chairing my first event in Student Government, I learned the benefits of spreading the work.

A successful leader needs proper delegation skills. It’s imperative to take advantage of everyone's unique abilities. Some people are artistic, some excel at public speaking, and some are very organized. If a leader doesn’t take the time to get to know the strengths of their followers, their talents won’t be able to be harnessed. A team will reach their highest level of success when all members are performing their best.

As a current senior in high school, I have a drive to leave Student Government in the best condition possible. One way I've tried to ensure this is by helping our underclassmen members become the best versions of themselves. Understanding their feelings of insecurity and awkwardness, I've coached many. In one example, I helped a shy freshman who loved Student Government, but was too scared to participate. I assigned her to lead a simple tug-of-war game, quickly building her confidence. During meetings, I'd give her positive reinforcement and encouragement to speak her mind. She went from not speaking a word during meetings to leading an event.

Servant-leadership is a crucial aspect of taking charge. A servant-leader focuses on the growth and success of the community they belong to. According to the The Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership, “The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.” A leader shouldn’t be concerned about fulfilling their own needs, rather meeting the needs of the group.

Each semester, in Student Government, I plan and execute an event to benefit the community. The first event was writing letters to veterans. Honoring our veterans after all their sacrifices is very important to me. It was amazing to have fifty of my classmates pour their hearts out to these heroes. Next, we volunteered for an organization where we played soccer with children with special needs. We got to interact with these amazing kids and teach them the sport. Our most recent event was going to an elderly care home and singing carols. All of these events reinforce to me what it means to give back. Planning and executing each event has taught me to follow my passions and drive.

To conclude, a leader should be passionate about what they’re doing. If a leader has the intrinsic motivation to carry out their duties, then success will follow. Passion makes a self-motivated leader who constantly pushes themself to do better. Followers recognize and respect a leader who truly cares about the cause.

In order for a leader to establish proper delegation skills, a servant-leadership mentality, and passion, they need to dive in and practice. In four years of high school, I have transformed from a shy girl to a confident woman ready to take on any challenge. As a leader, you get out what you put in.

Night to Shine!

I got to go to prom early this year.

On Friday, February 10, I was given the privilege to volunteer at Night to Shine at Christ's Church. Night to Shine is a prom put on for individuals who have special needs, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. This was my first year volunteering and I chose to be a buddy.

My guest for the night was Ava. She is nonverbal, but could understand what I was saying. I was pushed out of my comfort zone as I had to learn to communicate with her. I wanted to ensure she would have the most fun night. We spent a lot of time in the karaoke room listening to people sing. We hit the dance floor a little and played games as well. I'm grateful I was paired with Ava because I had a new experience to take back with me. Even though we didn't have conversations, her laughs and smiles said it all.

If you're interested in volunteering for this event next year, here is more information. Don't be scared if you don't have much experience working with individuals with special needs! There are plenty of different activities you can do based on your comfort level. You can sign up to be a photographer, hair stylists and manicurist, serve food, or work in a game room. As long as you have an open mind and friendly attitude, you will do well.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

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FEATURE: AFRICAN AMERICAN HAIR CARE REQUIRES CAREFUL ATTENTION

Don’t touch my hair.

Having strangers constantly feel your hair or ask if it’s real is the uncomfortable reality for these African American students. For junior Aniya Longmire, when some people see her long hair, they assume it’s fake.

“I went to the mall with my two friends, and this lady stopped us to show us a hair care product,” Longmire said. “She assumed I had a weave. Some people think African American women can’t have long hair; they think we all have weaves.”

Longmire said the composition of black hair is different from other races and requires certain care techniques.

“African American hair has to be moisturized, or it will break off,” Longmire said. “We have thicker, more coarse hair. Black people do not like the rain. We do not like the pool. We do not want to get our hair wet, or it will revert to its natural state.”

While styling is common, more African American women are wearing their hair natural. Two-thirds of African American women wore a natural hairstyle in 2013, according to Mintel’s Black Consumers and Hair Care executive summary. Junior Amaya King said she’s come to accept her natural hair and no longer tries to emulate society’s standard of beauty.

