News: The new attendance policy may affect your grade in class.PAGe 3

Volume 21, Issue 4

Holt HIGH scHool

JANUARY 2013ramparts

News: The push for parking passes and why the school wants you to have one.PAGe 3

Rushing to get in place, the hockey team prepares for the start of the game against Okemos on January 11. The team has a record of 5-10.

Photo by Anissa Martinez

Hot sPot: Staff and students have different ways of listening to music.PAGe 10

Holt senior High school5885 west Holt Rd.Holt, mI 48842

sPoRts: Girls basketball starts season on a strong note.PAGe 15

FeAtuRe: Students and staff adopt cats and dogs at the Humane Society.PAGe 8

Icing the competition A look at the hockey season so far. page 15

News2PRom FAsHIoN sHow

The Prom Committee will host the Holt Prom Fashion Show and Graduation Expo on February 7. The Expo begins at 5 p.m. in the commons and will feature about 30 local vendors . The Fashion Show begins at 6 p.m. in the theater, featuring once-worn prom dresses, which will be for sale after the show for $50-$100. Tickets for the Fashion Show are $3 for students and $5 for adults. Admission to the Expo is free to the public. All proceeds go towards Prom 2013.

FoReNsIcsThe season started on January

16. Practices are every Tuesday and Thursday until 4:30 p.m. in room W118. The Forensics team had their first competition on January 26. If interested in joining please see advisor Guil Northrup in room W118.

HooP FoR tHe cuReHoop for the Cure, a fundrais-

ing event to fight against cancer, will take place during the boys basketball game against Sexton on February 12. Tickets are $5, and the game starts at 6 p.m.

wINteRFestWinterfest will be held from

8-11 p.m. on February 2, in the center commons. Tickets will be $5 per person, and will be sold all week before the dance.

FINANcIAl AIDApplications for financial aid

are due after January 1. Check with your counselor or your college’s financial aid administra-tor about other deadlines. The federal deadline is June 30, 2014. You must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal student aid and for most state and college aid.

teeN VIoleNce PReVeNtIoN moNtHThe month of February is Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Month. To spread awareness, SADD and adviser Kellie Sweitzer’s Perspectives on Living class, have hung posters throughout the school. If you are in an abusive relationship call 800.621.HOPE (4673) for help.

JANUARY 2013

F.Y.I.

Peer-to-peer support helps some succeed. Two years ago student advocacy teacher Ryan Anderson began supervising the Links Program.

This program is all about peer-to-peer support. Students can volunteer to assist a student with a learning disability, mainly students with autism. Links work with that student to provide one-on-one in-class help with their work and social, behavioral and independent studies. It provides the learner with someone they are more comfortable with to guide them through their class.

“I would recommend it anyone who is very patient and understanding,” sophomore Tara Lierman said, who is currently a first year link. “It is found to be both a positive and challenging task. I like being with my link and helping them,” Lierman said.

“I find it challenging when they have a bad day and there is nothing I can do to help,” Lierman said.

A Link can help their student with school work, talking to people, and making new friends. A Link can become more than just a mentor or a helper; they can become a friend. The Link lets that student know that someone is there and is going to help them.

T h i s y e a r m o r e s t u d e n t s volunteering to be Links than ever before.

“We have more students who want to be Links than we really need,

which is great,” Anderson said.It is easy for a student to become

a Link. One must attend the sign-up meeting and the meetings that follow. One of the main requirements to becoming a Link is to have good attendance.

Being there for the other student is important. When becoming a Link, a student will be required to be switched out of a selected class and be placed into a classroom with the student they are helping where they will be focused on providing support and guidance.

A credit will still be earned for being a Link. To earn the credit, the Link must complete a type of online class in addition to attending class with their assigned student. Many student Links have a similar goal: to better the education of the student they are helping and to improve their high school

experience.“I want to help kids fit in. They get

treated different by many students, when in all reality they are people just like everyone else,” junior James Fulghum said.

While the Links program has only been running at HHS for two years, previously an organization was in place that also had the same goal.

The Links program is also offered at other schools such as Haslett, Mason, Grand Ledge and Clarkston. The Links program was first started at Clarkston.

“It provides them with someone close to their age that understands them and is able to provide more of a friendship relationship rather than strictly a help-with-education approach. It rewards both students with a kind of friendship that they won’t get from simple interactions in the hallway,” Fulghum said.

links program lets students help studentsProgram helps students with autism in their classesKYlee VooRhees

staff writer

The Michigan State House of Representatives passed “Kelsey’s Law,” on December 14, a law that would make it illegal for anyone driving on a level one or level two probationary license to use a cellphone while driving.  

Governor Snyder signed the law on January 8, placing the bill into Michigan law.  A violation of the law will result in a civil infraction with a fine to be determined by the local jurisdiction.  This law joins another Michigan law that banned texting-while-driving statewide in 2010.

This law is named after Kelsey Raffaele, a 16-year-old Sault Ste. Marie teenager who died in a cellphone-related crash.  

According to the Sault Ste. Marie police, Raffaele was speaking on her cellphone and driving when she was involved in a fatal accident on January 24, 2010.  

Since that day, her mother Bonnie Raffaele has tirelessly worked to get this law enacted, and has finally succeeded.  

Raffaele has given her time speaking to teens about the accident, even though it brings her pain.

“It is still difficult to talk about that

day time after time again, but I have to save the kids,” Raffaele said, during an interview with the Sault Ste. Marie evening news.

This law is also a result of bad driving history among teenagers in Michigan.  

Young drivers in Michigan are far more likely to be involved in a cellphone related crash than older drivers, according to an MLive investigation.  

Since 2002, one out of every five

Michigan drivers who used a cellphone during a crash was a teen.

Despite that history, many students are still not in favor of the law.  Students like junior Noah Verdeyen don’t believe the law is necessary or makes sense.

“That’s a stupid law, and I don’t believe teenagers need it,” Verdeyen said.

Other students, like junior Max Peston, don’t see the danger in talking on cellphones and driving.

“I hate when people text and drive when I’m in the car, but talking on the phone isn’t as bad, in my opinion,” Peston said.  

Raffaele is glad that the law finally been passed, honoring her daughter’s memory.

“I am deeply grateful to the members of the House and Senate who put partisan bickering aside to pass this important law,” she said.  

New law bans cellphones and drivingLaw goes into effect in late March

Photo by Sault Ste. Marie Police DepartmentOn Jan. 24, 2010, Kelsey Raffaele died in a fatal car accident caused by her talking on the phone while driving. Her car, pictured above, was struck at just 35 miles per hour by a truck going in the opposite direction.

NoAh GoldblAtt

sports editor

holt hiGh school RAmpARts

Newsholt hiGh school RAmpARts

3JANUARY 2013

RAmPARts oNlINeRamparts Online is an extension of the print publication run by English teacher Michelle Fulton’s Introduction to Publications class. It is a news site with the same sections as the Ramparts print publication, including news, entertainment and sports. The website is updated several times a month and can be accessed at rampartsonline.org.

DANce clINIcThe Dance team held a clinic for girls sixth grade and under. They had one day of practice on Saturday, January 5, where girls as young as three years old were taught choreography to Justin Bieber’s “All Around the World.” The girls performed during the basketball halftime show on Monday, January 7.

challenge Day FundraiserBoth the Variety Show and the

community Craft Show during the month of December contributed to Challenge Day. The “Be the Change Wars” began the last two weeks in January. Jugs were filled up with money in order to raise money for Challenge Day next year. So far $7,000 has been raised for an event that costs $5,000 a day. The extra proceeds will be saved for next year, and may allow the school to have Challenge Day for two days instead of one. Help is always needed and donations are accepted. See Student Success Coordinator Joann Weil, in the attendance office for more information.

DecADistributire Education Clubs of

America (DECA), a business man-agement convention, was held on January 10 at Eastern Michigan Uni-versity. Each participating student was required to take a 100-question content quiz. They were then given 10 minutes to “Role Play.” They were given a scenario and were required to create a business plan and pres-ent it to the judges. Seven students are state qualifiers: Haleigh Ammo, Sean Bulkowski, Austin Carr, Abigail Cleary, Troy Delong, Chelsie McMa-han and Michael Richards. They will go on to compete March 15 in Grand Rapids.

In Brief students, staff clash over parking pass

Attendance policy sparks controversyPolicy changes cause mixed feelingssYdNeY holmes

staff writer

Photo by Courtney HouserThe parking pass awaits every student driver in the Attendance Office. Students must register their vehicle before it is allowed to be brought onto school property.

For as long as HHS staff can remember, student drivers have had the requirement to register their vehicle and have a student parking contract on file in the Attendance Office. However, many of those student drivers rebel against these passes because they say they’re pointless.

In addition to the contract and registration, students must pay $5 in order to receive a parking pass for their vehicle. This all must be handed in before putting the car in park on school property.

Avoiding the pass entirely, few of these students drivers wait to be reminded.

“ The y s ent me about three different announcements in my classes” senior Julie Shallman said. “And even then I would still forget to swing by the Attendance Office to register.”

Of those such as Shallman, it’s a forgetful reminder, but for others it’s the fact that they have no intention to buy one at all.

“I had gone so long without a parking pass,” senior Michael Welch said. “Only until they told me to, did I buy one.”

