THEOPHILUS NORTH APPEALS TO HIGH SCHOOLERS, SELLS OUT ON OPENING NIGHT

Juliana Discher I Staff Writer

Photo by Lance Moody

Finding your place in life--a battle that Theophilus North and most high school students face.

Theophilus North is a play adapted from a 1973 autobiographical novel by Thornton Wilder. Main director Allen Young said the underlying themes in it are very applicable to high school students.

“It ties in really well with where kids are at this point in their lives,” Young said. “Theophilus North is supposed to be a writer, but he doesn’t want that. He wants to live life, not just observe it.”

Sophomore and lead actor Matt Berman said it tells the tale of a man struggling to find himself.

“I play Theophilus North, and he is a teacher in New Jersey who quits his job,” Berman said. “He buys a really old car and gets as far as about Newport, Rhode Island and starts having adventures there.”

Senior student director and actor Anthony Rought said the play has come a long way.

“I’ve had to attend every rehearsal and seeing how it’s come together from the very beginning to how performances are laid out is really cool,” Rought said. “”The progress is amazing.”

Berman said his favorite scene as Theophilus involves some kooky antics.

“Collin Aldrich, another sophomore, and I do a scene entirely in French,” Berman said. “It’s a bit nerve wracking because neither of us knew French, so we had to learn. It’s very big in the acting and very fun.”

Rought said he has high expectations for the performances this coming weekend.

“I expect us to sell out because we sold out on opening night,” Rought said. “Last weekend was amazing. During our matinee, the Cappies group came in, which is the high school review group, and they really enjoyed the play.”

Theophilus North has a lot to offer emotionally for viewers, Rought said, which is why people should come see it.

“Tickets are $8 for students and seniors and $10 for adults,” Rought said. “I think people should come see this play because it’s really well written, and the themes in it are very pointed and relatable. The themes are: isolation, societal pressures, getting help when it is not asked for, and going off and finding your own adventure.”

Theophilus North is two hours of entertainment worth seeing, Young said.

“When you go, there are a couple things you’re going to take away,” Young said. “It’s very funny and witty. The characters are intriguing and interesting, and you can get wrapped up in them. Everyone who comes out is going to really enjoy their evening.”

See the Full Story: http://thecspn.com/?p=34327

Center of Discussion

In the past two editions of The Chronicle, my stories have caused a bit of a stir amongst the students of Mason High School.

Meninist Story

http://thecspn.com/?p=31600 

In the September edition, our first release of the year, I wrote a story explaining the different viewpoints on the "Meninist" account on Twitter. This was a story I wanted to pursue since last school year. I'm pleased I finally got the chance to explore the topic.

Writing the story was thought-provoking. As an open-minded individual, I love to discover different viewpoints. I'm also a big fan of raw passion. Interviewing a self proclaimed "meninist" versus a feminist was fascinating. Both were very mature and articulate with their opinions.

The reactions that followed distribution day were completely unexpected. I knew that the topic was somewhat controversial, but I didn't foresee the social media outcry that ensued.

Some readers felt that The Chronicle had purposefully "pushed back the feminist opinions" from the cover to a later page because we "didn't care about them". To clarify this misconception, a newspaper is laid out by story subject. News is in the front, then feature, then sports. Given the nature of my story as a feature, it was on a later page.

As a journalist, it is an obligation to make sure opinion is eradicated from a story. While this can sometimes be difficult, having an open mind and initially neutral stance are crucial.

I wasn't upset over some of the negative attention the story received; most of it was directed at the story subject and not what I actually wrote. In fact, I enjoyed the attention. The more people that converse about it, the more people that read The Chronicle. Isn't that what you want as a journalist?

I felt proud about having my first cover story. One of the goals I made before this school year was to get a story on the cover, so achieving this in the first edition exceeded my expectations.

Overall, I was pleased with how the story came together.

Urinal Dividers Story

http://thecspn.com/?p=32746

My story this edition was centered around Mason's lack of urinal dividers in the men's restrooms. 

I'm extremely grateful my newspaper adviser, Mr. Conner, directed me towards this gem of a topic. Females don't typically consider what the bathroom experience is like for males. He opened my eyes to a subject foreign to me and many other girls.

I took pleasure in breaking the taboo of 'bathroom talk'. 

The reaction to this story was generally positive. Many people found it humorous, while still maintaining a serious tone. I didn't want to make this a fluffy, just for laughs story. My inclusion of studies and statistics helped to bring it to an intelligent, mature level.

The follow up story on a girl's perspective helped show another side as well.

I'm interested to see if my story has any effect on the implementation of urinal dividers to Mason in the future. While the likelihood is low due to the high cost, it would be remarkable to see a change like this occur. If our poll on The CSPN shows a significant desire for dividers, they could eventually become a reality between every urinal at MHS.

My favorite thing about journalism is learning new things, talking to new people, and gaining new perspectives. These last two stories have helped to quench my journalistic thirst. I'm ready to tackle bigger story subjects in the future. 