“Growing up in Mason, the stereotype here is that to be pretty, you have to have long, straight, blonde hair,” King said. “This year I’ve focused on building my confidence. I had a weave in and took it all out and went all natural. African American hair is very versatile–I can wear it curly like I am now, straighten it, have an afro, or blow it out.”

African American males embrace their natural hair as well. For freshman Marshall Spencer, having an afro allows him to stand out in a crowd.

“I feel like I’m well known for having my hair,” Spencer said. “I haven’t cut my hair in four years. People know me by my hair and it’s a way to express myself.”

Senior Jariah Sweeten said the pressure to have straight hair extends beyond the classroom and into the workforce.

“A lot of black girls aren’t comfortable in their own skin and with their hair,” Sweeten said. “We’ve adapted to European beauty styles, which is the reason we get our hair straightened. It’s a disrespect to our ancestors to get our hair straightened, but we’ve been influenced. We can’t go to a job interview with our natural hair because more than likely we won’t get it, but if you have straight hair, that helps. That’s why a lot of girls wear weaves, because they have to look white. It’s horrible, but that’s the reality that we live in.”

Cultural appropriation is the use of elements of one culture by members of another culture. There has been a trend of non-black celebrities taking hairstyles from African American culture and attempting to create them into their own style. Celebrity mogul Kim Kardashian was one of the early celebrities to wear cornrows, or braids. Sweeten said she does not have a problem when people use black hairstyles, but does when they are intolerant of African Americans as a whole.

“I don’t get mad when people of other races use black hairstyles, but you can’t take some and say that other styles are gross,” Sweeten said. “You have to take it or leave it. When there were riots going on, people didn’t want to stand with us during this protest, but you want to wear our hairstyles and dress and dance like us. You have to accept it all.”

Ultimately, King said she suggests people be respectful and mindful when it comes to African American hair.

“I would advise people to educate themselves about hair,” King said. “There are ways to be respectful and ask questions without invading someone’s privacy. Appreciate everyone’s hair whether it’s real or fake.”

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Students showcase talent to raise money for cancer research

“Chicken on a Stick” won it all.

Performers hit the stage for the annual Talent Show on January 20. National Honor Society put on the event to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. NHS raised around $6,000 for blood cancer research.

Senior Anirudh Rajgopalan sang “Sweet Caroline” as one of the acts. Rajgopalan said he chose the familiar song to allow audience participation.

“It took a lot of courage to show yourself and others that you are one person with your own unique qualities,” Rajgopalan said. “Music can unite people. It helps feed our humanity for the better, and as celebrities perform, whether it be Shahrukh Khan or Neil Diamond, we all can share the same title: fan.”

Talent Show co-chair Ashley Schlaeger said the implementation of new marketing strategies helped them to have a full house.

“We had basket prizes from places like Kendra Scott, Cheesecake Factory, Chick-Fil-A, and other promotional methods included Schoology messages, contacting Tracey Carson, and advertising in clubs and classrooms,” Schlaeger said.

Sophomore Kayleigh Flynn and junior Harrison Wright took third with their performance of “Oceans”. Senior Shreya Dey claimed second singing and playing piano to “Bird Set Free”. Seniors Miles Ware, Jacob Lannes, Vardhan Avasarala, and Michael Hiett also known as Chicken on a Stick won first place with their choreographed dance to “Bye Bye Bye”.

Chicken on a Stick dance group put in a lot of preparation along with the other performers.

“Michael Hiett and I came up with the idea to perform a dance in the middle of October,” Ware said. “We started practicing about two times a week from October to November, and Cole Marvin helped us with the choreography. The month of December was rough with finals and people going on vacation, so we ended up doing nothing for about three weeks, but we made up for it by practicing nearly every day after school in January.”

Ware said performing in the show was a once in a lifetime experience.

“Seeing all the audience was crazy and getting to interact with the other performers backstage was really cool,” Ware said. “We were all in disbelief at first. It felt amazing to win such a big competition. All the time we spent preparing was worth it in an instant. We knew that we would go against quality talent this year, and it wouldn’t be easy. I think we surprised a lot of people with how serious we took our performance. We will be back.”

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