The 2012-13 Student Handbook states that, “Student use of a motorized vehicle on Holt Public School property is a privilege.”

Being overlooked by more than just a few students, this privilege has become one of many to be continually walked on.

Putting a stop to abuse of these abused privileges is Assistant Principal Chris Billingslea.

“It’s much more than just buying a pass,” Billingslea said. “We would be able to identify each vehicle for multiple purposes, especially if there is ever an emergency such as

one where we would need to enter a student’s car.”

One of the many reasons why some students avoid picking up a pass is because the permission of a search is enabled.

Although many students focus on it as an invasion of privacy, the reason for a search is only for emergencies or acts of threat.

The record shows that HHS has not had serious acts of threat or emergencies on the school as a whole. Although, noticing the importance of safety, such as a student’s individual life stands as a higher, more frequent risk.

If a student has an unexpected health problem or emergency and needs something out of their vehicle, the security staff will have the permission to enter the student’s car to get what the student needs.

The l ikelihood of a student emergency is low, but that doesn’t mean the staff wants to risk putting a student in any form of danger.

Situations occur every day, a handful being emergencies. A $5 dollar parking pass is just one of the many requirements that HHS has in order to help prevent them.

This year a new attendance p o l i c y w a s p u t into effect to encourage good attendance for students. Administration and faculty feel that part of the learning process is regularly attending school and class, and they hope the new policy will motivate students to be at school more often.

“Our goal of the policy is to help students be successful. The concept is, the more you’re in class, the more success you’ll have,” Assistant Principal Chris Billingslea said.

The new policy allows students to have nine absences. If a student exceeds the maximum of nine absences in a class, which includes excused and unexcused absences,

a mandatory meeting is required between the student, a parent, teacher and administration.

The student is also required to pass both the class and the final exam. If both the class and final exam are not passed, credit for the class may not be received.

However, once a student has exceeded the limit of nine absences they can earn an “attendance buy-back” which overlooks one absence, if they have one week of perfect attendance in the class.

If a student exceeds three tardies in a class, excused or not, it is considered one absence as well as a Wednesday morning or after school study hall. However, students are allowed two excused tardies which count towards their absence count but not a study hall.

Whether or not the new policy is effective seems to be the question among students and teachers. While some people find the new policy helpful and effective, others don’t feel the same.

Some people feel the new policy

encourages students to be at school ultimately making it easier for them to learn.

“The new policy holds students accountable. They need to be here in order to learn and get good grades,” social studies teacher Russ Olcheske said.

On the other hand, some feel students should be attending school regularly anyway, despite what the policy is.

“You need to be in class if you want to learn regardless of the policy,” math teacher Stephen Lawatsch said.

Junior Mitch Bailhe runs through the halls of the west side to get to his second hour before the bell. The attendance policy allows only three tardies in each class.

Photo by Sydney Holmes

Drivers rebel against parking passescoURtNeY hoUseR

staff writer

Newsholt hiGh school RAmpARtsJANUARY 2013

4Health classes learn life-saving techniques

It is not every day that a class teaches students how to save someone else’s life. The Introduction to Health Occupations class learned how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic first aid skills during the week of January 14-18. This essential skill will help the Introduction to Health Occupations students inside and outside the classroom.

“For me personally, I was looking forward to the first aid unit of the CPR class. It’s something I’ve always really wanted to do,” senior Zach Ly said.

The class is articulated through Lansing Community College (LCC),which means that if a student passes the class, then three credits are earned through LCC. The curriculum for the class at LCC and the Introduction to Health Occupations class is run the same way. CPR certification is part of the course that is offered at LCC.

“If the student wants to get the LCC credit, they have to show a valid CPR card. A CPR course can be very expensive, so I wanted to provide the program so the students do not have to pay for it,” health teacher Elizabeth Graf said.

The class was taught by the Delhi Township Fire Department. During the weeklong CPR course, students learned how to perform CPR for adults and infants. The techniques for learning CPR were taught through videos that were shown in class and actual practice on safety dummies. In addition to CPR, the

students learned first aid safety, like what to do when a person is seriously injured.

To earn their CPR certification at the end of the week, the students had to take a test that was broken up into different sections, allowing only a certain number of questions to be missed in each section.

Once the student has passed the test, then they are CPR certified for two years, when the certification has to be renewed again.

“The test was very easy. It was everything that Joe (the instructor of the class) taught in the class for the week,” senior Brianna Allen said.

Not only does the class give students the opportunity to receive college credit, the class also gives students the tools on how to help someone in an emergency situation, or at least know how to react in an emergency situation until help arrives.

“You can help people in emergency situations, instead of just standing there and doing nothing. Sure, you can call 911 for the EMS, but what if that’s too late? There’s nothing worse than being unable to help someone in a time of need,” Ly said.

Photo by Zack Gilliland

A week of CPR training through LCC in Health Occupations class gives students like Anastasia Diaz an opportunity to learn a life saving skill. This CPR course is instructed by the Delhi Fire Department.

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In a week of class, students become CPR certified mAYA Fews

feature editor

News 5holt hiGh school RAmpARts JANUARY 2013

Friend and staff save life Student back after unexpected incident

Senior Zach Rauchholz (right) passed out on his way out of the building on December 4. His friend, senior Kiel Oates and security guard Jane Johnson, among others, performed life saving procedures.

Senior Zack Rauchholz never thought that he would be in school one minute and wake up in the hospital the next day. Not too long before winter break, Rauchholz had a cardiac arrest on his way to the east side parking lot on December 4.

“Deb (Watson) and I started at the east doors and saw Zack laid out on the ground. I knew right away when I saw him that he wasn’t looking good,” security guard Jane Johnson said. “His skin had turned blue. I just never want that to happen again.”

S e n i o r K i e l O a t e s w a s accompanying Rauchholz when the incident occurred. Oates ran to the front of the building where he went to the Attendance Office to explain to security what had happened. Security guards Johnson and Deb Watson ran toward the east parking lot, and Johnson immediately contacted 911.

Watson began CPR when she could not detect a pulse on Rauchholz. Head Custodian Drew Dziachan then brought out the emergency defibrillator to resuscitate Rauchholz. Rauchholz doesn’t remember much of the incident.

“I only remember some parts. I woke up in the hospital the next day and that’s all I remember,”Rauchholz said. “I stayed in the hospital for 10 days, then I was finally sent home. They told me my heart stopped.”

Rauchholz said he is thankful for Oates for being there for him when he collapsed. Oates is considered a hero by many.

“It all happened after lunch. We went out to my car to go to career center. He took a deep breath and collapsed,” Oates said. “I stretched him out first and ran as fast as I could to get help from the school. I think I just really wanted to help my friend. I don’t think I’m a hero.”

Some who helped Rauchholz said they felt a great deal of responsibility for his well-being. Johnson said it was extremely emotional and scary.

“You know you’re trained for this and that you are prepared, but it’s still awful and scary,” Johnson said. “When I did see him we checked his pulse and couldn’t find one, so Deb performed CPR. When the EMT arrived I was so

relieved.” Watson declined to comment for

this story.The incident was scar y for

all involved for the bringing back Rauchholz’s life. Oates explains what went through his head when Rauchholz’s collapsed.

“He was complaining about leg pain earlier, but I didn’t think what happened next would happen. When it did though, I just kept saying to him ‘Don’t die, just stay with me, don’t die’,” Oates said. “I was out there with him until the ambulance came and through it all I kept thinking, ‘Just stay with me.’”

Both Rauchholz and his family are thankful for those that saved his life.

“They all saved my life, I mean I died and they were the ones that brought me back,” Rauchholz said. “My parents are so thankful for everyone that helped me. If I was left out there any longer, I could have had some brain damage.”

A f t e r h e l p ha d a r r i v e d f o r Rauchholz, Principal Brian Templin rode with him to Sparrow Hospital. Rauchholz was later taken to Ross Hospital in Columbus, Ohio to get a defibrillator. A defibrillator sends a

shock to the heart to stop so it can start back up and beat rhythmically.

“After hearing he was going to be okay and that he would be back, it was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders,” Johnson said. “Everyone was really affected by it; it was traumatic. Now I just smile every time I see him.”

Though Rauchholz is back in school, he says he does have to be more careful now. The cause of the cardiac arrest is still unknown.

“I’m fine at the moment, but I do have to go back to get my defibrillator checked,” Rauchholz said. “Things have changed though, like I can’t have caffeine, and I can’t play in contact sports. The caffeine part sucks because I’m used to having a Mountain Dew every day.”

When being put in a situation like this, many are at a loss on what to do. Oates said he would tell others how to handle it.

“My best advice to anyone that does end up in a situation like that is to stay calm and not to freak out,” Oates said. “I took a sigh of relief after I heard he was okay. Thank God he was alright.”

Though it was traumatic and scared many, Rauchholz left the hospital with a positive perspective. He said he was ready to get home.

“I was really excited to get back to school. All the teachers have been really nice to me and help me a lot,” Rauchholz said. “I learned you can die at anytime and realized you really do have to live your life to the fullest.”

Photo by Zarah Ahmad

I think I really just wanted to

help my friend. I’m not a hero.”