Girls weigh in on lack of dividers in men's restroom, appreciate privacy

Juliana Discher I Staff Writer

Girls, “urine” luck. Plastic stalls make for a peaceful restroom situation.

According to sophomore McKayla Peebles, the girl’s restroom is a private sanctuary compared to the boy’s restroom.

“I feel like the bathrooms are very private,” Peebles said. “I’ve never been violated or felt any extreme level of discomfort at Mason. Guys probably feel uncomfortable without the urinal dividers because they’re self conscious about somebody making fun of them, even though they don’t really need to be.”

If there were no stalls separating the toilets, Peebles said this would be a serious issue for girls. 

“I wouldn’t go to the bathroom at the high school,” Peebles said. “I would just wait until nobody else was in there. I would be really scared.” 

According to a 2014 article by The Atlantic, “Until the 1800's, there was little expectation of privacy while using the bathroom. Economic prosperity and religious notions of modesty made the desire for a private space in which to do one’s business more widespread." Nowadays, most developed countries have private bathrooms.

Senior Ellie Morrissey said she feels sympathy for the boys’ lack of urinal dividers.

“I don’t think the privacy level is a problem in the girl’s bathrooms,” Morrissey said. “Apparently in the guy’s bathroom it is. I had no idea that it was like that for guys and I just feel bad. I’m sure they deal with it, but it’s still an inconvenience.”

Peebles and Morrissey both said the bathroom experience is better alone.

“I prefer to go the bathroom with nobody in there,” Peebles said. “If there is somebody else in there, I just wait until they leave.”

AP Psychology teacher Angie Johnston said the lack of urinal dividers makes her appreciate her privacy even more.

“I’m thankful for this reason that I’m a female and have my own private area to go to the bathroom,” Johnston said. “While it’s a natural body process we all do, it’s human nature to desire privacy when going to the bathroom.”

See the Full Story: http://thecspn.com/?p=32746 

NO URINAL DIVIDERS IN MEN’S RESTROOM CAUSES UNSPOKEN ETIQUETTE

Julian Discher I Staff Writer

Together men stand, divided men urinate.

There are unspoken rules of the restroom that most males understand and follow; eyes forward, no chit-chat, the middle urinal is no man’s land. At Mason High School, the lack of urinal dividers—metal or plastic sheets placed on the walls between urinals—have prompted males to act a certain way. In a 2014 article, The Atlantic analyzed the dynamics of men’s restrooms and said, “The public collides uncomfortably with the private in the bathroom as it does nowhere else, and the unique behaviors we perform stem from a complex psychological stew of shame, self-awareness, and gender roles.”

According to senior Jeremy Fogel, with no dividers, there is a specific method for which urinals are open to use.

“I’m more of a stall guy,” Fogel said. “Usually if there are three urinals and two people are on the outside, you just wait and don’t go.”

Fogel said Mason’s lack of urinal dividers is the cause of tension and awkwardness in the restroom.

“I’m more of a stall guy,” Fogel said. “Most restaurants and movie theaters have dividers. Mason just likes to keep it open. They provide a lot more privacy.”

Advanced Placement Psychology teacher Angie Johnston said that a 1976 study on men’s bathroom behavior reveals the trends behind urination patterns. In the experiment, scientists measured how long it took a man to urinate under different circumstances.

“The researchers found that if someone else was in a public restroom when the man came in, it would take approximately four seconds to start the urination process,” Johnston said. “If there was a urinal between the two guys, then it took around six seconds. If they were right by each other, it took about eight seconds for him to actually start. The psychology behind the experiment is that the guy is distracted by focusing on what the other individual is thinking of them, and it delays the body’s natural process.”

According to a 2008 study conducted by the Journal of Health Psychology, men list genital size among their top body concerns, along with height and weight. This adds more complexity to an already uncomfortable public situation.

The projected cost for adding urinal dividers in every restroom at Mason High School would be around $350 per divider for purchasing and installation. Assuming two dividers per bathroom and 15 bathrooms, the cost to outfit the school is estimated at $10,000 to $15,000. According to Assistant Superintendent of Operations Michael Brannon, the addition of urinal dividers could be a possibility in the future if explicit need is shown.

“As a district, we consider any need that helps people feel comfortable and helps people advance their school day and education,” Brannon said. “It’s a possibility for urinal dividers to be purchased in the future. If there is a need for them and if people expressed it, we would consider putting them in.”

Fogel said Mason’s male restrooms would be further improved with the implementation of urinal dividers.

“It would expedite the bathroom process because more people could go at once,” Fogel said. “Almost every other public place has urinal dividers for a reason, so why shouldn’t Mason have them?”

See the Full Story: http://thecspn.com/?p=32746

Feminism debate rages, fueled by 'Meninist' Twitter account

Juliana Discher I Staff Writer

“Meninism” and feminism: two concepts that sound similar, but each conjures up a starkly different set of opinions.