“

ZARAh AhmAd

editor-in-chief

How to perform CPR 1. Call 911 immediately

2. While waiting for 911 start doing chest compressions • Put palm of hand in the center of the chest.• Place other hand over the top of your hand.• Push hard and fast in the center of the chest.• Chest compressions should be 100 compressions per

minute. Source: Americanheartassociation.org

“I’d say California. Obviously, it’s really warm there, and plus, I want to get into marine

biology there.”

Viewpoints 7

Corrections

Speak up

staying Indoors:Being a couch potato with your blanket and the remote.

enjoying winter:Strapping on the old snow pants and getting outside. There’s plenty of fun activities to engage in outdoors this winter.

holt hiGh school RAmpARts JANUARY 2013

Hot or not?

If you could move anywhere in the world, where would you move?

“I would move to Los Angeles. It’s warm all the time, and I’d have that year round.”

Alec Gnass, junior

megan Kelly, junior

“Lebanon, so I could meet my family, if they’re even there. And to see if I’m related to Osama.”

mitch Bailhe, junior

Jacob mccreery, senior

“Arizona because I like warm and dry places, and I like to ride horses. I went to a ranch down there with my family when I was little, and I’ve liked it ever since.”

“Green Bay, Wisconsin because I love Green Bay, and I’ve always wanted to go there. It’d be a good time.”

samuel orth, sophomore

Ramparts is committed to printing news that is both informative and accurate. If we get it wrong, we want to put it right. If you are aware of any errors of fact in our reporting please contact us in room E221 or send an e-mail to ramparts@hpsk12.net.Cartoon by Bryce Zippi

Risky driving habits need to go

Too many are distracted in the driver’s seat

Hannah Marsh

I don’t think that everyone realizes how much power they hold when they drive a car. If you really think

about it, when you’re driving, you’re operating a 3,000 pound piece of machinery. That’s a lot of weight, and something that powerful can cause a lot of damage if it’s misused.

When we’re behind the wheel, our full attention should be on the task at hand: driving. So why is it that we consistently put our attention elsewhere? Why is it that we drive distracted?

On any given day I’ll find myself driving behind a cellphone talker, a texter, a radio fiddler: a distracted driver. Let’s look at the facts for a second: as teenagers, we’re already at risk of not being the best drivers. According to recent statistics, provided by the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association,

16-year-old drivers are at the highest risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. And how old are the majority of new drivers in this school? About 16. So when we’re driving side-by-side to a 16-year-old, why increase our chances of getting in an accident by not giving our undivided attention to the road?

A new law has recently been passed, signed by Governor Rick Snyder on January 8, that bans teenagers’ use of cellphones while they’re behind the wheel. When violated, the offender must pay a fine. Based on what jurisdiction you’re in, the fine varies.

This law should have been made back when the no texting and driving law emerged, and in reality, it shouldn’t just be directed at teens. Young or old, talking on the phone hinders your driving ability.

If you’re on the road, put the phone away! You don’t need it. If you get lost, pull over. If you need to ask someone something, do it before you get in the car. There’s no reason for you to be gabbing away on the way to school or work or the mall or dinner. You can get from point A to point B without your cellphone glued to the side of your face, I promise you that.

Distracted driving includes using a cellphone, eating, talking to a passenger, adjusting the radio and using a GPS, a Global Position System. Is that song on the radio

really worth putting yourself at risk of getting hurt? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people swerving, or driving on the complete wrong side of the road, because they were too distracted by their cellphone or the person next to them or Justin Bieber on the radio.

According to a study, performed by CTIA: The Wireless Association, done in 2012, 3,092 people were killed in crashes that involved a distracted driver. In addition to that, another 416,000 were injured in the same type of accident.

We all took drivers education, we learned the rules. It seems like second nature to drive a car. And during all of that, we’ve all been lectured on the dangers of driving. We’ve all rolled our eyes listening to our parents’ plea to be careful as we pull into traffic. We claim that we know how to be safe drivers, say we drive well, we’ll be fine. Is that true? Because driving down Holt road going 75 m.p.h. with the radio blaring and our cellphones out really proves otherwise.

Editorial Policy: Ramparts is published by the Journalism class of Holt High School. The newspaper serves the students and staff of Holt High School and as a connec-tion to the Holt-Dimondale community. The objective of Ramparts is to publish a factual, informative and entertaining newspaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints. The opinions and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all Ramparts staff members. The editors reserve the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment. Ramparts prints letters to the editor and guest editorials as space allows. Letters must be typed, less than 200 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. Ramparts will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an individual. Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. Ramparts reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Ramparts staff at (517) 694-2162.

Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

6 ViewpointsOur View

holt hiGh school RAmpARtsJANUARY 2013

Parking passes keep students safe

ramparts

Giving thanksDear Ramparts Newspaper Staff,

Thank you for writing an article about Pacesetter in the newspaper. We really appreciate the media coverage that we got from you guys and are thankful that you are spreading the word about all the good things that our Pacesetter classes are doing.

Senior Jake Simon and thePacesetter Class

Benefits of off campus lunchDear Editor,

I think that we should have an open campus lunch at Holt High School because it gives you more options at lunch time.

I know they used to have open campus lunch when the high school was the junior high, but got rid of it because we got a bigger lunch room, and it caused car accidents. But I think that most kids are responsible enough to handle leaving school for lunch.

Open campus lunch would give kids that didn’t like school lunch or didn’t pack their lunch a chance to go home, eat lunch, and come back to school.

If you pack your lunch you’re limited to so many choices, but if we could go home we can have

whatever we want. If we had open campus lunch, I think students would make healthier choices.

Megan Winquist, sophomore

satisfy our hungerDear Editor,

My problem with the school is the lunch portion sizes. Anyone notice how, for example, those big and fluffy pretzels are now not even the size of my hand? Plus they’re burnt and disgusting! We are high school students.

I believe we, as growing teenagers and young adults, need more food to satisfy our raging hunger. Five little chicken nuggets are not going to fill us up, even with a salad. I myself have to have a sort of “second meal” when I get home after school because the school lunches are simply not filling enough.

I don’t think the school should be so obsessive about cutting portion sizes so the students won’t get unhealthy. Seriously, if a student is that concerned about that kind of thing they should just bring a lunch from home. Don’t ruin it for the rest of us who are hungry!

I believe the school should make the portion sizes slightly larger so we can make it through the rest of the day without our stomach’s growling. I think every student would agree.

Jordon Byrem, sophomore

Helpful musicDear Editor,

We all have different ways of working on assignments and projects. Music really helps some of us to work and keeps us going. I think that we as students should be able to listen to music with headphones when the teacher isn’t talking. Also,the teacher can say when they can or can’t have them out. If someone abuses it, then they get the right taken away.

I know of other schools that do this and the students really like it. I listen to music when I’m doing my homework, it helps me work better. Some teachers allow it some days, but most of them don’t. We are old enough and hopefully mature to handle this and use it appropriately. The rules could be headphones only with music and when teachers approve.

I hope the school officials take this into consideration and maybe think about it. It gives students more ways to work and to enjoy it a little more.

Zane Gedaoun, sophomore

express your viewIf you’d like to comment on an

article in Ramparts, or any issue in the news, write us a letter to the editor of 150 words or less and e-mail it to us at ramparts@hpsk12.net

Your View

editors in chief:

managing editors:News:

Opinion:Features:Hot Spot:

Sports:

Staff Writers:

Adviser:

Zahra AhmadZack Gilliland

Kayla LovelyHannah MarshMaya FewsCody WordenNoah Goldblatt

Sean Bulkowski, Abby Cousineau, Rachel Dillingham, Nadia Gedeon, Sydney Holmes, Courtney Houser, Anissa Martinez, Stacie Skinker, Kylee Voorhis, Bryce Zippi

Amy Clark

Gun control is irrationalSandy Hook raises awareness

we have all heard about the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary

School in Newtown, Connecticut. On December 14, alleged shooter Adam Lanza opened fire at the elementar y school, ki l l ing 20 students and six staff members. Lanza al le g e dly us e d assault weapons to carry out this horrible incident.

The hot topic of the government is to change the laws we have now on guns. Some wish to limit the assault guns citizens are allowed to have,

while others do not want to mess with the law at all.

O n Ja n u a r y 1 6 , P r e s i d e n t Barack Obama proposed a new assault weapons ban and stricter background checks for gun buyers. He also proposed that doctors will have to inform who is at risk and

shouldn’t be able to buy guns. But the blame of shootings,

whether they be at schools, movie theaters or a public place, should not go on the guns. The blame of these horrific events should go on the people who picked up the guns.

The Constitution of the United States gave us the right to bear arms for protection and for the free will as citizens. So, who has the right to change or even modify that? No one.

After debates with many people

I have heard different solutions to this issue. Some agree that the mental health of the people who have done these shootings is not stable.

Others think that if gun control on assault weapons were put into place, then the government would try to increase their control on our right to bear arms and soon that would give the government access to all control.

Putting limits on our guns won’t solve anything. It will make gun owners mad, and then what? More shootings? Quite possibly. There needs to be a focus on people’s mental health.

I do agree with the more thorough background checks, however. And that people that own the guns need to lock them up in a more secure location. The evaluation was conducted on the person buying the weapon, not on the people that are around the guns, so if other people have direct access to the guns, they are obviously not secure enough.

Kayla Lovely

It may appear that the school has been taking the issue of parking passes more seriously than in years past. In years past if you didn’t have a pass or didn’t update your pass from last year then you were fine. Many have

speculated that the reason for the parking pass crackdown has to do with what activities students do outside of school. But whatever the reason is, the school is trying to make sure the students and faculty at this school are safe and protected.

With incidents like what happened with Sandy Hook Elementary School it shouldn’t be a question that the school should do everything that it can to protect us, also a school should know who is on school property at all times. A way of doing that is having an idea of who is present at the school on any given day by looking at the parking lot. The parking pass indicates whether a vehicle belongs at the school. Students are not the only ones who are required to have parking passes. All faculty are required to have a parking pass as well.

Another complaint about the parking passes is that no one wants to pay $5 for a parking pass. Compared to other schools, the cost for parking passes is actually quite cheap. East Lansing parking passes are for juniors and seniors only. In order to receive a parking space, students must enter a lottery where a parking spot is $60. At Okemos High School, a parking pass is $20 dollars for each semester. Paying for a parking pass for three years at HHS will cost $15 compared to other schools where the price is much more.

The issue of vehicle searching has also come up in the debate over parking passes, but if a vehicle is parked on school grounds then the school has the right to search it. The same rule applies for lockers. If school officials have a valid reason to search your car, then it will be done regardless of a parking pass

Whatever the perceived notion behind parking passes is, the school officials are trying to protect everyone. If there is something you don’t want the school to find, then leave it at home.

Putting limits on our guns won’t solve anything.

“”

Is that song on the radio really worth putt ing yourself at risk of being hurt?

“

”

8JANUARY 2013 holt hiGh school RAmpARts

FeaturesTwo Cents

Hannah marsh

social media takes over

Pet lovers adopt from many sourcesTeachers and students share adoption storiesKAYlA loVelY

news editor

The Ingham County Animal Shelter in Mason has an average of 200 animals at the shelter every day. In the spring, around 130 of those animals are cats. Every year approximately 114,000 animals in shelters around the world are euthanized because they did not get adopted.

Spanish teacher Brooke Klecha volunteers at the Ingham County Animal Shelter. She said she volunteers because animals have always held a special place in her heart.

“It’s hard to see animals without a home. I train and work with them so they are more docile,” Klecha said.

Animal shelters work with the animals they take in. They train them so that they are housebroken and not aggressive.

“I know I can’t adopt hundreds of dogs, so I make them more adoptable,” Klecha said.

On any given day there are more volunteers working in the shelter than there are staff members, according to Ingham County Animal Shelter.

Klecha has adopted two of her dogs from the Ingham County Animal Shelter.

Advantages to adopting are that you are saving a life. That animal you adopted will be saved from being put down in the shelters. You will get a healthy pet, save money, and you will also feel better because you saved a life, according to humanesociety.org

Senior Maria Williams adopted her shih-tzu/maltese/poodle mix from a breeder.

“I hate the idea of puppy mills and farms, (I don’t want) them to get put down,” Williams said.

Adopting an animal also has its downsides. One reason is that you do not know where the animal came from, so you do not know it’s history. If the animal was abused there could be a case where he will try to bite you, and potentially hurt you, according to petfinder.com.

Literacy Interventionist Karyn Hunt adopted her rat terrier from a rescue organization.

She said she feels that she needed to adopt because there are so many animals that are not being cared for.

“It’s like adopting children in other countries that need homes. It’s important to take care of what we have,” Hunt said.

Photos by Kayla Lovely

The animals pictured are availabe for adoption at the Ingham County Animal Shelter. From top left, down and to the right, a short-haired cat , Cricket, a medium-haired cat , Patches, and a pitbull mix named Rover.

How many times a day do we check our phone, our Twitter,

our Instagram? How many times a day do we feverishly type away at the miniature keys on our cellphones? Or tap away at the buttons on a computer? For many of us, it’s more than we realize.

We spend an obscene amount of time staring into a screen of some shape or form. And why shouldn’t we? The phone I carry has the power to answer virtually any question I could ask. We’re attached at the hip to our technology: it’s a part of us. We can go a day without current events but not a day without Twitter.

We have these tools that can easily update us with useful information, current events, what’s going on in the news. But instead we use them to update us with someone’s most recent status. We’re a society that doesn’t know how to unplug from the social life and transfer into the real world. Face it, unless something tragic happens, we don’t even give the news a second thought.

We learn what we have to for school, we hear bits and pieces of the news in the morning before work, but it seems like we don’t allow ourselves to get involved with the real world.

According to a study by Discovery Channel, only 25 percent of households receive a daily newspaper. That leaves a good portion of society without it. What will it take to get people more interested? It seems like we aren’t interested in what’s going on in the world around us. If that’s true, why is it more important to get retweets than it is to watch CNN, or read the LSJ? It’s really sad that we care more about our newsfeed than the actual news.

It seems that as each generation passes, we get more demanding. We want news on the go, forwarded to our cells. Convenient. At the end of the day, media is catered to our interests. There’s more and more shows about teen pregnancy and partying, and fewer and fewer shows with actual substance. As we show less interest in the news and the world, it’s not going to be sitting out for us to reach for. The end result is an even less educated society.

Anticipation runs through your body as you check out your window and see three feet of snow. You feel like a little kid on Christmas morning as you race to check your television to see if just maybe it’s an actual snow day.

As you check the TV, you feeling like it is taking forever to show all the different schools that are closed hoping you will be one. Then boom, what you have been waiting for, your school is closed and a snow day has begun.

You could either go back to sleep or go sledding or even just stay up and watch TV.

“I usually sit by the fire and drink hot cocoa,” senior Shayanne Conerly said.

While others just plan on sleeping in and catching some z’s.

“I just sleep a lot,” senior Ashlyn Johnson said.

Here are seven different fun ideas to do on a snow day:

1. Go sledding. Be a kid again, and enjoy yourself in the snow.

2. Make cookies and stay inside. Keep warm and have a little bakery fun.

3. Spray paint the snow. Mix food coloring with water in a spray bottle, and change the color of the snow.

4. Make a snowman. Maybe Frosty will come to town.

5. Shovel and make some money. Nobody wants to shovel their own drive way and sidewalks. Ask them politely if they would like it done for a few dollars, and help out your neighbors.

6. Rest up for the week. Sleep all day and don’t wake up until 5 p.m.

7. Make hot cocoa and watch movies. Enjoy the warmth of indoors and watch some sappy love movies.

Snow days offer fun opportunities

codY woRdeN

entertainment editor

Students spend days off in many ways

Illustration by Cody Worden

mAYA Fews

feature editor

Features 9holt hiGh school RAmpARts JANUARY 2013

When teachers walked the halls

Before making lessons plans, taking attendance and assigning homework, the teachers at HHS were once students as well, going through teen angst and participating in clubs and sports. Teachers weigh in on what the high school experience was like during their high school years.

High school: University of Detroit Jesuit High SchoolYears attended: 1989-1993Favorite movie about the high school experience: “Dazed and Confused”Curriculum: “Most of the same topics, but we were taught in lecture format and greater detail.”Fashion trends: Flannel and corduroys Favorite subject in school: Chemistry T e c h n o l o g y : ” W e h a d computers that we used for typing class. There was no Internet, NHL ’93 is probably the best video game ever. The Red Wings dominated, especially over weak teams like Chicago and Boston.”Music listened to: “I dabbled in some straight edge- punk, but was entrenched in classic rock and was heavy into Hendrix.”Extracurricular activities: Lacrosse, soccer, NHS, Tutoring Club, Spanish Club, Focus: HOPE (a volunteering project), light crew, MUN, Hacky sack club

High School: Dewitt High SchoolYears Attended: 1996-2000Favorite movie about the high school experience: “Lucas”Curriculum: “My school put heavy emphasis on math and science.”Fashion trends: Shirts that showed stomachs, with flared jeans, track pants, Adidas sandals, and Dr. Martin boots.Favorite subject in school: Social studiesTechnology: “A few kids had pagers, but definitely no cell phones. I used to chat with friends on AOL a little bit, but mostly I would have to wait my turn for the family phone.” Extracurricular activities : “I played volleyball and tennis, and ran by myself. I was in drama, student council and the French club”.Music listened to: NSync! Backstreet Boys, Juvenile, Limp Bizkit, Dixie Chicks.

High School: Mason High SchoolYears attended: All four years (dates withheld)Favorite movie about the high School experience: “Sixteen Candles” Curriculum: “Too easy. I took poetry and music class that basically allowed me to listen to heavy metal music all hour.”Fa s h i o n t r e n d s i n h i g h school: Pegged legs(rolling over and folding of straight leg jeans),shoulder pads in sweaters, ripped acid-wash jeans and black leather jacketsFavorite subject: ChoirTechnology: “I remember using actual floppy disks in my computer class, and learning how to type on an actual typewriter in my typing class.”Music listened to: Metal hair bands, Soundgarden, Madonna, The Pixies.