The “Meninist” account on Twitter has flourished in popularity over the past year. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, it was originally started by men making jokes, but has become a channel to express the difficulties of being a man in the 21st century. The main account currently has over 1,000,000 followers with numerous replica accounts.

Self-proclaimed “meninist” and junior, Elijah Kelly, said there is a misconception with what being a “meninist” truly means.

“The ‘meninist’ account basically attacks feminism, not feminism that promotes gender equality, but the radical, modern-day feminists that want to end Father’s Day,” Kelly said. “Feminism nowadays is an idea that promotes gender equality with words, but then does the exact opposite with actions.”

When he saw a viral hashtag on Twitter that promoted the ending of Father’s Day, Kelly said he began to resonate with “meninism”.

“There was a viral hashtag going around that said ‘#StopFathersDay’ and when women start that up, it’s ridiculous,” Kelly said. “There are women where if a guy holds a door open, they will tell them to close it, and that’s just crossing the line.”

Kelly, who owns a “#Meninist” t-shirt said he is passionate about the core belief of “meninism”, not the controversial tweets posted by the account.

“When most people see the t-shirt they automatically assume I am against women,” Kelly said. “It’s not a sexist account, but it is about taking a stand for men against the radical feminists’ attacks. The Twitter account with the sexist tweet—I just read that as a joke. I don’t support sexism. I am for gender equality, but against the radical feminists.”

According to government teacher Maria Mueller, there is somewhat of a negative connotation attached to the word feminism, which dates back to the 1970s.

“Feminism is an advocacy for the equality of women,” Mueller said. “I think that the term has been a bit demonized...I don’t think it has anything to do with being ‘anti-male’. I think it’s simply about challenging the status quo, which of course has always been: men rule, and women do what they are told.”

Mueller said she feels the “meninist” account is more of a joke, and not a legitimate attempt to better the condition of men.

“I don’t imagine anyone would take anything on there seriously,” Mueller said. “I don’t think there is much value because they aren’t generating meaningful conversation. It’s not a forum for any real kind of discussion of equality; it’s just a lot people trying to be funny or sassy.”

According to junior Catherine Carey, she avoids the “meninist” account at all cost.

“It’s just a troll,” Carey said. “It started out against feminism, but I think now it knows it gets people going and gets people angry. It just keeps doing and doing it because it’s getting the attention it wants.”
As a supporter of equal rights for all, Carey said she finds the account disrespectful.

“I get mad that they will degrade anybody,” Carey said. “They offend people like it’s not a problem. They attack anybody who is not a white male. It just brings people down. ”

Even though men will point out that the account is a parody, Carey said it doesn’t make what they post acceptable.

“Guys might think it’s just a joke, and I am all for a joke, but when you are deliberately hurting somebody—what’s the point?” Carey said. “If you’re not going to say something to somebody’s face, then why do it online or through an anonymous account?”

According to Carey, if the “meninist” account was really trying to make a difference to improve the condition of men, then they should be going about it differently.

“If you’re a feminist, you’re a feminist no matter what gender you are,” Carey said. “If you are a true feminist or ‘meninist’ then you would be fighting for men’s rights... You wouldn’t be fighting just because a girl put you in the ‘friend zone’. You would be fighting for all people’s rights equally.”

View the Full Story: http://thecspn.com/?p=31600 

Journalistic Drive

This is big.

Those were the words I uttered when Mr. Conner announced that there was talk of adding a journalism elective to Mason Middle School.

We had already spoken as a staff earlier in the year about revamping the middle school's newspaper--Mason in the Middle. We intend on helping them publishing two print editions this year and having them sell ads to raise revenue.

I remember last year, my first time as a staff writer for The Chronicle, having the first edition come out. I held the crisp, inky paper in my hand and read my name and my story. It was not only a proud moment, but a thrilling one. It gave me the journalistic drive that I carry to this day.

So the idea that middle school students will get that same tingling thrill I possess, is special to me.

The earlier that we expose journalism to these students, the more likely they are to latch on and find passion in the field. The Chronicle has gotten some of our own writers from Mason in the Middle: Eric Miller, Arnav Damodhar, and Asia Porter. These writers came into the high school knowing the basics of story writing and photography.

I care a lot about the Chronicle. I care that the CSPN stays updated, that '#TweetToTheEditor' goes well, and that stories are given my best effort. That means I also care about the future of The Chronicle. Even though I graduate in 2017, I want the Chronicle to remain a respected and dignified news outlet at Mason High School.

A journalism elective could not be a better use of the middle school's money and time. We will surely reap the rewards. The seventh grader who falls in love with journalism could be the next Chronicle editor-in-chief, or even the next New York Times editor-in-chief.

Boys water polo wins three of four matches in Mason Invitational

Juliana Discher I Staff Writer

See the Full Story: http://thecspn.com/?p=31133