High school: Holt High SchoolYears attended: 1996-1999Favorite movie about the high school experience: “I only ever remember seeing “American Pie’ and ‘Can’t Hardly Wait.” Curriculum: “There were fewer required credits and this allowed for people to take the subjects they were most interested in denser concentrations.” Fa s h i o n t r e n d s : “ E v e r y generation recycles the styles

of generations past. That said, many of the styles were 60’sand 80’s throwback”.Favorite subject in school: Art Seminar and independent studyExtracurricular activities: Varsity basketball Favorite music: Bob Marley, Tool, Blind Melon, Dave Matthews, 2PacTechnology: “Today’s tech is far superior. We used to watch movies on a TV cart with a VCR.”Activities: Varsity basketball

High school: Holt High SchoolYears attended: 1973-1977Favorite movie about the high school experience: “Mr. Holland’s Opus”Curriculum : Very similar but no Advanced Placement courses.Fashion trends: Bell-bottom and hip -hugger jeans, platform shoesFavorite subject in school: Math and scienceTechnology: “Calculators were just emerging; I got my first one as a graduation gift. Microwaves were very new and popular.”Music listened to: Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Bob Seger, Stevie Wonder, Queen, Pink Floyd, Rush, KansasExtracurricular activities: Cross country, basketball, track and field, French club and National Honor Society

English Teacher Zack Lawson

English Teacher Michelle Fulton

Science Teacher Mike VanAntwerp

Social Studies Teacher Hannah Cappelletti

Science Teacher Dave Foy

Photos supplied by teachers pictured.

10 Featuresholt hiGh school RAmpARtsJANUARY 2013

Tips For Survival

Abby cousineau

Positive thoughts

Find your perfect coffee shop

When driving around town, you might notice a variety of coffee shops. With so many, it can be hard to find the right fit. Whether you are a coffee lover or just enjoy the specialty drinks, this questionnaire should lead you to your perfect coffee shop. Begin the journey at the start of this questionnaire Answer a couple of no and yes questions, and find out which coffee shop best suits your taste requirements, atmosphere preference and the variety on the shop's menu.

Do you like your coffee strong?

W h e n s t o p p i n g i n to Starbucks, do not

hesitate in getting a Vanilla Blonde Roast. This cup of coffee has a shot of vanilla in it and is sweet enough

to where no added sugar is needed. The coffee at this shop is the

most expensive; the smallest cup goes for $2.15. If you are willing to spend that, make sure to try out a sweet or two. Starbucks coffee is out of Seattle, so it is much stronger than coffee you would get at Biggby. Starbucks also has a wide variety options on its menu, which extends from specialty drinks to smoothies, and tea. The atmosphere in this shop is a warm and cozy one, with a fire and multiple comfy chairs.

The recommendation at The Grand River Coffee would be the Irish Cream Coffee. This coffee has the exact taste of Irish cream. The pricing is a bit on the expensive side - a cup is $1.90. Besides its coffee, the shop has paninis, speciality drinks, tea and gelato. The atmosphere is studious. If you are looking for a quiet atmosphere where you can work hard, this would be the place to go. It also has a more modern feel than other coffee shops. If you want to read while you enjoy a cup of Joe, there is a used book shop attached to the shop.

This tea house is located on the East Lansing strip across from MSU. The atmosphere is very cultural, as there are decorations from other countries. If you are in the mood for a relaxed, private, evening vibe this would be the place to go. Wanderer’s is known for their tea and food, however, they do have a variety of coffee. For hardcore coffee lovers a red eye (a cup a shot and shot of espresso) is perfect. All the coffee is organic, fair trade, and shade grown. The price range in the cafe is cheaper than most. It ranges from 12 oz to $1.75 through $2.15. A book exchange is present in the coffee shop, as well. The music selection offers some obscure bands, and mostly indie type music.

Avenue Café can be found on 2021 Michigan Ave. The price for a cup of coffee is $2, however, it’s worth it because of how strong the coffee is. This café is also a great place to grab a bite to eat. They have a wide range of breakfast foods, burgers, sandwiches, a vegan menu and salads. The atmosphere is artsy and welcoming. The music selection is on

point, with music almost anyone could enjoy. The place is huge, ensuring privacy. The walls are covered in art, and the tables upstairs are painted. The café is somewhat of an art gallery, so the art changes on a regular basis.

The atmosphere is very cozy with modern touches. The coffee is, as most mid-western coffee are not too strong. They have a wide variety of options when it comes to coffee. Pricing is reasonable. They also have many speciality drinks, such as mint mochas, peppermint mocha and more. If you are not a coffee fan but do enjoy the shop setting, Biggby offers iced teas, sweets, hot chocolates and smoothies. The chain has locations in Holt, Lansing and East Lansing.

this year for my New Year’s resolution I decided that I wanted

to start being more positive. I felt like I was being a sad and negative person and I wasn’t too happy about that. I realized that I needed to make some changes in my life and being more positive would be a great way to jump start those things that I want to change.

Being posit ive can be hard sometimes, especially when you are stressed out or angry about something. But keeping a positive mindset is actually really important. According to happiness guru and author Karen Salmansohn, when you are in a bad mood you are limited to using only 20% of your thinking power. That’s right, only 20%. So being in a grumpy mood actually hinders how much of your brain power you are able to use. Wouldn’t you like to be able to use all of your brain power all of the time? Wouldn’t you like to be at your full potential twenty-four seven?

Well guess what, being more positive is how you can do it. Here are some simple things that you can try which will help you live a more optimistic and happy life:

1. Live in the now. Don’t focus on what you have done wrong in the past, focus on how to make yourself a better person today and in the future.

2. Be grateful for what you have and be appreciative. Instead of thinking about what you don’t have, focus on all the amazing things you do have and all the awesome people in your life.

3. Don’t compare yourself to others; doing so will only ruin your self-esteem and lower your confidence.

4. Exercise your heart and do simple, random acts of kindness each day

5. And finally, smile more. It’s not easy staying positive in

negative situations, but it’s very important. If you are more positive you will experience lower stress levels and higher levels of confidence and happiness. And being more positive can help you in your future relationships, with your future jobs, in your education, and in your finances. And who doesn’t want that?

YesNo

Do you enjoy a wide range of coffee?

Do you enjoy a studious atmosphere?No NoYes Yes

BIGGBY coffee

starbucks

wanderer’s teahouse and caféAvenue café

Grand River coffee

ZAhRA AhmAd

editor-in-chief

Photos by Zahra Ahmad. Starbucks photo by MCT 2011

Featuresholt hiGh school RAmpARts JANUARY 2013

11Students embark on entrepreneurshipSelf-employment offers an alternative way to gain income

seAN bUlKowsKi

staff writer

safety tips melt away winter driving anxieties Follow these tips for safer driving on snowy roadsZAcK GillilANd

editor-in-chief

As students go through high school, they come to an age where they need to start funding for themselves, and begin looking to get a job. Sometimes working for someone else isn’t everyone’s desire, so they look for an alternative to that situation. Student entrepreneurship is a common alternative if the student is willing to put in the time and work to go through these steps to creating their own business.

Being an entrepreneur allows anyone to bring their own ideas, products and services into the market and to be able to prosper off of it. Almost all of the largest companies or brands known today started out as ideas from one person, whose hard work turned the product or service into a national or worldwide success.

Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company, Steve Jobs founded Apple, Bill Gates founded Microsoft, Walt Disney founded The Walt Disney Company which produced movies as well as Walt Disney World and Walt Disney Land, Sam Walton founded Walmart and the list goes on.

A business is no one-step process though, and there are a few steps that someone interested in entrepreneurship must endure to get their ideas turned into a product or service:

Slipping and sliding in the snow or ice in the morning isn’t fun. Driving is something most people will eventually do in their lifetime. A car accident is that one thing that a driver may be able to avoid if the car is working properly and the driver isn’t distracted.  

Tip 1: Keep your cell phone in your pocket. It is a major distraction and can be deadly. 1.4 million car accidents are caused by cell phone conversations and 200,000 are caused by texting and driving, according to an article in the Washington Post.

On January 8, Gov. Rick Snyder signed Senate Bill 756 into a law, which prohibits an individual with a temporary driver’s permit or a level 1 or 2 graduated licensing status from operating a motor vehicle while using a hands-on phone. However, fully licensed  level 3 drivers are exempt from the law.

Tip 2: According to AAA, drivers should make sure that their tires have decent, full tread and properly inflated tires, which allow water to escape from under the tires. Keeping a tire pressure gauge in your car is a good idea, so you can frequently check the tires’ pressure.

Tip 3: AAA also says that you should keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid the gas line from freezing up. A frozen gas line won’t do much good when you try to start your car

Tip 4: Wear a seatbelt. By wearing a seat belt, a driver can increase the chance of not getting injured in a car accident. The police can pull you over just if they see someone without a seat belt on. Make sure you click your seat belt or face the ticket. “Seat belts are very important,” senior Mark Kreft said. “They

plain and simple save lives.”Tip 5:  Make sure your brakes work properly. Brakes should

be replaced every four years and checked once a year. “If your brakes don’t work you won’t be able to stop as fast,”

senior Mike Positano said. “If you can’t stop you could get into a car accident.”

Tip 6 Make sure that your headlights work. It is important to see where you are going at night and what’s in front of you. AAA states that it’s good to “see and be seen.” Heavy rain and snow can limit visibility, making it harder to judge where the edge of the road and traffic signs are.

“Headlights are important so at night you can see where you are going and don’t get pulled over by the cops,” senior Nick Harmon said.

By following these tips, you can ensure that you will be safer on the road.  

The first step is coming u p w i t h a n i d e a. I t ’s a s s i mp l e a s wa i t i ng

for inspiration for a product or service

that a student could branch off of. This doesn’t imply that the idea will just p o p i n t o t h e i r head if they wait long enough, the

student needs to be analyzing their

passions or hobbies and thinking of ways to

make it their own.

Next is the process of turning this inspired idea into reality, from paper to product. This step involves deeper research into not only the market for a business the student is looking at getting into, but also into what it takes to create their product or service.

A n d l a s t l y , f o r businesses that have made it through all of that, it’s time to finally reach the product t o c u s t o m e r s , the ultimate goal from the start. This can be made possible through online sources such as amazon.com, ebay.com, or creating their own website. Also, craft shows, local vendors, or street selling can offer ways to get the product out there in the eyes, and hopefully the wallets, of their customers.

From there they can start planning how they will meet all that it takes to successfully run this business, but it’s key to remember that “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” which is metaphorical way of saying that success for a student’s business will only be reached if they fully invest the time (and finances, nothing is free) that it takes to do it right.

“I got the paperwork from Mr. Dozier so I can actually work towards turning it into a business,” said Johnson. “Also during the week I look up new ideas and prices of jewels and materials needed to create new pieces.”

Junior Christian Sims (left) customizes and produces his own clothing named Uniquely Retro.

“I look through a lot of different websites to get some ideas of different techniques. I also use art to come up with ideas for different clothing too,” Sims said.

S e n i o r K a e l e i g h Johnson (left) makes her

own jewelry and sells it by request to anyone seeking a custom piece.

“I got inspiration from an art website where I saw different jewelry and decided I wanted to make my own,” Johnson said.

“So I just went and bought a jewelry making kit from the store Michaels and began making my own pieces.”

Junior Mallor y Weil (above) sewed foot-shaped pillows under the name Big Foot Pillows and sold them nationally to customers.

“I went to a few craft shows and sold a lot online to customers around the country,” Weil said.

1

2

3

4

Photos by Sean Bulkowski

Paper to Product

Finding Inspiration

Digging up the details

Making it happen

Style of music: “Rock, alternative, and rap.”

“we Are Never Getting Back together” by taylor swift“Because it’s annoying but catchy and plays every two seconds.”

“All Gold everything” by trinidad James“Because it’s awesome and great to dance to. Plus the lyrics crack me up.”

“Delinquents” by woe, is me“Tyler Carter has an amazing voice and isn’t repetitive.”

“someday” by the strokes“It’s old but gold classic.”

style of music: “Alternative and indie rock”

“I will wait” by mumford and sons“I like the sound of it.”

“Hysteria” by muse“I like it, and I am about to see them in concert, in March.”

“the element song” by tom lehrer“Because everything is made of elements.”

“Forever Young” by Bob Dylan“It’s my life’s motto.”

If you’d like to tell us what songs are stuck in your head, e-mail a list of five songs and your comments to ramparts@hpsk12.net

What’s stuckin senior Zoe Howard’s head?

What’s stuck in science teacher William Young’s head?

We’ve selected two people to interview and find out what music they love this month.

The Hot Spot 13holt hiGh school RAmpARts JANUARY 2013

My TunesGoing back from music devices

Let’s take a walk down memory lane. The devices that people use today to listen to music weren’t always around.

For one example, a record player, it came out in 1958, it’s a device that reproduces sound that’s on a record. A record on a record player rotates just like a CD in a CD player, the biggest difference usually seen to people is that a record player is old and CD’s are a little more modern.

Later in 1934 came the Jukebox. It’s a device where a lot of discs are in one machine, but any thing someone wants to listen to can be played. This device came about in 1934. It’s rarely seen anymore because many people find it outdated

The next big thing was 8-Track, this came out in 1964. The 8-track, a big music playing device, it is a magnetic tape that goes inside a plastic cartridge, like an endless loop

of music. 8-tracks later led to cassette tapes. The cassette came out just a year later in 1965, it’s a plastic container for a magnetic tape.

From all of these devices started came CD’s, iPod’s, Internet radio and many more.

A big difference that a lot of people are noticing today is as the times are changing music playing device’s seem to get smaller. Many people like iPods and MP3 players because they’re easier to carry around than a big record player or a jukebox. But there is still some people who like the old devices because certain types of music that may sound better on something old rather than something new.

Student’s today are using a lot of old music devices because they either like the way it looks or they think it sounds better than the newer devices that are coming out. Although the students like the new devices that are coming out too.

The people on the right voice their opinions on the kinds of music devices that they are most fond of.

Devices have changed over yearsNAdiA GedeoN

staff writer

“I like CD players b e c a u s e t h e y ’ r e relaxing, and I like headphones,” junior Sarah Shaffer said.

“ I l i k e r e c o r d s because old music is rare,” senior Katherine Patterson said.

“I like to listen to tapes because they’re original and I like to play old tapes,” science teacher Dave Foy said.

“I like iPods because you can do other things on them besides listen to must, like go on Twitter,” sophomore Joe Manuel said.

“ I l i k e I n t e r n e t radio because you can always discover new music,” junior Shelby Frazer said.

Phonograph1877

Gramophone 1887

8-Track1964

Cassette1965

Walkman1978

CD Player1981

History of technology

1870

Magnetophones1939

Record Player1958

Jukebox1934

Portable CD Player1984

MP31998

Nano2006

iPod2007

Apple iPod Touch2012

2013

holt hiGh school RAmpARtsJANUARY 2013

12 The Hot SpotThat’s Entertainment

love lawrence

the year 2012 definitely showed i t s b e s t m o v i e s a n d b e s t

actors, including some of the best newcomers, such as the most talented and my new favorite actress, Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence first appeared in the highly anticipated movie “The Hunger Games” back in March, and since then the whole world now knows her name.

I personally did not like “The Hunger Games.” I thought the story about kids killing kids to stay alive was terrible. Why would you even write about that? I guess this franchise isn’t for me. I still thought she did a pretty good job kicking butt. I’m actually glad that she did this movie. I can’t imagine any other girl made for the role of Katniss Everdeen than Jennifer Lawrence.

Lawrence’s next film was called “House at the end of the Street,” a PG-13 thriller, out now on DVD and Blu-Ray. Although “House” didn’t nearly make as much as “Hunger Games” did, with an overall gross of almost $40 million worldwide, it still got the attention that Lawrence needed. She definitely caught my eye.

Lawrence also deserves to win an award for her next movie “Silver Linings Playbook” (out now in theaters) and that she did. If you didn’t watch this year’s Golden Globes, Lawrence won an award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture for Comedy or Musical.

I loved “Playbook.” I thought it was the best movie I’ve seen in years. I’m so proud that Lawrence won the Golden Globe. I just hope she also wins an Academy Award for her the role at next month’s 85th annual Academy Awards on February 24. This is Lawrence’s second nomination. The first one was in 2010 with Best Actress in “Winter’s Bone,” but she lost to Natalie Portman for “Black Swan.”

I recommend ever yone see “Playbook” before the Academy Awards. That way you’d understand why she should win. She’s absolutely phenomenal.

Win or lose, Lawrence is a winner to me, and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for her.

The Television HourGet the first scoop on your favorite returning and new tv shows

While the new year has begun, some of your favorite shows have started to premiere on television. Whether you like the new gossip on “Pretty Little Liars,” kick zombie butt on “The Walking Dead,” or even keep up with the Kardashians on “Kourtney and Kim take Miami,” there is always something for you to watch.

2 Broke GirlsNetwork: cBs

Max and Caroline continue maintaining their cupcake business work while waitressing at a low-class diner. Viewers can expect much more dirty humor by “Sex and the City” creator Michael Patrick King, who wrote the series, and they’ll see how Max and Caroline’s cupcake business is coming together. Is it what they wanted it to be?

“I’m looking forward to new jokes and new humor. It’s the funniest show,” junior Haley Curtis said.

30 RockNetwork: NBc

Your favorite characters Liz, Tracy, Jenna and Jack return for the final season of one of the funniest shows on television. Airing since 2006, “30 Rock” continues to make viewers laugh and wanting for more. After six years, viewers will miss it. The final episode aired this week.

“It’s a really funny show. I love Tina Fey. She’s such a comedian,” senior Erin Self.

Kourtney and Kim take miamiNetwork: e!

Loved by millions of fans, the Kardashian sisters, Kourtney and Kim, are back for an all-new season, this time in Miami. Trying to soak up the sun won't be all that easy for the sisters. While maintaining their Dash store, relationships and oh yes, drama, this will be one crazy season viewers have been waiting for. As for “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” the show is scheduled to return this summer.

"Hopefully it's funny. It's really entertaining,” sophomore Megan Winquist said.

American IdolNetwork: FoX

New contestants compete for a chance to be the next American Idol of season 12. Randy Jackson returns along with new judges such as “Super Bass” rapper Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and country singer Keith Urban. This season definitely looks like it will be funny, as some of the weirdest people audition while others let their talent show.

“I’m looking forward to someone that can sing. It’s entertaining,” junior Logan Walton said.

Pretty little liarsNetwork: ABc Family Your favorite characters, Hanna, Spencer, Ella and Aria, continue to find out who ‘A’ really is and who killed their best friend. It’s an all-new season filled with drama, romance and of course, suspense. Will A finally be revealed in this season? Secrets will be unraveled in season three of the hit TV show that everyone’s talking about.

"I'm waiting to see if the girls find out if Toby is really A. It's suspenseful,” junior Lexi Harley said.

the walking DeadNetwork: Amc

Sheriff Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) battles against zombies while struggling to survive the human race in the hit television show. If Sheriff Grimes can survive this season, another season is most definitely possible. Viewers can expect more gore and more suspense. Based on “The Walking Dead” books by Robert Kirkman, the show also stars Steven Yeun and Laurie Holden.

“It’s catchy and suspenseful and it’s an awesome show,” sophomore Ben Mireles said.

Bryce Zippi

Photo by Fox. Used with permission.

Photo by AMC. Used with permission.

bRYce Zippi

staff writer

Photos by Nadia Gedeon

GYmNAstIcsseason goal: “My goal for this season is to try and make it to states as a team,” junior Sam Sarata said.season highlight: “This season has brought a lot more talent to the team and we’re all more serious and motivated,” senior Madison Starr said.

HocKeYrecord: 6-11season goal: “I would like to see us go to states and to be in the top three for our division,” sophomore Logan Monroe said.season expectation: “I hope we get into playoffs and states, and I hope to only let no more than two goals a game in,” junior Jacob Thompson said.

BoYs swImmING AND DIVINGrecord: 3-5 season goal: “The season just started, but I’m excited to compete with my team,” junior Noah Verdeyn said.season highlight: “My teammates are great guys. I’m proud to be on a team with them,” junior Noah Verdeyn said.

wRestlINGrecord: 10-10season goal: “My goal is to keep my team working hard and working together till the end,” senior Aurelio Quintero said.

GIRls BAsKetBAllrecord: 9-3league standing: Fourthseason goal: “I want to win districts again, go farther in districts and maybe win our league,” sophomore Tara Lierman said.season highlight: “When Tara scored a half-court shot,” junior Delysia Delacruz said.

The Press Box

Sports 15holt hiGh school RAmpARts JANUARY 2013

Girls basketball hungry for a 6-peatTeam sets out with desire for another titlestAcie sKiNKeR

staff writer

Hockey team joins other area schools

Photo by Anissa Martinez

Senior captain Jason Daman prepares for a face off on Friday, January 11. The Rams fell short to Okemos, who held on to a 5-1 win.

Winning districts is one thing some teams only dream about, but for coach Doug Harkema and the girls basketball program, district titles have become more of a tradition than a dream. With a record of 8-2, the Rams hope to achieve their sixth consecutive title this season.

“We’re very athletic. We have some size as well, but most importantly, we work together. We complement each skill to work together,” Harkema said.

Even after losing multiple key players last year, the seven returning Rams have stepped up to fill those shoes with the help of new additions freshman Kamrin Reed and juniors Khadeja Anthony and Delysia Delacruz.

“Our goal is to compete for league title and win our sixth straight district title. We want to win that again but really get out of regionals,” Harkema said.

The girls share that desire and are doing whatever it takes to accomplish those goals.

“We have team bonding, we work hard in practice and we just constantly train and improve ourselves,” Delacruz said.

The team is young with three ski l led underclassmen. Sophomore Rylie Styles is an often utilized forward, while Reed and sophomore Tara Lierman both hold starting guard positions and are the team’s leading scorers.

“We rely on everyone to be a leader. Tara (Lierman) and Sherye (Bradley) are captains, but I expect everyone to act like one and have a way to motivate people,” Harkema said.

With a smaller roster, some question the depth of the team.

“We only have 10 players, so if anyone gets injured or in foul trouble we are short players,” Lierman said.

Alought Flint Powers High School currently holds the state record for most consecutive district titles with nine, the Rams are not far off.

“I plan to keep everyone playing as a team. We play for each other, not anyone else,” team captain Lierman said.

The Rams play Tuesday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Friday nights immediately following the boys basketball game. They have a home game against Eastern at 7:30 p.m. tonight.

“All of us prefer having a hype student section.

Fans are always good and we would love to have more fans. It’s kind of depressing that everybody leaves after the guys’ game,” Delacruz said.

With a record of 6-11 so far this season, the hockey team is up and running.

“ The team has tremendous senior leadership in captains Erick Sundstrom and Jason Daman,” head coach Jon Gilbert said. “They do a great job of keeping the team positive while continuing to drive everyone to improve. The younger guys recognize their roles and fit in very well.”

The hockey team recently played in the Grand Ledge Invitational tournament and beat Grand Ledge in the championship with a shut out of 3-0.

This year the team is not only made up of students from Holt, but other schools as well.

“Last year we had 16 players, and 10 were seniors,” senior Erick Sundstrom said. “We didn’t have

enough players for this season, so we are now combined with Potterville and Eaton Rapids.”

Although the hockey team is quite a bit into their season, highly anticipated games are still coming up.

“I am looking forward to playing Eastside again because we played good against them the first time, but we lost,” senior Zach Bertram said.

The Rams play Eastside again on February 9 and are hoping to avenge from their 5-2 loss.

Goals are forming from not only the players, but the coach as well.

“I would like for the team to finish in the top three of the CAAC and make it to regional finals,” Gilbert said.

To aim for those goals means putting in the hard work, and the Rams show their determination. Tu e s d ay s a n d T h u r s d ay s a re practices on the ice, and Monday a n d We d n e s d a y a r e o f f - i c e conditioning.

Whether they are on the ice or off the ice, the hockey team has made

a great team bond.“The first team dinner was at my

house, and it was probably one of the most memorable moments for me so far because of the bond our team had,” Bertram said.

With team dedication and effort, the season is on the go for the team. It’s a hopeful strive towards ending on a winning season.

“We have to work hard in practice

and play harder in games. We are as good as any team on the ice five on five,” Gilbert said.

The Rams play all home games at the Summit in Dimondale. Their next home game is on February 1 at 6 p.m. against Jackson United.

New goals and new teammatesANissA mARtiNeZ

staff writer

Photo by Stacie Skinker

Junior Delysia Delacruz and senior N’Dezha Robinson steal the ball from an opponent in their game against Sexton on January 11. The team went on to win 63-12.

14JANUARY 2013

SportsGIRls DANce teAmseason goal:“I want our team to be more together and confident,” junior Stephanie Button said. in their words:

BoYs BAsKetBAll record: 10-2league standing: First in CAAC blueseason highlight: “The highlight of my season was definitely beating Sexton at Sexton because they are back- to-back state champs,” senior Tanner Beachnau said.in their words: “A highlight of my season was making the three-pointer that put us in the lead against Sexton," junior Collin Jones said.

cHeeRleADINGseason highlight: “I’m really going to miss the crowd after I graduate, I’m excited for senior night,” senior Addie Nash said.in their words: “I’m excited for Winterfest because we’re doing a whole bunch of new dances and moves. The highlight of my season so far was making the team. So far it has been a lot of fun and the girls have really helped me walk through the cheers,” senior Emma Webster said.

BoYs BowlINGseason expectation: “I hope we can finish second or third place this year,” senior Martin Welch said.in their words: “I hope to be in the top five at regionals for singles and top two at regionals for team,” Welch said.

GIRls BowlINGseason expectation: “I hope to see us win a few games this year,” freshmen Shelby Cook said.in their words: “ I hope to bowl 130 or higher every game,” Cook said.

The Press Boxholt hiGh school RAmpARts

team gears up to be like an arrow in water Swimmers prepare for the seasonRAchel dilliNGhAm

staff writer

It is nearly impossible to believe students are at school by 5:30 a.m. The swim team is not only awake at 5:30 a.m., they are running around the indoor track, lifting weights and climbing stairs. During their 20- minute run, they incorporate singing of various songs, from Counting Crows “Round Here,” to the classic rock band Metallica.

“We have morning practice twice a week, every day after school practice and Saturday practice, so we are swimming six out of seven days a week,” junior Stephen Ramer said.

By the time school is out, it is time to suit up and start stretching around 3 p.m., before strokes and number of repetitions are assigned.

“Coach Pohl assigns each lane a stroke, each swimmer is then assigned a lane and all the swimmers are given a total distance they must swim in a given amount of time,” senior Connor Woods said.

Each swimmer has a stroke that

they are particularly good at. “My primary strokes are freestyle,

butterfly and backstroke,” Woods said.

No matter the stroke, swimming is a full-body workout that requires endurance.

“Swimming is a constant use of every muscle in the body for three to four hours,” senior Joseph Mraz said.

Swimming has a level of difficulty that can only be understood once it is tried firsthand. The sport takes a lot out of the body, mind and time.

“Time management is the most difficult aspect of swimming. Most

swimmers try to get their homework done before practice starts because after practice you are so tired,” Ramer said.

Swimming requires mental and physical strength to endure the water. Music is used as a helpful tool to distract their minds from the draining sport.

“Being in the water for three hours, your mind needs to be motivated by music. It is a way to escape the muscle strain,” Mraz said.

Since their skin is overexposed to chlorine, the guys must always keep lotion handy and in large bulks.

“Your skin gets dry and itchy, so you better be prepared with lots and lots of lotion or Vaseline. Your skin is really going to need it after swimming,” Woods said.

Being together six days a week for up to four hours each day creates a team that is closer than most.

“We are all comfortable with our bodies and ourselves. Since we have no need to worry about insecurities we spend most of our down time being goofballs and maintaining a strong brotherhood”, Mraz said.

The team gives thanks to Marty Pohl. They say he helps to create a sense of brotherhood.

“He is always there to make you better as a swimmer and a student. Pohl keeps his office stocked with food,” Ramer said.

He maintains a strict order that helps the team remain balanced and on schedule.

“Pohl has one of the greatest schedule system. He dedicates as much time, maybe more than we do,” Woods said.

Coach Pohl and the swim team are aiming to win states. This goal is can be achieved since the team has won all their meets so far this season. Their next two meets will be Tuesday, February 2, at Dewitt High School and Tuesday, Febuary 7, at Grand Ledge.

The wrestling team begins with a promising

start.  The team lost several seniors last year, and has lost members of the team this season, but the remaining wrestlers think that they can still have a successful season.  

Junior Kyle Granger says that the team has started the season off well.  

“The season’s going pretty well, in the beginning. We had a hot start.”

Sophomore Austin Serna said he believes that the team is going through some issues, but thinks that the team will make it through this period.

“We’ve had some key guys drop out...we have some holes to fill, but there’s a lot of promise on this team,” Serna said.

The team is still having a successful year.  Junior

Nick Bigelow believes that the season is off to a good start.  

“Overall, the team’s doing really well this year.  We beat Sexton 77-6 on January 9, and have 10 wins this season,” Bigelow said.

The low point of the season for Bigelow was Holt’s trip to Indiana to wrestle, where they ran into good teams from all across the nation.  

“We went 0-4 in Indiana. We ran into some really tough teams,” Bigelow said.  

The team is getting a big boost from new wrestlers this year, like sophomore Brandon Wilson.   Wilson was called up to varsity for the January 9 meet against Sexton and won his first match on varsity.

Varsity is also getting some help from underrated wrestlers, like juniors Gage Sivvyer, and Marco Reyes, and sophomore Mike Shaw.

“Gage doesn’t seem too intimidating before the match, but he’s a good wrestler, and when he’s at his best, he’s very good,” Granger said.  

There are some wrestlers that are less recognized“Mike Shaw and Marco Reyes are two of our

most underrated wrestlers on the team this year,” Serna said.  

Holt Wrestling looks to return to prominence in

Michigan Wrestling with a trip to the state finals in February and March, despite not being currently ranked in MichiganGrappler.com’s Division 1 rankings. “We want to get to the Kellogg Center [where state finals for wrestling are held,] and win a state championship this year,” Bigelow said.

Wrestlers strive to win Every pound counts and every teammate matters NoAh GoldblAtt

sports editor

The swim team gathers around coach Marty Pohl as he assigns each swimmer a swimming lane. In the huddle, they discuss strengths and weaknesses that each swimmer should keep in mind.

Photo by Rachel Dillingham

Practice gets serious when senior Dominick Trevino and junior Karl Leger warm-up. Maintaining focus is important to beating their opponent.

Photo by Noah Goldblatt

Sports 16 holt hiGh school RAmpARts JANUARY 2013

Don’t Miss This

wrestlingFebruary 2Holt wrestling goes to the CAAC meet at East Lansing on Saturday, February 2, and has a record of 10-10 on the season.

Girls BasketballFebruary 1Holt plays Eastern at home at 7:30 p.m., after the boys varsity game. Holt won the first matchup against Eastern by 38 points.

Boys Basketball February 1Holt takes on Eastern at home at 6 p.m. Holt won the first meeting between the two, and is currently first in the CAAC Blue.

Winter season brings athletic outdoor fun

Feeling that ice cold air blow back your hair as you fly down a hill of freshly fallen snow, or as you glide across a sheet of ice is an exhilarating feeling. For some students winter means cozy sweaters and staying indoors sipping on hot chocolate as much as possible; but for many others it means exciting snow sports and outdoor fun. Although the chilly weather may be unappealing for some, there are plenty of great things to do outside this season.

Students can go sledding and ice-skating locally, but if you are willing to spend a little extra money, you can take a trip to any one of Michigan’s many ski resorts. Snowboarding, skiing, sledding, and ice-skating are all fun ways to stay active this winter. Any one of these are ideas for a snow day or just another weekend. So let’s take a closer look at some of the sports that winter has to offer and the students who know what they’re all about. snowboarding and skiing

Snowboarding and skiing are well-known winter sports. Although snowboarding hasn’t been around as long as skiing has, it is very popular among young people. Snowboarding is kind of like surfing, but with snow. the sport also takes a lot of balance and is fairly difficult, it is considered to be more risky than skiing.

“Anyone can learn to snowboard if

they put their mind to it. It’s definitely challenging, though. For beginners I’d say stay on the bunny hill for as long as you need,” senior Marisa DuMond said.

There are two main styles of snowboarding: freestyle and alpine. Freestyle riding focuses on jumps and tricks, while alpine riding is more focused on speed than tricks

There is more than one style of skiing too. Besides downhill skiing, there is also cross country skiing.

“I enjoy skiing because it is fast paced, it gives you a free feeling, and because it is challenging,” science intern Dillon Oslin said.

Cross country skiing is just skiing on flat ground rather than down a hill. Burchfield Park offers cross country skiing trails as well as ski, boot and pole rental for $9 per hour. Both skiing and snowboarding are a lot of fun and are really great exercise.

“Skiing doesn’t take long to learn, but it does take time to perfect,” Oslin said.

There are many facilities in Michigan that offer areas to snowboard and ski, but there aren’t many around the Lansing area. Besides Hawk Island’s Snow Park, located in Lansing, which offers an “Urban Terrain Park” complete with rails for snowboarders. Although there are no snowboard rentals available at Hawk Island, there many other larger facilities that do have boards and skis available for rental.

If you want some bigger hills and are willing to take a drive to hit the slopes, Boyne Mountain, Crystal Mountain, Cannonsburg and many more Michigan resorts are all popular places to try out.

“ M y f a v o r i t e p l a c e t o g o

snowboarding is Crystal Mountain,” DuMond said.

Sledding

Students can go sledding at many places locally: Burchfield Park, Hawk Island, and Dead Man’s Hill are all places around Holt where sledding is possible. Sledding is fun for people of all ages and very inexpensive, sometimes even free if you can find a good hill. Dead Man’s Hill for example is free of charge.

“Burchfield Park is my favorite place to go sledding.” junior Chris Kruger said.

You can either choose to bring your own sled or at some places there are sleds or snow tubes available for rental. At Hawk Island in Lansing and at Burchfield Park in Holt there are

snow tube rentals offered.At Hawk Island the cost is $7 for two hours on the hill with tube rental included. And at Burchfield Park snow tubes are available for $1 for two hours. Ice Skating

Ice skating is another popular winter activity. Ice skating is gliding across ice on skates; it is fast and can be fairly difficult to learn because of how slippery the ice is.

“My favorite thing about ice skating is just being on the ice, it’s a really cool feeling,” senior Kailia Gibson said. “It’s pretty difficult at first though, but once you get the hang of it you never lose it.”

Although you could go ice skating on a frozen lake or pond, it may be safer for you to go to an indoor ice arena. You can go ice skating at

Suburban Ice in East Lansing and at The Summit in Lansing.

“My favorite place to go ice skating is at The Summit,” Gibson said.

Both facilities offer inexpensive public skating sessions where anyone can go ice skating, even if they don’t own their own pair of skates. The Summit offers convenient day, night, and weekend public skates. And Suburban Ice offers Saturday and Sunday skate sessions.

Admission at both rinks costs $5, they have both figure skates and hockey skates available for rental for only $2. Also, for any hockey players, The Summit has stick and puck sessions costing only $6, but you must bring your own gear to participate.

Outside sports for the winter monthsAbbY coUsiNeAU

staff writer

Photo by Boyne Resorts. Used with permission.Skiiers and snowboarders take the ski lift up to the top of the mountain at Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, Michigan. Students can take a trip to ski or snowboard at this mountain for a weekend full of fun.

Name of resort Location/time it takes to get there from Holt

Lift ticket prices for open-close on

weekdays/weekendsOne-day rental prices

Boyne Mountain Boyne Falls (about 3 hours) $40 Skis/board= $28Helmet= $7

Mt. Holly Holly (about 1 hour) $33-41 Skis/board= $26Helmet= $10

Mt. Brighton Brighton (45 mins) $32-37 Skis/board= $28Helmet=$7

Caberfea Peaks Cadillac (about 2 hours) $29-44 Skis/board= $29-34 Helmet= $6

Cannonsburg Belmont ( about 1 hour) $28-35 Skis/board= $18-22 Helmet= $8

Treetops Resort Gaylord (about 2.5 hours) $29-45 Skis/board + helmet= $39

Crystal Mountain Resort Thompsonville (about 3 hours) $50-69 Lift ticket + all rentals = $83Ski/board rental = $38